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Quest For Equestria | Chapter 84: I Love You | McGrath, Phoenix and Sutakira were walking around town, just trying to kill the time, even though they could be attacked by a omnicidal maniac at any time. "So were are you taking Elsa on your first date?", Sutakira asked Phoenix, even though he was smarter than the red head, the bluenette had to admit he knew a lot more about romantic stuff. "I'm taking her to a musical.", Phoenix said, surprising the other two, also earning a snicker from McGrath.
"Which one?", the bluenette continued to to ask, much to the surprise of Phoenix, who cheerfully told him "I am going to take her to Wicked!"
For some reason this made McGrath burst out in laughter, earning a surprised look from from the other two, "What's so funny about that?", Sutakira asked still weren't used to his laugh. They then spotted Skywalker and Rainbow flying overhead in a hurry, "What are those two doing?", McGrath wondered.
The duo arrived at Fluttershy's cottage, he quickly knocked on the door, but there was no answer, he knocked again. The door just opened and no one was inside, Angel Bunny though was.
Skywalker always thought he was an uptight prick, but he seems nice only to him and to the point where he could actually understand him, the bunny was trying to get hit attention. "What is it, Angel Bunny? You've seen Fluttershy?", Skywalker asked as the bunny was giving off hand signals that was very confusing to Rainbow. "She what!? Why!?", he said after getting what Angel Bunny was trying to say.
"What did he said?", Rainbow asked, not understanding anything Angel Bunny was trying to tell them. "Angel Bunny explained that his owner went to the Everfree Forest due to a tragic mishap.". Angel Bunny then handed Skywalker a note, "I can tell it is recent; the ink is slightly damp.", he said as he studied the note. "Wow, Jason Skywalker ace detective.", Rainbow said. Skywalker eyes widen as he read the note before reading it again out loud
My dear friends,
I leave this as my last message to you now that I see that Jason's heart belongs to Rainbow Dash. My only regret is that I couldn't confess to him sooner. Why I've done a few things for him to find out about my liking to him, and when anybody asks me about who I like is always no one. But, Jason, if you're the one reading this, then I'd like you to know that ever since I met you, I always liked you and hoped that we could have a bond together.
Tell everybody that I'll miss them and that I'll never forget them.
The way she wrote that broke Skywalker's heart, "Fluttershy is in love with me too.", but the worst part was where she was running away to, his face become determent, he wasn't going to lose someone as special to him as Fluttershy ever again. "We have to hurry! The forest can be dangerous at night.", Rainbow said relieved that he know where she is, but more worried that it was going to be dark soon. "Dashie, warn the others. I am heading into the forest myself.", Skywalker said, his tone showed that it was best not to argue with him right now, as he stood up and made his way to the forest.
After about two hours of searching, night had just fallen and Skywalker hears a very familiar voice in his head, "Jason, can you hear me?".
"I hear you, Twily. What's up?", Skywalker asked, he was happy to hear that Twilight, through the use of magic had found Fluttershy's location.
"She's not far from you now but she looks hurt, and... something else his heading that way.", this made Skywalker look worried, "Start heading west. I've already told everybody else to meet you there."
"No, stay where you are. It's getting too dark, if they look for us now they'll get lost too. I'll get Fluttershy and meet up with you guys soon.". Twilight remained silent for a few moments, "...Alright, but be careful.", she said. "Like I said, I'll be back soon, Twily.", Skywalker said, before speeding up, running as fast as they can towards Fluttershy, almost tripping more than once because of not paying attention. He then hear a faint voice not far from where he is.
Much to his shock, he saw twenty of those black creatures who followed Morgenstern, surrounding her. Skywalker not sure whether it was just a protective instinct, or something else, but as soon as he heard Fluttershy's desperate voice, he hurried to her rescue.
The pack circled around their pray, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. One of the creatures, longed at her, Fluttershy closed her eyes, waiting for the attack to come. A loud slash was heard, a foot making contact with a skull, and something hitting a tree. Opening her eyes, Fluttershy looked in shock, in front of her was Skywalker standing with his lightsaber out, already having taken out three of them.
The black creatures were momentarily startled by the arrival of the new comer who just crushed their mates. The creatures decided for an all-out attack, making their last mistake. Skywalker became a blur of motion, slashing at the creatures, two Heat Vision blast came out of his eyes, and disintegrating the creatures in a matter of seconds.
Deactivating his weapon, Skywalker allowed himself to calm down, but it wasn't helping much as he saw a very teary Fluttershy, whose hair was stuck in a few thorn bushes and who was lifting her leg. Skywalker rushed over and hugged her, "Fluttershy, you're so damn stupid! Why would you do this to us, especially me!?", he shouted, for the first time ever, sounding angry to her.
"I can't stand the thought of not being able to be with you the way that I wanted. I was looking for Dashie's for emotional support to confess to you today but... all I saw was you hugging her!", Fluttershy said her voice cracking.
"We'll talk about this later when we get back to Ponyville. Right now, I have to get. These thorns off.", Skywalker said, much to his shock, Fluttershy had broken her ankle, "Hold on, Flutters. I'm gonna get you out of this.", he start to remove some of the thorns that were stuck to her hair.
Eventually Skywalker is able to remove enough of the thorns that Fluttershy is able to move out of the rest. She noticed the irritated look on Skywalker's face. "Are you alright?", she asked. "I am fine, Flutters. It's you I am worried about. We need to get you back to Ponyville.", he said as he pick her up and cradle her, "You might not think so, Fluttershy, but I do care deeply about you. And you running off like that wasn't doing me a favor, it scared me, it made me sad that you wanted to leave and I was worried about you and so was everybody else.", she looks at him as he's carrying her. "Promise me that you won't do anything like this again.", he asked, a teary eyed mare promised him.
A hour has passed since then and everybody was waiting outside of the guy's house. "They should have been back by now.", Big Mac said, "Where could they be?", all of them where worried but Rainbow seemed to have the worst of it, she was pacing back and forth for over 20 minutes. Finally she decides to go looking for the two of them. "Don't, Rainbow. It's too dark, you would get lost in there too.", Twilight said but Rainbow argued furiously with her, "I can't just sit here and do nothing when my friends are in trouble!", she starts to spread her wings for take-off. "Look! It's Jason!"
Everybody then stops to look as, sure enough, Skywalker came walking out of the wood, carrying an injured Fluttershy into town. "Hey, guys! Twily, could you look over Fluttershy's leg for me please?", he asked.
Twilight nodded using her magic to carry the injured Fluttershy inside. Rainbow then runs up to him and hugs him as hard as she could. "I'm fine, Dashie...", Skywalker muttered as he rubbed her manes. "If you guys don't mind... I am going to take a shower... Need to clear my head.", he said as he walked into the house.
An hour later, Skywalker was letting the water pour down upon him, thinking about everything that had happened in the last few hours. He heard a knock on the door, hearing the voice of Twilight asking if he was okay. "I am fine.", he said dismissively, before turning to a more important question, "Is Fluttershy okay?"
"She's resting in Sutakira's room now. Her ankle was broken but it could have been much worse. She just needs to keep off of it until I can heal it fully.", Twilight's voice came from the other side. "That's good to hear... Can I go over to Sutakira's room to see her?", he asked washing the conditioner out of his hair, while Twilight told him it should be alright.
Meanwhile, in Sutakira's room, Fluttershy was sitting up talking with McGrath, Rarity, Pinkie, Phoenix, Applejack and Sutakira, or more like they were with each other. Fluttershy was looking over at her cuts, very minor of course, her bandaged leg, and uneven strands of hair. But deeper than that, she saw how badly it affected Skywalker, risking his life just to save her.
Now, there are two things haunting Fluttershy, her jealousy of Rainbow and the burden of Skywalker saving her. Just rethinking that over again is making a few tears appear. "You alright there, Fluttershy?", McGrath asked, giving her a worried look. Fluttershy looks down, "I know, I know, he says he forgives me, but I can't forgive myself... Having him go through all that because of me...", she muttered.
"Now, look, Fluttershy. Sure, he did all that, but he did it to prove to you that he does care about you.", Rarity said with a smile, as she was sitting next to McGrath. "Maybe even more. I mean, he even went and looked for you alone.", the red head said with a raised finger.
"It's possible he likes you too!", Sutakira said, with Applejack adding, "We've all known that ya had at least a slight crush on Jason, sugarcube.", Fluttershy looked slightly shocked. "Well you aren't exactly stealthy with hiding hints from anybody.", McGrath added dryly
Their attention was turned to the door when someone knocked on the door, and then Skywalker walked in, dressed in his usual blue polo shirt and black pants. "Hey guys...", Skywalker started but his friends already knew what he wanted to talk about. "We get it, you need to talk to her.", Phoenix winked but Pinkie wasn't getting it.
"Why does he needs to talk to her? Why are you pushing me in a way that suggests giving them privacy?", the pink mare asked as McGrath dragged her out of the room before closing the door behind them.
There was an awkward silence between them, neither of them knew where to start. "How long?", Skywalker asked with a shy look as he sat down at the edge of the bed. "I think it started when I met you at Twilight's Welcoming party.", she explained, "And through the years it only grew. I enjoy when you help me with my pets, talking to pass the time... well, I talk and you listen, mostly... Sometimes I succumb and fall asleep, and wake to find you still watchful and I know you're watching out for me."
"I would be a poor leader if one of you got hurt.", Skywalker said with a slight blush. Fluttershy's face slowly started to become more red as she continued to talk, "W-What I'm trying to say is... is that I trust you. Your the only male I feel so comfortable around. I know you'll be there when I need you... You are our... Leader, and my best friend and... sometimes I think that m-maybe we could be more than that...", she was surprised that Skywalker himself was having a blush on his face.
"Fluttershy... I-I had no idea you felt that way...", he slowly said, he could be so blind to someone's emotions like that. "What could possibly happen? I mean, a young mare gets rescued by a dashing super hero who lets her join his team and then they go off to save the Worlds? How could she possibly develop any kind of interest in him?", she replied dryly, making him chuckle.
All the feelings welling up in Fluttershy makes her do what she thought would've been impossible until now. Grabbing Skywalker's face with both her front hooves, she pulls his head close to hers. "I love you.", she said.
No time was left for any reaction as Skywalker puts his lips to hers. The sudden effect left Fluttershy shocked but only temporarily. The soothing feeling of Skywalker's kissing her though was slowly creeping throughout her body. The sheer force of will also went to her arms as he hugged back.
This causes for the Pegasus to wrap her wings around him, and let go, hugging him tightly and burying her face into his shoulder. "For so long now, Jason, I finally managed to work up my mind to finally confess. I'm just glad you like me back."
Skywalker looks at Fluttershy and see that she's in tears, but with a smile, a sight he never thought he would see, but it looks so cute and adorable. Skywalker wiping the tears of her eyes, while shading one himself, "I love you too, Fluttershy." |
Quest For Equestria | Chapter 85: Fall Of The Crystal Empire | On a hill overlooking the Crystal Empire, Mizuki and Morgenstern's army of Corrupted where overlooking the crystal city. This was the day the war will officially began, the final stretch before judgement day.
Mizuki was alerted by the arrival of her master by the Corrupted parting to the side and kneeling before him. Morgenstern came strolling towards her, not quite a strut, but a subtle, confident gait, as he was flanked by Lillium and the teen looking Inner Circle Member. "My lord, the city is on high alert but we are ready to claim the city in your name at your command.", Mizuki said, bowing herself.
"The fall of Equastria... begins.", Morgenstern said, his eyes glowing at his statement and his Corrupted began to charge.
Back over at Ponyville, for the past 10 minutes, Sutakira had been flying towards Sweet Apple Acres and finally reach the front gate of Sweet Apple Acre's. Landing at the front door of their home and knock 3 times and wait. After a minute, or so, the door opens, revealing Applejack.
"Toshi! You're here, I thought you'd wouldn't be showing up.", she said, happy to see her boyfriend. Sutakira feels himself blush, whipping his nose with his finger to hide the blush, "Sorry... was busy for a bit..."
"That's all fine and dandy Sugarcube.", Applejack seems to have realized that she's been letting him stand in the heat, she gets off the door way and takes a step inside her house. Sutakira walk inside the Apple House, walking past the kitchen and slumping his butt on the living room couch, where McGrath, Rarity, Pinkie and Spike where already seated, McGrath shuffling the deck of cards. Applejack giggles at him as she walks to where he is, taking a seat next to him.
Over at Shoveitupyourass street, Fluttershy was making a phone call but she had forgotten to remove it from speaker. "Before you go. I heard your hanging out a lot with Ser Skywalker. I saw him on the news the other day. He's cute. Later, sis.", and after the two say goodbye, Fluttershy hangs up, turning around to see Skywalker leaning against the door frame.
"Tell me you didn't hear that...", she asked a red glow coming off her cheeks. "Afraid I did.", Skywalker said with a soft smile, walking into the kitchen. "Shoot me now...", Fluttershy said mortified. "Your sister, I presume?", he asked and his girlfriend nodded.
Placing her into a hug, "Tell me about your family.", he asked, feeling her soft manes against his face. "We're pretty close. Have to be with dad serving all the time. Being an admiral in the Royal Pegasus Air Force does that.", she explained. He looked surprised at her, "Your dad is an admiral in the R.P.A.F.? Now I feel intimidated to meet your family.", he said with a smile.
Back over at the living room of Sweet Apple Acres, the friends have played a bunch of round. "Why do you always win at cards?", Pinkie asked Sutakira, who had won every single hand until now. "It's because I cheat. I can count cards", the bluenette dryly said, a slight smirk on his face, "You owe me 20 bits by the way."
"You were cheating!", Pinkie exclaimed, her mouth dropping to the table.
"So, Skywalker and Fluttershy.", McGrath said as he looked on how Sutakira and Pinkie got into a discussion. "I think they're darling together.", Rarity added, taking a sip from her tea. "It's almost too adorable. Well, except for Fluttershy's Yander thing and Skywalker's Chronic Hero Syndrome.", McGrath snarked.
"The most evil thing Fluttershy does most days is pick the flowers out of other people's gardens.", Applejack added, slightly smiling at her boyfriend, who was confusing Pinkie with his intellect. "I know, I have to bribe most of the gardeners in Canterlot to keep it quiet.", McGrath added, he had a slight twitch thanks to becoming more irritated by his two arguing friends.
"Pinkie, can you help me block out people's voices I find extremely annoying?", he asked. Pinkie stopped her arguing and discreetly pointing at Spike who was sitting next to him, "David, he's right there..."
Shining Armor had started to tire as he entered the Crystal Throne room, Morgenstern's massive army had caught them off guard. They had no hope for reinforcement, the enemy had cut off all forms of communication with Canterlot. The Corrupted were vicious, for everyone they took down, three more seemed to appear. Cadance had begun a ritual, which would allow everyone in the castle to be teleported to Canterlot, unfortunately even with all her and Shining Armor's magic, only those in the castle could be teleported, forcing them to leave everyone else behind.
"Even after all this time... After all the preparations we have made, we were still caught off guard... We still weren't ready...", Cadance said sadly, having failed her subjects. Shining Armor was about to comfort his wife but one of his commanders, informed them that the enemy had broken into the castle. "Who is leading them?", Cadance asked, her eyes flaring in anger when she heard it was Morgenstern himself. "Shining, continue the ritual... I will try to hold him off.", not waiting for her husband to respond, Cadance made her way to the Entrance Hall.
On her way there, Cadance blasted every single Corrupted with magic, she came across, as her castle started to fall apart around her. Arriving at the Entrance Hall, she saw him standing there, Morgenstern, flanked by two of his followers, his unnatural glowing blue eyes looking up at her. Cadance walked down the stairs as the sea of Corrupted formed a circle around and Morgenstern ordered his two followers to stand back, telling them to not let anyone intervene with this battle.
In a flash of light, Morgenstern called the Force Calibur to his left hand, taking his fighting stance. Cadance took the insensitive, sending a stream of pink magic at Morgenstern, but he brought up his sword, deflecting it right back at her. Cadance quickly threw up a shielding charm, absorbing the reflected attack into her shield.
Morgenstern raised his free right hand, pinching his fingers together. Cadance began to choke, but she send a powerful magic blast at him.
The projectile was too slow, Morgenstern easily side stepped it, but it does freed Cadance from his telekinetic hold. Once free, Cadance flapped her wings, quickly taking to the air, but this strategy doesn't last very long.
Morgenstern grabbed her telekineticlly, slamming Cadance back to the ground hard. The princess of love coughs up blood, her face bruised. Now knowing flight was not an option, she began to teleport, appearing at Morgenstern's back. She cast multiple powerful spells at him, but Morgenstern once again easily side steps them.
This happened a few more times, Cadance teleporting, casting her spells and Morgenstern side stepping. But this chain was broken, Morgenstern lunged at Cadance. In a moment of distraction, Cadance was hit by Morgenstern in the stomach. She tried to regain herself, but was kicked into a wall by the wind created when Morgenstern swung Force Calibur around.
Quickly casting a healing spell on herself, Cadance conjured her Magic Sword and immediately engaged her enemy in battle. Cadance managed to defend herself well against Morgenstern's onslaught, but she had a feeling the Dark Messiah was still holding back. Cadance rallied and pulled Morgenstern into a bladelock.
Breaking the lock by a powerful telekinetic push, sensing a opening in Cadance fight style, allowing Morgenstern to end the duel with a swift kick to Cadance jaw. She was thrown off balance, staggering back. Then Force Calibur emits a bright light, as he preformed a few powerful flips and leaps on Cadance's shattering her Magic Sword, before doing a back somersault, planting his weapon into the ground, summoning a large energy wave crushing Cadance, a bright light enveloping the castle.
That night, at Shoveitupyourass Street, Phoenix and Elsa walked back to his room arm and arm, having returned from their date. Elsa hugged his arm and sighed happily. "Kyle, that was one of the best days I've ever had.", the ice queen said with a content smile. "Glad you liked it.", he said with a smile of his own. Elsa looked at him and he looked at her, they both touched foreheads and giggle. "I love you Kyle Yveltal Phoenix."
"I love you too Elsa Targaryen.", they both lean in and were just about to kiss when Phoenix heard a moan. "What was that?", he asked, Elsa didn't know either, but the two agreed that it sounded creepy and yet somewhat familiar. "We can worry about that later. Let's get to my room and get some sleep.", he said and his girlfriend agreed, but as the two approached the door to Phoenix's room, the moans got louder and louder and they didn't sound like ghost moans. They sounded like a girl's moans like when she's feeling good.
"Sorry if I sound unladylike, darling. But... HARDER! FASTER!", a voice moaned, they seemed to becoming from McGrath's room. They both tip toe to McGrath's door and Phoenix notice that the door was slightly open, the moans were very loud at this point. "So it was coming from Moody's room and the moans sound like...", Phoenix started before realizing who the female moans belonged to, "Diva..."
Elsa sneaked to the crack of the door when she looked in she gasped and blushed bright red. "Elsa, what is it?", but she didn't say anything, she just motioned him to come closer and look. Phoenix did and there on McGrath's bed was McGrath and Rarity in her human form, the two were completely naked and doing it.
When they saw them Phoenix began to get a hard on and he looked at Elsa she was getting turned on too. They looked at each other and they both began to kiss. In the heat of the moment Phoenix grab Elsa's butt which makes Elsa yelp in surprise and pleasure. Unfortunately McGrath and Rarity heard her. "Darling... I think someone's there.", Rarity said. "Then I think I have to kill someone.", McGrath said, irritated that his play time was interrupted. Hearing this Phoenix and Elsa race back to his room.
They both make it to his room and they breathe a sigh of relief. "Whew. That was too close.", Phoenix said, "Good thing we didn't get caught eh Elsa?", then he notice Elsa was breathing heavily and her face was redder than before. "Elsa, are you okay? I'm sorry if I grabbed you. It was on the spur of the moment I..."
"I'm fine, but... I think watching McGrath and Rarity made me really horny.", she said, turning her eyes to the ground, making her boyfriend blush at this. "Are you sure? Maybe you have a fever or...", he tried to explain it, but he was cut off by her beautiful eyes staring at him.
"Please Kyle. Give it to me. My body's gonna go nuts if we don't do it. It's okay. You can do whatever you want.", she said, staring into his purple eyes. "O-Okay.", Phoenix said nervously as he starts to kiss her. The two slowly made their way to his bed, where they continued to make out. "Kyle... I am really nervous...", she admitted when the two started to undress, leaving them only in their underwear. "Yeah, me too.", he admitted.
"Is it your first time?...", she asked hopeful, but he shook his head, placing his index finger on his chin. "No, I've been nervous before.", he said before turning serious, "So many things have gone wrong in my life... This is the one thing I want to get right.", and with that, the two continued to make out. |
Quest For Equestria | Chapter 86: Sky Temple Divium | Early in the morning, the Harmonic Heroes were summoned to Canterlot Castle. On the way there, McGrath gave Phoenix a punch to the shoulder, "Hey! Why was that good for?", the red head asked as he rubbed his shoulder. "That was for interrupting me and Rarity last night!"
As they arrived, they immediately noticed a large amount of Crystal Ponies having gathered there. "What happened?", Griffifth muttered as they were approached by Celestia. "Something terible my dear Adam.", the princess said, leading them to the hospital wing, "Morgenstern has started his invasion in earnest. The Crystal Empire has fallen."
The group gasped, and they were horrified by what they saw in the hospital wing, a badly wounded Shining Armor sat next to a badly wounded Cadance, who looked as if she was beaten nearly to death. Twilight quickly walked towards her brother and sister-in-law, fussing over them. "I am fine, Twily.", he said, though he was clearly barley being able to keep it together. "I am more worried about Cadance, she fought Morgenstern one-on-one, I had help from my guards.", he said, but the princess of Love wasn't responding, it looked broken, crushed by her failure to protect her kingdom.
"Cadance, don't blame yourself.", Skywalker started but Cadance shook her head, "But it is my fault. It's my fault I couldn't save everyone or defeat Morgenstern.", she said, a tear escaping her eye. "Jason is right, Cadance.", Celestia said, "You saved as many as you could with what little time you had, and not many can claim they have fought Morgenstern one-on-one and life to tell the tale."
But none of this seemed to work on her, Morgenstern hadn't just merely beaten her, but he managed to break her. "We need to find Morgenstern and put an end to him.", Skywalker said, determent to defeat this monster, and the others agreed.
Celestia was deep in thought for a moment, "I think it's time we take a look at the place where this all began.", she muttered before turning to group, "Jason, I want you to accompany me and Luna to Sky Temple Divium. There must be something there that will help us against Morgenstern".
The moment they exited the portal, Skywalker felt himself being filled with a feeling of dread. The temple itself was a grand architecture, the floor seemed to be made of white marble, while the archways and walls had a futuristic touch to them. It would have been a sight to see in its prime, but it seemed that a major battle had taken place and none but the three of them had set a foot in here ever since. To his right, both Celestia and Luna arrived, both wearing dressed in a similar shade to their coats. "This is horrible.", Celestia said as she walked up a flight of stairs, followed closely by Skywalker and Luna as they looked over the ruins. Suddenly, he saw movement in the corner of his eye, and without thinking, Skywalker walked through a door, as if his body was on autopilot.
He could hear Celestia's and Luna's voices behind him as the door closed, leaving him in complete darkness before scene's started to play before him. He was standing in a circular room, a glass floor gave a magnificent views of the clouds below, two people were standing in the center of the room, a man and a woman.
The man was Morgenstern, he wore a black long coat, white armored boots and black trousers. The top of his coat is open to reveal his chest. His hair is spiky in the back, and he has chin-length bangs that parted down to frame both sides of his face. The woman was dressed in a light gray long sleeved hooded shirt with a sleeveless dark brown leather wrapping, trousers, leather calf braces, leather wrap arm bracers, a white sleeveless surcoat, and leather foot wear. Her long very dark almost black reddish hair which fell over her shoulders. What struck Skywalker the most was her faintly glowing amber eyes, the same as his own.
"Join me, Lily. Together we can recreate the Worlds as they should be, everyone will bend to our will.", Morgenstern said, holding out his hand. "What happens to those that don't bend?", Lily asked, holding her weapon on stand-by, ready to defend herself in a moments notice. "They can live in my new world, or they can die in their old one.", Morgenstern said, irritated that she didn't had taken him up on his offer, "I am sorry, but I cannot. I won't allow you to harm my son.", Lily said, activating her lightsaber and revealing a purple blade.
"I don't care if I kill a baby, I don't care if its a God-baby, I'm gonna kill it.", Morgenstern declared as he and Lily engaged each other in battle. He wielded his Keyblade with vicious efficiency and despite Lily's usual dominance on the battlefield, however, she continually gave ground over the entire battle.
Eventually, Morgenstern slammed the wide handle of his Keyblade into Lily's face, stunning the young woman, and the merciless Dark Messiah quickly took the moment to unleash a flurry of blade strikes, which ended with him stabbing Lily through the chest, as he lifted her into the air. "Where is it?", Morgenstern demanded to know, but Lily smiled at him, coughing up some blood, "He's not an it. His name is Skywalker, Jason Sephiroth Skywalker. And he's beyond your reach.", she said before being thrown to the ground in a swift move. "I will find him. And atop his corpse, I will build the new World."
Suddenly the scene disappeared and words flashed in front of Skywalker's eyes...
When the Wielders of the Key are shrouded by darkness and the light is taken... When the blessed ones fail, the graveyard trembles... When the Rulers loses their throne, and the Air Tower abandon... When the Corrupted arrive and make the Worlds bleed... The Aesity of Destruction rises, and fate turns its gaze upon the last of the Caelumaruku.
Meanwhile outside the room, Celestia and Luna tried to break open the door, but neither pushing nor with magic did it butch, but to no avail. "That door won't open, it is reprogrammed it to be keyed to my master's DNA.", a deep voice said behind them.
Turning around, they saw one of the cloaked man who had been with Morgenstern. He was wielding a sword that looked very familiar to Celestia, it looked exactly like her ex-husbands weapon of chose, except this one was different shades of black and red. "Where is the son of Lily?", he said, taking his fighting stance ready to fight them. "He just went through this door, but the moment we approached it closed.", Celestia said summoning her weapon just as her sister.
Celestia attempted to attack the cloaked man by telekinetically ripping debris out of wall and hurling them at him. He merely destroyed the platforms by the force of his will, which Celestia countered by unleashed a barrage of magic arcs. The man effortlessly caught the energy and deflected it back at Celestia, who deflected it into the ceiling above. Celestia looked stunned but proceeded to unleash a second blast, but as a show of his power, the cloaked man absorbed the bolt completely, with no need for deflection, showing them the clear futility of this assault.
As Celestia did this, Luna leaps into action, unleashing her full power against the cloaked. However, the cloaked man own mastery of his power allowed him to hold off Luna's relentless attacks, and seize the offensive.
As the duel continued, Morgenstern entered in a cloud of dark smoke, along side a hooded Lilium. He had heard everything Celestia had told his follower, and this worried him. "Do what you do best.", Morgenstern ordered as he himself went into the chamber. Joining the duel against the sister's, the cloaked man ended up dueling with Luna while Lilium ended up in a battle with Celestia.
Celestia attacked with a lightning fast sweep across the torso, but Lilium summoned her Keyblade, taking the blow and riposted, speeding up her timing, forcing Celestia to retreat. Lilium twirled and blocked a slash, weaving a defensive pattern with her blade. Celestia lunged again, but Lilium was ready, bringing them into a momentary blade-lock.
Lilium shoved hard, breaking the lock and forced Celestia to pull back. In backing away, Lilium attacked once more and unleashing a sudden flurry of attacks that forced a surprised Celestia to pull back. Lilium reached out and started to throw debris at her opponent, throwing it at a much faster speed than anybody had ever done to Celestia. Trying to get a hit on her opponent, Celestia shot energy out of her finger tips, but to her shock, Lilium not only caught it with her bare hands, but redirected it.
Luna disengaged and blocks the redirected lightning with his magic sword. Lilium and the cloaked man launched their own barrage of lightning from their finger tips, but instead of the usual blue lightning, their's was black with a red hue. Unable to deflect or dodge the attack in time, the two sisters joined forces and retorted with a combined magic arcs of their own, facing the opponents with the full brunt of their might.
Celestia and Luna commanded their power to overpower the others, but it wasn't enough, a bright flash enveloped them. Smoke, debris and fire decorated the massive hallway, as the smoke cleared Celestia and Luna were laying on the ground, burned and smoking, but breathing.
Slowly opening her eyes, Celestia saw that her opponents had sustained no damaged. But most shocking was that their hoods had come off. Staring her down, with the same eyes as Morgenstern, were her friend Lily Skywalker and her husband, Caelum.
Entering the chamber, Morgenstern found Skywalker standing at the bottom of the stairs, his eyes blank and a small glowing cube was resting in his hands.
Suddenly, Skywalker snapped out of it and saw the Dark Messiah looming over him. "Morgenstern.", Skywalker said, activating his lightsaber and taking his fighting stance. "Thanks to Celestia, I meet the last person I ever thought to meet.", Morgenstern said who summoned his Keyblade. Skywalker initiating two brief, unsuccessful strikes at Morgenstern's torso before regrouping. He then attempted to use an overhand power attack to overwhelm Morgenstern, but he blocked the attack, maintaining a one-handed grip on his weapon. Skywalker's attack resulted in a blade-lock which Morgenstern broke by casually throwing Skywalker to the ground, but he quickly recovered and advanced.
Skywalker then engaged in an aggressive series of attacks and managed to drive Morgenstern back, surprising him. However, Morgenstern soon counter-attacked, forcing Skywalker back. "Impressive. Most impressive. Celestia has taught you well.", Morgenstern complimented him.
"I will make you pay for what you did to Shining Armor, Cadance and everybody else. I am not afraid of you.", Skywalker said, retaking his fighting stance. A half smile appeared on Morgenstern's face, "You will be.".
Skywalker struck at Morgenstern again, but Morgenstern deprived him of his weapon with a quick flourish, he then lazily slashed at Skywalker, but he dove out of the way of the attack and rolled next to his weapon. Morgenstern performed another casual swing of his weapon, Skywalker quickly retrieved his lightsaber and managed to block the attack inches above his head.
Complimenting Skywalker's agility, taking this moment, he broke the blade lock and quickly slashed at Morgenstern, only for him to block the blow. As the pair's blades locked, Morgenstern taunted Skywalker, complimenting him on his ability to control his fear, but advising him that releasing his anger was the only path to victory. Morgenstern promptly broke the blade-lock and attacked but Skywalker managed to fend him off, leaping over an attack at his legs and flipping above Morgenstern.
Suddenly, pieces of the wall broke off the wall at a amazing speed, being hurled at Skywalker. He whipped around and, as he cut the debris apart, Morgenstern quickly lunged, engaging the knight in a brief bout of swordplay. As the two of them blade-locked once more, Morgenstern telekinetically threw more improvised debris at his opponent, which smashed into the back of Skywalker's head and broke the blade-lock. Morgenstern then pulled away and began telekinetically pummeling Skywalker with various objects in the room, slowly sapping away at Skywalker's morale.
As Skywalker tried and failed to hold off the onslaught of propelled equipment, a misguided piece of piping smashed him through a wall, onto a path way below them. Skywalker managed to recover but so far, Morgenstern had held back, only testing Skywalker's abilities, but now the time had come to put an end to this. In a brutal demonstration of his personal fighting style, Morgenstern began hacking and slashing at Skywalker with a series of heavy fast overhand power blows. Skywalker, overwhelmed by Morgenstern's strength and speed, was forced onto the defensive and driven back.
Engaging Skywalker in a blade-lock, Morgenstern threw him against a wall and pressed his attack. Skywalker managed to recover in time to dodge Morgenstern's slash, which struck the wall where he had been seconds before and caused an eruption of sparks. After avoiding another such attack, Skywalker attempted to escape along the way he had entered the walkway, but Morgenstern quickly cut him off.
Thrown off balance by a powerful telekinetic push from Morgenstern, Skywalker was forced to keep enduring Morgenstern's relentless offense, while he easily blocked and shunting aside all of Skywalker's counters, eventually blade-locking with the Knight Of The Wind again and throwing him into the ground.
Bringing his blade to Skywalker's throat, "You are beaten. It is useless to resist. Don't let yourself be destroyed as your mother did.", Morgenstern taunted him. In response, Skywalker defiantly drove Morgenstern's blade aside and regained his feet before attacking again.
As their bout continued, Skywalker tried to attack him with his Heat Vision, but much to his own shock and horror, Morgenstern managed to block his attack with a laser eye attack of his own. Then he continued to press his assault, his barrage driving Skywalker back and with one swift motion, he disarmed him from him weapon once again and with his free hand he grabbed Skywalker by his throat, lifting him off the ground.
"Don't make me destroy you. Jason Skywalker, you have only begun to discover your power. You have anger, you have hate, but you don't use it. Join me, and I will complete your training. Add your strength to mine, with our combined strength, we can end this destructive conflict, and bring order to the Worlds.", he tried to convince him but Skywalker angrily defied him, "I will never join you!".
"Don't you see, Jason Skywalker? Only someone with my DNA in their body could have entered the Room Of Forbidden Knowledge. You could enter, just like me. I thought you were dead, but now I know. You are my son.", Morgenstern declared.
> Chapter 87: Prelude To Destruction
As the duel continued, Celestia knew she and her sister where unprepared, and thanks to the heightened emotions, unable to defeat Lily and Caelum, the four of them locked into blade-lock. They needed to get Skywalker and get back to Equestria.
Much to their horror, a Skywalker drained of nearly all his strength and physically and mentally a broken mess was thrown backwards through a wall, with Morgenstern calmly following him, one of Skywalker's lightsaber in his right hand, while he crushed the other one under his boot, holding his own Keyblade loosely in his left hand. "Why are you on their side?", Morgenstern asked, pointing the tip of his Keyblade to the hero, "Why fight for a doomed race who wanted to hunt and lock us up when they realized their reign is coming to an end? This is our time, our age. We are the future of the human race. You and me, we could reshape the Worlds into anything we want."
"Your right... People are messy, awkward, sometimes selfish and cruel.", Skywalker said with difficulty standing up, much to the shock of Celestia and Luna. "But they're trying, and I believe, deep down, every human at their core are good and I'm going to make sure they have a chance.", despise being nearly unable to go on, he stood his ground, ready to fight. "If you won't be my knight, you will be my pawn.", Morgenstern said ready to strike.
"Listen to me very carefully, my friend. Killing will not bring you peace.", Celestia said, staring into Lily's eyes, wondering why they had become the same as Morgenstern's. "Peace was never an option.", Lily said, breaking the blade lock and striking at Celestia, but the princess of the sun was taken into a white Rift, sending her back to Equestria.
Caelum was also broken out of his blade lock because Luna was drawn into one of the white Rifts. Lily and Caelum looked around unable to follow them as the Rifts had closed behind them. Then they saw who had created the Rifts, Skywalker was holding up his hand, a white coming off it, having used his Element Of The World power.
Seeing how outnumbered he is, Skywalker created a Rift behind him, quickly falling through it. As the rift closed Lily and Caelum came to stand next to their master, "Well done. You have not just injured them, but threw their heart into confusion as well.", he said to his followers, "Now Skywalker is confused and hesitant. And from those depths of confusion, shall he begin to hate even himself and by attempting to ignore his plight, he will sally forth with greater determination. Towards our future and his doom."
He then held out his right hand, conjuring a orb made out of black mist, creating a raven like Corrupted from it, handing Skywalker's lightsaber to it. "Send this to Ragyo Kiryuin, send her my love.", he told it and the raven flew off into a dark portal. He then turned to his followers, "Prepare the fleet, we are going to finish this war, we are going to take Canterlot."
With a loud thud Skywalker landed on the ground, not sure if he had made it back to Equastria, he heard people call his name, before he dropped to the floor. "Holy shit muffins!", the voice of McGrath said, sounding further and further away. "Who would eat muffins that taste like shit?", the voice of Pinkie asked as he finally slipped into darkness.
A unknown amount of time later, Skywalker wakes up in his room, laying down on his bed. Sitting back up he saw Twilight and Fluttershy sitting next to his bed, Twilight was reading, while Fluttersy was sleeping while laying her head on his bed. "Jason!", Twilight said when she noticed him sitting straight up, "Are you alright? What happened, Celestia and Luna wouldn't say."
Skywalker wasn't answering, he looked broken. As he looked over Fluttershy, he noticed a dried up tear marks. "Hey, what happened with Dashie?", Skywalker asked in a monotone voice. "She was pretty worried sick after you fainted. It took some time, but we managed to calm her down." Fluttershy woke up with a start and a gasp as she realized that she was back in reality and Skywalker were still in bed, just sitting near her. "Jason...", she whispered before crushing Skywalker in a death hug, Skywalker hug back, "I thought I lost you..."
"Flutters, it's gonna take more than a omnicidal maniac to take me away from you."
A few days later, Skywalker and Twilight were walk to the park to meet up with the friends. "I think it's so sweet that you and Fluttershy are going out together!", she exclaimed for the fifteen time or so, "I always thought that you and Fluttershy would be a perfect couple."
Skywalker's heart skips a beat when he hears that, "Do you really believe that me and Flutters are the perfect couple?", he asked and his friend nodded, "To be totally honest, I thought that Fluttershy had no romantic interest in me at all."
"You might be the Knight Of The Wind, Sky. But your still a guy.", Twilight said as the two of them finally get to the park and are greeted by the rest of the gang. "Hey there, Romeo.", Phoenix said, locking him into a head lock. "W-What are you talking about?", Skywalker asked trying to break free from his friend as he messed with his hair. "Arc Mage told us all about how you asked Fluttershy to be your lady!", a blush appeared on Fluttershy's face.
"Did she now?", Skywalker said, looking at Twilight with a resentful glare. "Now, now, there's no need to be embarrassed, Jason and Fluttershy.", Rarity said, with a bright smile, "Why, I think it's rather sweet."
"'Oh, Jason, I'd love to be the mother of your children! I've been waiting so long for you to ask me!'", Phoenix said, doing a very bad imitation of Fluttershy. They heard someone saying hallo to them in the distance. Out of a cloud of dark red mist, Mizuki appeared, startling everyone.
Each of them took their fighting stance, but much to their surprise she held up her hands as if surrendering herself. "Please stand down, I have come in peace. There isn't much time.", she spoke looking around every now and then, "Morgenstern is going to press his final assault on Canterlot, before he is going to reshape the Worlds in his image."
They weren't sure if they could trust her, but something in the urgency in her voice convinced most of them that she spoke the truth.
A few minutes later, Mizuki was held under heavy guard as she began to explain her tale, "At first I believe in the cause Morgenstern was telling, he had raised me with the principle of Supremehuman superiority. I thought we would bring the Worlds under the control of us, restoring the natural order. What I didn't know was that his ideal World was one where everyone and everything is under his direct control, like he had done to Lily and Caelum. His ultimate goal is to rob everyone in the universe of happiness and free will, turning everyone into nihilistic, despairful mind-slaves whose only purpose in life will be to worship him.", she continued to speak.
"He has mobilized New Genesis, from it he will rain down death on your armies and once he has taken the throne he will reshape the Worlds where it all began.", she finished, and everyone pondered what they should be doing now. Despise their preparation, they were no where near ready and now Morgenstern even without Force Calibur, even Skywalker wasn't a match for him.
"Then we stand and fight.", Celestia spoke, refusing to give in to a tyrant, even if it was her former friend. "We will show him that Equestria won't go down without a fight."
"Yeah, we have an army, let's use it!", Sutakira said, and everyone nodded, if they were going to die, they would die free and go out with a bang.
And so the call was send out, the United Nations and Arendelle's army where on stand-by, ready to be deployed at any moment. That night, Skywalker was looking out of the window, thinking if it was true what Morgenstern had said, was this monster indeed his father? He was brought out of his train of thoughts when a knock was heard on the door before Fluttershy, having used magic to adopt her human form entered.
"Jason, we need to talk.", she began, locking the door behind her, "This could be the last few hours of our lives, and I... I want to do it."
"What do you mean, Flutters?", he asked as his girl walked to him, swaying her hips a little more than usual. "Oh, you're so cute when you're timid, Jason.", she said as she started to slowly unbuttoned her dress. Skywalker holds Fluttershy's hands, "Are you doing this because you want to, or because you think you should?" Fluttershy was slightly taken back by this, "I'm... I know what I'm doing. I'm not some child with a crush. I care about you. Don't you care about me?"
Skywalker pulled her in a hug, taking in the scent of her hair before he spoke softly, "I do care about you. I will always be there for you, you do know that right?"
Suddenly the voice of Morgenstern broke the silence of the night sky, the earth starting to quake, "People of Equestria, hear me and obey. I am Morgenstern. I have come to bring an end to all conflict, to forever seize your day and night. By dawn, all will be one in Morgenstern. This mighty body is my church. When I command your surrender, I speak with three billion voices. When I make a fist to crush your resistance. It is with three billion hands. When I stare into your eyes and shatter your dreams and break your heart, it is with six billion eyes. Nothing like Morgenstern has ever come among you, nothing will again. I am the revelation, there was a war in heaven. I won.", it spoke before the sky was ripped open, and a floating island, decorated by futuristic looking buildings, and billions of Corrupted rained down from the skies again. |
Quest For Equestria | Chapter 88: The Dark Messiah Descends | Morgenstern's army clashed with the Alliance's straight on, the heroes greatly outnumbered. Despise this, the army managed to old the corrupted off, despise being only at 50% strength. That was until Morgenstern and his Inner Circle joined the battle, turning the battle around in the enemies favor.
Making their way through the army, Morgenstern destroyed anything that came in his way. "Ever since I was a child, I knew I was not like the others... They called me freak, monster... I knew mine was a special existence... Am I, human? It makes no difference. I have been chosen to save the Worlds.", he thought before spotting the Wonderbolts flying overhead. Turning to his left, he looked at the young man, "Finish them.", he took off his hood, nodding excitedly.
He was Morgenstern's old apprentice, Ventus. He features bright blue eyes, light body build, and golden blond spiky hair, at the front concentrates the spikes on the right side of his head as if windswept, and the back is smoother and more flaky. Summoning his Keyblade holding it in an reversed grip, calling forth a typhoon and began to ride on it after the Wonderbolts. In a moment of distraction, Soarin was hit by Ventus against his wing. Spitfire attempted to strike Ventus from behind as Soarin tried to regain himself, but was kicked towards the ground by Ventus as he swung around to face Spitfire.
Lily immediately engaged 50 men in battle, all defended themselves well against her onslaught, however she drove them back before killing them all. Caelum unleashed a rapid series of successful attacks against the army, creating a path for his master. The Harmonic Heroes had joined their allies on the battlefield, trying to save as many lives as they could. Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Discord and Shining Armor were waiting in the throne room, waiting for Morgenstern.
The doors were blasted open and in he strolled, not quite a strut, but a subtle, confident gait. His eyes blazing and Force Calibur in his hand. "Morgenstern! How did you got in here!?", Celestia asked, horrified and surprised that he made his way through their armies so quickly. "Well you see, your highness. These walls are made of stone, so it wasn't that difficult to...", Morgenstern started to explain, with the casually as if they were discussing the weather, before turning serious again, "Now, stand down, your Highness. I'm not afraid to hit a lady."
"Good, neither am I.", Celestia shot back, seeking vengeance against this monster. "We take him together, sister you take him on the...", Luna started but Celestia's emotions overwhelmed her. "No! I'm taking him now!", she declared calling forth her Magic Sword and charged at Morgenstern, but he retaliate with a blast Azure Beams from his eyes, damage her left wing. "Are you alright?", Discord asked, but Celestia brushed him off.
Morgenstern lunged at the group. In a moment of distraction, Discord is knocked to the side by a kick from Morgenstern in the stomach. Cadance attempted to blast Morgenstern from behind, but was knocked back by a round house kick as Morgenstern swung around to face her. He immediately engaged Luna, Shining Armor and Celestia in battle. Shining Armor defended himself for a limited time due to his mastery of a more defensive style of combat, but he was ultimately knocked down.
"Even your inferior intellect should be able to deduce that there is no hope of defeating me. Now, back down." shoots a blast of red lighting at Celestia but with trouble, she to deflects it into a wall. "I don't think so!", the princess of the sun declared, earning a arrogant smirk from Morgenstern, retaking his fighting stance.
Using the jump as a fulcrum for a vicious overhand, Morgenstern began a sudden flurry of blade work and drove Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and Shining Armor backward towards the wall. As they reached the end of the room, Shining Armor found himself with his back to the wall and attempted to rally, working his way around Morgenstern. However, Morgenstern easily held off Shining Armor's attacks and kicked him against the head, sending the commander flying. Shining Armor was able to recover and landed on his feet, and Morgenstern attacked, viciously driving the two princess back through a corridor. However, they where able to hold off Morgenstern brutal barrage with their own staunch defense.
They entered a small antechamber outside the throne room, Luna attempted to take advantage of an opening in Morgenstern offense, pulling him into a blade-lock. Celestia blasted at the back of Morgenstern neck, but was unsuccessful, as Morgenstern managed to break the lock and bring his blade up to defend himself. Morgenstern renewed his attack, forcing the sisters to retreat through a small corridor into the throne room.
Upon entering the room, a recovered Discord uses a telekinetic push to knock Morgenstern Force Calibur out of his hand, and Princess Luna attempted to use her Magic Sword against Morgenstern. Resorting back to his telekinesis, lightning and Azure Beams. The battle caused heavy damage to Canterlot Castle. Morgenstern took hold of Discord's wrist with one hand and his neck with the other, bending him back. Discord managed to push Morgenstern off him, but Morgenstern returned with a kick breaking his back.
"I'm told that hurts.", Morgenstern said before Cadance encased in magic charged at him with blinding speed. Morgenstern respond by sidestepping and kicking her in the stomach. As Cadance flipped over and landed heavily on her back, Morgenstern summoned Force Calibur back to his hand and attempted to finish her with an overhand blow. Morgenstern was too late, as Luna charged with her Magic Sword and blocked the blow.
As their duel resumed, their battle took them back into the Hall Of Stories, where they engaged in a swift flurry of swordplay. The two engaged in a blade-lock, Luna attempted to end the lock with a sudden Telekinetic push, but Morgenstern countered with his own Telekinetic Blast, beginning a vicious power-struggle. Eventually the air-pocket compressed ruptured and exploded, sending both duelists flying.
Morgenstern recovered first, leaping across the hall slashing at Luna, who managed to evade the attack. But Morgenstern pines her down before breaking both her wings, putting her out of the fight.
Celestia renewed her attack, but Morgenstern managed to direct one of her blows against the story glass. Celestia blasted Morgenstern back to give herself a moment to regain her composure. Morgenstern quickly charged again, driving Celestia, and a rejoined Cadance and Shining Armor out onto the exterior balcony. As they battled along the balcony, Morgenstern kicked Celestia hard in the face, driving her further back and breaking her horn.
As the trio gave ground, Morgenstern started telekinetically blasting metal shards at them. Driven to the end of the balcony, Shining Armor leaped backward onto a pillar, Cadance and Celestia trying the same but Morgenstern hits Celestia wings with a Azure beam, taking her out of the fight. Cadance and Shining Armor retreating along the pillars with Morgenstern in close pursuit.
Attempting to gain the offensive, Cadance attacked first, only to be driven back by Morgenstern relentless assault. Leaping off the pillar onto one of the collection arms below them, Shining Armor again attacked, though Morgenstern easily fended off his blows before knocking Shining Armor aside with a heavy backhand. Morgenstern again seized the offensive, viciously driving Cadance back along the arm, despite her's staunch resistance.
Morgenstern raised his hand, calling forth massive pillars of Lava. Retreating to the relative safety of one of the stone walls, Cadance and Shining Armor watched as the heat and weight of the lava melted the castle, the combatants fled up along the length of a pillar.
Following close behind, Morgenstern kept up his onslaught, driving Shining Armor and Cadance further up the pillar. After a quick bout of swinging attacks, Morgenstern struck Cadance horn, before blasting her into the ground with a stream of his lightning.
"Cadance!", Shining Armor screamed out in horror, before turning to rage at Morgenstern, who was greatly enjoying his look. "See how weak you'r realy are? You can't even protect the one you love."
"You pay for that!", Shining Armor declares as he began another bout of blade work with Morgenstern before breaking off. Morgenstern leaped above Shining Armor, attempting to take advantage of this and Shining Armor attacked, but Morgenstern defended himself and counter-attacked, beginning another flurry of swordplay. As Morgenstern leap at Shining Armor, blade angled for the kill, he left himself open, allowing Shining Armor to executed a vicious teleportation finishing move.
Shining Armor teleported right in front of Morgenstern, his horn just touching his left eye ball, and blasting it with all the energy he had. As Shining Armor takes a moment to recompose himself, Morgenstern grabs his by his throat smashing him into a wall before looking Shining Armor in the eyes, struggling to breath.
"I have never known pain, nor fear, nor weakness. I know only destruction.", Morgenstern declared, his right eye start to charge his Azure Beam as to Shining Armor's shock, Morgenstern left side starts to regenerate. As Morgenstern blast Shining Armor point bank range, he could barley conjure up his famous shield before taking the full blow.
Morgenstern drops a barley alive Shining Armor on the ground, as he turns around around as he lifts them all up, dragging them towards the Throne room before taking a seat. "Be at peace. The struggle of life will soon be over for you.", Morgenstern said, slouching back into the throne. "J-Jason, Twily and the others will just blast you with the Elements' powers.", Shining Armor said, lifting his head slightly.
"And do what? Turn me to stone or make me regress in age?", Morgenstern asked amused, a slight smirk on his face, but it disappeared when Shining Armor coughs up some blood. "Careful, you have a collapsed lung.", Morgenstern said using his own X-ray vision, a slight hint of worry in his tone. "Do not worry you have fought bravely. But I am smarter, faster and stronger. It ended the only way it could.", he then turned to Celestia, who was laying at his feet.
"Anyways, Celestia. How do you feel? Knowing that Jason will soon be mine?", he asked. Celestia didn't answered, she couldn't fight, but she wouldn't give Morgenstern the satisfaction of letting him humiliate her. "A bit defiant, I see. Good, good. Otherwise this would be boring. Oh, by the way, I know about your attraction towards both Jason and Lily Skywalker.", Princess Celestia's eyes widened like dinner plates, "H-how did you!?..."
"I didn't, you just confirmed it.", he spoke, "Jason loves you too, you know. One one hand, you had always been the mother to him he never had. On the other hand, he too had romantic feelings for you. Not strong enough to become a full fledged love. But he liked you in a romantic way.", the confused look on Celestia's face sealed it all for him. |
Two Paths | pre | With that, Applejack left. Once, when she was around a block away from Twilight, she turned back and waved back at her marefriend, but Twilight only stood and watched. When Applejack finally trotted out of sight, Twilight sighed and began to trudge away from the library.
I think it's Friday. Twilight fixed her gaze in the direction of Ponyville Town Hall. Cantertrot Avenue should be that way. She began to walk over to her new destination, but the oppressive weight did not leave her steps. This is going to be a long day.
With nopony nearby as Twilight walked toward the busier areas of Ponyville, Twilight had only her sighs and her thoughts to keep her company. "If only I could just..." Twilight let out a long sigh as she trailed off. Though the end of her sentence remained unspoken, the thought screamed with perfect clarity in her mind.
Disappear.
Cantertrot Avenue in Ponyville had been the location of the town's marketplace since its founding, and Ponyville was a town that stuck by its traditions. When Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash arrived, the street was filled with ponies buying and selling goods. It was a typical Friday afternoon, and any Ponyville vendor worth his salt knew that Friday was the busiest day of the week on Cantertrot.
Needless to say, Fluttershy was terrified.
"I should have done this earlier," she mumbled, keeping close to Rainbow's side. "Maybe I can wait till next week to get my groceries."
Rainbow stopped and grabbed Fluttershy by the shoulders. Forcing her friend to look her in the eye, Rainbow said, "We're doing this, Fluttershy. They're just ponies. There's nothing to worry about."
Fluttershy took a deep breath and nodded. "I'll try," she said, forcing a smile onto her face.
"That's what I like to hear." Rainbow approached a nearby carrot vendor. "Now, how many carrots did you say you needed?"
Fluttershy didn't respond. After waiting for a moment, Rainbow turned to see a Fluttershy blinking rapidly and pointing across the street. "Is that Twilight?"
Somewhere in the crowd, Rainbow caught a glimpse of lavender, then another, then more than a glimpse. True to Fluttershy's word, Twilight was walking along Cantertrot Avenue.
That, however, was not the thing that surprised Rainbow. What surprised her--and what caused her to crinkle her nose--was the frown on Twilight's face, the heaviness of her steps, the slouch in her shoulders.
Apparently, Fluttershy saw the same things. Gasping, she immediately rushed to Twilight's side. "Oh, Twilight, are you okay? What's the matter?"
Twilight lifted her bowed head and chuckled. "Hey, Fluttershy. I guess it's appropriate that you're the first pony I see here."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Rainbow rushed to Fluttershy's side, shielding Fluttershy with one wing as she glowered at Twilight.
Twilight flinched and grimace. "Sorry." She sighed. "I've been saying that a lot lately."
"It's fine, Twilight." Fluttershy took a moment to cast a sharp glance at Rainbow before stepping closer to Twilight. "Just tell us what's the matter."
Biting her lip, Twilight glanced about before answered. "Okay. I guess the only way to say it is that the princesses offered me a job."
Rainbow cocked her head. "What, like egghead-in-chief?"
Twilight glared at her. "Yes, Rainbow. That's exactly it." Turning her attention back to Fluttershy, she said, "Princess Luna wants me to be her chief adviser. Celestia herself recommended me."
Fluttershy nodded, a frown on her face. "I think I understand, Twilight."
"I don't." Rainbow shrugged and tossed her mane. "That sounds like the coolest thing ever. So how're you gonna advise her from out here? Do you have some sort of crystal ball or something to reach her with or..." Rainbow trailed off as he saw the deepening frown on Twilight's face. "Oh." Her wings drooped as her voice grew quiet. "Bummer."
"Don't you have any choice?" Fluttershy asked.
Twilight began to nod but just shrugged instead. "They said that I shouldn't feel obligated to accept, but what does that even mean? My whole life has been building up to this. How can I say no to the opportunity of a lifetime?"
"Maybe you should talk with them," Rainbow suggested, her posture straightening and voice rising in volume with each syllable.
"They said they want me to visit them in Canterlot so we can discuss the position," Twilight said. "I'm not sure when I should do it, though."
"Do it as soon as you can," Rainbow answered without missing a beat. "Sometimes, you've just got to get things done." She nodded at Fluttershy. "Isn't that what I say?"
Fluttershy giggled and nodded. "It's true."
Twilight shook her head. "I'll need to talk to Applejack about it. We already have so many things to do and plans to make..." She flared her nostrils and snapped, "Why does it have to be now?"
Fluttershy's heart sank, and she could think of nothing to do but pat Twilight on the back. "There, there. Just let it out, Twilight. It's okay."
With a sigh, Twilight let out a quiet chuckle. "Not really, but thanks, girls." She pulled away from Fluttershy and began to walk away. "I think I'll be going now."
"Are you sure?" Fluttershy asked, eyebrows furrowed and mouth agape.
Rainbow nodded. "Yeah. You sure you don't want to talk about this?"
Twilight shook her head and offered a small half-smile. "I think I ought to sort things out in my own head first," she said. "Thanks for the offer, though. I'll see you around."
"Yeah," Fluttershy and Rainbow both said, looking down at their own hooves. By the time they looked up, Twilight was lost in the crowd, trotted off without a hint as to where she had gone. |
Two Paths | Two Steps Forward | As soon as Twilight left, Rainbow felt a chill course through her body. She shifted her wings, stretching each muscle as she tried to drive out the strange discomfort, but it refused to disappear. Fighting the urge to fly off, Rainbow turned and put a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder.
"What was that stuff you needed again, Fluttershy?" she asked. She shook her head when she noticed that she was speaking much faster than intended.
"Um, just some ingredients for a vegetable soup I'm making tonight," Fluttershy answered. Leaning in, she asked, "Are you alright, Rainbow Dash?"
Rainbow grimaced and tossed her head back. "Yeah. Sure. I'm fine. I guess I'm just bummed out for Twilight and Applejack."
Fluttershy frowned and looked at the ground. "I hope they can figure things out soon. It must be so hard to make a choice like that."
"Yeah." Rainbow furled and unfurled her wings, gritting her teeth as she shifted about. "Look, can we get moving. I just want to go back home and try to get this out of my head."
Rainbow raised an eyebrow at how Fluttershy's shoulders slouched, but then Fluttershy said, "You mean you don't want to go back to the cottage?"
Rainbow's eyes snapped open as Fluttershy's gaze fell earthward. Rainbow shook her head violently. "No, no," she said, firmly grabbing Fluttershy's shoulders. "That's not what I meant." She chuckled as she pulled Fluttershy in for a quick hug. "I was talking about your house, I guess." She laughed again. "Weird."
Fluttershy joined in the laugh, albeit somewhat louder than Rainbow. "It's not that weird," she said. She grabbed a slip of paper from her saddlebag and handed it to Rainbow. "Here's my shopping list. If you want, we could split it. Divide and..." Fluttershy crinkled her nose and shook her head. "Divide and buy things faster."
Rainbow failed in her best attempt to stifle a guffaw. "Alright, Fluttershy," she said, tearing the list roughly in half and giving the smaller piece back to Fluttershy. "See you when you finish up." She leaned in and whispered, "We'll see who can conquer their shopping list first."
Fluttershy sighed and rolled her eyes, but that didn't mask the hint of a blush that blossomed in her cheeks. "Sounds good," she said. "Would you mind meeting back up at the Carousel Boutique? I'd like to visit Rarity while I'm out here."
"Sure," Rainbow said, unfurling her wings and turning toward the myriad shops. "Anything you want." She stretched her hind legs and glanced back at Fluttershy. "I'll be done in a dash," she said, and she was gone in a multicolored blur.
A smile crept onto Fluttershy's face as she watched her friend rush off. "I'll see you later, Dash," she murmured. She took a moment to watch the streak of color Rainbow left behind as it began to fade. As Rainbow's trail slowly diminished into nothing, Fluttershy checked her part of list and trotted over to a nearby tomato stand.
Dozens, if not hundreds, of ponies mulled about the marketplace. Ponyville's busiest street was awash in colors and voices and emotions and conversations, and everypony seemed in high spirits as they basked in the warm light of the midday sun.
All, of course, except for Twilight.
What do I do? The question echoed in Twilight's mind endlessly, refusing to leave or indeed to soften its constant clanging in Twilight's head. What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?
There was no easy answer. Twilight Sparkle, the pony who had defeated Nightmare Moon, Discord, and King Sombra, could not overcome the dilemma posed by one simple letter by with one simple purpose. But what is my answer?
On one hoof, this has to be the opportunity of a lifetime, Twilight thought, weaving through the throng of ponies walking along Cantertrot Avenue. It's what I've wanted since I was a foal. She could feel a sour taste spreading across her tongue, unable to determine whether it was real or imagined. Of course, things have changed since then. How can I just leave Applejack here when we've only just started dating?
Out of the corner of her eye, Twilight saw a mint-green unicorn--Lyra was her name, if she recalled--waving. She forced a herself to smile and waved back, but she lowered her head as soon as Lyra passed her. Nice pony, she thought as some small fraction of a smile returned to her face. A bit odd, maybe, but she really has a passion for her studies. I probably wouldn't know half the things about advanced scrying magic if it weren't for her.
A thought screamed into Twilight's mind, bringing her to a stop and leaving her face pale. She probably wouldn't know half those things either. In the years since her arrival in Ponyville, Twilight had found a role for herself in that quiet little town. She was a source of knowledge, expertise, organization, and leadership for everypony. I've helped Lyra with her studies for all these years. If I go, who will run the library? Who will run Winter Wrap Up? Who will substitute teach for Cheerilee?
Yet again, her train of thought led only to more questions. She grit her teeth. I could just scream! I could slam the ground with my hooves, growl and shout and gnash, call down fire with a flare of my hooves, run and run and never stop running...
But she didn't. All she did was stand stock still in the middle of Cantertrot Avenue, eyes staring straight ahead as ponies glanced her way before passing by without a second thought.
The meeting. The thought broke Twilight out of her daze and she shook her head. I should go see the princesses. Soon. Really soon. Now.
Suddenly, Twilight found herself cantering along, unable to stop, unable and unwilling to slow down. I should probably send a letter ahead of time so they can prepare, but they should have some time this weekend. She glanced toward the northwest end of town and the Ponyville Train Station. They should have trips well into the evening, she thought, but she slowed down as yet another thought struck her.
I should probably let Applejack know. She sighed. Her ears went flat and she closed her eyes as she pictured her marefriend's face. Poor Applejack. She probably won't like that one bit. She blinked as she realized how misty her eyes were and shook her head. I'll have to make sure she's okay first.
Either way, she thought, I can leave first thing tomorrow morning, as soon as I get anything squared away. I'll have Spike write a letter-- She furrowed her brow and hesitated. What will happen to Spike?
She brushed the question away with a shake of her head. I can only deal with so much. It's like Rainbow Dash said. Right now, I need to get things done. She put on a smile and lifted her gaze, finally giving her meandering walk some direction. Stop one: the library. Stop two: Sweet Apple Acres.
When Rainbow, gripping bags full of various vegetables with her wings, arrived at the Carousel Boutique, Fluttershy was nowhere to be seen. No surprise there, Rainbow thought, smirking as she approached the door to Rarity's home and place of business. She walked in and waved as she saw Rarity and Fluttershy talking near the kitchen.
Rainbow stopped and blinked. "Huh?"
Fluttershy was the first to notice her. "Hello, Rainbow Dash," she said, waving and trotting up to her.
Rarity was soon to follow. "Why, Rainbow Dash, how are you?" Her eyes seemed to sparkle as she gasped loudly. "I haven't seen you in so long."
"It's been, like, three days," Rainbow deadpanned. She set her groceries down and nodded to Fluttershy. "Did you have any problems getting anything?"
Fluttershy tapped one of her saddlebags with a hoof and grinned. "I got everything we need."
Rarity's lips were starting to curl up, and her nose was crinkled up. It took Rainbow a moment to notice, but as soon as she did, she lowered her head a bit and said, "Sorry for interrupting."
Rarity raised her head and painted a smile onto her face. "Oh, it's fine, Rainbow," she said stiffly. "We were just talking about Twilight's unfortunate predicament." She turned to Fluttershy. "Do continue, Fluttershy. Please."
Fluttershy nodded, a frown beginning to dawn on her face. "Like I was saying, she has to go to Canterlot to speak with the princesses. I just hope she can figure things out. Poor thing."
"That's just dreadful." Rarity covered her mouth with a hoof. "And just imagine how Applejack must feel. Opening her heart to somepony and just watching it all unravel. It's so tragic."
Rainbow bit her lip and cleared her throat. Rarity glanced at her, and she seized on the opportunity. "Things aren't over yet, Rarity. They'll figure things out." She averted her eyes. "I'm sure they will."
Rarity stiffened and looked away. "Ahem, well, yes. Perhaps." She patted her mane with a hoof and lifted her muzzle skyward.
"So, uh, how are you doing?" Fluttershy ventured. Her eyes darted between Rainbow and Rarity.
"Oh, same old, same old," Rarity said with a shrug. "I haven't seen you around too much lately. We barely even have our regular spa appointments any more."
Fluttershy flinched. "I know," she whispered, hiding behind her mane. "I promise I'll visit more. It's just... things get busy."
Rarity arched an eyebrow and leaned forward. "Busy? I don't recall you using that excuse since, well, you know." She cleared her throat loudly and grinned at Fluttershy, but she killed it as soon as she saw a glare flash across Fluttershy's face. She straightened herself and brought her head back up. "Well, erm, indeed. We will simply have to enjoy each other's company when we can."
Fluttershy smiled back, ignoring Rainbow's furrowed brow and tilted head. "That sounds nice."
Rarity took a peek outside a window and nodded. "I don't want to keep you two. I heard that it'll be a new moon today. You should get home before it gets too dark."
Fluttershy nudged Rainbow and turned to the door. "Okay. Thank you for the warning. It's been nice catching up with you."
Blinking rapidly, Rainbow grabbed her bags and nodded. "See you, Rarity," she said, hastening to join Fluttershy.
"Yes." Rarity followed her two friends as they exited the boutique. "Do come back soon. Take care, Fluttershy. Goodbye, Rainbow Dash." Not too long after her friends walked out, she reached the door and pulled it shut with her magic. Smirking, she started to whistle a tune and walked upstairs to her studio.
Outside, Rainbow fixed her gaze on Fluttershy and raised an eyebrow. "How'd you finish up so fast?"
"I guess I just got lucky." Fluttershy smirked and nudged Rainbow. "You also gave me the short end of the list."
Rainbow chuckled and hefted her bags. "Yeah, I guess so."
"So how much do I owe you?" Fluttershy began to pull out her coin purse, but Rainbow shook her head.
"It's on me," Rainbow said, grinning as she shifted her grip on the groceries.
"Oh, no," Fluttershy gasped. She pulled out her purse anyway and began to open it. "I couldn't just take all that from you, Dashie. I don't want to take advantage of you."
Rainbow laughed loudly, almost dropping her bags in her mirth. "I insist, Fluttershy. It's the least I can do since you when you're letting me hang around your place." The two ponies continued their walk in silence for a few moments, watching the Everfree Forest come into view as they reached the edge of Ponyville.
Suddenly, some impulse gripped Rainbow. Stopping the the middle of the street, she pulled Fluttershy into a tight, if brief, embrace. "You're my best friend," she said. "You know that, Fluttershy?"
Fluttershy giggled even as she shrunk away and blushed. "I know that," she mumbled. She shook herself and hugged Rainbow back. "You're my best friend too, Dashie."
"I mean it." Rainbow stared directly into Fluttershy's eyes. "You've been my friend since flight school, and you stuck by me for all these years." She set her jaw and took a deep breath before continuing. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Fluttershy." She broke eye contact and turned away. "Just, uh, I guess I wanted you to know that, or something."
Fluttershy let her mouth hang open for a moment and raised an eyebrow. "I don't think I've ever heard you talk like that before, Rainbow Dash." She nudged her friend and giggled as they both resumed their walk out of town. "Why aren't you like this more often"
"I know." Rainbow started to wave a hoof before thinking better of it and just shrugging. "I mean, I've got a reputation to keep, you know? I can't be all sappy in front of everypony."
Fluttershy pouted and looked Rainbow in the eyes. "Why not? I'm sure nopony would judge you for being yourself."
With a snort, Rainbow shook her head. "That's the thing, Fluttershy. Of course you'd say that." It wasn't that cold out, but she felt the urge to lean against Fluttershy. "You're not like most ponies. You're just... I don't know. I can just be myself around you. It's cool."
Fluttershy just nodded and leaned back into Rainbow. "I'm glad to hear that, Dashie. And you really shouldn't worry about it so much. You're wonderful just the way you are."
"Yeah. You too." Rainbow faced Fluttershy and grinned. "Thanks for being a friend, Fluttershy."
Fluttershy nuzzled Rainbow's cheek and beamed back. "Thanks for returning the favor, Dashie."
Getting a letter sent to Princess Celestia was simple enough--just as Twilight expected. After so many years, it was almost second nature for Spike to transcribe Twilight's words. Her stop at the library was brief--she wanted to see Applejack before sundown and couldn't afford to waste time--but she still left with a smile on her face. Spike had promised a nice dinner when she got home, and that promise left Twilight with something to look forward to at the end of her impending conversation with Applejack.
Before long, just as the sun began to set, Twilight arrived at the Apple family's front door. The wooden porch creaked with her every step, and the noise left her paralyzed as she prepared to knock. Just as she broke out of her hesitation and began to lift a hoof, the door swung open, revealing none other than Applejack.
Almost on instinct, Twilight backed away, then stepped forward to give Applejack a hug. Applejack, on the other hoof, wasted no time reaching forward to embrace Twilight. She wore a grin and held Twilight close as she murmured into her marefriend's ears, "I'm glad you stopped by, Twi. Oh, Celestia! I'm glad you're here."
"Hi, Applejack," Twilight replied, forcing herself to grin in the hopes that it would mask her faint blush.
Twilight needn't have worried. The two ponies rocked back in forth in their embrace. Applejack closed her eyes and buried her face in Twilight's coat, letting everything wash away. Unfortunately, the hug couldn't let forever, and Applejack finally pulled her head away from Twilight. She squeezed her marefriend one more time and asked, "What're you doing out here?"
Twilight sighed. "Well, actually, I sort of had a reason for coming." She reached for another hug, and Applejack gave it without hesitation.
"It has to do with the letter, doesn't it?" Applejack asked in a low voice.
"Yes." Twilight nodded slowly.
Applejack gulped. She opened her mouth, but it took her a moment to speak. "I... Do what you think is right. Don't just try to do what you think I want to you to do or anything. This is about you, and... Uh." Applejack drew her lips into a thin line before speaking again. "Yeah. I'll support you no matter what you choose."
Twilight smiled and kissed Applejack on the cheek. "I still haven't decided, but thanks. I actually wanted to talk about that trip to Canterlot the princess want me to take."
"You trying to figure out when to go?" Applejack shrugged. "I thought you'd try a few weeks from now. Give us some time to square things away here so we don't have to scramble too much when you've got to choose. How long are they giving you to accept, again?"
Twilight's face fell. When she started speaking, she started slowly. "Well, they said I have four weeks, but I was thinking that I shouldn't put things off too long." She paused and lowered her gaze. "I was thinking that I'd go tomorrow."
Applejack's eyes snapped wide open. "What?"
Twilight stepped back. "I'd be back by Sunday night. It'd only be a two day trip, and that way I could talk to them in-person before I make a decision." She straightened herself and leveled her gaze back at Applejack. "I have to go some time. It might as well be now."
"But, Twilight, so soon?" Applejack hung her head. "What about all the things we have to do? There's the old barn we've got to tear down, there's telling everypony else, and that's not even counting just run-of-the-mill, everyday stuff."
Twilight crinkled her nose and frowned. "I sent a letter to the princesses already, Applejack. I'm going tomorrow. I promise I'll come back as soon as I can. Besides, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy already know."
"Well what's the point of asking me for feedback if you're just gonna up and do whatever you feel like?" Applejack planted her feet, stopping short of a full scowl.
Twilight had no such reservations. Glaring at Applejack, she said, "Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy thought it was a good idea."
Applejack rolled her eyes. "Rainbow told you so? Well I guess I'd obviously listen to her and all. No reason to doubt her or nothing."
Twilight continued to glare for a moment, but her resolve soon faltered, and all she could offer was a sheepish smile. "I guess that's fair," she said. Taking a deep breath, she wiped the smile off her face. "I just wanted to let you know what was going on. Look, I'm having a tough time with all this too. We have a whole four weeks before I have to make a final decision. This way, I can be here the rest of that time."
Applejack nodded, and after a moment her glare dissipated into a softer frown. She grabbed her hat and held it against her chest. "I'm sorry, Twi," she said. She grit her teeth and forced herself to keep speaking. "I... I'll miss you. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yes." Twilight lifted a hoof, hesitated, and shrugged. "I'll miss you too. Will you meet me at the train station tomorrow morning?"
Applejack flinched and as her muscles tensed up. "I... can't," she managed. "I've got so much to do, and I'm..." She growled, letting the sound build up to a guttural scream. "I'm sorry."
Twilight nodded as her ears went flat and her shoulders slouched. "That's fine," she said. "I'll be back in a couple of days. The farm comes first." She leaned forward and hesitated. "Uh, good night."
"Good night, Twi." Applejack leaned forward and kissed Twilight on the lips. The contact was hesitant, fleeting, but it was there. Both blushing, they began to shuffle away from each other.
"Well... I'll have Spike let you know what time I'm coming back." Twilight stopped short of lifting a hoof and kept her head low. "Maybe you can be there when my train pulls in."
"Yeah." Applejack followed suit, seeming as if she'd collapse into herself. "Maybe."
"Well, bye." Twilight turned and began to walk away. She forced her head up, but it hung limply from her neck all the same, and she walked back to the library on heavy hooves.
The afternoon sped by in a whirlwind for Rainbow Dash, and the night came before she had time to realize it. As much as she loved speed, her heart sank when the realization finally sunk in.
"Would you just look at the time?" Fluttershy remarked. She glanced out a window at the gathering darkness. "And it's so dark outside. I guess Rarity was right about that new moon. Don't you think so, Dashie?"
Rainbow nodded limply. She knew where this was going.
She noticed that Fluttershy's face was creased with worry. Before Rainbow could do anything, Fluttershy was upon her, draping a wing over her withers and leaning into her side. "Are you okay, Dashie?"
"Yeah." Rainbow shrugged. "I guess I'm just tired or whatever."
Part of a smile returned to Fluttershy's face, but she stayed by Rainbow's side. "Well, it is getting late."
Rainbow nodded. "Yeah," she said with a shrug. "I guess so."
Fluttershy pointed at the couch. "Well, I left your blankets out, so let me know if you need anything."
Rainbow nodded and scuffed a hoof on the floor. "Okay." She stepped forward and reached for a hug.
Grinning broadly, Fluttershy wrapped Rainbow in a tight embrace. It didn't last long, though, and she was heading off to her room in a matter of moments. "Good night, Dashie."
"Uh... Yeah." Rainbow blinked a few times and began to meander back to the couch. "Night." With nothing left to do, Rainbow doused the lights and wrapped herself in her blankets, ready for another good night's sleep...
Cold.
It only took a few minutes for Rainbow to realize that she was cold. Again. Even after Fluttershy had given her extra blankets the night before. She rolled her eyes and tried to pull the blankets closer to her body, but it was no use. She couldn't keep away the creeping chill that nipped at her hooves. After trying to squeeze her eyes shut and overcome the cold through sheer force of will, Rainbow threw up her hooves and groaned.
Time for another trip to Fluttershy's room.
Rainbow flicked her tail as she stood to go see Fluttershy. With no moon to light the night sky, darkness surrounded her, and it took a mammoth amount of attention to keep from banging into one or another of the pieces of furniture Fluttershy filled her house with. Everything served a purpose, and Rainbow could hear the quiet breath of sleeping animals coming from many of the would-be tripping hazards, but Rainbow could only furrow her brow and push forward. Great day for a new moon.
Despite the unusual blackness, it didn't take long for Rainbow to reach Fluttershy's room. If anything, the cold was more severe this night, so Rainbow didn't hesitate to walk right up to Fluttershy's sleeping form. Poking Fluttershy in the shoulder, she said, "Hey, Shy. Fluttershy."
After a few prods, Fluttershy's eyes slowly opened. A quiet squeak escaped her mouth as she yawned and rolled over to face Rainbow. Her eyes drooped as she smiled and asked, 'Is something wrong, Dashie?"
"Nah." Rainbow waved a hoof and tossed her head back. "It's just a bit chilly, is all."
"Oh." Fluttershy's grin grew wider and her eyes narrowed. She rolled over so her back faced Rainbow, glancing to her friend as she said, "I'm pretty cold too."
"Um, yeah." Rainbow bit her lip and poked Fluttershy again. "So, uh, sorry for waking you and all."
"We can snuggle, if you want to." Fluttershy buried her face in her blankets, but Rainbow could see her ears redden.
In fairness, Rainbow was blushing just as furiously. "Uh, you sure?" she forced herself to say. Her wings began to spread, and she quickly unfurled them before forcing them back to her side.
"Of course." Fluttershy drew in a deep breath and rolled over to face Rainbow. "I mean, if you don't mind."
Rainbow nodded silently. She opened her mouth and let out a strange strangled sound. Clearing her throat, she said, "Sure."
Fluttershy shifted herself to the far side of the bed. "Come on in, then."
Rainbow wasted no time. She buried herself in blankets and wrapped her hooves around Fluttershy. She didn't know what Fluttershy was talking about--She doesn't even feel cold--but she didn't say a word. All she did was smile and close her eyes as Fluttershy nestled her head in the crook of Rainbow's neck. This feels nice, Rainbow thought.
"Good night, Fluttershy," she said after a moment, eyes still closed.
Fluttershy nodded, tickling Rainbow's neck with her mane. Rainbow couldn't see it, but her smile was almost impossibly wide as she said, "Good night, Dashie." |
Two Paths | Worlds Apart | Twilight trotted up to the only platform of the Ponyville Train Station. Her luggage levitated beside her and Spike trailed a few feet behind her. She stepped up to the edge of the platform and peered out into the distance, seeing nothing but train tracks stretching southward to Ghastly Gorge.
It was dark. It was quiet. The train wasn't scheduled to arrived for quite some time. Twilight sighed.
"Come on," Spike called, pointing in the direction of a nearby booth. Inside, a pony sat with his head resting against a hoof, eyes drooping along with his entire body. "You've gotta get your ticket, Twilight."
Twilight forced herself to smile and nodded. Trotting over, she flashed her grin at the pony inside, who smirked and snorted.
"Not a trip for pleasure, I take it," he said, glancing down at a sheet of paper. "Where'll you be getting off?"
Twilight stopped and tilted her head. "Uh, Canterlot," she stammered before leaning in and narrowing her eyes. "What are you talking about?"
The pony shrugged. "You just looked like you weren't too happy. That'll be twenty bits."
Twilight scowled and dropped her bits onto the counter. "Well, that was pretty rude of you to say either way."
For a moment, the pony's eyes went wide, and he sat up and cleared his throat loudly. He offered up a toothy grin and said, "Uh, sorry. Look, lady, just don't tell my manager."
Now it was Twilight's turn to snort. "I don't know," she snarled. "I might just go find him and tell him about how rude you just were."
Before the ticket pony could respond, Twilight jumped when she felt a scaly claw poking her in the side. On reflex, she glared down at Spike, who backed away and chuckled. "Uh, sorry, Twilight, but maybe we should, uh, watch for the train," he said. He pointed to the end of the platform farthest away from the ticket booth. "Over there."
Twilight glowered at the ticket pony out of the corner of her eye and snatched up her ticket in her magic. "Sure, Spike. Let's." Without a word to the ticket pony, she turned and stomped back to the edge of platform.
The ticket pony pressed his hooves together and said, "Good day, miss." When she only swished her tail in reply, he bit his lip and buried his face in his hooves.
"Don't you think that was a little harsh, Twilight?" Spike asked. "Like, what the hay?"
Twilight huffed and rolled her eyes. "He was being rude. Didn't you hear him?"
Spike crossed his arms and stared back.
Twilight let out a sigh. "Okay, maybe I'm a bit testy this early in the morning, but he still shouldn't have said those things."
Spike's arms remained crossed.
Twilight rubbed her face and groaned. "Why can't I just disappear, Spike? Just curl up in a ball and let everything go away?"
"Uh..." Spike hugged Twilight's leg. "It's okay, Twilight."
Twilight sat down and shook her head. "It's not," she said. "Not really. I just hope Applejack will be okay over the weekend."
Spike hid a roll of his eyes by glancing away toward the train tracks. "I'm sure she'll be fine," he said. "I'm more worried about you right now."
"Oh, Spike, that's sweet of you to say." Twilight nuzzled him, but he pushed her head away.
"Not really," he said. "Twilight, this is, like, the most important thing ever. You just got a job offer from the princesses, and all you can think about is Applejack."
Twilight frowned and narrowed her eyes. "I'm worried about her."
Spike sighed and nodded. "I know." He put a claw on Twilight's leg. "But remember to worry about yourself, too. Make sure you're doing things for the right reasons."
Twilight was silent, her face unreadable. For a long moment, she stared at Spike, then tore her gaze away with a sigh. "Make sure you don't just eat junk food all day," she mumbled.
Spike's gasped and put his claws on his cheeks, but Twilight wasn't looking. With a loud harrumph, he crossed his arms and said, "I've got it covered. And by the way, I can keep the library running while you're gone."
Twilight, with downcast eyes, chuckled. "I hadn't even thought of that," she remarked. "I'm... glad you're on top of things."
Spike poked Twilight in the side again. "Dude, you're acting like this is the end of the world or something. All you're doing is having a meeting with the princesses. No big deal."
Twilight nodded. "We'll see."
The sound of a train whistle flew in from the south, and Twilight glanced down the tracks to watch the Friendship Express as it pulled into Ponyville Station.
"Well, that's my ride." Twilight offered a thin smile to Spike. "I'll see you in a day or two, okay?"
Spike saluted her before giving her a hug. "I've got it covered. Have fun in Canterlot."
Twilight guffawed and shook her head. "We'll see," she said. "I'm not counting on it."
Just as the train came to a full stop, Spike threw his arms up and rolled his eyes. "You've got to be less of a grump," he said. "What would Pinkie say if she saw you like this?"
"Pinkie..." Twilight sighed and lowered her head. "I can hardly remember the last time I saw her. I should visit her when I get back. Can you make a note of that." She turned to Spike to find that he already had a scroll in hand.
"Done and done," he said, grinning as he scribbled away with his quill. After a moment, he rolled the parchment back up and put it away--where to, Twilight had no idea.
Twilight smirked. "I guess I need you more than you need me," she said, which only prompted another, tighter hug from Spike.
"I'll miss you, okay?" Spike squeezed Twilight's leg again as Twilight embraced him with her other foreleg.
"I'll miss you too, Spike." She blinked back the tears that were rapidly forming in her eyes and pulled away. She lifted her luggage with her magic as she said, "I need to go. I'll see you soon."
Spike smiled. "See you!" he said, turning to run away as Twilight walked onto the train. It only took a moment for Twilight to find a seat, and from there it was a matter of minutes before the train resumed its long steady crawl to the capital city of Canterlot.
As always, Applejack awoke with the sun. She got out of bed and sighed. Twilight's probably gone by now.
Twilight would be back soon, but that did nothing to fill the hole in Applejack's stomach as nibbled at her breakfast. She didn't enjoy it much. The food was tasteless. Just got to work. Put one hoof in front of the other. Keep moving forward.
Applejack made her way out to the fields before the sunrise had ended. Best to get the day over with as fast as possible. I'll feel better tomorrow. The thought rang hollow even in her own mind, but she just pressed on. She had orchards to tend to, fields to plow, crops to plant, and barns to check.
Applejack hesitated on her way to the apple orchard and rubbed her chin. Might as well check the barn first.
Twilight was right: the barn long overdue to be demolished. As she approached the building, she could see the peeled paint and rot that covered every inch. It was a relic of a bygone time, and Sweet Apple Acres couldn't afford to cling to the past. Things had changed. It was best not to let things drag out.
Applejack suddenly realized that she was sweating. She blinked and shook her head, taking a deep breath to slow her heart's rapid beating. I'm just worried that I can't get this thing torn down right away, is all. She took another deep breath and opened the barn door.
Instantly, the acrid taste of musk and decay washed over Applejack. Her cheeks bulged as she fought the urge to vomit. Land's sake! It's even worse than before. Fighting down her breakfast, she forced herself to walk into the barn. Each step filled her nostrils with more of the barn's stench, and before long her eyes began to sting as well.
"This barn needs to go," she muttered, gagging as she continued to struggle against the noxious odor. She stumbled and reached out for the wall so she could lean into it. I hope Twilight's can learn those spells she was talking about fast. I don't think this can wait much longer.
Applejack scowled. Twilight, she thought with a snort. If she were here, there wouldn't be a problem. I could just go get her right now. She grit her teeth. Why didn't she just talk to me?
Applejack raised a hoof and aimed it at the barn door only to let it fall back to earth. She sighed, blinking back tears caused by far more than the barn's noxious odor. She stomped around looking for somewhere, anywhere to go. To start, she galloped out of the barn.
I need to talk to somepony, she thought as she continued to gallop, covering as much ground as possible as quickly as possible. I need to talk... to who?
Almost as soon as she thought of the question, Applejack had the answer: Fluttershy. She slowed to a canter and blew out a sigh. I know she had it bad for Twilight. I know I basically stole the love of her life from her. I also know that it has to be her.
Applejack slowed again, this time to a trot. She should be alone. She smiled and nodded to herself. So what if Rainbow Dash has been spending more time with her lately? Rainbow's day won't start for hours to come. She's probably sleeping away on some cloud up there. She glanced at the sky and snorted.
Picking up her pace, Applejack found the road out of Sweet Apple Acres and left the farm. Better get there before anypony else does, she thought, checking the sky again with a frown on her face. Fluttershy'll set things straight. She'll calm me down.
Fluttershy woke from the most wonderful dream. A smile was still plastered across her face as she awoke, and it grew wider as she remembered how her dream had played out.
For a moment, her face scrunched up as she thought she felt a hoof on her shoulder. She rolled over onto her other side...
And there was Rainbow Dash.
Fluttershy's stomach filled up with butterflies as her smile grew impossibly wide. It was no dream, she thought. It was no dream. She hugged Rainbow's sleeping form tightly and nuzzled her nose, stifling giggles all the while.
It happened, she thought. I did it. She wondered who she should thank. Celestia? Luna? Rainbow Dash herself? It didn't really matter. All that mattered was her best friend, her closest of friends, her something-more-than-a-friend snuggling up against her after a good night's sleep.
Fluttershy nuzzled Rainbow, who promptly began to snore in her face. Fluttershy only smiled and snuggled up closer, burying her face in Rainbow's chest. No reason to wake her up. No reason to make this end.
Small clouds of dirt flew up with each step of Applejack's hooves as she trotted up the windy road that led its way, slowly but surely, to Fluttershy's cottage. She plastered a broad grin over her face, and though her misty eyes belied her true mood, one could see a slight shimmer in them that grew more pronounced with each step.
When Applejack reached the front door, she could feel a tingle in her hooves that reached up her legs and seized her heart. Her stomach filled with butterflies, rabbits, and all manner of tiny critters as she raised a hoof, and her anxiety reached a crescendo just as she moved forward to knock.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and Applejack yelped as she nearly fell on her face. Clearing her throat, she straightened herself and opened her eyes. And blinked. She blinked repeatedly as she realized that it was not Fluttershy, but Angel who had opened the door. The tiny rabbit, by some means Applejack could only guess at, had let her in, and he was standing in the doorway with a paw over his mouth.
Applejack crouched down and said, "Hey A--" but stopped when she saw his piercing glare. Flinching, she lowered her voice. "Sorry. Where's Fluttershy, little guy?"
Angel removed his paw from over his mouth and pointed at Fluttershy's bedroom. He shook his head vigorously for a moment before putting his paws together and resting his head against them as he pantomimed snoring.
Applejack nodded. "Well, sorry about this, but I really have to talk to her, so..." Applejack shrugged and stood. With Angel pulling at her hind legs the entire time, she walked over to the bedroom door and opened it just a crack. She whispered only one word:
"Fluttershy?"
In the bedroom, Rainbow's eyes snapped open. She knew that voice. What's she-- "Augh!" Before Rainbow could gain her bearings, she tumbled out of bed and landed with a loud crash.
Rainbow was still sprawled one the ground when the door swung open. Applejack rushed forward just as Fluttershy rolled over to see what was happening.
"Are you al--" Applejack stopped as her gaze fixed on Rainbow's prone form. She looked up at Fluttershy, then back to Rainbow Dash, then Fluttershy...
Rainbow grinned and stood up on shaky legs. She chuckled. "Uh..."
Fluttershy pulled her blankets close. "Uh..."
For a moment, Applejack's right eye began to twitch, then both eyes snapped open. A broad grin spread across her face, stretching her cheeks as she threw her head back and laughed.
"Howdy, girls," she said, continuing to cackle as she took a step back. "Can't say I was expecting this."
"What the hay are you doing here?" Rainbow shouted, stepping forward. She began to take another step, but the sound of Fluttershy clearing her throat reined her in.
"Do you need something, Applejack?" Fluttershy asked. She glanced down at her sheet and pushed them away so she could stand.
Applejack shook her head and let out a guffaw. "I guess I needed a kick in the flank, but y'all got that covered already." Her whooping laughter filled the room, but it failed to cover her tears.
In Applejack's mind, everything collapsed in on itself. She needed to run, needed to talk. Couldn't stay, couldn't leave. Couldn't look, couldn't look away. Couldn't believe... Couldn't stand...
Applejack fell to a sitting position as the last of her giggling died away. She stared down at the floor, letting her tears flow silently down her cheeks.
Fluttershy was the first to step forward. "I'm sorry, Applejack," she said. "I know you must miss Twilight, but she'll be back soon."
Rainbow joined her and reached to put a hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "Yeah," she said, though she failed to work up anything more.
Applejack brushed away Rainbow's hoof and turned away from her friends. "It's fine," she said as she got back on her hooves. "I think I've got things figured out just fine."
Rainbow reached out, wings flared. "Look, Applejack, we didn't--"
Applejack stomped a hoof. "This isn't about you," she snapped, drawing a flinch from Rainbow. She hung her head and squeezed her eyes shut. "I've got something I have to deal with."
Rainbow pulled her wings back in and hung her head.
Fluttershy, on the other hoof, stepped forward with eyes narrowed and wings spread wide. "I can't let you leave here like this," she said, trying to stop the tremble in her voice. "Let us help, Applejack. I mean it."
Applejack didn't even look up. She just shook her head and smiled. "I'm fine." She swallowed and finally met Fluttershy's gaze. "Really. I just need to get back to the farm."
"Don't you walk away." Fluttershy's voice could have been blown away by the wind, but she stood firm. "I won't let you leave her acting like this." She stepped forward. "Feeling like this."
Applejack turned away from her advancing friend. "You don't have to let me," she said. "I'm leaving." Fluttershy reached for her, but Applejack was already off. The sound of her galloping filled the cottage until she rushed out the front door, and Fluttershy could hear Applejack's clattering hoofsteps for what felt like an eternity as her friend fled with as much speed as she could muster. |
Two Paths | The Meeting | Twilight grew up in Canterlot. She earned her cutie mark in Canterlot. She studied in Canterlot. Canterlot was more than just another beautiful city. It was Twilight's home.
That fact was lost on Twilight, however, as she trudge off the Friendship Express at its final stop in the Equestrian capital. She felt as if a pit had opened in her stomach, and the gaping hole grew wider with each step she took toward the royal castle. Before her, majestic spires and glittering windows arched skyward in the finest city in all of Equestria. Twilight let her gaze fall to the worn and dusty cobblestone.
Morning was long gone by the time Twilight's train arrived, and the streets were filled with ponies as she made her way to the castle. As more and more ponies brushed past her, Twilight lifted her gaze. Need to stay aware. She shook her head and held it high. I can do this.
Matching pace with the throng of Canterlot ponies all around her, she sped up to a trot. She puffed out her chest and grinned. It won't be that bad, she told herself. She forced her smile to widen as the pit in her stomach only widened.
After trotting for a few blocks, Twilight stopped and took a deep breath. When she continued forward, her hooves shuffled forward like dead weight. After a few lame steps, she took another deep breath and pressed onward. She made her way to the castle in fits and starts, standing tall for some time before collapsing back into herself. All the while, her heart fluttered in a way that no amount of deep breathing and brief pauses could fix. Through the entire journey, Twilight never turned away from her purpose. It's time to get this over with.
Unfortunately, she didn't really know what "this" was. It couldn't just be her meeting with the princesses. That was only the beginning of her problems. She still had weeks left to make her decision. That was what she truly dreaded, what she feared most. What will I do? What can I do? All she could summon were more questions. Any answers hovered just out of reach.
She entered the castle almost before she realized it. She had spoken to a guard at the gate--she must have, at least that was how things normally worked. Either way, she found herself already in the palace. The Gothic arches in the halls reached for the sky, dwarfing Twilight and providing plenty of room for the sound of her hoofsteps to echo loudly. She flinched with each click and clack against the palace's marble floors. Each step drew her closer to her meetings, and she didn't even know what questions to ask--let alone what answers to she might find.
When she reached the doors to the throne room, she hesitated and inhaled. She kept breathing in, letting her lungs fill as much as they could, drawing out the moment. As her chest puffed out, she closed her eyes and exhaled, letting the air flow out of her slowly and evenly. When she finished, she turned to the guards who stood at the doors, one to each side. The stallions--one white, one grey, both unicorns--smiled at her. She smiled back and nodded.
She had hoped for the doors to open slowly, drawing out the last few moments before she confronted the princesses. Of course, she knew that hope was in vain. The guards swung the doors open with the aid of their magic, and before Twilight could flee, she could see Celestia and Luna standing just inside. They stood tall and erect before her, and while Celestia wore a serene half-smile, Luna's jaw seemed fixed in something just short of an outright scowl.
"Greetings, Miss Twilight Sparkle." Luna stepped forward stiffly and held out a hoof. "We are most grateful that you would come to meet with us so promptly.
"And she really does mean 'we,'" Celestia added. She smirked and walked up to her sister's side. "It's wonderful to see you, Twilight."
Twilight bowed before the princesses before shaking Luna's hoof. "The pleasure is all mine." She had to force the words out, but her smile came naturally. So did her next words. "It's great to see you, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna."
Celestia chuckled. "Please, Twilight, we have known each other for long enough. Call me Celestia--just Celestia."
"And call me Luna." Luna tilted her chin up. She had yet to offer so much as smirk to Twilight.
Twilight nodded. "Of course, Prin--" She coughed. "Of course, Celestia."
Celestia walked past Twilight on her way out the door. "Now, we could always meet here, Twilight, but I find that I think better when I am on the move. Would you mind if we take a walk while we discuss things?"
Luna nodded to Twilight and followed her sister. "I believe the ancients called it the peripatetic method," she said. When Twilight hesitated, she opened a wing and nudged Twilight with. "Please join us, Twilight Sparkle."
Butterflies filled her stomach, but Twilight smile and cantered along to catch up with Celestia. "I probably need a breath of fresh air anyway."
Celestia grinned. "Well, you're in luck. I was thinking we might go to the garden."
The path to the garden was more or less simple, but it was by no means instantaneous. The palace's titanic halls loomed over Twilight as Luna took the opportunity to discuss the purpose of their meeting.
"I am greatly pleased to restore royal tradition and introduce the Night Court to this generation of pony kind." She held her head up and beamed. "Acclimating myself to this new world has been a long and arduous process, but we believe the work is finally done." She glanced at Celestia before turning her gaze to Twilight. "We ask that you aid me in this process."
Twilight nodded, feeling as if her stomach were doing back flips. "I am honored, Luna. I mean it. I just... May I ask you something?"
Luna slowed her pace, and her companions followed suit. Without a word, she strode in front of Twilight and stopped, standing tall before Twilight. A frown creased her face as she said, "You do not need my permission to ask questions, Twilight Sparkle. Elsewhere, decorum may dictate otherwise, but for this moment, we are equals."
Twilight plastered on a strained grin and let out a high-pitched chuckle. "Thank you," she managed before gulping. "What I meant to ask was: Why me?"
Silence ensued for a moment, and the three ponies resumed their stroll before Luna replied. "My sister thinks very highly of you, Twilight Sparkle." Celestia smirked and nudged her sister in the shoulder, but Luna didn't so much as flinch. "It has always been the case that I would eventually return to my normal function in the Equestrian government. With your achievements, your intelligence, and your devotion to your work, it would have been difficult to overlook you as a candidate."
Twilight pursed her lips and could scarcely do more than shrug. "I... Thank you, but certainly there were more qualified candidates in Canterlot. They know the city better, and they could probably make the change much easier than..." Twilight blinked and trailed off, shaking her head.
Celestia frowned and furrowed her brow. "We knew you would worry about leaving Ponyville," she said. "This is just an offer. You needn't feel obligated to do anything."
Twilight opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. By the time she started again, Luna had already seized upon the silence.
"You are our first choice for this position, but you are correct. We can find many willing candidates in Canterlot. I know a handful we could speak with if you decline." She narrowed her eyes as her words became slower, more deliberate. "However, do not fear that you are unqualified, Twilight Sparkle. I assure you that your resume rivals that of any Canterlot oligarch."
"It may be better to call them bureaucrats," Celestia commented. "They're chosen by merit nowadays." She grunted and smiled. "Here we are."
The trio rounded a corner and entered a great hall whose many windows opened out to the garden. Light filtered in from the tall, pointed windows, and Twilight could smell the flowers outside as she drew nearer to the lush foliage.
"It's been a while," Twilight said, picking up her pace as she glanced out the windows.
Celestia and Luna kept pace. "I know," Celestia replied. "I thought you'd like to return here. You used to love coming here to read."
Luna tilted her head, but Twilight slowed when she noticed the princess stiffening at the same time. "Are you okay, Luna?"
Luna nodded more vigorously this time. "I am, Twilight Sparkle." She quickened her pace to a canter. "I merely regret that I could no be here to witness your studies."
Twilight blinked rapidly, her pupils widening. "Oh." She worked her mouth soundlessly before forcing out, "Well, um, yes." She clamped her mouth shut and smiled.
"My crimes were my own." Luna tilted her chin up and raised her voice. "It is by no fault of pony kind or my sister that I served my sentence. I have spent these years readjusting to society and reintroducing myself to the populace. Now I can finally make reparations."
The trio exited the hall and began to walk about on the grass. Stopping out in the open air, Celestia took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Twilight followed suit, but Luna kept moving along, letting her eyes drift skyward. "I wronged many all those years ago. They are gone, but perhaps their descendants will appreciate my efforts."
"They will." Celestia nuzzled her sister and draped a wing over Luna's back. She glanced back to Twilight and added, "And while we would be grateful if you helped her through this process, we understand the sacrifice we are asking of you."
Twilight sighed. "Yes," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "I..." She took a deep breath and brought a hoof to her chest. After holding the breath for a moment, she let it out in another sigh, extending her hoof out as she did so. "Sorry. It's just that the timing isn't ideal."
Celestia nodded, her expression unreadable. "It never is, but something tells me that something in particular has you bothered."
Luna arched an eyebrow and drew closer to Twilight. "Please tell us what is the matter, Twilight Sparkle. You may be forthright with us."
"I will," Twilight said, "but can we keep walking? I'd like to see the garden while we talk." She gulped down another deep breath, but it did nothing to fill the widening abyss in her stomach.
The princesses nodded and followed her, ears perked up. "Well?" Celestia asked after a moment.
Twilight bit her lip for a moment before speaking. "Well--and I've been meaning to write you about this--but I have a special somepony now."
Celestia arched an eyebrow and smirked. "Oh, really?"
Luna, on the other hand, furrowed her brow. "I have heard this term, but I am not certain what it means."
"It's a somewhat vague term," Celestia answered, turning her attention to Luna. "In this case, I think Twilight has a suitor."
Luna straightened herself as her eyes widened slightly. "Truly? Well, my congratulations, Twilight Sparkle." She shook Twilight's hoof and asked, "May I ask the name of the stallion?"
Twilight froze for a moment, but it only took a moment for Celestia to see her student's unease. "Who knows, Luna? She never said it was a stallion."
Luna frowned as she let go of Twilight's hoof. "Society has changed much in the past millennium."
"Um, yes." Twilight coughed and took a step back. "It's true. You remember Applejack, right?"
Celestia chuckled. "It would be hard not to."
Luna narrowed her eyes silently.
Twilight edged away from Luna and closer to Celestia. "Well, we've been dating for a few weeks now." She smiled as her eyes grew distant. "We're marefriends now."
Celestia let her gaze drift among the trees and flowers. "Love is a thing of beauty." She unfurled her wings and walked forward with firm, deliberate steps. "Do you love her?"
Twilight hesitated. "Well, I..." She scratched her chin for a moment. "I can't be sure--I don't know how you can ever be sure about that--but I think I do." Her eyes grew misty and she grinned broadly. "I love Applejack."
Luna frowned and grit her teeth. "I understand." She turned away. "If you will excuse me."
Celestia's wilted a bit and fixed her gaze on Twilight. Forcing a smile onto her face, she said, "I'll talk to her. I'm terribly sorry."
Celestia stopped Luna not too far from Twilight. If she wanted to, Twilight could easily have listened in on the conversation, but she was wrapped in her own thoughts. I love Applejack. The thought was strange, perhaps even foreign. It wasn't just the adolescent fretting about whether she "liked" somepony. Love carried an air of permanence in her mind. It was something that could transcend relationships themselves. It was, in a way, irreversible.
For a moment, the idea filled Twilight with terror. Her chest felt tight, and she began to hyperventilate. Taking what seemed like the thousandth deep breath of the afternoon, she shook her head. I love Applejack, she told herself again, and this time, the thought seemed less alien. She bit her lip and nodded. I do. I love Applejack. She closed her eyes, focusing only on breathing in and out... in and out...
The sound of hoofsteps reached Twilight's ears, and she opened her eyes to see Luna standing before her. "Twilight Sparkle, what is the matter?" she asked.
"Nothing," Twilight gasped, backing away. "Sorry."
"Please, Twilight Sparkle, it is I who should be sorry." Luna hung her head. "I apologize for my rudeness. I truly am happy for you. If I showed any semblance of displeasure, it was due to my own selfishness."
"She means it." Celestia walked up to Twilight's side. "We're just sorry to hear that you won't be able to--"
"Actually..." Twilight bit her lip and looked at he ground. "Maybe... Can we keep talking about the position? I don't want to rush into any decisions, if you don't mind."
Luna nodded immediately. "Most certainly," she said. She flashed a grin and began to walk farther into the garden. "Let us converse. Surely we will reach an accord based in reason."
Twilight and Celestia followed, and before long the three ponies were trotting alongside one another.
Twilight's shoulders were relaxed and an easy smile spread across her face as they resumed their strolled through the garden. Her eyes wandered among the plants as she asked, "Princess Luna, this may be a silly question, but would this position necessarily be year-round?"
Luna's frown returned. "The Night Court must be a permanent fixture if it is to be taken seriously. Of course, it will have occasional recesses, but I need somepony committed to her work."
"You know how my court works," Celestia added. "You wouldn't necessarily work here every day--perhaps three days a week--but there will be plenty of research involved. If you are not in Canterlot every day, you would have to be frequent correspondence with Luna."
Luna huffed. "Do not dismiss the difficulty of this endeavor, sister." She stared at Twilight. "What she says is mostly true, and we can make some adjustments to accommodate you. However, these first few months will be the most arduous. You must be willing to meet that challenge, even if it requires some level of sacrifice."
Twilight looked to Celestia, who nodded after a moment. "The first step is always the hardest," she said.
"I understand." Twilight's words hung in the air as nopony spoke. Finally, she said, "This won't be an easy decision."
"I'd imagine not," Celestia said. She glanced up at the sun and said, "Time flies, doesn't it?"
Luna shrugged, but Twilight nodded vigorously. "It really does. But we still have so much to talk about."
Celestia laughed and gestured back up to the sun. "It doesn't fly that quickly."
Luna snorted. "If anything, it seems to crawl in my experience."
Arching an eyebrow, Celestia nudged her sister. "Do I detect a hint of bitterness in that comment?"
A hint of a smirk flashed across Luna's face. "I can't imagine where you would gather that from."
"Can't imagine? I guess that's why I'm the creative one," Celestia retorted without missing a beat. Luna giggled, eliciting a grin from Twilight.
Luna unfurled her wings when she finished laughing and stretched them as she said, "Since we seem to be negotiating terms at this juncture, are there any other aspects of the position that concern you, Twilight?"
With a laugh, Twilight stroked her chin and nodded. "Well, I'm sure I should know this, but do government officials get any sort of discounts for transportation?"
Celestia shrugged. "Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends." A toucan flew over the trio, and Celestia smiled at it as she spoke. "I'm sure we could get you what you need, but everything has a price."
"Quid pro quo," Twilight intoned.
Luna put a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "We have time to finalize these plans. I hope I can work something out, Twilight Sparkle."
Twilight nodded. "I hope we can, too." |
Two Paths | Alone | Stupid, stupid, stupid!
Applejack shouldn't have run from her friends. She knew that now. She knew it when she looked Fluttershy in the eyes and lied to her face. It was impulsive. It was irrational. It was... stupid.
She squeezed her eyes shut and scuffed her hoof against the dirt road. Inside, her thoughts and emotions raged, kicking up a storm Applejack could not escape. Her lips quivered, and all she could do was force herself forward. One step, two steps, and she strode through the gate that marked the beginning of Sweet Apple Acres.
She glanced back in the direction of Fluttershy's cottage, but she didn't stop. A walk became a trot, then a canter. Before she knew it, she was galloping at full speed through the apple orchard. She didn't know why. All she knew was the storm raging in her head. She couldn't fight it off, so she ran.
As she ran, she blinked rapidly. Her eyes stung with what would no doubt become tears, but she could not let them come. Without slowing, she squeezed her eyes shut. They remained closed for a moment, two... three... No!
She grit her teeth, and when her eyes opened once more, the tears were gone. All that remained was an unending fire.
Fluttershy watched as Rainbow Dash flared her wings. Fluttershy knew what would happen next. As Rainbow stretched her wings skyward, she paced about Fluttershy's bedroom. She knit her brow and darted her eyes every which way. After a few moments, Rainbow snapped her wings back to her side. She stopped pacing, but the furrowed brow and shifting eyes remained.
"Come here, Dashie," Fluttershy said. She took a step forward and extended a hoof. "I know you're upset. Come here."
Rainbow took Fluttershy's hoof and pulled her friend in for a quick hug, but the embrace only lasted a moment. Before long, she grit her teeth and pushed Fluttershy away. "I've got to go," she said.
The breath caught in Fluttershy's throat, but she shut her mouth and nodded.
Rainbow turned toward the door. "Maybe I'll be back for dinner?" She glanced back at Fluttershy and offered a smile. "Sorry to bail. This can't wait."
"Do you want me to come with you?" Fluttershy pushed her mane out of her face and gave a firm nod. "I'll come with you."
"No. It's fine." Rainbow massaged her forehead and sighed. "I'll take care of it."
Fluttershy frowned and creased her brow. "You can't just blame yourself, Dashie," she said, taking a step forward with each word. "Applejack a friend to both of us, and if you think she needs your help, then she needs my help too."
Rainbow shook her head. "No, you just... I've got to do this myself, okay?"
Fluttershy wilted and lowered her head, but she still stared up at Rainbow. "Why won't you let me help, Rainbow Dash?"
"Please..." Rainbow stiffened, then sighed and slouched her shoulders. "Please, don't make this harder than it needs to be." She put a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder. "I'll be right back. I promise."
Fluttershy forced on a smile. Her lip trembled, but she still leaned into Rainbow and nodded. "As long as you promise, Dashie, I'll trust you."
Rainbow grinned and puffed out her chest. "Well what did I just do?" She glanced out the bedroom window and saw the sun hanging high in the sky. "Not sure what I'll have to do, but I'll be back by sundown." She nudged Fluttershy and smirked. "I think it's gonna be another cold night, don't you think."
Red exploded onto Fluttershy's cheeks, and she stepped away as she tried to find refuge in her mane. "Oh... my."
Rainbow couldn't wipe the smile from her face, but she pulled away as well. "I mean, I can always sleep on the couch again if you'd like."
"No." Fluttershy answered immediately. She hesitated before shoving her mane out of her face and rushing up to Rainbow. Her embrace nearly knocked Rainbow off her hooves, but the two ponies quickly found their balance and began rocking each other slowly as they hugged.
"Hey, Fluttershy," Rainbow whispered.
"Yes, Dashie?" Fluttershy replied.
"This is pretty cool." She let her hooves linger on Fluttershy's coat as she slowly moved away. "I'll see you this evening."
Fluttershy nodded and walked her friend to the front door. "I'll have dinner ready."
"Awesome." Rainbow trotted out the door and down the road to Sweet Apple Acres.
Before she was out of earshot, Fluttershy stepped out the door and hollered, "Wait!"
Rainbow glanced back. "What?"
Fluttershy grinned sheepishly and blushed. "Good luck."
Rainbow beamed and opened her wings. "Thanks."
Applejack had to work. Time stopped for no mare, and she couldn't let the farm waste away just because of a stupid relationship problem. She had things to do, apples to harvest...
From the top of a hill, she could see the old rotting barn. The useless, disgusting barn. She glared down at it and snarled. That barn!
Twilight told her that barn needed to go. She promised to help. As if she'd even have time for that anymore. Applejack rolled her eyes as she galloped down to the decrepit structure.
The stench of decay filled Applejack's nostrils and burned her eyes, but did not hesitate as she stomped into the barn. She threw her gaze all about, glowering at every plank, every stake, every nail. Stupid, stupid stupid! She squeezed her eyes shut and bucked out behind her.
Her hooves sailed through the air, but when they finally stopped on the ground again, she wasn't finished. She lunged forward, feeling a satisfying crack as she pounded a nearby barrel. She struck the old, brittle container again.
From there on, she couldn't stop. The containers went first. Barrel and crate alike were no match for Applejack's rage. They crumbled like so many cupcakes on Pinkie Pie's plate.
But soon enough, those distractions were gone. All that was left was the barn. Its walls, its rafters, its support beams. This was where it would get tricky, but she had to press on. I've got to get along on my own. There are no guarantees in life. She trudged over to the barn door and aimed at the hinge. She picked up her back legs. Here goes nothing.
Before she could carry through with her strike, Applejack was stunned by a flash of color that blew by the outside of the barn. Blue, red, yellow, and all the colors of the rainbow zoomed through the air right by her. She blinked. Rainbow... Rainbow Dash?
Another streak of color, and Rainbow was in front of her. She flapped her wings hard as she touched down and tossed back her mane. "I thought I saw you there," she said. Then she saw the destruction inside the barn. "Whoa! Dude, Applejack, what are you doing?"
"I'm just dealing with things," Applejack shouted. She pointed inside the barn. "It's fine."
"Applejack, come on." Rainbow took a step closer, shaking her head. "I know you're upset, but you can't just go breaking all your stuff. We can talk about this."
"Go kick a cloud," Applejack spat. "I don't need you flying around telling me what to do."
Rainbow scowled right back at Applejack. Her wings flared out as she hissed, "Yeah, well you can..." She stopped herself short. Her wings fell to her sides and looked down at the ground. "Look, I know things are tough with you and Twilight, and I know we haven't always gotten along so great." She bit her lip for a moment. "I know that's sort of my fault a lot of the time."
Applejack shook her head and pulled Rainbow close. "It's not your fault," she said, her voiced much quieter than it had been moments before. "It's just... Things are tough, you know?"
"I know." Rainbow nodded and straightened herself. "That's why I came out here. I wanted to help you," she pointed at the smashed boxes, "and stop you from doing stuff like this."
Applejack raised a hoof. She shook her head and made her way over to the wreckage. "Wait up just a moment," she said. "I'm not just doing this 'cause I'm angry. I've been meaning to take this barn down for a while now." She frowned despite herself. Twilight was supposed to help.
"Okay." Rainbow trotted over to Applejack and draped a hoof over her withers. "That's fine. You need some help?"
Applejack sighed. "Sure," she intoned.
Rainbow grit her teeth and looked away. She exhaled sharply and turned back to Applejack. "What's is wrong with you, Applejack?"
Applejack wilted under Rainbow's gaze. "I'm sorry," she said. "It's just, Twilight was the one who was so dead set on tearing this barn down and, well, she told me she'd help out."
Rainbow furrowed her brow and peered closely and Applejack's face. "Do you want her to help or something?"
Seeing Rainbow's face, Applejack let her jaw drop slightly. "Of course I do. Marefriends do stuff together." She threw dirty look Rainbow's way. "You obviously know plenty about that."
Rainbow glared right back. "Okay. First, that's not at all what was happened. Second, we're friends, but don't you dare say something like that about Fluttershy."
Applejack dug a hoof into the ground. "You know what? Yeah, let's talk about this. Right now." She waved a hoof at nowhere in particular and said, "Fluttershy only just got shot down by the mare of her dreams, and where do I find you? In her bed!"
"It's not like that!" Rainbow flared her wings and creased her brow. "She just didn't want me out in the cold. And besides, it's been weeks since you and Twilight started dating."
"Oh, sure." Applejack began to take a step forward, then stopped and put a hoof on her forehead. "Look, I don't care about what happened between us. It's all in the past." She finally took that step forward and brought her face within inches of Rainbow's. "But if you think you can walk all over Fluttershy just 'cause she's hurting, you've got--"
There was a loud smack as Rainbow punched Applejack in the jaw. Applejack went down in a heap, but she had only fallen for a moment before she was back on her feet. She lunged at her assailant, but Rainbow was already in the air, hovering up near the top of the doorway.
"Get down here, Rainbow," Applejack snarled. She stomped a hoof, but Rainbow only shook her head in response.
"I'm not coming down until that stops." She pointed at Applejack's scowling face. "I'm sorry I hit you. We just both need to help you."
Applejack's scowl remained, but she softened her stance. "Fine," she growled. "I won't do anything. Let's just talk things through."
Rainbow nodded and slowly floated back to the ground. After touched down, she closed her wings and took a step closer to Applejack. "I swear, I'm not trying to do take advantage of Fluttershy. She asked me to stay with her--honest."
Applejack raised an eyebrow. "You sure you don't have any sort of angle you're playing."
Rainbow shifted about as a deep blush spread across her face. "Well, um, I mean..." She giggled, then straightened herself and cleared her throat. "I mean, she's cool." She looked away for a moment before glancing back at Applejack. "You know?"
Applejack didn't smile, but she nodded. "I know what you mean," she said. "But I'm warning you. If do wrong by her, you do wrong by me. And I'm not in the forgiving mood."
Holding out her hooves, Rainbow nodded. "Look, Applejack, I get it. I mean it. Could you just, like, cool it for a sec?"
Applejack chuckled. "Sure."
Rainbow finally exhaled. "Thanks. Anyway, back to the subject. Why does Twilight need to help you do something boring like this?"
Applejack's gaze flew in all directions. Finally, she looked back at Rainbow and stomped a hoof. "It's just... It's what marefriends do."
"No it's not." Rainbow pointed at the barn and said, "Marefriends don't do boring stuff together. They have fun." She flew into the air and knocked on the rafters. "You're supposed to do the boring stuff on your own so you can surprise your marefriend." She chuckled. "In fact, uh, I haven't really had the chance to do that so much lately."
"I just think you're missing the point," Applejack said as she glanced at the dirt.
Rainbow flew down and grabbed Applejack's shoulder. "Sorry, AJ, but you're the one who's missing the point. Look, you and Twilight won't always be right next to each other. You've got different things going on in your lives. That's just how life works. What you've gotta do is make the best of what life gives you."
Applejack took a deep breath and smiled. "You just might be right, Rainbow."
"Of course I am." Rainbow puffed out her chest and brought up a hoof. "So what's the plan?"
Applejack glanced at the ground and pulled back. "Actually, do you know when Twilight gets back from Canterlot? I mean, I know there's no reason you'd know, but--I don't know--maybe I'll meet her at the station or something." She scuffed the ground and bit her lip.
"Aw." Rainbow clasped her forehoofs together and smirked. Once she was finished, she pursed her lips for a moment, then shrugged. "Sorry. I've got nothing. You could probably go ask Spike sometime if you really need to know." She flared her wings and pointed up at the rafters. "Anyway, you want me to help you tear this thing down or what?"
Applejack smirked. "I guess so. It wouldn't be the first time we did something like this."
Rainbow nodded and held out a hoof. "Just like old times?"
Applejack's face fell. "I don't think it'll ever be like old times," she whispered. She managed a thin smile. "It can be like good times, though."
Rainbow grabbed Applejack's hoof and shook it vigorously. "That's good enough for me, AJ." |
Two Paths | Home Is... | On the way out of the garden, Twilight felt lighter on her hooves. She noticed a bit of a bounce sneaking its way into her steps. She grinned, but a quiver of worry lingered in her eyes. She could still feel the gaping hole in the pit of her stomach.
Celestia was asking her, "Are you planning to return to Ponyville today, or might you stay for the night?"
"We would be most pleased if you stayed," Luna added, leaning closer to Twilight.
Twilight blinked repeatedly and shook her head. Her smile disappeared as she forced herself to focus on the present. "I'm sorry, Celestia. Could you ask that again?"
"I was just wondering if you were staying the night." Celestia furrowed her brow and peered at Twilight's expression. "Is anything wrong, Twilight?"
Painting a smile back onto her face, Twilight nodded. "No. Nothing's wrong." There was a long pause. "I still have a lot to think about," she murmured. "Maybe I will stay the night." She took a moment to glance toward the ivory tower where she once lived and studied. "I wonder if you've kept my old room in the castle."
"It's there if you want to visit." Celestia draped a wing over her faithful student. "You could even stay the night there if you like."
"No." The word escaped Twilight's mouth before she even had time to think, but a moment's contemplation told her that it was the right answer. She cleared her throat and said, "No, but thank you, Celestia." She bit her lip and rubbed her chin. "I don't know how to put it, but I feel like I should stay somewhere different." She looked about and said, "I think I might find a hotel out in the city--not that I don't want to spend time with you two, of course."
Celestia let out a melodious laugh. "I understand," she said, beaming. She pulled in closer and whispered, "I am so proud of you, Twilight."
"Thank you." Twilight grinned and nuzzled Celestia as the princess nuzzled her in turn.
Luna, for her part, shuffled her hooves and stared at the ground.
The sight caught Twilight's eye, and she immediately trotted to Luna's side. There was silence before she decided to say, "I don't know what I'll end up choosing, but it would be an honor to work under you."
Twilight held out a hoof which Luna shook. "Thank you, Twilight Sparkle. I look forward to working with you as well."
"I believe she just said she couldn't make any promises," Celestia said.
Luna cast her gaze back at the ground and scuffed a hoof. "I apologize. It was not my intention to presume."
"Don't worry." Twilight grinned and trotted up to Luna's side. As Luna straightened herself, Twilight said, "What happens will happen. Either way, I'm sure you will be working with only the best Equestria has to offer."
A brief silence hung in the air before Luna spoke. "You speak true, Twilight Sparkle." The three ponies resumed their walk to the castle. Luna flared her wings briefly and said, "I believe that whatever happens in this case, we shall work together soon enough. Ambition and talent are powerful forces indeed."
Twilight forced out a chuckle and looked away. "Yeah," she managed. She hunched her shoulders, and though Celestia raised an eyebrow, the princess said nothing.
The edge of the garden had barely come into view before Twilight said, "Oh, look! There's the castle." She sped up to a canter and waved to the princesses haphazardly. "Thanks for talking with me. This was really great, but I should get myself squared away for the night."
"What is the matter?" Luna trotted forward a few steps and reached out to Twilight. "Did we offend you in some way?"
Before Twilight could respond, Celestia draped a wing across Luna's back and drew close to her sister. "If Twilight wants to spend some time in the city, we may as well let her. She's been gone for so long, after all."
Luna's eyes softened as she looked at Celestia. She turned her attention back to Twilight and nodded. "I understand that sentiment. Farewell, Twilight Sparkle. Should you wish to speak with us again, you need only ask."
Twilight rushed away the moment Luna finished speaking. "Bye, princesses," she said without turning.
In a matter of moments, she had rounded a corner and escaped the princesses' presence, but the castle corridors wound all about her. Her head swam in the twists and turns that surrounded her. She took a gulp of air, but it did nothing to stop her cartwheeling stomach. A tremor coursed through her legs, and before she knew it they were wobbling like pillars of jello.
Have to get out.
She cast her eyes in all directions even though she knew the path to the exit by heart. The halls seemed narrower than she remembered. Narrower and longer.
Have to get out.
The breath seemed to have left her lungs, and she couldn't get it back. She took a deep breath, but the effort immediately gave way to panting. She was panting.
Have to get out!
She began to canter toward the exit, keeping her pace just short of a gallop. Her breath came in gulps in gasps, but that was only a natural byproduct of her speed. After scrambling around a few sharp corners, she slowed down, and her breath slowed as well. She sighed.
That's better, she thought. She still stood stiffly erect, though, and her muscles were filled with tension. Still have to get out.
Twilight walked to the end of the hall she currently stood in, only to find herself completely out of place. Must have taken a wrong turn. She backtracked, walking more slowly than before. She breathed deeply and deliberately, and before long she stood before the castle gates.
The operating the gatehouse was different from the pony who let her in earlier in the day. That guard had been a unicorn. This was an earth pony. "Heading out?" he asked, hand on a lever that would open the gates.
"Yes, thank you." With a pull of the lever, the gates swung out toward the streets, leaving the path clear. Twilight nodded to the guard and, without another word, began to trot away.
"Hold on." Twilight blinked as the guard's voice brought her to a swift halt.
She turned around. "Yes, sir?"
"Are you Twilight Sparkle?" He arched an eyebrow and took a step away from the gate lever.
"Yes." Twilight arched an eyebrow as well.
The guard nodded curtly and opened the door of the gatehouse. His hoofsteps resounded sharply against the wooden floor until he exited the building pulling a small suitcase. "The stallion before me said this was yours. I'm guessing you'll want it back?"
Twilight's mouth dropped and she let out a wild laugh. "Thank you," she said, gripping the luggage in her magic. "I was wondering where that had gone. Have a nice afternoon, sir."
"Don't mention it," the guard said with a grin. He blinked slowly and began to whistle quietly. After a moment, his eyes widened and the whistling stopped, but before he could open his mouth, Twilight had galloped away. "Shoot!" he muttered before returning to the gatehouse and shutting the castle gates.
It took longer than Twilight expected to find a hotel to stay in. She remembered dimly how her parents had booked a room on the eve of her entrance exam for Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, but she couldn't recall the name of the place. In any case, she wandered around for at least an hour before she finally settled on a small inn off Mane Street. Once she finally chose the spot, she quickly took got a key from the pony at the counter, and soon it was only a matter of climbing the stairs and walking down a long quiet hall.
The lodgings were spartan, but Twilight didn't mind. I'll just be staying the night, she thought. Besides, it's not like I brought much with me. She dropped her luggage at the foot of her bed and lied down. She squeezed her eyes shut, but they opened only a few moments later. A long sigh followed soon after.
Ambition and talent are powerful forces. Luna's words echoed in her head. We shall work together. Twilight shook her head and groaned, "Why did she have to say that?"
The words carried the menace of an unwelcome prophecy. Everything was moving too fast. Applejack and I have only just started dating. I can only figure out one thing at a time.
Twilight buried her head in a pillow, but her problems wouldn't disappear so easily. A clock stood on the end table, and its ticking warned Twilight of every second that slipped out of her grasp. The sound broke through the shelter of her pillow, thundering in her head and growing louder until it finally reached a crescendo.
Knock. Knock. With that, the ticking grew quieter, leaving an empty silence in its wake.
As reality sunk in, Twilight blinked. That didn't sound like ticking. Just as Twilight lifted her head to glance at the door, two more knocks rang out. Knock. Knock. A voice followed soon after. "Excuse me. Is Twilight Sparkle in there?"
Twilight recognized the voice immediately. "Shining!" She hopped off the bed and threw the door open. Sure enough, her brother stood right in front of her, a wide smile spreading across his face.
"Twilie!" Shining Armor wrapped Twilight in a tight embrace and rocked her back and forth before letting go. "I heard you were in the city and came right over. How are you, little sis?"
"It's good to see you, Shining." Twilight nuzzled her brother and remained silent. After a few seconds, she pulled back and looked into Shining's eyes. "How did you find me?"
Shining laughed. "Celestia told me you'd be here today, so I used a detection spell." She pulled Twilight close and rubbed her mane. "I wouldn't miss a chance to see my favorite sister."
Twilight giggled and pulled away. "I didn't realize you were still in the city. How's Cadance?"
Shining pulled his head back and furrowed his brow. "Huh?" With a shrug, he said, "Uh, I guess she's good." There was a pause as he smiled and his eyes grew distant. "She's so happy to finally live in the Crystal Empire, even if I can't always be there."
"And you still love her?" Twilight still stared right at Shining.
"Yes." Shining's smile wavered as his brow creased even more. "What are you talking about? Are you okay?"
Twilight sighed. "Sorry. I just need to understand something." She hesitated, but Shining's silence held, so she continued. "How can you stand to be stuck here working while Cadance is way up north?"
Shining frowned and straightened himself. "I have a duty to the princesses," he said. "I'm not going to throw that away just because of some personal weakness."
"It's not weakness," Twilight snapped. She cleared her throat as she realized that she'd yelled louder than intended. "I mean, you know the princesses would understand. You're a prince now. I'm sure they have plenty of other ponies who would jump at the opportunity to take your place." Twilight hung her head. "You can only do so much."
Shining took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Okay," he said slowly. "What's wrong, Twilight? Is this about you becoming Luna's adviser?"
"Maybe I don't want to be her adviser!" Twilight shouted. "Maybe I just want to go back to Ponyville and see Applejack and--"
"Applejack?" Shining tilted his head. "Is that the orange one?"
Twilight scowled back at him. "Yes, she's the orange one. She's also my marefriend."
Shining's jaw dropped almost to the floor. He blinked, then blinked again. For good measure, he blinked once more. "What?" he finally forced out. He worked his jaw for another few seconds and managed to say, "What?"
Twilight laughed. "To be honest, you're the first pony to react like that. I was wondering when that would happen."
Shining shook his head. "No, no. I mean, I always knew you were into mares and all, but isn't Applejack an earth pony?" He walked into Twilight's room and sat on the bed. "I thought you'd... You know. Don't you..." He clamped his mouth shut.
"I know what you were going to say," Twilight said. "I'll ignore that, though." She took a seat next to Shining. "You still haven't answered my question."
Shining rubbed the back of his neck. "Could you run it by me again?"
With a sigh, Twilight said, "How do manage to stay down here with Cadance so far up north?"
Shining paused. He bowed his head. "It isn't always easy," he said. He lifted his gaze to look directly at Twilight. "Things get lonely down here without her, but it's not permanent. The princesses give me plenty of opportunities to visit the empire."
"Well that's great," Twilight grumbled. A look from Shining drew a grin from her. "Sorry, I mean it is great, just..." She sighed. "But I'm just starting a relationship with Applejack."
Stepping off the bed, Shining snorted. "I joined the royal guard right after I met Cadance, remember?" He nuzzled Twilight and brought a thin smile to her face. "If love can't deal with the occasional bump in the road, then maybe it never was love to begin with."
Twilight chuckled. "You'd sure feel awful if Applejack and I ended up breaking up," she said, tapping Shining in the arm.
Shining shook his head and grinned. "Nope. You deserve the best, Twilie. This is your opportunity. Don't let Applejack be the one who decides what you make of it."
Twilight bit her lip and stood up. After a moment's hesitation, she hugged her brother. "Thanks, Shining. I'll talk to her and see what we can work out." She pulled away and scuffed a hoof on the floor. "The thing is, I don't know if I want to take the job if it hurts my relationship with Applejack."
Shining frowned. "Well, I'm only one pony, but I'm also your brother, and I know you better than anypony. If you turn this position down because of a marefriend, you'll never be able to live with yourself." He softened his gaze and stepped closer to Twilight. "If she's as great as you think she is, she'll be happy for you. It'll be tough, but it won't be impossible." He winked. "I would know.
Twilight nodded. The gesture grew firmer as she straightened herself and smiled. "You're right," she said. "Thank you so much, BBBFF."
"You're welcome... uh..." Shining scratched his head. "So let's see: "Little Sister--"
"I think it should be LSBFF," Twilight said with a laugh. "It doesn't really work as well, though."
Shining smirked. "Yeah." He began to make his way toward the door. "Anyway, I should be leaving. I just wanted to stop by and say hello."
"Okay," Twilight said. "It was nice seeing you." As Shining began to wrap his magic around the doorknob, she added, "Hold on."
Shining turned back to face her. "Yeah?"
Twilight furrowed her brow. "How'd you know I was into mares?"
If he hadn't already been white, Shining might have grown paler. "Say what?"
Narrowing her eyes, Twilight said, "You said you knew I was into mares. I didn't even know I was into mares until I starting hanging out with Applejack. How'd you figure it out so fast?"
A strangled chuckle escaped Shining, who backed away and grew closer to the door. "Did I really say that? Are you sure, 'cause... Maybe it was just a slip of the tongue, you know?"
Twilight shrugged and used her magic to lock the door. "Before I was just curious. Now you need to tell me."
Shining glanced at the doorknob. "You know I could just unlock that, right?"
Twilight pouted and said, "That'd be rude, though. Just tell me."
Shining took a step back and bumped into the door. Eyes widening, he slid to a sitting position and bowed his head. "Fine." He stood back up and said, "Uh... First, you're always hanging out with mares. I don't think I've even seen you spend time with a stallion before."
"Really, Shining?" Twilight arched an eyebrow. "There are hardly any stallions in Equestria--especially Ponyville."
"Exactly!" Shining thrust a hoof into the air. "So it'd totally make sense. You know, you have more... uh... options that way." He offered a toothy grin and lowered his hoof.
There was a long pause, followed by more silence. "Alright," Twilight said, sitting back on the bed and folding her forelegs. "You'll tell me eventually."
"I'm telling the truth," Shining said as his eyes examined everything in the room but Twilight.
Twilight giggled. "It was nice seeing you anyway, Shining," she said.
Shining nodded. "I'm glad I caught you," he said. "See you, Twilie."
"See you later," Twilight called as Shining opened the door and walked out. She stood and walked to the open door so she could watch him walk down the hallway to the stairs. She had to stifle a laugh when he saw her watching. His eyes grew wide, and he began to trot away.
A few minutes later, Shining was down the stairs, through the lobby, and briskly cantering out the door of the hotel. Twilight was still suppressing a giggle. |
Two Paths | Where The Heart Is | After more than a few hours of work, it was finally done. The barn was gone. Brushing the dust off her coat, Rainbow leaped into the air and spread her wings as Applejack took a step back and smiled.
"Thanks for helping out with the barn, Rainbow," Applejack said, her voice scarcely louder than a whisper. A blush spread through her cheeks. "And thanks for, you know, talking."
Hovering a few feet off the group, Rainbow flapped her wings and snickered. "I'm not sure I did that much talking," she said, "but you're welcome. Sorry I made such a mess."
Applejack glanced at the pile of rubble that lied where a barn once stood. To both ponies' credit, they had set a few planks and other scrap pieces off to the side, but the rubble dwarf that scant collection. "No, it's no problem," Applejack said, keeping her gaze on the demolished barn. "I can clean all this up easy enough. Either way, I think I needed it."
"Yeah, and most of it was junk anyway." Rainbow flapped her wings again and lifted herself even higher into the air. "I've got to go, AJ. I promised Fluttershy I'd be back for dinner." She took a look at the horizon and the small sliver of sun that was quickly descending behind it. "Hope I'm not late," she added with a grimace.
Applejack might have responded, but Rainbow didn't hear it. As soon as she stopped speaking, she was off, watching the trees of Sweet Apple Acres zip past her as she picked up speed. Before long, she flew over the fence that marked the end of the orchard. From there, it was a matter of minutes before she reached Fluttershy's cottage.
Rainbow landed outside the cottage with a loud whoosh and a flap of her wings. She touched down with a smile on her face, but that smile disappeared when she heard a gasp from inside. I must've scared her half to death, she thought. Dang!
For a moment, Rainbow stood outside the cottage biting her lip as an ever widening hole opened in her gut. Thankfully, it wasn't long before Fluttershy came out. To Rainbow's surprise, she had a broad grin on her face and almost pranced to Rainbow's side.
"I wasn't sure if you'd make it back in time," Fluttershy said through her grin. "How were things at Applejack's?"
Rainbow felt her whole body go slack as she trotted into the cottage with Fluttershy at her side. "It was good, I guess." She rubbed the back of her neck. "Somehow got roped into tearing down a barn for her."
Fluttershy formed an "O" with her mouth and nodded. "I was wondering what took you so long." Rainbow started to enter the kitchen, but Fluttershy pointed to the dining room. "Dinner's on the table. I decided I'd go ahead and make some lentil soup."
"Oh." Rainbow's ears drooped for just a moment before perking back up. She quickly put a smile on her face, but the look on Fluttershy's face told her the effort was in vain.
"I'm sorry," Fluttershy said, shrinking away. "Would you like something else?"
"No," Rainbow almost shouted. She winced before stepping forward and reaching out a hoof to Fluttershy. "No, it's great. I'm just sort of..." Rainbow stopped and grimaced. "Sorry I couldn't help out or anything."
Fluttershy took a step closer to Rainbow and started to lean in before flinching back. "Don't worry, Rainbow Dash. You were helping Applejack. I may not be as strong and confident as she is, but I can take care of myself."
Rainbow held up her hooves. "I never said anything. It's just, talking with Applejack... It got me thinking."
Fluttershy nodded toward the dining room and nudged Rainbow along. "Maybe we can talk about it over dinner."
Rainbow chuckled and trotted over to the table, where she saw two steaming bowls of soup. "Sounds good," she said as she pulled Fluttershy's chair out. Once Fluttershy took her seat, Rainbow walked over to the other side of the table and sat down.
Fluttershy forced a smile and tilted her head. "So what were you thinking about, Rainbow Dash."
"Well..." Rainbow paused as she considered her words. She scratched her chin and left her eyes drift toward the ceiling. "Well, I guess it started when I was helping AJ out with her barn. She was sort of bummed out 'cause Twilight was going to help her out with it." She shrugged. "If I were Twilight, I'd be pretty stoked that somepony else did the job instead."
Fluttershy swallowed a small spoonful of soup and glanced out a window. "Sometimes, if you really care for somepony, you can bond over anything." A blush began to blossom across her cheeks. "My mom said that true love is spending the day cleaning the house with your special somepony and knowing you couldn't want anything more."
Rainbow smirked. "Is your mom always that sappy?" She saw Fluttershy wilt and leaning forward, reaching out a hoof. "I didn't mean it like that. It makes sense. Doing stuff together is cool and all, but do you get what I'm saying."
Fluttershy opened her mouth for a few seconds, but after a moment she stuck another mouthful of soup in it and remained quiet.
With a chuckle, Rainbow picked up her own spoon. "I'm just saying that sometimes you want to do something special for your special somepony. You know, like it says in the name." She tasted the soup with a smack of her lips. "This soup's awesome, by the way."
Fluttershy blushed once more. "Thank you," she mumbled. "I know what you're saying." She paused and furrowed her brow. "I don't understand what this has to do with Applejack, though."
"I..." Rainbow glanced about and scrunched up her nose. "Yeah it does. I mean..." She drew her lips into a thin line and hesitated. After a second, she leaned forward and said, "It's 'cause AJ was going to make Twilight help. She thought it'd be good for bonding and all that, but sometimes you've got to do things yourself. You can't just let your marefriend do the work."
Fluttershy blinked repeatedly, and Rainbow realized that she had leaned much closer to Fluttershy than she'd intended. She recoiled with sudden, jerky movements and coughed. "You know, or your coltfriend, I guess."
Both ponies returned to their eating for a while. Every so often, their spoons would clang against their bowls, but a general silence reigned over the table. A few times, the two locked eyes and smiled, but they quickly looked away and returned to their meal.
At last, Fluttershy ventured to speak. "I saw some ponies setting up clouds around the town today," she said. "Is there going to be a storm soon?"
"Yeah," Rainbow said. "Orders from up top. We've gone too long without a good rain, so I had to schedule one by the end of the week." She glanced outside. "It should be starting up soon."
Fluttershy smiled. "I guess we'll have to start up a fire this evening, then."
Rainbow grinned right back. "I guess we will."
Once Fluttershy had finished her soup, she stood and reached Rainbow's empty bowl. Before she could grab the bowl, Rainbow snatched it in her hooves and nodded toward Fluttershy's bowl. "I can get that," she said.
Fluttershy hesitated but, after a moment, she hoofed the bowl over. "Thank you."
The two ponies entered the kitchen, where Rainbow headed directly for the sink. Dumping both bowls in, she turned on the faucet and glanced around the counters. "Where's the sponge, Fluttershy?" she asked.
"Second drawer on the left," Fluttershy replied. She noticed an empty bird feeder hanging outside the kitchen window and walked over to a bag of birdseed. She reached in and produced a cup full of the seed and trotted over to fill the feeder. "Would you mind grabbing some firewood when you're done washing those?" she asked after she had poured in the birdseed.
"Sure." Rainbow soaked the sponge in water and began to scrub the bowls. "Behind the cottage, right?"
"That's it." Fluttershy nodded and put the cup back with the birdseed. She flashed a grin at Rainbow and walked into the living room, where she sat on her favorite wicker chair. Within a matter of minutes, Rainbow joined her, three fire logs balanced on her back.
"That was awful fast," Fluttershy commented. She raised an eyebrow, which only elicited a roll of the eyes from Rainbow.
"The bowls are washed, I swear," Rainbow insisted. "You can check for yourself if you want."
Fluttershy smiled and grabbed a log from Rainbow's back. "I'll trust you," she said as she placed the log on the fireplace. She did the same with the other two logs, and once she'd carefully stacked them together, she trotted into the kitchen once more.
"Aren't you going to start the fire?" Rainbow asked, searching the mantle for a tinderbox. "How are you going to start it anyway?"
"Just a second, Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy called from the kitchen. Rainbow could hear a drawer close, and just after that Fluttershy returned holding a shimmering orange feather.
Rainbow's eyes grew wide. "Is that what I think it is?" she asked.
"It's a phoenix feather." Fluttershy nodded, a wide grin on her face. Celestia gave it to me the last time we were in Canterlot. That way I can always remember little Philomena."
Rainbow snorted. "I don't know what bird you're talking about, but that Philomena wasn't little."
"Well, either way this will start the fire." Fluttershy trotted over to the fireplace. "All I have to do is..." She dropped it onto the wood and it burst into flame. "There we go." Grabbing a blanket hanging from her couch, she sidled up to Rainbow. "Wasn't that nice of the princess?"
Rainbow leaned into Fluttershy and beamed. "I guess that is kind of cool." She closed her eyes and let her head rest on Fluttershy's shoulder. "Fluttershy?" she said.
"Yes, Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy replied.
"This is cool, too."
Fluttershy nodded. "I... I'm glad you here."
"Yeah." Rainbow's smile grew wider. "Me too."
The beaming smile that Shining Armor left on Twilight's face lasted for a while, as far as smiles go. By the next morning, some echo of it might have remained, but the gloomy skies over Canterlot did their best to smother its dying embers. Clouds blanketed the sky, and every one of them was some dull shade of grey that had no business hanging over the glistening capital of Equestria.
Twilight was checking out of her hotel when the rain first started. It was light at first, barely a drizzle, but it picked up. Oh, how it picked up.
Twilight felt absolutely silly using a forcefield spell to block the rain on her way to the station. The curious glances she got from other ponies did nothing to improve her mood. Note to self: Research umbrella spells.
Awkwardness notwithstanding, Twilight found her train without incident. To be sure, the Canterlot Train Station was a labyrinth of intersecting railways and shifting lines, but the municipal planners had done their jobs well. All she had to do was follow the signs, show the conductor her ticket, an hop aboard.
When she finally got her luggage tucked away and found her cabin, Twilight breathed a deep sigh. She was out of the city, out of the rain, and on her way home. A grin began to spread across her face, but when she glanced out the window, she stopped. The sky was still dark and grey.
After a long while, the train finally began to roll along the tracks. With a loud whine, the locomotive announced its departure, leaving Canterlot behind in a matter of minutes. Twilight, for her part, drifted off to sleep.
When Twilight next opened her eyes, she was greeted by a considerable amount of light. An uncomfortable amount of light, as a matter of fact. Taking a few seconds to let her eyes adjust to the brightness, she finally looked out the window and saw the sun. The sun and the bright blue sky. The clouds were gone, long gone, Twilight noted with a smile. As Twilight looked ahead, that grin grew wider. Out toward the horizon, she could see Ponyville. She could see home.
This is so exciting! I'll have to go see Applejack this afternoon--oh, maybe it already is afternoon--and... Her thoughts trailed off as her smile fell and her ears went flat. What will I even say to Applejack? I didn't resolve anything! I mean, I guess I know I can spend some time in Ponyville, but... A pit opened in her chest. What am I going to do?
Twilight felt that horrid emptiness in her chest for the rest of the ride. The train's whistle didn't drown it out, and it didn't disappear when the train stopped at Ponyville Junction. As the wheels screeched against the tracks, Twilight took a deep breath and went to grab her luggage. When the train came to a full stop, she pulled it out of the luggage compartment and walked to the exit. She down the steps at the edge of the car--one, two, three--and took the final step down to the platform.
She was home.
The sun shone bright and the air smelled of a fresh rainfall. The birds were out and about, chirping loud enough to drift even over the noise of the train station. Still, Twilight didn't smile, at least not at first. That changed not long after she left the train. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of orange. Before she could react, she was struck from the side as two strong hooves wrapped around her. She stumbled and turned her head to see the brown Stetson, the orange coat. It was Applejack.
Twilight gasped and twisted about until she could hug Applejack back. "Applejack! What are you doing here?" she asked, burying her face in her marefriend's shoulder.
"I figured you'd be a tad homesick once you got back and wanted to give you the ol' Apple Family welcome." Applejack rocked Twilight from side to side for a moment before pulling away. "Well, not the real Apple Family welcome," she added with a chuckle. "I guess it's just me."
"I wouldn't want it any other way," Twilight said, pulling Applejack back in for another hug. "This is such a wonderful surprise. How did you know what train I'd come in on?"
"That was the easy part. I just stopped by the library and asked Spike."
Twilight raised an eyebrow. "And the hard part?"
Applejack laughed. "There wasn't one. All I had to do was get here on time."
"So it was inevitable," Twilight said with a laugh. She picked up her luggage and began to walk away from the train with Applejack. "Did you do anything interesting while I was gone?"
Applejack stopped and rubbed the back of her neck. "Uh, yeah. Kind of."
Twilight's smile faltered as she stopped a few feet in front of her marefriend. "What's wrong, Applejack?"
"Rainbow came by the other day and we... We sort of..." Applejack bit her lip.
The breath caught in Twilight's throat. "Go on," she insisted, nodding vigorously.
Applejack grit her teeth and finally said it. "We took down the barn without you."
The two ponies were silent for a moment, Applejack hanging her head in shame. Finally, Twilight began to giggle. The giggles grew to laughter, and before long, Twilight was guffawing loudly and clapping a hoof on Applejack shoulder. "Applejack, silly, that's great," she said, planting a kiss on her marefriend's cheek.
"Really?" Applejack blushed and tilted her head.
"Of course it is." Twilight picked up her luggage and resumed walking off the platform. "Why wouldn't it be? I'm surprised you didn't take care of that years ago."
"But..." Applejack closed her eyes and shook her head. "We were going to work on it together." She opened her eyes and glanced at Twilight. "So you're not upset you didn't get to help."
"Are you upset that I didn't help?" Twilight tilted her head.
Applejack smirked. "Well, I guess not." She followed Twilight off the platform as the two began to make their way through Ponyville. "I could take you there if you like, show you how it looks."
Twilight nodded. "I've got to drop my bag off at the library first. You mean now, right?"
Applejack sped up to a trot and nodded. "Course. If you have the time, I mean."
Twilight leaned into Applejack's shoulder. "For you, Applejack, I have all the time in the world."
When Rainbow opened her eyes in the morning, Fluttershy was gone. She blinked a few times, but every time her eyes reopened, they opened to an empty half of the bed.
Brow furrowed, Rainbow began to get up, but just as she rolled toward the edge of the bed, the bedroom door swung open. In walked Fluttershy balancing a tray of food on her back.
As Rainbow propped herself up against the headboard of the bed, Fluttershy made her way to the side of the bed and began to slide the tray onto Rainbow's lap. "I made you breakfast," she said, pointing out the slices of toast and scrambled eggs on the tray.
Rainbow grimaced and glanced at the food before looking up at Fluttershy. "Thanks, Fluttershy," she said before blowing out a sigh.
"Is something wrong?" Fluttershy furrowed her brow and began to scrutinize the meal.
Rainbow held up a hoof and shook her head. "No," she said. "No. It looks awesome. It's... Thanks." She patted the bed and said, "You gonna sit here with me or do I have to eat this on my own?"
Fluttershy tentatively got into bed with Rainbow, eyeing their breakfast all the while. "Are you sure there's enough for us to share?"
"What are you talking about?" Rainbow her up her hooves and shrugged. "You made it, after all."
Fluttershy glanced away. "It's just that... I mean, I could make my own breakfast if you think you'll eat all of this. It was for you, really."
Rainbow glanced at the tray and noticed only one set of silverware. "Well as long as you don't mind sharing a fork, I say we share. Either that, or I'm cooking your breakfast."
Fluttershy gave a thin smile and shook her head. "No, no, thank you, Rainbow Dash," she said, perhaps a bit faster than Rainbow would have liked.
After that, the two ate in silence for a short while, taking turns as they split the eggs. Finally, as Rainbow shoved another mouthful of toast into her mouth, Fluttershy asked, "Are you going to work today?"
Still chewing, Rainbow nodded. After a deep swallow, she said, "I've got to check up with the team, make sure the rainstorm went as plan. By the way," she added, checking out the window, "do you know what time it is?"
"Sometime around 9," Fluttershy answered. "Why? Are you late?"
Rainbow rolled her eyes and snickered. "They don't expect me till noon most days." A mischievous gleam flashed across her eyes. "I should get out there early today. Keep them on their toes."
Fluttershy covered her mouth and giggled. "Those poor pegasi!"
Rainbow shook her head and straightened herself. "No, it'll be totally hilarious!" She shifted around under the sheets and picked up the nearly empty tray. "Uh, do you mind if I go now?"
Fluttershy's face fell. "Are you sure?"
Rainbow put the tray back down on her lap and twiddled her hooves. "I mean, I don't need to or anything. Like, I can help you out with the animals, or--"
"No." Fluttershy picked up the tray and stood up. "It's okay, Rainbow Dash. You have your job, and that comes first." Once the tray was nicely balanced on her back, she offered up a smile.
"That's not... I just..." Rainbow bit her lip as her brow creased deeply. "I'll wrap up work early," she said at last. "Are you going to stick around here?"
Fluttershy nodded. "I'll just tend to the animals till you get back." She shifted the tray on her back. "After I clean these, of course."
With a grimace, Rainbow nodded and got up. "Thanks for that again," she said as she followed Fluttershy out of the bedroom.
"You're welcome," Fluttershy replied, making her way to the kitchen sink.
Rainbow shot right past her toward the front door. "No, but I'm serious," she said. "I'll get you back for that. I'll do..." She waved a hoof around indistinctly. "I'll do something, I guess."
Fluttershy giggled. "It's fine, Dashie," she said as she turned on the faucet. "Just have fun at work."
"I will." Opening the front door, Rainbow trotted off and opened her wings. As the door to Fluttershy's cottage swung closed, Rainbow flapped her wings and lifted off, dashing off to the skies above Ponyville.
Twilight was stunned. Her jaw hung open and her eyes were wide, and Applejack watched with a chuckle and a smirk. Out in the fields of Sweet Apple Acres, where once stood a rotting old barn, there was now nothing.
Well, perhaps nothing was a bit of an overstatement. Some few bits of debris still cluttered up the area, and the musky odor from the barn certainly remained, but the building itself was gone. Twilight turned to Applejack and gave her marefriend a hug.
"You really did it," she said. She sniffed the air and crinkled her nose. "It's still a bit smelly, though."
Applejack laughed and patted Twilight on the back. "Well it's only been gone for about a day," she said. "Besides, you didn't gag or cough or anything. I call that progress."
Twilight nodded, still crinkling her nose. "I guess you could call it that," she mumbled as she walked onto the bare dirt that had once housed the barn. "Even the dirt floor looks cleaner when you get it out of that wreck."
Rolling her eyes, Applejack trotted up to join Twilight. "Oh, now you're just making things up."
Twilight shook her head. "It does. For one thing, the sun is finally shining on it, and the fresh air is surely doing wonders for the soil."
"You been reading books on farming, Twi?" Applejack asked as she arched an eyebrow.
Twilight averted her gaze and blushed. "Maybe," she said before breaking out into giggles. She trotted to Applejack's side and rested her head on her marefriend's shoulder. "Either way, it looks beautiful now." She pulled away and faced Applejack directly. "Thank you."
Applejack smiled and gave Twilight a hug. "Anything for you, sugarcube."
Once the hug ended, Twilight glanced away and began to trot away. "It really is great, but can we walk somewhere else?" she asked. "I think this place still needs a few days to air out."
With a laugh, Applejack cantered along in pursuit. "Sure thing. But wait for me." Both ponies laughed as Twilight picked up her pace, and before long they were both galloping and giggling through the apple orchards.
Rainbow left work early with a broad grin on her face that came as soon as she found her weather team and stayed until well after her departure. She'd been right. They never expected her to show up so early, and sneaking up on them hours before noon had been more satisfying than even Rainbow could have anticipated.
Needless to say, Rainbow's arrival gave her subordinates a jolt of energy, and it didn't hurt that Rainbow herself was working at full throttle. When the team finished cleaning up from last night's storm, the sun still hung high in the sky. A black-coated pegasus with a sky blue mane flew over to Rainbow and cleared his throat
"What is it, Thunderlane?" she asked after busting one last cloud.
"Is there anything else to do today, boss?" he asked, glancing around the sky.
Rainbow joined him and looking about, then shrugged. "Well, Cloudsdale called for sunny skies this afternoon, and I can't see a cloud in the sky." She winked. "Guess we can head home early."
Thunderlane shook his head and blinked. "Really?"
"Sure," Rainbow said, holding up her hooves. "If anything comes up, I'll handle it." She turned to her nearby coworkers and cleared her throat. "You hear that, guys? Shift's over."
With a smattering of cheers, the ponies flew away in different directions, leaving Rainbow slowly soaring through the sky. Her smile still clung to her face, but as she began to may her way toward Fluttershy's cottage her pace slowed and her smile faded.
She's probably going to insist on making dinner again, Rainbow thought, and though the notion made her mouth water, her ears still drooped low. She blew out a sigh and floated down to earth.
When she touched down, she snorted and threw her head back. What am I getting all bent out of shape about? She's just being nice. It's awesome really. Rainbow tried to smile, but the expression quickly fell away. I've got to do something for her.
She glanced to Ponyville, then to the sun. The market's probably open, she thought, turning away from the Everfree Forest and toward the town. Before she got far, though, a shadow passed over her. She glanced up, wondering who would be flying so far from Ponyville, when she saw it: A cloud.
With a loud whoosh, she zoomed into the air until she was level with the cloud. Turning about, she turned to give the cloud a firm kick, but before she could follow through another idea struck her.
Flapping her wings as delicately as she could manage, she turned back around and poked the cloud with her hooves. It squished a little with her touch, but it reformed as soon as she pulled back. Seems firm, she thought. Glancing around to check if anypony was around, she flopping onto her back and landed on the cloud. She let out a soft moan. Nice...
Still grinning, Rainbow rolled over and wrapped her hooves around the cloud. After a moment, she found Fluttershy's cottage against the backdrop of the Everfree Forest and began flapping her wings. She quickly picked up speed, and before long she and her new cloud were at Fluttershy's doorstep.
From around the back of the cottage, Fluttershy trotted up with a wide smile. "Hello, Rainbow Dash. I..." She saw the cloud and tilted her head. "What's this?" she asked.
"I've got the best idea ever!" Rainbow said, flying into the air and spreading her hooves wide. She zipped down to Fluttershy's side. Fluttershy jumped, but she didn't move far as Rainbow grabbed her with one hoof and pointed at her with the other. "You, me, cloud bed," Rainbow said, her eyes gleaming as she did so. "Doesn't that sound awesome?"
For a moment, Rainbow's grip relaxed, and Fluttershy took the moment to pull away. She glanced nervously at the cloud a few times as she said, "Well, I don't know Dashie. I haven't used a cloud bed since... Well, it's been a long time."
Rainbow threw up her hooves. "Well then of course we've got to get this thing set up! You probably forgot how awesome these things can be." A lopsided grin covered her face, but Fluttershy only gave her a small smile in response.
Rainbow lowered her head and her hooves, folding her wings to her sides. "Could we just try for tonight?" she asked, looking up at Fluttershy with shimmering eyes.
Fluttershy paused before stepping forward and nuzzling Rainbow in the cheek. "I guess so," she said. She nodded at the cloud. "You'll have to set it up, though."
Rainbow grinned and saluted Fluttershy. "That was the plan."
As Fluttershy began to walk around the house again, she glanced back at Rainbow and added, "Oh, and you'll have to move the old bed, too." Rainbow's flank fell to the ground as Fluttershy continued. "You can put the mattress in the closet and put the cloud in the frame. Have fun!"
With that, Fluttershy rounded the side of her house, humming an airy tune.
Rainbow, for her part, stood and yelled, "I was going to do that anyway."
After a moment, Fluttershy's head poked back around the side of the house and she said, "No you weren't, but thanks for doing it now." Without another word, she rushed away to her animals.
Exhaling out of the corner of her mouth, Rainbow tapped her hoof and looked to her cloud. "Well, I guess I'll need to get you inside somehow."
The cloud made no response.
As the sun began to set on Sweet Apple Acres, Twilight and Applejack were still meandering through the orchard, albeit at a much slower pace than before. The two ponies leaned into each other as they walked, moving in silence as one.
Finally, the Apple Family home came into view, lights on as the sound of clanging plates and silverware drifted toward Twilight and Applejack. As they approached the building, Twilight nuzzled Applejack's shoulder.
"This has been such a wonderful day," Twilight said. "It's almost made me completely forget about how nervous I was with the princesses yesterday."
Applejack stopped and stood stock still for a moment. When Twilight turned around, Applejack rushed toward her and put her front hooves and Twilight's shoulders. After a moment, she began to speak.
"I... I know you've got one hay of an opportunity out there in Canterlot," she managed. "I know it's what you've always dreamed of and... Well, I won't stop you." She pulled Twilight in for a hug and buried her face in Twilight's chest. "
"Applejack, what's wrong?" Twilight hugged Applejack back and began to rock her gently back and forth.
"You took the job," Applejack said. "You must have. That's why you haven't said anything, isn't it?" She sniffled and picked her head up. Looking Twilight in the eyes, she said, "You can tell me. Be honest."
Twilight shook her head. "I didn't make any final decisions, Applejack, but I'm not just leaving for Canterlot," she said. "Even if I take the job, I want to be here with you, with our friends. I need Ponyville, but I especially need you."
Applejack blinked a few times and chuckled. "You mean it? You told them that?"
Without answer, Twilight leaned forward and planted a kiss on Applejack's lips. Applejack's eyes went wide at first, but they fluttered and closed as the kiss lingered. Their lips remained locked for a few moments, and when they pulled away, they did so with broad smiles on their faces.
Applejack opened her mouth, but all that came out was a strangled laugh. "I never quite get used to that," she finally managed.
"I hope I never do." Twilight kissed Applejack again, and her eyes shone against the sunset as she pulled away. "I'm sorry I can't give a full answer. I promise that whatever decision I end up making, you'll be the first thing on my mind.
"It's okay," Applejack said, pulling Twilight back into a tight embrace.
Twilight buried her face in Applejack's shoulder. As they both rocked slowly back and forth, she said, "I know. It's all okay. More than okay."
Twilight paused, then gave Applejack another kiss.
"I love you, Applejack."
"I love you, too, sugarcube."
Late in the evening, Rainbow and Fluttershy finished their dinner and cleared their plates to the kitchen. Before Rainbow could reach the sink, Fluttershy snatched her plate and turned on the faucet, smiling and humming all the while.
"I can clean those," Rainbow commented, but Fluttershy kept humming. "It was just salad," Rainbow continued. "It'll be easy."
The smile never left Fluttershy's face as she said, "Don't worry, Rainbow Dash. You showed me how good you are at cleaning yesterday."
Rainbow scoffed. "I cleaned those soup bowls in ten seconds flat," she said.
"Exactly," Fluttershy replied without missing a beat.
Rainbow opened her mouth, then clamped it firmly shut. She walked in a circle for a moment and said, "Well, you'll like the cloud bed, at least. It's going to be so awesome!"
Fluttershy nodded, not turning her attention from the dishes. "We'll see."
Rainbow thrust a hoof forward and grinned. "Yeah, we'll see. You'll see how awesome it is, and you'll be like, 'Oh, Rainbow Dash, you were so totally right and awesome.'" Seeing Fluttershy roll her eyes, Rainbow added, "True story."
Fluttershy scrubbed the last few bits of food off the dishes and turned off the faucet. Lifting one dish for Rainbow to see, she said, "Look at how clean this is." The dish sparkled in the light of the setting sun. "Isn't it just amazing?"
Rainbow smirked and poked Fluttershy in the side. "When'd snarky Fluttershy get here?" she asked, poking Fluttershy again and drawing out a high-pitched squeal.
Stifling her giggles, Fluttershy lowered her head and said, "I'm sorry. I can stop being snarky if you want."
Rainbow pulled Fluttershy closer, shaking her head vigorously. "Of course, not, Fluttershy. This is awesome. I like you this way."
A blush spread across Fluttershy's face as she put the plate back into the sink. "I can dry those off in the morning," she murmured, still in Rainbow's hooves. "It's getting dark."
Rainbow's lopsided grin grew wider. "I know a certain cloud bed we could go to." She swept a hoof toward the bedroom. "Shall we?"
With a giggle, Fluttershy nodded. "Yes."
As the two ponies trotted into the bedroom, Fluttershy's eyes grew wide. "I knew this was supposed to be a cloud bed," she said, "but cloud blankets?"
Rainbow patted the side of the bed and pulled back the blankets she had made just hours earlier. "Isn't it cool?" she asked. "A friend from Cloudsdale taught me how to make them. I figured if I'm making you a cloud bed, it ought to be top of the line."
Fluttershy wrapped Rainbow in a warm hug. "That's very thoughtful of you," she said. "Do you want to get in first, or...?"
Rainbow nudged Fluttershy forward. "It's your bed. You try it first," she said.
Smiling softly, Fluttershy shook her head even as she slipped into bed. "It's really ours," she said as she settled under the covers. "I mean, if you want to keep staying over."
Rainbow's wings flew open, and she chuckled as she folded them back against her sides. "Yeah, that'd be cool." She walked to the side of the bed. "Now make some room for me," she added. "Scoot over."
Fluttershy willingly obliged, letting out a soft purr. "It's so soft," she said. "And... fluffy."
Rainbow got into bed next to her and grinned. "I told you you'd like it." She closed her eyes nuzzled Fluttershy's neck, eliciting a giggle. Rainbow was practically beaming when she rolled over and draped a hoof over Fluttershy's chest.
"Rainbow Dash?" Fluttershy said, lifting her head from her pillow.
"Yeah, Fluttershy?" Rainbow moved a bit closer to Fluttershy but kept her eyes closed.
Fluttershy ran a hoof through Rainbow's mane. "This is the nicest thing anypony has ever done for me."
Finally, Rainbow lifted her head and opened her eyes. "Well, you deserve it," she said, blushing just a little. Her blush grew deeper as she fixed her gaze on Fluttershy's face. "You're... You're pretty awesome, Fluttershy."
Fluttershy leaned down and gave Rainbow a kiss on the forehead. "You're the most wonderful mare I've ever met," she replied.
Mouth hanging open in a dumb grin, Rainbow nestled her head in Fluttershy's long soft mane. "Cool," she said as she closed her eyes, letting her thoughts drift away in a sea of yellow and pink. |
Race Swapper in the Deerlands | pre | I woke up the next morning, and got my bow in my name before contacting my brother.
<So Hexan, ready for control?> I ask him.
<Sure, go ahead sis.> He says so I trade places with him.
Once I have control, I take a moment to adjust my hat, before heading downstairs, where I find Frosty wiping down the counter.
"Morning Boss." I say, walking over.
"Morning kid, how are you feeling since yesterday?" He asks, stopping what he is doing.
"I'm feeling better. Anyway, I think it's time I head out." I say, looking around.
"Are you sure kid? You could stay longer, you know." He points out.
"I know, and I think I'd like to. But we have somewhere we need to be, so we need to head off." I explain.
"Well... alright then. At least take some food with you." He says, heading into the kitchen. Once the doors close, I head back upstairs for my bags.
Once they are on, I head back down, and see a packed lunch on the counter, which I put into my bag.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye kid." He says, shaking my hoof.
"Only for now. I'll likely be back at some point. Until then, goodbye." I say before walking outside.
When I get outside, I head straight to the station and get a ticket for a train, heading right to the forest, or as close as I can get.
The train ride isn't anything special, and we arrive in about two hours.
Once there, I hop off the train and look around. From the station, I can see about fifteen wooden buildings, one of which is bigger, probably a town center or something. I can also see a portion of the forest between buildings, with a small amount chopped down.
I looks like the loggers aren't working today, so I head right towards the forest. Once I get between buildings, I look around, making sure that no-pony is around. Once I see that there is no one around, I rush strip to the tree line and disappear into the forest.
Once I'm far enough in, I slow down and start looking around. The trees appear to be both healthy and large. They provide plenty of shelter, but there is enough space to move around. No matter how you look at it, these trees aren't wild, they were planted.
After a while, I began to feel tired. That's when I hear a growl. Turning around, I see a large, dark grey bear, which growls louder, and I freeze.
<Quick, what do we do?!> I ask, becoming panicked.
<I could fight it.> Knockout suggests.
<Like hell you will! We'll run, it's safer!> Prissy says, sounding mad.
<Better decide quick, because here it comes!> Distrac says, before I turn and start running through the trees, weaving around them. Unfortunately, the trees are wide enough apart for it to move easily, so it keeps up easily.
I keep running for as long as I can, dodging over and around roots and trunks, but eventually, I trip, and roll down a hill and into a river. Getting up, I see that luckily, my bags are still dry, so I get up, and notice my hat by the river bank. I quickly grab it and start running again, because I hear the bear's roar nearby.
Eventually, I manage to lose it, by hiding inside a dead trees trunk, thankful that landing in the river muddled my scent. Once the bear gives up, I waited for about 20 minutes, before climbing out, and looking around. The trees seem much larger around here, but it is getting dark.
<So, what should we do, guys?> I ask, not really with any clues on our next action.
<Whatever we do, let's try not to anger the deer. So no fires or chopping trees.> Logic suggests.
<How about a temporary shelter for the night?> Prissy suggests.
<Good idea sis, I'll get to work.> I think, beginning to grab large branches that had fallen on the ground, and placing them in ways that the trees held them up. Once I have enough, I start collecting smaller branches and twigs, laying them on top, and last of all, a couple layers of leaves, creating a makeshift roof. Then I pull my sleeping bag out of my bag, and lay down.
<Goodnight guys.> I think.
<Goodnight Hexan.> They think back, before I go to sleep. |
Race Swapper in the Deerlands | Chapter 9 - Unexpected Danger. | When I awoke, I decided to have the last of the food I brought with me. It's alright, but I'll need to search for some more soon. Now that I'm up and about, I take down my shelter, and begin to wonder around the trees.
Over time, I begin to notice the trees get a bit denser, noticeably more around the tops. And it's around that time I start smelling some food. Following the scent, I end up just outside some form of camp.
<Be careful brother, we have no idea what owns this camp.> Logic states.
<Alright, I'll stick to the tree line for now.> I reply, hiding in some bushes. Looking around at what I can see of the camp, it appears to be a hunters camp. Further examination, reveal that the race is likely quadrupled. I'm about to walk into the camp and look for food, before I hear some movement in the somewhat large camp, causing me to stay hidden.
Keeping watch from my hiding spot, I see multiple ponies walking around and doing chores. After watching for a while, I notice that some of them are skinning something. A closer look reveals the creature to be a bear. Having seen enough, I go to sneak away, not feeling much trust for these ponies. As I step away, I hear something crunch underneath my hoof, which when I look down, appears to be a bone. Unfortunately, I can hear a ruckus behind me, some of the hunters likely having heard me, so I take to the air, and begin to fly through the trees, most of the ponies being earth, while I did see one or two unicorns, so they had a hard time catching me.
While flying through the trees, I don't notice one of many ropes tied up in random ways through the trees, and one clips my wing near my body, which forces my wing back at a bad angle, as well as making me crash to the ground.
<Damn it! Come on Hex, run!> Knockout says, causing me to try to ignore the pain and keep running, while hearing the hunters start catching up. I manage to get back up and start running, but I can't run as fast as I know I could, and they begin to close in.
Without the focus to change to an earth pony, I don't have the land speed to outrun them, and I can't become a unicorn because I'd be even slower then, so I keep running, deeper into the forest, where barely any light flows through the leaves.
Before long, the unicorns try throwing nets at me, but I just manage to avoid them, even with one of my wings dragging behind me. Some try to shoot beams of magic at me, but their aim isn't too good, and it doesn't help that I keep moving between trees.
I eventually make it to an area that I can barely see in, but I keep running. Because I can't see too well in this area, I end up tripping on an overgrown root for a large tree, and run head first into a tree, which knocks my hat off. The collision dazes me, long enough for the hunters to catch up and surround me.
"I could see it too well before while we were chasin' it, but it's just a kid boss." One of the unicorns say, as I look at them, too dazed to pick out any details.
"I don't care if it's just a kid, we don't let anypony find out about us. We can't risk him tellin' nopony about us, so you know what we need to do." A large earth pony says, as his pulls out something metal, that barely shines in the low light. "Sorry kid, but we never leave a witness." He says, getting closer. Before he can get to close, I feel the ground shift under me, before something brown burst out of the ground between us, blocking him off.
While I hear the cries of shock from behind the wall, I feel the dazed feeling slowly leave me, allowing me to get up and notice that the wall is made of roots.
<So that was the shifting feeling.> I think to myself, before looking around trying to figure out where they came from, before exhaustion from the running and the collision with the tree overtake me, causing me to blackout. |
Race Swapper in the Deerlands | Chapter 10 - Objective located, and beginnings of Trust. | When I next came to, I awoke inside what appeared to be a circular hut made of wood. I was on a bed, with all the general beddings. Sitting up, I noticed that my hat was missing, which worried me, and my bags were by the door. Sitting up, I notice a splint on my wing, which reminds me of the chase, as well as my crash landing. <Guess my wing was worse off than I hoped.> I think to myself. Elsewhere in the room there was some chairs, a table and a chest, all made of wood, and appearing to be part of the floor, somehow.
Once I finish looking around, I slide out of the warm bed, getting to my hooves, which are a bit shaky, but I manage to walk to my bags and slide them on, making sure not to touch my wing, and prepare to step outside, before someone walks in, causing me to step back towards the bed.
"Don't hurt me!" I say, flinching as I remember that I went unconscious with the hunters nearby, thinking it was them who held me.
"Whatever reason would I have for hurting a child like me?" A femanan voice asks, causing me to look over at them. To my shock, they are a deer. Looking them over, they appear to have a light brown coat, with their belly and top half of their ears being a light blue. Their mane a vibrant indigo color, which their tail matches. Their eyes appear to be a light red colour, and finally she has what I guess are medium sized horns, which are the same colour as her belly, which her hooves match. She appears to be only a little bit older than me.
"W...Who are you?" I ask, before finally noticing the absence of my siblings, but decide that isn't important right now, while I barely notice my right hoof shivering.
"My name is Abigale Poppy, what is your name?" She asks, taking a seat on one of the chairs. Deciding it might help with my odd nervousness, I take a seat on a chair as well.
"I...I'm Hexan Tronic. Nice to meet you." I reply, with a shaky smile.
"Are you alright? You seem a bit restless." She asks, looking a little worried.
"I think so? I'm not sure why myself." I say, my ears flicking, but not feeling my hat, which makes the nervous feeling worse.
"Okay... if you say so. What do you remember about before getting here?" She asks, looking a little serious.
"Um, I remember searching for you, or rather your people. But then I ran into some hunters, who I guess were doing less than legal things, which made them chase me. I tried to fly away, but clipped my wing, and while running I ran head first into a tree. But before the hunters could get me, some roots rose out of the ground, making a wall, and then I blacked out." I reply. She nods, accepting my answer.
"Alright. Why were you looking for us?" She asks.
"Uh, do you mind if I keep that to myself, for now? I'm not feeling up for speaking about it just yet." I say, worried about my wing.
"I guess that's okay, you do look a fair bit uncomfortable." She says, watching me. "Either way, I was the one who made the roots grow, I couldn't bare to watch those cruel ponies do what they were going to." She explains.
"T..Thank you, Abigale. How did you do it?" I ask, curious.
"By asking them to." She explains, like it's the most obvious thing in the world..
"What? What do you mean by that?" I ask.
"When I, or one of the others, want a plant to do something, we push our aura into them, and ask the plant to do it, and usually it does. The trees around you were happy to help you. They just needed the extra energy from my aura to do it." She explains. "Even this house was made the same way, we are inside a tree crafted from a living tree, and deer aura."
"Whoa...." I say, stunned. "A...Anyway, something has been bothering me, since I woke up."
"And what would that be?" She asks.
"Do you know where my hat is?" I ask, looking around in case I missed it.
"One of the elders was looking after it. It made hier curious, because of it's odd nature." She explains.
"You mean how it's not just a hat, but six different things?" I ask, which makes her appear to think for a moment.
"That would probably explain a bit of it, but no. The elder was curious because while it did hold a large portion of your aura, there were five other separate auras contained within, which is very uncommon with pony items." She explains.
"That's odd... wait, I have an aura?" I ask, confused.
"Of course, all living things, plant or animal, have an aura." She explains.
"Wow... That is something I'll keep in mind. Do you think I could get it back? I haven't been able to sit still since I woke up and noticed it was gone." I ask, hoping for a good answer.
"Sure! I'll be right back, please stay here?" She asks, before heading out the door, closing it behind her. Once she is gone, I go back over and lay on the bed, closing my eyes. <Come on guys, you gotta wake up.> I think, before heading into my mindscape.
After a moment of thought, I head to Prissy's house first, and head inside. Inside I find her asleep on her bed, giving me the chance to look around her room. Other than the closet and bed I noticed my first time here, which appear to be white, with a design of her ribbon painted like it's wrapped around them. There is also a dresser, which has drawers, a mirror, and a box with copies of her mane bow. There is also a pure white chair in front of it. Her walls are painted a slightly darker pink than the rest of the house, while the floor is a carpet of matching colour. Finally a picture of herself is hung up beside a window which I can see the street from. Once I'm done looking around, I gently shake her.
"Hey sis, it's time to wake up." I say, as she begins to stir, opening an eye and looking at me.
"Hexy? What time is it?" She asks, confused.
"No idea, but we should probably wake the others up. I figure they are out cold like you were." I say, as she sits up and stretches.
"Alright, I'll get Burst and Distrac, you get Logic and Knockout." She says, as we nod then head out. Once back outside, I head to Logic's house, then go inside. When I get in, I quickly head up to his room, and like before, I look around. This room looks somewhat similar, in that it has a bed and a closet, but these are a dark blue, with lighter blue sparkles on it, like what is seen in magic when channeled by our horn. There is a desk and chair nearby, with books on it. The walls are a slightly lighter blue than the closet, the carpet matching that colour, and finally the picture of him by the window. When I'm done, I wake him up.
"Alright, what's the problem Hex?" He asks.
"I don't think there is one, but you all were out cold." I say.
"Probably from the collision with that tree. It couldn't be helped." He theorizes.
"Alright, you meet Prissy and the others in the street, I'll go get Knockout." I say, heading out and over to his house. Up in his room, It looks a little different than the others. His room matches the rest of his house, which has a colosseum look, meaning it's made of carved stone. His room, like the rest of his house, has stone walls, with markings carved into them, which are coloured orange, while the stone is a lighter brown colour. His room just has a rack for his gloves, his bed, which has a stone frame, but still a mattress like the rest of us, and some gear for morning stretches and exercises. The floor is square, stone tiles, with a weak, orange glow coming from the cracks, carpet perfectly cut to match the tiles but not cover the cracks. And finally there is a statue of Knockout, coloured correctly, by the glass window overlooking the street. I walk over and wake him up.
"Morning brother. What are we doing today?" He asks, waking up.
"Meeting the others in the street, let's go." I say, leading him outside. When we get outside, we see the other four standing together, so we walk over. "It's good to see you all up and about."
"Yeah, thanks for the wake up call bro." Burst says.
"So, anything happen while we were out?" Logic asks.
"Not too much, you'll see when she gets back." I say.
"She?" Prissy asks, curious.
"You'll see soo-" I begin to say, before being pulled out of the mindscape by my body being shaken. Opening my eyes, I see Abigale lightly shaking me. "Oh, hey."
"Oh good, you're awake." She says, before I notice that she was shaking me awake, from on top of me.
"Why are you on me?" I ask.
"To wake you up of course, why else?" She asks.
"Good point." I say.
"Anyway, I got your hat." She says, getting off me and leading me back to the table. After a moment, I get up and walk over to the table, where I put my hat on, and suddenly the nervous feeling disappears.
"Huh, that's odd..." I say, more to myself than anything else.
"I guess your hat is a part of you, and without it, you aren't able to be comfortable." Abigale suggests.
<She could be right you know.> Logic says.
<I guess so, and it's good to hear you guys here again.> I say.
<So you found the deer, Hexy?> Prissy asks.
<More like she found me. She is the one who rescued us.> I reply.
<Well have you thanked her properly?> Distrac asks.
<Yeah, I think so.> I say, a bit unsure.
<Does she know about us yet?> Knockout asks.
<Not yet, I couldn't reach you guys, so I never mentioned it.> I say, adjusting my injured wing.
<Damn, your wings not healed yet.> Burst notices.
<Yeah, but they did make sure it won't get worse.> I say, before noticing that Abigale is looking at me.
"What are you doing?" She asks.
"Nothing, just thinking." I reply back.
"If you say so. Either way, the elder that was examining you hat wants to talk to you." She informs, looking to the door.
"Alright, let's go see them." I say, walking out the door, where I have several wooden spears pointed at me. "Meep." I say, as Knockout quickly takes over.
When I quickly take control, I immediately yank the nearest spear out of the deers hooves, before I use it to knock one of the others out of another's grip, where I stomp on it, breaking it. With two more spears getting thrusted in my direction, I quickly step out of the way, before jumping on them both, snapping them in half, before snapping the last one I held.
"Anything else you want to throw at me?" I ask, hoping for a challenge, before I'm wrapped in roots which burst from the ground. "Aww..." I say, disappointed that my fun is over, while I hear Abigale walk out behind me.
"Hexan?" She asks, looking at me.
"Half right there. I'm his brother. The threat the spears posed caused me to take control to defend him." I explain.
"Huh, your aura is completely different to his, and the hat is gone too." She says, her eyes glowing softly, the same colour as her mane.
"Can I get out now? This is kind of uncomfortable." I ask, startling her.
"Oh! Right, sorry." She says, letting me out. " Can Hexan come back out please?" She asks, to which I nod and let him have control again. <Sorry about that bro.>
<It's alright, you did what you needed to.> I say, when I take control again.
"That was awkward." I say, as Abigale releases me.
"Sorry about that, I should have gone first. Follow me." She says, leading the way through her village, most of the buildings are made from living trees, which are still alive.
Our short walk came to an end when we reached an old looking tree, which Abigale walked inside of, so I followed her in.
Once inside, I look around the room. I can see that the part of the tree we are in has a table and some chairs, which has some sandwiches and water on it. There are also some paintings, and a couple of doors, leading to other rooms. And finally, sitting at the table appears to be an old deer.
She appears to have possessed an orange mane at some point, but it has since almost faded to grey. Their coat is a dark brown, while their belly and ears are white. Looking in their eyes, I can tell they must be pretty old, because their eyes are a dull blue. When I have finished my observation, I take a seat, Abigale taking the seat beside me.
"Good afternoon child. This is the young one you found?" She asks, looking at Abigale, who nods.
"Yes Elder, he is." She confirms.
"Well, it is nice to meet you, young pony. I'm known as Elder Spruce. Could I enquire about your name?" She asks, giving me her attention.
"I go by Hexan Tronic. Thank you for having me looked after, Elder." I reply, giving a slight nod.
"No thanks are necessary, but they are welcome. May I ask why you were in this forest, since I hear that the other ponies were after you." Elder Spruce asks.
"To be honest, I was actually searching for your people. I have a personal goal of visiting and learning about any major race I can find, and I chose to pursue the Deer first." I explain calmly, hoping they accept the answer. Abigale stays silent, while the Elder appears to be thinking, before coming to a decision.
"May I ask why you are seeking to meet with different races?" She calmly asks, after which I take a moment to think about how to explain.
"Well, for the most part, it has to do with a condition I appear to have." I explain vaguely.
"And what does this condition entails?" She continues probing.
"Well, it mostly has to do with this." I explain, before I shift into a unicorn, the wrappings and splint that was on my wing falling to the ground, before I shift into an earth pony, then once again back into a pegasus, the wing on my left side sagging to the ground, being the injured one, causing me to wince.
"This is certainly interesting, but I fail to see why that explains why you are seeking us out." The Elder continues, looking at me curiously.
"Well, I'm seeking your people and others out, because I'm curious if I can also become one of your people. I'm not sure if, or how, it works, but I decided to try. I chose the deer first because out of the options I had info on, your people seemed the least likely to hurt me on the spot." I explain in a bit more detail. "This particular situation came about because a friend of mine used a race change spell on me, but in the process, it became a part of my body allowing me to change if I focus hard enough."
After that short information dump, the Elder goes silent, likely to sort out her thoughts. Once she appears satisfied with herself, she begins speaking again.
"Alright then. Can I ask what you plan to do, now you have located us?" She asks, watching me closely.
"Learn about your people, and gain permission to use a deer form, if I can." I say calmly.
"I assume that is personal preference?" She asks, raising an eyebrow, to which I nod. "That settles it then. Abigale." She begins, looking at the younger deer.
"Yes, Elder?" Abigale asks, having been silent for a while.
"I would like you to house this young pony with you for the duration of his stay. Help him learn what he can, and keep him out of trouble. I would also like to be kept informed of any developments concerning his situation." The Elder explains.
"Of course. It won't be a problem, Elder." Abigale says, nodding. After which, Elder Spruce turns back to me.
"I trust this arrangement will be fine?" She asks, so I give a nod of affirmation. "Alright then. Please escort him to his new home. I'll inform the other Elders, and the guards of his presence. Have a good day." Elder Spruce finishes, before she walks outside, likely to do as she said. Then Abigale turns to me with a small smile.
"Alright! Follow me, Hexan!" She says, a bit excited, before heading out herself, causing me to follow her.
While we walk though the village, I get some looks from the other deer, who are going about their day, but no overly hostile looks. After a while, we reach a somewhat smaller home than Elder Spruce's tree. While I look it over from the outside, to remember it's look if I go exploring, Abigale speaks up.
"When a deer gets to a certain age, they are tasked with growing a new tree to serve as their home. The older the deer becomes, the older the tree gets, as well as the larger it gets. Currently, this is my home, even though it isn't very big. It only has a small living room, two bedrooms, a small bathroom, and a small kitchen." She explains readily. Looking proud of her home, but also a bit hesitant.
"It looks good to me. You did a good job of it. Shall we go in?" I ask, which results in her nodding and leading me in. Once inside, I see that the living room is just a small bookshelf, a medium sized couch, and a coffee table. There is a short hall that leads to three doors in the back, and another doorway that I guess leads to the kitchen.
"To be honest, I didn't have much say in the amount of rooms my home has. I have no real idea why my tree decided on that second bedroom, but I guess it's going to get some use now." She explains, sitting on the couch.
"Really? So it just made it on it's own?" I ask, curious about how the construction of these homes work.
"Yeah, although, the Elders have said before that all trees are connected to their own network of magic, and they speak to each other about things. Maybe the trees knew you were coming and decided that you would need a room when you got here." She theorizes.
<That theory does make a bit of sense, considering where you were when you gained the ability to race swap.> Logic points out, before I shush him, wanting to focus.
"Well, I was surrounded by trees when my friend cast the spell on me, so maybe they did. Too bad we can't ask. How old is your home, anyway?" I ask.
"About two weeks. The trees in our village help new ones grow, so they don't take long. It seems to affect most of the forest as well, I think." She replies, looking thoughtful, before shaking her head. "Anyway, your room will be the one on the left, mine is opposite it, on the right, and the door at the end is the bathroom." She explains, before yawning.
"I guess it's pretty late. I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" I ask, before she nods. I take that as the 'okay' to head to my new room. Once I walk down the hall and open the left door, I notice the room is pretty bare. Just the bed, a night stand, and a window. All, of course, grown out of the wood of the tree, still being attached to said tree. After taking off my bags, which I had grabbed before the incident earlier, I place my hat on the night stand and crawl into bed, laying on the side opposite of my injured wing, before falling asleep. |
Race Swapper in the Deerlands | Chapter 11 - First Day. | When I awaken the next morning, I just roll out of the unfamiliar bed, which shakes the ground enough to knock my hat off the nightstand, and onto my head. After I take a moment to straighten it, I get up and stretch a little, then head out to the living room, where I find Abigale relaxing on her sofa.
"Oh, morning Hexan! Had a good sleep?" She asks, after looking up at the sound of my hooves on the floor.
"Yeah, that was a pretty comfy bed." I admit. "So, what's the plan for today?" I ask.
"Well, I haven't had much time to think about it, so how about breakfast, then just wander around the village, while I answer any questions?" She suggests.
"That sounds fine with me. What are we having for breakfast?" I ask, taking a seat near the sofa.
"I was thinking a nice fruit salad would be nice, if you like?" She asks, before getting up and heading to her kitchen, where I hear her start cutting up fruit, while I wait.
After a few minutes, she comes back with a pair of bowls on her back, which she skillfully sets on the nearby table. I walk over and have a look, seeing slices of apple, orange, pear, banana and peach.
"This looks good." I compliment her, waiting for her reply before eating.
"Thanks. Well, dig in." She says, before we start eating the fresh breakfast. After another few minutes, the bowls are empty. I decide to take them to the kitchen, and sit them by the sink, after which I return to the sitting room. "Alright, where are we heading first?"
"Well, first I think we should head to the training area." Abigale suggests, getting up. As she heads out the door, I follow behind, closing the door as I leave.
"What is the training area?" I ask curiously. As we're walking, she replies.
"It's a place for younger deer to practice using their aura. It's a pretty simple place, but it could be interesting." She explains, leading the way through the village.
We soon arrive at an area that has smaller trees growing in a hedged in area. I say 'hedged in', because from what I can see, instead of fences, they use hedges.
"Here we are. Hopefully you can get a feel of your aura soon." Abigale says with a smile, leading me in. As she does, some of the younger deer look at me curiously, but continue focusing on their own attempts. After leading me to a free area, she turns to look at me. "Alright. To start, I will help you 'feel' your aura, know where it is, before I begin teaching you HOW to use it, alright?"
"Got it, proceed." I say with a nod, and Logic watching through my eyes, curious about this as much as I am. She then steps over, and places her hoof on my barrel, just under my neck, and I start feeling something flow into me.
"Feel that? That's my aura. Everydeer's feels different, although it takes a bit to be able to notice the differences." She says, and after I feel her aura push deep, I feel it touch something. "Ah, here it is." She says with a smile.
"That's my aura?" I ask curiously, getting a feel for it, while I can.
"Yeah, this is it. Feels kind of like honey or syrup, right?" She asks with a giggle.
"Yeah, feels different to magic as a unicorn, for sure." I agree with a nod.
"Alright, now you've got a feel of your aura, I'll help you get a feel of pushing it out, so it can do stuff." She explains, before I feel a sort of pulling sensation. "Don't worry, I'm just pulling a bit of your aura into me, so you know how it feels." I just nod and let her continue. After a moment, I feel the syrup-like aura flow out of me and into her hoof, causing me to shiver.
"It's alright, it's meant to feel like that. You get used to it. Now, try pushing it yourself." She confirms, before I nod, and try 'pushing' it further in, managing to move it a good bit in. "Good job, now pull it back. After that, we'll try growing a sapling." I nod, and slowly pull my aura back in, feeling it leave Abigale and return to me.
"With practice, you can move your aura faster. The reason it's so slow at the moment, is because it's unused. With time, it will become easier to manipulate." She says, before placing her hoof on the dirt ground, where I finally notice a mound, from which a single leaf is sticking out from. "Alright, next test. Place your hoof on the ground, near this mound, and feel out with your aura for the seed."
I nod and do as she says, pushing my aura down my hoof, and into the ground feeling out for the seedling. I soon 'feel' the presence of another aura, and move mine towards it.
"I think I got it." I confirm, and she nods.
"Alright, now as you push your aura against it's aura, focus on what you want it to do, in this case, 'GROW'." She explains, and I do just that. <Grow, little seed.> I think, focusing on that while pushing my aura against it.
Soon, we begin to see the leaf move higher, as the stalk it's attached to begins to grow. It's at a slow pace, but it is growing. And soon, another leaf grows out of the stalk, and after a while, I have a mini tree by my hoof.
"Good job Hex!" Abigale exclaims happily. "You caught on really quick, although it was a little slow, you did good. A few more days of this, and you should be good to not need any training." She explains.
After that, I went through a few more exercises, like making certain parts grow faster or slower, bigger or smaller, things like that. After about three hours of this, I begin to feel tired.
"Hey Abigale, I'm feeling pretty tired, can we take a break?" I ask, panting a bit.
"Of course. You went a bit longer than beginners normally do, so it's expected that your feeling the drain from it. Actually moving and using your aura is pretty exhausting early on, but eventually the drain lessens as your body gets used to it." Abigale explains, before she begins to trot off. "C'mon, let's get lunch." She says. I nod and follow her back to her place for lunch.
Upon our arrival, she heads to her kitchen, and begins preparing a sandwich and salad for us. I decide to swap into a unicorn to eat, and when she gets in view, I use my magic to levitate the food onto the table.
"Thanks Hexan. Well, dig in!" She says, before happily eating. I begin with my sandwich, holding it in my magic while I eat. After we both finish our sandwiches, we each get some of the salad into bowls, and begin eating that too. Upon finishing our meal, I'm stuffed, but not tired anymore.
"Ah, that's better. Thanks Abigale." I say with a happy sigh.
"Your welcome Hexy! So, what do we do now?" She asks.
"Hmm, not really sure. Is there anything you would like to do?" I ask back.
"Umm, well I WOULD ask if you could take me on a fly for a bit, but your wing still hasn't healed." She says sadly, as I switch back to a pegasus, and she redoes the splint.
"Yeah, sorry we can't do that yet..." I say, a bit disappointed.
"It's okay! It wasn't your fault." She says quickly."
"Either way, that leaves us with nothing to do still." I point out.
"Well... how about we just relax for the rest of the day? That way you will be well rested for tomorrow, when we have more training." She suggests, and I nod in agreement. So, we spend the rest of the day reading books, before heading to bed. |
Ponies in my world | pre | "Well with the Marines forcing 6000 calories into us we tend to get hungry." He obviously had no idea what I was talking about. He nodded and walked back to his car.
I gave the ponied each a salad all I ate was an apple, a banana, and some orange juice. I walked into the shack and all I found inside was a rake, shovel, and fertilizer. I looked around to see the condition of the place the roof needed to be fixed and also the door. If AJ was going to sleep in here I should also put a small fence for her small home. I walked toward the garage and I saw Rainbow Dash staring at the sky. I looked at her and I notice that she had a frighten expression on her face.
"Hey Rainbow are you ok up there!?" she shook her head and looked at me. She did not notice me on the ground.
"Yeah I'm fine... how's your hand?"
"Better I'm going to fix the shack for AJ I'll be out there pretty much all day so if anyone else is looking for me just tell them..." she
cut me off with an angry tone.
"That you are at the back where the shack is! I get it! Can you leave me alone!" I didn't like her tone but, something was bugging
her. I'll let this one slide. For now.
"Yeah... I'll see you later."
"Later."
'Why is she looking at the sky? It's like she has never seen clouds move before. She is a Pegasus she has wide open space she could just fly around the area without anyone noticing her.'
After that little well I didn't know what happen. I've been working on the shack for five hours straight. The hardest part was placing the fence but, then I thought to myself this isn't so hard I'm Mexican I did this kind of shit when I was back in Paramount. After I placed the door I looked to see if RD was still on my house which she was.
"Rainbow can you please come down here?" she flew down toward me but, she still had the depressing look on her face.
"What's up?"
"Are you ok?" she looked away from me to avoid eye contact.
"Yeah I'm fine."
"No you're not come on tell me."
"No."
"Why not?" there was a moment of silence.
"Ju...just leave me alone!" she ran of the small part of the forest. Damn it. Looks like I have to go after her before she runs into the same problem Twilight did yesterday. |
Ponies in my world | Chapter Three: No more tension | Chapter Three: No more tension
(Previously know as The talk in the forest)
I had to get Rainbow Dash back to the house. The last thing I need was another injury as if I didn't have enough of those. I entered the forest and, I looked around. For a small patch of trees there seem to be more going than what I anticipated.
"Se esta hace algo estúpido..." I stopped when I found her sitting on a large rock near a river. She looked up where the trees had a gap allowing the skies to be seen. Just what the fuck is wrong with her?
"Ok Rainbow what's up?" She answered hell of mad.
"I SAID NOTHING. WHY THE BUCK DO YOU NEED TO KNOW! It's not like we are friends so don't act like one!" On one fact she did have a point. We were not friends. But something was bothering her and, I was not going to let her feel butthurt or sad.
"Your right. We're not friends but, I would like to be. And I think we should start right now." I climbed on to the rock and sat next to her. "Escucha lo que te voy a decir."
"What?" I forgot they don't speak spanish.
"Listen to what I'm going to say. Something is bothering you and, I want to help you but, only if you let me." She looked at me with her big rose eyes.
"Fine...I miss my world. Here I feel like I'm... a prisoner of the world. I don't want to be mean or anything but, your world is so different and, I saw what that mountain lion did to you. If an animal did that to you imagine what would have happen to Twilight if you haven't saved her. Your world is a dangerous place the Everfree Forest isn't this bad. And... the clouds sort of... scare me a little." I chuckled a little. She gave me another nasty angry glare and I stopped.
"Why?"
"For one...the clouds back home don't move on their own. The Pegasus ponies are in charge of weather control. Unlike in Equestria I can manipulate the shape of the clouds here..." Her ears flopped down then, she dropped her head low "...but not for that long... they just keep moving."
"So you are used to the controlling the weather back home huh?"
"Yup."
"I can say I can relate to how you feel." Her ears perked up and she looked at me.
"Really? How?"
"Well, I was in the military. The Marines to be exact. Sleeping in a bed not your own or, an environment you're not use to makes you feel
like a stranger. Not exactly like you since, you are from another world but..." I stopped. I felt like I lost her. "Tell me... did you have
trouble sleeping?"
"Yeah... the room was warm and, the bed was comfy but... I couldn't sleep. I'm used to sleeping on my clouds that's kind of the reason
why I slept on a tree last night."
"Wait. A tree? Really?"
"I take naps in the afternoon. I usually sleep on clouds or on one of Applejack's apple trees."
"Why on her trees?"
"I like the smell of the apples. Then again she always kicks me out when she's working or has a big order."
"Well... when I first returned home let's just say I didn't sleep on the bed either?"
"What? Where did you sleep?"
"Outside. Back in my home town we have a gravel patch in my backyard. So I just pulled the old sleeping bag. Coming home from a
warzone feel weird. I always slept on the floor or on ruble. I was home but... I felt like a stranger. Just like you do now." Rainbow Dash
let out a soft laugh. She still had the troubling look. "Since you mention the mountain lion like fifty years ago. I've been meaning to ask
you... why did you yelled at Twilight like that? All the other ponies said you are never treat her like shit. Even Fluttershy said that she
was surprise that you didn't yelled at her." She instantly yelled back at me.
"Hey I said I was sorry!" My temper wasn't always the best but, to avoid any yelling I said calmly.
"I know but, I just want to know why?"
"Oh well... sorry. Well on that day the Wonderbolts were having tryouts to join the team. I was so happy to hear the news! My dream
was and still is to be part of the greatest flying team in Equestria!" Her excitement reminded me that of a child. "I was on my way until
Twilight asked me to go with her to Canterlot. I tried telling her that I had something to do. She asked but, as soon as I mentioned the
Wonderbolts she said. 'You and your tickets can wait for another time.'"
"Obviously she didn't know about the tryouts?"
"She's a Unicorn meaning no wings so... yeah."
"If you wanted to go so badly then, why didn't you try to convince her?"
"Element of Royalty remember?" I did a little history recheck. They did told me that they were the Elements of Harmony. How they met.
Defeating Nightmare Moon."
"Right. I see that these Wonderbolts are like the Blue Angels of the US Navy. So that's why you were like that with her yesterday?"
"Yeah. And I'm also sorry because of me you were injured..."
"Stop. I'm from the US Marines. I'm pretty tough."
"Okay..." She looked at the tiny river. "... now that I told you what was wrong with me. It's my turn to ask. What was your dream about?" I
took a deep breath. I should just kept my business where it should have.
"RD I don't want to talk about it." I slowly got on my feet.
"Hey I told you about my problem now it's your turn. Now sit!" She did have a point I was able to make her talk now I guess it's was my
turn. I sat back down on the rock. I kept my attention on the small creek.
"It was a war dream from a mission... I was in when I was in Iraq."
"What happened?"
"My team and I were on a mission to save civilians from a hospital. We failed because of an ambush from the surrounding buildings. We
lost the civilians and, I lost my team... I..." Painful memories flashed keeping me from speaking. "... I was the only one who made it out
alive."
Rainbow Dash and I kept quiet for what seemed to be hours. "That's... that's terrible."
"My parents... never liked the idea of me joining the Marines but, I didn't join alone. My best friends Beth and Tony joined with me."
"Wait your government lets females in the military?"
"Of course."
"Wow that's cool wish I was a human now."
"No just... stay as a pony ok. You are better off as what you are. War is not pretty."
"Ok speaking of which who is Beth? You mentioned her like 50 times."
"It's getting dark I'll tell you on the way back home at least AJ can now sleep in the shack. Or her new home."
"Okay." We made our way back home and I telling her who she was.
"She's been my best friend since kinder and, I trust her very much. We joined the Marines together. Over time I think I have gotten past
that phase. But this is one thing I'm not so trusting with. "
"What?"
"You guys being here."
"Why."
"I already told you Rainbow. About the government and things like that."
"Oh... right." I had to do something to get these ponies off my back for a bit. Too much questions and I wasn't in the mood for answering.
It's bad enough that Twilight wants to know everything about my world and my people. I only know so much. Thank god for those books.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"You want to see something awesome."
"Uh... sure."
It wasn't long until we reached the garage. I opened the door revealing the old muscle car.
"What is that?"
"This Rainbow Dash is the first generation of the Mustang. A 1969 Ford Mustang with a 429 cu in (7.0 L) Boss V8 4-barrel. This was one
and still is a BAMF."
" A BAMF?"
"Bad-Ass-Mother-Fucker." She flinched back to my foul language. "In it's time this baby could pull 375 Horsepower and 450 Torque.
Now that I'm here I'm thinking about replacing the engine with a newer V8. I guarantee I can pull even more power."
"Um... Tommy?"
"Yeah?"
"I still don't know what is this." Now she made me feel like an idiot. I'm here explaining what I have planned for the car and, she has no
idea what it is.
"This is a car. We humans use this to travel to far distances by land. A hell of a lot more quicker than walking. Gas and emissions are
the only thing that's a pain in the ass."
"Gas?"
"Fuel."
"Like a steam engine?"
"Yes but, they are not as common as before."
"So an internal engine?"
"Yes." Before the pegasus was able to ask another question she looked past me. I turned around and, saw Princess Luna looking
around. Obviously she was bored because she was looking through random boxes like a small child.
"Need something your highness?" She jumped a little. Her ears perked up and her wings expanded. I never noticed her wings they, were
really...beautiful.
"Sorry. I was not aware that you and, Miss Rainbow Dash were in here."
"No reason to be sorry but... what were you doing?"
"I know being a Princess means containing emotions or things like this but..." It seemed that my guest was embarrassed. She rubbed
her foreleg with the other "... but, I'm... a little bored."
"And you are embarrassed why?"
"Because you are the host and it is not my place to complain especially in an alien world."
"True me. You have the reason. I don't really blame you. I would be bored ass hell if I was in an unknown area." She gave me a small
smile and looked at the Mustang. She walked over to it.
"What is this." She tapped the door with her hoof. What the hell was she thinking she's going to ruin the paint!
"Whoa-whoa. Don't do that?" She stepped away and gave me a dirty look. "You can't just do this to a classic." She asked.
"This thing?!"
"It's a 1969 Ford Mustang. You'll ruin the paint." Her next response showed me that she was a bit annoyed with my statement.
"You youngster and your precious objects."
"Hey I'm only twenty four."
"Twenty four?"
"Uh... yeah."
"Torn by war at a young age." I looked at her for a brief moment. She was speaking as if she was older than I was. She looks young and
sounds young.
"How old are you exactly? Ahh!" Okay maybe not the best question to ask because she jabbed me on my arm. God damn hooves
they're like fucking rocks.
"It is rude to ask the age of a lady." I rubbed my arm. I hope it doesn't bruse.
"I just wanted to know." she let out a loud sigh.
"I'm... over a thousand years." I flinched my head back. What the fuck?! This bitch is over 1000 years old! What the Fuck?! Holy shit!
"I call bullshit. There is no way in hell you are that old."
"It is true. Didn't Twilight Sparkle mentioned my banishment?"
"Not really only that you were possessed is all. For a fossil you don't look that bad." her cheeks immediately flushed red.
"Well thank you Tommy." I turned back to see the blue pegasus's rump sticking out of the hood.
"What are you doing?" She looked back at me. Her forelegs and face was covered in grease.
"Nothing just looking around."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. My hooves are too big to do anything on this thing." I walked over to the front. "So if it is not like a train engine how does it work?"
Luna trotted beside me.
"Well it's like a steam engine. Basically the engine of a car is just a large air pump. The pistons pull in air and fuel into the combustion
chamber and the spark plugs let out a small spark that ignites the air/fuel mixture. Since this is an old car it uses a carburetor. The newer
cars use fuel injectors."
I grabbed a ratchet along with a spark plug socket and, removed one of the spark plugs. It wasn't in bad condition. Wish I could say the
same for the carburetor. Who ever drove this thing last left gasoline in it. I really hate it when people do that. Why well the alcohol
literally eats the aluminum plating on the carburetor. That's why with my old Trans Am I removed the gasoline.
"Without these the car will not start since there is now an opening. No spark no ignition no vroom vroom. Unless if it was a diesel engine
then, the rules change." Luna looked at the ceramic body of the spark plug.
"I never knew your people were so far ahead of us in technology."
"I would assume so. You guys have magic we don't." I placed the spark plug back where it belong. The two ponied stared in amazement
as I just turned the socket. Didn't really understand what the big deal was. I was about to look at my watch but, I stopped when I heard
the stomachs of the Luna and Rainbow Dash."Guess it's time to eat huh?" the two nodded. I wiped my hands off with a shop towel to
remove the grease. Rainbow Dash on the other hand flew inside for a shower. Luna and I walked inside the house. On the carpet
Twilight was reading a book. "What you reading there Twilight?" she first look into empty space and then turned to me.
"Oh I... didn't see you. I'm just reading some things."
"A book on history?"
"Yes. I thought the Griffins were bad but... this is worse than they are. So many wars and, chaos. Discord would have love to live here."
"Who?" Luna placed her hoof on my shoulder.
"Maybe another time. Twilight are you hungry?"
"Yes actually. Any ideas for dinner Tommy?" I rubbed my chin.
"Not so sure. I still have some leftover salad from this morning."
"I guess that will do." My phone rang. All the ponies in the room looked at me. Luna asked me as I pulled my phone out of my pocket.
"Where is that noise coming from?"
"It's my phone." I looked at the screen. "It's my sister. Hello?"
Tommy?
"The one and only." I walked to my room.
Where have you been?! I went back home to visit you because I wanted you to meet your nephew. I waited all day and I tried calling you!
"I must have been on a no service zone. Sorry for worrying you. Just... been busy."
Are you sure you're okay?
"Yes I'm fine. Met a few nice people and stuff like that."
Okay. Just... be careful ok. I don't want anything to happen like the last time.
"Don't worry. It's won't happen. I promise. Maybe you can visit next week."
I guess I could visit your new home.
"Sounds like a plan." I said my goodbye and I returned to the living room. The mood on the other hand was not so pleasing. I group of ponies with sad faces gave me an idea. "What's... going on." Twilight looked up with a few tears on her cheeks but, failed to respond. She just dropped her head. Luna placed her hoof on her shoulder.
"They just realized everything that they have left behind. The elements of Honesty and Generosity have younger siblings. When they
heard you speaking to yours..." She suddenly stop.
"Fuck. I... didn't know. It wasn't on purpose." Rarity wiped a tear off her side and said.
"It's not your fault. We're just said because we just realized how much we miss our home."
"Well you know the saying... you never know what you have until its gone. I know you all miss your families and homes. But if anything I
know you will return home." They all looked at me. "I know how it feels to lose someone close to you. Difference is they you will see
them again... I... won't. Enough of this sad bullshit. I'll fire up the grill and we'll have dinner outside today." |
Ponies in my world | A little hiatus | Yes i know a hiatus. The reason is because want to update all of my stories before i continue to update. I hope it is not long. I have three more to go and this will be my priority along with this story.
thats all for now until next time bros. |
The Fall of Starswirl the Bearded | pre | "What do you want from me?" Sombra demanded, and Luna turned back to him in curiosity, he had never used such a tone with her before.
"I have no idea." Sombra continued. "I step forward and you accuse me of overstepping my bounds. I stay cautious and you accuse me of presumption. If only I knew your thoughts and affections then perhaps we could both be happy, but I do not. I am nothing but a humble unicorn and you a magnificent, regal alicorn, why should you hold any affection for me? I am nothing."
"It is difficult." Luna said turning away from him in sadness. "I do not see you as a lowly unicorn, if anything I am unworthy of an honourable knight such as thee. I do not deserve your friendship for the constant torment I put you through. If you were wise you would stay away from me and only interact when duty permits it."
"And if I'm unwise?" He asked, placing his hoof beneath her muzzle to guide her to look at him.
"Then I would be happy." Luna whispered, looking into his magenta eyes and seeing nothing but love and kindness there.
Luna leant closer to him as he leant closer to her. Luna closed her eyes to better capture the moment of what was looking to be her first kiss. Their breaths mingled, their lips a hair's breadth away.
There was a knock at the door and they quickly jumped apart as the pony opened the door and came in without invitation. Luna looked down at her hooves, unable to look Sombra in the eye after their encounter.
"Will you go and see how proceedings are...proceeding Knight Sombra?" She asked, searching for a plausible excuse.
"As you command Night Princess." Sombra said with a sharp bow before leaving.
Luna watched him from the corner of her eye as he passed Celestia on her way into the room. The pale alicorn stopped and watched him out the door with her eyes as a smile slowly crept across her face. It grew when she saw her sister's shy demeanour.
"And what were you two conspiring about?" She asked with a wink.
"Nothing that concerns thee." Luna said flatly.
"Come Luna, please don't let me find out from all the court gossips, you know how they love to twist tales."
"Nothing happened." Luna said firmly. "We were disturbed."
"Then I apologise." Celestia said solemnly.
"Perhaps it was for the best. I was allowing my heart to run away with me. I should listen to my head." Luna murmured.
"Sometimes the head is wisest, but when it comes to love you should at least allow your heart to have a say." Celestia advised with a smile.
"And how many stallions have you loved?" Luna asked grumpily.
"You'd be surprised." Celestia said with a grin. "Your much older sister is not as boring as you think her to be."
Luna gave her an unimpressed look.
"Very well, I will stop my teasing, but you should not let your head enter into this matter. Why should we not choose the stallion we wish to marry? I for one have no objections to Sombra becoming my brother-in-law. I know he is not very fond of me, but I know he is loyal to you, he always has been. Even when you were foals together."
"No. He did not like me then, he always teased me." Luna said with a dismissive laugh.
"As young colts often do when faced with a filly they cannot admit they like." Celestia said lightly. "Luna, you have known him all your life, I have watched the affection between you grow. However you wish to proceed with him I will not object, although I would advise discretion until you are ready for the gossips to dissect every aspect of your relationship. But do not allow them to discourage you from forming a true connection with Sombra, and perhaps the next ceremony we hold will be a wedding."
Luna giggled as she looked away blushing.
"You would have me wed and with child before I have even kissed him." She observed.
"Then I won't mention it again until you are ready." Celestia said with a smile as she nuzzled her sister's cheek. "Now come. You're not ready. We're due at the chapel in half an hour."
"Half an hour?" Luna gasped. "Why did the servants not wake me?"
"Never mind, we will find out later." Celestia said, for there was no time to worry about such things. "Allow me to help you with your dress."
It was only now that Luna noticed that Celestia was wearing her gown of palest pink silk, it was a simple cut but embroidered with gold thread and a copy of her blazing sun cutie mark on each flank. Luna went into her bedroom where her own gown of midnight blue silk decorated in silver embroidery and bore her crescent moon cutie mark was placed ready on a dummy-mare. She allowed Celestia to help her pull it on and fasten it into place.
The sisters then stood side by side as they looked into Luna's mirror.
"I think we are ready." Celestia whispered.
Luna nodded and the royal sisters made their procession to the chapel where Starswirl would be crowned. They had to enter the side room where Starswirl was waiting. He was sweating a little, and kept scratching at various parts of his body. He hated these royal robes; they did not suit him at all.
"Your Majesty." The sisters said in unison as they bowed to him.
"How come you two look like royalty and I just look like some Hearth's Warming ornament gone wrong?" He grumbled.
"You look very regal Master Starswirl." Celestia assured him.
"If you would stop scratching." Luna added.
"Ever so truthful Luna dear." Starswirl said with a sarcastic edge, but Luna decided to take it as a compliment, she'd always prided herself on her honesty.
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in." Starswirl yelled.
A guard opened the door.
"The ceremony will commence when you are ready." He said.
"Well." Starswirl said, straightening out his robes. "Let's get this over with."
Starswirl stepped out into the corridor and the sisters stepped out behind him. They used their magic to raise the long train of the royal robes. Starswirl took another deep breath and then nodded to the unicorn guards at the door. They used their magic to open the doors and a fanfare began.
Starswirl began walking up the long aisle, past ponies of different ranks, and dignitaries of many shapes and sizes, be they horses, griffons or zebras. There were dogs who horded gems, and even a crystal pony or two. There was even an earth dragon hunched up in one corner, she had proved to be a friend to Equestria and not as gruff or outright nasty as the sky dragons. The black dress she was wearing went well with her purple scales and green spines.
At the end of the aisle the noble ponies of Equestria stood in order of rank. They formed two lines that led to the throne, which had been moved to the chapel for the crowning ceremony. In front of the throne stood a stern looking unicorn, the Master of Ceremonies and the only one eligible to crown the new monarch, a tradition that had carried over from the royal unicorn family when they conceded rule to Queen Faust.
Starswirl stopped at the bottom of the steps and bowed to the Master of Ceremonies.
"Art thou the unicorn mage known as Starswirl the Bearded?" He asked in a booming voice that carried to the ponies at the back of the chapel.
"I am he." Starswirl replied.
"Then venture forth in good will."
The Master of Ceremonies stood out of the way and allowed Starswirl to climb the steps; the princesses lowered his robe then took up their positions either side of the throne. Starswirl stood in front of the throne waiting patiently.
The Master of Ceremonies went through the various tasks of anointing Starswirl with the sacred oils and giving to him the sceptre and orb of office. The Master of Ceremonies took the crown up in his magic and held it over Starswirl's head.
"Dost thou solemnly promise to govern all the ponies of the Kingdom of Equestria and Principality of Trottingham, the Province of Muleton and Stronghold of Cloudsdale, and of your Possessions and other Territories to any of them belonging or pertaining, according to their respective laws and customs?"
"I solemnly promise so to do." Starswirl replied.
"Woulds thou to thine power cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, be executed in all thine judgements?"
"I will."
"Woulds thou, to the utmost of thine power, maintain the Balance of Harmony and see that Harmony should continue and be preserved throughout the kingdom of Equestria? That thou woulds to the best of thine ability encourage harmony among unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies alike?"
"All this I promise to do." Starswirl stated.
"Then in the name of Harmony and the customs of Equestria I crown thee King Starswirl the Bearded, first of his name."
The Master of Ceremonies lowered the crown onto Starswirl's head. The old mage gave a sigh of relief as he sat in the throne and became king. A cheer went up from the congregation while Starswirl sat a few moments longer. He then placed the orb and sceptre back onto the ceremonial cushion. He stood and there was another cheer.
"If everypony would care to make their way over to the main hall, the feasting will begin in half an hour." He announced.
There was muttering between the dignitaries, they wanted to speak with the new king now, but Starswirl wanted nothing more than to don his comfy wizarding robes once more.
"I will see you all later." He said with a salute before teleporting away in a twinkle of white light.
Celestia regarded the scene curiously, she had seen Starswirl teleport many times before, and he had always disappeared in a flare of light blue magic, the colour of his aura. She didn't have time to ponder on this for long because the Duke of Muleton was already demanding attention.
"What is the meaning of this?" He demanded.
"Did I not say you would have chance to speak with him after the ceremony?" Celestia asked. "You will have that chance at the feast."
"This is unacceptable, how dare you mess us around like this!" The mule snapped.
"THOU UNGRATEFUL WHELP HOW DARE THEE ADRESS OUR SISTER IN THAT WAY? THOU SHOULD COUNT THINE SELF LUCKY THOU WERE GIVEN AN INVITE TO ATTEND, LET ALONE HAVE AUDIENCE WITH THE KING!" Luna thundered.
"I...wh...I'll have you know I'm a Duke." The mule said haughtily.
"THOU ART NOTHING MORE THAN A SELF PROCLAIMED CHARLETON. SHOULD THOU CONTINUE IN THINE HARRASSMENT OF OUR SISTER WE WILL SEE TO IT THAT THOU WOULDS BE BARRED FROM CONVERSING WITH THE KING, FOREVER!!!!"
"Are you going to stand there and let her speak to me that way?" The Duke demanded of Celestia.
"OUR SISTER IS FOND OF THE ROYAL CANTERLOT VOICE AND WE ARE NOT ABOUT TO CORRECT HER FOR STATING A FACT." Celestia replied, before clearing her throat. "Now please, if you would all care to make your way to the great hall the ceremony will continue."
Before anypony else could protest Celestia caught Luna's eye and they both teleported from the chapel. Luna followed Celestia's magic trail and found herself in Starswirl's study.
The new king was trying to pull the royal robes off over his head without unfastening them first.
"Allow us to help thee." Luna said, using her magic to unfasten the string.
"Did I hear the Royal Canterlot Voice?" Starswirl asked as he extricated himself from his robes.
"That rabid little mule who calls himself 'duke' spoke dishonourably to my sister." Luna said firmly.
"Ooh, I wish I could have been there to see the look on his face." Starswirl said with a gleeful chuckle that caused the sisters to exchange a glance.
Starswirl pulled on his wizard robes and gave a sigh of relief as he placed his hat on his head also.
"They will require you to wear your crown." Celestia stated.
Starswirl grumbled, but instead of removing his hat he placed the crown over the top of it.
"They cannot say you do not wear it." Luna said with a shrug.
"Quite." Starswirl said, raising his bushy eyebrows. "Now tell me my dears, was there something else you wanted?"
"We have thought up something to entertain the masses." Celestia said.
"We have?" Luna asked with a frown.
"Indeed we have." Celestia insisted. "Sunset is in half an hour, perhaps we should make a show of the occasion."
"How?" Starswirl asked.
"As I lower the sun, Luna can raise the moon. As they pass in the sky you teleport between us to make your grand entrance to the feast." Celestia explained.
"Sounds good, but where would we do it?" Starswirl asked.
"The grand balcony faces the direction of the sunset and the moonrise this evening." Luna said.
"Very well." Starswirl agreed. "I'll wait in the room above and teleport in when the time is right."
"We will go and inform the guards so that the balcony might be prepared." Celestia stated. "Come Luna."
The princesses teleported from Starswirl's library to where the Captain of the Day Guard was stationed. The white unicorn bowed to the alicorns when they appeared. Celestia explained their plan to him and he immediately set out to prepare everything.
Five minuets before the setting of the sun the princesses called the congregation into the great hall. The doors of the grand balcony were open and there was a stand set up with two brass signs, one representing the sun, the other representing the moon. The sisters stood in front of their respective discs while the dignitaries and others clustered around the doors curiously.
"Our friends and dignitaries, lords and ladies, fillies and gentle colts, all our faithful subjects." Celestia began.
"WE INVITE THEE TO JOIN IN OUR MERIMENT TO MARK THIS WONDEROUS OCCASION, TO WHIT THE ASCENSION OF STARSWIRL THE BEARDED TO KING." Luna bellowed.
The Royal Canterlot Voice had been drilled into Luna when she was a filly by the Dowager Duchess of Canterlot, Princess Platinum. The old duchess had taught the alicorns deportment and proper conduct as foals. Luna had taken every lesson the old unicorn had taught them to heart and found it difficult now not to use her lessons. Even when ponies complained or heckled sarcastically that she should speak up.
"The feast shall begin at the day's end." Celestia announced.
"LET THE REVERLY COMMENCE." Luna finished.
Both Sisters prepared their magic. Celestia rose into the air, her wings outstretched, her front hooves raised as Luna bowed her head. Celestia slowly descended to the balcony, dragging the sun with her, as Luna rose into the air, bringing the moon into view. As the two celestial bodies passed each other in the sky there was a flash of blue magic, a burst of fire works and Starswirl appeared between the two sisters, his robes and beard flowing dramatically as he struck a pose against the sunset. The sun disappeared and the moon stopped to float above, the stars twinkling into being. The jewels on Starswirl's crown glittered against the deep blue of his wizard hat. He'd found a way to be both king and mage.
He paused for a moment between the two sisters, then together the three royals made their way to the golden throne. Starswirl sat in the throne while the sisters stood either side of him.
"Well? What are you all waiting for, get on with the party." Starswirl commanded.
"They are waiting for you to address them Your Majesty." Celestia whispered.
"Well, you're all my faithful subjects, thanks for attending, now party to your hearts content." Starswirl said.
The sisters looked at each other.
"HAST THOU ALL LOST THINE SENSE OF HEARING? THE KING HAS SPOKEN, MERRIMENT IS AT HOOF. WHY ART THOU NOT ALREADY ENGAGED IN ACTIVITIES OF GREAT JOY?" Luna declared as she rose into the air on her great wings and glided over to the royal musicians. "COME NOW FILLIES AND GENTLE COLTS, WE REQUIRE MUSIC, MUCH REJOICING IS TO TAKE PLACE THIS NIGHT. WE SHOULD KNOW FOR WE ARE THE PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT."
Those assembled laughed but were still unsure of what to do even after the band had started playing one of the many traditional quick steps for a lively start to the evening. Luna glided back to the throne and bowed before it, her intention had been to ask Starswirl, but from the glower he gave her she knew he would not dance, even at his own coronation.
"SISTER IT LOOKS AS IF WE MUST SCHOOL THESE PONIES IN HOW TO CONDUCT ONESELF AT A PARTY." She declared.
"INDEED." Celestia replied, before bowing to Luna in return and the two alicorns made their way to the centre of the room. "Would the minstrels kindly play Eternal Harmony?"
The music changed into something more akin to a waltz and the sisters bowed to each other once more, before they began circling. Slowly at first with the odd little canter or jump, a change of direction now and again, but soon they left the floor, twisting and spiralling around each other in perfect synch. It was a display in dancing of the cycle the sisters ensured continued in the heavens. They landed with the last flutter of music and bowed to each other once more.
With the ice broken and the minstrels beginning another number, ponies took to the floor in order to dance. Celestia and Luna remained dancing near each other for a while longer, but Celestia gave Luna a small smile before feigning a sigh of exhaustion.
"I think I will sit this dance out." She stated.
"But you like dancing." Luna protested.
"I do, but I think perhaps somepony else would like to dance." Celestia said as she nodded her head over Luna's shoulder.
Luna turned her head to see to whom Celestia referred, it was Sombra. He was wearing his dress uniform because he wasn't on duty tonight. As a Knight of Equestria he'd had an invitation to the coronation and following celebration. He was standing with a group of ponies but looked bored with their conversation. She looked back to Celestia who motioned for to go ahead before bowing once more to Luna and leaving the dance floor.
Luna took a breath to steel her nerves; she was unsure how Sombra would react when she asked him to dance. She turned around and began to walk toward him. She caught his eye and he watched her curiously. Luna smiled and he returned it, shifting his weight to make a move.
"Your Majesty." Somepony said as they stepped into her path.
She looked down to find that the Duke of Muleton was bowing low before her.
"We are a princess, therefore thou should address us as Highness and not Majesty." Luna said tersely.
"Forgive me Your Highness." The mule said in a syrupy voice. "I admired your dancing, I'm quite the mover myself and since your sister has decided to sit this dance out, may I..."
"I..." Luna began, but the Duke had placed a hoof on her shoulder and began leading her in a dance. "Why wouldst thou dance with us when we insulted thee before?"
"Oh, you are so graceful, and what can I say. I love a mare with spirit." He said with a wide grin. "Much more of a challenge."
"Challenge?" Luna asked.
"To tame of course. Can't have my wife talking out of turn." He said cheerfully.
"Then we fear for thine wife." Luna said dryly.
"Oh, but there's no need to be afraid." The Duke crooned.
"Why would we be afraid? We are the Princess of the Night, we fear nothing." Luna said dismissively.
"Then you won't fear for my wife." The Duke said almost gleefully.
"Excuse me?" Luna demanded.
"All I need is to finalise things with the King and your sister..."
Luna shook her head and felt rage build within her. In a blast of magic, she teleported away from the Duke, and reappeared on the highest balcony from where she usually watched her night.
Celestia watched as Luna quickly teleported away from the Duke. She looked to Starswirl and he appeared to be thinking hard about something. She stepped closer to whisper to him.
"Starswirl, the Duke of Muleton has upset Luna. I should go and..."
Starswirl held out his hoof to stop Celestia and shook his head before pointing to Sombra who was attempting to leave the hall unnoticed. Celestia understood, allow Sombra to comfort Luna, give them the opportunity to allow their relationship to grow. It was something Celestia had discussed with Starswirl some time ago when she realised they held an attraction to each other. She wished to know whether to intervene and point out that they held a flame for each other, but Starswirl had advised her to give them space to come to the conclusion themselves. Then something occurred to Celestia, Starswirl's hoof felt different...
She glanced down to find an eagle claw resting against her front leg. She gasped and looked up at the king. He frowned for a moment until Celestia dropped her eyes. He looked down and gasped himself, quickly pulling the claw back inside his robes. He closed his eyes for a moment then placed his hoof down on the ground.
"Are you well Master Starswirl?" Celestia asked in concern.
"It's nothing, just the stress of the day." Starswirl assured her. "A little random magic but I'll soon have it under control."
"If you are sure." Celestia said, still feeling concern.
"I believe the Duke wants a word with you." Starswirl said to change the subject.
Celestia looked back toward the dance floor to see that this was true. The Duke was heading purposefully toward the throne.
"We must show kindness to all creatures of this world." Celestia whispered under her breath, remembering her mother's teachings before lifting her head to greet the Duke with a smile. "Is Your Grace enjoying this evening?" She asked.
"Yes." The Duke replied. "Now that I finally get to speak with the King."
"What do you want?" Starswirl growled, and Celestia tried not to show alarm at his tone as the incautious mule stepped forward.
"To offer you my fealty Your Highness." The Duke said with a low bow.
"Majesty." Celestia whispered in the Duke's ear.
"Majesty?" He asked.
"You address the King as Your Majesty." She explained.
"Your...."
The Duke was cut off when a mare across the room screamed.
"The punch...it's chocolate milk?" She exclaimed.
"What's wrong with that?" A little filly next to her asked and jumped up on the table to lap it straight from the bowl.
"I'm lactose intolerant. If all the punch has changed to milk...." She trailed off, her face turning green as she clutched at her stomach.
Slowly the mare began to inflate like a balloon, floating slowly up to the ceiling to bounce against it. She looked aghast, flailing her hooves about wildly, but they were nothing but sticks attached to a balloon. Celestia looked to Starswirl, as Grand High Mage it was his duty to dispel such things, but he was looking up at the mare, chuckling. Celestia sent out her magic and brought the pony back down to the ground where a medic pony was waiting to escort her to the first aid post.
"If chocolate milk in the punch wasn't bad enough, just look at the ice sculpture." A stallion sneered to his mare friend.
"Is that jelly?" She asked, scrunching up her nose.
"Yippee!" The same white filly that had gorged on chocolate milk yelled as she leapt into the jelly and bounced for a moment before sinking into the gloopy goodness and devoured it from within.
"Who let this filly in here?" The stallion demanded.
"Filly?" The filly squeaked as she poked her head out of the jelly, "HOW DARE THEE YOUNG COLT, WE ARE THE DOWEGER DUCHESS OF CANTERLOT!" She yelled in the Royal Canterlot Voice, but it did not have the same effect as when the princesses applied it.
At the same instant another group of ponies had noticed the new confectionary added to the buffet table.
"Chocolate milk? Jelly? How common!" Prince Gold Crown of the royal unicorn family said haughtily, "Whatever next? Pinatas and party hats?"
There was a flash of white light and suddenly everypony was wearing a party hat, they all had clashing colours, and there were many pinatas around. Starswirl chuckled gleefully, sitting up in his throne to get a better view over the head of the Duke.
"Your Majesty, I offer you my fealty. I will serve you as long as you require me." The mule promised, ignoring the commotion behind him.
"Is that so?" Starswirl asked. "You will serve me? Forever?" He let out a belly laugh that shocked those close enough to hear, Starswirl had never laughed like that. They were certain the old mage didn't know how to laugh. The assembled ponies were beginning to feel uneasy.
No matter how she tried, Princess Luna could not calm her mind. She was angered by what the stupid Duke had said. She knew his words were a lie; Celestia would never sell her off to some...some...obnoxious cretin who was only nobility because he claimed his farm a new country and himself duke. Mother should not have humoured him.
"Night Princess, may I join you?" Sombra asked.
"Please." Luna replied.
Sombra walked out onto the balcony and stopped beside her, looking down at the many courtyards, all ablaze with light this evening.
"What did that obnoxious mule say? Must I protect the honour of my Princess?" Sombra asked, and Luna realised it was one of those rare instances Sombra was attempting to use humour to counter her mood.
Luna laughed and stepped closer to the stallion, but still resisted the urge to enfold him in her wing.
"He is merely stupid, what can we do about that?" She asked.
"He still upset you." Sombra said with concern.
"I allowed him to upset me." Luna said with frustration. "He said he had designs to marry me and only had need to finalise the arrangements with Princess Celestia and King Starswirl. I know they would not do such a thing to me, especially after my sister's words this evening."
"May I ask what those words were?" Sombra inquired.
"Celestia stated that she has no objections should we wish to... That as long as we conduct ourselves accordingly... That as long as we are wary not to feed the court gossips... That should we..."
"We?" Sombra asked, unsure of whether Luna was slipping into her Royal Canterlot Voice.
"You and I." Luna clarified.
"She has no objection to me?" Sombra asked doubtfully.
"She cares not if you hate her, as long as you are loyal to me." Luna explained.
"She said that?" Sombra asked in disbelief.
"Yes. My sister is not the difficult mare you think her to be. She is kind and generous, if only you would allow yourself to know this." Luna chided.
"If it is your wish then I will do my best to alter my view of Celestia." Sombra promised.
"Thank you." Luna said with a smile, but then she frowned. "We must return to the great hall immediately."
"Why?" Sombra asked.
"I have no idea, but Celestia feels worry for something, we may be needed." Luna stated.
When Luna and Sombra returned to the great hall it was utter pandemonium. Ponies were running around the great hall in a panic. Colourful party hats were crumpled underhoof as multicoloured fruit bats flew in rainbow formations across the ceiling. In various places were heaps of rotten fruit combined with what may have been the remains of pinatas.
Luna rushed over to Celestia as the latter was trying to bring order. She shook her head to Luna; the ponies were in too much of a blind panic. Luna took a deep breath and gathered the night shadows around her to give more power to her voice.
"BE STILL!!!" She bellowed and lightning crackled through the hall.
It didn't quell the ponies' fears, but it was enough to make them cower on the floor and not run about blindly, making matters worse.
Starswirl had been watching the utter chaos and giggling the whole time. He was chuckling now as everypony cowered away from the dying storm. Luna landed next to her sister, giving her a questioning look. Celestia was uncertain herself, but she knew that Starswirl should be retired for the night before anything else went wrong.
"King Starswirl is a monster!" The Duke, who still stood next to the throne, yelled into the midst of the sudden silence.
"No I'm not." Starswirl said in a low dangerous voice.
"Look at his eyes! They're yellow and red!" The Duke yelled, pointing a hoof at the King.
"Many ponies have yellow and red eyes." Starswirl replied in a soothing voice.
"Not like that." The Duke yelled and the sisters saw it too, that Starswirl's eyes were now mostly yellow with red pupils that were different sizes.
It was the look of concerned horror on the faces of his former students that snapped Starswirl out of his happy haze and he realised that everypony was looking at him in horror as they still cowered on the floor. The great hall was a mess.
"There's nothing to be afraid of." Starswirl said in a calming voice, lifting his hooves to encourage peace, but it made matters worse.
Starswirl's hooves were now a lion's paw and an eagle's claw. He closed his eyes to concentrate, forcing himself back into his usual shape. He managed it, but it was too late, the Royal Guard already thought he was an impostor and were moving in to arrest him.
Starswirl closed his eyes, and without thinking teleported as far away from Canterlot Castle as he could.
The ponies were in panic once more, but Celestia slumped down onto her rump as she looked at the place Starswirl had been.
"What...happened to you?" She whispered.
"Sister?" Luna asked softly.
"Oh Luna, what has happened?" Celestia asked as she placed her hooves about her sister and gave her a hug. "What is to become of Equestria without a ruler..."
Luna bit her lip on her reply, the sisters would have no choice but to take their mother's place, it would not help at the moment. Celestia's question was rhetorical, the shock was still raw, but soon they would need answers... |
The Fall of Starswirl the Bearded | No turning back | Disclaimer: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is the property of Hasbro and all characters credited to Lauren Faust and the design team at DHX Studios
Far away in the Frozen North there was a flash of light half way up a glacial peak. Starswirl re-appeared and took a moment to catch his breath in the frozen air. He stood up, shivering because of the cold, and sighed as he began walking in no direction in particular. In any direction that would take him further away from the ponies he might harm with the random magic and occurrences that seemed to be plaguing him. As if on cue, from out of nowhere a song spilled from his lips accompanied the music that drifted on the wind.
"The snow glows white on the mountain tonight,
not a hoofprint to be seen."
He looked back at the icy white landscape, so lonely and desolate, even the northern lights were nothing but a distant smudge of colour on the night sky.
"A kingdom of isolation,
And it looks like I'm the King.
The wind is howling like this chaos deep inside,
Couldn't keep it in; Faust knows I've tried."
He shook his head irritably.
"Don't let them in, don't let them see,
Be the good mage, the king you aught to be."
He repeated the mantra he'd used for most of the day.
"Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know;
well now they know..."
Starswirl's front hooves became the lion paw and eagle claw once more but instead of forcing them to become hooves again, he threw them up above his head, letting the change happen.
"Let it go, let it go,
Feel the chaos deep inside"
Starswirl snapped his eagle claw making an ice sculpture of Celestia and one of Luna.
"Let it go, let it go,
as I feel my sanity slide..."
He let out a laugh with a slightly manic edge as he circled the cold, silent effigies of his former students.
"I don't care what the ponies might say,
Let the chaos reign...
He spun up into the air, revelling in a moment of weightlessness, yes; chaos was much more powerful...
"Harmony is over rated anyway."
Starswirl unpinned his robe and it was caught by the wind before being carried off into the night.
"It's funny how some distance,
Makes everypony seem small."
He mused, as the whole of the pony civilisation seemed nothing but a distant constellation from up here.
"The conventions that once suppressed my power,
Will hold me back no more."
He stroked his beard as he wondered at his capabilities.
"It's time to see what I can do,
To test this chaos and break through."
To his delight he turned raw chaos into solid matter and it was at that point he realised,
"No harmony is left for me, I'm free!"
Starswirl created a multi-coloured moving staircase and rushed up it.
"Let it go, let it go,
I'm at one with things weird and odd"
The air around him shimmered with ghostly images of half remembered creatures from childhood pony tales.
"Let it go, let it go,
Should I try floating carp or cod?"
Shoals of fish appeared and began swimming through the air.
"Here I stand,
And here I'll stay."
Starswirl declared as he slammed his back hoof down and formed a giant multi-hued spiral.
"Let the Chaos reign..."
He felt the power growing within him, eager to be released.
"My chaos flurries through the air into the ground."
In a flurry of chaos finally released, he began to rise up on a spiral of magic.
"My soul is spiralling in twisted matter all around."
Pink and purple spotted beams broke forth, building walls, archways, and doors...
"And one thought falls in place just like a broken glass,"
There were cotton candy clouds to constantly rain chocolate and the ceiling left the sky visible.
"I'm never going back; the past is in the past."
He declared firmly as he stood up tall in the centre of his mighty palace. Starswirl removed his hat and threw it out of the nearest window.
"Let it go, let it go."
His white mane turned black as his form change. His body got longer and thinner, the fur on his body changing to brown, although it remained grey on his face and elongated neck, his eyes returned back to the yellow and red they had been earlier, as a large pointy tooth grew out the right side of his mouth.
"I'll rise like a chaos god."
His back hooves changed, one becoming a goat's hoof, the other a crocodile's foot, and it was so much easier to stay up on them, giving him more height. Wings sprouted from his back, one a bat wing, the other a blue Pegasus wing, now he had the magic of flight. A long red dragon tail replaced his pony one it had a white tuft on the end. An antler on the right and a blue goat horn on the left side of his head replaced his unicorn horn. The only things left of the original Starswirl were his white beard and bushy eyebrows.
"Let it go, let it go.
That goody-good mage is gone."
Starswirl burst onto out onto a balcony, the sun was beginning to rise and he was crackling with so much power.
"Here I stand,
In the light of day,
Let the chaos reign..."
He threw his limbs wide as fireworks burst overhead and a flock of polka dot doves took to the air.
"Harmony's over rated anyway!"
He turned and with a flick of his new serpentine tail he slammed his palace doors to the world.
Back in the almost empty throne room of Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia continued to hold onto her sister for dear life. Princess Luna was worried; Celestia hadn't been this upset since their mother had passed away.
"Sister...what do we do?" Luna asked in a whisper.
Celestia straightened up and dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.
"I don't know." She whispered. "I simply do not know."
Suddenly light flooded in through the windows and the two princesses looked quickly toward the balcony which was still open.
"Are you...?" Luna began.
"This is not my doing." Celestia replied. "We must rectify it however."
She strode out onto the balcony and glared at the sun as it dared to rise without her doing. She took a deep breath, gathering her magic and pushed it back down below the horizon. The moon still floated in place never having sunk.
"Now stay until morning." Celestia spoke to the sun.
"What do you think this means?" Luna asked.
"That something very bad is happening and I fear our old mentor is to blame." Celestia replied with deceptive calm.
"Surely he cannot..." Luna broke off as the sun rose once more. "It is the time of night; the sun should know its place!"
"The sun knows its place sister, but a greater magic is taking hold. If we do not act fast..."
"What's going on?" Somepony demanded and the sisters turned to find a small contingent of the delegates were gathered behind them just inside the great hall.
"We are uncertain at present." Celestia replied.
"Looks like Equestria crowned a monster. Always knew you ponies couldn't be trusted." King Garrick of the Griffon Kingdom scoffed.
"If you would forgive me Your Majesty." Celestia said politely. "But King Starswirl is not a monster."
"Then what happened here tonight?" The griffon demanded.
"There could be many explanations." Luna stated. "With a unicorn as powerful as the King a bad case of the flu can lead to sporadic outbursts of magic. It is nothing that will not rectify itself."
"I should hope so; Grandmamma Platinum is right now abseiling down the tapestries." Prince Gold Crown said aghast.
"Where to?" Celestia asked.
"This way." Prince Gold Crown said, before walking in the direction of the doors.
Celestia followed him and all the delegates followed her in turn. Luna fell behind when she saw Sombra standing guard by the door. She walked up to him and without a word indicated that he should follow her.
"Where are we going?" He asked when he was certain nopony would hear.
"While Celestia is engaged with the dignitaries I think we should go and investigate." Luna replied.
"How?"
"Starswirl was always meddling in this new spell or the other, even Mother worried he may some day bite off more than he could chew." Luna explained.
"You think that day has come?" Sombra asked.
"Unfortunately yes; and now Equestria is paying the price." Luna said before quieting as they neared Starswirl's rooms to find that two ponies still stood guard.
They approached the door and the ponies barred their path.
"Stand down, let the princess pass." Sombra ordered.
"We can't let anypony pass, by order of the king." One of the guards said gruffly.
"Then you have not heard?" Sombra asked.
"We can not let you pass." The guard insisted.
Luna shook her head impatiently. She gathered her magic and including Sombra in the spell, teleported inside Starswirl's library. She turned to the door and cast a locking enchantment upon it; only Celestia would be able to open it from the outside.
"They will not be happy." Sombra observed.
"They can remain that way; we are in a state of emergency." Luna said. "Forget them; we have to look through the library. His latest spell book is somewhere in here..." Luna trailed off when she took in the mess of Starswirl's study.
"It seems we've come to the right place." Sombra observed, knowing as well as Luna how neat the old mage kept the things he wasn't using.
"Indeed." Luna agreed. "Let us begin."
Celestia followed Prince Gold Crown out into the royal walk way where numerous tapestries lined the walls. There was indeed a filly making good progress toward the top of one of the banners. Celestia caught the filly in her magic and levitated her down to the floor.
"WHAT DOST THOU THINK THOU ART DOING TO US? WE ARE THE DOWEGER DUCHSS OF CANTERLOT!" She yelled.
"Forgive me Your Grace." Celestia said with a bow. "I only wished to seek audience with you."
"WELL, VERY WELL."
Celestia had been assessing the filly and now knew how to restore her to her current state. Celestia surrounded the filly in the golden glow of her magic and with a little concentration a veil of gold surrounded the filly, enveloping her until she was completely obscured. There was a crystalline whine that increased in pitch as the feel of magic intensified, then with a whoosh the magic fell away and an old mare floated to the ground.
The Dowager Duchess of Canterlot, Princess Platinum, shook her head, her once deep purple mane, now paled to a soft lilac with age, bouncing about her face. She opened her eyes and squinted at the pale alicorn before her.
"What has happened?" She asked.
"May I seek counsel with you Your Grace?" Celestia whispered.
"Of course child." Princess Platinum replied. "IT IS THE COMMAND OF THINE PRINCESS THAT YOU GO NOW AND AWAIT OUR SUMMONS."
Instead of waiting for the others to leave the two princesses returned to the throne room and closed the door on anyone who would disturb them. Lightning Shield took it upon himself to ensure that nopony entered the throne room until his Sun Princess had called them forth.
"What is happening?" Princess Platinum asked as she looked out of the window. "Is it raining cats and dogs?"
"We are unsure Your Grace. Something has happened to Starswirl and we know not what." Celestia confided.
"Well this is what comes of naming a commoner as king." Princess Platinum said snootily. "I advised the Queen against it, but she was certain the elevated mage would make the ideal leader. Leadership is not merely who has the most power; one must also have the capability to command. It is something you and your sister have in abundance, the old mage was never meant to rule. Yet who am I to denounce the word of the Queen, she was certain Starswirl was the one to lead us, but truly, she should have handed the rule to you and Princess Luna. Then we would have avoided all...this..."
Both mares looked to the window once more as the sun rose.
Celestia sighed and trotted out onto the balcony to put it back to bed.
"What should Luna and I do?" She asked, once the sun was down once more.
"I believe you already know." Princess Platinum replied.
"Seek out Starswirl, beg of him to return with us and embrace harmony once more. Failing that, to curtail his chaos, to rein it in so that it affects only a small amount of land he has decided to claim." Celestia announced, before adding in less sure tones, "I hope he will return to us..."
"Princess Celestia, you are the Sun Princess, beloved of your mother and wise beyond your years. Do you really think you need a silly old stallion to instruct you? Do you not know, deep in here?" And with that the old mare placed a hoof over the Princess' heart. "You are ready to rule, you and Luna in harmonious diarchy and not as seconds to a mage who has worked hard to separate himself from others?"
"It was Mother's wish that he should rule until we were ready." Celestia stated.
"Were you unready or merely acquiescing to your mother's wishes?" Princess Platinum asked.
"I never considered it, for it was Mother's last wish." Celestia admitted.
"It was, but how about now?"
"It would be better if Starswirl would return. Luna and I must go to him."
"What of Equestria?" Princess Platinum inquired.
"We must go to him regardless. If we do not go to him how can he reverse this chaos? Equestria depends on us finding Starswirl."
"That is true." Princess Platinum replied. "However you would leave the throne empty if you were to both go."
"If we were to elect a trusted comity comprising of Commander Hurricane, Private Pansy, Chancellor Pudding Head, Smart Cookie, Clover the Clever and Your Grace we would be leaving the country in safe hooves while we attempt to rectify the situation."
"I will call on the old guard immediately." The Duchess promised.
"And I will go seek Luna and discuss the matter at hoof." Celestia replied.
"What do you plan to do once we find Starswirl's book?" Sombra asked as he and Luna picked their way through the books and instruments strewn on the floor.
Luna paused and frowned, she had not thought that far ahead, only to find some information for when Celestia required it.
"Find relevant information for my sister, I am certain she is already formulating a plan, but a little fact finding will not hurt." Luna stated.
"What would you do my Princess?" He asked.
"What do you mean?"
"If you were to make a plan, what would it be?"
Princess Luna looked up to her moon and it reflected in her eyes, making them shine.
"I would find a way to save him. He is not evil, merely caught in something beyond our knowing. From what I know of Starswirl, he does not wish this chaos upon us, this is a spell gone awry. That is why we must scour his books and find what spell could cause such a change, and then track him in order to counter whatever spell has taken hold of him."
"What if it is something that cannot be dispelled? You know as well as I how the old mage enjoyed experimenting." Sombra said.
"If there is no cure then we will have to appeal to him to find sense once more. Everypony deserves a chance of redemption." Luna explained.
"Some ponies are beyond such help." Sombra stated.
"I dread to think of a day that should be true." Luna said with a shudder. "It would truly break my heart to think there was somepony wholly evil and with no hope of seeing the light once more."
"You truly believe everypony can be redeemed?"
"Yes." Luna said firmly. "Now enough of this distraction, we must find out how this happened."
Several hours had passed before Celestia managed to track Luna down in Starswirl's library thanks to ponies stopping her at every juncture to ask what they should do about the stampedes of cats and dogs in the streets, the lime custard that was now flowing through every watercourse in the city and the groups of angry pegasi stomping around as their flight magic failed them. There were still two guards stationed outside Starswirl's library. They stepped aside as Celestia approached the door and after a short inspection, she countered the spell Luna had used to seal it.
She found Luna inside, Knight Sombra was with her and they sat in the middle of a wall of books. A familiar boos was open in the air in front of them, caught in the blue aura of Luna's magic. They looked up when Celestia entered.
"Sister. What do you know about this spell?" Princess Luna asked as she levitated Starswirl's latest book toward Celestia, it was open toward the back, Celestia knew which spell it was without having to look, but she did so to be certain.
"That is a spell he was working on last night. I read it aloud to see what happened, but nothing did. It's unfinished." She asked.
Luna turned the book back to herself and looked down at the words, frowning slightly as she read over them again.
"Is it possible the spell affected Starswirl?" Princess Luna asked.
"How would it affect him?" Celestia asked in reply.
"It is a transformation spell." Luna replied.
"That is true." Celestia agreed, growing thoughtful.
"Perhaps it still had an effect but being incomplete it did not have the desired effect." Luna theorised.
"And this has caused his transformation?" Celestia asked.
"Yes. The spell has caused this change and there is no counter-spell. What in Equestria are we meant to do?" Luna asked with great worry.
Celestia managed to pull a smile to her face.
"We save him." She announced. "We will track down Starswirl and we appeal to him to see sense. We remind him who he is and what he means to us. He will know we still care about him and he will become our wise mentor once more."
"Do you think it will work?" Luna asked hesitantly.
"We can only hope." Celestia replied as a flash of lightning outside the window was accompanied by the sound of frogs croaking. "We will set off within the hour."
"I will go and prepare." Luna promised.
"We will meet in the throne room and depart from there." Celestia stated before leaving the library.
"I must go and prepare." Luna said to Sombra.
"Please my Princess, allow me to accompany you." Sombra requested.
"I think Celestia means us to fly, it is the fastest method to track Starswirl." Luna stated as she and Sombra left the library.
"Forgive my bluntness Highness, but nopony can fly at present." A pegasus guard stated.
"What do you mean?" Luna asked.
"Well." The pegasus leapt into the air and spread his wings, he flapped for a moment and gained several feet of air before his wings folded in on themselves and he crashed to the floor.
"I see." Luna said, and she spread her own wings, inspecting them for a moment before leaping into the air and beating them. Like the pegasus guard she too managed to gain several feet before a force outside of her being caused her wings to fold. Although she fell to the floor as the guard had, she managed to land on her hooves.
"Very well." Luna said, "Knight Sombra, would you please accompany me?"
"To the end of the world Night Princess." He replied with a bow.
"Then go and prepare, meet with my sister and I within the hour in the throne room and we shall set out to track Starswirl." Luna announced.
"Yes Princess." Sombra said.
They separated to go to their own rooms to prepare while Lightning Shield left his post and made his way to the rooms of the Sun Princess.
Celestia was busy packing her saddle bags with what she thought she would need on her quest when she heard a knock upon the door. She had sent all the servants away but hadn't appointed a guard at her door since it would indicate that she was present. She endeavoured to ignore it but the knock came again.
"Come in!" She called.
The door opened and a brown pegasus in the gold armour of the day guard stepped in and stood to attention.
"How may I help you Commander Lightning Shield?" She asked.
"I am here to volunteer Your Highness." He said with a salute.
"For what?" Celestia inquired, feigning ignorance.
"To help you find the king." Lightning Shield replied.
"I appreciate the gesture Commander, but I must decline, you are needed here." Celestia said as she continued to pack her saddle bags.
"Not really." Lightning said with a shrug.
"It might be dangerous." Celestia warned.
"I'm expendable." Lightning replied.
Princess Celestia looked sadly upon the pegasus that he should think this. She placed a hoof on his shoulder.
"Nopony is expendable." She said solemnly. "But if you insist on accompanying me then thank you, I will appreciate the help."
"It'll be an honour Princess." Lightning said.
Celestia smiled.
"If you are coming then please meet Luna and I in the throne room in three quarters of an hour."
"Yes Your Highness." Lightning Shield said with a bow before he left Celestia's rooms.
Celestia continued with her packing before making her way to the throne room. Princess Platinum was present with the other members of the emergency council, Clover the Clever, Chancellor Pudding Head, Smart Cookie, Commander Hurricane and Private Pansy.
"Thank you all for coming at short notice." Celestia said.
"It's the least we could do Your Highness." Clover the Clever replied.
"Though getting here was harder than it should have been." Commander Hurricane said gruffly.
"It wasn't so bad." Private Pansy said softly.
"Bad? What's so bad about it? Have you seen all the free chocolate milk? Smart Cookie, make sure you organise a team to collect as much milk as they can for later?" Chancellor Pudding Head ordered.
"Sure thing Chancellor." Smart Cookie replied with a put upon sigh. "I'll have a team on that as soon as we get back."
"Good." The chancellor said with a nod of her head.
"So you want us to watch over Equestria when you're off trying to get that no good wizard back?" Commander Hurricane asked as he began to absentmindedly flap into the air only for the magic that seemed to be binding pegasus flight at the moment to send him back to the floor.
"Master Starswirl is not a 'no good wizard'. He didn't do this on purpose." Clover the Clever stated.
"No." Celestia agreed. "This is some spell placed upon Starswirl and it's up to my sister and I to find him and counter it. That is why I asked if you would be kind enough to oversee Equestria while we tackle this threat."
"Makes sense." Commander Hurricane conceded.
"Rest assured that Equestria will be in safe hooves until you return." Princess Platinum declared.
"I'm sure it will be." Celestia replied with a smile.
The doors opened and Commander Lightning Shield trotted in.
"Commander Lightning Shield reporting for duty, Your Highness." He said with a salute.
"Lightning Shield, hey? You're Thunder Blast's son?" Commander Hurricane asked.
"That's right." Lightning Shield confirmed.
"Flew with me in the Griffon Wars back before the forming of Equestria. Best tactical flier I ever knew. Nice to know his son got a high rank in the palace guard."
"Commander Lightning Shield is one of our most loyal guards; he's even volunteered to accompany us on this dangerous mission." Princess Celestia stated.
"Definitely take after your father." Commander Hurricane said proudly.
Lightning Shield nodded.
Luna entered the throne room along with Knight Sombra.
"Princess Luna, you've made it." Celestia said with relief that they could soon depart. "Is Knight Sombra accompanying us?"
"Yes." Luna confirmed.
"Good. I'm sure you will be of much help."
"Your Highness." Sombra replied with a solemn bow.
Celestia smiled before turning back to the Emergency Council.
"We will take our leave. When we see you next hopefully it will be under calmer skies." She said.
"Please bring our mentor back." Clover the Clever requested.
"We will." Celestia promised. "Whatever it may take we will bring him home to Equestria."
With that, the two alicorns and their guards set out on their journey. They stepped out of the castle into a world of chaos. There were stray animals running everywhere, things falling from the sky that shouldn't, things falling to the sky, citizens acting in ways that could only be described as bizarre. The chaos was almost hard to bear.
"How will we track Starswirl in all of this?" Luna asked.
"Princess, look." Lightning Shield said, pointing his hoof.
Through all the chaos there was something constant, a pathway of bright pink and purple polka dots that led out of Canterlot and to the plains below.
"We follow the polka dot path." Celestia stated.
"That is the strangest pathway I have ever seen." Luna said.
"Then it seems like the right way to take now." Celestia replied.
"It does Sister." Luna agreed.
"Then without further ado." Celestia announced and the party set out following the path down the mountain before heading to the north. |
The Fall of Starswirl the Bearded | Adventure to the north | Disclaimer: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is the property of Hasbro and all characters credited to Lauren Faust and the design team at DHX Studios
The party moved as fast as they could manage, but huge swathes of the land had been turned to various things that were hard to walk through.
"It would be so much easier to fly." Lightning Shield grumbled as he struggled through a patch of maple syrup.
"If only we could." Celestia said, attempting to remain positive despite the fact that she was now covered in pudding, cotton candy, chocolate milk, and this latest obstacle, maple syrup. Some of it was on her wings; her flying would be hindered even if they could take off for more than thirty seconds.
"Yuck! What would I not give to have a road made of soap again?" Luna observed as she flapped her own wings forlornly.
"Or a nice warm bubble bath." Celestia said.
"Oh yes, that would be wonderful." Luna said with a sigh.
Finally they reached road that was made of dirt once more. Now with firmer ground they could move faster.
"It's going to take us forever to catch up with the king this way." Lightening Shield stated. "Look how long it took us to reach the base of the mountain, and it looks like the polka dots are heading north."
"We can't fly and I dare not teleport in this." Celestia said as she looked out across the distance they had to traverse with worry.
"We might end up inside a mountain or such with everything out of place." Luna added.
"Princess watch out." Sombra yelled as he bumped Luna to the side a moment before a pie the size of a house landed where she had been standing.
"Thank you Knight Sombra." Luna said, feeling relief but her heart was still beating fast at the near miss.
"It's kind of funny." Lightening Shield said as he poked a hoof at the pie. "As random as this magic is, for the last hour everything has been food related."
"It's lunch time." Celestia replied. "Starswirl is obviously hungry."
"Good job he's only hungry." Sombra said under his breath.
"Let's not think about that at present." Luna said perturbed.
"Quite." Celestia agreed. "Come, hopefully we can cover several miles before we rest for the night."
"If we have control over when that may be." Luna said as the sun shot across the sky and vanished before the moon rose bringing the night.
"The sun and moon are still our domains Sister." Celestia said firmly.
"Then why are we not controlling them?" Luna demanded.
"We can see by moonlight. Trying to take control at this point will only lead to us exhausting ourselves." Celestia said warily.
"Are you sure?" Luna asked.
"Yes. We shouldn't concern ourselves with the trivial; we have to go to the root of the problem. Once we have reasoned with Starswirl then we can put the world back to right." Celestia explained.
"Of course." Luna agreed.
"Your Highnesses, up ahead!" Sombra gasped.
There was a thick tangle of vines, spiked with purple thorns that blocked the path ahead. They stretched for miles in either direction; it would take an age to travel around them.
"Sister, is that..." Luna began.
"The Everfree Forest has broken its bounds." Celestia finished.
"I thought that the balance of harmony kept it at bay." Luna whispered.
"But harmony has been disrupted, chaos rules at present." Celestia said with the mild annoyance that she had not thought of this sooner.
"It's going to add hours onto our journey time." Lightening Shield observed.
"Not if I can help it!" Luna said firmly with a stomp of her hoof, and lightening flashed overhead.
Luna's horn glowed as she built up the magical potential before sending a bolt of light blue magic into the heart of the vines ahead. There was a hiss and squeal as if the plants were in pain. The vines retreated, leaving a path ahead.
"Come." Luna said, motioning with her head.
"Be careful." Celestia said and followed her sister as she readied her own magic, she didn't trust the plants. "Commander Lightening Shield, keep to the centre of us. Knight Sombra, would you be so kind as to bring up the rear."
Lightening Shield moved to the centre, although he felt disgruntled that he couldn't do much to help since he had no magic to wield. Princess Celestia and Knight Sombra readied their magic for defence while Princess Luna opened a path ahead with her magic. They were making good progress, but the thorn forest seemed to go on forever.
They'd travelled about half a mile when Luna's magic suddenly stopped cutting through the vines ahead. In fact they thickened and the vines behind suddenly closed in. Celestia shot a ray of golden magic through the vines that were closing in behind. Sombra shot a beam of magenta magic to the vines ahead, but it was no use, the vines were closing in fast.
Lightening Shield took to the air, there wasn't much room but he got enough leverage to kick at the vines. They reeled back slightly, creating a big enough hole for them to leap through.
"Sir Sombra." He called.
Sombra nodded and leapt through the gap.
"Clear." He called.
"Your Highnesses." Lightning Shield said as he pointed to the hole.
"Luna." Celestia said, shooting at a vine creeping across the floor.
Luna leapt through the hole, followed closely by Celestia. Lightening Shield made it through just as the vines began to close the gap.
"This way." Sombra called and he blasted another hole through the vines.
They moved in this way, unicorn magic, alicorn magic and pegasus mite, creating the pathway they needed until they stumbled out onto a plateau. A big full moon overhead cast silvery shadows on the gulf filled with swirling mist. Across the canyon was a castle, tumble down, covered in moss.
"What is that?" Sombra asked, his breath showing on the cold air.
"Mother's castle." Celestia replied. "It's where we lived before she became Monarch of Equestria."
"How did it get into that state so soon?" Sombra wondered.
"Without an occupant the forest could encroach upon it, causing the castle to become a jumbled ruin in no time at all." Celestia explained.
A howl came from the forest, followed by others.
"Timberwolves!" Luna exclaimed in fright.
"Come, we must press on. The forest looks normal toward the north. We can find the road again." Celestia stated.
They pressed on, through the Everfree Forest that seemed almost as peaceful as Whitetail Wood compared to the thorns they had to go through earlier. Still it took them hours to find the road again. The sun and moon had changed over several times but now the sun was up and it lit their way along the road north. They'd been travelling for many hours however and it was time for sleep.
Lightning Shield scouted ahead for a perfect campsite, one that would put them out of sight of the road, but not too far away. He found a spot and they set up camp. The guards took watch between them, even though Celestia insisted her shield would protect them. Anything but basic magic was failing, so a shield spell might fail and the guards would rather be safe than sorry.
They set off once more on what would have been the next morning, but the moon was still up, the sky dark. They began along the road again, making it five miles before they encountered another obstacle. Where the village of Neighbourough should have been there was now Ponydimonium. Every building was floating in some capacity, but the villagers didn't seem to notice. They were throwing a big street party, held on the back of a giant purple dragon. The dragon was caught in a syrup pit and couldn't get free. It was thrashing about, but it only made it sink more, and the ponies on its back continued their party.
"Help me!" The dragon called, and Princess Celestia recognised her voice.
"Sapphire?" She called, and galloped around to the dragon's head.
"Princess Celestia?" Sapphire replied. "I'm stuck. I can't get out of this, whatever it is, and these ponies, aghh." She winced as a big earth pony danced on her head. "Are giving me a headache."
"I'll break this party up!" Lightning Shield announced.
"Be careful, you have no idea what these ponies might do." Celestia warned.
"Will do Your Highness." Lightning said with a salute before he leapt into the air, beating his wings furiously to gain as much height as he could before they inevitably folded once more.
He made it onto the upper part of the dragons tail and scaled her back until he reached the partying ponies.
"Ok ponies, party's over." Lightning called as he jumped up on the table.
The ponies ignored him.
He charged up to the head of the table where a stallion with a paper crown on his head was sat.
"I said the party's over!" Lightning said firmly as he hit the cup out of the stallion's hand. "Now all of you get down, or the dragon will eat you like bugs."
The ponies ignored him.
He butted the head pony and he tumbled backwards. Lightning continued this until the pony slipped off the side of the big dragon's body. The stallion opened a big red and white umbrella and drifted down to the ground.
"Party's moved!" The stallion yelled from the ground and all the other ponies leapt off the dragon, floating down on umbrellas.
They moved in a single line, following the head pony over to a nearby meadow where they set up tables and chairs and began their party anew. Lightning moved fast to buck all the furniture off the back of the dragon. Then he leapt off himself, his wings holding long enough for him to glide safely to the ground.
Now without the ponies on her back, Sapphire was able to drag herself out of the syrup pit. She slumped down when she was clear, taking a moment to catch her breath. The two princesses worked fast to clean all the treacle from the dragon's purple scales.
Once she was clean Sapphire pushed herself to her feet.
"Thank you." She said with a bow. "I didn't want to hurt the ponies, but they wouldn't leave me alone."
"We understand Lady Sapphire." Princess Celestia said as she bowed in return.
"Where are you all going?" Sapphire asked.
"We are following the chaos trail north in the hope it will lead us to King Starswirl." Princess Luna explained.
"That's what I was doing too." Sapphire replied. "Perhaps we could travel together. If you all hop on my back I will get you there faster. I believe we are going to the Crystal Empire."
"We would be ever so grateful." Celestia said.
"Then hop on." Sapphire said as she lay down on the ground.
Helping each other the four ponies scrambled up onto the big dragons back. Once they were safely on her shoulders she began walking forward on all four legs. She began to pick up speed until she was running almost as fast as a pegasus could fly. The miles fell away beneath her claws and within hours the party found themselves on the border of the Crystal Empire.
"Where are the northern lights?" Luna gasped.
"The crystal ponies must be feeling agitated." Celestia replied. "They cannot power the Crystal Heart if they're unhappy."
"Of course." Luna said sadly.
"I think this is the place I should leave you." Sapphire said. "The crystal ponies are not keen on dragons after that whole business with old Snork up in the Crystalline Mountains. Besides, if he knows I'm here he might take exception."
"We would hate you to be in harm's way." Celestia said. "Take care on the road dear friend, hopefully we'll have this all fixed soon."
"Good luck." Sapphire wished them before she darted back down the road lest Snork sensed her presence.
"Shall we?" Celestia asked and began walking toward the path that led down to the vast plain of the Empire.
"We're just strolling in?" Sombra asked.
"We come in the name of peace." Celestia replied. "Besides, it's the only safe route into the northern mountains. We either walk through the Crystal Empire or traverse the steps with the risk of falling into hidden ice canyons."
"The Crystal Empire it is then." Lightning said cheerfully as he began to follow the Sun Princess as she continued on her journey down the mountain.
Luna spared a smile for Sombra.
"Come my Knight, they cannot deny us passage, and if not, at least we asked." Luna said before she began following her sister.
Sombra paused for a moment, he felt uneasy, but he couldn't explain why. He sighed and began following the others regardless, for he had vowed to protect his princess. |
The Fall of Starswirl the Bearded | Crystal Empire | Disclaimer: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is the property of Hasbro and all characters credited to Lauren Faust and the design team at DHX Studios
Celestia, Luna, Sombra and Lightning Shield reached the floor of the vast frozen plain and looked out toward the Crystal Empire. It sparkled as the sun rose, but it looked bare without the shimmer of purple, green and blue in the air. As the ponies crossed the tundra to the crystal arch entrance of the Empire Celestia prepared their reasons for entering in her mind, but there were no guards on the gate.
The party entered cautiously, the two Canterlot guards on alert to any danger that might befall the princesses, but the Empire seemed devoid of ponies.
"What should we do Sister?" Luna asked in a whisper, speaking any louder seemed wrong in the unnatural silence.
"We make our way to the Palace to announce our presence." Celestia replied. "Then we continue on to the Northern Mountains."
"Very well." Luna said.
The four ponies continued on their way along the wide main avenue toward the tall, delicate looking palace. Sombra felt a shiver through his body, and an odd feeling he had been in the shadow of this jagged castle, it had a wonderful dark light in the moonlight. The crystals were singing...
Lightning nudged Sombra with his shoulder. Sombra blinked and looked at Lightning Shield with a frown.
"You were away with the breezies." Lighting whispered.
Sombra cleared his throat, straightened up and concentrated on protecting his princess. Yet, the crystals sang...
They were nearing the palace when Sombra turned his head quickly to the left as if he'd heard something. He leapt behind a wall to investigate. There was a small yelp and a small pegasus filly scrambled out from behind the wall. Sombra followed her, frowning slightly.
She wasn't looking where she was going and ran straight into Celestia's front legs. She fell on her back and looked up at the alicorn in fear. Celestia smiled and lowered her head nearer to the filly.
"Hello my dear, can you tell me where everypony has gone?" She asked.
The filly shook her head, her yellow, pink and purple mane falling into her purple eyes.
"What is your name?" Celestia asked kindly.
"Mi Amore Cadenza." The filly whispered.
"The princess?" Luna asked, coming to stand at her sister's side.
The filly didn't answer.
"Why are you out here alone?" Celestia asked. "Where are the other ponies?"
The filly shook her head.
"There's no need to fear us child. I am Princess Celestia and this is my sister, Princess Luna." Celestia said gently.
The filly gasped and jumped to her feet, looking up at the two alicorns with their flowing manes. She'd heard of them, the princesses of Equestria, the neighbours of the Crystal Empire who controlled the day and night. She was in awe for a moment, her mother never allowed her to meet other royals.
"Are you really from Equestria?" Mi Amore asked.
"Yes." Celestia confirmed with a nod.
"Are you having trouble there too?"
"We are. That's why we've travelled here, we're following the chaos in the hope of tracking down the one responsible." Celestia explained.
"Oh, well that would help a lot. Everypony else is hiding out in the palace basements." The filly said, pointing to the palace with a light pink hoof. "They think it's safer."
"Why are you not with them?" Luna asked.
"Every building in the empire has turned into rock candy and all the leaves of the crystal berry bushes are taffy, this is not an opportunity I'm about to pass up." Mi Amore explained.
The filly walked up to the nearest wall and lined up her hind legs before bucking the wall. There was a loud crack and a chunk of pink crystal fell away. Mi Amore turned around and bit into it.
"Mmm raspberry." She said as she crunched the candy. "Want some?" She offered the other ponies as she held up some smaller pieces in her hoof.
"Thank you." Princess Celestia replied as she took a piece in her magic and levitated it to her mouth.
Princess Luna and Lightning did the same, but Sombra declined. Mi Amore shrugged and tossed the last piece in the air and caught it in her mouth.
"It's very good." Luna observed. "However it may be prudent not to eat your kingdom."
"I know, but it tastes so good." The little princess said, blushing slightly. "I guess I should take you to everypony else now."
"That would be wonderful." Celestia said with a smile.
Mi Amore smiled in return before she trotted onto the avenue.
"It's this way." She said and led the older ponies to the palace.
Instead of leading them to the front entrance she led them around the side of the palace to a door near the back. Two crystal ponies stood guard outside the door. They stood to attention when they saw the party approach.
"Hello Alexandrite, hi Zircon." Mi Amore greeted them.
"Princess?" Zircon asked. "How are you outside?"
"I needed some fresh air, but that doesn't matter." She said, brushing the matter aside. "I met these ponies outside, they want to help put the Crystal Empire back to order."
"Who are you?" Zircon asked.
"I am Princess Celestia, and this is my sister Princess Luna. We come from Equestria." Celestia replied. "As Princess Mi Amore stated, we are here to rectify the situation with the chaos."
"I will ask the queen if she will speak with you." Alexandrite stated before he stepped inside the door.
A minute later he returned.
"Queen Amore will see you, but your guards are to remain out here." Alexandrite informed them.
The princesses looked at each other for a moment, Luna shrugged, for she had no objections. Celestia nodded to Luna before turning to Alexandrite.
"Very well." She said and took a step forward.
"Your Highness, I must object." Sombra exclaimed, placing his hoof on Luna's shoulder. "We don't know who is in there."
"Fear not Knight Sombra, we will be safe." Luna assured him with a smile.
"I feel strange here, as if something bad will happen." Sombra insisted.
"We appreciate your concern Knight Sombra, but we are visitors in this land and so we must abide by their rules." Celestia said.
"The Crystal Empire is not a threat to Equestria, we will be safe." Luna added.
Sombra had no choice but to back down, although it was against his better judgement. Luna gave him a smile before she followed Celestia into the basement of the palace. It was full of crystal ponies bedded down for the time being, day and night were out of balance and that left everypony confused over when they should sleep.
The sisters were led down the centre of the room to the doors at the end. There were another two crystal guards standing either side of the double doors. Alexandrite nodded to the guards and they opened the doors. Alexandrite motioned for the princesses to go ahead.
Celestia and Luna stepped through the door into the makeshift throne room where Queen Amore was sat upon her throne. The throne to her right was empty. She remained seated as the princesses approached the foot of the throne, but she was a queen, she had no need to show deference to her visitors.
"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, please excuse the absence of my husband, King Light Shine. He is attending to matters of state." Queen Amore announced. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"
"We are following the trail of chaos north in the hope of rectifying the situation." Celestia replied.
"We are not responsible for this trouble." The queen said haughtily.
"This we know." Luna said flatly. "We know who is to blame. Have you perchance seen a grey unicorn stallion pass through here?"
"When you say a grey unicorn stallion, do you speak of Starswirl the Bearded?" Queen Amore asked.
"Unfortunately yes." Celestia answered solemnly.
"Was he not crowned yesterday? I vaguely remember our ambassador to Equestria was attending some ceremony or other." Queen Amore said thoughtfully.
"Yes." Celestia confirmed.
"And now he's gone mad with power?" Queen Amore inferred.
"We are not certain what ailment has befallen our King, but we intend to find out." Celestia replied.
"I see." Queen Amore replied. "Starswirl has not passed through the Empire, however a scouting group discovered a new castle in the northern mountains. Beryl?"
A green tinted crystal mare stepped away from her desk in the corner and stood to attention in front of the throne.
"Would you be so kind as to fetch Chiastolite for me?" Queen Amore asked.
Beryl bowed before she disappeared through a side door.
"Chiastolite lead the scouting mission, he will be your guide." The queen announced.
"Thank you Your Majesty." Celestia said, bowing her head.
"We will provide food for you and your guards before you set out. It is not a good idea to venture into the mountains on an empty stomach." Queen Amore stated.
"You are too kind." Celestia said with a bow.
The side door opened and Beryl returned with a dark crystal stallion wearing a thick winter coat. He pulled a carrot from his pocket and bit into it as he stood at ease next to Beryl.
"Chiastolite, would you be so kind as to lead the princesses of Equestria up into the Northern Mountains and guide them to the castle." The queen requested.
"As long as I don't have to go too close to that place." Chiastolite said with a shudder.
"You only have to take us to the point where we can see the castle, we can go on ahead from there ourselves." Celestia explained.
"Ok. I'll take you to within a mile of the castle, but I'm not going closer than that. You think the chaos is bad here? You ain't seen nothing yet."
"That will be fine." Celestia assured him.
"Then it is settled, Chiastolite will guide you." Queen Amore stated. "Beryl, would you please arrange food for the princesses and their guards and have it taken to them in the courtyard."
Beryl bowed and disappeared through another door.
"If you would care to wait in the courtyard Your Highnesses, Beryl will not be long."
"Thank you." Celestia and Luna said simultaneously.
Dismissed from the presence of the queen, the princesses returned outside where Sombra and Lightning Shield were stood waiting for them. Chiastolite had followed them and Sombra gave him a wary look.
"This is Chiastolite, he will be our guide." Celestia said, introducing him. "Chiastolite, these are our guards, Commander Lightning Shield and Knight Sombra."
"We are going into the mountains?" Sombra asked.
"Yes." Luna replied. "A castle has appeared there, Chiastolite will lead us there. However we are to be fed first."
It was at this point the door was opened and Beryl led out a crystal pony wearing a chef's hat that pulled a food cart behind her.
"This is the food Her Majesty promised you." Beryl said, bowing to the princesses.
"Thank you." Celestia replied.
Beryl nodded then looked around the courtyard.
"Is Princess Mi Amore out here?" She asked the guards.
"She was here a moment ago." Alexandrite said with a frown.
"I'll organise a search party." Beryl said with the sigh of someone who'd done this task many times before. "She is always running off." She said as if in explanation before entering the palace once more.
Princess Mi Amore Cadenza galloped across the tundra, the wind pulling at the fluffy purple scarf around her neck, her hoof steps almost silent on the snow. The earmuffs kept her ears warm. She held a lantern in her mouth and it cast a yellow glow on the snow in front of her. In the moonlight the Northern Mountains loomed up ahead but she didn't slow down until she rounded an enormous rock that hid a hole in the side of the mountain. It was big enough for the filly to walk through with her full saddlebags.
Crystals that lined the tunnel walls amplified the lantern light and it let her know when she had to turn or when there was a steeper incline, although the tunnel always led upwards. It was a path inside the mountain that kept you safe from the cold and the snow. Now it kept the chaos away, not that the little princess had a problem with the chaos, but having to walk through a custard puddle wasn't so nice. (
"Permission to speak freely Your Highnesses?" Sombra requested.
"Always fair knight." Luna replied.
"You should not be made to eat outside. This is a slight upon you." He declared.
"Queen Amore is merely exercising her power of rule." Luna replied warily before attempting a smile. "Perhaps we can find merriment in the situation by pretending we are having a picnic."
"Yes Night Princess." Sombra said with a bow, but he was still clearly angered by what he considered an insult to his princess.
"We should eat and set off soon." Celestia announced. "We are close now to Starswirl. I want nothing more than to put this situation to right and we can return home."
"And to be able to fly again." Lightning said wistfully as he spread out his wings, remembering how it felt to soar through a summer sky.
"Yes." Celestia agreed. "Let's eat."
The four ponies helped themselves to food from the cart.
"Will you join us Mr Chiastolite?" Celestia asked.
"I'm good thanks." He said, pulling another carrot from his pocket and biting into it.
Celestia shrugged before eating her own food.
Once they had finished they set off for the Northern Mountains. Celestia worried slightly if they were ill prepared because Chiastolite was pulling a sled behind him piled up with equipment. It was too late to worry, they had to journey on through the cold and the snow in the hope of reaching Starswirl and convince him to return.
It took about half an hour but she finally reached the end of the tunnel and it came out on a flat plateaux. It used to be empty but it offered a good view of the entire world below the Northern Mountains and was a good place to have a picnic. Now a big castle took up most of the plateaux. It was a patchwork castle, a turret from here, crenulations from there, as if someone had made the castle from scraps.
She tucked her lantern inside the tunnel, the dragon didn't mean to but he sometimes turned things into other things and she needed the lantern to get back. She checked her saddlebags were still secure on her back before trotting over to the castle. She climbed the patchwork steps up to the enormous doors. She pushed at them and a little door about her size opened up and she walked inside.
"Mr Dragon!" She called, and her voice echoed around, distorting to become deeper as it bounced around the inside of the building. "I brought you food."
There was a flash of white light and the strange patchwork animal appeared, standing on his hind legs, one was a goat's leg the other a lizard's leg. He looked down at her over his grey muzzle, his yellow eyes with different sized red pupils holding her in place for a moment.
"I told you not to come back." He said gruffly.
"Don't be silly Mr Dragon, I'm your friend." She said with a smile.
"No. You're a naughty little filly who doesn't listen to her mother." The creature said with a scowl.
Mi Amore paused as she was taking her saddlebags off her back.
"How do you know that?" She demanded.
"Oh it's simple Little Princess." The creature crooned as he circled her with his long serpentine body. "No mother in her right mind would allow a little filly blank flank to come all this way up the scary mountain on her own."
"It's not that scary, and I don't have to come through the snow or anything." Mi Amore said with a shrug as she dumped her saddlebag on the floor. "Anyway, I brought you food."
"Why?" The creature demanded.
"Because you have to eat Mr Dragon." She said firmly.
"I'm not hungry." The creature said as he teleported so he was standing once more.
"Yes you are." Mi Amore replied. "It's raining chocolate milk outside and all the chairs have turned into giant donuts. That means you're hungry."
"Or bored." The creature said with a shrug.
"Well if you're bored I could sing you the song I have to learn for the Summer Crystal Ball." Mi Amore said, a little shyly.
The creature considered for a moment, the filly had come all this way, and she did bring him food.
"Very well." He said and snapped his fingers and now he was sat in an auditorium while the little filly was up on a stage. "Sing away Little Princess."
Mi Amore giggled before she cleared her throat. Then she began to sing the traditional song to tune the crystals for summer. The creature watched her in amazement, she had a good voice for such a little filly, he was certain that once she was grown her talent would be superb.
He glided up to her once she had finished, clapping his hands enthusiastically.
"What a wonderful cadence you have there little princess." He said, pinching her cheek. "In fact I think that's what I will call you from now on, Cadence." He mused as he hoisted the filly into the air.
"But my name is Mi Amore Cadenza." The princess said, frowning as she crossed her front hooves.
"But it's such a mouthful don't you agree Little Princess?" The creature asked as he placed her back on the floor.
The princess considered for a moment, and then nodded her head.
"Yes, Princess Cadence sounds more friendly." She said with another nod.
After a moment she glared at the creature.
"Are you going to eat your food now Mr Dragon?" She demanded.
"Why do you call me Mr Dragon?" He asked with a frown.
"Because you got a dragon tail, and you're big like a dragon." Cadence explained.
"But I'm part pony too." He said defensively. "Actually I've been thinking about this, what I should call myself."
"Aren't you already called something?" She asked.
"No. I...I changed and now I'm something new." The creature explained. "I need a name for what I am and I was thinking perhaps, draconequus."
"Dracone-what?" The princess asked, scrunching her nose in confusion.
"Draconequus." The creature corrected her. "Dracon from dragon and equus from horse. It's the closest I can get to dragon pony. What do you think?"
"It's very hard to say." She stated.
"But it's a good name, yes?" The creature asked hopefully.
"Yes." She said looking thoughtful. "But I'll think of a name for you that I can say."
"Fair enough." The draconequus said with a shrug.
"And I can think of it when you're eating your food." The princess said sternly.
"Fine." He said, rolling his eyes and they reappeared in the entrance hall. "What did you bring me?"
"Some crystal berries and some rock candy and some taffy. I did try to get you some cotton candy but the cook wouldn't make it." Cadence said apologetically.
"I can make my own cotton candy." He said, and snapped his fingers, and cotton candy appeared in his claw.
He licked at it, but it held no satisfaction, it didn't seem real and it fell apart to vapour.
"Maybe you should stick to real food for now." Cadence suggested, pointing to her saddlebag.
"I think you are right." The creature agreed with a sigh.
He picked up the crystal berries and ate them. They were nice, but not sweet enough for him. That was strange because he had always found the crystal berries to be really sweet before. He ate them and then the rock candy and the taffy until he felt full. Now when he snapped his fingers the cotton candy he conjured was more satisfying and he offered some to the filly.
As the filly ate the cotton candy he started testing his power once more until fish swam around the room, streamers fell from the ceiling and pies floated about the place. Cadence looked around at the wonderful sight, but it was really chaotic. And there was noise, lots of noise that seemed so discordant.
"I've got it!" She announced jumping up and down in excitement.
"Got what?" The creature asked turning back to the filly and the balloon he'd been conjuring floated away to the other side of the room.
"What I'll call you instead of dracone-thingy." The princess said with a smile. "I'll call you Discord."
"Discord? Why?" The draconequus asked with a frown.
"Because you bring chaos." She stated waving her hoof around at everything he had conjured within the room.
"It is a good name." The creature conceded. "But I don't think I'd feel comfortable with it."
"Oh. Ok." She said, looking down at her hooves with a pout.
The creature looked down at the disappointed filly.
"But I have no objections to you calling me Discord if you like." He offered.
"Thank you Discord." She said, hugging him. "You know, you're the bestest friend I've ever had."
The creature once known as Starswirl felt sad at the thought of being the filly's best friend. She shouldn't think of him as a friend, he could never be anypony's friend. He would have to find a way to change the filly's mind. |
The Fall of Starswirl the Bearded | Discord | Disclaimer: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is the property of Hasbro and all characters credited to Lauren Faust and the design team at DHX Studios
Chiastolite led the Equestrian ponies through the snow. The blizzards were strong, almost forcing them back down the mountain, but he ploughed on up the incline, looking ahead for the tell tale signs of chaos. The Equestrian ponies made no complaints about the cold conditions, and he had expected it from the princesses, most ponies didn't like the mountains. They forged on regardless, determined looks on their faces. They meant to bring an end to this chaos.
Suddenly Luna gave a yell as the pack snow gave way beneath her hoof and the fine white ice crystals went flying into the hundred-foot gulf below. Sombra was immediately at her side, pushing her back onto firmer ground. Luna caught him in her magic before he himself slid over the edge.
Celestia turned back in that moment to see Luna and Sombra clamber up onto a boulder. Both of them looked ruffled and Celestia felt worried.
"Sister, what happened?" Celestia asked.
"The floor gave way, but my Knight Sombra came to my aid." Luna replied, smiling at the stallion in question.
"As you saved me Night Princess." Sombra said with a bow.
Luna giggled as she blushed, before clearing her throat when she noticed the adoring look Celestia gave her.
"The peril has past now." Luna said in an overly formal voice.
"Thank goodness." Celestia said with feeling.
"Do you want me to walk ahead to test the path?" Lightning Shield offered.
"Thank you Commander, but I think that may not help, it was merely bad luck that I happened to step on the loose snow." Luna stated.
"It would be so much easier to fly." Lightning said wistfully looking up at the cloud heavy sky.
"Unfortunately that is not an option open to us." Luna said, almost snapping.
"I know Night Princess, but I do miss flying." Lightning replied.
"As do I Lightning Shield." Celestia said warmly.
Lightning smiled at the Sun Princess.
"Are you ready to go on, or do you want to continue with the tea party?" Chiastolite asked in annoyance.
"You will show respect to the Princesses." Sombra growled as he charged the guide.
"Up here there's no such things as titles, only frozen ponies if they stay in one place too long." Chiastolite said, unfazed by Sombra's reaction. "So unless you want to become an interesting looking ice sculpture, I suggest you hurry up."
"You will show respect." Sombra said firmly.
"Knight Sombra, be at peace." Luna said softly, brushing him with her wing. "Chiastolite is the expert and we should adhere to his advice."
"There is no need for him to be so disrespectful." Sombra said, narrowing his eyes.
Chiastolite rolled his eyes.
"Will you please follow me before you become pony-cicles, Your Highnesses." He said, motioning with his hoof.
"Was that so difficult?" Sombra asked as they began walking once more.
Once there was enough room Lightning Shield moved up beside Sombra.
"Is there something wrong?" He asked.
"Other than the King spreading chaos?" Sombra replied.
"You're a lot more short tempered than usual." Lightning observed.
"This is dangerous, I long to be back in Equestria where my Night Princess will be safe." Sombra said with worry as he watched Princess Luna carefully traverse a narrow path of ice.
Lightning Shield looked to the knight for a moment, and then chuckled as he moved back to his position on the left flank. They followed Chiastolite around the curve of a mountain and there ahead of them, half way up another mountain was an enormous castle, it was colourful to say the least and flakes of chocolate ice cream snowed down around it and strange objects littered the path in front of them.
"This is as far as I go." Chiastolite said. "If you keep following the path you'll reach the castle."
"Thank you for your help Chiastolite." Celestia said with a bow of her head. "We can carry on from here."
Chiastolite nodded before he turned around and began his journey back down the mountain.
The Princesses and their guard walked on toward the castle.
"That cliff will take forever to scale." Lightning said.
"Permission to scout ahead to see if we can find an easier route up the mountain?" Sombra asked.
"You are too kind." Celestia replied.
The two guards saluted before they went ahead of the princesses.
"Do you think Starswirl will see reason?" Luna asked as the princesses continued at a slower gait.
"We can only hope." Celestia replied.
"You think he will not?" Luna asked in shock that her sister would lose faith.
"As we draw ever closer my confidence wanes." Celestia admitted. "However we must hope for the best. We will make Starswirl see reason."
"Yes." Luna agreed.
They were near the mountain when Lightning galloped back to them.
"We have found another route up the mountain." He said.
The other route turned out to be a polka dot stairway. The stairs were moving upwards toward the plateaux where the castle stood. Near the base of the stairs were two snow mares, the princesses were shocked to find that they were perfect copies of them.
"Why do you think he made these?" Luna asked in a whisper.
"We should take it as a sign that he longs for our company." Celestia replied, also whispering. "We may convince him to return just yet."
Celestia turned toward the strange moving stairs.
"Let us go up." She said and trotted forward to where the stairs began.
"Are you sure it is safe?" Luna said with worry.
"There is but one way to find out." Celestia said with determination and stepped onto the moving stairs.
They moved at a swift pace, but it felt safe enough although she had a moment of uncertainty when she reached the top. The stairs disappeared into the floor and she shuffled slightly as she stepped from moving ground to still ground. She looked back to see that Luna was now making her way up the stairs.
"Careful when you reach the top Sister." She called.
Luna nodded and passed the message back to the guards who were already stepping onto the moving stairs. Soon all four ponies had reached the top and now they crossed the plateaux to the door.
Cadance sat on a big purple cushion eating cotton candy while she watched the dragon she'd named Discord create wonderful things from nothing. There were miniature pigs that flew about on cobweb wings, shoals of colourful fish swimming through the air, swirling around the little princess until she giggled and they darted away. Discord was concentrating on building a tower of cards; the cards were the size of doors.
"Oh, we had some visitors to the Empire today." She said.
"You did? How wonderful." Discord replied as he prepared to put the top two cards on the tower.
"Yes. They were princesses too. From Equestria." She informed him.
Discord gave a start and the whole tower collapsed.
"What?" He demanded, rounding on the filly.
She whimpered and shrunk away.
"Sorry." Discord said, clearing his throat and settling onto his feet. "From Equestria you say?"
"Yes. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. They said they were following the chaos to find who was responsible." Cadance explained.
"Did they happen to say what they would do to the one responsible?" The former Starswirl asked carefully.
The filly shook her head.
The former Starswirl considered for a moment, and then he heard voices from outside. Without knowing how he accomplished the feat he found himself floating outside the castle. Celestia was at the top of the staircase, Luna was already ascending and behind her were two guards. He could remove the stairs, but he that would lead to Luna and the guards falling, and he had no intention of hurting anypony. There was only one thing left to do.
He returned to the filly and smiled at her.
"This visit has been pleasant, but it's time for you to leave now." He said as he snapped his eagle claw and the filly's saddlebags appeared on her back.
"But..." The filly began.
"No buts." The former Starswirl said, floating her toward the door. "I have guests and you're not invited."
Cadance tried to protest but she was already being transported to the door.
Celestia and Luna stepped up to the door, but it was locked.
"You know how to counter all his locking spells." Luna whispered.
"Perhaps he has formulated new ones." Celestia replied. "There is only one way to be sure."
She prepared a spell to inspect the door, but before her magic touched it the door swung open. There was a moment of confusion where they were certain some creature was visible, but a flash of white light almost blinded them. Celestia blinked away the after images as she stepped forward into a now empty hall. Her hoof falls echoed in a discordant manner.
"Master Starswirl?" She called.
There was no answer but the floor beneath her hooves began to move, pushing her back to the door. Celestia galloped and then leapt onto a part of the floor that wasn't moving. Luna landed beside her while the guards tried to find their own route into the castle.
"Please Starswirl, do not push us away." Celestia called.
There was no reply, but it felt as if the entire castle was listening to them.
"At the very least show yourself." Luna hollered.
"You will not like that, believe me Night Princess." Starswirl said in a chiding voice, it moved around the ponies as if he was circling them.
"Why would we not like you to show yourself?" Celestia asked.
"Did you not look upon me with horror but several days ago?" Starswirl asked. "When that foalish Duke declared me a monster."
"It was a shock, but we will not be afraid." Celestia promised.
A rumble of laughter echoed around the room.
"Please Starswirl, if you are still our great mentor, come face us. We will show you no hostility." Luna assured him.
"I am not your mentor and I am not Starswirl." The voice said firmly.
"Then show yourself and let us be the judge." Celestia said defiantly.
Starswirl chuckled, his laughter bouncing around the walls.
"You consider me your equal? For only an equal can judge me." Starswirl stated.
"We are not here to judge you, Your Majesty, but surely we are entitled to judge our own feelings." Celestia said.
"Show myself to you? Find out your reaction? I suppose I will know then." The voice around them mused. "Prepare yourself."
"You cannot shock us." Celestia said.
"Then what can I say other than; fillies and gentlecolts, put your hooves together for the creature formally known as Starswirl the Bearded."
Cotton candy clouds swirled around, lightning flashed and stars showered out of a central flash of light. Rising up onto its hind legs was a creature that seemed created from different animal parts, but there was something familiar in the grey pony face that looked down at them with yellow and red eyes.
Luna shrunk back slightly, but Celestia recognised the creature as Starswirl and she moved closer to him.
The former Starswirl was laughing, ready to gloat about Luna's reaction, but Celestia approaching him caught him off guard. Why was she not afraid of him? He shrank back himself, floating up against the wall.
"There's no need to fear me." Celestia said gently as she slowed in her approach.
"Fear you? Hah!" The creature said, throwing back its head. "Why would I be afraid of you?"
"You tell me." Celestia replied, edging ever closer.
"No! Stay away! I want to be left alone!" He said urgently, waving Celestia away with a lion paw.
"Not even Starswirl the Bearded truly wished to be alone." Luna said, coming to stand beside her sister. "Even when you were in the midst of great works you wished to share your knowledge with willing students."
The former Starswirl shook his head, unable to answer.
"You don't really seek isolation." Celestia insisted.
The former Starswirl looked between the two sisters then in a flash of white light he vanished. He appeared a moment later on the other side of the room. The sisters turned to face him, along with the guards who were keeping close to the sisters if there was trouble but not so close as to spook the creature.
"You really should stay away from me, please!" Starswirl beseeched. "Of all the ponies in all the world, you two are the most dearest to me, my prized pupils, the diarchs of night and day, such power. It was an honour to teach you and I grew fond of you both. That is why I ask you to leave. Go away from this place before my chaos affects the harmony you must keep. If night and day are thrown into disorder then the rest of harmony will soon follow. Do you really wish to risk your calling?"
"We would not be worthy of our calling if we do not help our friend." Celestia said.
"Friend?" The former Starswirl asked incredulously. "I was your friend?"
"We still consider you our friend." Luna said with a smile.
"Why does everypony keep saying this? Friend?" He growled as he raised the lion paw and eagle claw up to his horn and antler. "Friend? Why does everypony keep saying this? Why do they call me friend now...now I am this?" He demanded, indicating his mismatched body.
"It can be fixed." Celestia said.
"Fix the side-effects of my constant meddling with higher magics?" The former Starswirl demanded, for this was the reason he had formulated for his transformation. "How many times did I transform myself into some other creature? Is this not an inevitable result of the over-use of magic? All magic takes its toll on unicorns, not like you precious little alicorns who can perform great feats without fear of magical backlash. Why look at you both, raising the sun, raising the moon, a task that once took twelve unicorns to achieve, knowing that one day their magic would run out."
"You were the one who knew we could raise the sun and moon." Celestia stated.
"Yes. I saw the power in you, and how I would have loved such power in days past. I strove for that power and more fool me, I have that power, but..." He broke off into a manic chuckle. "I can't control it."
"You must have some control, or you would not be able to create this castle from nothing." Luna said as the sisters moved closer to the former Starswirl once more.
"Yes I have control, but it's very limited. That's why you all need to leave here at once. That goes for you too Little Princess, it's not safe for anyone to be here, other than me in my own madness. I'll stay here in this chaos of my own creation, making these marvellous abominations to my heart's content, and you go back to your precious little harmonious lives. Return to Equestria, be the rulers you were meant to be, and forget there was ever a pony named Starswirl the Bearded. Live in your harmony as he prospers in his chaos." The creature crowed as he spun circles in the air.
"You have no idea." Celestia whispered as the realization hit her.
"No idea of what?" Starswirl asked, stopping mid-spin to look at her.
"We cannot return to Equestria and revel in the harmony." Luna said.
"Yes you can. It's easy. Just walk out the door, and fly due south." The former Starswirl said as he moved his eagle claw in the direction of Equestria.
"We would if we could." Celestia said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" The creature demanded.
"Nopony can fly." Commander Lightning Shield stated.
"Can't fly?" The creature scoffed.
"Yeah. Watch." The pegasus said as he leapt into the air and spread his brown wings.
He flapped up into the air, but after a few seconds they folded in and he dropped to the floor.
"But..." The creature stammered.
"That's not the only problem." Celestia said in apologetic tones. "I know not how, but you have left a path of chaos between here and Canterlot. There are places along the way wilder than the Everfree, which itself has broken its bounds."
"No!" The creature exclaimed.
"There are rains of chocolate and shoals of air fish. There was a treacle pit we had to avoid and ponies gone mad. This we witnessed on our way here." Luna stated.
"But how? I teleported to take this uncontrollable magic away, why did the chaos follow me? Why is it outside of my area? It's supposed to remain here! It must stay here!" The creature was panicking.
A wind began to whip around the room, stars sparking out of the air in random bursts, creating strange things that lasted only seconds before they dispersed once more into the swirling storm of chaos.
"It can't be true." The creature said, almost begging.
"It is Mr Discord." Cadance said in a small voice as she moved closer to the draconequus. "Where do you think the rock candy and taffy leaves came from?"
"Where?" He asked the filly in a soft voice.
"The buildings in the Crystal Empire and the leaves of the crystal berry bushes." She replied.
"No!" Starswirl yelled, as the chaos swirled like a nebula within the hall, it was becoming hard to stand within it.
Without thinking Lightning Shield leapt toward the little crystal princess and butted her toward a twisted carving of a tree. The corner created with the wall offered some protection from the universe that threatened to explode within the hall.
"You can stop it, I am certain." Celestia shouted over the noise of the chaotic wind.
"I thought I had it under control, but I haven't. I never did." The creature growled, putting his hands to his face in despair.
"You can control it." Celestia said. "You are Starswirl the Wise, Starswirl the Strong Willed, Starswirl the magnificent, and many things besides."
"No, no, no, no, no..." The creature kept repeating.
"We believe in you Master." Luna said, "And you know I always speak the truth."
"Your faith in me is misplaced." He said through his teeth as the chaos built within him, he could feel it greater than it had ever been, he wanted the fillies to leave...
"You can do it." Celestia said firmly, stomping her hoof.
"I CANNOT!" The former Starswirl screamed, his voice echoing up through the castle and around the mountains until it was heard in the Empire below.
That scream of rage and torment, of the helplessness against the tide of turmoil within, broke the dam. Shards of raw chaos burst outwards from him. Most hit the walls, turning the checkerboard patterns to deepest black, like the depths of space, within stars collided and knew ones were born. It was the raw chaos of creation, which turned something from one state to another.
One shard flew straight toward Celestia.
"Sister No!" Luna yelled as she leapt in front of her sister.
The shard of pure chaos rocketed toward the princesses and there was nowhere to escape. Celestia's horn began to glow, brighter than the sun... |
Acolyte of the Lunar Court | pre | The door before them was much more modern, of fine wood with inlaid gold trim. And beyond it, Twilight thought she heard... giggling? And sighing? And...
She blushed. Uh oh.
She looked up at Luna, half-hoping the Princess would decide to move on. But Luna simply looked back at her with a carefully neutral expression.
O... kay. Taking a deep breath, she rapped gently on the door.
A gasp, then silence from within. After a long moment, the door unlatched and swung open. Rarity, wearing a silken negligee and with her face flushed and her hair decidedly askew, peered around it.
"Oh! Twilight! It's only you... its... um... not what it sounds like, uh... its just..."
Twilight put up a hoof.
"Rarity, not another a word. Not from you, and definitely not from me. I promise!"
Rarity managed to smile weakly. "Thank you, Twi!" Then her face fell. "Ohhh! So this is only a dream?" She glanced back into the room, looking like she was ready to burst into tears.
Twilight reached out to touch her shoulder. "Make it a good dream, Rarity! You're always so kind and generous to all of us. You deserve a little something for yourself!"
"I... suppose I do..." She suddenly looked up, her face brightening. "And if it's a dream, then I know just what I want! Thank you, dahling! 'Nite!"
She quickly shut the door. Through it, Twilight heard what sounded like a war cry:
"C'mere, Romeo! RRRRRAARRRRIITY IS HERE!"
This time, Twilight was careful to control her reaction. She studiously maintained a coolly neutral expression. Then she cautiously looked at Luna.
It was like staring into a mirror.
"Thanks for starting me out easy, so I was ready for that," Twilight said.
"Thou hast no idea!" was all Luna would say.
Their visit to Fluttershy's dream was even quicker, and left Twilight with a feeling of having been scarred for life, and a strong inclination to never look at a bunny costume ever again.
Rainbow Dash was in one way easier, and another way harder. She barely even noticed when Twilight trotted out onto the field above which she was flying as Captain of the Wonderbolts, battling ninja pegasi from a dark, mystic criminal organization known as P.O.N.I., to judge from the colorful logos on the armor of the enemies scattered over the turf.
Then Soarin took a direct hit while defending Dash, and plummeted to the ground, his lifeless body landing with a sickening thud. Even though Twilight could see he'd been dead long before he hit, she ran over to the body anyway.
Suddenly, she found herself grabbed, hauled around, and shaken violently.
"Why didn't you save him?" Rainbow shouted through her tears. "Why didn't you use that fancy-shmancy magic of yours to catch him, huh?" Sobbing, Rainbow knelt by Soarin's body and hugged him closely. And then she began delivering a long, heartfelt eulogy of Soarin's life and accomplishments. And the remaining ninja pegasi and Wonderbolts hovered respectfully overhead, waiting for her to finish.
"Rainbow," Twilight said cautiously. "This is only a dream!"
"Oh! Get outta here, Twi! Get out!"
"But..."
"GET OUT!"
Twilight backed away from her anger, then turned and ran, almost cannoning into Luna. For once the Princess didn't seem inclined to linger either, and they left quickly.
Another stamp of Luna's hoof. Another door. And Twilight had a feeling she knew exactly which one it was. She'd seen it often enough -- from the outside.
Cautiously, she turned the handle and pulled it open. And looked out onto the front porch of the farmhouse at Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack was seated on the front stoop, her hat laying on the ground a few yards away as if it had been hurled there. Applejack's face was buried in her forehooves, her shoulders shook, and her sobs had the dry, gasping quality of the tail end of a very long cry.
Not knowing what to say, Twilight trotted over and sat down beside her, then put a forehoof around her. For a long time, she just held her close.
"She's gone, Twi!" Applejack finally said, in a small voice. "Granny Smith's gone! An' Big Mac took it real hard an' he's run off somewhere. An' the Rich's are comin' for the deed tomorrow, an' the Child Services folks are gonna take Apple Bloom away from me, an..."
She looked up, frightened. "I really thought I could make a go of it, Twi! Just live here all my life! I didn't want no more! And now it's all comin' apart at the seams!"
"I know, Applejack!" Twilight met her gaze. "I see how much it hurts. And I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere until we figure this out! We'll get Rainbow and Fluttershy and Dash and Pinkie and Rarity, and we'll go find Big Mac, and help you keep this place going! And if I have to go to the Princess myself to get the bank and Child Services off your back, I will! Celestia would never let this happen to you, never! Not to the Apples! She knows how much this family means to Ponyville!"
Applejack smiled weakly. "What would I do without y'all, Twi? You cain't hardly know. You just cain't!"
Twilight ruffled her hair. "Go get your hat! What's A.J. without her hat, huh?"
Applejack snuffled, wiped her face with a forehoof, and then hauled herself up and went to scoop up her hat. With a bit of her old flair, she flipped it up and caught it on her head.
"Know what I'm goin'ta do?"
"I don't know. What?"
"I'm goin' out there and buck every single tree from here to Canterlot, if that's what it takes to keep this place a'goin'!"
"We're all with you, A.J.! Make it happen!"
"Yee-haw!" Applejack reared, and then turned and raced for the orchards.
Twilight waited until she was out of sight. Then she got up and went back to the door. As she stepped back off the porch Luna actually smiled. "You didn't mention this was a dream."
"Eh," Twilight shrugged. "It never came up."
The next door that came up in their journey was brilliant pink. Luna produced two pairs of sunglasses, and passed one to Twilight.
"Thou mayest want these," she said dryly, putting hers on.
Twilight put the glasses on as well. Then she carefully cracked the door open a hair. A blast of techo-pop music and flickering technicolor light and the smothering aroma of baked goods and peppermint candy assailed her senses. She quickly shut the door, and exchanged a glance with Luna.
"The Pinkie pony's dreams should be classified as... a hazmat zone, we believe it is called?" Luna asked carefully.
Since they had visited all her friends Twilight assumed that was the end of the tour. Yet Luna had a couple more stops in store for her.
The first was a tall, thin door with a child's drawing of a muffin tacked up on it. Luna took the lead this time, gently turning the handle and glancing inside, and then opening the door wider so Twilight could enter ahead of her.
Twilight saw a featureless room with flat white walls. And close at hand, she saw Derpy Doo, the gray pegasus mailmare, lying asleep on a bed and cuddling her daughter Dinky. A book lay on the floor where it had fallen. And as they approached, Dinky looked up at them and smiled.
"Hi, Princess Luna!"
"Hallo to thee, young lady!" Luna replied, in an unusually gentle tone. "Hast thy mother fallen asleep reading with thee again?"
"Yep!" Dinky beamed at Twilight. "Hi, Twi! Can you walk in ponies' dreams too?"
Twilight glanced at Luna. "For tonight I can. It's been... an adventure!"
"Cool! You wanna read with me until Mommy wakes up?"
"Shhh," Luna said. "Do not wake her, dear one. And thou should be resting as well, that's what sleep is for! Rest now, and keep thy mother safe and happy for us. Willst thou do that?"
"Okay, Princess!" Dinky leaned against her mother's blond mane and shut her eyes happily.
Twilight had a puzzled look. "Princess, if this is Derpy's dream, how can she be asleep in it?"
"Because this is what she desires most for herself and her daughter, for them to be safe and comfortable together."
"But if she's asleep in her dream... how does that work? Shouldn't we be in that dream? Shouldn't we see her awake?"
"Look behind thee."
Twilight turned and just about fell over in shock. It was like being between two mirrors: an endless corridor of nested rooms within rooms, seemingly without end.
"This mare has unexpected depths," Luna observed. "Yet it does not bother her. She is able to simply accept what she sees, without question or concern."
"Is that what it looks like? An infinite recursion of dreams?"
Luna nodded. "The first time we visited her dreams, she asked us what this was and we told her exactly that."
"And?"
"And she said 'I thought so'. And has not asked again."
They left Derpy and Dinky slumbering peacefully, on the shores of infinite recursion.
Their final stop was not a door, but a doorway. It was a broken-linteled arch leading out onto a broad field under a night-dark sky.
The field was covered in tombstones.
Luna trotted forward, seemingly unconcerned, whilst Twilight stared about her in horror. There were names on the stones, names she recognized. Everyone in Ponyville, it seemed, and some names she recognized from Canterlot. And from further beyond.
In the distance she saw a tall, white form standing over a grave, head lowered. When they got closer, Twilight suddenly found her way blocked by Luna's forehoof. "Sister," Luna called gently. "Is now a good time?"
Celestia simply nodded her head. Her regalia was missing. Her mane was bedraggled, her coat streaked with ash and smeared with mud.
They came forward, and Twilight saw the name on the stone. It was her own.
"Princess!" she called gently. "I'm here! I'm alive!"
Celestia nodded again. "And we are glad of that, Twilight!" The Princess stood with her head lowered for a moment more, and then turned to face them. "We thought it would be useful for you to see one of my dreams. I chose this one."
"But why? Isn't this a nightmare?"
"Not quite. It is a memory -- or a portent if you like. You know how old I am, Twilight, and how many friends I have outlived. How many graves I've stood over, and then had to turn away and get on with keeping things going. I come here to spend some time with old friends, for whom I am not always able to do so in real life!"
"But why is my grave here, too? And all my friends!"
"As a reminder, I think," Celestia replied. "To cherish what I have." She stretched out a forehoof and drew Twilight into a warm neck-hug. And when Twilight stepped back Celestia was restored to pristine glory, her regalia in place, her mane shimmering about her.
"I wake every morn with a glad heart, thanks to you and your friends, Twilight!"
"I'm glad we can help!" Twilight said, smiling.
"We should move on, Acolyte," Luna whispered to her, "and allow our Sister her rest."
"See you in the morning, Twilight!" Celestia said. "Tell you what, we'll split a jam-roll! That is... if you're still crazy about them!"
"I haven't had one in years. And it sounds great! See you then!"
Luna paused, looking at Celestia. "Sister, wilt thou be alright?"
"I am already!"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
With an abruptness that was shocking Twilight found herself sitting on Luna's bed again. She also had a terrible cramp in a back leg, which took some time to work out before she could stand properly.
Luna also took a moment to stretch her limbs. "Thou didst quite well, for a first time," she said. "Later I will take thee along to the dreams of ponies thou dost not know so well. Those are far more challenging!"
"I'd very much like that, your Highness!" Twilight bowed.
"Acolyte," Luna replied, with a nod of her head. |
Acolyte of the Lunar Court | The Lunar Court | After a few more practice sessions in the Vault, and some lessons in general decorum and etiquette, Princess Luna finally deemed Twilight sufficiently ready to present to her Court.
To Twilight's surprise she was directed to wake early and present herself at Princess Celestia's Solar Court, without the cloak she'd asked Rarity to prepare, an hour before the Sun-Lowering Ceremony.
When she arrived at the doors of the Audience Chamber the guards immediately bowed her in. She trotted up the red carpet, past the crowds of onlookers and the line of waiting petitioners, toward the open area before the golden Sun Throne. Princess Celestia was in her usual place on the throne, with Princess Luna seated to her right and looking on as the Princess of the Day dispensed advice and justice for those few cases that needed to be brought to her personal attention.
Twilight wasn't sure whether Celestia's rule or Luna's rule about kneeling applied here. Just to be safe she knelt carefully before the throne.
"Acolyte Twilight Sparkle!" Celestia said formally, yet with the usual friendly twinkle in her eye. "We welcome you to our Solar Court. Pray take a seat, and observe the proceedings!"
One of the clerks gathered around the base of the throne gestured to a soft cushion that had been placed on one of the throne's lower platforms. Twilight settled herself on it and watched. Item after item came up, all of them for Princess Celestia's attention. It seemed that none of those present had a request for Princess Luna, who sat stolidly and patiently as the session wound to its close. Although Twilight was gradually becoming used to night-shift hours, she found her eyes sliding shut from boredom, and wished she had brought along a book to read.
Eventually the Chamberlain announced the close of business for the Day Court. Celestia and Luna rose and stretched their stiff limbs. Then Celestia led the way down the ramp to the main floor, where a small honor detachment stood ready.
As Luna followed, she glanced briefly at Twilight. "Acolyte, attend us!" she called abruptly.
Twilight jumped up, and quickly trotted after the Princesses.
They proceeded from the Audience Chamber and upstairs, to the projecting platform on which the Lowering and Raising Ceremony was usually performed.
The two Princesses took up station near the balcony's edge. Celestia began the Ceremony, spreading her wings and igniting her horn in a blaze of magic that spread about her like the rays of the Sun. She rose into the air majestically, forehooves lofted as if to take hold of the Sun itself. Then she gently brought her forehooves down. The glow of power around her faded from brilliant yellow to orange, then dusky red, and finally extinguished, just as the last edge of the Sun disappeared below the horizon.
But Celestia did not yet settle to the ground. She turned in the air and waited as Luna spread her own wings and rose into the cooling air, her horn softly gleaming with the cool white light of the Moon on a cold winter's night. She lifted her forehooves to meet Celestia's, carefully, as if receiving a precious gift.
Then she rose into the air, forehooves lofting higher and higher, the glow from her horn increasing in intensity, until it blazed with the brilliance of the full Moon, which had lifted into the sky and now dominated the heavens. With one last toss of her head as if it was nothing at all, Luna cast the Stars across the vastness of space. They all settled in place twinkling, not a single constellation out of alignment.
Both Princesses settled back onto their hooves on the balcony tiles, their wings folding and the magic dissipating from their horns as they turned to look at Twilight.
Who was standing frozen in wonder, a bedazzled smile on her face, her eyes brimming with tears. Belatedly, she realized they were looking at her, and got her emotions under control again, wiping her eyes in embarrassment.
Celestia glanced at Luna, then laughed. "Normally, we only go to that much trouble during the Summer and Winter Solstice. But I felt it was only fitting to put on a bit of a show for your benefit, Twilight! Now, before I turn in for the night, let's have a cup of tea together. I want to hear all about how you're doing!"
"As do we, Twilight!" Luna said, in an uncommonly mild and uncertain tone, very unlike her stern teaching voice.
The dining table in Princess Celestia's quarters was already set. For Celestia this was supper, but there was also a pot of tea and a pile of scones for buttering. The two Princesses settled themselves comfortably with Twilight between them, and Celestia poured out. Once they were all served, she nodded to Twilight with an encouraging smile.
"So, Twilight! How are you doing?"
Twilight glanced at Luna, not sure what to say.
Reading her discomfort, Luna nodded supportively. "We too would like to know, Twilight," she said. "This is a learning experience for us as much as for thee. We wish greatly for thy frankest appraisal of our methods!"
"Well..." Twilight tried to figure out how to put it diplomatically. "It's certainly a lot harder than I'm used to! But actually, I think that's a good thing. It's kind of... like advanced studies for me. I feel I'm really pushing myself in a way I haven't done in a while." She nodded, realizing her feelings even as she spoke them. "Yeah, and that feels really good! I also like that you don't let me slack an inch in my lessons. You demand perfection, and that gives me reason to seek it myself!"
Luna looked troubled. "Twilight, we consider thee a very close friend. We would not readily do anything to jeopardize that friendship. Yet we wish thee to feel that we do not... play favorites? Do we have that right, Sister?"
"Oh, don't worry about that!" Twilight said. "You don't make me feel that way at all!" She realized how that sounded. "Uh, I mean... I understand what you're trying to do, and I appreciate it! Really! You give me confidence to try stuff I wouldn't have thought I could do!" Looking around, she noticed the two flickering tapers, one white and one blue, that provided light for the table. "Like this..."
Concentrating, she thought about carbon dioxide, its chemical weight and properties. About a ball of it, formed around each of the two candle flames. She let loose a mere spark of materialization spell from her horn...
The candle flames snuffed out, as if they'd been switched off.
Then, feeling nervous, she allowed the merest hint of a flame spell to cross her mind, and flicked the magic in her horn -- very gently.
The candles re-lit, first the left then the right, the flames dancing merrily as she gratefully allowed the tension in her gut to relax.
Celestia blinked, astonished. "Well done, Twilight!"
"Yes..." Luna said, a little stiffly. "Very well handled, Acolyte!"
"I see you have an excellent teacher!" Celestia smiled at Luna.
"And we a gifted pupil," Luna replied, a touch of aloofness creeping back into her voice.
"Well, let's finish our tea! And then Luna will take you down to the Lunar Court."
Twilight looked puzzled. "But I thought... wasn't that...?"
Celestia shook her head. "Luna will often join me for the latter hour of my Solar Court, as a courtesy to any of our subjects who wish to speak to her and cannot stay up late. And it's also a way of getting up to speed on things before she takes over. Then she convenes her Lunar Court proper. We wished you to have the full experience of Luna's 'day', so to speak."
"The time at the Day Court can sometimes be tedious," Luna remarked. "But we feel it important to be seen and be available to our subjects here in Canterlot."
"It's certainly nothing like the Lunar Court!" Celestia's smile became tinged with mischief. "I'm sure you'll find it... interesting, Twilight!"
She said no more, and Twilight began to wonder just what she was in for.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
She and Luna returned to Luna's wing and Twilight went to her room to fetch her robe. She found Spike waiting for her, dressed up in a small robe of his own. He abashedly scratched the spines on his head. "I kinda... sorta... asked Rarity if she'd mind doing one for me too. Just in case you needed me with you!"
Twilight wasn't listening. She'd flung on her own robe hurriedly and then glanced in the mirror to make sure it was on straight.
And stood frozen, staring at herself.
Rarity had done her homework. Every line of the robe was perfect: it spoke of darkness and mystery and great power. Gold and silver thread swirled in magic sigils along every border, and the lack of other adornment only added to the mystique.
Hesitantly, she used her magic to flip the hood up. And her face simply vanished within its depths. It was like she was staring into a berobed shadow... dark, silent, and malevolent, with who knew what intent.
Shivering, she flipped the hood down, relieved to see her own, familiar face again.
She found Spike standing next to her, still looking up at her hopefully. "I'm not sure, Spike," she said.
Then she suddenly didn't want to be alone. "... but I guess we can always ask."
When they rejoined Luna, the Princess raised an eyebrow at the request, but nodded. "Thy assistant may accompany thee. But when we summon thee forth it shall be thee alone!"
With Luna were two of her nightmare guards. "These are Nacht and Skaad, head of my Royal Guard," Luna said. The nightmares bowed their heads as they were named. Twilight recognized them as the ones who generally came to collect her with the Chariot. "Nacht will escort thee," Luna said. "Skaad, with us!"
With the guards accompanying them fore and aft, they passed down the corridor, turned a corner, and came to what appeared to be a dead end, facing a dark tunnel-like opening and a sudden drop-off. And then a section of floor beneath them shook loose from the rest and began to slowly descend forwards, diving into the darkness and sinking ever deeper into it. As the darkness settled on them, Luna's horn flared with luminance, yet it only made the contrast between their platform and the endless dark more prominent.
Behind them Twilight heard a crash. She saw that heavy partition doors had slammed shut, cutting off the light from the corridor above. Several more times she heard doors shutting behind them, as they seemed to dive deep through the interior of the mountain.
Finally, she saw a light below, which gradually expanded as they approached it. Their platform descended into place at the bottom of the shaft. Ahead was a narrow tunnel of rough-hewn stone that ran left to right, with flagged flooring and guttering torches for lighting.
Luna confidently strode forward, then turned left. A lengthy walk along the tunnel brought them around a bend to a set of heavy doors. These opened into an even broader corridor, which disappeared into vast shadows on the left, and to the right ended at a set of massive oaken doors, many times taller than they were wide.
Two more nightmare guards were standing watch, one to either side of the doorway. And as she approached the doors, Twilight could hear a rising raucous growling, snarling, and bellowing coming from the space beyond. Spike anxiously huddled closer to her, and Twilight herself wasn't certain she wanted to find out what was on the other side.
Luna led them straight up to the doors, then indicated the open area before them. "Thou will wait here. Skaad, attend us!" She turned away with Skaad smoothly moving to join her, and they both departed through another smaller door in the left-hand wall of the corridor.
Twilight waited nervously.
Then at a signal Twilight couldn't see, the doors before her slowly swung open with a creaking of hinges and heavy scraping of wood on the flagstones. And if the noise emerging from within had been loud before, it became deafening now.
Twilight suddenly didn't mind the obscuring darkness of her hood. She gratefully flipped it up with her magic. Looking up at Nacht, she saw the guard nodding his head toward the door. Gulping a deep breath of air, Twilight cautiously stepped inside with Spike and the guard walking close beside her.
Beyond was a vast cavern, either natural or hewn out of the stone of the mountain's base. It rose to unguessable heights, hidden in shadows. The floor was rough-hewn rock, and down the middle of it ran a broad stretch of night-blue carpeting. And on either side of the carpeting was a vast throng of horrors that made Nacht and Skaad seem staid and ordinary by comparison.
Twilight's encyclopedic mind, already mildly shellshocked by the roaring and thundering that filled the hall, meticulously ticked off the few races she could identify: she saw diamond dogs, gargoyles, a roc, a large bipedal creature with shaggy white fur, several dragons of varying ages and dispositions, a stone goliath, and to her shock even a cockatrice and a basilisk, which sat side by side furiously avoiding each other's gaze. And there were dozens of pony races she had never seen before, outside of old texts in her library: tiny minis, dark-coated aristocratic Morirohin, dragon-headed Longma, kelpies splashing about in a large wooden cistern, hyracotherium chittering insanely to themselves, and many more besides.
Far ahead down the length of the cavern, the carpet split and led to either side of a huge, roaring bonfire. Beyond that, it came together again and rose up to a broad stone dais, which was lit by flaming torches on all sides and surrounded by a phalanx of nightmare guards in multiple rows.
There were more of the guards stationed to either side of the carpet, all along the hall. And Twilight noticed that while the creatures yelling and shouting throughout the hall had no compunctions against cuffing and jostling each other, they unilaterally gave the guards a wide berth. She saw a guard lift up on its wings to stare down a particularly raucous teen-aged dragon. In the face of the nightmare's unblinking golden eyes the dragon hastily ducked its head and quieted down.
The doors behind Twilight swung closed with a loud thump.
At almost the same moment, an immense metallic crash rang out through the hall, like a giant hammer falling onto an equally large anvil. The noise level immediately dropped to near silence. The noise sounded again, and then a third time.
From distant heights above a column of blinding moon-white light speared down and stabbed the dais. And into the light stepped Princess Luna, wearing a cloak of her own. And if Twilight had thought her own robe menacing, Luna's presented an image of sheer sorcery. It shone with depthless night and stars, complementing her mane, and had a rakish cut that suggested much and threatened more.
Luna's eyes blazed with her power. She reared high, and her cry boomed through the hall, the Royal Canterlot Voice in its full symphonic glory:
CITIZENS OF EQUESTRIA! THY PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT HAS ARRIVED!
A flash of lightning and a crack of thunder filled the hall. And a cheer rose up from the multitude of creatures, accompanied by a drumbeat of hooves from the guards around the dais and from all the pony races in the hall. Luna stood calmly, gazing about her audience, appearing to drink in the adulation with proud satisfaction. She waited for the noise level to settle somewhat, then went on in the same booming tone.
BEFORE WE CONVENE OUR LUNAR COURT, WE ARE PLEASED TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT!
Nacht was already nodding for Twilight to advance, and she took the hint. As she began trotting along the carpet, she glanced back and noticed that the guard had put out a hoof to hold back Spike. Then the two of them followed Twilight, at a discreet distance.
WE ARE PLEASED TO WELCOME TO OUR LUNAR COURT ONE WHO SEEKS OUR LEARNING AND EXPERIENCE. ONE WHO DARES ASK OF US THAT WE GUIDE HER HOOVES ON THE PATH OF THE NIGHT! ONE WHOSE NAME SHALL INSPIRE OUR CITIZENS, AND PROVOKE DREAD IN THE MINDS OF EQUESTRIA'S FOES!
Twilight had reached the bonfire, and steadily made her way around it, feeling all eyes upon her. As she rounded the turn and came to the stretch of carpet leading up to the dais, Luna addressed her directly.
STEP FORWARD, PETITIONER! MAKE THY OBEISANCE, AND SPEAK THY WILL!
Twilight steadily advanced toward the base of the dais. She came to a halt, and knelt low. Clearing her throat, she readied the spell Luna had drummed into her the evening before.
Rising up, she faced the Princess of the Night.
And responded in the Royal Canterlot Voice:
WE SEEK TO BE THY STUDENT!
She paused, coughing quietly and painfully to herself. Ow. This hurts! She'd have to keep it short and sweet. Taking a breath, she plunged on.
TO LEARN OF THE WAYS OF THE NIGHT, AND OF ITS CITIZENRY!
Another pause, as she realized her voice was wavering and creaking. Really wish I had some throat drops right about now! She soldiered on one last time.
FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR UNDERSTANDING, AND FOR ALL EQUESTRIA!
Her tortured vocal chords finally gave out completely. Thankfully, that seemed to be sufficient. The crowd around her roared in response and the ponies stamped their hooves in applause.
Luna allowed the roaring to continue for a long moment, then stamped her own forehoof, producing the ringing metal-on-metal clash that had sounded earlier. She repeated it, and then again a third time. And then she raised a forehoof towards Twilight.
STEP FORWARD AND BE WELCOME!
Twilight advanced carefully up the carpeted ramp, not wanting to blow the moment by tripping over her own robe. She reached out a forehoof to take hold of Luna's and made a show of bowing over it.
Luna nodded minutely to the carpet at her side, and Twilight came round to stand beside her.
WE ARE PLEASED BY THY PETITION, AND PLEASED TO WELCOME THEE! WE THEREFORE PRESENT TO OUR LUNAR COURT... OUR NEW ACOLYTE... TWILIGHT SPARKLE!
She raised her forehoof one further time, and brought it down upon a heavily-dented circle of metal embedded in the stone of the dais. From this range the crash of her armored shoe on the metal disk left Twilight's ears ringing.
And at the same moment, Twilight's hood was flicked back by Luna's magic, revealing Twilight's shocked expression.
The crowd roared again in response. Looking out over the crowd, Twilight saw that all eyes of the multitude were upon her, cheering, shrieking, and chittering madly. It took palpable force of will to stand tall and proud by Luna's side and not turn around and run for the exit, even assuming she could find one.
She glanced down toward the carpet in front of the bonfire, and saw Nacht and Spike standing backlit by the blaze. Spike was holding up a berobed fist and punching the air proudly. Despite her stage fright, Twilight smiled at her assistant's gleeful team spirit.
Luna called out one final time:
LET OUR LUNAR COURT... COMMENCE!
There was one final raucous cheer from the crowd.
And from then on, it all became surprisingly staid and bureaucratic. |
Acolyte of the Lunar Court | Where Nightmares Come From | When the last of the evening's petitioners had made their requests and received judgment, Luna stamped her hoof three times and loudly proclaimed the close of her Lunar Court for that evening. The assembled horde gradually filed out of the chamber and into the broad corridor outside.
When the last of them had left and the Night Guard had shut and barred the entry doors, Princess Luna finally relaxed. She sat down heavily. Then she lay down on the stone of the dais, looking utterly spent. "We are delighted that is over!" she said in her normal speaking voice, looking up at Twilight. "We are not as young as we used to be!"
Spike, seated next to Twilight, spoke up. "But you're... immortal, right?"
"That only makes it worse." Shrugging herself back to her hooves, she addressed the assembled guards.
"Excellently handled, everyone!" she said, nodding to them. "We are grateful to thee for thy diligence and loyalty! Resume thy normal duties!"
Nacht and Skaad, standing before the dais, bowed respectfully. "We live to serve, Mistress of Nightmares!"
"Mistress of Nightmares!" the assembled guards echoed as one.
"Company!" Nacht called out, "Dismissed!" The guards gradually filtered out of the room through side tunnels, heading for their assigned tasks.
Twilight, seeing that they finally had a moment to themselves, gestured to the emptying hall. "If I might ask, Princess... all these races and species here tonight... well, I mean... this is the Lunar Court?"
"Are they not denizens and citizens of Equestria?" Luna replied, tartly but with understanding. "Deserve they not the right of petition, to stand before their sovereign and state their needs?"
"I had no idea!" Twilight said, amazed.
"It would be difficult for them to simply walk the streets of Canterlot in the day, certainly," Luna said. "So our Court is held here, in a hall accessible by a cave mouth on the far side of Canterlot Mountain from the city itself. As thee can see, it is securely protected from any attempt on the city, and patrolled by the Royal Night Guard, who keep order here. Hence there is little risk. Yet it can be inordinately tiring, at times, having to keep up appearances like this!"
"Uhhh... if I may ask...?" Twilight began uncertainly.
"Why the pomp and circumstance?" Luna replied.
"Yeah. It seems a bit, well... overblown!"
"Thou sees the races that attend the Court of the Night! Their lives are not easy. They are not readily open to the comfort and friendship that we take for granted in Canterlot and its neighboring cities. They respect power and authority, and a strong voice to rule over them. We give them what they look for in order to draw them together, here in our Court, even as we put in place plans to reshape it along the kinder and gentler lines that our Sister favors!"
"Sounds like a tough job! Doesn't seem like they'd be open to that."
"It will take time," Luna agreed. "But we have great hopes of making progress soon!"
A cough from below the dais brought their attention to Nacht, who stood facing them. Behind him were a pair of nightmares, who despite their armor, fangs, and gleaming eyes nevertheless managed to look nervously excited. Between them was a young nightmare filly, peering up wide-eyed at Luna and Twilight.
Despite herself, Twilight couldn't help smiling. Put her in a hang-glider, and she could join Scootaloo and the other Crusaders for an adventure!
Then Twilight remembered where she was, and who she was, and settled her face in a carefully neutral expression, matching Luna's.
"Mistress!" Nacht called up, "If we may ask for thy Blessing?"
"Certainly!" Luna rose to her feet. "This is one duty we never tire of!" She nodded her head to the right. "That black urn, Acolyte... fetch it, if thou wouldst!"
As Twilight moved to grab the heavy urn in her magic and bring it over, Luna motioned for the couple and their child to come forward. They ascended to the level of the dais, and then knelt respectfully.
"Rise, and be welcome, friends!" she told them. She looked down at the filly. "What is thy name, small one?"
"Moarn, Mistress!" the filly replied, timidly, in a gravelly voice.
"Art thou prepared, Moarn, to take thy place in our Royal Guard?"
"Yes, Mistress!"
"Be welcome, then! And receive our Blessing!" Luna glanced around, making a show of annoyance. "Where is our assistant!"
"Oh, right here! Uh, Mistress!" Spike hurried over. At a gesture from Luna he took hold of the scrollwork of her right shoe and helped her slip her forehoof out of it. At a nod from Luna, Twilight lifted the top of the urn, revealing a fine gray powder.
Luna lifted her bared hoof. A glow blazed from its surface. Seeing the filly shying from its brilliance, she paused.
"Dost thou trust us, young one?"
"Yes, Mistress!"
"Then trust us when we say this will not hurt thee!"
Timidly, the filly turned to present her bare gray flank. Luna gently dipped her gleaming hoof in the urn, coating its surface with powder. Reaching out she gently pressed her hoof to the filly's flank. When she drew it back, a smooth circle of lighter gray remained, like a full moon.
"From dust thou comest, to dust thou returnest. Be welcome, faithful defender of the Mistress of Night, Moon, and Stars!"
Then she repeated the ceremony with the filly's other flank. Finally, Luna held her hoof over the urn and doused her magic, allowing the remaining dust grains to fall back into it.
The filly was overjoyed. She spun in a circle, admiring the marks on her flanks. Then she caught her parents' gaze, and hurriedly joined them in kneeling to Luna once more. "We thank thee, Mistress!" the nightmares intoned.
"Thou art more than welcome! As thou wert!"
The three of them backed away, escorted by Nacht, and then turned and hurried off.
Luna glanced at Twilight, who was just returning from putting the urn back, while Spike helped Luna don her shoe again. "Thou hast a question, Acolyte?"
"Those aren't... cutie marks, are they?"
Luna shook her head. "Merely lunar dust, plus a small amount of magic to hold it in place until she can show all her friends and they know she has received the Blessing. The ceremony is what is important. The nightmares can't help but look forward to it. They are made to serve us, and we would never deny their fondest wish!"
"Made... to serve you?"
Luna looked troubled. "It is not easy for us to speak of. When Nightmare Moon -- no, when we -- sought a guard for ourself, we did not trust those who came to us offering their service in return for power or glory. So she -- or rather, I, reached into our own worst nightmares, found a creature of blackest night, vengefully strong and fiercely loyal to its own... and brought it into the real world, gave it substance and life.
"Those were the first of the nightmares: Nacht and Skaad, whom thou hast met. They were followed by others, a small army. They are our creations, so when we were banished, they were locked away with us. And as we have returned, so have they."
"And they're able to have children of their own?"
Luna's expression turned sour, angry. "No. They do not even know how. They are figments of our imaginings, shadows. Incomplete! And it is because Nightmare... because we did not wish any distractions from their duty. So we must aid them, when they wish to increase their numbers!"
"Um... how?"
"Thou wouldst like to see?" Luna rounded on Twilight, her expression set and cold. "Thou wouldst like to know the depths of our depravity?"
"I... I just wondered, your Highness!"
"Nacht! Skaad! To us!"
Looking round at the sound of their names, the guards turned and stormed up the ramp to stand by her side.
Luna brought her head down. Her horn blazed.
"Walk with us, Acolyte!"
And this time there was no resisting the spell.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Twilight shook her head. The suddenness of the change in locale was startling.
In place of the chill, dry air of the cavern she was in a dark, muggy forest, near a trickling stream that fed into a moonlit pool. Nearby was a small wooden guardhouse with a peaked roof and a domed upper room. And dimly visible beyond through the gloom and fog was a small city of tall, oddly-shaped buildings and towers. Their windows shone softly with the emberlight of torches and cookfires.
The front door of the guardhouse swung open, a nightmare peered out. Spotting Luna, he hurried down the steps to prostrate himself before her.
"Mistress," he whispered. "My apologies. We did not anticipate thy arrival! All is not in readiness for the selection!"
"Be at ease, good Tasjen! The time is not yet. We merely wished to allow our Acolyte to view thy fine city!"
"Of course, Mistress! Be welcome!" He prostrated again.
Luna stalked past him, forcing Twilight to hurry to keep up. Behind her, the guards trotted along, gazing about watchfully.
They walked up a long path through the forest toward an archway several stories high. Beyond it they passed into narrow, winding streets between the towers. The air above was criss-crossed by bridges, and lit by doorways that opened straight on to several-story drops. But of course, Twilight reminded herself, to winged ponies, doors like that would be perfectly normal.
And everywhere they went nightmares gazed watchfully at them, from houses and shop-fronts and windows overhead, as Luna strolled regally through their city. The nightmares' faces were expressionless as always, yet Twilight felt uncomfortable with how intensely they stared at Luna as she passed.
They arrived at what seemed to be the town square, with a high-peaked chapel to one side and a broad-faced governmental building opposite it, and in between a grand gothic palace with soaring spires.
And in the center of the square was a fenced-in area, like a large animal pen.
"We remember..." Luna sighed. "We remember coming here, demanding tribute! Children taken from their parents, to be adopted by the nightmares we had already brought to the outside world. We... as Nightmare Moon, the Mistress of Nightmares... made this place serve our need for an army!
"And when we returned from the Moon, no longer the Nightmare, this place still remained." She lowered her head sorrowfully. "We could not simply destroy it. We could not abandon the nightmares; we created them! So we have maintained this dream, kept it alive, and tried to make amends for our actions. And if ever we do have need of additional guards, we have decreed it shall only be by families, and then only by their willing choice!"
Nacht and Skaad, clearly distressed by Luna's sadness, edged closer. Their gleaming eyes beseeched her for orders, for something they could do.
"Thou..." she whispered softly to them. "Who have been with us the longest, wish thou to return home? To remain here, and fade back into the dream from which thou arose? Know that if thou ever willed it, we would willingly give thee up to thy freedom!"
The guards looked at each other, seemingly puzzled. "Our home is with thee, Mistress of Nightmares! We would never abandon thee!"
She smiled sadly. "Alas, we have done our work too well! Very well, then! Remain with us, and we shall never abandon thee, our faithful guards!"
Relieved, they moved to stand to either side of her.
Luna looked to Twilight. "Hast thou seen enough, Acolyte?"
Twilight took a long moment to look around at the fog-swathed city which, for all its grandeur and apparent solidity, was but a figment of her teacher's dreams.
"I think so," she finally said.
"Then we shall return. And when thou lookst upon our Royal Guard, remember this place... and from whence they came!" |
Acolyte of the Lunar Court | A Summoning of Shadow Elements | COFFEE, BLACK!
Twilight put her hoof to her mouth, horrified. She stared across the Sugarcube Corner countertop at Mrs. Cake's wide-eyed expression.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, Mrs. Cake!" Twilight said. "It's... the Royal Canterlot Voice. I keep forgetting I have it switched on!"
"Y-y-yeah!" Spike shivered nervously on her back. "T-t-tell me about it!"
"Oh! That's... quite all right, my dear! I think I'll just... go have a quiet sit-down for a moment!" Mrs. Cake tottered away uneasily.
Collecting the mug and plate of buttered scones Mrs. Cake had already put out for her, Twilight put a few extra bits on the counter by way of apology, then retreated to the table by the window, avoiding the stares of the other ponies in the store.
Before she shrugged out of her carryall and sat down, she drew a heavy tome from the left pocket of the carryall and dropped it on the table beside her.
She eyed it warily. None of the books in her Library needed straps and a padlock to keep them shut.
"Hey, Twi!" Pinkie Pie bounded over to the table and plunked down beside her. "How ya doin? I thought I heard your voice!"
Twilight winced. "How far away were you?"
"Oh, Manehattan! No wait, was it Van Hoover? One of those!" She beamed.
"Ugghhhh!" Twilight's forehead gently smacked the tabletop. "Now I know how Luna felt on Nightmare Night! I've been assisting her so often at the Lunar Court it's hard to remember to break out of character when I come back here! Plus I still haven't entirely gotten used to the nighttime hours, so I keep waking up too early in the afternoon and end up overtired! And now there's this!"
She whacked the book with a hoof -- but gently, in case it exploded.
"An' what's that?" Applejack said, walking in. She came over to join them.
"Oh, just one of the darkest tomes in the entire Canterlot Archives!" Twilight rolled her eyes. "How to Curse Entire Continents in Six Easy Lessons! Kidding!" she added, seeing Applejack's shocked look. "Though it's not far from the truth!"
"And... that there's part of your lesson plan?"
"Yep! The Princess wants me studying the darker magics so I'll be able to handle them if I ever encounter them in the wild, so to speak. And she wants me to do a demonstration at the Lunar Court! So the Night races can all see how impressively powerful and fearless her Acolyte is. Yeesh!" She sighed. "Where's the Great and Powerful Trixie when you need her? She'd be far better at this kind of performance than I am!"
"Trixie? That fake?" Rainbow Dash said as she flew in through the door. Seeing Twilight and the others, she banked around and smoothly dropped into a seat by the table. "She'd summon up some kind of tentacled horror and then run screaming out of town, leaving us to handle it! Oh, by the way, heard you yelling from up where I was practicing my loops. Figured I'd swing by and see what was up!"
Twilight groaned. "Is there anypony in town who didn't hear me?"
"Um, I didn't hear you!" Fluttershy peered in through the door. "I mean I heard you, but I didn't hear you! Um... what was it you said?"
"Never mind!"
"Well, I certainly heard you!" Rarity said, following along behind Fluttershy to sit down at the table. "And all I can say, dahling, is you sound like me when I've been overdoing it at the Boutique! You need to take a break, dear!"
"That's just it!" Twilight said. "I can't! Between studying the texts Luna assigns me, and training sessions with her in the Vault, and assisting at the Lunar Court, and occasional dreamwalking lessons, and trying to read ahead on my own time... urhhh! ... I haven't had time to even think about taking a break!"
"You always did have a problem with pushin' yourself too hard, gal!"
"Look who's talking!"
Applejack frowned, but then nodded sadly. "Point taken! Y'all think maybe it's time you called in the reserves?"
"Pardon?"
"Well, dahling," Rarity said, "you did ask us to lend a hoof, remember? And we've been waiting for you to call us in to help! If there's something we can do, we're all here for you!"
"Maybe like that there Doomsday Book," Applejack went on, waving a hoof at it, "or whatever it is you're studying! You said you wanted us as the Elements of Harmony in case somethin' went wrong. That sounds 'zactly like what you wanted us fur!"
"I'm not sure I want to get you girls involved in this." She glanced at the book. "I'm not even sure I want to have anything to do with it!"
"Oooh! Is it some kind of awesome, evil grimoire!" Rainbow asked excitedly. "Full of unspeakably dark spells from ancient times that could fracture the fabric of reality as we know it and unleash sanity-destroying horrors from the Dawn of Time?"
"Yes."
"Uh..." Rainbow scratched her mane uncomfortably. "I was kinda joking!"
"Well I'm not! This stuff is dangerous! There's a warning on the first page not to even think the words of a spell until you're ready to cast it! And the spells themselves are deliberately written with the words out of order, just to be safe! And for some of the worst, there's no way to un-say them once you've said them, because they alter reality itself to make undoing them impossible! You'd basically have to throw away the universe and start over!"
She looked around. "Where'd Fluttershy go?"
A trembling voice spoke from under the table. "...i'm still here... I hope..."
"Git back up here, gal!" Applejack chided her. "Okay, so it's laik dynamite in book form! We gotta be careful! All raight, then! So we put on the Elements and use our Friendship Magic to beat back the darkness if'n it gets out of hand, raight?"
"That's the part that really bothers me! To power this magic, we'd have to take on a different set of elements, ones that speak to our worst nature rather than our best!" Glancing around the table, she hauled over the book, undid the straps and lock, and carefully opened it to a page she'd marked.
"It's okay to look," she told them. "There are no spells on these pages. Here's the list. There are seven Shadow Elements, and seven of us, counting Spike."
"All right!" Spike said, leaning on the table and craning his neck to look. "Finally, I get an Element too! Which one's mine?"
Twilight looked at him. "Well, I think it's pretty obvious you're Sloth!"
"Huh?" Spike boggled.
Rarity suppressed a giggle. "Had your mid-morning nap yet, Spikey-Wikey?"
"Oh, that's just great!" Spike put his head in his hands.
"And Rarity," Twilight went on, "I'd say yours is Desire."
Rarity suddenly froze, staring at Twilight with a horrified expression. Twilight mentally kicked herself. Luna was right: it was so easy to accidentally cross the line. Quickly she recovered. "The way you dumped Prince Blueblood at the Gala? When you found he wasn't up to your standards?"
"Oh... of course, dahling!" Rarity relaxed a bit. "Ha ha!"
"And I'm obviously Gluttony!" said Pinkie Pie, tossing a double-sized cupcake in the air and scarfing it down in one quick chomp. "And I'm O-KAY with that!"
"Applejack," Twilight went on, "I'd say you're Pride, clearly!"
"No argument here! I am an Apple, after all. Cain't get away from it!"
"Oh, and I suppose you're going to say I'm Greed?" Rainbow said, crossing her arms and glaring at Twilight.
"Nope, you're Envy, no question!"
"What!"
"Rainbow, just how long have you been wanting to get into the Wonderbolts? And just how far would you go to get there?"
"Um... well, okay. Yeah, sure. I guess! But that doesn't mean I don't deserve to be in the Wonderbolts!"
"Never said you didn't, Rainbow!"
"And Fluttershy," Applejack said, "is clearly Wrath."
"Um... uh... me?"
"Gal, you once stared down a full-grown dragon and made it move house! And remember the Gala, when you busted into the room lookin' fit to eat the furniture? Don't tell me you ain't got it in ya, girl! Though I'm beat if I can see where you hide it most times!"
"Oh. Yeah... I guess so!"
"And that leaves me," Twilight said. "Greed! Hungry for knowledge! I live in a library. If I was on a desert island, and could only take ten things with me, nine of them would be books!"
"Yay!" Pinkie bounced up and down happily. "We're the Seven Elements of Shadow Darkness and Scary Stuff! Look out, Mr. Dark Night! Give it up, Ms. Spooky Closet! We're not 'fraid of YOU any more!"
"So okay, fine!" Rainbow grumbled, waving a hoof. "We know which Elements we are! So how do we help out with this sanity-destroying spell of arcane doom?"
"Yah! Deal us in, gal!" Applejack said, putting a hoof around Twilight's shoulders. "In for a penny, and such-like!"
Twilight smiled. It was hard being quite so worried with her friends so eager to pitch in. She looked across the table. "Rarity?"
"Oh! Uh, yes, Twi?"
"You know that robe you made me? How soon can you make us five more?"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
After several further sessions with Luna, and one near-catastrophe in the Vault that Twilight decided it was best not to mention to the others, she asked them all to meet her just after Moon-rise on the path leading to the Everfree Forest.
They came wearing their robes as requested, and also wearing their Elements of Harmony regalia underneath them.
"I'm not sayin' these getups aren't awesomely cool," Rainbow grumbled, flapping the hem of hers with a forehoof. "But explain to me again why we need 'em?"
"Because a big part of shadow magic is deception," Twilight said. "You dress the part to help build up your confidence, to help you feel like you're capable of handling the forces you're summoning up."
"And probably so whatever it is you're summoning doesn't know it's you!" Applejack looked around warily. "Looks laik we're all here now. Let's get this show a-rollin'!"
With Twilight and Rarity providing light from their horns, Twilight led them into the forest and up the winding path to the bare stone clearing high atop Cold Hill. The moon hung in the sky above the clearing, providing more than adequate lighting for their dark-adapted eyes.
"Annnnd..." Rainbow asked, "why do we have to work the spell way out here in the middle of the Everfree Forest at night?"
"In part because there's a natural dark energy convergence atop this hill, which is why nothing grows here," Twilight replied. "Plus I want to be well away from Ponyville when we attempt this!"
"Great! That'll just make it so much easier for us to never be heard from again!" She quickly stomped her hoof down, catching Fluttershy's tail as the skittish pegasus tried to make a run for it.
With Spike's help Twilight double-checked the chalked circles and warding runes she'd prepared earlier. The others sat down in a loose circle around the chalked lines, chatting quietly and trying to pretend they weren't nervous.
"Okay," Twilight finally said. "I think we're ready."
"Oh, are you sure, Twi?" Fluttershy asked nervously. "Don't you think we should have Princess Luna here, just to supervise?"
Twilight shook her head. "I've already practiced with her. She says I'm ready to solo! So don't worry!"
"Um... I'll try not to."
Twilight carefully took out the book, unbuckled and unlocked it, and set it before her with the relevant page clearly in view, plus the sheet of paper on which she'd written the additional notes and spell components that Luna had recommended. She found a chunk of rock and settled it on the sheet to hold it in place. Then she took a deep breath, and raised her forehooves.
"Hi, gals! Whatcha doing?"
As one, their heads all turned to the path leading up to the hilltop. Derpy, the gray pegasus mailmare, was standing there smiling at them. She was wearing her postal carryall, but not her official hat. Her cross-eyed gaze swept around the group, each eye tracing out its own path.
"Hi, Derpy!" Pinkie called breezily. "We're summoning up a creature of ultimate darkness that's most likely going to eat our souls! You wanna help?"
"Can I?" Derpy asked excitedly. "Look, I brought my own robe!" Dumping off her carryall, she dug her snout into one of the flank pockets and hauled out a large piece of canvas sacking. She flipped it onto her back, then pulled it around her with her forehooves, finally flipping the loose end up over her blond mane. It was immediately clear that she'd simply taken an old mail sack and split it along one of the side seams, then used duct tape to attach a length of cord to tie around her neck.
Rainbow snorted loudly, then stifled a laugh. The rest of them looked at each other uncomfortably. Derpy simply looked around the circle, not understanding what the problem was.
Twilight frowned. If they held things up to walk Derpy back to town, the others might also lose what little confidence they had in the whole thing and decide to stay home as well. "Okay, Derpy!" she finally said. "But what we're doing is very advanced magic, and it's also pretty dangerous! So sit down here, right next to me, and for Celestia's sake stay quiet! Just watch, and don't interrupt or ask silly questions, okay?"
"'Kay, Twilight!" Derpy happily came around and thunked down beside her, hugging herself excitedly.
"All right. Now, just like we rehearsed it," Twilight told the others. "Each of you focus on your element. Get it clearly in your mind. And when everything's charged up, I'll trigger the spell."
"Zzzzzzzzz..."
"Heh! Looks laik Spike's way ahead of ya, Twi!" Then Applejack stared across the circle. "Rarity! What in corn sake are ya doing? And where'd ya get a couch from, way out here?"
"It's a divan, dahling!" Rarity was sprawled seductively on it. She tapped her horn, which was still glowing with magic. "From my boudoir, of course! If one is going to play at being a temptress one should look the part, hmmm?"
"Oh, all raight! I better get started on my bit too!" Applejack shut her eyes, set her shoulders, lifted her head, and began humming "Apples, we're Apples..." under her breath.
Rainbow had shut her eyes and was whispering the names and achievements of each member of the Wonderbolts team to herself, over and over, working herself up to a fit of pique over not being a member yet.
Fluttershy had a mirror out and was giving herself the Stare. "You will be angry," she told herself. "You will be angry! And I don't want to hear any backtalk, missy!" Then she quailed in the face of her own assertiveness. "Ummm... okay..."
Pinky had armed herself with a double-frosted, triple-layer chocolate cake on a plate, and was staring at it, eyes gleaming and mouth watering. She glanced at Twilight. "Just lemme know when, Twi, and I'll CHOW DOWN!"
Twilight smiled in return. Then she focused her own thoughts. She thought to herself about her Library. And the Canterlot Royal Archives. And the bookstore. And every other library and bookstore she had ever visited. She let herself wallow in the sheer joy of having an endless supply of books, an endless bounty of ideas to consume, never running out of new things to learn, understand, and master. Endless facts to squirrel away in the back of her mind like shiny trinkets, a dragon's hoard of linguistic and nomothetic coin of the realm...
... and as she did so, she began reeling off the first stages of the spell. After the first few lines she saw the protective runes around the circles begin to glow. And from each of her friends tenuous streams of darkness began to form, linking them all together and flowing into a small whirlpool in the center of the chalked circles. As they focused, their shadow Elements fed more and more dark energy into the spell.
And at the right moment, Twilight dropped her eyes to the page in the book, and read off the final, triggering phrase.
Poof. A near-soundless flash, a small puff of roiling smoke...
And a colt pony stood in the circle. It was a stylish flame red, a pair of nub-like horns on its head, hooves like polished obsidian, a pitchfork cutie-mark, and a mane and tail that glowed sultrily like a field of lava.
It was also about six inches high.
The demon took one look around at the circle of ponies, then immediately collapsed to the ground, covered his face with its forehooves, and burst into tears.
"Uh... is that supposed to happen?" Rainbow asked.
"I don't ruddy BELIEVE it!" the pony sobbed. "It's not fair! I finally hits the big time, finally gets me big break, FINALLY I'm summoned! And this -- this is what I get? A bunch of ponies?"
The demon stood up, and his head swept left and right as he looked himself over in disgust. "I mean... I ask you! How in Tartarus do you inspire blood-curdling horror looking like this?"
He ended up staring at Derpy, who apparently thought some response was required of her. She jumped to her hind legs, grabbed the edges of her makeshift cloak and lofted her forehooves threateningly.
With her most cross-eyed stare, she bellowed:
"OOGHA BOOGHA!"
The demon pony stared at her wordlessly. And then face-hoofed.
"Oogha boogha? I struggles all the way up here -- and believe you me the traffic crossing the Phlegethon was murder at this hour -- and this is what I get? Oogha boogha?"
He thumped down on his hindquarters, face in his hooves, completely dispirited. "Just banish me now, quick like! Get it over with!"
"Awww..." Fluttershy soothed, "don't be like that! It's not so bad! We're pretty new at this, too. And I think you did a wonderful job, appearing out of nowhere like that!"
"Yeah! That was pretty cool!" Rainbow crossed her forehooves and looked smug. "And just think! We got the spell right on our very first try!"
The demon goggled at her. "You're telling me... you dragged me all the way up here... as a flamin' tutorial? Oh, that just puts the Iron Maiden on it, really it does! Just think what I'll be able to tell all me friends downstairs about me very first summoning! Eeuugh!"
"Hold on there, sugarcube!" Applejack said. "It's not jus' fer practice! We actually do need ya'll to put in an appearance at a big shin-dig with us, help impress the locals and such!"
The demon looked up at her sorrowfully. "You really mean that? You're not just havin' me on?"
"I am the Element of Honesty, hon! I'm jes' moonlightin' as Pride tonight to help everypony out!"
The demon sighed. Then he squared what little shoulders he had.
"What the 'eck... could be worse, I 'spose!"
"That's the spirit, sugah! Whadda they call ya, anyhow?"
The demon gave her a look. "Uh, you really don't wanna know my name. You'd never be able to pronounce it for a start! So just... call me Fred!"
"Fred." Applejack raised an eyebrow doubtfully.
"Hi, Fred!" Pinkie shouted, holding up her plate. "We've got cake left over! You want some?"
Fred stared at her. "Tell me this is some kinda hazing thing?" he moaned. "The Ancient Ones downstairs put you up to this, right? Hey, have some fun with the new guy! Yank his tail, he loves it!"
"Let's... try to get back on track here!" Twilight said. "Now, having summoned you, we're permitted to bind you to our service. But there's no need for that! We're all friends here. We won't force you!"
Fred looked sour. Then he shrugged. "Righty-o. Let's do it by the book, then!"
Standing up, the demon took a steadying breath. Then he knelt deeply before her. "Summoned I come, to serve those as hath called upon me! What is thy bidding, O Mistress?" He glanced around. "Er... Mistresses!"
Twilight nodded, and adopted an appropriately lofty tone. "We require of you -- er, thee -- only that thou permit us to summon thee again at midnight during a royal convocation of the Lunar Court of Canterlot!"
The demon looked up, wide-eyed. "The Lunar Court? Seriously? Oi! That's like, the big time and no mistake! Hah! Maybe this wasn't a total loss after all!" For the first time that evening, he smiled happily.
"There ya go!" Pinkie Pie crowed. "There's my smile! Yay! I'm a happy party pony!"
"So..." Applejack asked cautiously. "ya'll are willin' to do it?"
"You kidding?" Fred looked at her. "I'm chuffed to me horns! You got a deal, ponies! In fact, I'm feelin' so good right now, I'd love me some of that cake!" His face fell. "Oh, right... I forgot!"
He put out a hoof, and gently tapped the barrier that held him within the circle. It crackled and sizzled, sparks arcing away from the impact point.
"Look, I'm hardly a threat, right? And I said I'd do it, which makes it binding on me! So would you mind? Just for one slice of cake? Hey, if you don't tell anyone, I won't!"
"He seems really nice..." Fluttershy said.
"Ai dunno," Applejack objected, still suspicious. But then she shrugged. "Oh, well! Worst comes to worst, we use the Elements on him, raight?"
The others nodded. Twilight glanced at the book, found the relevant line of the spell. And cancelled it.
<<< F O O M! >>>
It was like a full-throated volcano of blazing flame and raging winds had suddenly erupted from the center of the circle. And within, something gazed down at them, something with blazing, sickle-shaped eyes and vast, tree-like horns. It had far too many claws, far too many teeth, and far too many heads.
"HUH-HUH-HUH-HUH-HAH-HAH-HAH!" The demon's massive cackling thumped the air like a drum. "I never tires of that! The cute little demon act, can't hurt a fly! Gets 'em every time!"
Pinkie Pie stared in horror. Then she reflexively scarfed down her cake.
"Quick, ya'll!" Applejack called out. "The Elements!"
They all concentrated, but the tornado of force was draining even more dark energy from them. Its hungry corruption setted deep in their thoughts, making it difficult to focus on anything else.
"It's no good!" Rainbow Dash cried. "It's too strong! We can't flip the Elements back the other way again!"
Twilight stared in horror, as powerless as the rest. The swirling vortex fed on the shadow energy it drew from them, growing stronger by the second. The demon's leering gaze swept around the circle, as if trying to decide which of them to devour first.
Its many eyes fell on Derpy. Alone of all of them she simply sat where she was, staring upward cross-eyed and unperturbed in the face of certain doom.
Run, Derpy! Twilight thought madly. Get away! Warn everypony!
"HUH! Think we'll just start with you!"
The demon reared up, a vision of rage and vicious, merciless hatred. It leaned forward, ready to smash its heavy claws down onto the ground where Derpy was sitting.
It leaned just a hair too far.
There was a blinding eruption of white light. Overhead, the moon suddenly blazed. A searchlight beam of moonlight blasted into the circle, pinning the demon in place. And suddenly there was a solid wall of cold, swirling force enclosing the demon, cutting it off from the dark energy it was feeding on. Released, Twilight and the others stared in amazement as the wall closed in, forcing the demon back into the original circle. And then further, relentlessly shrinking in upon it from all sides. The massive creature stared upward into the beam of moonlight in shock and rising terror, as it rapidly shrank in size and stature, collapsing in upon itself.
Twilight thought fast. Before any of the others could speak she put every ounce of strength she had left into making her voice sound coolly confident. She put a hoof on Derpy's shoulder.
"Very nicely handled, Derpy! Just keep doing exactly what you're doing!"
"Okay, Twi!" Derpy sat stock still, staring up unconcernedly at the cowering demon.
Bless you, Derpy! As Luna had said, she accepted what was in front of her, and she didn't ask foolish and possibly fatal questions.
The demon, now clearly panicked, stared in amazement at Derpy. "Who... who in Tartarus are you?"
"Her name is Derpy Doo of Ponyville," Twilight answered, in as chilly a tone as she could manage. "And she's my apprentice!"
Recognizing her cue, Derpy rose up and again lofted her forehooves dramatically.
"OOGHA BOOGHA! FEAR IT!"
The demon had shrunk to the size of a large bear, and was crouched down pitiably, trying to escape the constricting cloud of shimmering light that enclosed it. It turned to stare in shock at Twilight.
"Then..." it squeaked, "... who are you?"
Twilight decided to risk the Voice:
WE ARE ACOLYTE TWILIGHT SPARKLE OF THE LUNAR COURT, PERSONAL PROTÉGÉ OF LUNA, PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT, THE MOON, AND THE STARS!
"Name dropper," Rainbow muttered.
Twilight rubbed her throat. She was getting better at the Voice, but it still hurt like blazes.
The effect on the demon was astonishing. It abandoned any attempt at struggling. It sank back into its original tiny colt form, and then it prostrated itself before her, wailing pitiably.
"Mistress! I didn't realize! Please don't send me back like this! Bind me if thou will! Punish me if it be thy will! But then banish me, please! If I'm forced back down there in disgrace, they'll never give me another chance up here! Never!"
It was weeping, sobbing, its face planted firmly in the ground, not looking up at her, not trying to wheedle her or win her over.
Yet Twilight had been fooled once. She wasn't going to make that mistake again.
"We have tried it the friendly way!" she said, trying to emulate Luna at her most coldly formal. "And that wasn't to thy liking. So here's the stick: we will bind thee to our service. Thou will come at our beckoning, and serve us as we require, without question or hesitation! And then -- only then -- will we consider banishing thou whence thou camest!"
She worried she might be laying it on too thick. But the demon only grovelled more abjectly.
"It shall be as thou commands, O Mistress of the Lunar Court!"
With a glance at the book to refresh her memory, Twilight curtly spoke the words that bound the demon to its task and then dismissed it to earthly limbo, to await re-summoning.
And then she relievedly unwound the rest of the spell. The beam of light from the moon snapped off, the wall of energy faded away. And while she was doing all this, Twilight had another look at the spell elements Luna had added. And rolled her eyes in relief.
"What... just... happened?" Applejack said slowly.
"Um, if we're not really safe and alive," Fluttershy whispered, "please don't anyone tell me!"
"How did you do that, Twi?" Rainbow demanded. "None of us could lift a hoof to stop it!"
Twilight smiled. "I couldn't either! I was just as trapped as you all were! That demon fooled us all... but luckily it didn't fool Luna! She buried an extra component in the spell, a fall-back line of defense in case the first one failed... or was shut down."
She patted Derpy's shoulder. "I told you shadow magic was rooted in deception. I just let the demon think it was Derpy who had trapped it, and that made it very much afraid of what I might do to it if I chose!"
"Very nice, dahling!" Rarity said, climing off her couch and teleporting it away again. "Remind me never to play poker against you! Now, if we're all done here, I really think we ought to be getting back! It's getting quite chilly!"
"And we're all out of cake!" Pinkie wailed. "And Fred didn't get any!"
"Don't you worry 'bout Fred, hon," Applejack said, smiling at Twilight. "I imagine he got pretty much what he deserved!"
"Thanks to you, Derpy," Twilight whispered to her. "I'm really glad you followed us up here tonight!"
"No problem, Twi! I had a blast!"
She got up, stowed her mailsack robe in the carryall and reshouldered it, and then trotted merrily away down the path leading back to town.
Twilight trotted over to nudge Spike. He sat up, yawned and stretched, and then looked around at all of them.
"Is it over already? Awwww! What'd I miss?" |
Acolyte of the Lunar Court | A Sleepless Day | "One hundred twenty six," Twilight counted, staring up at the ceiling in her room in the Palace. "One hundred twenty seven. One hundred twenty eight..."
She sighed and gave it up. She was still unable to fall asleep and even counting the softly glowing stars on the map on the ceiling wasn't helping. It had to be almost noon and she was still wound up. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the circle on the hilltop. Had she really come that close to destroying all her friends? And oh yeah, herself as well?
She lay in the bed, listening to the stillness around her. While the rest of the Palace was a hive of activity during the day the soundproofed and heavily curtained rooms of Luna's wing might as well have been buried in the deepest, blackest tomb.
Then the stillness was suddenly broken by an agonized cry:
"Sister!"
Twilight sat bolt upright, heart racing. For a long moment there was silence. Then she heard muffled sobbing noises. They were coming from the door to Luna's room.
Quietly climbing down from the bed so as not to wake Spike, she tip-hoofed over to the door and gently opened it. Cautiously, she lit her horn with a tenth-candle of light, and looked in.
Luna lay sprawled on her own bed, the covers tangled around her, her mouth open in a silent scream. Her face glistened with tears.
Twilight moved to cross to the bed, then halted after a few steps, not sure if she'd be welcome. What if the Princess objected to being seen like this?
Gritting her teeth, she called out gently. "Princess? Princess Luna? Are you all right?"
Luna's eyes snapped open. She stared across the room at Twilight, fully and completely awake with a speed that was scary in itself. Then she looked down, as if ashamed.
"It was a bad dream, Acolyte, nothing more."
"Sounded like a lot more than just a bad dream!"
Luna looked up at her.
"It was."
Twilight blinked, surprised by the Princess's blunt honesty... and by the look of helpless fright on the Princess's face. "Okay..." Twilight nodded. "I know enough not to ask questions. But... if there's any way I can help, I want to!"
Luna continued to stare at her, not ordering her to leave, yet not asking her closer either. Twilight decided it was up to her. She trotted over to put her hooves on the edge of the bed.
"Would you like me to stay with you, Princess? To keep you company?"
Luna looked away, frowning in disapproval. "We are thy teacher, Acolyte. It would not be proper."
Twilight shook her head. "Only at night, your Majesty! During the day I'm on my own time. And I really wouldn't mind, if it would help you sleep!"
Luna debated for a long moment. Then she looked at Twilight sadly.
"Please?"
She made room, and Twilight climbed up and tucked herself in, settling herself facing Luna. Then Twilight gave Luna a stern look.
"Don't think for a minute this means you'll go easy on me with my lessons in the morning!"
Luna stared back at her, astonished. Then she gave an amused snort. And suddenly she was laughing, long and loud, her head thrown back. She dropped her head on the pillow, eyes shut, crying happy tears.
Then she looked seriously at Twilight for a long moment, as if working up the nerve to say something. Then she spoke:
"We apologize, Twilight!"
"For what, Princess?"
"Hmph. Since we are both 'off duty' so to speak, thou art permitted to address us as Luna... if... if thou wouldst."
"All right, Luna," Twilight agreed. "Now, what are you sorry about?"
"For being jealous of thee!"
"You, jealous of me? Seriously?"
"Quite. We see thee at the dawning of thy powers. It recalls to us a time when we were young as well, our entire life before us, nothing holding us back. Any spell, any prank, anything we set ourselves to do, all was good in our eyes. We see thee throw thyself joyfully into thy studies, into the spells thou attempts, much as we once did, with absolutely no thought of the consequence and no memories of... of failure, holding thee back. And... we are jealous.
"We have returned to a Sister who loves us, a half-dominion to rule, subjects who once again willingly carry out our orders and accept the judgement of our Court, and the steady return of our powers and capabilities as the Princess of the Night. And yet our every action, our every spell, is tinged with doubt, uncertainty, and the memory of what might go wrong. We cannot simply... 'let go', and enjoy our capacities as we once did. And when we see thee do so, we are jealous.
"It is most unbecoming of us, and we apologize. We are truly proud of thee and of thy accomplishments. We are pleased to call ourselves thy teacher, and help thee sharpen and test thy powers!"
Twilight smiled, embarrassed. "And I'm just fortunate to have two such wonderful teachers willing to take time out of their days for me." Twilight put out a forehoof to cautiously touch Luna's. "If you tell me that in your opinion I'm actually worth being jealous of, then I'm not offended, not in the least bit. I'm proud to be so honored!"
Luna smiled at that, just a tiny bit, and she reached out to gently stroke Twilight's shoulder. "We are relieved. And we believe that we will sleep better tonight for thy company!"
Shutting her eyes, Luna made herself comfortable. Twilight did likewise, staring at Luna for a long moment. It was nice seeing the Princess resting gently for once, a warm, peaceful look on her face.
Then suddenly Twilight remembered and doused her horn, smiling at her own forgetfulness. She shut her own eyes and settled down to rest. |
Acolyte of the Lunar Court | Dark Town | "So lemme get this straight," Spike said, as he shoved a frying pan into the right-hand pocket of Twilight's carryall, which was draped over her robe. "There's an entire town on the other side of Canterlot Mountain, it's not on any official map, and almost no one outside of Luna and her guards knows much about it?"
"That's about the size of it," Twilight agreed. "But it's not really a town, so much as a final way station for the Night races who make the journey to attend the Lunar Court. It started out as a bunch of caravans in a forest clearing and it kind of grew from there once Celestia gave her official sanction for permanent structures."
"And Luna's sending you there for a lesson... alone?"
Twilight looked at the brief scroll that had been delivered to her by Spike-post:
Our Devoted Acolyte:
We are unavoidably detained this night. We therefore direct thee to visit Skadenstâd, to call upon our old acquaintance Zeugma for a lesson in the darker emotion spells. We anticipate your usual thorough report.
Luna, Princess of the Night
"Sounds like it. I wonder how we get there. I assume it's the same way we get to the Lunar Court, but from there I haven't a clue."
There was a thumping rap at the door, which Twilight had come to associate with Luna's guards. She trotted over and opened the door, finding Nacht standing in the corridor outside.
"Good evening, Mistress!" he rumbled. "I have been assigned to you as escort and bodyguard for this evening. I have also been informed I should consider myself under your orders, except where your safety is concerned."
"Well! Thank you, Nacht!" Twilight looked back at Spike and motioned her head. Spike quickly scrambled up onto her back. "Can you guide us down to Skadenstâd, please?"
"The Night Chariot is already prepared for the journey. If you are ready?"
Twilight nodded and followed him, shutting the door behind her.
They ascended to the night-shrouded landing platform. Nacht spoke briefly with the two nightmares standing in the traces, and then followed Twilight up onto the platform of the Chariot itself. At his gruff order, the flyers swept out their wings and pummeled the air, lifting the dragon-winged Chariot up into the sky. They banked it in a long sweep around the Palace itself, and then upward, through a pass between the moonlit peaks beyond.
Swiftly they descended the slopes of far side and approached the stretch of forest that covered much of the plains between Canterlot and the Foal Mountains. And as they got closer Twilight could just make out a few lights winking through the branches. The Chariot swept downwards towards a broad clearing, and finally touched down on a rough stretch of cleared ground.
It was like landing in the Town Square in Ponyville. To all sides beneath the forest cover there were rough-built thatched houses of varying sizes and shapes, their windows lit up with candle light and cook-fires. Here and there near one of the dwellings a patch of ground had been cleared for a small garden plot. And at the end of the clearing, shaded beneath a cluster of ancient elms, there was a multistory building with many projecting rooms, practically a tree itself in house form.
The denizens of the Night strolled about the clearing casually, as if on errands or simply enjoying the night air. A few glanced briefly at the Chariot but quickly averted their gaze when the nightmare guards' searchlight eyes swept their way.
Twilight stepped down from the Chariot, Spike close on her hooves, and followed equally closely by Nacht. The nightmare seemed atypically on edge as he gazed around. The other two guards quickly unhitched themselves from the traces and came over to join them, equally alert.
"I wonder how we find Zeugma?" Twilight said. "Nacht, do you know?"
Before the nightmare could reply, a silky-smooth voice spoke behind them.
"If you found him, and he you... would you take your time or your leave?"
Twilight looked round quickly. Standing on the Chariot platform in a cloud of smoke was a tall, rail-thin stallion, ash-gray in color and white-maned. He wore a top-hat and elegant formal attire, and wouldn't have looked at all out of place at the Grand Galloping Gala.
Except for the red, glowing eyes. And the fangs.
All three nightmare guards whirled to face him with loud, gutteral hisses. The stallion merely tch-ed gently at them.
"As always, short on temper and words!"
"Nacht! It's okay!" Twilight wished she felt as certain as she sounded. She stepped forward.
"Hi! I'm Twilight Sparkle..."
"... Acolyte of the Lunar Court," the stallion smoothly added, "favored protege of Her Royal Highness Luna, Princess of the Night, the Moon, and the Stars!" Stepping down from the Chariot, he knelt before her, took up one of her forehooves with his own, and bowed formally over it. "M'lady! I am honored, your servant, and Zeugma!"
It was all done so swiftly and with such unfettered grandeur and sincerity Twilight felt herself blushing despite herself.
Zeugma looked up, a twinkle in his eye. "As for me... oh, I'm just someone Luna met at a party once!"
Twilight was momentarily lost for words. Then she felt a tug on her robe. "Oh, sorry! This is Spike. He's my Number One Assistant!"
"Lend me your comradeship and your claw, my proud dragon!" He offered his hoof and they shook. Then he leapt to his hooves sprightly. "Now, with the formalities out of the way, allow me to welcome you to Skadenstâd, m'lady! Or as we locals are pleased to call it, Dark Town. Now, I understand by Luna's missive I may serve in some small way as tutor for your good self. But as I understand that this is your first visit, might I also take a moment to show you round this, my adopted abode?"
"I think I'd like that," Twilight said.
Beside her, Nacht glared balefully at the stallion for a long moment. Then he grunted an order to the other guards. One of them took up station by the Chariot. The other fell in alongside them as Zeugma confidently led the way along a path through the trees.
"The clearing where you landed is mostly for new arrivals coming by air. I'm sure you noticed the Crooked Tree Inn when you landed. They rent rooms at reasonable rates, though anyone who plans on staying here a while generally finds or builds a place of their own soon enough. Up that path is the registration office, where supplicants for the Court can sign in and request an audience. Down that way is the administrative office, which takes care of local paperwork. Across that log bridge is the Black Cavern, where justice is meted out. And when anyone needs anything for anything, they come here," he concluded, as the path took a jog to the left, "to Merk Street."
It was a narrow, moon-lit lane packed with multi-story wattle-and-daub houses, interspersed amongst the trees that shaded them. The buildings were strung with brightly colored lamps and there were shopfronts and vending carts all along its length. Despite the varied creatures that slouched, crept, and stormed along its length, it radiated a warming sense of commonality, of community.
"You can find a meal, a souvenir, or perhaps a very good friend here," Zeugma went on. "There's just about everything, from all across Equestria, bought and sold by pilgrims to the Lunar Court." He leaned closer to Twilight. "Even, I dare say, a book-peddler or two?"
Twilight almost asked where to find them... then she saw the twinkle in his eye. She rolled her eyes, smiling at how smoothly she'd been played.
They passed along the street for part of its length, Zeugma in front and the two nightmares escorting Twilight and Spike on either side. And it was hard to tell whether it was the gray stallion or the nightmare guards that the inhabitants gave the most room to as they passed.
"Is that a minotaur?" Twilight asked, pointing. Then she grimaced. "Sorry! I know it's not polite to point... it's just... there are so many different races here. It's not at all like Canterlot or Ponyville!"
"We have all sorts here, look!" Zeugma said, gesturing politely as they walked along. "Dragons, gargoyles, the Morirohin -- rather stuck up sort, the dark ponies, act like they're Night's gift to Equestria -- plus the Azeban," he indicated a group of bright-eyed raccoons. "And wereponies, and the Anansi," he doffed his hat to a passing giant spider. "And the Shabti," he said, indicating a group of terra-cotta ponies pulling a wagon loaded with boxes. "Marvelous workers, though everyone's afraid they'll lose their jobs having them around, can't think why. Oops, mind your feet!"
A snake with its tail in its mouth bowled past like a demented hula-hoop.
"Ouroborous," Zeugma explained. "Swallows its tail and its pride when it wants to go for a walk, poor thing. Ah! And here's our resident Pooka!"
"Pooka?" Twilight looked around near her feet for something small and fuzzy. Then she realized she was looking at a set of yellowed hooves. She looked up. And kept looking up. Facing her was a night-black stallion, eight feet tall, with blazing golden eyes and a mane and tail like a bonfire. It glared down at her, and snorted gently. Its breath was like brimstone.
"Mind your manners, Harvey," Zeugma admonished it. "She's a guest! And don't mind him, M'lady! He may be fond of a prank now and then, but he's your friend in a tight spot!"
"Woah!" Spike said, pointing a claw. "Are those... z-z-zombie ponies?"
Twilight looked, and drew back. Trotting down the street were a trio of four-footed decaying corpses, with lolling heads and glazed eyes.
"Not really," Zeugma told him. "Watch!"
He waited until the ponies had just passed them, then snuck up behind the last one in the group and tapped it on the hindquarters. It turned to look.
"BOO!"
The pony jumped, shimmered, and in its place was a strange black insectoid creature with glowing green eyes and wings. It glanced about hurriedly, then chittered angrily, shimmered once more, and was a zombie pony again. Then it turned and lurched quickly after the rest.
"Changelings," Zeugma explained. "Somewhat disturbing to my way of thinking, not being able to tell who's who! And that's me saying it! But Luna has granted them asylum here, so they're as welcome as anyone else!"
"Can you really be sure about them?" Twilight asked.
"She walks their dreams," Zeugma pointed out. "She would know. Oh, excuse me one moment!"
A short distance away there was a three-way dispute going on between a dragon, a diamond dog, and a mini shopkeeper. The latter was hopping up and down angrily on its shop counter, screaming in a piping voice at the other two. Zeugma walked up, put one forehoof around the dragon's arm, the other around the diamond dog's shoulder.
And smiled. "Is there some problem, friends?"
The dispute was quickly settled, the dragon and dog each slapping an extra few bits on the counter, then hurriedly departing. Zeugma came back, calmly adjusting his jacket with a forehoof.
"And then there's me!" he said cheerily. "Our resident vampire. As Luna is fond of saying, you never need more than one!" His red eyes blazed.
"So... you keep order around here?"
"More like, I keep peace. I have made my home and my place here," he said. "And if a little gentle persuasion is needed every now and then to keep it in the style to which I have become accustomed, well... who better, eh?"
Twilight shivered a bit. There was an easy certainty to Zeugma's outlook. He walked around confident that the worst thing he might ever encounter in the neighborhood was the one thing he could never see in a mirror.
"Now, let me show you where I live. This way!"
Twilight wasn't certain what to expect: a palatial mansion, a spooky castle on a hill, or an underground crypt. What she found was almost a let-down. Zeugma led them to a small, well-constructed cottage up a winding path, situated between a temple and a bridge over a trickling stream.
"I don't know where these stories about running water come from," Zeugma observed. "I find it rather soothing!"
He paused at the front door. "Ah, there's not a lot of room indoors... could I possibly persuade one of your charming guards to keep watch out here?"
Nacht snorted angrily. He was having none of it.
"It's all right, Nacht," Twilight said. "You can come in and keep an eye on me. I trust him -- I think."
Eventually Nacht relented, and posted the other guard at the door.
Zeugma welcomed them into the cottage's single room, which held a bed, a worktable, and a small kitchen area with sink and stove. Nacht took up station near the door, Spike sitting beside him with Twilight's carryall. Zeugma hung up his hat and his jacket, then turned to Twilight, all business.
"Now, to begin with, the darker emotion spells are generally oriented around changing your opponent's mind, either through intimidation or persuasion. For example: BOO!"
Twilight hit the floor, her forehooves covering her head, shivering. She suddenly had a pretty good idea of how Fluttershy felt most of the time. Nacht hissed threateningly. But Twilight, feeling the spell rapidly dissipating, quickly stood up and waved him into silence.
"Okay, I see," she said. "A fear spell, just like you used on the Changeling. But that would only really work if the opponent was inclined to be timid, right?"
Zeugma nodded. "I see you've done your homework! Yes, you must always take into account who you're dealing with. Now for someone like our friend here," he indicated Nacht, "one could try a rage spell, to get them to do something rash and self-destructive." He eyed the guard for a moment. "I think I shall just take that one as read, to avoid any unpleasantness. Let's move on to the debilitating spells. Like grief!"
He gazed at her, a sympathetic, sorrowful look on his face. And suddenly Twilight felt as if a trapdoor had opened beneath her sense of comfort and certainty. Her eyes welled up with tears, for no reason she could put a hoof on. It was simply as if the worst thing that could possibly have happened had just happened, and any moment now she would remember what it was.
She shook her head, and wiped her eyes. "Very impressive." She cleared her throat. "And presumably there's a spell for sapping confidence?"
"And for destroying one's focus, the ability to concentrate. There are as many spells as there are emotions, with different applications and nuances. One must inevitably specialize, find a niche and one's feet, so to speak. As for me, well, the choice is obvious. Seduction!"
His red eyes shone, gazing at Twilight. And she didn't like the feeling that suddenly washed over her in a hot, flushed wave. It felt dirty. And not dirty like being splashed with mud by a cart. It was more like a strong desire to wallow in the mud, smearing oneself with it beyond any hope of ever being clean again. Her vision blurred, and all she could see was Zeugma's glowing eyes, all she could feel was how attractive he suddenly was.
There was a blurred moment when she wasn't certain what she was feeling or thinking.
And then suddenly she came to. She found herself staring straight into his glowing eyes, two inches away from her own.
"I see..." she said. "Very convincing. Now, I think you should back off."
"Oh, but I can't!"
"I mean it!"
"And so do I, m'lady! I would, but I honestly can't."
His voice had a tense, choked quality to it. She drew back and looked past him. And saw that Nacht had him pinned by the neck in the guard's bulldog jaws.
She took a steadying breath. "Nacht, you can let him go now."
The guard reluctantly did so, and Zeugma gently massaged his neck with a hoof. "You realize of course that even ripping my head off isn't a sure way of killing me!"
Nacht snorted. "I can be very creative in how I bury the pieces!"
Zeugma nodded. "Point taken!"
Twilight shook her head. "This isn't getting us anywhere. I'm not learning what I need to know. I mean, what if Nacht wasn't here? How could I possibly defend myself from a spell like that?"
"A excellent question, m'lady! You must be very sure, in and of yourself, that you can resist. You need to trust yourself. And trust is an emotion like any other, so you can use a counter-spell to help build up your own sense of trust."
"Okay. Show me how!"
Zeugma demonstrated, and they practiced the spell until Twilight was fairly confident she had it.
"Nacht," she said, "I need you to let Zeugma help me test this out. If you feel that I'm actually in danger, fine, do what you have to. But short of that, this is a lesson I need to learn, okay?"
Nacht looked at her, then at Zeugma, then her again. And nodded.
"All right," Zeugma said. "I'll start off standing over here again." He moved several steps way from her. "You signal when I should begin. And I'll keep moving towards you as long as the spell is still affecting you. I'll stop when it stops, acceptable?"
"Sounds good. Okay. One, two, three..."
She was looking into his eyes again, two inches away from her.
"You cheated!"
"Did not! Nacht, did I?"
The guard, startled at being made referee, shook his head impassively.
"There! You see?"
"O...kay. Obviously I need practice. Let's go again!"
Zeugma recrossed to his starting point. Twilight called the count. And she once again came to, staring into his eyes.
"Again," she grumbled.
Again she completely failed to stop him.
"Urhhh! What am I doing wrong?"
Zeugma gave her a suggestive look. "Is it at all possible that you want the counter-spell to fail, m'lady?"
"Wha... why you...!"
He put up a hoof. "I'm joking, of course! But the point stands. You need to be very determined, very certain in your mind and will. That will take practice and strong motivation. And you shouldn't expect to master it all in one session."
"Motivation..." Twilight nodded. "I hoped it wouldn't come to this, but I need to make this work! If I can't beat back this spell, how can I hope to deal with anything more subtle? Spike!"
Spike blinked, surprised to hear his name, and jumped up. "Yeah, Twi?"
"That frying pan I asked you to pack. Get it!"
Spike hurried over to the carryall that Twilight had shrugged off near the door, and returned with the pan.
"Okay, stand right here beside me. That's good. Now, if you see me going under, I want you to hit me with it!"
"Uh... hit you with it?"
"Yup!"
"Um. How hard?"
"Hard enough to snap me out of it!"
"Okay, okay! Er... if you say so!" Spike readied himself.
Zeugma looked surprised, but willingly took his position.
"Okay!" Twilight said, determined. "One, two, three..."
CLANG.
"Ow."
"Oooh. I'm sorry, Twi!"
"No, that was good! Painful, but good! Okay, again! One... two..."
CLANG.
"Again..."
CLANG.
"... owww... again..."
CLANG... CLANG... CLANG...
And each time when she came to, she saw that Zeugma hadn't gotten as far across the floor as before. She was steadily improving her ability to resist. She was also developing a bit of a headache, yet in a twisted way that helped. It made it harder for the spell to monopolize her will.
Eventually Zeugma called a halt to it, on the grounds that she had already made far more progress than anyone could be expected to in so short a time. "Besides, your assistant looks like he wants a break even more than you do. Now, turn about is fair play, let's have you try some of these spells on someone else. Like our friend Spike, here."
Spike looked from Zeugma to Twilight. He looked at the frying-pan in his claws.
He groaned. "I knew there had to be a catch to this!"
They continued the lesson until well after midnight, by which time Twilight was feeling much more confident in her handling of the various emotion spells. Then Zeugma led the way back to Murk Street to treat them all to a light supper at a local take-away he frequented. Then he escorted them back to the Chariot, where they found the remaining guard had determinedly trampled a circle into the grass surrounding it.
"I shall leave you with a fond farewell, a wish for a safe trip, and... a homework assignment," Zeugma said, smiling as he offered her a scroll with a list of references for her to look up when she got back to Canterlot and its Archives. "And I hope I shall have the honor of your company again soon. For now... adieu, m'lady!" He bowed over her hoof once more. "And you, my noble dragon!" He shook Spike's claw. Then he looked at Nacht. "Don't be a stranger," he said.
Then he pointed over Twilight's shoulder.
"Oh, look! A bat!"
Twilight looked and saw nothing. When she looked back, there was only an expanding whiff of smoke, and Zeugma had disappeared.
Twilight shook her head in amusement, and reboarded the Chariot with Nacht and Spike while the other guards reharnessed themselves and prepared for the trip back. |
Acolyte of the Lunar Court | Demo or Die | In the entrance hall of the Lunar Court, the five ponies waited, wearing their robes and Element regalia.
Applejack stared upward at the immense entry doors.
"Rainbow, is it absolutely necessary for you ta touch the top of anything tall?"
"This place is so cool!" called down a distant voice. "You girls look like bugs from way up here!"
"An' Rarity! Quit trying ta flirt with them guards! Cain't you see they're not interested?"
"Just getting myself in the right frame of mind, dahling!" she replied, batting her eyelashes at the guard anyway. "Doing anything later, handsome?"
Applejack looked at Pinkie and felt worried. The pink pony had been sitting motionless in one spot for over ten minutes. There was a glazed look in her eyes, and her tongue lolled from her mouth.
"Uh... what're ya doing, Pinkster?"
"I'm picturing chocolate cake, gumdrops, jelly doughnuts with pink frosting and sprinkles -- the blue ones not the white ones -- pumpkin pie, licorice whips, double-fudge ice cream with marshmallow whip, caramel apples, sacks of penny candy, and a sixteen-course dessert menu with sweet tea and those fun little chocolate-covered mints for afterwards!" She blinked, and looked worried. "I think I've given myself mental sugar-shock!"
"Just picture a bicarbonate of soda. That'll fix ya up."
Pinkie beamed. "Okay!"
Sitting next to Pinkie was a large brown sack. It had also been disturbingly quiet, for the longest time. Applejack walked over and prodded it gently.
"Y'all raight in there, Fluttershy?"
"Mmm mmm."
"Ya shure you're gettin' enough air in there?"
"Mmm mmm."
"Uh... that was a yes there, wasn't it?"
"Mmm mmm!"
"All raight, then!"
Applejack returned to the doors, just as Rainbow returned to ground level as well. The blue pegasus picked up her robe and hurriedly threw it back on. They all stared at the doors. The noise level inside seemed to be reaching some kind of crescendo. Then it dropped to nothing.
"Sounds laik our cue. Rainbow, go uncork Fluttershy. And keep an eye on her! Don't want her running off and gettin' lost down here."
"On it!"
The doors slowly swept open.
"C'mon y'all," Applejack said, squaring her shoulders. "It's show time!"
The five of them trooped along the carpet under the watchful eyes of the entire Court. Rainbow came last, because she was having to practically shove a trembling Fluttershy ahead of her by brute force.
They came to the bonfire, passed around it, and lined up facing the dais.
Before them they saw Princess Luna, standing tall and regal in her spotlight. And directly in front of her was Twilight, her hood thrown back, her element crown set atop her head, her eyes blazing with power. She lifted her snout, and spoke in the Voice:
CITIZENS OF EQUESTRIA, WE PRESENT TO YOU -- THE ELEMENTS OF THE NIGHT!
A roar went up from the crowd, and there was a thunderous drumbeat of hooves. Twilight's gaze swept down to the five robed figures before her, one of whom was huddled on the ground, forehooves covering its head.
"Hoo-ey!" Applejack whispered to Rarity. "She's really getting into this whole Acolyte of the Night thing, isn't she?"
"Of course not!" Rarity retorted. "It's just a performance, remember?"
"Pretty darn convincin', if you ask me!"
As if hearing them, Twilight's gaze settled on Applejack.
ART THOU PREPARED?
Applejack wondered how they were going to make themselves heard in the immense hall. Then with a flash and a pop, something very like a soap bubble but made of flickering energy appeared in front of each of them.
"What in tarnation...!"
"It's an illusion spell," Rarity whispered. "It magnifies sound. Just stick your muzzle into it."
"Wayall..." Gingerly, she poked her nose through the shimmering surface. It fizzed on her skin like bubbles from a glass of soda water.
YES, INDEEDY WE ARE!
She flinched, hearing her voice echoing like summer thunder from the walls. Then she noticed Twilight was wincing as well and surreptitiously rubbing her throat. Oh my lordy... Applejack thought. Is she playing amp for us? Don't overdo it, y'all!
Rarity spoke next.
RRRRARITY IS RRRREADY!
Pinkie Pie bounded in place, then remembered and stopped herself.
BORN READY... TO PARTAYYYYY!
Fluttershy craned her neck up, just barely managing to reach her bubble.
um... as ready as I'll ever be...
Applejack rolled her eyes. Fluttershy could make even the Canterlot Voice sound timid.
Then Rainbow shoved her muzzle into her bubble.
HAH! HOW HARD COULD IT BE!
"Rainbow!" Applejack frowned at her. But the crowd appeared to be eating it up. They screeched and roared and stamped and bellowed.
THEN TAKE THY PLACES, AND WE SHALL BEGIN!
As Twilight had suggested, they arranged themselves in an open circle around the rear of the bonfire. Across the circle, Applejack could hear loud whispering:
"Ow! You stepped on my tail, Rainbow!"
"I did not!"
"Oh, you most certainly did! Hmp! I wasn't going to run away!"
"Oh yeah! Says you!"
Rarity leaned forward. "Quiet, you two!"
"Uh, Rarity!" Applejack whispered across to her. "Leave it be! Rainbow's jest helpin' her prime her pump, is all!"
When they were finally all in position, Twilight motioned with her head for Spike to join her, and together they promenaded down the ramp from the dais to take up the open space.
On her signal, they each focused on their Elements. Spike had brought himself a small cushion, and he sacked out on it. The rest lowered their eyes and concentrated, generating a swirling cloud of shadow energy above the flames as Twilight lifted her hooves and spoke the re-summoning spell.
The bonfire blazed up. Out of it a firey tornado swept upwards into the heights, filling the cavern with a burning maelstrom. And in the heart of the inferno something with way too many claws, way too many teeth, and way too many heads... peered around nervously as if unsure of itself. Then it spotted Twilight and the others far below, pulled itself together, and made a great show of bowing to them.
SUMMONED I COME, TO SERVE THOSE AS HATH CALLED UPON ME! WHAT IS THY BIDDING, O MISTRESSES OF THE DARK ELEMENTS!
Twilight's blazing eyes stared up at it, and she smiled.
YOUR PRESENCE IS SERVICE ENOUGH THIS NIGHT! WE WELCOME THEE TO OUR LUNAR COURT, AND WE CALL UPON ALL PRESENT TO RECOGNIZE YOUR GENEROUS INDULGENCE!
The crowd, which up to now had been relatively quiet, broke into a loud roar of approval, which rang from the walls. The demon, momentarily overcome by adulation, actually flexed a bit. Then he pulled himself together and became titanically horrific again.
I AM AT YOUR BECK AND CALL, O MISTRESS OF THE NIGHT, his voice boomed, AGAINST ALL WHO WOULD THREATEN THEE! He bowed again, impressively.
Applejack heard Twilight coughing roughly. Clearly her Voice was running out of steam. But she raised it one final time:
BE RELEASED THEN, AND WITH OUR GRATITUDE! HENCE!
The demon raised its many claws in eager triumph, and the vortex of raging conflagration collapsed downward into the bonfire, becoming mere nine-foot-high flames again.
Luna's voice rang out through the momentary stillness.
LET ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THE POWER, WISDOM, AND GENEROSITY OF OUR ACOLYTE, AND OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE NIGHT!
The walls of the Court reverberated with their approval.
AND LET OUR LUNAR COURT... COMMENCE!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
They regathered in the shadows at the back of the dais, while Luna attended to normal Court business. Twilight was sipping soothing hot lemon tea that Pinkie Pie had prepared for her, using Rarity's magic to heat the water.
"I gotta admit!" Applejack said. "That was one heck of a show, gals! And I say that knowin' all the backstage stuff that went into it."
"I think we were splendid," Rarity said. "Though if we were going to take this show on the road, I would insist on our costumes being a little more -- distinctive. Basic black is all well and good but we need to shine!"
"Dunno 'bout that! Thought you was all pretty damned good myself!"
They turned to look. It was Fred, back in his demon-pony form, though he'd resized himself to normal pony height.
"Hi, Fred!" Then Pinkie looked puzzled. "Hey, I thought we banished him?"
Twilight shook her head. "I haven't spoken the actual banishing spell yet. I figured Fred might want to hang out with us for a few minutes after the show, before we sent him home."
Fred nodded. "You're very kind, Mistress! 'Specially that extra shout-out for me to the crowd. Gonna be a blast wavin that in everyone's faces downstairs! The Lunar Court! Me! Who'da thought it!" He beamed happily, then became serious. "And I meant what I said! Anyone messes with you, Mistress, you just say the word!"
"Hello, all! May we join you?" It was Luna, who had momentarily stepped away from her Court.
Then she spotted the demon. Her eyes went wide. "Oh. Ah. Hello, Fred. It is... agreeable to see thee again!"
Fred's eyes went wide. He fell on the stone floor, prostrating himself and shivering.
"Uh, Fred..." Twilight said to him, "This is Princess Luna. And she's very pleased with your performance this evening. Aren't you, your Highness?"
"Indeed we are!" Luna stepped cautiously closer. "We... hope thou can forgive us the excesses of the past. We have ill-used many in our service, and hope to make recompense. Along those lines... wouldst thou consider acceptable a position as ambassador to our Court?"
Fred looked up at her, astonished. "Would... that be a regular gig, like? With the summoning and everything?"
Luna nodded. "We would be pleased to consider you our Official Court Demon!"
"All right! Uhm... I'm exceedingly grateful, Mistress!"
Relieved, Luna nodded in response. "We shall leave it to our capable Acolyte to work out the details! Ah, excuse us! As always, duty calls." She returned to the spotlight to help settle a dispute between a gargoyle and a Morirohin, who were standing looking daggers at each other.
Fred stood up, looking dazed and unable to believe his luck. "I'd better get outta here quick, before anything else wonderful happens to me!"
Then he glanced around worriedly. He leaned closer to Twilight.
"Uh, hey, where's Oogha Boogha?"
"Oh, I... gave her the night off. She had some things to take care of!"
"Ah. Hope I don't know any of them personally, wouldn't want to be in their hooves!"
"She... did ask me to give you this." Twilight levitated over a basket of fresh-baked muffins. "Since you missed out on the cake last time!"
He stared at the basket. "Aw! Now that was sweet of her!" He glanced around. "Er, don't tell anyone I said that... bad for the image! Now, er, Mistress... if you've no further need for my services?"
Twilight nodded, and spoke the final banishing spell.
Fred took up the basket in his mouth and, waving a hoof, vanished in a puff of sulfuric smoke.
"He does seem awfully nice at heart," Fluttershy said. "For a demon!"
"Yeah, well!" Applejack frowned, "don't get too trusting. Deception is nine-tenths of shadow magic, ya know!" |
Acolyte of the Lunar Court | The Darkness Awakes | Twilight's eyes opened in the dusk of her room. She wasn't certain what had woken her up.
Then she heard the sobbing, coming from Luna's room.
Twilight sighed. After the summoning demonstration at the Court the Princess had been sleeping much better. She'd slept through the night for several days straight. Yet now this... and for the third night in a row!
Twilight climbed out of bed, lit her horn, and crossed to the door which she had deliberately left ajar. Looking in, she saw Luna huddled under her covers, eyes tight shut and shivering. Trotting over to the bed Twilight carefully straightened out the blankets, and then climbed in and settled herself facing Luna.
Gently, she reached out to place a comforting hoof on the Princess's shoulder. Normally, just the contact alone would calm the Princess down, allowing her to relax enough to get back to a restful sleep. But not tonight.
SISTER! Luna suddenly bawled, practically in Twilight's face.
After a brief stunned moment, Twilight decided her head was still attached to the rest of her, and got down to serious thought.
She was really beginning to worry, and felt strongly that she should call in an expert. Yet the only one she could think of was Celestia, and for some reason Luna didn't seem to want to discuss this with her. Possibly it was because of the dream she'd been having. Twilight knew Luna's position on dreams: they were private and it was absolutely unacceptable for someone privy to a dream's content to reveal it without the dreamer's permission.
But where does that leave me? Twilight wondered. I don't even know what this dream is about!
She wanted to comfort Luna, wanted to hug her, sing her a lullaby, anything to relieve whatever suffering she was going through. But none of that would solve the real problem.
She frowned, a thought occurring to her. Maybe she couldn't walk anyone else's dreams without Luna's aid, but with Luna herself it might be different. Luna had led Twilight in the dreamwalking spell more than enough times for Twilight to be certain she could invoke it herself. Maybe all Twilight had to do was fire it up and hope that Luna's need for comfort would draw her in?
After all, Twilight thought, Luna trusts me to dreamwalk with her. She knows I've learned to treat what I see as sacrosanct. The worst Luna could do was kick Twilight back out of her dream. And then I go to Celestia! Twilight decided.
She nodded to herself. Okay... let's do this!
Shifting herself closer, Twilight leaned her forehead against Luna's, their horns just touching. She shut her eyes. Concentrating, she thought her way through the dreamwalking spell, making sure she had it right. She softly spoke the words to herself.
And then she triggered it.
The transition was as abrupt as usual. Twilight found herself standing in a dark, echoing chamber on a cold stone floor. High above, the Moon was visible through a rent in the ceiling, its cold light falling upon the floor. It picked out two figures, one standing in the shadows closer to Twilight but facing away from her, little more than a tall outline in the dark.
The other was a white, crumpled heap lying motionless on the hard floor.
"Princess Celestia!"
Twilight put a hoof to her mouth. She hadn't intended to speak, but her voice was already echoing from the distant walls. She rushed forward to throw herself on the body.
She recoiled instantly. It was ice-cold, lifeless and stiffening.
"Princess Luna..." Twilight whispered. "I'm so sorry! I didn't know this was what you were dreaming! I know I shouldn't be here, but I wanted to help..."
"Well, well, well!" The figure standing beside her said in a chilly, heartless tone. "So it has finally worked! Our bridge to freedom has arrived!"
"Uh... Princess Luna?" Twilight slowly looked up.
Into gleaming dragon eyes and bared fangs.
"Guess again, Acolyte!"
Twilight backed away in horror. "Nightmare Moon?"
"We are gratified thou remembers!" The night-dark shape pursued her, its horn glowing a vicious green-blue, its night-shod hooves ringing on the flagstones. "We were wondering how long it would take thee to attempt the spell, to bring thyself here... our dear friend, Twilight Sparkle!" She laughed cruelly. "Oh, Luna, dear friend Luna, we only wish to help thee! And so you have brought thyself here -- into our dream! In thy dream we could but hint and suggest! Here in ours we have thee at our will! We shall make of thee an instrument of that will! None will suspect sweet, innocent, bookish Twilight, until the day when you are very close to our dear sweet Sister..."
"NO!" Twilight screamed, the Canterlot Voice kicking in.
"Noooo?" Nightmare Moon echoed, in feigned surprise. She smirked. "But this is our dream! All shall be as we will it!"
"Think again!" Twilight lowered her horn and launched a spell. A storm of fireworks went off in Nightmare Moon's face.
"HA-HA-HA-HA! We really must teach thee to be more original, Acolyte!" Nightmare Moon's horn blazed, her levitation magic closed upon the frightened figure of Twilight Sparkle hunched before her.
And passed through it. It was an illusion.
"What!" Nightmare Moon's head swung up, and saw a distant lavender form disappearing into the shadows.
Wards, Twilight thought as she ran, summoning one of each kind to her rear. She felt a bolt of ice-cold energy sizzle the air inches from her tail, destroying the ice ward. She flung another up in its place. She felt a wash of heat as the flame ward took the brunt of a hit. The poison ward was next. She didn't have a lot of time. Soon enough Nightmare Moon would try an attack she couldn't ward against, or grab her in a levitation spell...
Door! Twilight thought to herself. I need to find the door. I need to leave this dream, and fast!
In the darkness of the hall she didn't realize how far she'd already run and she nearly brained herself against the main doors of the chamber. Frantically she shoved one open, threw herself through the gap, and bodily shoved it closed.
And found herself in the glowing, star-filled void.
That was easy, she thought. Way too easy!
Still, she knew she only had a few moments to act. Calming herself, she swiftly thought through the cancelling spell and then triggered it.
And found herself back in Luna's bed, her muzzle pressed against Luna's, her heart racing. She felt the Princess's soft breath on her face... it smelled like vanilla.
"Princess!" she whispered. "It's Twilight! I need you to wake up now! Wake up, Luna!"
The Princess's eyes snapped open, an inch away from Twilight's. Glowing dragon eyes.
"Guess again, Acolyte!"
Twilight flung herself backward, toppling heavily out of the bed.
Flinging away the covers, Nightmare Moon rose tall and proud. She leapt from the bed to land heavily on the floor, cracking the tiles. Shadows swirled around her, forming into the night-dark armor and helmet. Her horn blazed with power.
"HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! Freedom at last! We are restored to glory! And we thank thee, Twilight Sparkle, for creating the bridge that has brought us back from the dreamworld we have been imprisoned in! As a sign of our gratitude, we shall not destroy thee! We shall lift thee up to glory! All shall know the name of Twilight Sparkle, Acolyte of the Lunar Court, and Deliverer of Nightmare Moon!"
The bedroom's main doors crashed open, and the nightmares guarding it hurled themselves inside. Their glowing eyes stared up in shock, taking in the tall black alicorn that whirled to face them.
"Nacht!" Twilight called. "You've got to stop her! Princess Luna has become Nightmare Moon again!"
The nightmares took a few tentative steps forward. For a horrified moment, Twilight thought they were going to kneel in supplication. Then Nacht looked at Twilight and seemed to come to a decision. He barked an order at Skaad, who took to the air and launched straight at Nightmare Moon.
TREACHERY! She screamed. WE GAVE THEE LIFE!
Nacht turned and raced toward Twilight. He grabbed her up in his jaws and flung her bodily though the smaller door, into her room. Then he swung to join the fight.
Gasping, Twilight slammed on a levitation spell. It wasn't quite enough to slow her sufficiently, and she smacked roughly into Spike's small bed, spilling the dragon onto the floor.
"Gahh!" he shouted, struggling out of the blankets. "I'm up! I'm up! What's going on?"
"It's Luna!" Twilight gasped. "She's become Nightmare Moon again! We've got to get out of here!"
"Well w-w-what are we waiting for?" Spike said, trembling.
They both ran for the door leading to the hallway outside, squinting in the noonday sunlight that filled it as they ran down its length. As they passed the doors to Luna's bedroom they could hear massive thumps and crashes from within. A sizzling bolt of power cut the air over their heads.
Down the corridor Twilight saw a squad of white-coated Royal Guard come racing around the corner. And then a very welcome sight: Princess Celestia herself, very much alive and well, charging up the corridor and giving her own guards a run for their money.
"Princess!" Twilight called. "Look out! Luna..."
"We sensed it, Twilight!" she shouted. She raced past, calling over her shoulder: "You know what to do! Get to the landing pad! Gather the Elements!"
"But Princess..." GO!
The echo of the Canterlot Voice rang up and down the corridor's length. Instantly, the sounds of battle in the bedchamber ceased.
SISTER?
Through the doorway Nightmare Moon stalked, eyelids slitted against the sunlight. Her eyes widened at the sight of Celestia.
"Dear Sister Mine!" Nightmare Moon said, with acid viciousness. "How kind of you to present yourself before us! Surrender! Kneel before us! We shall be merciful!"
"Luna!" Celestia called, "My sweet Luna! Please! Remember who you are! Fight this, Luna! I am here for you! I will not abandon you again!"
"Wasted breath, Sister! We are Nightmare Moon! We have been restored! And we shall never relinquish our power again! Never!"
"Then I will stop you! You will not escape me!"
The two alicorns stalked around each other, looking for an opening.
"Thou couldst never defeat us!" Nightmare Moon jeered. "Knowst thou why? Because thou never knew when to really start fighting!"
"And you when to quit!"
"Princess!" Twilight shouted, horrified.
Celestia didn't even look round.
WE GAVE THEE AN ORDER, TWILIGHT! GET OUT OF HERE!
She flung herself at Nightmare Moon, her horn blazing. Nightmare Moon responded in kind. The corridor was suddenly filled with a blast furnace of titanic energies, viciously charring the wall on the one side and completely shattering the tall windows on the other.
Twilight suddenly felt herself grabbed up by one of Celestia's guards and hustled away from the fight at top speed.
"Celestia! Luna!" Twilight screamed, as the battling Princesses slipped from view around a corner.
The guards quickly brought both her and Spike up to the landing pad. There they found the Royal Golden Chariot standing in readiness, its flyers already harnessed up. The guards quickly put Twilight and Spike aboard, and without waiting the flyers snapped out their wings and took off. In seconds, the Palace and Canterlot itself had fallen far behind, as the flyers winged their way downwards toward Ponyville through the brilliant afternoon sunlight.
There was a massive explosion, and Twilight looked back to see an entire upper wing of the Palace blown out in a cloud of dust and falling masonry.
And then the worst possible thing happened.
The Sun died.
It faded rapidly, from pale yellow to burnt orange, to ember red. The sky fell to pale dusk, a chill settling over Equestria. And then the Sun went out completely, becoming a black, dead disk hanging in a starless night sky.
"Celestia!" Twilight gasped, her eyes wide and filling with tears. She grabbed the Chariot's railing to keep herself from sliding helplessly to its deck.
"My lady!" Spike whispered, clinging terrified to Twilight's leg.
And the Moon rose ascendant, a cold, merciless orb glaring from the cold dome of the eternal Night.
The flyers maintained discipline, never slackening for an instant, yet Twilight was certain she saw them glancing at the sky every now and then as the Chariot plunged onward through the sudden night.
The Chariot arrived in Ponyville shortly thereafter, touching down in the Town Square near the Golden Oak Library. Twilight somehow found the will to get up and step down onto the hard-packed dirt. Spike numbly followed her.
"Spike," Twilight whispered, "Find Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow. Have them meet us here. Guards!" she called to the flyers. "Please go and find Applejack and Fluttershy. Bring them safely here!"
"Yes, ma'am!" the lead flyer replied, and the Chariot lifted off again.
As Spike darted away on his errand, Twilight turned to the Library. Barrelling through the door, she raced across to the glass-covered table holding the Element regalia. She threw open the cover so hard that it cracked crosswise. She grabbed up the Magic tiara and placed it on her head, then scooped the other Elements into a box and brought it with her to wait outside.
She stared worriedly at the distant outline of Canterlot, high on its mountain. So far there had been no sign of pursuit, but she couldn't expect Nightmare Moon to wait long in following her.
"Twilight!" It was Rarity, racing up the street from her Boutique. "What's happened? Spikey came running in, told me to meet you here and ran out!"
She looked at the box in Twilight's hands, the tiara on her head. And then saw the look in her eyes.
"Oh, no!" She put a hoof to her mouth, eyes wide. "No no no!"
Pinkie and Rainbow were next to arrive. And in a few moments the Chariot returned carrying Applejack and Fluttershy. Wordlessly, Twilight handed out the Element necklaces for them all to put on.
Only then did she trust herself to speak, in an emotionless, tightly controlled monotone.
"Celestia is dead. Luna has become Nightmare Moon. And we're the only thing that can stop her now."
She pushed past their stunned faces, and addressed the guards.
"Thank you all for your aid. However, this isn't a fight you can help with. We need you to clear the Square, evacuate everyone. Then spread out through the town, warn everyone to stay well clear of the Square so no one gets hurt!"
"Understood, ma'am! But call on us if you should need us. We'll be ready!"
She nodded, and the guards departed. Then she sent Spike -- protesting mightily -- to hide himself safely in the Library. Finally, she returned to the other ponies to wait.
They were not kept waiting long.
In a flash of lurid green light Nightmare Moon appeared, hovering majestically in the air above the Town Square.
"Raight, y'all!" Applejack yelled angrily. "Charge 'em up!"
The Elements glowed, the six ponies' bodies were limned with power, the forces they summoned threw out arcs of brilliant light linking them all together, and from the heart of the Element spell the spiral rainbow of Friendship Magic blasted toward Nightmare Moon, wreathing her in a maelstrom of redeeming light...
... which faded way, having absolutely no effect.
"Didst thou think we learned nothing in all this time?" Nightmare Moon cackled trimphantly. "These trinkets have no power over us now!"
"That was our best shot!" Rainbow gasped. "What do we do?"
Applejack exchanged a look with Twilight. "This door swings both ways, don't it?"
Twilight nodded. "The Shadow Elements, everyone! Quick!"
With less certainty but with the strength of desperation, they summoned the dark writhing streams of shadow energy, feeding them to Twilight, who shut her eyes, focused...
And made her most heartfelt wish come to life.
A blaze of sunlight filled the square, blinding in the gloom. From it Princess Celestia emerged, whole and unharmed, her eyes alight with glowing power, her horn lowering to take aim at Nightmare Moon.
"Princess Celestia!" Fluttershy cried, overjoyed. The other ponies likewise gasped in wonder and relief. The strength of their wish for the vision to be true redoubled the dark energy feeding into Twilight's spell.
Only Twilight's face remained cold and haggard, as she rapidly sought a next move.
Even Nightmare Moon was momentarily distracted by the realism of it. Her mouth opened wordlessly, her eyes stared. "Sister! You are..."
She realized the truth just as Twilight took advantage of her distraction, plus the extra power she had, to fling a materialization spell.
A razor-edged blade sang through the air, slicing off Nightmare Moon's horn at the roots. Just as a thousand pounds of heavy chain landed on her, bearing her bodily to the cobbles of the Square, crashing in a heap.
The ghostly image of Celestia faded away, into the shadows it truly was. Twilight couldn't help but gaze up at the proudly kind face of her beloved mentor one final time.
"Did we teach thee nothing, Acolyte?"
Twilight looked back just in time to see Nightmare Moon shrug off the chain as easily if it was cotton thread. She rose up, her horn flashing into wholeness once again.
"Never take thy eye off the enemy!"
Brilliant green fire flashed out. It caught Rainbow, who had just taken off to throw herself at Nightmare Moon, and blasted her across the Square to land in a charred heap.
Twilight tried to summon up wards to defend the others, and then a shield. But the Element link was broken, its power draining rapidly away. And she barely had any of her own power left to work with.
Fluttershy was next, immolated where she lay huddled and shivering on the cobbles. Then Applejack was crushed when the haywagon that she'd ducked behind for cover simply upended itself on top of her. Pinkie tried to pull one of her lighting exits, and was suddenly frozen in a block of ice. Which then shattered.
Rarity looked helplessly at Twilight. "Goodbye, dahling..."
Twilight shut her eyes. She couldn't shut her ears from the scream.
She waited her turn, hearing Nightmare Moon tread forward to stand next to her.
"No, dear Twilight!" The chill voice took on a silky tone. "We said we would not destroy thee. We have other plans for thee..."
Twilight opened her eyes, and saw Nightmare Moon gazing down at her intensely.
"We shall keep thee as a pet, for these long cold winter nights. A warm toy to give us compansionship and pleasure. Thou wouldst like that? Hmmm?"
Twilight felt the spell driving its hot, invasive warmth through her mind, so calming, so soothing, so appealing... NO!
She swung a forehoof, slapped Nightmare Moon's muzzle. And she channeled the dark rage she felt into a counter-spell, reinforcing her sense of self-worth, as she turned and ran across the cobbles, expecting at any moment to be struck dead by Nightmare Moon's magic.
"Feisty!" Nightmare Moon called. "Never mind, we can be patient. We have all the time in the world! The Night is now Eternal!"
Twilight stopped, turned, and faced her alone, without the Elements and without hope. Yet she had one final card to play...
The Death card.
Shutting her eyes, she ran quickly through the Summoning spell, not bothering to invoke the containing runes. If this worked, she didn't care what happened to her. There was an eruption of whirling sepulchral fire. A massive form hovered in the darkness over the Square, cackling madly.
"Oh yes! YES! No wards! No barriers! Nothin' to stop me! Now we bring the pain!"
"Hello, Fred."
Fred's many eyes swung down, saw Twilight cowering far below him.
"Mistress?" he rumbled, surprised.
"I need your help, Fred. You can do what you like with me after, but I need you to help me stop... her!"
The demon pivoted slowly like a mountain on a turntable. He saw Nightmare Moon rising in the air to face him, chuckling coldly. "Hello again, Fred! Hast thou come back to play with us? To amuse us?
The massive demon cowered in fear. "Cor! It's her again! Sorry, Mistress, count me out!"
"Please, Fred!" Twilight sobbed. "I don't have the power to stop her! And there's no one else left I can call on!"
"Well, what do you expect me to do? She's the one that got me sent down to the bottom of the roster last time!"
Twilight gasped, helpless and forlorn.
Then she spoke, her voice suddenly level and calm. "What about that little trick you told me about?"
"What little trick?" Fred asked, his eyes trying to watch both her and Nightmare Moon at the same time.
"The one you told me about. The one you were certain would have finished her off but you didn't get the chance to try it last time. You said all it needed was a little extra power..."
She looked up at him through her tears. Her horn blazed. "Don't worry. I've got your back!"
"Seriously?"
She just looked at him.
He nodded, and shifted his many eyes to focus on Nightmare Moon. A hill-sized fist smacked into a cliff of palm.
RIGHT, LADY! He rumbled menacingly. YOU AND ME IS GONNA HAVE A WORD!
Nightmare Moon's eyes went wide. Then she lowered her horn to strike.
And fireworks went off in her face, momentarily blinding her.
They were followed by Fred, who fell on her in a blaze of fire and a whirlwind of claws and teeth.
Twilight watched tensely, never taking her eyes off Nightmare Moon in the roaring, crashing melee of fire and smoke. Every time the dark mare tried to focus, to aim, to fight back, Twilight used every firefly and materialization spell she knew to keep her distracted, off balance. And the disadvantage soon began to tell on her. The night-dark armor was stripped away. The starlit mane was shredded to fibers. Her horn was shattered by a massive swipe from Fred's claw. Still Nightmare Moon fought on, refusing to give in.
And then, just for a moment, the glowing eyes faded, becoming small and terrified. They swung to Twilight helplessly. And then they suddenly became stern and commanding.
"Strike, Twilight!" Luna cried. "Strike now!"
"But, Princess!"
STRIKE!
Sobbing, Twilight launched what little power she had left in a blast of freezing cold fire. It caught Luna, knocked her unconscious.
And a moment later Fred finished it.
Nothing was left but a heap of charred embers on the cobblestones. In the night sky overhead, the Moon blazed briefly, then went dark, leaving the sky totally empty and black.
There was silence in the Square.
Fred came to a sudden halt. He rose up in shock as if he couldn't believe it was all over. Then he swung to look at Twilight.
She sat forlornly on the cobbles, waiting her turn. There was a long, dangerous silence.
"Thank you for that, Mistress. It was a long time coming, believe you me."
Twilight nodded silently.
"Surprised to hear meself say it, I actually think I've had enough for one night!" The demon looked around, and up at the ink-black sky. "Wish I could do more for you, Mistress, I really do! Well... if you wouldn't mind," he said. "I think I'd like to be banished now!"
"But I can't!" Twilight said. "I didn't invoke the spell properly!"
"Sure ya can, Mistress!" Fred smiled down at her. "All you gotta do... is just say the word!"
She looked up at him, managing a weak smile. Then she spoke the banishing phrase. And was alone in the night-dark square.
Except for Spike, who stumbled out through the Library door and tottered over to her, scared and speechless.
And for Derpy, who trotted over from the storefront she'd been hiding in. "Hey, Twilight!" She sat down next to Twilight and put a companionable hoof around her.
After a few moments, Twilight sighed.
"I can't stay, Derpy," she whispered. "This... this is all my fault. There's no way I can explain that to anyone here. Would you... would you at least tell them all what happened? They deserve to know the truth."
Derpy looked at her, and then nodded. "Yep. I will. Write to me?"
"Huh?"
"From wherever you go," Derpy said. "Just so I know you got there okay. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone! If the letter's addressed to me, I don't have to share it with anypony!"
Twilight hugged her. "I will, I promise!"
Derpy hugged her back happily. Then she looked up, past Twilight. "Oooo, look! Bats!"
Twilight looked up. And saw what looked like the entire army of nightmares descending on the Square.
"Oh no..." |
Acolyte of the Lunar Court | The Mistress of Nightmares | "Run, Derpy! Get away from here!"
"Why?" Derpy gave her a puzzled look. "They're not angry at us!"
The lead nightmares came in for a landing. It was Nacht and Skaad, their armor battered and scored, their coats and tails singed in several places, but otherwise unharmed.
They inspected the charred remains of the Princess. Then they trotted over to Twilight, and knelt to her, as the other nightmares likewise came in for a landing and assembled in ranks behind them.
"Mistress. We have failed thee. We could not arrive quickly enough!"
Astonished, Twilight didn't know what to say. Nacht looked up at her.
"You are the Acolyte of our Lunar Court. We are yours to command now, Mistress. All of us."
"That really puts the final nail in it!" Twilight said. She looked at Derpy, then at the nightmares. "I suppose I'll take them to Dark Town, see if I can find sanctuary there. Or maybe I should send them home..."
Her gaze fell to the heap of ash on the cobbles. Oh no...
As if reading her thoughts, Nacht nodded to her. "Our home is with thee, Mistress! Where thou leads us, we will follow!"
Twilight grimaced, feeling she was being treated far nicer than she deserved. Then she thought for a bit. "It doesn't matter what happens to me. But at the very least I can take you all home."
She looked fondly at Spike. "I have to leave now, Spike. Stay here with Derpy. She'll look after you!"
"But Twi..."
Twilight wasn't listening. Taking a deep breath, she concentrated really hard. She'd only seen the place once, but she'd had a good long look at it, and she'd always been good at observation. And if Luna could create a dream like that, maybe Twilight could recreate it, or something like it.
She spoke the dreamwalking spell in the privacy of her thoughts, and then triggered it.
And in a soundless instant, she was standing in the muggy, fog-swept forest, by the dark pool, on a moonless night. And with her was the entire army of nightmares, looking around in amazement.
From the guardhouse, Tasjen hurried out to prostate himself before her. "Be welcome, Acolyte!" he cried. "But where is..."
He fell silent as Nacht and Skaad strode forward, taking their places to Twilight's left and right.
"The Mistress of Nightmares is dead!" Nacht called out. "Long live the Mistress of Nightmares!"
"Long live the Mistress of Nightmares!" echoed the army behind them.
And they repeated it, all the long way up the path and into the night-shrouded city.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In the city square, there was a palace. And in the palace was a throne room. And on the throne, Twilight Sparkle lay where she'd finally dropped in despair, to cry out what few tears remained. Nacht and Skaad had stationed themselves just outside the main doors, fending off the throngs of curious nightmares until Twilight felt ready to address them.
She wasn't certain she ever would be.
She assumed her body was still sitting in the Square, motionless, staring, unresponsive. She didn't want to know. She didn't want to care. She didn't want to have to make any more bad choices. She simply lay where she was, in the patch of moonlight she'd dropped down in.
Wait... moonlight?
She lifted her head. And saw Princess Luna standing before her.
The Princess nodded gravely, and her voice caught as she spoke.
"Nine... out of ten, Twilight."
"Princess?"
"We told thee this was our dream, Twilight. And that it would be as we willed it. And so it was!"
Luna's eyes filled with tears.
"We wished to give thee a fair test, to allow thee to demonstrate in full measure thy competence and skill. We should have known better. We should have known how unwilling thou would be to give up, should have known the lengths thou would go to for the sake of those thou cares about. And... and we lost track of thee! For the longest time we could not find thee, and feared we had lost thee forever! Then we thought to look in the one place we least expected to find thee. Our city of nightmares... to find you, their Mistress in our stead!"
She strode up onto the throne and lay down beside Twilight. She swept out a warm wing to cover her shivering body.
After a long moment, she whispered quietly in Twilight's ear. "I think... we should wake up now. Both of us!"
And so they did.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
After allowing a decent stretch of time for Twilight to gradually recover from the ordeal, she once more met with Luna and Celestia in the Solar Court.
"...Dost thou concur with our Proclamation, Sister?" Luna finished.
"We do, most whole-heartedly!" Celestia replied. "And we welcome thee back to us, our most faithful student!"
Twilight smiled weakly, pleased to be able to return to daylight hours once more, and to her studies with Celestia. She looked at Luna. "I'm sorry, Princess," she said. "I think I'll stick to being merely a guest of the Lunar Court, rather than its Acolyte!"
"Do not worry thyself!" Luna answered. "We have learned much from thy tutelage. Enough so that we feel confident in taking on a new student of our own, to lead in the mastery of the Lunar Court!"
"Another student?" Twilight said, surprised. "But who...?"
"Oops! My bad!"
Twilight turned to see Derpy picking herself up after having run headlong into one of the guards at the door. Seeing the Princesses and Twilight, she scampered up the length of the red carpet and came to a screeching halt, prostrating herself before Luna.
"Sorry I'm late! I got lost!"
"Calm thyself, Acolyte! And sit up straight!"
Derpy did so, practically vibrating with eagerness.
Twilight looked from her to Luna to Celestia, in total disbelief. "How... wha... wait a minute!" she finally said. "How can Derpy be your student? She's a pegasus! She can't even do magic!"
"Can so!" Derpy focused really hard. And her mailmare's hat bounced three feet in the air... held in Luna's magic field.
Luna smiled. "She may not be able to voluntarily project spells herself, like a unicorn. But any pegasus or earth pony has the capacity to use magic. We simply lend her our power. She decides what to do with it!"
"Is that wise?" Twilight tried not to think of what Derpy armed with Luna's demigoddess magic might be capable of.
"We think so." Luna's smile turned to Derpy. "We have always relished a bit of a challenge!"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In the darkness of her room, Luna lay in her bed. And fretted. Not about her old student, or her new one. About her dream, the dream she had subjected Twilight to in order to finally test everything the young pony had absorbed from her teachings.
Luna had become Nightmare Moon again, and had been soundly defeated, without recourse to the Elements. If it ever came to that in reality she felt certain that Twilight would be able to do so again, all on her own. Luna no longer needed to fear what happened if she succumbed to the old jealousy, if she once again became the Nightmare.
So why was she not able to relax, to cease cudgeling herself with the memory of what she had done all those years ago?
Because we have not sufficiently atoned, she realized. We gave ourselves a happy ending, a comfortable dream. And we do not deserve it, not yet. We must never forget what we did, never allow ourself to forget what we did, the suffering we caused, until we have sufficiently made amends.
So she reached into her own dreams, far beyond the dream from which she'd drawn the nightmares, back and back into her own remotest past, back to her own fillyhood. And found the first thing that had ever truly frightened her.
The First Nightmare.
"Very well, Tantabus!" she said sadly. "Do your worst!"
The End
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, its characters and indicia are the property of Hasbro.
No infringement is intended. This story is a work of fan fiction, written by fans for fans of the series. |
Rekindling the Love in your Heart | pre | "Okay then... Trixie, Truth... or Bang?" Starlight asked.
"Trixie chooses... bang this time," she was already looking at you with seductive eyes. "Trixie really wants to feel her great and powerful pussy be stuffed with your delicious seed.
"Well, you're about to get your wish," you said, crawling over to Trixie and laying her on the ground while you got on top. "How do you manage to look so cute?"
"Hmm... natural charm?" She asked before giving out a cute giggle. Before you two started, Starlight made sure to give her one of her pills, which she gulped down with some water. She then pulled up her witch skirt and moved her panties out of the way. "Be gentle, if you please. This is Trixie's first time, too."
"No problem, Trixie." you assured. "We'll start slow if that makes you feel more comfortable."
"T-Trixie would appreciate that very much." She said in a shy voice. You nodded at her before you gently pulled her legs over your shoulders. Seeing her pussy leaking, you felt your rod was starting to get hard again. Once it regained his big size you slowly guided it inside Trixie's love tunnel. Trixie bit her lower lip, holding onto you for dear life.
You pushed a little further until her hymen finally broke. Trixie yelped in pain and you could see small droplets of blood leaking out of her pussy. "Trixie, are you alright?" you asked.
"Yes. Trixie is... okay. Just... give Trixie a moment to get used to your girth. My stars, you're so big, how was Starlight able to handle you?" she asked.
"Alrighty, I'll wait. In the meantime, I'd say you deserve a little reward for being so brave," you said before laying down on top of her and smothering her with a big kiss on the lips. She shuddered in complete bliss and held you as you two kissed each other passionately.
After a minute, you released each others lips as Trixie regained herself. "Okay, Trixie is ready for you, now."
Since you can't resist such a cute face from the Great and Powerful Trixie, you began your pace nice and slowly so that she could get used to your huge rod inside her. Trixie pain moans slowly started to change into moans of pleasure as she started to roll her eyes up and her tongue stuck out a little.
"Trixie demands you to go faster!"
"Your wish is my command." You replied and doubled the pace in pleasuring Trixie. To make it even more fun, your hands went for her beautiful E-cup sized breasts. Trixie started to moan a little louder due to you massaging her breasts.
"B-be careful with Trixie's little girls." She managed to say through her blissfuly moans. "They're very sensitive."
"Little? Trixie, you should give yourself more credit. Your girls are big!" You complimented, poking this cutie-pie's cheek.
"You flatter Trixie," she giggled.
"Yeah, but now, what do you say we resume where we left off?" you asked.
"Give Trixie everything you've got, you studly gentleman," she commanded seductively. You didn't waste anymore time and quickly pounded her pussy. Trixie moaned in pure bliss from how much punishment her pussy was taking from your cock. Her insides were shaping to fit only your cock and nobody else's. Now it was Starlight's turn to get turned on from her best friend getting fucked by you.
She and the rest of the girls pleasured themselves more, touching their sensitive womanly areas and wanting to feel you inside them soon. You basked in the sound of all the girls moaning to their hearts' content, lusting for you. Trixie made you pay attention only to her for the time being. She wanted you to give her all the love and affection.
Who were you to deny this cute little lady. Of course, nothing lasts forever. The pressure in your ballsack was increasing dramatically with every hard and fast thrust. Her boobs jiggled more violently, but you stopped them by gently sucking on her breast nipples. Trixie was turned into a quivering mess, feeling her insides tighten around you.
That was it, you couldn't take anymore. You hilted deep inside Trixie's pussy and came lots. The Great and Powerful Trixie bursted out with a loud, lustful moan, locking her legs, keeping you in place as she came hard on your cock. She was making sure your cum didn't leak out much and she succeeded.
After running on empty, you went limp on top of Trixie, panting heavily while she hugged and caressed your sweaty body and your long, blue hair. "Trixie will... remember this night... for the rest of her life." she said between breaths.
It took a while for you and Trixie to catch your breath and in that time, the other girls had stripped half of their clothing when they all did "truth." Chrysalis, Luna, Rarity and Fluttershy were the only ones who were fully naked and Sugarcoat had purposely lied just so she could let her breasts breath more easily.
With you and Trixie back to full stamina, the game resumed. "Alrighty, let's see here... Rarity, since you're fully naked... why don't we do the "Bang" option?" Trixie asked.
"Of course, darling. I've been simply dying to get better acquainted with my darling Carlos for quite some time now and the time is long overdue," Rarity said, batting her eyes at you.
"Then come on over here, my classy, lovely lady. I'm all refueled and ready to go!" you said, opening your arms for the fashionista queen to come over. Rarity squealed and crawled over to you, then lunged forward, tackling you to the ground.
"MINE!!!" she exclaimed.
"We'll someone's horny." Sugarcoat commented quietly, making the other girls snicker.
"Carlos, darling. I may be a proper lady of high class as you might say, but even I have a side of me that is hidden deep down that's so... uncouth," she said before biting her lip.
"In that case, how about we do something a little... uncouth, my fair lady," you said, licking her left ear.
Rarity shivered a little at your tongue touching her ear. "Oh, you dirty boy! I'm gonna punish you for that!" She grabbed your member tightly, making you gasp in surprise as she started to give you a real amazing handjob to make your thing big and hard again.
"Rarity, not so fast. Or I'm going to cum already." You pleaded.
"I don't think so darling! In due time maybe, but not now." She said with a grin and she stopped giving you the handjob you were enjoying. You felt a little disappointed at that. She was really good with her hands. This horny, classy lady looked down and looked down, seeing that were fully erect again and licked her lips. "Now that your member is big again, are you ready to finally take me as your woman, too?"
"Oh yes, my fair lady," you replied, fully aroused.
"Starlight, would you be kind enough to hand me a glass of water, please?" Rarity asked, not turning her gaze from you.
"Coming right up. I'll have it ready for you in a jiffy," Starlight replied, running off into the kitchen.
Starlight quickly came back with a glass of water and gave it to Rarity. After taking her pill, she quickly drank the glass empty and placed the glass on the nearby table. The Fashionista was now standing above your fully erect member with a naughty grin on her beautiful face. "Are you ready for the ride of your life Darling?"
"Y-yes, my dear lady." You said, still lying on the ground.
"Alright, then Darling. Here I go." She slowly lowered her pussy to the tip of your manhood. As it slowly goes inside her pussy, Rarity tried to keep herself relaxed as she felt how huge your member was. Biting her lower lip a bit you noticed some blood coming out of her tunnel.
"Rarity, are you alright?" you asked.
"I-I'm fine darling. I just need to get used to your member being finally inside me since you popped my cherry." She said, regaining her composure. "So this is what it feels like to finally be a woman."
"Rarity... to me... you've always been a real woman," you said, caressing her cheek. She held your hand close to her cheek and closed her eyes.
"Thank you, Darling. That means a lot coming from you." she said before leaning down, pressing her naked body onto yours and kissing you and riding your massive length. You hugged Rarity and kissed her back. She rode your cock without a care in the world, squeezing it tightly with her inner walls.
Your hands traveled down her back and reached her plump posterior and gave it a squeeze, making her coo as she takes it in deeper. She could feel her insides stretching out. She felt like the luckiest lady in the world.
"Darling, you have to forgive me if I act unladylike but your dick feels so wonderful right now!" She complimented you. Your cheeks turned red at that and you decide to reward your diva by quicken the pace and going deeper. "Oh yes, darling! Like that, HARDER!!!"
Naturally, you gave her what she wanted and thrusted upwards even harder. You held her hips, making these loud, lewd slaps every time you hit home, knocking on her womb entrance. Rarity kept moaning for more. Sadly, just like with Starlight and Trixie, all good things had to come to an end.
Your balls gave you the signal that you were about eject your cum again. You tried to warn Rarity but she placed her finger on your mouth, telling you that it's alright and that she's ready to cum too. Together, you both screamed in pleasure as you and Rarity unleashed your hot cum inside her.
"Oh, darling that felt so amazing." She said as tried regain her breath. "I felt like I was in heaven with you."
"I should've met you and the others a long time ago," you replied. Rarity giggled and kissed you on the lips before getting off of you and your still-erect cock. After you both took your seats in the circle again, Rarity took control of things.
"Now then, why don't we make things interesting and make it a double bang?" Rarity asked, getting the girls excited and more cock-hungry. "Let's see, how about... Luna and Chrysalis?" she said, looking at the two mature women in the circle.
"Well, if you insist. I've been curious of how good my favorite student is. And seeing as how good you made the others feel, I think it's only fair that Luna has a turn with you first." Chrysalis said, urging he co-worker.
"I... umm... oh dear," Luna said, blushing intensely.
"Not a bad idea. I always did find Luna to be very attractive. And I've been dying to see how good it'll feel to be inside my sexy vice principal," you said, crawling up to the naked blue cutie, making her chuckle nervously.
"Well said, my friend, now come here and please your Vice-Principal."
"It would be my pleasure!"
Slowly, your lips touched Luna's soft, warm lips, kissing each other passionately. You could hear Luna moaning as you were kissing her. You then lowered your right hand to her pussy and gently touch her outer lips before going further in with your fingers and getting her even wetter. Luna shivered to your touch, but she quickly got into it and stroked your cock while you pleasured her pussy.
Chrysalis was getting wet and wanted in on the action. Without you knowing, Chrysalis whispered something in Luna's ear. She seemed to like whatever she said and gently laid you down on the ground again. Your eyes opened up and saw Chrysalis slowly sitting herself down on your face. You couldn't see anything, except for Chryssie's soaking green pussy. Meanwhile, your cock felt like it was being sucked into something tight. You assumed it was Vice-Principal Luna's vulva.
You assumed correctly when you felt your cock forced deep inside her in one go followed by the resistance and her shriek of pain. Was she a virgin, too? Were you Luna's first time as well?
"Ooh, Luna. How does it feel to have your first cock?" Chryssie asked, confirming the questions in your head.
"It feels like... I should've done this sooner with you, Carlos." Luna finally said. "I can't believe I held myself in every time you came into my office for my guidance."
You stopped for a second pleasuring Chrysalis after you heard Luna said that. Did you really mean so much more to her than just a student?
"Don't stop now Carlos, baby. I still need to rate your skills with your tongue." Chrysalis urged. Immediately you started licking her pussy again making your Sex Ed teacher moan in pleasure once again. "Yes, that's it! That's the spot. Don't you dare stop now!"
You weren't about to stop anytime soon. Your tongue kept slurping and swirling around in Chrysalis' love cavern, coating all of your taste buds in her juices. She moved her hips in every direction on your face to make sure you got every inch of her. Meanwhile, Luna was busy bouncing her sweet body on your cock and moaning up a storm as she gets your monster schlong in her deepest areas.
Not long after that, you could hear the two ladies smacking their lips, which could only mean they're making out with each other atop you. With your arms still free, you grabbed Luna's plump, squishy ass and started massaging it so tenderly, much to her liking. You heard her moaning getting louder as she continued making out with your sexy Sex Ed teacher.
As badly as you wanted to see them go at it, you could only lick and slurp Chrysalis and give her some occasional spankings as well. Eventually, all three of you were getting close and ready to blow. Simultaneously, you, Chrysalis and Luna were all breathing heavily from the intense pleasure. Luna couldn't control herself as she bounced more rapidly atop your thick meat stick. You weren't able to keep it in for long and came hard inside Luna's womb, grunting as you thrusted hard.
Your tongue soon hit Chrysalis' g-spot and caused her to moan into the kiss with Luna, making her shoot her sweet nectar inside your mouth. You swallowed her womanly nectar in big gulps to avoid choking while Luna came hard on your crotch as she felt her womb being flooded with your seed. Luna felt her stomach slightly bloating up a little bit like the others whom you banged.
After the three of you calmed down, you felt Chryssie get up from your face so that Luna could lay on top of you and get you with a kiss. "You were absolutely brilliant, my dear student." Luna whispered, short of breath.
"Indeed," Chrysalis agreed. "I'll give you an A+ for your skills with your tongue. No one has ever been able to pleasure me this heavenly. But, now, I wanna feel you inside. I want you to... ride me like there's no tomorrow. Can you do that for your dear Sex Ed teacher?" She asked with cute, pleading eyes.
"Chryssie," you grabbed her butt and pulled her closer to you. "It would be my genuine pleasure to rock your world like no one has ever done before!"
"That's my favorite student!" Chrysalis said happily.
Chrysalis grabbed your manhood and started to give a quick boobjob in order to make it big once again. Feeling her soft pillows rubbing against your rod you couldn't help but moan a little at the intense pleasure you were feeling. Seeing that your member once again big enough, Chrysalis stopped her boobjob on your throbbing erection right away. You were a little disappointed at that but she wasn't done with you yet! She stood up, now above you fully erect member.
You always thought that Chrysalis was a sexy woman and you even had a crush on her. You would even admit that you had wet dreams about her. To see her now standing over you fully naked, is witnessing fantasy collide with reality and you were more than ready to take her as her new loving husband once you're finishing high school, once the time is right.
Her pussy made contact with your rod. Surprisingly she took your whole member inside rather fast then the other girls. Figuring out that this must not be her first time, you didn't stop pleasuring her. She lowered herself to your face so you could kiss her while her hips were still going up and down on your member.
While tongue battling between you and Chryssie, she thought about how amazing you were compared to her previous lovers before you. Though she wished it was you who took her virginity away, but she was here now, enjoying the time of her life with you, riding you and she was going to make it a night to remember.
It only got better when you took control and switched positions with her. Chrysalis thought it was kinky, normally she was always to one in control, but it felt nice to be dominated by you. You continued pleasuring her and pushed deeper inside her, making her moans even louder.
"You're so good Carlos, I wished I've done this a whole lot sooner with my amazing student." She managed to say between her moans of pleasure. "My god, your cock is way bigger than my previous ex-boyfriends I dated back in my college days!"
"Your pussy feels so good Chryssie," you said. "I could keep fucking you for days and never get tired of it!"
"M-me too! From now on, I'll come to you if I never need stress relief!" She replied through her lustful moans. "Now keep going and don't let up for a second, you stud!"
"You got it!" You grunted, picking up the pace with your deep and powerful thrusts. Chrysalis moaned even louder and held you in place, locking her arms and legs around your body. Her pleasurable moans became more throaty. Her pussy got more wet and slippery, making it easier for you to pump in and out of her.
But fucking her pussy would only do so much. As an added bonus, like with the other girls, you massaged and groped her beautiful boobs and sucked on one of her nipples. Chrysalis moaned even louder and grew wetter than before.
Soon, neither of you could take it anymore and your balls built up pressure once again and your breathing was growing heavier much quicker. Your stamina was almost lost after banging 5 out of the 8 girls you invited with you to your house.
A few seconds later, you unleashed your seed inside Chryssie's love cave with one loud moan. While still unleashing your cum, you quickly pulled your rod out of her pussy, much to good ol' Chryssie's confusing.
"What are you- ah!" Her question got answered by you entering your rod inside her huge, sexy butt and unleashed the other half of your cum inside her. Chrysalis sprayed her juices everywhere on the floor as you filled her up in both holes.
Catching your breath you pulled out again after running on empty and laid next to your lovely Sex Ed teacher. As she looked back at you with a loving look. You could still hear the breaths from the other girls who were pleasuring themselves even after you finished riding Chrysalis.
"Now I know who to come to when I want a good time," Chrysalis said, catching her breath.
"Right... back... at ya," you replied, breathing heavily. While you were still recovering, Chrysalis joined up with the rest of the girls, satisfied for now. The others waited for you with some drinks and snacks. After pleasuring five girls they figured you must be exhausted and needed some energy again for the final parts of the game.
After resting up a little, you sat back up and stretched your arms out. "Okay, I had no idea I was gonna be able to even last that long, but man, you girls are so amazing," you said.
"Speak for yourself, Carlos. I didn't think I would be able to handle such a huge dick," Starlight said, rubbing her belly from your special time you had with her.
"He's a whole lot bigger than my previous boyfriends and even combined. I could fit my ex-boyfriends' cocks inside me and I still wouldn't be completely filled," Chrysalis said.
"How many boyfriends did you have, Chrysalis?" Rarity asked.
"Three. My first boyfriend took my virginity. But sadly, he and all my other ones just wanted me for my body, not for my heart and soul. They're not even in the same league as you, Carlos." Chrysalis said, rubbing her slightly bloated belly, sighing in satisfaction.
"Okay, if we're done talking about boyfriends, can we get on with the game now the the handsome stud with the "Big Dong" here is back up and rested?" Sugarcoat asked bluntly.
"Like you even have to ask," you smirked back at her.
"Kinky, I like it." Sugarcoat stated, the corners of her lips curled up a tiny bit.
"Since you're that eager to start this off again, what do you say we quit the game and just finish up the night with a regular massive orgy?" You offered, crawling over to Sugarcoat.
"Just remember to do it rough... I have a kink for wanting to do it rough," she replied bluntly.
"Oh? You want to do it rough huh?" You scratched your chin, thinking of something that would spice things up between you and Sugarcoat. You finally came up with something and looked at her with a predator look on your face. "Come here, you!" In a swift motion, you picked up Sugarcoat and escorted her away from the girls, then pinned her against the wall, holding her up by her ass cheeks. "You want it rough? I'll give it to you rough!"
"Then shove it all in," Sugarcoat urged, wrapping her arms around your neck. You gladly obliged, aiming your cock at her dripping entrance, then shoved it all the way inside. She shouted in pain and pleasure as the two of you began your rough sex together. "More! MORE! Fuck me harder you god damn, sexy animal, or I'll take control over this session instead!" She commanded through her loud moans.
You roared in reply as you pushed deeper and harder inside Sugarcoat's pussy. To make it even wilder for the both of you, you latched onto her neck and sucked on it. "T-that's more like it, Tiger! Don't stop now!"
"I'm not planning on stopping anytime soon hun, the fun has only just begun!" You growled before planting your lips back on her neck. Sugarcoat moaned louder and squirmed in pleasure every time you hit her g-spot.
Sugarcoat used up some of her strength to grab your face and pull you in for a kiss, thrusting her tongue in your mouth.
As the two of you were tongue battling for dominance, you realized that under all the serious and stern-honest attitude of Sugarcoat, there's a wild animal hidden inside her just waiting for it to be unleashed. She also wants to be the dominant one as she's not giving any chance to win in your tongue battle with her.
After nearly a minute, you gave in and let Sugarcoat win so you both could breathe again. "I knew I would win." She said bluntly as ever. "Shadowbolts always win," as she winked at you.
"I'll give you that one, my sexy Sugar." You admitted, "But I'm the best at love-making with you and all of the pretty girls here no questions asked. So that's a win for us Wondercolts!"
"That's an argument I cannot win." She moaned as you were still thrusting her non-stop. "I said, harder, not softer, you sexy son of a bitch!" she demanded strongly.
You gave her what she wanted and put more power into your thrusts, growling with each thrust like the vicious predator you are, rutting your prey.
Then, you carried Sugarcoat away from the wall while you kept thrusting... and then gave her lots of rough spankings so she would finally feel satisfied. Sugarcoat threw her head back, moaning loudly and throaty, unable to think straight as you messed up her insides more easily. Before you knew it, your cock tingled, ready to blow any second. Sugarcoat's pussy got tighter and was about to spray her woman honey all over your crotch and the floor.
With one last hard thrust, you came hard inside Sugarcoat, bloating her belly, thus causing this blunt beauty to cum together with you. Sugarcoat couldn't control herself from screaming in pleasure, lolling her tongue out with a goofy smile.
"You're a real wild tiger you know that, Carlos?" She held your cheek with one hand, "We should do this more often, whenever we need a break from our studies."
Sounds like a fair deal to you. Sex can be a great stress reliever, especially when the finals are coming soon. That always puts you on some stress from all the studying you have to do. You figured that Sugarcoat must be stressed too sometimes with the finals fast approaching. "Sure, I'm in." You agreed with her.
"Good," as she leaned forward and gave you a quick kiss on the lips. "Let's head back to the rest of our friends."
Joining your all of your new girlfriends once again, your balls started to feel a little sore from the amazing sex you had with almost every girl in the room. But you were not planning on stopping now as you could see Rara and Fluttershy giving you pleading looks.
These two cutie-pies were laying in a very alluring position. Rara was laying on the ground while Fluttershy was on top of Rara, both were naked and had their wet womanhoods winking at you. Your raging hard-on began throbbing like it did before with the others. This was the moment of truth: the grand finale and you were going to see it through to the end.
Without any further delay, you went up to Fluttershy and Rara, teasing them by rubbing Flutters' cute little booty and rubbing Rara's soft, smooth thighs. Fluttershy shivered and Rara hummed from your fingers touching her body so tenderly.
"You girls are so cute, you know that?" you asked.
"A-and you're the sweetest boy I've ever met." Fluttershy said shyly.
"You're also handsome, sexy and you have an amazing singing voice." Rara complimented you. "I wouldn't mind singing a duet with you later on. I really think you're very talented."
"That's really kind of you two to say that." You said with a burning red cheeks. "How about I return the favor by making you two cuties into even more beautiful women," as you aimed your rod at Fluttershy's pussy. "Ready, my dear Flutters?"
"Mhmm," Fluttershy nodded with a flustered look. "Just... do it slowly for me... I'm a little nervous about this."
"Anything for my sweet, little angel." You said in a gentle tone as you lay your hands on her soft, tender buttcheeks, getting a good feel of her skin. Fluttershy shivered a little at the touch, but was calmed down by Rara, who told her that it's okay.
You massaged Fluttershy's cute, creamy yellow tush and then slowly guided your cock inside her pussy, making sure you didn't hurt her too much.She whimpered a little and nearly screamed out in pain the moment your manhood went through her hymen. She sobbed a little after that, feeling her pain you gently stroke her long, beautiful pink hair in comfort. Fluttershy smiled through her sobbing as she felt so safe with you during this intimate moment.
"Are you alright Flutters?"
She dried her tears and looked at you with a reassuring smile. "I'm - I'm fine now. I'm glad that the pain is going away and your rod starts to feel so good inside me," she cooed. "I'm ready now, Carlos. Let us continue."
"That a girl. It'll hurt at first, but it'll get better with time," you slowly started thrusting inside her pussy as the shy girl started to moan in pleasure.
You didn't want to leave Rara out of the picture, so after a few thrusts you pulled your manhood out of Fluttershy's pussy. Fluttershy pouted a little a that as she wanted more. You reassured her she'll get her turn again but now it's the musician's turn to be pleasured by you.
"Ok, Rara, you ready?"
"Let us make some beautiful music together, Carlos." She chimed "and by that I mean, let's feel your monster schlong in my needy cunt!" she said, surprising you with her vulgar language.
"Ooh, you naughty girl!" You said, aroused.
"Don't keep me waiting honey," trying to spread out her legs a bit more. "I'm ready for you to take me."
You instantly gave the pop singer exactly what she wanted, slowly guiding your cock inside her wet vulva and instantly breaking past her hymen and ending her virginity like with Fluttershy. Rara's body tensed up a little at the sudden pain and she hissed a little. The pain slowly gave way for pleasure. She sighed in relief as her tongue rolled out of her mouth and relaxed as she got used to your cock.
"Oooh, your dick feels so much better now." Thankful that the pain is now over, she looked back at you with a pouty look. "Well, don't just stand there honey, keep pushing. I want more."
"You got it my beautiful Melody," you replied, thrusting more in Rara's sweet love dungeon. She moaned as her body shivered from the amazing sensation she felt. She was experiencing exactly what the other girls felt when they got fucked by you. Rara held onto Fluttershy, moaning in her ear while she moaned just from feeling her boobs squeeze against Rara's own boobs.
"Yes! Yes! Oh yes, Carlos! Fuck me harder!" She begged you. This continued on for a few more thrusts until you switched back to Fluttershy again, making her yelp from the sudden intrusion of your cock.
"O-oh m-my!"
"You said you wanted more right, Flutters?" You asked seductively. "Well, here I am. Are you enjoying it?"
"Y-yess, please don't stop now," as her moans became louder.
You proceeded to keep banging this cute little angel and massaging her smooth body, making her moan so adorably, you could hug and kiss her. She looked at you with an adorable, seductive smile, panting heavily during your passionate sex. She made your heart skip a beat and put a smile on your face every time she stared at you with her beautiful teal eyes.
Another few thrusts later, you pulled out of Flutters and slammed back inside Rara, getting her all riled up and horny just like you did before. Her tight pussy got more slippery with every thrust.
"That's it honey... keep on going." She said as you keep thrusting her. "You're making me feel so good!" She rolled her eyes up in pleasure. Soon, as time went on and you switched from these two girls, neither of them could tell who had your cock inside their pussy and it wasn't long before all three of you were ready to blow.
You couldn't hold it in much longer. Soon, after grabbing Fluttershy's booty, you hilted deep inside her love cave and pumped your jizz inside her. She shrieked in pleasure, throwing her head up in pleasure. About halfway into your climax, you pulled out and thrusted deep inside Rara's pussy, emptying out the rest of your cum, making her moan as loud as Fluttershy did.
Both girls were unable to contain themselves and then came hard on your crotch and the living room floor.
Exhausted from the massive orgy you had with all these loving girls, you were unable to keep yourself up and quickly went limp after pulling out of Rara. You hit the ground hard, breathing heavily from exhaustion.
"Carlos! Are you alright?" Starlight asked, crawling over to you.
"I... I'm fine. But... next time... when we do this... let's not go crazy and... have you girls... bang with me... all at once, or I might not last as long as I did. My hips are hurting and I'm all out of juice," you replied, struggling just to catch your breath. Your heavy breathing continued and you were unable to pick yourself up, nor were you able to lift up your arms.
"He does have a point, you know. This was our first time... well, except for Chrysalis, but even so, that's true, we'd better take things easy from now on and limit it to only one or two girls a day." Starlight suggested.
"Yes, I do agree, Starlight. We're sorry for tiring you out like that. I had no idea how strong my feelings were to one of my best students." Luna said.
"Hey, no worries. I'm just glad I had a great time with you girls," you replied, able to breathe again, but still couldn't move.
"So... now what'll we do?" Fluttershy asked.
"Well, you could always stay the night at my house," you offered."I've got a few spare bedrooms for you girls and there's also the big couch here."
"I... I'm not sure if that's such a good idea," Luna said, hesitant.
"Think about it: it's already late and who knows what kind of thugs might jump us at this hour. I say we take up on Carlos's offer and stay overnight." Chrysalis said.
"Sweet Celestia! It's already after midnight!" Rarity exclaimed as she quickly checked the time on her phone. "Chrysalis is right, we'd better stay here tonight. Besides, all that rutting has left me quite tired," she then followed it up with a cute yawn
"Trixie approves of the idea of staying here for tonight." She let out a cute yawn as well, while stretching her arms out wide. "Besides, it's time for Trixie's beauty sleep."
"I'm up for it, I have nowhere else to be tomorrow." Rara added.
"I'll go ahead and get the pillows and blankets," Starlight said, getting up and heading into the hallway and opening up the closet door.
"Also, feel free to sleep wherever you girls want," you added.
"I'll take one of the spare bedrooms!" Rarity immediately replied. "Fluttershy, you're free to share the bed with me if you want to, deary."
"Yay... I'd like that," Fluttershy said with a squee.
"Then I'll take the second bedroom," Sugarcoat stated. "Anyone who wants to share the bed with me?"
"Count me in Sugarcoat!" Rara said as she was grabbing her clothes from the floor.
"Chryssie and I will take the couch." Luna said.
"Then Starlight and I will share the bed with Carlos," Trixie said while winking at you. You blushed a little at that since no girl has ever slept with you. Now, you'll have two girls sleeping with you.
So, each of the girls got their pillows and blankets and snuggled up in each part of the house while you summed up what little strength you had left to turn off all the lights, give each of the girls a goodnight kiss, then limped back over to your bedroom with Starlight and Trixie, slumping down in the middle.
"Goodnight, Carlos," Starlight and Trixie said, kissing your cheeks.
"Goodnight, girls... I love you," you said tiredly.
"We love you, too," they replied. And so, you and all of your new girlfriends let the fatigue finally take over and finally drifted off to sleep. This was truly... the best night of your life. And you couldn't wait to let your family know about this.
Though, it might be best to only tell them a little bit of your new relationship. Just to be on the safe side. |
Rekindling the Love in your Heart | Sticking Together To The End | Nearly a month has passed since that wonderful night you had with all your amazing girlfriends. You've never felt so happy before since then. With Thanksgiving around the corner, you thought this would be the perfect time to introduce your girlfriends to your parents. Although, things were gonna be slightly more difficult with them since they still haven't forgotten about the two bitches who ruined your life in the past.
During one of your previous days, when you were out shopping for some ingredients for the Thanksgiving dinner, you gave your parents a call and asked them if you could meet up with them so you could introduce a couple of your friends. You also asked them if they and a few others could join your family for Thanksgiving dinner if it wasn't too much trouble.
They weren't sure if it was such a good idea at first, but since your "friends" made you feel happy again, they agreed to allow them to come over. You told the girls about this and they were delighted to join you for a nice Thanksgiving dinner. However, before all of the girls can visit your family for the Thanksgiving dinner, your parents wanted to know exactly how a couple of the girls are like. You can only guess that they needed to be sure they weren't like your ex-girlfriends.
And so, right now, you just finished your shift at work after classes and you were in your living room, sitting on your couch, in a group call with all of the girls. "So, which one of you girls feels comfortable about wanting to meet my parents during the weekend?" you asked.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie volunteers!"
"I have no trouble in meeting your parents Carlos," Starlight replied. "I'm sure they're much better and accepting people than my overprotective father."
"You'll be in for a surprise to know exactly how big my family is. My parents are also planning on bringing over my two older twin brothers." you said
"You also have brothers?" Fluttershy asked. "Oh my!"
"And a little sister, too," you replied.
"A LITTLE SISTER?!" Rarity yelled over the comms. "YOU HAVE AN ADORABLE LITTLE SISTER LIKE I DO? Ooh, I can't wait to meet the little angel!" she then let out a cute squeal.
You rubbed your ears after hearing the loud excitement from you fashionista girlfriend before she finally calmed down a bit and letting you clear your throat. "Yes, Rarity, I do and she still lives with my parents. Her name is Liliana, but I call her Lilis."
"Oh my goodness I wanna meet your parents as soon as we can." Rarity said excitedly.
"As much as you want to join in, I think it's better if we start off nice and easy by just introducing Starlight and Trixie to your parents first, Carlos," Sugarcoat suggested.
"She does have a good point. If we all showed up altogether, it'll give his parents the wrong idea about him and the last thing we need is to put him in a tight spot," Chrysalis said.
"Fine then, but I want to join dear Carlos in his next visit to his parents," Rarity said a little grumpy.
"Okay, Rare-bear." you got a kiss from her through your headset. "Anyways, Starlight and Trixie, I'll be seeing you two at my parents' house this Saturday."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world, Carlos. Take care," Starlight said.
"And remember, Trixie's going to be cooking up her special homemade chocolate chip muffins for all of us to enjoy for the Thanksgiving dinner. See you then," Trixie added.
"I gotta go too, I've got a rehearsal to go to later on this Friday," Rara said. "See you later."
After bidding each other goodbye, you and the girls all hung up and you decided to take a break by playing some online games after a hard day's work. Getting up from your couch, you walked over to the TV and kneeled down, turning on your Playstation 4 and grabbing your controller. You took your seat back on the couch and then waited for the game to begin.
After playing a couple of hours on your favorite games with some of your friends, you decided to call it a day and you were getting ready for bed. You had already finished cleaning up the house and did your homework, now all that was left was to change into some comfortable clothes to wear for bed. Just then, you heard the sound of your door being knocked on, startling you.
"What the... who could be coming to my house at this time of night? I'm not expecting company, definitely not and packages from online," you asked, walking over to the door and opening it up. Outside your door was Sugarcoat, wearing a white shirt and black sweats. "Oh, hi, Sugarcoat. What brings you here?"
"My parents were being total assholes. They kept forbidding me from seeing you because they think you're a bad influence and too poor to date me. Mind if I crash here for the night?" she asked.
You were shocked after hearing how Sugarcoat's parents think about you. How can they say that you're a bad influence to her if they haven't even met you yet? If anything, it's the opposite. Sugarcoat has never felt so happy before since she got together with you. She started to smile more often and her tone of voice is less dry and more emotional and sincere. "Of course, you're always welcome here at my humble abode anytime, any day, Sugarcoat, so make yourself at home." You stepped aside to let your girlfriend inside, to which Sugarcoat rolled her eyes, smiling in amusement.
"Flatterer," she said while entering your house. Once she was inside, you locked the door.
"So, how exactly did you manage to come to my house without your parents knowing, did you end up sneaking out through your bedroom window or something?"
"Yeah, but you don't wanna try that when you live in a 3-story house." Sugarcoat said.
"I better not, I might break a leg," you agreed, feeling shivers running down your spine. "But shouldn't you at least let them know that you're safe? They might get worried about you and call the police, especially now that it's getting dark outside."
"I've got it covered," Sugarcoat said, while showing her text messages. "I told them that I'd be sleeping at my friend, Sunny Flare's house. She already knows that I am with you and she called my parents, teling them that I'm sleeping at her home. Sunny even convinced her parents to play along with this little plan so my parents won't get in the way of my happiness. They know how obnoxious, overbearing and rude my parents are and would gladly trick them anytime, any day."
"Very sneaky... I like it," you said, trying to be blunt as her.
"Stick with your own personality," Sugarcoat rebutted bluntly.
"Well, I tried," you grinned. All joking aside, you escorted Sugarcoat into your bedroom. She yawned and walked over to your bed, lying herself down, making herself comfortable. You turned off all the lights in the house before joining Sugarcoat in bed. Both of you snuggled under the covers, wrapping your arms around her, pulling her close to you. "Sleep well now, Sugarcoat and goodnight." you whispered.
"Goodnight, Tiger." Sugarcoat said with a light chuckle. "But I gotta ask... do you think your parents will approve of me being your girlfriend? I'm not the most easy-going girl in the world. You know how blunt I can be all the time and how I never mince words."
"Sugarcoat, you and the others made me happy. It doesn't matter to me if you're blunt or not, because in the end, that's exactly what makes you who you are. Others may have come off as rude but you're just being honest and deep down, you're a kind, beautiful and generous soul." you explained.
Though it was dark in your room, you could tell that Sugarcoat was smiling at you. "You really do know how to make a girl feel special. Thank God you were my first."
"Nothing but the best for one of my precious ladies," as you gave her a kiss on the cheek. She chuckled once more and kissed you on the cheek before both of you finally went to sleep.
The days rolled by and yet more busy school days and back-breaking work shifts were over and done with, yet another Saturday had arrived. You got yourself all dressed up for today and have already picked up Starlight and Trixie from their houses some time this afternoon. You were both walking down this quiet neighborhood with lots of 2-story buildings.
"So, how far till we reach your parents' home, Carlos?" Starlight asked.
"Not far Glimmy-glimm. We're almost at the street where they live. Once there, look for the 2-story house with number 101 on it in golden numbers."
"Trixie hopes we're close because she thinks she's getting blisters on her feet," your magician girlfriend hissed a little, taking a few moments to stop and massage her feet.
"I can always carry you if you want?" you offered.
"Trixie appreciates your offer but she'll be fine." she said, not wanting to strain you. You gently pinched her cheek, making her squee before you continued your walk to go and find your parents house.
After a few minutes, you turned right, coming up to this house with 101 in gold numbers. "Here we are, we've finally arrived at my parents' humble abode. Shall we go in?" you asked.
"Very much, let's," Starlight replied.
You nodded and walked up to the front door and pressed a button for the bell to go off. While waiting for someone to open the door, Starlight and Trixie walked up next to you, waiting excitedly to finally get the chance to meet your loving family. You heard some footsteps approaching the door and you straighten yourself before the door opened. You saw this beautiful woman in her late 30's or early 40's with the beautiful silver white hair and brown eyes, who happened to be your mother, Martina.
"Mijo, so good of you to finally come over. Are these your friends?" she asked.
"Yeah, mom. This young lady is Starlight Glimmer," you said, gesturing to said cutie on your left. "And this little cutie-pie is Trixie Lulamoon." Trixie instantly blushed and smiled.
"I see. Well, why don't you and the girls come inside and I'll go ahead fetch you some drinks," she said, stepping to the side so you all could enter. All of you walked inside before your mom closed the door. "Honey, come down here, mijo's arrived!" she called out.
"Okay, be there in a sec, mi corazon," a deep male voice called out from upstairs in one of the rooms in what sounded like a Spanish accent.
"Alright, can I get you girls a drink while we wait?" your mom asked.
"Sure. Trixie could use a glass of water right now," she said in 3rd person.
"I'll have a water, too, Miss..." Starlight paused, not knowing how to address your mom.
"Bonilla. Martina Bonilla. But you can just call me Martina," she replied.
"Okay then, Martina," Starlight said. Both girls then took a seat on the couch with you. You sat between your two girlfriends with Starlight leaning her head on your shoulder with a sigh and closed her eyes, happily. Trixie placed her hand on your leg and smiled at you very sincerely.
Martina, while she was serving your drinks, saw what the girls were doing. She frowned her eyes a little as she had some doubts about your two girlfriends.
Just then, three pairs of footsteps were walking down the steps. You and the girls look and see not just your dad, Eddie, but also your older brother, Betillo, who has yours and your dad's blue hair, though his was a lot shorter than and next to him was your little sister Liliana, or as you call her Lilis for short.
"CARLOS!!!" Liliana called out, running over to you, giving you the biggest hug.
"Hi Lilis, how are you doing in school?" you asked, hugging her back.
"I'm doing okay, I made a new friend and she's really nice!" Lilis replied.
"Aww, your sister is so adorable," Starlight said. "Hi there, little lady. What's your name?" she asked, smiling at your cute little sister.
"I'm Liliana. Who are you girls?" she asked.
"I'm Starlight Glimmer and this is Trixie Lulamoon," Starlight gestured to herself and Trixie, who waved at the adorable little bundle of joy. She waved back before she wrapped her arms around you again.
"Carlos, you need to play with me sometimes! I miss you," Liliana pouted, puffing her cheeks.
"I know, sis, but school and work have kept me busy... among other things in my life," you said, turning your attention to Starlight, then Trixie and winked at them. They both started to blush as you were referring to your private time with them and the other romantic moments you spent with them.
"I can tell," Betillo said, butting into the conversation.
"Mijo, why don't you come with us? We need to have a talk in the backyard." your mom suggested before whispering into Betillo's ear. He nodded and sat on a different couch across from where the girls were sitting, making them a bit confused.
"Starlight and Trixie, was it?" Betillo asked. They nodded. "If you don't mind, shall we stay here and talk about you and my little brother?"
"Sure, why not." Starlight agreed. Meanwhile, your mom escorted you out the back. You and your parents quickly walked into the backyard, then they closed the door and turned around to face you. You recognized their expressions back from when they chased off your exes.
"Mijo, are you dating those girls?" she asked. You got a little nervous and hesitated, stuttering a bit, worried that they might get mad.
"You don't have to feel ashamed about telling us. We won't get mad at you, we just want you to tell us the goodness to honest truth is all. Are you dating those ladies right now?" your dad asked.
"Uh... yeah, they're my girlfriends. But they're really kind and caring," you said.
"Mijo, don't you remember what happened with those 2 putas who made your life miserable?" your mother reminded you, causing you to look down after bringing that up. "What if these are just like them, mijo? What if they're just using you or cheat on you?"
"Mom, they're nothing Cathy and Ashley. They actually helped me get my life back on track. A couple of weeks ago, they even chased off Cathy and Ashley when they tried to get back together with me. I owe them a great deal of thanks for that." you assured them, but they were still unconvinced.
"What exactly did they do, did they attack them?" your dad asked.
"No, they bluffed them by making up these stories that I slept with Starlight and Trixie. When those girls left, Starlight and Trixie dropped the act and we spent the day watching some scary movies before the Halloween Dance started the next day. I can assure you guys that they're just some of the best girls I can count on to make my day better when I'm feeling down." you said.
"I don't know, mijo. And I'm not trying to be rude. I'm just worried about you. I worry about how one of these days, some random girl will break your heart again. I'm not going to force you to break up with those girls, but I just want you to be careful, okay mijo?" your mom asked.
"If you say these girls make you happy and you mean it, we won't stop you." your father said, gently placing his hand on one of your shoulders. "We're here for you, no matter happens."
You smiled at your parents as small tears escaped your eyes. Drying it off, you gave your parents a big hug and they hugged right back. Despite having their doubts about the relationship you have with Starlight and Trixie, they deeply care about you and they only want to see you happy. Though you have to tell them about the rest of the girls that you're in a relationship with soon.
While you and your parents were talking in the backyard, your older twin brother, Betillo was asking some questions to Starlight and Trixie about you.
"You actually drove off those bitches by saying you spent some "private time" with him? Boy, you girls sure know how to chase off thots," Betillo asked, impressed.
"Yup! And you should've seen their faces when they left, it was so priceless!" Trixie began to laugh, remembering that day all too well.
"Hah, yeah I wish I could've seen it, or even taken a picture of it. So, after you drove them away, what did you girls do with Carlos after that?" Betillo asked
"We stayed at his house for the night, watching a horror movie marathon together. We kicked off the night by watching Child's Play first. Then I chose to watch The Gallows. Starlight's movie choice made me sleep with the hallway lights on. She went and chose Hell House. That's the movie where these group of friends set up a haunted house attraction at this haunted motel where these black-hooded figures roam, terrorizing and killing off the group one by one, it was horrifying." Trixie said.
"Typical Carlos, he always loved scary movies," Betillo replied as he leaned back in his chair. "So, how did Halloween go for you all? Did you have a good time at the party at CHS?"
"Yes we did. Carlos was one of the best dancers we've ever been with. And when it came time for a slow dance, he and I danced like we were on air. I couldn't stop looking into his eyes. He was so handsome when he smiled at me every minute when we danced together. And to make things more amazing... Carlos ended up giving me my very first kiss. I'm never gonna forget that wonderful night," Starlight explained.
"Me neither," Trixie chimed in. "Trixie never felt so alive that night."
Betillo smiled at them, clearly these 2 girls were so in love with you and the sincere look in their eyes don't lie, not even a tiny bit. He can only hope now that his parents can see that too once they're back from their conversation in the backyard.
Speaking of which, the back door opened up and in walks you and your parents. Betillo ran up to mom and dad informing them about your girlfriends and all their good traits.
"Oh, what a relief. But, uh... Betillo, did Liliana hear any of this?" Martina asked.
"No, mom. I sent little Liliana to her room to play while so I could talk with the girls in private. I know you wouldn't want her to hear us speaking about anything too "adults-only," he assured
"That's a relief," your father said. "Our little girl is not ready yet for these adult conversations."
"Anyways, it's nice to know you've found some nice girls in your life. Now, I'm going have a little talk girl talk with them in private right now," your mom said as she walked over to your girlfriends. "Might we take our conversation to the backyard?"
"Sure, we'll be right with you, Martina," Starlight said. Starlight and Trixie both got up from the couch and set their empty cups on the coffee table. She and Trixie soon followed Martina out into the backyard and closed the door so that no one could hear them.
"So what is it you wanted to talk about?"
"I just wanted to let you girls know that I love my boy very much. His happiness is everything that a mother could ever hope for their son to have. When I learned how you girls came into his life, I had my doubts about whether you were good or not. But he told me and his father such great things about you. He said that if it weren't for you, then he would've remained a sad, lonely young man for the rest of his life."
"We know Martina, we know." Starlight said while holding hands with Trixie. "That's why we wanted to help him see that we care about him and we wanted to help him move on."
"And you did very well. Just promise me that you'll keep watching over my son. He's been through enough harsh times as it is and I can't stand to see him suffering again," Martina said.
"We promise, Martina. Carlos is safe with us," Starlight said.
"You have the word of The Great and Powerful TRIXIE!!!" She boasted loudly for the entire neighborhood to hear, then toned it down. "That Carlos is in good hands" she bowed slightly to Martina to prove that Trixie wasn't joking around with her in the least.
"Good. I'm happy to hear that. Come on, let's go back inside before you two catch cold," Martina said, walking the girls back inside the house.
"Gladly, Trixie is getting cold out here," she was rubbing her arms as a cold, Autumn breeze brushed against her skin, giving her goosebumps. Martina gladly guided the girls back inside the house. Inside, Starlight and Trixie walked back over to you, both with smiles on their faces.
"I trust you girls had a good talk with mom?" you asked
You made sure to confirm to your father about whether he and your mother still approved of having all your girlfriends over for Thanksgiving dinner. Though they didn't mind the company, there was one thing they still needed to know about.
"Mijo, how many girlfriends do you have exactly?" your dad asked.
"Uh... don't get mad, but... I've got 8 in total," you said, scratching the back of your head.
"Ay dios mio! Mijo, what way do you fly?" your dad said before going on one of his Spanish rants, but he wasn't mad, just shocked out of his mind.
Your mother nearly fainted when she heard you were dating 8 girls, but she managed to get a hold of herself by doing her breathing exercises. "Alright then Mijo, they can come over for Thanksgiving, but you will be helping us make dinner for all of them."
You had no problem with that since you always wanted to cook for your girls and see if they'd be satisfied with your great cooking skills.
"Jeez, bro, you must be on a roll if you've got eight girls wrapped around your finger," Betillo commented, lightly jabbing your shoulder.
"It came as a surprise to me. Anyways, I've gotta get home and do some cooking. I'll call you and let you know when the food is ready before coming back on Thanksgiving." you said.
"I'm sure the girls will love your cooking, mijo," Your dad, Eddie, said. "Now then, we've got to get dinner prepared, but are you absolutely sure you don't want to stay for a little bite?"
"That's very kind of you, Mr. Bonilla, but I'm afraid we'll have to decline, seeing as how we came here last minute just to meet you," Starlight said.
"No need to worry. We understand and it was no trouble at all that you showed up. Mijo, you make sure your sweethearts make it home safely, okay?"
"Will do, mom. Come on, girls," you said, taking Starlight and Trixie by their hands. You and the girls bid your loving family goodbye and left the house to return to your own humble abodes. Walking hand in hand with both girls on each side of you, you all walked back as the day slowly turned into night. After dropping your girlfriends off at their homes safely and gave both kiss on the lips, you quickly made your way back home to make some of your deluscious tamales and pupusas.
Hours turned into days and all of that hard work and prepping has finally paid off now that you've cooked enough food to fill up an entire party. So many tamales and pupusas, all packed up in plates and bowls, all set and ready to be eaten and you couldn't wait to serve these at your parents' house.
Now, the only challenging part was carrying your food over to the party, but because there were so much, you weren't sure if you could carry it all. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
"Hmm, I wonder who that could be?" As you made your way out of the kitchen and towards the front door, you opened it up and were immediately greeted by a pair of bountiful boobs being shoved in your face by your sexy as hell Sex Ed Teacher.
"Carlos, it is so great to see you again!" Chryssie said, hugging you in her breasts.
"Chryssie! Fancy meeting you here in my house!" you said, poking out of her breasts.
"I heard you were making some delicious meals, so I just had to stop by and see for myself," she said, rubbing your hair, teasingly as she entered the house. You heard the horn of another car approaching, making you look out your front door. You spotted Rarity and Fluttershy driving up and saw that they brought Starlight and Trixie along with them for the ride.
Getting out of the car, they both ran up to you and kissed you on the cheek as you blushed at the affection both of them were giving you. After a few minutes, Vice-Principal Luna arrived, along with Sugarcoat and Rara, but those two didn't have their own cars. They all greeted you with a hug or a kiss on the lips before you all went to take a seat at the table.
"Did you miss us, darling?" Rarity said
"Sure did. Say, now that you girls are here, could you do me a favor?" you asked.
"What might that be?" Fluttershy asked.
"Well..." you showed them your plates and bowls filled with wrapped tamales and pupusas. "Could you girls please help me carry this at my parents house? It's for tonight's dinner."
"Of course we will, darling." Rarity already stood up from her seat. "Though, I do expect something in return from you... later on after the party," winking at you teasingly.
"Oh boy, I think I know what it is. But alright," you said. You and the girls helped load the food up in the cars, then you hopped into Luna's car after locking up your house. You gave Luna the directions to your parents' house and she drove off. The other girls got into Chrysalis' and Rarity's car and followed you and Luna closely for a few short minutes. Sure enough, everyone arrived at your mom and dad's house.
"My, what a beautiful house," Luna said.
"Trust me, the inside is even more amazing," you said. Luna smiled, taking your word for it before you, her and the others got out and unloaded most of the food. You approached the front door and knocked a few time, then waited for someone to answer. You heard footsteps approaching the door, when it opened you and the girls were greeted by your other twin brother, Adan.
"Bro, so glad you made it!" Adan greeted and quickly gave you a hug, followed by a noogie.
"Happy Thanksgiving, Adan!" You said while struggling to get free from your bro's noogie.
After he released you he then noticed all your girlfriends standing in the front yard. All trying to contain their laughter at the affection your brother gave to you. "So these are all your girlfriends? I guess Mom and Dad really weren't kidding when they told you were dating 8 attractive young ladies. Man, you're lucky! Just make sure that you treat these ladies well."
"I always will," you said determined.
"Oh, where are my manners?" Adan gave a bow to the girls. "My name is Adan Requeno, one of Carlos's older brothers, it's nice to finally meet you all for the first time. Welcome at our home and before I forget: Happy Thanksgiving to all of you."
"Requeno?" Luna asked.
"Oh, that's right. Never fully explained. You see, Adan and Betillo are actually my half-brothers. My mother had a previous relationship before she met and married my dad. It was a bit of a rocky relationship and by the end, my mom won custody over my brothers. At first, they struggled to get by, but then found love when mom met my dad, then before they knew it, they got married and had me and my sister." you explained.
"That's quite an interesting story. So, may we come in before the food gets cold?" Luna asked.
"Of course, please enter." Adan stepped aside, allowing the girls and you to enter.
"Mijo, so glad you could make it!" your dad called out.
"Hi dad, hi mom!" you replied. You walked over to the counter and set down the food you had and soon, the other girls also did the same. As the rest of the girls walked in, they all introduced themselves to your parents and siblings, shaking their hands and just being friendly. Then, right on cue, you were tackled by your little sister, Liliana, who gave you a big hug.
"Hi Carlos!" she said, squeezing you tight and nuzzling into your shirt.
"Hey, Lilis," you replied, giving her a big hug.
"Oh darling, your sister looks so adorable!!!" Rarity complimented your little sister.
Lilis heard Rarity's praise and looked at her, batting her eyes adorably, "Yup, pretty much. Can I please have a hug from all of you?" she asked, opening up her arms. Rarity gladly returned the favor and hugged your little sister with lots of big hugs.
"Darling, you're such a lucky young man to have such a cute little sister. She's simply darling," Rarity kept praising, making Liliana giggle.
"Okay, Lilis, if you're done hogging all the attention, I'd like to take a picture of all of us. I want to make our Thanksgiving night extra special for everyone here." your mom said.
"That's an excellent idea mom." You agreed.
"Great idea! I want a copy!" Starlight said
"As long as Trixie gets a copy too." The other girls also wanted a copy to take home with them. After your mom agreed to what they wanted, you all made your way to the big sofa in the living room.
You sat in the middle, with Starlight and Trixie resting their heads on your shoulders. Rarity sat right next to Starlight and Fluttershy next to Trixie. They both placed their hands on your legs. Sugarcoat and Rara were sitting on the armrests of the sofa while Luna and Chrysalis stood behind you along with the rest of your family with big smiles all around.
"Thank you all for coming girls," you thanked them all. "And I also want to thank my parents and siblings for accepting my girlfriends into the family. It means the world to me. I love you all."
They all awed at the dear compliment you gave them.
"We all love you too, Carlos." Starlight said, before kissing.
"Now and forever." Trixie said and kissed you too.
"Whenever you need us," Fluttershy said with her cute voice.
"We'll always be there for you, Darling." Rarity added.
"Through dark times." Sugarcoat said in a gentle tone.
"And good times!" Rara chimed in.
"No matter the circumstances," Luna added.
"And no matter the distance," Chrysalis also added.
"How nice of you all to be so close to mijo. Now everyone, say "cheese," your mom said, finished setting up the camera and putting the timer on it. She joined you and everyone else in the group and soon.
"Cheese!" everyone said in unison. The camera flashed, snapping the picture. On that night, your family became a hole lot bigger and you couldn't be happier about it. With your lovely ladies by your side and your family there to support you, life was just about to become much brighter in the future.
The end |
Ruin for Pun: the kilala97 Edition | pre | Anthea felt a sudden gust of wind. Startled animals all around her cried out as Starburst took off and cut through the air like a rocket. Anthea frowned, keeping her eyes on the sky and scanning for a yellow blur against the hazy blue background. The herons tugged at the unicorn's mane with their bills, forcing her to turn. Anthea reached out slowly, and gently stroked the the birds when she found them.
Minutes later, the birds squawked noisily, and she heard a thud from behind, followed by several heavy pants. A yellow blur swayed in front of her, until it lost its balance and collapsed. Anthea quickly ran over and helped the fallen pegasus climb back onto her feet.
"You okay?"
Starburst nodded. "Just fine," she gasped. "It's been a while since I've had to fly that fast."
"Yeah, leave the racing for Prism and Icy. What was it that you'd always say, you're a fighter, not a runner?"
Starburst's chuckle came out as a wheeze, and she pressed a hoof against her heaving chest to slow her breathing. "Yeah, that was it." She coughed and picked up the book laying in the dirt. "Anyways, here's the book," Starburst said, holding it toward Anthea. "Sorry it's a little dusty. I-I could clean it first, if you like."
Anthea stared past the offered tome, her head cocked to the side. She stood there, regarding Starburst and the book with dull eyes. Starburst's foreleg acted as a testament to her training and strength as it held the heavy spell book for so long without wavering, but eventually the pegasus began to shift uncomfortably.
"Here," she tried again, stepping forward and pressing the book against Anthea's chest. "Take it, it's yours. Princess Twilight would have wanted you to have it."
"Why do you call her that?"
"Call who what?" Starburst asked.
"Your mother. You always refer to her by her title." Anthea frowned. "The last time I remember calling her mom was when we were still kids, and let's face it, that was a while ago. Why?"
"Well, just, I mean, it's just proper," Starburst finally settled. "Pr--Mother's royalty, she should be addressed as such."
"But you don't mind that I don't call you princess."
"That's not, I'm not a princess," Starburst argued. "Not really."
"Then captain. Do I need to start call you Captain Starburst now every time I want to say your name?" Anthea demanded.
"J-just take the book already!" Starburst growled. She all but shoved the tome into Anthea, forcing her to step back. The herons glared and chirped angrily, but Starburst ignored them. "Look, I've got a lot to do, and I need to head back home so I--"
Images of Night Light hiding his tears and echoes of their earlier discussion wormed into her thoughts. She watched her brother's features distort in frustration and exhausted defeat, and old imagined accusations returned. Starburst took a step back and let the book fall to the ground. She sat and raised her hooves, covering her face with them. "S-sorry, I-I didn't mean to, oh heavens above."
When Anthea rested a hoof on the pegasus's shoulder, she didn't struggle or shrink away. "I'm a horrible daughter," Starburst whispered. "I should have been there."
"Hush. You're a lot of things, but I wouldn't call you a horrible daughter," Anthea said. "Difficult, sure, but that doesn't make you horrible."
Starburst rubbed her eyes furiously. "How about missing your mother's last words to you?" she grumbled.
"Night Light told you? He was the one who made us promise not to say anything. Figures." Anthea sighed and wrapped her forelegs around the pegasus, pulling her into a hug. "Want to talk about?"
"I-I don't know," Starburst sniffed.
Anthea tapped her chin thoughtfully "Well, want to help me take care of animals?" she asked.
Starburst lifted her head. "Huh?"
"Whenever I was upset, Mom would let me help with the animals," Anthea said, gesturing toward the yard's interior. "After an hour feeding chickens and grooming bears, I'd feel better."
"I don't know," Starburst said. She rubbed her foreleg awkwardly. "I mean, I don't think I should bother you anymore than I've already."
Anthea tilted her head. "Why would help bother me?" she asked. "I could actually use a pair of working eyes right now."
"You sure?"
"Definitely," Anthea assured, pulling Starburst toward the herons. Starburst reluctantly followed.
"What do you need me to do?"
"I need you to guide these fellows down to lake," Anthea explained. "You know, the, uh, the one besides the old swimming hole."
"Got it." Starburst took a few steps forward before turning back to Anthea and the birds. "Um, they're not following."
Anthea and the herons stared at each other. "Huh, guess they're not. Hmm, let me think." Lowering her head, prodded the first bird with her horn. It squawked angrily but made no other protest before making its way to Starburst's side. The other bird followed.
"That's a little mean, don't you think?" Starburst said as Anthea approached.
The unicorn shrugged. "Yeah, but there's not a lot I can do. Communicating with animals was Mom's talent, not mine." She sighed. "Whenever I come back here, I always wonder if I could've helped Mom with her job better. Maybe if I had a different cutie mark, we could've spent more time together, or maybe I could have kept her cottage instead of giving it away to a real animal caretaker."
"If you had a different cutie mark, you wouldn't have been you," Starburst said. "But yeah, I get what you're saying. So, where's the current caretaker, and why aren't they helping out?"
"Oh, I told him to take the day off, that T and I'd handle things for today," Anthea explained. "I guess they figured the daughter of Fluttershy ought to be able to manage at least for a day, and well, I kind of bit off more than I could chew." She laughed. "I didn't even tell T about volunteering us like this, but I just really wanted to do this, to remember what it was like."
"Remember what it was like, huh?" Starburst's words were laden with bitterness, and she bit her lip as she heard them for herself.
"What's wrong?"
Anthea had noticed her tone as well. A lie would be pointless, but Starburst still considered telling her that everything was okay, that nothing was wrong, that she was just tired, if only to delay; she could see the lake draw closer.
"And don't tell me everything's okay, I can tell something's wrong."
"I--" Starburst turned away and scowled. "I wasn't."
"So what's wrong?"
"Just, I don't know where to begin." The herons stopped as Starburst stopped and watched as the pegasus flopped onto her back. "I want to remember all the great times and awesome stuff I did with my mother, but I can't. There's nothing there!" Starburst growled, frustrated. She stretched toward the sky, reaching for the sun. "And I can't help but wonder, if I were a unicorn like Night Light or if I liked reading, maybe I'd have these nice memories to turn to. Maybe I'd have spent more time with her."
She lowered her hoof onto her chest. "Maybe, maybe it'd hurt less."
Anthea sat besides her. "You can't help who you are. If you were a unicorn or had different interests, you wouldn't be you anymore. Don't you like being you?"
"I do, most of the times. Other times, I don't know. Anthea?"
"Hmm?"
Starburst rolled over and looked to the mare next to her. "You were close to my mother. D-do you know what she'd want to apologize for?"
Anthea shook her head. "Sorry, I can't say for certain. Maybe, maybe she was sorry she didn't spend as much time with you as she liked. You know, you and her are more alike than you think."
Despite herself, Starburst snorted. "I'm an athlete, she's an intellect. I like working out, she's into reading and research."
"You're both ambitious, driven, and the most powerful mares I've ever known. You're both super serious sometimes, really fun and laid back at others, and you really really love your friends," Anthea argued. "You're both also really self-sacrificing and tend to put a lot of unnecessary blame on yourselves. Oh, and you apparently have the same mane style."
"No we don't!" Starburst snapped. "Mine's short and hers is long and all princess-like."
"But you agree with everything else?"
Starburst turned away and muttered something under her breath. Anthea giggled. "You know, Princess Twilight would talk about you all the time," she said.
Starburst slowly turned back around. "To you?"
"Yep. I learned more about you from her than I did about magic." She giggled again as Starburst groaned. "I was honestly a little jealous."
"Wait." Starburst raised a hoof. Her mouth hung open as she shrugged to speak. "Did I hear you right? You were jealous of me?"
Anthea nodded. "Don't tell anypony, but I've always had this weird dream, when I was still at the orphanage. There's a dinner party or some sort of get-together for adults, and all these ponies are talking about their children are, but my parents are the loudest. I can't see them, they're like shadows, but they're bragging about all I can do and everything."
Her lips twitched into a half-hearted smile. "I've never heard Mom bragged about me to anypony. That's okay, that's just how she is, but hearing Princess Twilight praise you and talk about all you've done just made me wonder if my mom was proud of me too."
"She--" Starburst began to shake with laughter.
"Did I say something funny?" Anthea asked, more confused than offended.
"No, no, it's just, oh my goodness!" Starburst threw her head up and howled.
"Star, are you okay?"
Starburst fell back in the grass. "Yeah," she said, her tone steady and serious. "You know, I've actually always been jealous of you."
Anthea blinked. "Of me?"
"Well yeah. I mean, you're Little Miss Perfect. Talented, wonderful, and Mom wouldn't stop talking about how you were going to be the next greatest magician of the era. I honestly thought she had replaced me with you."
"You know she wouldn't," Anthea asserted.
"Yeah, I know, I was silly, but you could relate to her in ways I couldn't. And since I couldn't do anything magic like you, I thought she didn't really care about me, at least not the same way she did about you and Nighty." Starburst rested her hoof against her forehead. "And I couldn't even bring myself to hate you because we're friends."
"Is it my fault you two were so distant?"
"What? No, of course not!" Starburst quickly assured. "I should have said something to her. If we had talked, things would have been different. Maybe, maybe I would have been here to say good bye."
Slowly, she stood up and dusted herself. "Now it's too late to even say sorry."
Starburst had only moved a few steps forward before Anthea latched onto her. "Annie, what are you--"
"Stop blaming yourself."
"If I had just tried to talk--"
"Princess Twilight's just as guilty as you are."
"And she tried to apologize!" Starburst snarled, causing Anthea to recoil. Her features, twisted in rage, softened. "She realized she did something wrong long before I did, but I couldn't even give her the chance to make things right! She died saying sorry without ever knowing if I'd accept."
"Do you?"
Starburst blinked back tears. "What?"
"And do you accept?" Anthea asked.
"Of course!"
"Then tell her."
"How?" Starburst pulled away. "She's gone now."
"Shout it out," Anthea said. "Shout it out so loudly, she'd have to had heard. Go on," she prompted when the pegasus simply stared.
Starburst shook her head. "You're crazy."
"Well, so much for Little Miss Perfect then. Go on," Anthea said, gesturing. "Who else going to hear, the birds?"
As if in answer, the herons looked down at Starburst. Slowly, she stepped away and mumbled.
"I couldn't even hear you from here," Anthea said with a disappointed frown. "Come on."
Starburst sighed and took a deep breath. "I forgive you."
Anthea shook her head. "Not to me. Come on, louder."
"I forgive you."
"Louder."
"I--"
"Louder!"
"I for--"
"LOUDER!"
"I FORGIVE YOU!" Starburst screamed, shutting her eyes as tears streamed from them. "And I'm sorry too! I should have said something. Please, don't leave without hearing this! MOM, I'M SO SORRY!"
Starburst collapses, clutching her face with her hooves as her shoulders shook. Anthea held her, adding her soft cries to Starburst's wails. Even the herons gave their screeches and squawks to the cacophony before running off. For the moment, the two mares laid there, supporting each other as the echoes of Starburst's cry tapered off and faded.
"Y-y-you think she heard?" Starburst whispered, loosening her hold on Anthea. The unicorn smiled.
"Well, they say loved ones are always close by and with us, so I'd say you might have overdone it. Guess you really didn't have to go louder."
Starburst snorted. "Well gee, thanks, now I feel stupid." She brought a hoof to her neck and rubbed it. "My throat hurts."
"But how's your heart?"
Starburst's hoof lowered onto her chest. "Hurts less."
Anthea pressed against her friend's shoulder. "So, worth it?"
The pegasus nodded. "Worth it," she agreed. The two shared a smile before separating. Starburst rubbed the back of her head awkwardly and cleared her throat. "I should finish helping you here and head home soon. Night Light's waiting for me, and I should be there for him." She looked around and frowned. "Um, where'd we leave the birds?"
"Maybe you scared them off," Anthea suggested. "Look around the lake, can you find them?"
Starburst stared out toward the lake dyed orange as the sun sank below the horizon. "There," she exclaimed, pointing at the edge of the beach, where the pair of herons splashed. "You want me to grab them?"
Anthea shook her head. "This is their home, they can take care of themselves for the time being. Speaking of which," she began with a shiver, "we should probably start heading back home ourselves. It's getting pretty cold, must be getting late."
"I'll walk you back," Starburst offered, but again, Anthea answered with a head shake.
"I can find way back, you don't have to worry about me," she assured. "Besides, didn't you say Nighty was waiting for you?"
"Yeah, but what he or Mom say if they knew I didn't make sure a friend made it home safely, hmm?" Starburst smirked at the other mare's pout. "Especially after that friend did so much for me."
"Oh, that's low, playing the friendship card." Still, Anthea giggled before saying, "Alright, come on, stop trying to guilt-trip me, let's go."
With that, the two mares made their way back by the light of the setting sun. Starburst's wings remained pressed firmly against her sides as she walked. Occasionally, she would turn her head toward the lake behind before hurrying to catch up. Anthea set the pace as she followed the dirt trail by feel, using her hooves to avoid the grassy edges until they tapped against the hard stone pavement of the path leading to the cottage.
Lights could be seen through the cottage's window. The entrance was guarded by a large creature, with great leathery wings and claws. As the mares approached, he smiled and waved.
"Looks like Turquoise's back," Starburst announced as she waved back. Anthea grinned widely before waving as well. Within seconds, Turquoise Blitz had rushed to the unicorn's side and greeted her with a kiss on the cheek, which Anthea swiftly returned.
"How've you been?" he said, turning to Starburst. "We haven't seen you since, I mean, in a while."
"I'm doing better," Starburst answered as she and Anthea shared a look. "I heard you were with your father. How is he?"
Turquoise's smile wavered. "He's managing," he said after a moment. "Would you like to come in? I can make some tea or something."
Starburst stopped the dragon-pony hybrid with a lifted hoof. "Not this time, sorry. I have to get home soon. Maybe next time?"
"Of course," said Anthea, giving her friend one more hug. "Bring Nighty along."
"I, I'll see what I can do." Once Anthea released her, Starburst waved, then took to the skies. The half-dragon and the unicorn stared up into the slowly darkening sky until Turquoise, no longer able to distinguish Starburst's flying figure, guided Anthea to the cottage.
"So, I bumped into Safari while in town today," he was saying as he opened the door and held it for Anthea. "I wish you had mentioned the volunteer work to me. I would've loved to helped, you know."
"I know, but Spike needed you more than I." Anthea leaned against her husband, following his movements as they made their way through the little house. The new owner had kept most of the furniture, making use of Fluttershy's tables and cabinets. Even the birdhouses and shelters that hung from the ceiling remained, though their inhabitants were strangers to her. The rug in the center of the living room, however, felt wrong and out of place, and Anthea squirmed uncomfortably as her hooves brushed against it. The couch that Turquoise helped her onto also was not Fluttershy's, lacking the bunny fur and Draconequus hair she was so familiar with.
"Besides," she continued, "I had Starburst with me. You didn't have to worry."
"I know, I know, it's just, Dad said..." Turquoise bit his lip. "Never mind. I guess I'm a bit disappointed I couldn't help around here too."
"Well, there wasn't much to do today, maybe we can find more work tomorrow," Anthea said, finding Turquoise's claw and pulling it closer. "We'll have to ask Safari in the morning."
"Sounds good," agreed Turquoise. "So what did you and Starburst get done today?"
"Oh nothing much. Just releasing egrets." |
Ruin for Pun: the kilala97 Edition | Baseball Bat | The kitchen was silent, save for the clock hanging on the wall. There it sat, ticking away as it counted away the seconds. Both the clock's hands and the sky outside, painted orange by the rising sun, visible by the window above the sink, told of the early hour. Two bodies huddled over the table, their necks bent and backs hunched. The lightly colored mare shivered and wearily brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes. A large leathery wing extended and draped over the mare's shoulder, covering her like a blanket. The mare sighed and laid her head against the neck of wing's owner. He smiled at the mare's touch, flashing a set of pointed fangs.
For a moment, the two shared a look, staring into the other's eyes before reluctantly turning to the pair of ruby red tickets sitting on the table in front of them. The mare sighed again, this time out of exhaustion, while her mate's grin turned into a frown.
"You know," Turquoise began, drumming on the table's edge, "we don't have to go." The taps ceased as he started to rub his claws against each other. "I mean, I know you were looking forward to this, but we could always do something else for our anniversary."
Anthea hummed as she removed herself from Turquoise. She stared at the tickets. "It be an awful waste, though."
"We could give them away," the scaly stallion suggested. "Surely there's somepony in town that could use them."
"It's too late now," Anthea said. "If the day of the cruise wasn't today, maybe. When does boarding start again?"
Turquoise turned to the clock. "One hour, but the taxi arrives in ten minutes," he answered before resting his chin on the table, right beside the tickets. "We really should've planned this better. Maybe if we had looked for a babysitter earlier, this wouldn't have been a problem."
"Yeah, who would've thought everypony in Ponyville would be busy on the same weekend?" Anthea said with a huff as she laid down beside Turquoise. She opened her mouth to continue speaking, only to be stopped by a series of loud knocks from outside. She and Turquoise immediately raised themselves, wincing as their heads collided with each other. Muttering apologies, the two cradled their heads and waited for the room to cease moving.
"You think that's her?" Turquoise asked, staring out of the kitchen, past the living room, toward the front door being pounding on. A muffled shout came from the other side.
Anthea nodded. "That has to be. Come on." She got up on her feet and went forward, moving as quickly as she could while feeling her way through the house. Turquoise followed closely beside her, rushing forward every so often to push aside furniture and forgotten toys in the blind mare's way. As the couple drew closer to the door, the knocks grew louder.
"Sheesh, it sounds like she's trying to bust in," Turquoise muttered as he reached for the latch. "She knows why she's here, right?"
"Well, I--"
The door flung open, striking Turquoise dead center in the nose. As he stumbled back, a dark gray mare leapt into the house, breathing heavily with her wings spread and her horn glowing. She scanned the room until her eyes found Anthea.
"Nidra--" Anthea began before the mare pushed past Turquoise and placed her hooves on her shoulders.
"You alright?" Nidra asked, checking over the unsettled unicorn. "I came as soon as I heard. Where'd they go?"
"Where'd who go?" Turquoise demanded with a claw over his snout. "Am I bleeding? Please tell me I'm not bleeding."
The mare gasped and released Anthea. She slowly raised a hoof and pointed at the dragon-pony. "You're, you're alright?"
"Sure, alright," grumbled Turquoise. He lowered his claw, looked down into it, and grimaced. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"But, Anthea, your letter..." Nidra sputtered, her hoof jumping between the two. "It said Oasis and Apollo were kidnapped and Turquoise was attacked."
The unicorn frowned. "I didn't write that. I just said we had an emergency and needed your help. Who'd you get the letter from?"
"Illusion," Nidra answered before groaning. "I should've known."
Anthea turned to Turquoise. "Why did you send the letter to Illusion? We knew he was busy."
"Dad always had the spell linked to Princess Celestia," Turquoise considered, scratching his chin. "Maybe that had something to do with it. Sorry."
"Well, I'm here now." Nidra kicked the door shut with a scowl. "This emergency had better be just as important. I'm not supposed to be up this early."
Anthea and Turquoise shared a nervous look. "It's--"
"Who's at the door, Mom?"
Everyone turned to the top of the stairs leading to the second floor. A little pink filly slowly descended the steps, rubbing her eyes and yawning as she attempted to brush her mane with her hooves. At the sight of the alicorn guest, she gasped and skipped down the rest of the way, her wings stretched out in excitement.
"Princess Nidra!"
Almost instantly, the princess's expression brightened, and she held out her forelegs, catching the filly in a hug. "Hey, Oasis," she laughed. "It's been a while, huh? I hope you've been practicing."
"Uh huh," Oasis answered, nodding and flapping her wings, the same kind growing out of her father's and Nidra's shoulders. Lowering her voice, she added, "But Dad's not a lot of help. He's not as good as a flyer as you are."
Nidra chuckled. "Well, let's see if we can get in a few flying sessions later, okay?"
"Oasis, why don't you see if you and Daddy can fix your hair?" Anthea said, extending herself forward. When her snout found her daughter's cheek, she gave her a quick nuzzle before the filly was released. The two mares watched as Turquoise and Oasis headed upstairs looking for a hairbrush.
"So, the emergency?" Nidra prompted.
Anthea sighed. "Remember last week, when Turquoise won those cruise tickets at Creme's charity dinner?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, we need a babysitter, somepony to watch over Oasis and her little brother."
"Okay?" Nidra waved her hoof in a lazy circle. "And?"
"Well, my first choice was my mother, but Cerberus got a tummy ache so she and her friends are in Tartarus right now."
"Again?" Nidra said, raising an eyebrow.
"Yep, so that means she and Turquoise's parents can't do it."
"What about Del or June?"
"Del's in Appleloosa and June's in the Crystal Empire," Anthea explained. "And I'm pretty sure Apollo's still banned from Sweet Apple Acres after his last adventure."
"And Claire's with my brother, so those two'll be too busy too. What about Cotton Candy or Starburst?" Nidra asked.
"Busy and busy," Anthea said, shaking her head. "The only pony in Ponyville not doing anything is Prism Bolt, and, well..."
Nidra leaned against a wall and frowned. "And let me guess, that just leaves me."
"What, you're not upset that you're our last choice, are you?" Anthea asked as she stepped up to the alicorn's side.
"Please, I'm not that petty," Nidra said, folding her forelegs over her chest.
"So you'll do it?"
"I didn't say that," the princess replied, turning away from Anthea's wide grin. "Look, I love Oasis, but did it ever occur to you that, as a princess of Equestria, I might also have something to do this weekend?"
"Do you?" Anthea leaned forward. "Is it a date?"
"What, a date?" Nidra tried to move away, but the wall behind her kept her from escaping. "No, it's nothing like that, just, you know, I have that thing, at the place, with, uh, the ponies..." She groaned. "Alright, fine, maybe I don't exactly have anything planned, but that doesn't mean I'm not busy. Something might come up."
"Like a friend asking for a favor?" Anthea asked, tilting her head.
Nidra's eyes narrowed. "Like something important."
"So Turquoise and I aren't important?"
"That's not, I meant like a national emergency or something like that." The princess breathed deeply. "Look, Annie, I know how much you and T need this vacation, but I just don't think I'm up for babysitting. You know I'm horrible with foals."
"You handle Oasis pretty well."
"Yeah, but--"
The patter of hooves alerted the two of the filly's approach, her mane curled and carefully styled. Turquoise walked behind her, carrying a brush. Behind him was a little colt, rubbing his eyes as he sleepily followed his sister and father down the stairs. He yawned, revealing a single pointed fang amidst a row of flat incisors. While Oasis all but bounced toward Anthea and Nidra, the colt shuffled his clawed hooves lethargically.
"Apollo," Oasis hissed, reaching over and giving him a shake. "It's the princess, stop acting so rude."
Slowly, Apollo blinked. He finally removed his hoof from his eye and shook his head, looking around as if trying to determine his location. Eventually, those draconic eyes of his, almost as prominent as Turquoise's, found the princess. "Morning," he muttered before throwing his head back and yawning. "Is it time for breakfast yet?"
As Turquoise, Anthea, and Oasis planted their faces into the centers of their hooves, and, in Turquoise's case, claw, Nidra bit back a smirk. "Well, you're quite brave, aren't you, young colt," she said, leaning over Apollo, "speaking so flippantly before royalty."
"Nah, just tired." Apollo yawned again.
"Please excuse my stupid brother," Oasis pleaded, shoving the sleepy colt to the side. "Would you like to join us for breakfast, Princess Nidra? Mother and Father must depart soon, but I'm sure we have some time before the babysitter arrives."
"Um, about that..." began Turquoise, rubbing his neck as he glanced over to his wife.
Anthea quickly cleared her throat. "Oasis, Apollo, how would like it if Princess Nidra watched over you this weekend?"
Nidra threw a dirty look at the mare, but before she could express her displeasure with words, she was interrupted by a scream.
"Can she? She is?" Everypony's ears flattened against their heads as Oasis started to squeal. Her wings shot out, knocking Apollo to the floor, and she began to hop excitedly. "Yes yes yes yes, a thousand time yes." Blushing as she noticed her parents and the princess's discomfort, Oasis forced herself to stand still, pressed her wings against her sides, and coughed.
She dipped her head toward Nidra and swept a foreleg behind the other. "We would be honored if the princess watched over us," she said, her tone still and steady, though the grin threatening to break out across her face betrayed her enthusiasm.
Nidra bit back a groan and shivered. She forcefully turned away from the filly's shimmering eyes and whispered something into Anthea's ear. The unicorn giggled and rolled her eyes before turning to her daughter.
"She said..." Anthea paused and leaned forward, watching Oasis shake with anticipation. The filly nodded rapidly, urging her to continue. "She said, yes."
Once again, a high pitched cheer forced everyone to cover their ears. As Turquoise tried to calm Oasis, Anthea reached out toward Nidra, pulling her into a hug. "Thanks."
"You owe me," the princess grumbled, patting her friend's shoulder. "You two should get going soon."
The two separated, and Anthea made her way to Turquoise's side. Oasis sat snugly between his forelegs while Apollo stood nearby. "Alright dears, while we'll gone this weekend, Daddy and I need the two of you to be on your best behavior, okay?"
Oasis nodded immediately, but Apollo took a little longer to answer. He frowned before asking, "Why can't we go with you? I wanna go on a cruise, it sounds like fun."
"Sorry, kiddo," Turquoise chuckled, ruffling the colt's mane, "maybe next time. But doesn't spending time with a princess sound pretty fun too?"
Apollo glanced over toward Nidra, who raised a hoof and gave a small wave. "Yeah, maybe," he answered with little commitment. "Why do we need a babysitter anyways? I'm not a baby."
"Of course you are," Anthea cooed, latching herself onto the colt. Apollo yelped and tried to escape, but Anthea's magical kept him from breaking her physical one. "You're my little baby, forever and always."
"Mom, stop it!" Apollo cried as he struggled. Nidra managed to keep her mirth hidden, but Oasis shook with giggles. Apollo's limbs grew limp, and he pout as he stopped trying to fight off the affectionate unicorn.
A horn blared from outside, and the colt finally slid out of Anthea's embrace as she released him. "That's the taxi," Anthea gasped. "The bags, where are the bags?"
"They're in the living room. Don't worry," Turquoise assured, gently but firmly holding his wife back with a claw, "I'll get them. You just make sure the taxi knows we'll be ready soon."
"Right, okay." Anthea took a deep breath, then turned to Oasis and Apollo, giving each a hug a a quick kiss on the forehead. "Be good," she said sternly as her lips left Apollo's head before pulling him into another hug. Though his eyes were rolled, Apollo returned the embrace as enthusiastically as Anthea did.
"Do you have to go?" Nidra heard the colt whisper, almost whimper.
Anthea bit her lip. "No, Daddy and I don't, but we'd really like to. Tomorrow's a really special day for the both of us, like a birthday, and we've haven't had much time to ourselves, and..." She looked over at Turquoise as he approached with a pair of suitcases and blushed. "I'm sorry, Mommy's being selfish, isn't she?"
"That's okay. You'll be back in time for my birthday, right?" Apollo asked.
"Of course," Anthea assured, nuzzling the foal's cheek. "It's only for the weekend. Try not to get into too much trouble, okay?"
Another impatient blare came the taxi. "Shoot." Anthea's embrace tightened quickly before she and Apollo separated just as suddenly. "Oasis, please watch your brother," she said as she grabbed one of the suitcase and nearly ran into the wall.
Nidra led her to the door. "Have a safe trip, you two," she said. As Anthea passed, the two mares shared another quick hug before the unicorn dashed out and waved at the taxi waiting for them. Before following after her, Turquoise bowed awkwardly toward the princess.
"Thanks, Nidra," he said, raising his head. "This means a lot."
Nidra lifted a hoof, but it stayed there wavering in the air before lightly tapping the dragon-pony's shoulder. "Just make sure the two of you come back home happy, alright big guy?" she ordered.
Turquoise returned her smile before running off. From the doorway, Nidra, Oasis, and Apollo watched Anthea and Turquoise pack their luggage and pile in quite snugly in the taxi, given Turquoise's size. Those standing at the doorway waved as they in the taxi waved until the cart began to move and grow smaller and smaller. Soon, the taxi disappeared from view, and Nidra released a hefty sigh.
This is going to be busy weekend.
The sound of soft sniffs drew her attention, and she looked down in time to see Apollo wipe his nose and his eyes as he tried vainly to follow his parents.
This is going to be one heck of a busy weekend Nidra amended. Her wing hovered hesitantly over the colt's shoulder for a moment before returning to her side. Instead, she looked away, pretending she saw nothing. Once Apollo had calmed down and had hidden any signs of crying, Nidra cleared her throat.
"Alright, I guess we'll spend the rest of the day in the palace," she announced as she tapped on her chin thoughtfully.
"We get to spend the day in Canterlot?" Oasis said, already jumping onto her feet in gleeful eagerness.
Apollo, however, frowned, evidently less excited. "Why can't we just stay at home, in Ponyville," he asked.
"Because I work in Canterlot," Nidra answered shortly. "It'd be easier to keep an eye on the two of you there. Hmm, the palace isn't too far. Oasis, how well do you think you could handle a distance like that?"
"I've never tried flying somewhere that far, but what about Apollo?" The filly gestured to her brother. "Even if I could fly all the way to Canterlot, how would Apollo get there?"
"Right, right, he doesn't have wings." Nidra rubbed her forehead. "Ugh, it's too early for this. Wish I came with a chariot escort."
"What about the train?" Apollo asked. "That's how most ponies get to Canterlot."
"But the princess isn't most ponies," said Oasis, shaking her head. "If ponies saw her walking down the street out in the open, we'd be trapped by the crowd within seconds. We'd never make it to the train station."
Apollo's lips tilted into an incredulous frown. "Would a mob really form?" he asked. "I mean, Ponyville's got our own princess, and Princess Twilight never has any trouble making her way through town."
"Yes, but that's Princess Twilight Sparkle. She's, well..." Oasis's hoof drifted in the air as she struggled with an answer. "She's the people's princess. She approachable and everypony's friend. But Princess Nidra's special. You can't just walk up to Princess Nidra."
"How does that explain why a crowd will form around her but not Princess Twilight?"
Oasis sighed and placed her hoof on Apollo's head, giving it a condescending pat. "Perhaps one day, when you're older, you'll understand."
"Well, we might not have much of a choice," Nidra said as she pull the curtains aside and peeked outside through the window. "It's still pretty early, we might not run into anypony on the streets. If we're careful and quick, if we--"
Apollo's head sprung up. "Like spies?"
"Yeah, sure, like spies," Nidra said absently. She let the curtains fall back over the windows. "Does your mother have a sweater or something like that? If I could hide my wings--"
The door suddenly flew open with a noisy bang, knocked aside by a wave of colored paper bits that showered over everypony. A pink earth pony stood just outside, wearing a huge smile. She leaned over a large cannon, it's smoking barrel pointed into the house. "Ooh," the mare sang, "have a nice trip-a-versary, we're sad to see you leave. But life's too short to--"
"Mother and Father already left, Mrs. Pie," Oasis interrupted as she tried to remove the confetti from her mane. "You just missed them."
Pinkie Pie all but tumbled over the cannon as her song came to a forced stop with an audible screech. "What?" she screamed. "You mean I'm late? But I spent all night preparing a short good bye and see you on Monday party for them. I even made an apology cake."
The mare pulled out a large cake decorated with pink icing flowers on the edges. In the center, written in chocolate, it read Sorry for being too busy baking cakes and stuff to babysit.
Apollo licked his lips. "You know, we still haven't had any breakfast yet."
"Absolutely not," Oasis sniffed. "It's far too early for something so sweet and so filling." Turning back to Pinkie Pie, she smiled sadly. "Sorry, Mrs. Pie, but surely you could turn this farewell party into something else, for somepony else."
Pinkie Pie gasped. "Of course! I don't have to let this party go to waste. Maybe for Pound's three-week-and-a-half-aversary with his new fillyfriend, new record by the way. Or to celebrate the recent lack of arsonists at town hall. Or, or, or..." She gasped again and leapt inside. Nidra found herself once more stuck between a wall and a mare without a care for personal space.
"Or a party to welcome to Ponyville for Princess Nidra!"
The young princess tried to smile politely as she attempted to move past Pinkie. "Oh, please, no, not on my account. From what I understand, much of the town is busy, and I really must be--"
"Too busy for a party for a princess?" Pinkie Pie snorted. "Come on, Niddie, it hasn't been that long since your last visit to Ponyville. You know how much we love parties and cake and pinatas and..."
A trickle of sweat dripped down Nidra's brow. Slowly, she motioned the foals toward the door, around the bubbly mare as she listed all the games and snacks she'd prepare. "Yes, sounds lovely, but there's no need something so, er, extravagant."
"Really?" Pinkie Pie tilted her head and frowned. "But last you were complaining about how your birthday bash wasn't extravagant enough."
"Yes, uh, well, a lot can change in a year," Nidra replied with a forced grin. "And besides," she added, laughing weakly, "this is so sudden. I'm sure everypony already has plans, and I'd rather not--"
Again, Pinkie laughed. "Please, as if we couldn't spare a few minutes welcoming everypony's sixth favorite princess."
"No, really, it's, did you say sixth?"
Pinkie pushed herself off the wall, away from the princess and toward the open door. Oasis and Apollo stepped out of her way as she inhaled and screamed, "Hey Bon Bon! Yeah, you, oh and Roseluck too! You ponies busy? Too busy to welcome Princess Nid--"
A spark flew from Nidra's glowing horn, and Pinkie Pie suddenly collapsed. Nidra's horn lit up again as she all but carried the foals out the door with her magic. "Okay, let's go, let's go."
Slowly, Apollo turned away from Pinkie's motionless body. "You killed her!"
"What?" The princess nearly tripped over the colt's accusation, and Apollo and Oasis dropped to the dusty dirt road. "No, she's asleep. Really."
"There's a spell that can make ponies fall asleep?" Apollo's fearful expression morphed into one of fascination as his eyes widened and his jaw dropped. "Cool. Does Mom know it? What about Princess Twilight? I wanna learn how--"
"Later!" Nidra pushed the foals forward. "Right now, run!"
"Hey, it really is Princess--"
Another flash and suddenly the vender and her customer were slumped over the flower stand, crushing petunias and scattering petals. "To the train station," Nidra ordered, lowering her head and charging into town. She spared Oasis and Apollo a quick glance over her shoulder. "Keep up!" she shouted, fighting urge to gallop ahead.
With two wing flaps, Oasis was airborne. She scowled as the wind undid all of her mane brushing, but at least now she could match Nidra's pace. Apollo, however, had more difficulty as his claws dug into the dirt with each hurried step, and he quickly lagged behind.
"Hey, wait for--whoa!" The body of a snoring stallion fell at Apollo's feet. He tried to leap over, but the stallion rolled in his sleep and struck the colt's hind leg, pitching him forward face first into the ground.
At Apollo's cry, Nidra turned back. Biting back a curse, she rushed to his side and threw him roughly onto her back before galloping off. "Hold on!" she commanded, only to wince as Apollo's claws grabbed tightly around her wings. With Oasis just barely behind, Nidra ran through Ponyville, charging past houses and passed out ponies she had enchanted, littering the streets with sleeping ponies.
The station was soon in view. They could see the ticket booth and the platform, both which were rapidly approaching. The mare behind the booth's window blinked tiredly as Nidra, Apollo, and Oasis drew close. As their figures grew larger, so did the ticket clerk's eyes. She rubbed them and squinted, then reached for the mug resting precariously on the sill in front of her.
A pair of hooves slammed against the window, shaking the entire booth. The mare shrieked, drenching herself with coffee. "I need three tickets to Canterlot, now!" Nidra shouted while Oasis landed beside her and tried to catch her breath.
"O-o-okay, just, one m-m-moment please." The clerk ducked down and pulled out a coffee stained calendar. "T-t-the next train t-to Canterlot is, uh, i-i-is--"
A shrill whistle rang out. "All aboard that's comin' aboard!"
Nidra swore loudly, causing the mare behind the glass and Oasis to blush. Grabbing hold of Oasis, she ran forward onto the platform, where a few ponies and a train met them. The station master stood at the edge, staring at his watch before nodding at the stallion leaning out of the train foremost car. The train release another whistle, but just as the wheels began to spin, Nidra, with Apollo on her back and Oasis cradled in her magic, brushed past the station master and jumped onto the caboose's railed platform.
Ignoring the shouts from the station master, Nidra made her way into the car. With a groan, she let Apollo slide off her back and slumped against wall. "Mother's going to kill me when she finds out," she muttered, bringing a hoof to her forehead. "You two alright?"
"I'm alright," Oasis answered. She sat beside her brother, nuzzling him. When he didn't react, Oasis frowned and gave the princess a worrying look. "Apollo, are you--"
"That. Was. Awesome!" the colt exclaimed, leaping to his feet. "Did you see that? We flew! We flew and jumped onto a moving train, just like in those Old West stories Grandpa Spike tells us. That was so cool!"
"Yes, cool," Nidra mumbled, leaning her head back. The panicked use of her magic had taken its toll on the princess, and her head throbbed uncomfortably. She shut her eyes and sighed, wincing as she rolled her sore shoulders.
"That was so much fun! Can we do it again? Can we?" Apollo placed his hooves on the princess and shook her before Oasis could stop him. "Can--"
"No, knock it off!" Nidra shouted, shoving Apollo away. Her scowl swiftly disappeared, however, and her eyes flew open before Apollo had even finished tumbling. "No, wait, I..." she began, raising a hoof uselessly as Oasis hurried to her brother's side. Nidra's heart and features sank as the filly glanced over to her with a timid, unsure look.
"Sorry, I..." Nidra looked away. "I'm sorry, I-I'm just, using that spell so many times in succession and running all the way through town like that leaves me stressed and tired and, and I'm sorry Apollo."
Nidra slowly turned to the colt. Apollo kept his head low and avoided the princess's gaze. He huddled closer to his sister. "Will you be alright?" she asked carefully.
Apollo nodded but continued to stare at the ground. With nopony else to turn to, Nidra looked to Oasis. The filly smiled when their eyes met before she returned to gently patting her brother's back. The smile was reassuring, and Apollo seemed to begin relaxing as well. Still, Nidra sighed.
This is going to be harder than I thought the princess said to herself before closing her eyes and drifting to sleep. *
"Princess? Princess Nidra?
Nidra groaned and shook her head before rolling onto her side.
"Please, you have to wake up."
Slowly, her eyes fluttered open. Oasis sat before her with Apollo right behind. "What's going on? Are we in Canterlot yet?"
A blush creeped across Oasis's face. "Um, actually, we fell asleep too, and--"
"Now approaching: Manehattan Grand Central Station."
"What?" Nidra flung herself up and stared out of the window. A forest of tall skyscrapers and vast buildings greeted her that swiftly disappeared as the train was swallowed by a tunnel. She turned from the windows and started to pace. "How did we end up in Manehattan? This train, this train was for Canterlot, wasn't it? There would have to had been a transfer to get from Canterlot to Manehattan, I'm sure of it. How could this have happened?" Nidra turned to the foals. "Did we ever stop at Canterlot?"
The two glance at each other before Apollo shrugged and Oasis shook her head. "I don't know," Oasis said. "We only woke up a little while ago."
"Great, perfect." Apollo and Oasis flinched as Nidra stomped past them. Her hoof shook as she grabbed hold of the caboose door's handle, and she took a deep breath to steady herself. "Come on," Nidra said, gesturing to the two. "Let's talk to the conductor, maybe find some answers."
They got up and made their way to Nidra's side and left the train car together. The station platform was already growing crowded as ponies and luggage bags streamed out. Carefully, they walked onto the platform and trudged through the mob to the uniformed stallion lazily leaning against the engine with his eyes glued to his watch. Oasis and Apollo suddenly found themselves pressed against the princess's sides as Nidra kept them together with her wings.
"Ahem," Nidra greeted when they drew near the stallion by the train engine. The conductor didn't react, continuing to find interest in his watch. "Ahem," Nidra tried again, only for the stallion to continue ignoring her. "Ahem!" she tried a third time, this time more loudly.
The conductor rolled his eyes. "An excuse me sir would've been nice," he said snottily as he lowered the watch. "Well, what is it?"
"Excuse me, I am Princess Nidra."
"Didn't ask for your name," the conductor said, though his eyebrows did rise at the sight of Nidra's wings. "Well, wha'daya want?"
Oasis gasped, and she and her brother looked nervously toward the fuming princess. Nidra took a few breaths before muttering something too quietly for them to hear. "This train is from the Canterlot-Manehattan line, correct?"
"Hardly," the stallion scoffed. "It's the Ponyville-Manehattan line. Yeah, never thought there'd be enough traffic between the two to need one either," he said when Nidra's mouth fell open and her eyes widened in shock. He checked his watch one last time before placing it back into his pocket. "Well, ma'am," he said, tipping his hat before walking away toward the crowd.
"Wait, wait!" Nidra ran forward and stopped the conductor. "Look, I need to get back to Canterlot. Ponyville will work too, but we can't stay here."
"What, Manehattan ain't good enough for a princess?" the stallion scoffed. "Look, I'd like to help, but I'm on my break. See that little mare behind the glass over there?" Nidra followed his gesture toward the ticket booth. "Maybe she can help. Me, I've got more important stuff to deal with."
The conductor shook a tin lunch pail in Nidra face, forcing her to step aside. Oasis watched the stallion disappear into the crowd before turning to the princess beside her. "How in Equestria could he act like that to you? He could lose his job or at the very least be banished and imprisoned!"
"If only," Nidra grumbled. "Being a princess doesn't hold as much weight in the big city as you'd think. Well, at least on the streets anyways," she added, rubbing her chin. "Hotels and restaurants, fancy establishments and the like, those know how to treat royalty. Out here?" Nidra scoffed. "I'd have just as much trouble hailing down a taxi as anypony else."
With a sigh, she started toward the ticket vendor. "Come on, keep together," Nidra ordered, holding the two foals close with her wings. "If I end up losing you two here of all places..." Oasis and Apollo felt the princess shudder.
The mare behind the glass, noticing Nidra and the foals approach, quickly sat up and smoothed out her uniform. "Yes, can I help you?" she asked when they arrived.
"We need tickets for the next train to Canterlot."
The mare's small smile faltered. "Oh, I'm sorry, but all trains to Canterlot are delayed indefinitely, until the rails are repaired. It could be some time, I'm afraid."
"What about to Ponyville?" Nidra asked. "Is there still a train to Ponyville."
"A train to Ponyville?" the vendor repeated. She ducked down and flipped through a notebook. "Yes, most certainly. In fact, you're here just in time for the twelve o'clock."
Nidra breathed out a silent declaration of thanks. "Perfected."
"That will be eighteen bits total, miss." A small slot at the window's sill slid open, exposing a little collection tray. Nidra blinked slowly before paling.
"Miss, is everything alright?"
"Y-yes, just..." The princess turned to Oasis. "Tell me one of you brought money," she whispered.
Nidra grew whiter as the filly shook her head. Desperately, she looked to Apollo, who simply copied his sister's motions. She turned back and watched the vendor's appearance sour; the mare started to frown, her eyes narrowed, and she began to tap on the counter impatiently. With a bored shrug, she slammed the collection tray's gate shut and waved them away.
Nidra opened her mouth to protest, but a forced cough from behind cut her off. A line of ponies had formed, waiting for the princess to finish her business. The pony who had coughed, a stern looking mare with glasses and her mane in a bun, gave Nidra a look of annoyance tempered by mild sympathy.
Sorry, her eyes said, but you're in the way, and I'm a very busy pony.
The mare lowered her gaze as Nidra threw out her own glare. With an angry huff, she led Apollo and Oasis away, forcing through the crowd toward the station's exit.
"What now?" Apollo asked, doing his best to keep up. Noticing the colt's struggles, Nidra slowed her pace.
"Well, like I said, Manehattan's hotel's definitely know how to treat a princess, so we won't have to worry about finding a place to sleep, if it comes to that. The problem is finding a way to get back." Nidra frowned. "If I can get a telegram to the castle, they could send me some funds. We'll have to stop by the post office," she said as they stepped out onto Manehattan's streets.
Apollo's draconic eyes grew large at the sight of the massive buildings towering overhead. His ears perked at the clicks and clanks of taxi cabs rolling by and the calls and chatters from all ponies around him. The scent of grilled carrots drew him toward a metal cart, where a stallion in a greasy apron served ponies of all sorts of attire, from the bright yellow vests of a construction worker to the professional jacket and tie of a business pony. Bright lights from the billboards grabbed hold his attention like a beacon, advertising Bridleway musicals, the latest fashion lines, even cat food. Apollo's head swerved as he tried to take in all of Manehattan, its sights, its smells, its sounds, its ponies, everything. He took a step forward.
"Be careful!"
Nidra's cry and the impact against her wing jolted Apollo out of his trance. His heart leapt to his throat as a taxi thundered past, less than a foot away.
"What were you thinking?" Nidra demanded, pulling Apollo away from the edge of the sidewalk. "This isn't Ponyville, where you can just wander off and do whatever you wish! Do you understand?"
A chill ran through the princess as Apollo shrunk away after nodding. Prompted by a nod from Oasis, Nidra pulled the colt closer to her. "Listen, Apollo, I-I am sorry. I should not have shouted. I just want to make sure the two of you stay safe. I don't want to act mean, and I apologize if I've seemed that way."
"I want Mommy."
Apollo had spoken under his breath, so quietly that Nidra almost didn't hear. Almost, and she felt something inside her shatter as if struck by those words. For a moment, she felt nothing. Then, there was warmth by her side. Nidra turned and found Oasis leaning against her. No, not leaning, Nidra amended, embracing. The filly smiled, and slowly, Nidra felt warm again. Wordlessly, she folder her wings over Apollo and pressed him against her chest. She lowered her head and began to hum. It was a lullaby, one her mother used to sing, though Nidra could never get the lyrics right without butchering the entire thing.
Still, her hums seemed enough; Apollo had returned the embrace enthusiastically. For a moment, the three sat there on the street holding each other tightly, ignoring the looks and glances of the pedestrians passing by.
Apollo released himself from the princess almost as suddenly as they came together and blushed. "I'm, I'm alright," he assured, doing his best to look serious. His appearance dissolved into a pout as Oasis giggled, and Nidra's sides stung as she fought the urge to join in. Instead, she blanketed the colt's shoulder with her wing.
"Come on," she said, nudging him forward before jerking her head at Oasis. "Let's see who the Marette'll kick out to make room for us."
"The Marette?" Oasis squealed. "The hotel where anypony that's anypony stays at?"
"The same, though perhaps sending a telegram first would be a better idea." Nidra quickly shook her head. "No, I'd need a return address first."
"Um..."
"Yes, Apollo?" Nidra said, looking to her side.
"I was just wondering," Apollo began before becoming distracted by a trio of fedora wearing stallions in gray overcoats. "Um, yeah, could we do a little, um, exploring?"
"Exploring?" Nidra repeated, her eyebrow raised.
"Yeah, exploring. I mean, Manehattan's so..." The colt bounced while he thought of a word. "...big, and there's all these things, and what are those buildings for, and where's everypony going, and I wanna see it all!"
"All might be a tall order for a day, especially without any bits." The princess chuckled. "Still, I don't see why we can't visit a few places. Let's see, if I recall correctly, tours to the Statue of Liberation are free for foals on weekends after twelve, or was it before twelve?"
"Oh, I'd love to visit the Manehattan Art Gallery," Oasis said longingly. "I don't suppose..." The filly slowly looked to Nidra and pleaded wordlessly with a forlorn gaze.
"That should be doable," Nidra said. "Mother made a recent contribution from her personal collection, one I doubt the curators will forget soon. That might be enough for an admittance." She turned to Apollo. "What about you? Is there anywhere you'd like to see in particular?"
"Um, uh..." Apollo chewed his lip as he thought. Grandma Rarity used to tell all sort of stories about Manehattan, of the different places she had been to and the ponies she had met. There was, there was...
The colt frowned as he tried to remember his grandmother's tales. Just as he was about to give up with a shrug, a fluttering red flag caught his eye. Several others flew beside it from long poles extending from a rounded building. The structure's shape and the white marble pillars that extended from the base to the ceiling reminded him of the ancient colosseums pre-Equestrian pegasi would compete in. Like the one in Cloudsdale, Apollo added, only this one was made from stone instead of clouds.
"What's that?" he asked, pointing. Nidra followed Apollo's gesture toward the building and frowned. She recognized the building as important, but for the moment it's identity and purpose escaped her. She lit up at the sight of the banners hanging over the entrance, the picture of a crimson pegasus with golden feathers and headband jolting her memory.
"Ah, yes, the Warmblood Stadium," Nidra answered, nodding.
"Warmblood?" Apollo gasped. "You mean the baseball team."
Nidra hesitated. "Yes," she said slowly after a moment of uncertainty, "the baseball team. Do you follow the sport, Apollo?"
"Do I?" The colt laughed. "I love baseball! It's like, my favorite sport ever."
"Last month you were into hoofball," Oasis said, rolling her eyes. Apollo stuck his tongue out in response.
"Yeah, 'cause it was hoofball of season, duh." He turned back to the princess. "Maybe they're playing right now! Can we go? Can we? Can we? Please?"
"Apollo!" Oasis hissed. Her nudge in his side calmed her brother, or at least quieted him, and had won a glare from the colt. It vanished vanished after Apollo followed Oasis's motion toward Nidra and noticed the thoughtful frown on the alicorn's face.
"I mean, we don't have to, I guess." Apollo rubbed the back of his neck. "Whatever's cool." He looked up as Nidra's hoof brushed his shoulder.
"I'm afraid we might not be able to see much of the stadium, much less a game," she said with a sad smile. "Tickets are out of our reach, after all. Will a simple tour around the edge, perhaps a peek inside, suffice?"
"Um, suffice means..."
"Will it be enough?" Nidra explained.
"Oh, yeah. Yeah, sure! Really?" Apollo began to bounce excitedly as Nidra nodded. "Yes! Come on, let's go!"
"Calm down, the stadium is going nowhere," Nidra said, keeping Apollo and Oasis by her side as they crossed the street toward the sport arena. Names of ponies she had never heard of spewed from Apollo's mouth as they approached. Nidra turned to Oasis for clarification, but the filly looked just as lost as the princess certainly felt.
Apollo soon became quiet, however, once the stadium drew close. Though she never felt much interest in sports, Nidra could still appreciate the impressive grandness of Manehattan's stadium. Designed to house thousands upon thousands of ponies, it put most of Canterlot's architecture to shame in terms of vastness. They could hear cheering and shouts echoing from deep inside, and for a moment Nidra felt empty.
Is this what the common pony likes? she thought as she considered the great number of ponies within the coliseum's walls. How many ponies were there that she, as a princess, couldn't connect with, couldn't even begin to understand? Nidra turned to Apollo and noticed a small gleam of wanting as he stared.
Shouts from a group of stallions standing at the entrance pulled her out of her thoughts. The one in a simple white shirt and red cap grumbled loudly at the stallion in the full suit. The third stallion, an older, wider pony also in a suit and tie, nervously dabbed away the sweat from the top of his head.
"Well wha'da want me to do?" the suited stallion was saying. "Ms. Shores had something come up, and there ain't nothing we can do about it. Can't you just start the danged game without some star throwin' the first pitch?"
"Youse crazy?" the pony with the hat shouted. "Maybe, if this weren't the game of the century. We've finally got the Cream Drafts on our turf, and we've gotta crush 'em in style. We don't start this off with a bang, youse gonna see blood in the stands."
"Maybe, maybe we could find somepony else," the older stallion suggested, letting his handkerchief fall to his side. "There, there must be somepony in this city, Bridleway stars and models." He gulped. "I-if it came down to it, I-I suppose I could..."
"No offense, Mr. Mayor," began the pony with the hat, "but that just won't cut it. It's gotta be bigger, like Sapphire Shore's big, maybe even Princess Luna big."
"And even if was somepony else that big in this city, how are we supposed to get them here in time for the first pitch?" added the suited stallion.
"Ahem."
The quiet sound of a throat clearing caught the arguing ponies' attention. They turned to find Princess Nidra standing behind them with two foals, one on each side of her. With her head held high, she spread her wings, throwing shadows over the staring stallions.
"Is this big enough?" she challenged. The stallions exchanged looks before stumbling clumsily into bows.
"P-P-P-Princess Nidra, w-what an honor," the mayor sputtered. "I-I wasn't aware you had a visit scheduled."
"I didn't, so I take no offense to the lukewarm welcome I've so far received." Nidra watched as the stallion sighed in relief before turning instead to the pony wear the red cap. "You mentioned needing somepony to..." She motioned to the pony who quickly caught the cue.
"Throw the first pitch, Your Highness," he said. "Course, if youse ain't to busy with, uh, royal stuff, Manehattan'd be awfully grateful if you could do it." He lifted his gaze. "You'd be making a lot of ponies in the stands happy."
"Very well," Nidra announced, and everypony breathed out in silent cheer. "However," she added, causing the stallions to freeze up again, "these two must be granted admission." Nidra placed her wings over the foals, drawing the stallions' attention toward them. Apollo looked up, gaping, and returned the smile the princess gave him. She could feel him shake with anticipation.
"Yeah, no problem, box seat's got room," the suited stallion answered, ignoring the glare the mayor shot at him.
"But that's my seat, with the important ponies! I don't want some foals with me for--"
Nidra cleared her throat.
The mayor shrunk back down. "W-well, since Sapphire Shores isn't here, I suppose there'll be room in the box."
"Yeah, yeah, perfect." The pony with the cap staggered to his feet. "Come on, I'll walk youse through what you gotta do," he said, leading the princess through the stadium's entrance. Everypony else swiftly followed, moving past the ticket stands and snack vendors. The mayor and the suited stallion sudden turned toward a flight of bright blue stairs, shepherding the foals away from Nidra and her guide.
"This way, kids," the suited stallion said as the hatted pony led Nidra further. Before disappearing, the princess waved to Oasis and Apollo, which they returned. "Don't worry, you'll be seein' her again soon enough."
Apollo all but bounced up the stairs, shaking at each step. "Apollo, calm down," Oasis said as she followed behind. The suited pony chuckled.
"First ball game?" he asked. Apollo nodded furiously. "Well, you're in for a treat." He pushed open the door at the very end of the stairway and held it for everypony else.
For an area boasted as being 'box seats', Oasis was not impressed. The seats themselves were made of some cheap rubbery plastic without cushioning or any means of comfort. Her keen eye spotted popcorn kernels and drink stains all over the hard concrete ground. If these were the box seats, she shuddered at what the regular seats were like.
Apollo rushed forward, ignorant to the stares the other patrons gave him as he pushed by. He stopped at the rail that guarded the very edge and used it to prop himself up. "Wow, look, we can see everything from here! Come on, Oasis, look!"
Oasis joined her brother, moving much more carefully and receiving fewer glares than he had. When she arrived at the edge, she realized just how close they were to the game. The third baseman was less than a stone throw away. If it were for the guardrail, Apollo, with the way he kept leaning forward, might have fallen right into the outfield.
"Isn't this a little close," Oasis asked nervously.
"Yeah, isn't it great!" Apollo grinned as his grip on the railing tightened. "I can't believe it! I'm totally gonna catch foul ball!"
Oasis slowly backed away and sat herself on one of the uncomfortable seats. She could feel the sticky surface cling to her bottom. She took a breath and tried to relax. Turning to Apollo, Oasis smiled. His excitement was contagious to the point where even she was starting to have trouble sitting still.
"And now, approaching the pitcher's mound of the Warmblood Stadium, the sensational pony of pop herself, Sapphire Shores!"
Even amid the cheers and applause, Oasis could hear somepony planting a hoof in their face. Something tugged at her wing, turning her attention back to the baseball diamond. "Look," Apollo said, pointing toward the elevated patch in the center, "it's the princess."
Nidra made her way to the pitcher's mound at a slow and steady pace. Cheers eventually died into murmurs as ponies realized who was making her way across the field. It might have been her imagination, but she could have sworn she heard somepony in the crowd say, "That's not Sapphire Shores." At this distance, Nidra doubted anypony would've been able to see her eyes roll, but she fought off the temptation.
Complete silence greeted her as she climbed the little hill. Thousands of ponies, in every which direction and of every color, stared. Her ears flattened as the stadiums buzzed alive with static. "And now, on the pitcher's mound of the Warmblood Stadium, Princess Nidra!"
Two small cheers from the box echoed out, followed by a hesitant applause. Slowly, the noise grew louder until the entire stadium was filled with cheering and hoof stomps. Nidra smiled. She lifted a hoof and waved to the stands. She extended her leathery wings and relished in the gasps and sounds of wonder. She wondered how many ponies here had even seen a regular bat pony, let alone the bat pony alicorn.
The pony beside her coughed, drawing her attention. With an exaggerated bow, he held the soft ball toward her. Nidra took it and let it roll between her hooves as the pony stepped to the side. Other ponies wearing similar colors also stood by, though they were focused instead on the pony at the very end, swinging a large wooden club over home plate. The pony straightened his helmet before lowering into a stance, keeping the bat steady with his hooves.
Nidra lifted the baseball, and the entire stadium became dead silent. She inhaled, pulled back, lifting herself with a flap of her wings, and flung the ball with as much force as she could muster. It flew through the air with a whistle, straight at the batter. Screaming, he lifted the bat to protect himself, only for the ball to force the bat back until it met with the pony's helmet, knocking him back into the catcher.
"Fowl!" an umpire cried, throwing his forelegs in the air before rushing to the other referees who were checking on the injured player. Up in the box, Apollo cheered as he tossed the ball he had caught in the air.
It didn't take the princess long to notice that just about ever jaw around her was dropped. "Is something the matter?" Nidra asked the pitcher who had flinched when she turned to him. "I was told to throw the ball as hard as possible at the pony with the stick. Was that not the right pony?"
"N-no, that's not exactly the problem." Gesturing to her to lower her head, he whispered into Nidra's ear. As he explained, Nidra's face began to redden.
"Ah, oh dear," she muttered.
"It's fine, I'm sure he's fine," the pitcher tried to assured. "Heck, uh, can I say heck around you?"
Nidra sighed. "Oh, why the heck not?"
"Um, yeah." He chuckled nervously. "Yeah, I'm sure he'll be fine. This'll probably be the highlight of his entire career. Not many ponies can say they were knocked clean off their hooves in a game by a baseball bat." |
Ruin for Pun: the kilala97 Edition | Here Today, Gone Tomorrow | As the little cottage grew closer, Turquoise's steps became heavier and slower. One claw fell into a puddle, and he winced as he removed it, sighing as he tried to shake off the clinging mud.
"Something wrong?" The mare beside him asked. Despite the cloudiness in her near-sightless eyes, her hooves kept dry.
Turquoise shook his head. "It's nothing, Anthea, nothing."
"Oh." They took a few steps forward in silence, then, "You know, you don't have to come with me. I know last time was--"
"Yes, yes I do," Turquoise said firmly. "She needs help, more than you can provide."
Anthea pressed her lips together and turned away with a frustrated huff. "You don't have to be so mean about it."
A gust of wind blew by. "Sorry," Turquoise said, "I'm just, well, still a little uncomfortable, I guess." He bowed his head shamefully, avoiding Anthea's gaze. "Sorry."
A light pink hoof tapped softly against Turquoise's cheek. It traveled down under his chin, forcing Turquoise to look up. "Hey, it's fine," Anthea whispered, pressing her forehead into his snout. "You're right, and I'm sorry I snapped. It's just so frustrating seeing Mother like this and being so useless. I can't even take care of her properly, and I should be grateful you're here, but I, I, ugh!"
The unicorn pushed herself off Turquoise and quickly wiped at her eyes. "S-sorry, just, I just--"
A large leathery wing draped over her shoulders. "Hey, hey, it's fine," Turquoise cooed. "Just being there with her helps, even if she, well..." The hybrid bit his lip. "Well, you know."
Anthea took a deep breath. "Yeah, okay, okay." She turned to the cottage ahead, now just a stone throw away. "Alright, let's get this over with."
They walked forward, through the muddy trail leading to the little house. A few songbirds poked their heads out of the tiny birdhouses guarding the path, warbling mournfully as they passed.
"They sound hungry," Anthea noted with a frown. "Mom never forgets to feed them."
"Well take care of them before we leave," Turquoise promised. They had finally arrived at the front door. The little garden that greeted them was infested with gnarled weeds that threatened to choke out the last remaining flowers. "Should we do something about the garden?"
Anthea thought for a moment before shaking her head. "Not unless she mentions anything."
"Alright." Turquoise's claw tightened around the door's handle. He pushed forward and stuck head in.
"Hello? Ms. Fluttershy?" he called, stepping inside with Anthea right behind him.
"How bad is it?" she asked, feeling Turquoise wince beside her.
Turquoise stared at the mess before him. Books and papers covered the ground, along with glass shards from broken picture frames. Bundles of cloths and cleaning rags hung over tables and furniture while dresses and gowns were thrown haphazardly on the floor.
Turquoise reached down and retrieved a pair of photographs hiding under a cracked frame. He winced again at the smiling faces of a cheerful yellow pegasus and the little pink filly tucked in between her forelegs in the first photo. The second was of himself, the filly grown into a mare, and the same yellow pegasus as before in between the two. All three were well dressed, with him and Anthea in white, and a pink floral gown for the pegasus, who also wore a look of pride.
"Pretty bad, I don't think we can clean everything today."
"That'll fine, we can come back tomorrow. I-if that's alright with you," Anthea added hurriedly. "If you're busy, we could do it some other time or I could try to clean everything myself."
"Don't worry, I'll be here," Turquoise said. They moved deeper inside, into the living room. There, in the corner rocking chair, slept the yellow pegasus from the pictures, though the pink of her mane had faded into a light gray. Her brow wrinkled as they approached, and slowly, she opened her eyes and yawned. She blinked several times before focusing on Turquoise.
"Oh, oh my, what time is it?" Fluttershy looked around her frantically. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Spike, were we supposed to meet today?"
Turquoise cleared his throat nervously. "Y-yes, that's right. I, uh, guess I'm early."
"Oh, and you brought a friend." Fluttershy smiled warmly at Anthea, but the gesture chilled her. "Um, hello," Fluttershy said softly with a wave.
Anthea took a deep breath and stepped out from behind her husband. "H-hello," she said, doing her best to return Fluttershy's smile. "I'm Anthea, a..." She hesitated, her fake grin faltering. "I'm a friend."
"Ah."
The silence between the two grew as both Fluttershy and Anthea looked down shyly, away from the other. Turquoise cleared his throat.
"So, uh, would you like some tea?" he asked, lifting himself up.
"Oh no, I'm sorry." Fluttershy struggled to rise from her chair. She gave Anthea another smile, this time out of embarrassment. "I haven't offered you anything yet. I must seem so rude. Spike, please sit, I'll prepare tea."
With gentle but firm claws, Turquoise forced Fluttershy back into her seat. "It's fine," he said, "I'll take care of it."
"Well, if you don't mind." Fluttershy settled back snugly. There was no reaction as Turquoise removed a knitted quilt from the floor and blanketed her with it. "If you like, there are a few cupcakes in the kitchen. Pinkie Pie was here earlier." She turned to Anthea. "Have you met Pinkie yet? She likes to throw newcomers a party."
"Yes, I've met Mrs-- I mean, Ms. Pie already. Er, I mean Pinkie."
"Oh, that's nice." Fluttershy turned to the dusty window and smiled. "She likes to throw newcomers a party. She's a wonderful baker. I have some of her cupcakes in the kitchen, if you like."
"Oh, no, that's alright," Anthea assured, holding up her hooves. "I'm fine, thanks."
"If you like," the pegasus was muttering. Anthea sunk back. Had Fluttershy even heard her? Anthea pressed her hooves together to keep them from shaking.
"I'm sorry, I never asked for your name."
She was smiling. Anthea couldn't see it, but she knew Fluttershy wore a smile, a polite little one normally reserved for passing strangers and third-degree acquaintances. Anthea bit hard into her lip to keep herself from crying out.
"It's Anthea," she managed to say shakily.
"Anthea," Fluttershy repeated. "It's beautiful. What a lovely name."
"Thanks." This time, Anthea's smile didn't appear forced. "My mother always thought so."
"Ah."
Silence reigned once again as the conversation came to a halt. Fluttershy shifted in her seat, and her blanket dropped to the ground. Anthea's ears twitched at the soft thud the quilt made, and she turned to the colorful blur her eyes perceived. She reached for it. "Um..."
"Hmm?" Fluttershy opened her eyes and yawned. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I must have drifted off. I'm sorry, what did you say?"
Anthea quickly withdrew her hoof. "Oh, no, nothing," she said. "So, um, I hear you like animals."
Fluttershy began to beam. "Oh yes. It's my special talent, taking care of critters. It's actually a little odd," she said, looking around the room. "Normally, there would be the cutest little bunny hopping around here right now. I wonder where he went?"
"Maybe Angel went out to play," Anthea suggested. As she spoke, Turquoise walked in, carefully balancing an old tea set on a tray. He dusted the coffee table with a nearby rag and placed the tray down before picking up the fallen quilt and draping it over Fluttershy. As she watched the green blur she recognized as her husband fuss over the yellow shape she knew to be her mother, Anthea frowned.
"Hmm, maybe," Fluttershy said before thanking Turquoise for the tea. "His name is Angel. I think you would've liked him."
The wrinkled, old hoof shook as it tried to raise the dainty, little tea cup to its owner's lips. Turquoise gently took hold of Fluttershy's hoof with his own claw to steady it. She took a sip and smiled.
"Thank you, Spike, this is amazing."
Anthea drank from her own cup and tasted nothing but warm water. Taking hold of the sugar box with her magic, she removed two cubes and added them to her drink. "Would you like some sugar?" she offered, holding the container up.
"No thank you," Fluttershy replied. She yawned and the cup suddenly slipped from her hooves. Turquoise grabbed for it but was too slow, and the cup shattered against the floor. "Oh dear, I'm so sorry," she said. "I don't know why I'm so tired today."
"Maybe, maybe we should call it a day," Turquoise said, turning to Anthea. "It is getting pretty late."
Anthea turned to the window. She could feel the light and the warmth of the sun. "Yeah, I guess so."
"Hmm, I guess I could use a nap." Fluttershy tried to lift herself from the chair, her legs quaking as they pushed down on the chair's arms. With Turquoise holding her, she slowly rose and hobbled toward the stairs.
"Um, maybe you'd better sleep on the sofa tonight," Anthea said. Her horn lit up, as did the living room couch. The cushions began to stretch and rearrange themselves until a queen sized bed now stood in the center of the room.
"Oh my," Fluttershy exclaimed, her eyes widening. "You're quite talented."
"Thanks, I've studied under the princess."
Turquoise was helping Fluttershy into the makeshift bed. "Really? Maybe you know Twilight..."
She yawned once more, her eyelids heavy and drooping. Smiling weakly, Fluttershy pulled the quilt Turquoise placed over her to her neck. "I'm sorry we didn't get to talk much today, Spike," she said, patting the dragon-pony's claw. "I'd still like to hear about your and Rarity's day together."
"Uh, yeah." Turquoise rubbed the back of his head. "Sure."
Fluttershy turned to Anthea. "And it was a pleasure to meet you today, Miss, um..."
"Anthea."
"Anthea." Fluttershy closed her eyes. "What a lovely name." She became silent, and soon her soft snores were the only sounds in the cottage. She didn't stir as Turquoise bent over and swept the porcelain shards into a neat pile and cupped them in his claws.
"I'll start cleaning this place up," he whispered, standing up.
Anthea followed the clicks Turquoise's claws made against the floor as he went to dispose of the broken cup. "What should I do?" she asked.
Turquoise hesitated. He looked around the room for inspiration. "Do you have a spell for dusting?"
Anthea shook her head. "I mean, if you pointed me at what needed to be dusted, I could summon a breeze or something like that."
"That's okay. Oh, uh, you, could you watch over your mother, make sure sleeps alright?"
Anthea raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you want me," she said, placing extra emphasis on the word, "to watch--"
Turquoise paled. "I mean, look, er, you know. Sorry."
The unicorn tried to muffle her giggle. "I know, you're just too easy to tease, even after all this time." She slowly approached Fluttershy's side. "I'll keep her company."
"If there's trouble, shout, okay?"
Anthea nodded. "Got it. Don't forget to feed the birds."
"Right, got it."
Turquoise's footsteps grew softer and softer until they finally disappeared. Anthea turned to the old mare sleeping beside her. "Guess it just us now, Mom," she murmured. "Want to talk?"
As if in response, Fluttershy exhaled loudly. Anthea felt her warm breath and shivered. "Guess not."
Fluttershy's brow furrowed, and she started to frown. The blanket fell back to the ground as she started to flail weakly. Light from Anthea's horn shined over the pegasus, like a sunbeam, and she slowly relaxed. Her limbs fell back against her sides, and the frown disappeared, replaced by a content grin.
"Well, at least I can do that," Anthea muttered as she levitated the quilt off the floor and tossed it over Fluttershy. She couldn't tell how well she managed to cover the old mare or if she'd be warm enough like this. She considered calling Turquoise but immediately decided against it. "You'll be fine like this, won't you?"
Fluttershy said nothing, responding only with a snore. Anthea sighed. She turned her head, as if scanning the room, before reaching out toward the sleeping pegasus. Her hoof timidly approached Fluttershy's, as if closing in on something scalding. When the blanket rustled as the pegasus turned in her sleep, Anthea froze and stood frozen for minutes before continuing closer. At last, she brushed against her mother's fur, as soft and as warm as she remembered.
Carefully, Anthea's hoof descended down Fluttershy's foreleg until it reached the bottom. Her fetlock tightened around Fluttershy's, and, as she bent down to meet it halfway, Anthea slowly lifted Fluttershy's hoof and pressed it against her cheek. She waited, waiting for a loving caress or a playful pinch. Her heart soared when she suddenly felt pressure against her face, and it swiftly sank after Anthea realized that in desperation, she had simply pressed the hoof deeper into her cheek.
Even as water rolled down Anthea's cheek and against the hoof, wetting the yellow fur around it, Fluttershy barely stirred. Defeated, Anthea released the leg, letting the limb fall limply along Fluttershy's side. She sniffed and covered her face, forcefully holding back her tears and muffling her cries as her shoulders shook. Her horn began to glow, but Anthea's shaking only grew more violent, her sobs more audible, her face more stained.
Anthea suddenly felt something hard and warm press against her back as a pair of canvases draped themselves over her. She let her hooves fall as she turned and buried her face into Turquoise's chest. She screamed and screamed as he held her tightly until eventually, she grew slack in his arms. Slowly, Anthea pushed herself away from Turquoise to wipe her face.
"I'm alright," she insisted, anticipating the question. Turquoise could only nodded meaninglessly before walking over to the couch to fix Fluttershy's covering.
"It's getting late," he said, looking to the window. Just in the horizon, he could see the setting sun painting the looming clouds above bright red. "We should go home, or do you think we should stay here in case something happens?"
Anthea sniffed and shook her head. "He'll take care of her, he said he would."
Turquoise frowned, clearly doubtful. "We haven't seen him all day, are you sure?"
"Mother trusted, trusts him. The princesses trust him," Anthea said as she got up. "Let's getting going. I'm not sure I can stay here much longer."
"Annie..."
The unicorn hissed as she bumped into the coffee table. "Could you help me to the door? I'm, I'm just tired, that's all."
"Sure." With one last glance back at the old mare sleeping away behind him, Turquoise held Anthea to his side and slowly guided her to the front door. The door creaked open, and both shivered as wind howled by. In the corner of his eye, Turquoise thought he spotted something slither by, but he had blinked, and the shadow had vanished.
"Hey, Annie, did you s--"
"Hmm? What was that, T?"
Turquoise cleared his throat. "Nothing, never mind." Instead he looked up and frowned at the clouds rapidly forming above. "Was there another storm scheduled today?"
"Oh, shoot." Anthea brought her hoof to her forehead. "Right, there was a mix up this week, and, well, it's a long story."
One droplet had fallen onto Turquoise's snout, and he could already feel several more. "Tell me later, when we get home," he said, gently prodded Anthea forward. The two hurried off just as the clouds opened up, and the torrents were released. Fluttershy's cottage turned smaller and smaller until it disappeared, swallowed up by the rain and the dark as the skies turned to black. *
Once again, Turquoise found himself dodging puddles as he followed the old dirt trail. There was no unicorn mare beside him this time to guide around mud, however, and his steps seemed heavier than before. Several times, he looked back toward the town, yearning to return home, but Anthea's stubborn insistence drove him forward.
She was right, of course, as always. Anthea could take care of herself, she had colds before; Fluttershy needed his help far more than she did. Still, Turquoise couldn't help but worry, even after their daughter promised to watch over her.
Shaking his head, Turquoise tried to focus on the task before him, mentally listing a series of chores. Though he had successfully tidied the kitchen, much of the rest of the house was still a mess. He hadn't even seen the upper floor yet, and he tried not to imagine the state of Anthea's old bedroom.
The cottage drew closer, despite his slow, reluctant gait. As he passed the birdhouses, a few of their inhabitants peeked out at him. One brave songbird flew by and landed on the dragon-pony's shoulder, cheerfully chirping away. Several more joined the first, turning Turquoise into a walking bird post, and he couldn't help but laugh.
"Guess you guys recognize me from yesterday, huh?"
The first bird sang a few short notes in response before taking off. The others followed, leaving Turquoise's back covered in down and loose flight feathers. Shaking his shoulders to rid of the fluff, he continued toward the cottage door. With his claw around the door handle, Turquoise turned to his right, searching encouragement. Anthea was missing, of course, and slowly, Turquoise turned back to the door.
"Alright," he muttered, tightening his grip on the door handle as his forelegs quaked. He pushed forward and stepped inside.
Their endeavors yesterday were not wasted; the floor was clear of debris, and Turquoise had little trouble making his way through Fluttershy's cottage. A few bits of clothing still hung over the seat of chairs, but everything else was in their proper place. Even the photos on the wall were dusted and gleaming, with Anthea's grin bringing out Turquoise's own.
His eyes arrived at their wedding picture, preserved in a beautiful frame. Turquoise stared at the seemingly flawless craftsmanship. Had he repaired the frame before leaving last night? Odd, perhaps he had forgotten. He continued through the cottage.
Turquoise found Fluttershy in the living room, awake, alert, and standing, and he immediately froze as she turned around. She wore a small frown, and her brow was furrowed in confusion. Her lips moved as she spoke to herself silently. Her eyes widened as they fell on the strange looking intruder. Turquoise caught hold of his breath, trying to keep still as he waited for Fluttershy's reaction.
"Where have you been?" she said at last, her voice soft but surprisingly firm. Turquoise began to relax. "I've been looking everywhere for you, silly. Come on, it's time for breakfast."
Turquoise let Fluttershy nudge him toward the kitchen, where a small bowl sat on the floor. A few cucumber slices were inside the bowl.
"There you are, a nice delicious salad," Fluttershy said before walking to the sink. She hummed as she wash her hooves. "Now I know how much you want to go out and play, but you have to eat first."
Turquoise picked up one of the cucumber slices and stared at it.
"What's the matter, Angel? Don't you remember how much you love cucumbers?"
He placed the vegetable in his mouth and started to chew. It was tasteless and left a sickly sweet aftertaste after he had swallowed.
"You wouldn't stop eating them last week," Fluttershy said with a giggle. "Oh, I'm so glad Discord wasn't too upset when you stole his sandwich." She began to frown. "Still, that was an awful thing to do to a friend, and I want you to promise to apologize to him the first chance you get, understand?"
Turquoise started chewing the second slice. Fluttershy's eyes narrowed, and he immediately swallowed.
"Well?"
"I-I, uh, yeah, promise," Turquoise bumbled through. Fluttershy's glare vanished, and her smile returned.
"That's good. It's nice to see everypony getting along. I hear Discord and Princess Celestia are spending a lot of time together." She sighed. "Maybe I should start look for a special somepony too."
Fluttershy's cheeks reddened, and she gasped and shook her head. "Oh, how silly. What am I thinking?" she said with a giggle. Fluttershy placed her forelegs over Turquoise's shoulders and pressed his head against her chest. "As long as I have you and all my friends, what more could I ever need?"
Silent seconds passed before she released Turquoise. "Is something wrong? You're being awfully quiet today."
"Uh, no, it's nothing," Turquoise answered, rubbing his claws together awkwardly. "But, um, what about children?" he asked suddenly. "Don't you want children of your own?"
"Children? I, I don't know." Fluttershy ran her hoof through her mane as it extended over the side of her face. "I guess I've been so busy later, I've never gave it much thought. Well, no, that's not exactly true," she admitted, brushing her mane back and tucking a few strands behind her ear. "I've always dreamed of taking care of a foal, telling them stories, tucking them in at bedtime, waking them in the morning with gentle nuzzles." Fluttershy smiled as she stared wistfully past Turquoise. "Oh, but don't worry, they'd never be able to replace you," she quickly assured, giving Turquoise another hug. "It's just a dream after all. I don't even have a stallion I like."
"You could adopt."
"Adopt?" Fluttershy tapped her chin. "I, yes, I could always adopt. But haven't I already, I mean, wasn't there already a--"
Turquoise rushed forward and caught her as she began to sway. She brought her hoof to her forehead and moaned. "I-it's alright, Angel. I'm just feeling a little dizzy. Could you help me sit down?"
"Yeah, hold on," Turquoise instructed. Holding onto the staggering pegasus, he made his way to the living room and helped Fluttershy onto the couch.
"Thank you, Turquoise. I think I'll just close my eyes for a few minutes." She yawned. "Don't worry, it's just for a few minutes."
"Yeah, o-okay."
"And don't tell Annie. I don't want her...to...worry..."
Soft snores slowly filled the room. Turquoise sat by the old mare's side for a few minutes before making his way to the kitchen on the tips of his claws, keeping his journey silent. He threw the remaining cucumbers into the compost bag and gave the bowl a light wash. Taking the bag of spoiling materials, Turquoise walked to the front door and went outside. He circled the cottage and emptied the bag onto a small ditch behind the house, then climbed over the fence and into Fluttershy's backyard. He made his way to a shed at the very corner where a large bag of bird feed sat waiting for him inside. With the bag secured to his back, Turquoise started back to the front of the cottage, toward the birdhouses.
He could hear the impatient chirps and squawks as he walked. A pair of birds suddenly ambushed him, flying around his head and pecking at the bag of seeds on his back. "Hold on," Turquoise said, waving them away. "Give me a second, alright?"
"Annoying, aren't they?"
Turquoise turned toward the cottage entrance. There, leaning its head lazily against the door, sat a familiarly odd figure. Its mismatched legs were crossed while a paw and a talon sat folded over the creature's chest. Its outstretched tail served as a perch for a family of chickadees. The two bothersome birds left Turquoise and rested instead on the figure's horns.
"Oh, uh, um." Slowly, Turquoise set the bag of bird feed down and rubbed the side of his neck. "Uh..."
The creature shook his paw carelessly at him. "Don't worry about all that pomp and circumstance, Celestia knows I sure don't. Discord works fine." One eye, bright red within a gold ring, opened. "It's what my friends call me, after all."
"Ah, right." Turquoise coughed. "Well, uh, good afternoon."
Discord snorted. "Little Annie not here today?"
"She has a cold," Turquoise explained. "We got caught in the storm yesterday."
"Huh. Sucks."
"Yeah, it does."
The conversation ended, but neither the draconquus nor the dragon-pony moved. Seconds passed in silence, until the wind whistled by as it carried a tumbleweed between the two. Turquoise watched the mesh of branches roll by before clearing his throat.
"So, are you here to see Fluttershy?" he asked.
The birds resting on him flew off as Discord shifted in his place. Sitting up, he was now eye level to the large dragon halfbreed standing in front of him. "See Fluttershy?" he repeated, his tone oddly steady and unemotional. With a low, mirthless chuckle, he shook his head.
"Are you alright?" Turquoise held up his claws and leaned back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to assume or anything, I just thought she'd might enjoy the company."
The laughter died away. "I bet your mom and pop told you all their little stories about how they save Equestria, huh?"
"Yeah, they, did," Turquoise answered cautiously. "Why?"
The smile Discord wore was forced. "Oh, no reason really. I was just wonder how dear old Fluttershy would react to seeing big bad Discord suddenly out of his stony prison after all the horrible things he made her and her friends do? Can you imagine what she'd do, how'd she react?" The smile grew wider but colder, more pained. "Oh, I'd bet it'd be chaotic."
The last word was spat out venomously. Turquoise swallowed but stood his ground even as soil Discord's spittle landed on sizzled. "She still remembers you, the reformed you I mean," he said, taking a step forward. "Fluttershy, she mentioned you and Princess Celestia being together. She remembers. I think she'd like to see you."
"I've been watching her for a while, you know," Discord said, giving no sign of registering Turquoise's words. "I've seen Fluttershy reminisce about her grandchildren fondly, then suddenly freak out because she surrounded by all these pictures of complete strangers. What she remembers and what time she lives in is pretty much random. I can't even begin to predict where she'll end up. Who knows what she'll remember me as, who she'll see me as." He turned to Turquoise. "You saw it yourself. One moment you're that inappropriately named rabbit, the next Fluttershy's calling you by name."
Turquoise's protest died before it grew into anything more than a desire. He lowered his head and closed his mouth. Discord was right. "Isn't there anything you can do? I mean, your magic, can't it heal her?"
"Heh, that'd better amazing, wouldn't it?" Discord muttered bitterly. He lifted his talon to his face and snapped. Turquoise squeezed his eyes shut, and his claws dug into the ground as he bracing himself.
"Nothing."
Turquoise opened his eyes. He looked around but saw nothing out of the ordinary. When he looked to Discord for an explanation, the draconquus merely repeated himself:
"Nothing. There's nothing we can do but try to keep her comfortable. I mean, it's not all bad." Discord stretched and got up onto his feet. "We've still got our memories, so at least we know they happened, right? Even if Fluttershy can't remember them, or us, we've still got her up here, right?" He tapped his temple with a small, sad grin as Turquoise held a claw over his heart.
"Memories," he muttered. "They never last, do they?"
"No idea," Discord answered with a shrug. "They're a funny little phenomenon, memories. I mean, you're a hare today, dragon tomorrow." |
Ruin for Pun: the kilala97 Edition | Our Little Escape | The town was crowded. It normally was this time of day, this time of year. The sun had just begun its daily descent, and ponies rushed from house to house, store to store, doing their best to finish their errands before the chilly autumn evening arrived. Friends and acquaintances greeted one another as they passed by, and those who had the minutes to spare carried their conversations through the entire journey through town. Every now and then, a pony would bump into another, as one would expect in such a crowded town, but this was Ponyville, and such accidents were resolved with a few simple apologies from both parties.
Even Api, as impatient as she was, held back the immediate urge to snap at the clumsy stallion that had trotted into her and caused her to drop her bag of caramelized carrots.
"Sorry, sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going," the stallion said hurriedly as his magical glow cleansed each carrot before depositing them back into the brown paper bag. Api was bent over beside him, picking up the books scattered around.
"Nose deep in a book 'gain?" Api clicked her tongue. "That's a bad habit, Nighty."
Night Light Jr. rubbed the back of his head as he laughed weakly. "Sorry, I was just in the middle of--"
"Some important discovery that'll change the entire way we look at horseshoes and scented candles, no doubt," Api droned dully. "Aw, loosen up," she said when Night Light started to pout. She stuck his shoulder playfully, her grin widening as she saw the stallion wince. "Look, I'm sure it'd be pretty interesting if I understood a lick of what you were talkin' 'bout, but I don't so it ain't."
"You shouldn't say that so assuredly. You're smarter than you give yourself credit, you know." The unicorn paused for a moment before smirking. "But, you're probably right."
Api chuckled. "So, uh--"
"I think we should get off street," Night Light said. "We're blocking traffic." He passed the paper bag to Api before gathering his books. "Anyways, it was good to see you, but I have get going."
"Hold on." Api stopped him with a grab at the blue and purple scarf around his neck. Her hoof retreated and quickly adjusted her own. "So, uh..." She cleared her throat. "Cider this Friday?"
There was a sad tilt in Night Light's smile. "You're leaving that morning, remember?"
"Oh, right." Api tucked her muzzle under the scarf, hiding behind the pattern of pies knitted into the green weave.
"Maybe when you get back." He turned away and breathed heavily, his breath visible in the cold fall air. "It's going to be a pretty quiet with you away, not to mention Echo's--"
Api looked up in time to catch Night Light rub his eyes. "Anyways, I-I'll see you at the tomorrow, I-I mean, at the party tomorrow. You'll be there, right?"
She couldn't help but snort. "Like I'd miss my own farewell party."
"Good. There's, uh, something I want to give. To you I mean." With a stack of books floating next to him, Night Light smiled awkwardly. "See you then."
"Yeah."
They separated, and soon, Night Light Jr. disappeared into the crowd, moving deeper into Ponyville, toward the castle that served as his home. Api Apple walked in the opposite direction, toward the edge of the town, where fewer ponies wandered the streets. She continued to move just as slowly however, with her head low and her bag crushed against her.
The paved road transitioned to a dirt one, and the buildings and shops that made up much of the town were replaced with small houses and trees. The red and gold leaves crunched in protest underneath Api's hooves as she followed the trail.
The wind howled by, and Api tightened her scarf. "Wish I had a hat," she muttered as the wind blew her mane to and fro. She trudged forward.
The farmhouse in the distance grew larger as she drew closer. She walked around the wooden fence that surrounded their land, under the little archway that said Sweet Apple Acres, past the orchard trees stripped of their fruits and leaves. There, just to the side, was a little sign with the faded image of a red cherry, designating Red June's section of the farm. It was a little odd, well, at least Api found it odd, how similar her cousin's cherry trees and the rest of the family's apple trees looked when naked.
Maybe, when she returned, she would find those bare branches adorned with thousands of tiny white snowflakes or maybe with white and pink blossoms. Maybe even fruit. She shook the thought away and moved on.
Api sniffed at the air. The faint scent of apple cinnamon pie was there, traveling all the way from the farmhouse. Light peeked out of every window, and she could hear laughter and hoofsteps, the unintelligible rumble of conversation, the creaking of the kitchen floor board, all the sounds of life and family. If she tried hard enough, if she strained her ears, maybe she could distinguish the airy Trottingham lift of her father's from the warm and comforting twang of her mother, aunt, uncle, and cousin.
Was her cousin-in-law there as well? Api couldn't remember if Prince Valiant Heart had been visiting, but if Red June was here, so was her prince. Api sighed, then smirked. She took a step toward the house when a sudden gust flew by and snatched away her scarf, carrying it away.
The bag fell to the ground. Api tore after the scarf, her visible breath flowing past her like mist. Her heart reached a crescendo as it flew higher and higher. She lowered her head and broke into a full gallop. Her knees bent as she prepared to launch herself after the scarf.
As suddenly as it appeared, the wind vanished. The scarf dropped. Api caught it before it could fall into the dirt. Breathing heavily, she brought the scarf to her face and sniffed. "Granny."
She wrapped it around her neck and pulled until it hurt to swallow. She tried to loosen it ever so slightly, then simply tightened it again. This was fine, Ape decided before looking around. The farmhouse was behind her; she had passed it and had gone deeper into Apple property. It was still familiar territory, for her at least. Api had spent a good part of her life here after all. She patted the worn down ramp leading to the little house sitting in a tree.
So many memories. So many adventures. It had been her little escape from the monotony of daily life, from the endless farm chores and school-related woes, where she and her friends could plan and prepare. The paint had long since peeled away, but Api still found her clubhouse, their clubhouse, beautiful.
The wood creaked in protest as her hoof pressed on the ramp, and she hesitated. Api scowled at herself. Cowardice and hesitancy didn't suit her. She leapt onto the ramp and charged forward. She half-expected the whole thing to collapse under her weight, she wasn't a filly anymore after all, but it stood as it had faithfully years and years ago.
The doorway had gotten smaller, no, she had gotten bigger. Api had to duck down as she pushed open the door, which scraped against the floor. The hinged squeaked, begging for grease. It was like hearing a foal cry. Api's heart broke.
She had expected the place to be dusty, dark, and deserted. It was indeed dusty, but it wasn't dark enough to hide how deserted the clubhouse wasn't. "What are you two doing here?"
The unicorn and the pegasus looked up, startled, then looked toward each other, embarrassed. "Oh, you know." Pixel tittered. "Trying to surprise you."
Api raised an eyebrow. "Well, color me surprised. Not sure how you'd figure I be comin' here. I wasn' even plannin' on it."
"No, we were trying to find you something to take with you," Pixel explained. "You know, to remember us by."
Api's mouth fell open. "Oh, c'mon, Ponyville'll only be a day away by train. I can visit anytime after I get settled," she protested. "You don' think I'd actually forget 'bout ya'll, do you?"
"A lot could happen, even in just a few months," Pixel responded excitedly. She began to pace. "A few months could become a few more months, and then a few years! Maybe somepony makes you an offer you can't refuse. Maybe you end up in debt and have to change your identity and everything. What if you fall in love?" She gasped and rushed to Api, placing her hooves on her shoulders. "What then? Did you ever think of that, Admiral?"
"Pixel, I don't--"
"Think about it! You meet a stallion. You date. You have his foal. He leaves you, and you can't come home out of shame. How are you going to find time to remember us when you're busy working yourself to the bone, trying to support yourself and your child? How, Api, how?"
"Pix--"
"How?"
"Let me breath!" Api pushed her away, her face red. "Calm the bloody el down, would you? You really think that'd happen to me? Me, of all mares, falling for some tosser who got too much blood going to one bloody head and not enough to the one that matters?"
"Well, maybe." Pixel rubbed the back of her head. "No, I guess not." She hung her head shamefully. "Sorry, I guess I wasn't thinking straight."
Api smiled and helped the mare back up onto her feet. "You rarely do, Pixel," she said, her rural accent returning. The smile wavered. "Don' go changin' that while I'm gone, you hear. I want to see Pixel Bit bein' as awkward as I remember her when I get back."
"I'm not that awkward." Still, Pixel smiled. "You'll write, right?"
"Course. You'd better too." Api turned to the pegasus. "Both of you, alright? I wanna hear about everythin' happening in Ponyville and Cloudsdale."
Pixel sniffed as Echo stepped forward and nodded. The three mares shared a smile before huddling into an embrace. Seconds passed by, along with the cool autumn air, and the three drew even closer, tightening their holds around one another. Finally, they separated. "So," Api said, rubbing the back of her neck before clearing her throat. "So, find anything interesting?"
"Not much," answered Echo. "We cleaned this place out pretty thoroughly. Found some candy wrappers and a few toy parts. Oh, and this."
She held up a shabby old square of cloth. Once upon a time, it might have had a magnificent ruby hue with a lovely golden lining that glimmered in the light. There had been the crest of a purple shield masterfully stitched to the back with a large gold S in the middle. Pixel's mother had always asserted that she had done most of the work, with a little help from her sister the seamstress, though the mysterious smile Pixel's aunt wore convinced the three otherwise.
Mrs. Rarity would have likely fainted at sight of her creation now. The color had faded to a pinkish gray. Stray strands of fabric stretched out from the side, trying to escape. The gold lining had grown dull and dusty. The shield's stitches were beginning to stick out, and the S, while still readable, if a bit indistinguishable from the number five, had lost its shine.
"Is, is that..." Api's hoof was hesitant. When Echo gave the cloth to her, she held it at leg length.
"It's our old cape," Echo said. "I'm not sure whose it is. Pixel can't remember where hers is, and, well, neither can I." She sighed. "Is it yours?"
"I-I don't know," Api stammered. "It's, it's been so long, I think I forgot, I mean..." She took a deep breath. "Geez, I can't even remember what the S stood for."
Pixel placed an assuring hoof on Api's shoulder. "Hey, it's fine. We get it, it's been a while. I mean, can you remember the last time we had a meeting together at the clubhouse?"
"It's always at Sugar Cube Corner or town hall or something like that these days." Echo walked to the entrance and ran her hoof along the old rotting door frame. "Last time I remember hanging in here was when we were still foals."
"What're you talkin' about?" Api demanded. "Pretty sure we were all teenagers last time we were all here. Remember, the Nightmare Night dance party? Trying to set Nightly and Icy up with dates?"
"Wait, with each other? Since when? Are they still--"
"No! Come on, Pix," Api groaned. "Icy ended up with you, then Echo went with Nightly."
"Hmm, no." Pixel folded her forelegs over her chest. "I think I'd remember going out with Mr. Cool Guy."
"Oh, right, I remember now." Echo laughed. "Icy didn't know about your sugar problem and took you out candy collecting before the dance began. He ended up giving the best sweets to you."
"'Sweets for the sweets'," Api said extravagantly before breaking into a laugh. Echo grinned.
"Exactly. Anyways, you ended up destroying half of Ponyville after picking a fight with a Ursa Major, crashed and went comatose, then woke up two days later with no memory."
Pixel tapped her chin. "Huh, that would explain why Mom still won't let me out on Nightmare Night without super supervision. Oh!" A giant smile lit across her face. "I remember the last time we met here," she sang.
"Really?" Api ran through her memories. She frowned. "When?"
"Well, okay, so it was really only me and Echo, but--"
"Oh, Celestia," Echo groaned, shaking her head.
"What?" Api turned to Echo, then back to Pixel. "What?"
"Well, remember that one Hearts and Hooves day?" Pixel asked. "The one where you just happened to run into Nightly while on the way to the library while he just so happened to be looking for a mare to help him test a new 'intelligence sharing' potion that he just so happened to discover that day in a book that just so suddenly appeared at the top of his reading list?"
Api's jaw fell. "You serious? You mean the two of you were responsible for the whole love poison fiasco? Seriously? You two are the worst. I couldn't look Night Light in the eye for a whole month!"
"It couldn't have been more than a week," Echo disputed. "Remember, he asked you out the following weekend."
A bright red glow gleamed across Api's face. "It was just milkshakes!"
"And Winter Wrap Up that year?" Pixel questioned with a knowing smile.
"That was as friends! We're friends, nothing wrong with hanging out with friends."
"What about that one Hearth's Warming eve?" Echo added in.
"W-we got caught up in the moment, that's all! I mean, with the music and all that mistletoe following us around, we--" Api gasped. "Was that you too? Agh!"
"Hey, we learned from the best," Pixel snickered, poking at Api's side.
"Pft, yeah right," Api scoffed. "Come on, remember getting Prince Valiant and my cousin alone together right beneath her favorite cherry tree just as it began to flower? Petals and bird songs in the air, floating around a perfect pair." She smirked. "Now that's perfection."
"Ugh, this place was wallpapered with charts that entire week," Echo groaned, bringing a hoof to her forehead. "That was almost as bad as your huge romance web or whatever you called it."
"Oh geez." Pixel giggled. "I can't believe I forgot about that. Remember how I kept getting caught in the yarn? Oh!" The unicorn gasped and clapped her hooves together. "I think I know what the S stands for!"
"You do?" Api leaned forward excitedly. "What is it? What is it?"
"Shipping!"
Pixel's triumphant smile was met with confused frowns. Her friends looked to each other, only to receive the same blank look in return. They slowly turned back to the mare hopping before them, looking expectantly. "Eh? Eh?" Pixel prompted.
"What do boats have to do with anything?" Echo asked, her eyebrows raised.
"I think she's talkin' 'bout makin' deliveries," Api ventured.
"What? No, it's, um, you know." Pixel waved her hoof around desperately in Api's face. "You know, ships? Shipping? Admiral?"
Api rubbed the back of her head, "Yeah, see, I never really got that nickname."
"Seriously?"
"I just figured that was just you were bein' you." Api shrugged. "Besides, I'd have figured the S had somethin' to do with adventure. I mean, remember all those fun times we had?" The mare smiled fondly as she stared past her friends, at the blank dirty wall that had once been covered in posters and lists of activities. "Snorkeling in the lake, exploring that old abandoned cave, looking for diamond dogs, catching vampire fruit bats, climbing Princess Twilight's castle..."
Echo rolled her eyes. "Starburst got so angry at us for that one."
"Well, we did end up breaking the window to her room," Pixel snickered.
"...dragon taming..."
Pixel and Echo suddenly shuddered. "Yeah, let's not relive that memory," Echo said, her throat tightening.
"Oh, it wasn' that bad," Api scoffed. "Mr. Spike was a great sport, and we even got a few good shots in."
"Yeah, but remember what Claire did?" Pixel whispered, her eyes darting side to side as if her half-dragon cousin could appear at any moment.
"Okay, yeah, well, it was fun while it lasted, right?" Api laughed weakly and withered under Pixel and Echo's glares. "Okay, bad example, but the important thin' was that we tried and had fun and that Pixel's mane only took a week to grow back. Now that was an adventure."
Pixel and Echo exchanged looks before breaking into grins. "I guess we did have our share of adventures," Echo said as she leaned against the wall. "A good number of close shaves."
Pixel joined her. "We've had some good times together, the three of us," she agreed.
Api suddenly plopped herself between the two and wrapped her forelegs around their shoulders. "And we're gonna have a bunch more. Adventure's still out there, just waiting for us." She stretched her hooves forward, reaching out. "There's just still so much to see. Equestria's a huge place. C'mon gals, next stop, Appleloosa!"
Echo shifted uncomfortably. "Um, Api--"
"Out on the frontier, where the buffalo roam. A land brimmin' with danger." Api laughed. "C'mon, can ya'll picture it? Stampedin' with the local buffalo, drivin' horse drawn carriages, racin' bandits and protectin' crops from thieves." She took a deep breath. "Can't you smell the adventure?"
"Api, we won't be there, remember?"
Api's mouth hung open in silence at Pixel's words. Slowly, her wild smile faded. Her forelegs dropped to her sides, and she let herself slump down against the wall. "Oh."
"I mean, it still sound freaking amazing," Pixel quickly added, "a-and boy, I can't wait to hear all about it. In your letters, I mean." She swung her hoof as enthusiastically as she could.
"You guys won' be there." Api swallowed. "This, I don', is this really gonna be a solo adventure? I-I mean, we've always had them together."
"Well, Appleloosa's a pretty, uh, relatively big town, right? It's not like you won't be around other ponies." Pixel's smile was strained, forced. "You can always find somepony else while you're there."
"But we won' be together!" Api snapped, causing Pixel to cringe. The earth pony's features immediately softened her. "Sorry, it's just, it's always been the three of us, or two of us, or two of us plus Icy and sometimes Nighty and occasionally the Pie twins. I'm with one of you, anyways. And, and..." Her breaths came out in short, quick bursts. She began to shake as she fought to keep the watering of her eyes from becoming tears.
"It won't be the same without us, without me and Pixel." Echo placed a comforting hoof on Api's shoulder. "That's what you're thinking, right?"
Api nodded. She rubbed her eyes furiously. She suddenly rushed forward as Echo's touch became an embrace. "E-Echo?"
"It's just until your cousin Braeburn recovers," she heard the pegasus say quietly. "You'll be back in no time, so don't worry, please."
"Hey, she's right." This time, Pixel Bit's smile appeared more relaxed, more natural. "And like you said, Appleloosa's, what, just a day away by train? It's not like you can't visit us."
"Not everyday." Api's gaze was lowered to the floor. "Maybe not even every week. I might end up too busy to see ya'll. And soon Echo'll be up in Cloudsdale, so who knows when we'll all be together 'gain." Her entire figure seemed to sink. "It just won' be the same as before."
"We're not the same as before. Nothing is," Echo said with a sigh. "You're taking over the Apple farm, least until your cousin gets better, I'm going to Cloudsdale to study. We're all growing up now, I guess. We're not fillies anymore." Echo patted the dusty old floor board below her. "It's been nice, but now, well..." Slowly, she stood up. Pixel and Api watched as Echo made her way to the clubhouse exit. She looked over her shoulder, toward her friends. "Maybe it's time to move on, you know?"
Pixel and Api watched Echo leave. They heard her hoofsteps fall against the creaking boards. The two simply sat there, staring at the spot Echo had been, until Api, wiping at her eyes, climbed to her feet and ran forward. The tattered cloth fluttered to the ground, right beside Pixel.
When she got to the threshold, to the boundary between the clubhouse interior and the outside, Api hesitated. She shook her head and forced herself forward. Cowardice and hesitancy didn't suit her, never did, but despite the determine glare she wore, Api found herself moving slowly, very slowly, down the ramp. She stopped and looked back.
It wasn't the clubhouse she remembered. That one stood tall and proud, like a castle. This was rundown and dull, its beauty faded and fading. Perhaps one day, the door would swing smoothly and the floorboards would stop creaking and everything would be painted in a new shiny coat. Api took a deep breath and charged down.
Echo stood at the bottom, waiting, stepping out of the way when Api jumped the rest of the way down. Api made her way beside Echo. They turned to the doorway and waited.
"Hey, Echo? Sorry."
The pegasus blinked. "Sorry? About what?"
"I, well, I guess I just kept makin' this about me, but you're goin' through the same stuff' I am." Api looked up into the sky. Stars twinkled and winked as they looked from above. "Honesty, I'm feelin' mighty jealous of how well you're takin' everythin'."
"Please." Echo released an empty laugh. "I'm downright terrified about going to Cloudsdale. I mean, I've lived on the surface my entire life, now I'm about to spend the next two years in the clouds with ponies who might not even know what a rabbit looks like." She shuddered. "I'm scared, Api, real scared."
"Well, you're doin' a fine job of hiding it."
Echo's eyes met Api's. "Remember all those adventures we've had, the ones that were actually kind of dangerous? You'd always act tough, tell us all these encouraging words. You've always made me feel braver, you know?" Echo smiled. "Guess it was time to return the favor."
The smile was shared briefly before both turned back to the clubhouse just in time to see Pixel Bit tumble out and miss the ramp. "Pixel!" they shouted, rushing toward the fallen mare curled among the orange leaves.
"Pix, you okay?" Api asked. She helped the unicorn up and dusted her, checking for bruises and cuts.
"Y-yeah, of course," Pixel said, her voice cracking. She quickly ran her foreleg against her eyes, brushing away tears. "I-it's me, remember? At, at least I'm not on fire or anything." She tried to laugh.
Api looked up from her fussing and frowned. "Pixel, what's wrong?"
"It's just, I don't know if I'm ready to move on or grow up or whatever, okay?" Pixel held up the dirty, old cape and pressed it against her chest. "I don't want things to change. I want us to stay together, always. I want us to stay friends. Please," she sobbed into the cloth, "please stay with me."
Api stood on her right, Echo on her left. Both mares leaned toward the crying unicorn as she hid her face with the old cloth and held onto her. "Pixel, we can't," Echo said quietly. "There're things we need to do on our own."
Api gently removed the cloth from Pixel's face. "Sorry, Pixel. I wish we could all stay together like this too, but Echo's right. That's jus' how life works, I guess, it changes. But hey, you remember why you came here for, don' you?"
Pixel shook her head. She looked to Api expectantly.
"You tryin' to find somethin' I could remember ya'll by." Api chuckled. "C'mon, you really think I'd forget you and Echo? You think Echo'll forget the two of us?" She grinned. "Naw and nope. Life'll change, right? Not a whole lot you can do 'bout that."
"But that doesn't mean we can't still be friends," Echo finished. She smiled as well. "Maybe we won't be living in the same town, and maybe we won't see each other everyday--"
"But we'll still have each other. And besides..." Api stepped away. She moved toward the decrepit, dull clubhouse, their clubhouse. "No matter how long I stay in Appleloosa, Ponyville'll still be my home. No matter where we end up, we'll still have Ponyville." She playfully prodded Pixel's forehead. "We'll still have each other."
The unicorn wiped away the last of her tears and returned Api's smile. Api draped the tattered, old cloth over the ramp leading to the clubhouse.
"And we'll always have our little S cape." |
The Bug in the Herd | pre | "Should I be scared?" Luster droned out, her face showing that she was now resigned to her fate.
"No, but still, you should definitely brace yourself." Tone replied with equal resignation.
"Hiya, my name's Pinkie Pie! What's your name?" Pinkie finally said coherently, holding a hoof out to Luster with an enormous grin splitting her face.
"Er... Wildwood Luster." Luster managed, taking a step back from Pinkie's hoof with disdain.
"Ooh, that's a pretty name!" Pinkie's smile became more controlled as the initial wave of excitement became more of a steady stream rather than a high-pressure tsunami. "You must be new here."
"She's been here a few days, actually, Pinkie." Tone corrected her simply. He couldn't help but notice the uneasy glance Chrysalis shot his way.
Pinkie gasped loudly. "What!? You mean there's a new pony in town and I haven't welcomed them properly yet?!" She reached off to the side of the road and pulled out a colorful wagon with a big red button on it. She smiled brightly and reached for the button.
"You braced yet?" Tone asked quietly.
"As much as I'm going to be." Luster replied, eyeing the weird contraption as Pinkie's hoof touched the big red button.
'Click'
The top of the wagon opened up and a marching band's worth of various instruments popped out of the top. Pinkie grinned before breaking into a dance, the instruments playing a very lively song as she did.
"Welcome, welcome welcome,
A fine welcome to you!
Welcome, welcome, welcome,
I say, how do you do?
Welcome welcome welcome,
I say, hip-hip-hooray!
Welcome, welcome, welcome
To Ponyville todaaaay!"
Pinkie was now kneeling in front of the two, forelegs spread out wide and a playful smirk crossing her face. "Wait for it."
Ding!
A compartment opened on the wagon, unleashing a merciless onslaught of more confetti and streamer. Despite it having no clear means of detecting or directing a target, all of the party decor managed to land right on Luster.
For a few seconds, Luster just stood there, her now thoroughly disheveled mane covering her eyes from view. Her mouth was pulled into a thin, tense line. Her upper lip twitched before she spoke.
"Thank you. It's great to feel welcome." She said sarcastically through clenched teeth in a voice that barely disguised a great deal of agitation. Pinkie didn't even seem to notice, her smile brightening.
"It's great to make ponies feel welcome! If you ever need a smile, just lemme know!" Pinkie declared enthusiastically before turning and bouncing happily away. Luster turned to look at Tone and glared at him from under her mane with an almost desperate look in her eyes.
"We're done out here." She said. It wasn't a request.
"I am in complete agreement." |
The Bug in the Herd | 6 - Captured Memories | After spending a few minutes cleansing themselves (mostly Luster) of the confetti and streamers that had covered them, Tone Shift and Luster began to make their way back towards Tone's house. Luster had her eyes turned down, as though hoping to avoid anymore discussions with other ponies. Tone could see it from where he was; she was done being social for the day. He couldn't help but crack a small smile at the posture she was holding. If he didn't know who it was under that disguise, he would not have hesitated to call her stance and expression 'cute.'
As they finally came to his front door, Tone put a hoof to Luster's shoulder in order to stop her. "Hey, uh, mind waiting out here for a second?" He asked hesitantly, as though unsure of himself.
"Why?" Luster asked impatiently, shooting him an equally impatient glare.
"I just wanna get something real quick. I'll be right back." Tone said while rubbing the back of his head with a hoof absently. Luster scoffed but relented.
"Fine. Make it quick."
Tone nodded before disappearing into his home. A couple minutes passed, during which Luster merely stood idly by his door and focuses on soaking up any leftover energy she could from the air while she still had the chance to do so. She was so focused on getting in her snack that she didn't notice the pony approaching her with a curious smile on her face.
"Uh, hi there." Starlight Glimmer's voice shattered Luster's concentration, causing her eyes to snap open wide and a sharp intake of breath to run through her. She looked towards Princess Twilight's pupil with wide, almost frightened eyes. Chrysalis formed her expression into one of being startled, barely able to mask the rapidly building rage filling her system.
"...Hello." Luster said tiredly, looking at Starlight with narrowed eyes.
"I saw Pinkie throwing you that welcome earlier and, well... you looked pretty frazzled so I just wanted to make sure you weren't too off-put by her antics." Starlight said uncertainty, a slight tremble to her words. Seemed that even after all she had learned from Twilight she still had a few things to nail down.
"I'm fine." Luster replied simply, praying to whatever would listen that Starlight would see the anger in her eyes and opt to leave her alone.
"Alright..." Starlight flinched slightly under Luster's threatening gaze, taking a step back. "Well, welcome to Ponyville." She said before turning to leave. Chrysalis sighed inwardly, thankful that she wouldn't have to be around Starlight any longer.
"Alright, got it!" Tone called happily as he opened the door and stepped out of his house, a hoof-held camera hanging around his neck by a chord.
"What's that for?" Luster asked bluntly, much of her agitation showing through.
"Oh, well..." Tone seemed almost sheepish in his response. "I was kinda hoping to get a picture of us out here. You know, to, uh, remember the occasion?"
Luster narrowed her eyes at him. "What occasion?"
"You finally trusting me enough to leave my house and look around Ponyville. I won't lie, I had fun while we were out here. I just... I wanna be able to remember this is all." He said, pawing nervously at the ground with a forehoof.
Luster glared daggers at him before levitating his camera with her aura. "Fine." She growled before taking up position next to him. With practiced ease, despite the frustration and anger in her system, Luster put on a happy smile as she prepared the camera for the shot. All of her muscles tensed up for a moment when Tone wrapped a foreleg over her shoulders. He, too, was wearing a big smile as he looked into the camera.
"Say cheese." Luster said through her smile before the camera let out a bright flash. The device let out some mechanical clunks and buzzes before a copy of the photo was printed from it. Luster shoved both items into Tone's chest before releasing them and entering his home, slamming the door behind her loud enough to echo down the street and draw the eye of a few ponies.
Tone quickly caught the camera and photo before glancing behind him at the door. "...Huh?"
Carefully, he opened the door and peered inside. Chrysalis had dropped her disguise and was now sitting on her haunches in the middle of the room, facing away from him. She was shaking. Tone slipped into the house, closing and locking the door behind him before stepping towards the Changeling Queen.
"Hey, are you okay...?" He asked carefully, earning a snort from Chrysalis.
"Shut up!" Chrysalis snapped at him, whirling swiftly around to look him in the eyes. Tone went stiff at the face she wore. Her eyes were wide open and angled into a furious glare, her pupils dilated and... tears streaming down her cheeks. "Just shut up and leave me alone!"
"Chrysalis...?" Tone shied away under Chrysalis' gaze, legitimately scared by her tone.
"I should have known! I should have known that... that... worthless, muling maggot would still be living here!" Chrysalis shouted, her voice cracking with rage and what sounded like sorrow. With a scream of anger, her horn lit up in green light, picking Tone Shift's lantern from it's place by the couch and hurling it at break-neck speeds into the nearest wall. It shattered and put a substantial hole into his wall.
Tone Shift shrunk and cowered as Chrysalis vented her stresses by thoroughly destroying the lantern, finishing by thrusting it into the floor, sending scraps of shrapnel and glass scattering across the entire room. Tone peeked one of his eyes open, not even noticing he had shut them in fear of the raging Queen. Now, Chrysalis stood, trembling horribly and her head bowed down.
Was she... crying?
Tone didn't say anything at first, slowly picking himself out of his corner and gingerly approaching Chrysalis. He reached out to her with concern, gently touching his hoof to her shoulder. "Hey... what's wrong?" He asked in a hushed town, gently patting her shoulder in what he hoped was a comforting way.
Chrysalis fell back to her haunches, choking down a sob. "Starlight Glimmer..." Was all she said. Tone's eyes widened as he recalled the story that had spread basically overnight across all of Equestria. Starlight Glimmer had managed to convince the changelings to follow Thorax instead of Chrysalis, showing them 'a better way to live their lives.' Now Chrysalis' sudden rage made perfect sense.
"I'm sorry..."
"I don't need your pity!" Chrysalis shot at him, her eyes becoming bloodshot as more tears spilled forth.
"Chrysalis, please... I don't know if it will help, but, I know what it's like to lose something important to me, too. I mean, my mother-"
"Doesn't even compare to this!" Chrysalis interrupted him, leaning in his direction and baring her fangs. He shied away, but only a little bit, keeping a hoof on her shoulder. His face formed a frown of offense, though, shifting away from the look of sympathy and concern he had been wearing a moment ago.
"Chrysalis, I lost my mother! The mare that gave birth to me! She was taken from me only a year ago by heart failure! I-"
"YOU HAVE NEVER LOST A CHILD!" Chrysalis suddenly screamed at the top of her voice, plunging the entire house into a cold, tense silence. Chrysalis turned away from him, shaking even harder now.
"Every. Single. Drone... I gave birth to every single drone in my kingdom. They were all my children. Imagine what it would be like for a pony mother to lose even one child." Chrysalis began, her voice coming out in an almost emotionless tone.
Tone Shift could only stare at her wide-eyed jaw agape as she continued.
"Ponies rarely have many foals... and their capacity to have many more is limited by a short life-span." Chrysalis sniffled quietly. "...I have lived for centuries, and built my hive from the brink of extinction when my mother died..." She looked back to Tone Shift with unspeakable grief written on her face.
"While I may not have shown it out of necessity, I cared for all of my drones. They were all my children. And... with just a few honeyed words and a visual example..." Chrysalis closed her eyes, choking down another sob. "Starlight Glimmer made every single one of my drones turn on me. Thousands of drones, thousands of my children... dethroning me as their Queen... disowning me as their mother."
She opened her eyes with a hint of anger in them once more. "So don't you dare assume you know my pain. You know nothing of what it means to be a Changeling, or what it takes to be their queen. Their mother!" Chrysalis finished, closing her eyes and breaking down fully, no longer even bothering to hold it in any longer.
For several long minutes, Chrysalis let out six months of built-up sorrow and grief. Tone remained next to her the whole time silently petting her shoulder and a sympathetic look on his face. Finally, he swallowed nervously and brought himself to Chrysalis' side, wrapping a foreleg over he shoulders and gently pulling her closer. She tensed slightly, but otherwise didn't react.
"I... I'm so sorry, Chrysalis. I shouldn't have said anything..." He said in a hushed whisper before giving her a gentle squeeze and nuzzle. Chrysalis flinched and looked down at him. For a few moments, her gaze lingered on his before her eyes widened and her jaw fell open. Her muscles tensed abruptly and she pulled away from him, shoving him away.
"Just leave me alone." She said in a broken voice before retreating to the couch, laying down on it and facing the backrest so she wouldn't have to look at him. Tone Shift sighed after a moment.
"If you need anything, anything at all... just let me know. I'll be in the kitchen." Tone said softly before departing quietly, leaving Chrysalis to her own devices for now. Had he managed to get a look at her face, he would have seen the face of a borderline panicking Queen Chrysalis staring back.
* * * * * * *
Chrysalis awoke later that night when she heard Tone Shift trying to sneak by her. She didn't know what he was up to, but she paid attention all the same, making sure her position and breaths were the same as when she was asleep. After a few moments of shuffling around, she could hear Tone mutter quietly to himself.
"She stopped snoring..."
I do NOT snore... do I? Chrysalis thought to herself with an almost automatic roll of her eyes under her eyelids.
A soft, quiet squeak could be heard, not unlike what one might hear from a small wooden box. After a few seconds of relative silence, the squeak came again. Tone set something against the surface of the coffee table before retreating as quietly from the room as he could, presumably returning to his bedroom to get some sleep.
Once she was sure he was gone, Chrysalis opened her eyes and rolled over to look at what he had put on the coffee table. She saw a new photograph in a frame upon the table. The same one they had taken just outside his house earlier. She could tell how forced her smile was in the picture, but anypony else would be hard-pressed to even notice anything off about her expression. Tone, on the other hoof, looked genuinely very happy in the picture.
Chrysalis' eyes fell and she thought back to how he had tried to comfort her earlier. He had shows such legitimate and genuine concern. He had actually cared how she was feeling, and wanted to help her. A grimace flashed across her face as she began thinking about the possible outcomes this situation could lead to.
...We're being reckless. He can't hide me forever and if somepony finds out I'm here, we'll both have to pay the price.
She groaned quietly in frustration before returning to her resting position, a million and one thoughts coursing through her mind at record speed. But most of all, the thoughts echoing in her mind the most were the memory of how he tried to comfort her and a simple, one-word question.
Why...? |
The Bug in the Herd | 7 - Talks and Employment | Chrysalis was awake before Tone Shift the following morning. In fact, she was up before the sun came up. She had barely been able to sleep after Tone put the photo of them on the coffee table. When Tone Shift did finally awaken, stumbling groggily into the living room, he came to a brief pause as he saw Chrysalis looking back at him. She looked away quickly, returning her attention to the book she held in her magic. She had been reading it all night, it seemed.
"Good morning." Tone mumbled tiredly as he meandered past her into the kitchen.
Chrysalis didn't say anything, but lowered the book to look in his direction, an uncertain frown overcoming her face. He didn't notice, as coffee was his only concern at the moment. When he returned with a mug of hot coffee in his forehoof, Chrysalis had set down the book and was now holding the photograph in her magic.
"I think it came out rather well." Tone commented when he saw Chrysalis' look of disdain.
"Tone Shift." Chrysalis said firmly, drawing his attention immediately. "We have to talk."
"We do? What about?" Tone asked curiously, perking up slightly.
"About this little 'situation' you've gotten us into." Chrysalis replied, setting the photo down and standing up.
"Uh, okay...?"
"Tone, you saved my life. As much as I have come to appreciate that, I have to wonder why I'm still here. The longer you keep me here, the worse your situation will become if I am discovered. We will both have to pay a terrible price." Chrysalis explained, cutting right to the chase.
"Oh... We're having this talk..." Tone muttered under his breath before downing more of his coffee and setting the mug down on the table. "Look, Chrysalis, I'm not going to lie... but, before I tell you this, just... promise me something, okay?"
"What?"
"Don't attack me or go into a rage? Please? Just... at least hear me out." Tone requested carefully, nervousness starting to enter his voice.
"...I can only promise to try." Chrysalis said, sounding unsure herself now.
"Okay. I can't ask for anything more than that... Chrysalis, your hive, your children turned from you... and I can't even begin to imagine how horribly that must hurt. But from what I've heard, be it in the news or any other sources, the Changelings are happy. Happier than they've ever been before." Tone started carefully, bracing himself subtly just in case he needed to doge.
"You walk on dangerously thin ice, Tone Shift." Chrysalis said in a low growl, narrowing her eyes at him but maintaining her posture.
"...After seeing how much you were hurting over that whole incident, Chrysalis, I just... I just want to see if you'd be willing to give it a chance."
"Forget it!" Chrysalis snapped at him, turning away sharply as disgust and anger built up within her rapidly.
"Your children are happy, Chrysalis, so please be glad for that, if nothing else." Tone said carefully, stepping forward with a forehoof slowly outstretching.
Chrysalis said nothing, refusing to look at him.
"And, well... if you at least give it a chance, then maybe you can be with them again."
Tone's eyes widened as he was suddenly grabbed in Chrysalis' aura and slammed into the floor in front of her. He skidded to a stop, his carpet burning at his coat and underlying skin from the friction heat. The Chrysalis that was looking down at him was frightening to say the least.
"And what makes you think they would ever accept me if I tried this method? After the generations that lived in a never ending hunger?! Even if I tried it, they would never forgive me!" She seethed at him, kneeling down and pressing her face close to his so she could glare deep into his eyes.
Tone let out a pained wheeze before attempting to reply. "You don't know that-"
"I DO KNOW THAT!" Chrysalis shouted at him, her magic pushing him harder into the rug with enough force that it was becoming harder for him to breath, especially with the pain he was already feeling. "I could feel the contempt they held for me when they drove me out! When Starlight offered me her hoof, the resentment and loathing in the air was so thick it made me sick. I wanted to vomit!"
Finally, she released her grasp on him and backed away, taking deep breaths to try and calm herself. Tone looked at her from his position on the floor with sympathetic, if also frightened eyes.
"...Chrysalis..." He finally managed to utter before picking himself up. "It won't happen overnight, but I'm sure they would forgive and accept you with time if you just tried."
"Don't be ridiculous." Chrysalis snapped at him.
"Why won't you at least try? What do you stand to lose at this point?" Tone asked softly, gesturing to her with a hoof.
Chrysalis said nothing, looking away with a scoff.
"I'm not an expert, but I think that if you want things to turn out well for you, you have to stop thinking of the worst possible outcome as the only one. You're looking at this situation and you can't see any way it could end well from where you are now, so you don't even bother trying..."
Tone slowly stepped forward until he was right in front of Chrysalis, who despite the obvious height differences seemed almost tiny with the way she was standing. "So please, just try..."
"And what happens if it ends badly...?" Chrysalis asked him, looking back at him with tears welling in her eyes.
"If you want a happy ending, just ask." Tone said, mimicking the voice of somepony Chrysalis didn't know. She looked and saw a sad smile on his face. He was also glowing slightly with more love energy, generated from happy memories of his mother.
"What...?"
"My mother always used to say that," Tone said, slumping sadly. "It was her way of saying that if you don't try for a happy ending, you'll never get it."
For quite some time, Chrysalis remained silent before sighing. "I don't know if I can, Tone Shift... but..."
Chrysalis drew Tone into a soft hug, shaking slightly as she did so. "...I'll think about it."
"Alright." Tone said softly with a nod before returning the hug. Tone couldn't see it from where he was sitting, but Chrysalis' face once more seemed to be twisting with fear. She looked down at him for a moment before scooting back and breaking the hug.
"Okay, that's enough sap for me, I think." Chrysalis said, trying to sound joking even through the way her voice cracked. She gave a small nod before returning to her position on the couch, book lifted in her magic as she started on the last chapter.
* * * * * * *
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Tone's ears perked up at the sound of somepony knocking on his door. He glanced back at Chrysalis to see she had already donned the Wildwood Luster disguise. With a nod, he got up and went to open the door. He couldn't help the charmed smile that came over his face when Derpy Hooves was revealed to be the pony at his door.
"Oh, good morning Derpy! Mail for me?" Tone asked, earning a nod from the smiling mail mare.
"Yup! Here you are." She said before digging into her saddlebags and offering him an envelope. He took it and looked it over for a moment, an excited smile rapidly splitting his face.
"Thanks for bringing me this, Derpy." He said happily before giving her a nod. "Have a good day, now."
"Thanks. You, too." Derpy gave her trademarked smile before fluttering off to her next stop. Tone gave a happy chuckle and closed the door.
"What is it?" Chrysalis asked, the disguise vanishing in a swirl of green fire.
"It's from the company I auditioned for a few days back." Tone replied, quickly tearing off the seal and withdrawing the contents. A folded stack of three sheets of paper, each of which holding a lot of written text and what looked like a check for a significant number of bits. "YES!" Tone exclaimed enthusiastically, pumping his forehoof victoriously.
"What is it?" Chrysalis asked again, though she had a feeling she already knew.
"I got the role! Okay, let's see here... duh, duhduhduh..." Tone started 'duh'-ing to himself as he read over the details of the job. "Okay, yeah, this check here is so I can cover travel expenses. The recording studio is located in Baltimare, so I'm going to have to take the friendship express to get there and record my lines."
"How long will you be there?"
"I'd say a few days to a couple weeks, depending on various circumstances." Tone answered as he kept running through the paper, flipping to the second page. "Uh-huh, alright. Pay looks pretty good. If I can get this done in decent time I might just be able to pay my bills on time!" He said with a smile.
"And what about me?" Chrysalis asked bluntly, giving Tone pause.
"Oh... I hadn't thought of that." He said sheepishly, glancing down at the paper with uncertainty.
"Of course you didn't." Chrysalis quipped, rolling her eyes.
"I was half expecting to not even get the role, here! Let alone have travel expenses paid for by my employer!" Tone protested, throwing his forelegs up with a frown.
"So, what are you going to do?" Chrysalis asked simply, standing from the couch and looking at him seriously.
"Uh... Take you with me?" Tone asked reluctantly, earning an amused chuckle from Chrysalis.
"Oh, is that all? I could walk along by your side, disguised as Wildwood Luster and have all of Baltimare see you with your new marefriend." She taunted, giving Tone Shift a look that, while clearly insincere, still created a substantial blush on his cheeks.
"N-not quite what I meant..." He stuttered, rubbing the back of his head absently. Chrysalis hummed with amusement before strutting past him, flicking his nose with her tail as she passed.
"Good, because I'm going anyway and wouldn't want anypony, yourself included, to get the wrong impression."
"Wha- wait, hold on! You're coming? Just like that?" Tone spluttered incredulously, turning around to see Chrysalis looking at him like she looked at her morning plate of eggs.
"I can't really eat if my walking buffet is too far away, now can I?" Chrysalis teased him, turning around to face him fully.
"I am not a walking buffet, thank you very much!" Tone shot back, bristling slightly at her candid objectification of him.
"Hm, I suppose not. A cheap snack bar might be a more accurate analogy..." Chrysalis hummed with a predatory smirk.
"W-what?! Chrysalis, I will have you know that-"
"Ha ha ha! Too easy!" Chrysalis laughed outright, pointing a hoof at Tone Shift as she giggled uncontrollably. He froze as he realized he had taken on a rather defensive stance and was jabbing a hoof in her direction as though he were about to make some sort of amazing comeback. A comeback that was sadly forever lost to the halls of his scattered brain, the words dying in his throat as he processed what was happening. With a violent twitch of his eyes and an agitated growl, he set his hoof down and glared at her.
"Shut up."
"Never."
* * * * * * *
"All aboard for Baltimare!" The voice rang out over the platform as Tone and Luster stepped into the passenger cart they would be using, ponies all around them moving to do the same.
"You remembered your stuff, right?" Tone asked Luster, who rolled her eyes at him.
"Everything I own is present and accounted for." She shot back before brushing past him to scout out for an isolated seat. Tone followed her for a minute before the two got seated, the terrain outside starting to roll along as the train began on it's way.
While not in the least surprised by her lack of any sort of luggage, Tone still had to ask, "What all do you own?"
"Oh, nothing much. Me, myself and my food." She replied sarcastically, adding a slight bit of humor to her voice on that last one.
"Stop it."
"Absolutely not." |
The Bug in the Herd | 8 - Baltimare | "Oh, come on Luster, stop it!"
"No way. This tastes far too good for me to stop, Tone!"
"Seriously, you're kinda creeping me out! Put that tongue away!"
"No."
"Lust, please! Somepony might see us and then we're both going to be in real trouble here!"
"Just be quiet and nopony will be the wiser..."
"You're getting way too into this! You gotta- aaahh... oooh..."
"That's it. Just relax~"
It was at about this point that a mare let out a highly embarrassed sounding yelp, quickly retreating from the mostly empty dining cart, her entire face and much of her neck and shoulders having started burning a furious red. Luster poked her head up from where it had been hiding behind the food counter usually reserved for griffons, a cut of animal meat hanging from her mouth.
She shrugged, closed the counter's sliding door and finished devouring the cooked meat with gusto before looking over at a new sleeping Tone Shift, who she had cast a sleep spell on to make him shut up. Seems it was a bit late to dodge the humiliation bullet, though. With an exasperated sigh, she placed Tone on her back with her magic and, just for added effect, pulled his tongue out of his mouth so it was hanging limply. That ought to get some interesting responses.
Chrysalis normally wouldn't do anything to cause such a scene, but considering how her last couple of weeks had been, she needed to blow off some steam, and messing with the minds of nearby ponies was harmless enough as long as she didn't go overkill. With a pleased hum at the food in her stomach warming her up, she used her magic to ruffle up her mane even more than usual before returning to the passenger cart.
* * * * * * *
Tone Shift refused to look anywhere except out the window of the speeding train, a red tint still covering his cheeks and a supremely smug Wildwood Luster sitting next to him, making sure she was pressed a bit closer than he wanted. Upon waking up, he had been met with Luster giving him a knowing smirk and most of the passenger cart either looking towards the two of them with knowing smirks of their own, or refusing to make eye contact.
When Tone saw this, he had asked a rather stupid question. "What happened?"
That had only made his situation worse. Luster gave an amused giggle before patting his shoulder. "Oh, you mean you don't remember~?"
Tone had went to answer, but upon seeing the faces and thinking for a second, he did remember. Quite vividly. He remembered how Luster was getting hungry after sunset, but eating any love in the air would be problematic, as ponies would probably be able to see the energy as it was pulled into her mouth. So, she had gone to the dining cart, dragging Tone alone with her as a 'lookout.'
And then she started eating items in the griffon counter with immense enthusiasm. Tone had become worried about them getting caught eating without paying and tried to talk her out of it, but she simply cast a sleep spell on him.
Apparently, to one of the mares passing through the cart, it had sounded remarkably... different.
Now, Tone refused to look at anything, simply glaring out the window with an eternal grimace of humiliation etched into his face.
"Oh, come on. Lighten up." Luster said softly, poking his shoulder with her hoof.
"I bucking hate you."
"No you don't."
Tone merely groaned and hid his face from the world with his forelegs. I hate this...
"Well, I dunno about you, but I'm beat. I think I'm gonna sleep. We're arriving in Baltimare in the morning, right?" Luster asked, letting out a yawn and stretching.
"Yep."
"Okay. g'night." Luster said before unceremoniously flopping into him, practically using him as a pillow.
"...Off." Tone seethed at her, but she had already fallen asleep, snoring contentedly right into his ear. I hate my life.
* * * * * * *
Tone had managed to get something resembling sleep while waiting for the train to reach Baltimare. When he awoke, it was to the sound of the train pulling to a stop and the conductor letting everypony know it was time to depart from the train if this was their destination. Glancing over his shoulder, Tone saw that Luster was still asleep and was still using him as a pillow. Taking a moment to look before his aggravation from his earlier embarrassment returned, he found the sight to be cute, in a kind of strange way.
"Hey, wake up, sleepy head." He said, reaching a forehoof over and poking her face. Luster's eyes snapped open and she quickly sat bolt upright. She blinked a few times and then looked at him quizzically.
"Did anypony ever tell you that your shoulder blades are dangerous?"
"Dangerous? What the hay is that supposed to mean?" Tone asked, taken aback by the comment.
"I mean that it's a trap. A tantalizing trap from which their is no escape. Only release, should the warden come along." Luster replied, earning a roll of Tone's eyes.
"No, nopony has ever said that until now. Now let's go, we're here." Tone slid from his seat and reached under it in order to get his suitcase. Luster simply stepped to the floor and stretched a bit.
The hustle and bustle of the occupants getting their luggage and leaving the train was a bit of a hassle, but at the very least it wasn't as bad as Manehattan. Tone Shift would often dread any job that required him to record in that city because of just the train station. Madness.
They stepped off of the train and onto the platform. A few rudimentary checks from the staff later and they were waved through and onto the streets of Baltimare proper. Tone had been in Manehattan, and so while Baltimare was a very impressive city, it wasn't anything for him to gawk at in comparison.
Chrysalis seemed intrigued, but otherwise unimpressed by the city's towering skyscrapers and busy streets. She simply kept relatively close to Tone to make sure they didn't get separated.
"First priority would be getting a hotel room. Then, once everything is put away, I can head on over to the recording studio and figure out when I need to be there each day." Tone said more to himself then Luster, making sure he had his priorities sorted before stepping down onto the sidewalk and getting a move on, Luster following closely.
"And what hotel were you thinking of?" Luster asked dryly as she peered to her right, spotting at least two hotels on either side of the street heading away from them, both of which looked like they were in remarkably poor repair.
"I usually go to HappySheet's. But they're out of my price range this time." Tone answered, giving the question some thought.
"Oh? And why's that?"
"I don't know. Maybe it's because I have to shell out the bits for a room for the snarky mare trying to humiliate me to death." Tone remarked, shooting Luster a glance.
"Oh, shut up. It was funny and I needed a laugh." she grunted, flicking her mane slightly.
"I didn't find it funny."
The two went along for a while, just walking before Tone decided to ask somepony they were passing on the street for directions to a decent hotel that wasn't very expensive. The mare happily gave them some instructions for a hotel called the Gray Mule. It would be awhile before they got their on hoof, so they agreed to keep an eye out for a taxi on the way, even though they weren't all that common in Baltimare.
Sadly, no such luck was to be had. No taxies came into view and, to make matters worse, the weather teams were getting a rainstorm started. Already the winds were picking up and some drops could be felt falling from the swiftly darkening clouds. Tone's ears flattened against the side of his head and his muzzled scrunched into a grimace.
"Well, this is just splendid..." Luster said sarcastically, turning an irritated glare to the sky.
"Yup."
"Ugh. Give me a second." Luster said, ducking into a nearby alley. Tone turned around to see what she was up to, only to see a green flash from the alley. When Luster stepped back out, she was no longer a unicorn, but a pegasus, the rune on her cutie mark changed from 'magic' to 'wind.'
"I sometimes forget how useful that ability can be." Tone commented with a small smile on his face.
"Uh-huh. Look, just hold still, would you?" Luster bluntly replied while drifting into the air, giving her fake wings a few flaps to make sure they would keep her aloft. Once she was satisfied, she came down and picked up Tone by hooking her hooves under his shoulders and lifting.
"Uh, Luster?" Tone said nervously, glancing up at her. She wasn't paying attention, her face one of strain as she hefted him along toward the hotel. While they were moving far faster than they would be on hoof, there was one small problem.
Tone Shift's hind legs were dangling over a very long drop.
"Luster! Could you, uh, maybe not fly so high?!" He shouted so she could hear him over the rapidly increasing din of the storm. She still didn't respond, making a sharp turn that caused Tone's hind legs to swing due to inertia.
She was increasing her speed it seemed, the water starting to blind Tone Shift as they flew into the water harder than it was falling on them.
Tone's pleas for a lower altitude gradually began to devolve into panicked screams that were not heard by anypony through the roaring storm, save for a smugly smiling Wildwood Luster.
* * * * * * *
When they reached the hotel, Luster plopped Tone down half a block away before ducking into a nearby alley and changing back into a unicorn, later explaining that she would rather have her magic than wings. They stepped into the lobby, a modest space with a small dining area off to the side and comfortable lounge seating spaced throughout the rest of the room. The bored-looking stallion behind the counter had been happy to go through the steps to get them a room for the next few days.
With the room paid for and Tone's wobbly legs gaining back some semblance of solidity with being back on the ground, they left the lobby to find their room. Tone looked over at Luster as they went, her face looking surprisingly cheerful considering who was wearing it. "You seem oddly happy." He commented, earning a glance from her.
"Messing with you is fantastic stress relief." she replied simply, earning a snort from him.
"Yeah, well, be careful. I might start messing back."
"Oh? In what way?" She asked curiously, putting on a cocky smirk.
"It all depends on what's available when I need to get payback." He shot back, giving her his own confident smile.
Her face went from cocky to disappointed at the vague answer. "What, can't think of anything on the spot?"
"I just like to make sure my things are well planned out before I go pulling stuff."
"Uh-huh. Sure." Luster gave a roll of her eyes before puffing some air. "We there yet?"
"Yes, we are." Tone said simply, stopping by their room and sliding the key into the lock. The door clicked and swung open with a soft creak, revealing a simple hotel room. Two beds were against the wall of the left while a bathroom was stationed just to the right of the front door. A lamp hung from the roof, a radio stood between the two beds on a small end table and a desk sat against the back wall with a closet right next to it.
"I've slept in worse." Luster noted, stepping in after Tone and closing the door behind them with a wave of her magic.
"I figured. Rock and dirt can only be so comfy for so long." Tone replied, earning a glare from Luster. Her horn lit up and the tip of his tongue was caught in her magic.
"Let me be clear here, Tone Shift. If your tongue decides to come outside and play. He really must mind his manners around me. Otherwise, I may just have to take him away from you. Understand?" Luster said slowly, her voice gradually shifting from a normal pony voice to that of Queen Chrysalis as she drew closer. Tone nodded quickly. Luster let go of his tongue and smiled cheerfully. "Good! Glad that's settled."
She walked past him and hopped up onto the bed farthest from the entrance. "This is mine now."
Tone nodded, blinking the fear from his eyes and turning to leave. "Alright, go ahead and get settled. I'm going to go find that recording studio and find out when I need to be there tomorrow."
Luster said nothing as he left. Once he was gone, she sighed heavily and closed her eyes.
With all of the trouble I am giving him, between the snide remarks and sadistic jokes, even threatening to tear out his tongue... I would have expected more anger from him. More resentment, more distrust... So, why is he growing fonder of me?
She opened her eyes and looked towards the door. This is getting bad... if this goes any further... Luster winced at the implications before stepping into the bathroom and looking at herself in the mirror.
If this goes any further, leaving him might become difficult... |
The Bug in the Herd | 9 - Payback and Nightmares | When Tone returned, he was dripping wet and looking mildly disgruntled, but otherwise seemed to be in a good mood. Luster glanced up at him as he stepped into the bathroom, shook himself wildly to get rid of excess water and then stepped back out. She gave an amused snicker as he was revealed to be somewhat fluffier looking than usual. "Do you always go out like that, or is this a special occasion?" she playfully asked him.
"Does rainy as heck count as special?" Tone shot back, earning a shrug from the disguised queen. "Ugh... at any rate, I'm going to need to get some early sleep, just so you know. Recording starts pretty early and there's a pretty tight deadline for all the needed audio."
"How does this recording thing of yours even work?" Luster asked, genuinely curious and tilting her head to emphasize.
"I thought you knew?"
"I know it involves talking into a mick, but such information wasn't ever relevant during my previous endeavors." she replied with a nonchalant roll of her hoof.
"It's called a microphone, not a mick. We call them mics for short, but still. Get the pronunciation right." Tone corrected her with a frown on his face.
"Whatever."
"As for how it works, what you just described is more or less the extent of what my part consists of. I have a script in front of me a little above a mic on a pole. I read my lines into the mic, trying to get tone and emotion to match the context the line will be used in. A room of monitors and a director are off to the side, listening in to my recording and letting me know if I need to adjust something or redo a line." Tone explained seamlessly, having memorized the whole setup over a year ago when he started this career.
"Sounds boring." Luster deadpanned, earning a glare from Tone.
"No, not really. I find it fun, to be honest. And it is rather gratifying and rewarding when I get to hear my voice on the radio, helping to tell a story for all of Equestria to hear and enjoy."
Luster flinched and leaned back as Tone suddenly hopped up onto her bed, standing next to her and puffing out his chest with simulated pride.
"And besides, it gives me a valid excuse to use voices that would otherwise sound ridiculous!" He declared in one of the most cheesy 'hero pony' voices he could manage. And he nailed it.
"Off the bed." Luster said, pushing one of his hind legs. Tone let out a yelp as he wobbled and toppled off the bed to the floor with a loud thud.
"Oh, you've done it now..." came Tone's pained voice from below. Luster simply rolled her eyes.
"Oh, really?"
"Yup."
Luster let out a startled squeak as Tone suddenly grabbed her blankets and sheets before jumping up and pulling them over her. With sadistic laughter that sounded way too convincing, he began to wrestle with her, pulling more blanket and sheet around her and thoroughly entangling her in a mass of cotton. Luster managed to poke her head out of the ball of blankets with seething rage on her face. "You will let me out of this undignified position right-"
"Oh, I don't think so..." Tone said ominously, starting to walk around behind her on the mattress. "You've caused me to suffer through a few undignified positions, remember?" A maniacal cackle slipped from his throat, sending a chill down Luster's spine and the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end. She could hear him moving and feel the dips in the mattress as he moved around to her right side.
He came to a stop and breathed long and steadily into her ear. "Oh, this is going to be fun..." He said before an unnatural hiss slipped from his lungs and into her ear. Luster's eyes widened. She had never heard a pony make that kind of noise before. "Hmmm... I wonder how changeling tastes..."
"S-stop it..." Luster said uneasily, now struggling to break free from the blankets and failing. Tone Shift let out a pleased hum and circled around to look her in the eyes again.
"And why should I? I have to eat too, you know..." His voice went even lower, almost distorting as though two were speaking at the same time. He leaned past her face and dragged his tongue along her cheek, causing her to gasp.
"What the hay happened to you...?!" Luster asked, breathing harder to go with her increasing heart rate, a bead of sweat forming on her forehead.
"Nothing happened... I just woke up." Tone said again before leaning somewhat farther and growling into her ear. The growl was angry, hungry, animalistic. It was a sound Luster was sure nopony should be able to make. "And I am just... so... hungry..."
He licked her ear before actually biting it. Luster let out a startled yelp and her horn lit up on instinct. Tone Shift's tail lit up with her magic grabbing it, and she yanked him hard to the other side of the room, sending him to crash into the opposite wall with considerable force. With 'Tone Shift' dazed, she quickly began to untangle herself from the mass of sheets and blankets. As she worked, she began to breathe somewhat faster as Tone stirred, starting to pick himself up. Adrenaline kicking in, she finally managed to get out of the blankets and leapt to the floor, her horn charging with magic and a furious scowl on her face.
"Alright, whoever you are..." She snarled, picking up Tone with her magic and hovering him upside down in front of her, a smirk still spread on his face. "Let Tone Shift go right now, and I won't tear out your throat!"
To make her point clear, green flames whipped around her and she returned to being Queen Chrysalis, fangs bared and ready to plunge into his throat at the first sign of danger. Tone's smile went from sadistic and evil to nervous and amused.
"Gotcha."
Boop.
Chrysalis spluttered incoherently as Tone pushed his hoof to her nose, causing her to drop him and shake her head in bewilderment. "What the- pfffp- the heck- I-I don't, what, who, how..." She mumbled as she tried to figure out what just happened.
"Told ya. It's fun." Tone said from his position on the floor before getting back up, smiling humorously at her. "I can't believe I had you going there, either. I figured you had a lot more practice with acting then me, considering who you are."
"What's happening?" Chrysalis asked in confusion, one of her ears flicking and her eye twitching.
"I told you I was going to mess back, didn't I?"
Chrysalis' gaze froze in shock. For several long seconds, she stared at him like a deer would an oncoming train's headlight. That face then began to gradually change; first to annoyance, than anger and then full-blown murderous rage. She bared her teeth and snarled. "I am going to kill you. I am going to kill you and then kill you again."
Tone gulped, laughing nervously. "Uh, well- ahem. I don't think we need to go quite that far, now do we?"
Chrysalis didn't answer, magical sparks beginning to fly from her horn in all directions. "You want to live?"
"Uh... yes?"
"Run."
Tone paled, ears flattening against the side of his head before he turned and bolted for the door. He was just able to avoid something pomfing into the wall just behind him, Chrysalis, who had now turned back into Luster, emitting a guttural howl of rage as she chased him, a missile silo of pillows levitating closely behind in her magic.
* * * * * * *
All of Baltimare had to agree wholeheartedly that Tone Shift lost that pillow fight. Luster had chased him across three city blocks before he finally ran out of stamina, at which point she proceeded to pummel him with the pillows for a good ten minutes, making sure to pin him down with her magic as she did so. Finally, after the pillows had been thoroughly shredded and destroyed by the force with which she was using them, she took a very dazed Tone Shift away from the scene of the crime and back to the hotel room, where she then deposited him into the shower and told him to clean himself off. She then locked him in and set herself down on her bed.
She had also stolen some of Tone's bits to pay for the ruined pillows. The staff had been surprisingly casual about it. Apparently they had dealt with far worse in the past, like a queen-sized bed flying out of a second-story window with a screaming stallion still on it. The mare who did the throwing had refused to pay for the bed and wound up in trouble, an outcome Luster would like to avoid, if possible.
As Luster sat there, though, her mind wandered from that craziness to something else; the glow in the air. Love energy drifted about the room in a subtle haze only changelings could see.
She sat there, pondering her situation and the implications for a long while. Finally, Tone stepped back out of the bathroom, the pillow stuffing having been cleaned from his body. She didn't look at him, as she was too absorbed in her thoughts. Tone didn't say anything either, instead opting to simply flop onto his bed and stare up at the ceiling.
"I think I'm going to get some sleep..." He muttered tiredly before slipping beneath his blankets and closing his eyes. Luster absently turned off the lamp, plunging the room into relative darkness. Had her eyes been in their true form, the glow they emitted would have been enough for anypony to see the worry and uncertainty in them.
"Oh, uh, Chrysalis?" Tone piped up, drawing her attention at the use of her real name. He was looking at her with a tired but apologetic frown.
"What is it?" Luster asked, wincing slightly as more energy began to drift off of him.
"I, uh... I'm sorry if I upset you earlier. I took that a bit too far." he apologized, lowering his gaze slightly and sighing. "You looked like you were actually scared... That wasn't my intention and I'm sorry..."
"...Don't worry about it. I've been through far worse." Luster replied with her voice returning to that of Chrysalis. "It was just sudden and seamless. You were pretty convincing."
"Well, I kinda have to be... It's my job." Tone said before rolling over and closing his eyes. "Goodnight, Chrysalis."
For a few minutes after that, he remained silent before his breaths turned long and rhythmic. Chrysalis sighed slightly and looked away from him. Chrysalis decided she could use some rest herself, sliding under her blankets and looking up at the pink haze that was still in the room and slowly growing thicker.
She blinked, grimaced and opened her mouth, pulling the energy in and consuming it, her hunger diminished to more bearable levels for the time being. She glanced back at him before rolling over to get some sleep herself.
* * * * * * *
"N-no... get away..." Tone mumbled, turning uneasily in his sleep and waking Chrysalis from her slumber. She looked over and saw him jerk slightly before laying still again. "Don't... don't... don't hurt..."
Chrysalis said nothing. She quietly slid from her bed and looked at him as he began to thrash more violently, his breaths coming in panicked gasps. One of his forelegs began to twitch and push out, as though he were trying to keep something away. He was having a nightmare.
"Please, no.... Let... go..."
Chrysalis sat down next to his bed and lit up her horn with her magic, casting calming spell on him in the hopes of dispelling the nightmare and letting him sleep peacefully. For a few moments, the spell worked itself into his mind before he began to calm down. Before he fell back into silence, however, he muttered again, clearer this time.
"Let her go... don't hurt Chrysalis... please..."
Chrysalis eyes widened as he fell silent, his breathing returning to normal and his posture relaxing. He was having a nightmare... about her? She took a step back and fell to her haunches in disbelief. Her eyes shifted uneasily before she noticed something else. Looking up, her ears fell as she realized she couldn't even see the faint glow of the bathroom night light from here.
Any light it emitted was smothered and obscured by the pink haze filling the room.
Chrysalis fidgeted for a few moments before standing back up and getting into her bed again. She glanced at Tone again before laying fully back, staring at the ceiling and the churning energy for quite some time.
"Goodnight, Tone Shift..." she whispered before falling back to sleep. |
The Bug in the Herd | 10 - Voices on the Radio | When Chrysalis awoke the next morning, it was to the sound of Tone Shift opening the door to the bathroom and stepping back out into the room proper. He glanced up and nodded to her through. "Morning, Chrysalis."
"Morning..." Chrysalis stretched slightly before shifting back into Luster. "It's nice to sleep on a decent bed instead of a thrift-shop couch for a change."
"Ha ha." Tone rolled his eyes at her. "Look, I gotta head out. Recording starts in about an hour and I want to make sure I have enough time to get familiar with the studio's layout and do my warmups. I'll be back in a few hours." He turned to the door to leave but paused. "Uh, I left some of my bits on the end table there if you want to go around town for any reason."
"...Thanks, I guess. Go do your thing." Luster shooed him away with her forehoof.
"Alright. See you later."
With that, he stepped through the door and closed it behind him. Luster sat in silence for a long while before looking at the bits on the table. With a 'hmph,' she elected to ignore them for now and instead turned on the radio they sat next to, hoping for some decent music and maybe hear some news about how her children in the hive were doing.
She sighed and simply sat there for almost an hour as various pieces of music from various genres and numerous, very forgettable news stories went in one ear and out the other. It wasn't until some very different sounding music came on, the stations host saying something about a 'warriors from the comet re-run,' that her attention was actually obtained proper.
A new voice came onto the radio, old and tired sounding. "There are secrets that nopony should ever discover, relics of our past left eternally forgotten. One such secret, one buried beneath Equestria's crust for generations, is about to be discovered by an excavation team, led by Topaz Rune. He's a good stallion... but he is not prepared for what lies ahead. None of them are ready to meet the Warriors from The Comet."
Luster found herself listening with intent curiosity as a scene began to play in her mind alongside the sounds coming from the radio...
"What are we hoping to find down here, Topaz?" An earth pony stallion with dull colors snidely remarked, jumping slightly as a large scorpion crawled away from the light cast by his mining helmet. "I can't exactly see myself going much further with all of these arachnids down here!"
"Neither can I..." A frightened mare added, shivering slightly as a draft blew by and water dripped from the stalactites hanging from the ceiling of the long, dark and ancient cavern. Topaz sighed in a familiar voice.
"I don't think it's much farther, guys. That old tomb's gotta be around here somewhere." Topaz said, though he failed to hide the unease in his own voice.
"Tone Shift...?" Luster sat upright upon hearing his voice, albeit with a slight accent, coming from the radio.
"Why are we looking for a TOMB of all things?!" the mare shrieked in horror, flailing her forelegs in the air for emphasis. "Those have dead things, usually ponies, in them!"
"Creepy and unsettling though it may be, a corpse can't hurt you, Spade." Topaz replied before adjusting his gear a bit. "And as for why we're looking for a tomb, this tomb in particular, in case you neglected to read the project statement, is supposedly home to the remains of hundreds of soldiers from a pre-celestial Equestria. Luna and Celestia hadn't come to us, yet."
"And what's so special about these soldiers?" The stallion piped up, flinching as another arachnid scuttled away into the darkness.
"They were, according to legend and myth, keeping something contained here. Something that was never really spoken of in the old tales. It is highly unlikely that whatever it was is still alive, if that part of the legend is even true." Topaz grunted in annoyance as a cluster of bats on the ceiling were caught in the beam of his mining helmet light, retreating deeper into the tunnel and down a side passage in a flurry of wing beats and screeches. "But the point is, finding this old 'tomb' would potentially yield a great deal of information about a rather blank period in Equestria's history. It would be a rather large discovery, one I would love to contribute to our knowledge of our homeland."
Luster found herself drawn in completely as things moved along. The three ponies on the radio talked among each other, providing some backstory information and exposition on numerous topics. Finally, they all let out a collective gasp.
"Well, I'll be... you were right! The bloody place still exists!"
"Wow. I guess all that research paid off this time. Come on, let's go!" Topaz said excitedly, a few pebbles rolling away from him as he descended a slope alongside his companions towards a large stone structure, shaped vaguely like a castle wall with a thick, domed roof. As they reached the path, the mare shivered in extreme discomfort.
"Those little buildings off to the side... the way they're lined up and even on either side, I would guess those are, uh, mausoleums?"
"Looks like it. Smaller ones, probably for the lower ranking soldiers who died here. We'll run through them later. For now, we need to map all of this out." Topaz replied, pulling a sheet of parchment and a quill from his saddlebags with magic.
Several more minutes passed as Luster listened in, the characters starting to throw some playful banter back and forth among each other as they carried on with mapping out the ancient structure. A soft grin began to split open Luster's lips as she imagined Tone Shift filling Topaz's horseshoes here. He'd probably be handling it... well, not very well, in all likelihood.
"Hey, did you hear that?" Topaz suddenly said, jerking upright as a whispering voice passed through the halls and into his mind.
"Hear what?" The mare asked, her teeth starting to chatter and clack against each other.
"I think I hear voices..." Topaz mumbled, starting to trot off down one of the corridors they had yet to map.
"Woah, Topaz! We haven't mapped that yet! Get back here!" the stallion called after him, giving chase with a brisk canter.
"W-wait, voices? We shouldn't go that way, then!" The mare stuttered, sprinting after them with fear rapidly developing in her voice.
"Hello? Is somepony else down here?" Topaz called out, his voice echoing loudly across the old brick walls. There was a subtle change to his voice, as though somepony or something else were speaking through him.
"Topaz, Dynamite, we should really get out of here! NOW!" The mare said in a near panic, grabbing Topaz and trying to yank him away from his current course. He let out a grunt before his forehoof lashed out and collided with her face, a loud smack reverberating all around them.
"Stay out of my way." Topaz said in a voice that was clearly not his own. He flinched before turning and continuing towards a the end of the hall, where all there was to greet them was an wall with a softly glowing blue rune on it.
"Topaz, what the hay? What's gotten into you?! Spade has a point, we should go! NOW!" Dynamite shouted, helping Spade to her hooves and glaring at the expedition leader.
"Th-that is NOT Topaz..." Spade uttered in a jittery voice, pointing a shaking hoof at Topaz. "His eyes are all wrong..."
"Hmph. How very perceptive of you." Topaz uttered, his voice having shifted cadence and accent completely yet still clearly of the same vocal chords. When he turned to face the others, all they could do was scream in fear as magic began leaking from his eyes. "I hold dominion over this pony. I must thank you lot for bringing me a suitable host... the war has been on hold for far too long. It's time to end this."
A flash of magic cut the lives of the rest of the team to an abrupt and terrifying end. Topaz let out a maniacal cackle which echoed with another, far deeper voice. "It is time to wake the warriors..."
Luster blinked as another voice began to list off the names of everypony who helped make this episode. She looked to the clock and realized she had been listening for about thirty minutes. "Topaz Rune was voiced by Tone Shift." the voice on the radio said, confirming Luster's suspicions.
"Huh... you're good with that voice of yours, Tone Shift. Hmmm... It's in your name, I guess." Luster muttered to herself before reaching over and scooping up the bits he had left for her to use.
* * * * * * *
There were a few clouds in the sky when Tone exited the recording studio. He gave a slight couch before turning and beginning the trot back to the hotel. He'd made some good progress on his lines today. He figured that as long as he could keep up at this pace he'd be done in another couple days at the latest, receive his pay and be back in Ponyville the day after. Good thing, too. He would only have about a week to pay his bills at that point.
"Make good progress?" Luster's voice suddenly said from behind him. Tone let out a surprised yip and whirled around to see her peering at him over the rim of a pair of sunglasses. She also had a pair of saddlebags with a few odds and ends in them and her left forehoof was holding a small box of prenchfries.
"Yeah, actually. But didn't you ever learn not to sneak up on ponies?" Tone asked, only realizing after he said it just how stupid a question that was. "...Don't answer that."
"I won't." Luster said before taking position next to him. "Well, you just going to stand there looking awkward or are you going back to the hotel?"
"I was actually kind of thinking of getting something to eat. Wanna tag along?"
Luster levitated up a fry and took a slow, deliberate bite out of it while putting on a thoughtful look. "I suppose I could..." she mumbled to herself. "But I won't be eating the food of the restaurant."
"You're really serious about this whole 'make Tone Shift your personal farm,' aren't you?" he deadpanned with a flat look, to which Luster merely gave a chuckle.
"How can I resist? Besides, I'm curious as to the sorts of sounds or voices I could have you make while I'm... hmmm... eating..." Luster drew her words out before waggling her eyebrows at him. She leaned closer and whispered, "I've heard how good you are with your voice... in person and on the radio, Topaz."
"Uh..." Tone couldn't form words as his face and neck began to turn a bright red. Luster laughed before leaning back, her face turning somewhat more serious.
"Don't get any ideas. I'm messing with you." Luster deadpanned before strutting past him and flicking him in the nose with her tail. Tone shook his face slightly before glaring at her.
"Would you please stop embarrassing me in public?!" He called after her, cantering to catch up with an annoyed huff.
"No. It's entertaining." Luster said playfully as he caught up to her, giving him a smirk.
"Tch. Do you play with your prey as much as you do with your friends?" He asked snidely, to which Luster simply let her teeth show in a grin.
"Who says you aren't my prey?"
Tone would have immediately launched a snappy comeback to that, but considering he knew she could easily back up that sentiment if she so wished, he opted to stay silent and not push his luck. He cloused his mouth and stared straight ahead. Luster chuckled to herself, but inwardly she scolded and berated herself for that interaction.
The pink haze of energy had started drifting off of him in much larger amounts, the waves leaving a thick cloud in the air behind them as they went. |
The Bug in the Herd | 11 - Sharing Fears | The restaurant they had picked had a lovely outdoor dining area and an intriguing aesthetic. The main reason they had went for it, though, was the positively wonderful smell that drew Tone Shift to a total stop on the sidewalk. His mouth watered and he approached with the complete intention of buying and devouring whatever was making the heavenly aroma.
He made a sound choice. The food, from his perspective was fantastic. Luster ordered something cheap and simple to save face but also to keep Tone Shift from running out of the bits he had allowed for the day. There was some soft and soothing piano music coming from the interior of the establishment, played live by a mare who clearly had a passion for the instrument.
Luster took a hesitant bite out of her dish, a simple enough plate with a small line of muffins on one side and a brick-shaped bundle of hay. She decided to tackle the hay first, as that would be the biggest thing her physical stomach would try to eject and if she were to throw up, she didn't want to have too much stuff in there. The mess would be awful and the attention even more so.
Across the table from her, Tone was devouring his meal, a substantial double hayburger with cheese with a sizable amount of salad with apple slices on the side of the dish. He gave a pleased hum and delighted shudder as he ate good food for the first time in days. He had food at his home in Ponyville, but it was usually not very good when he was between contracts.
Luster forced herself to swallow the hay in her mouth, an audible 'gulp' sounding from her as her throat tried to evict the offending visitor, but it was too late. She gave a subtle gag before shaking her head. "Remind me to never blend in at a pony restaurant again."
"It was your idea to do that, remember?" Tone quipped with a smile, pointing at her with a leaf of salad before eating that, too.
"Yes, and if I ever go insane enough to make the suggestion, break my spine." Luster seethed through an involuntary twitch of her system. "Uuugh... the indigestion is going to be terrible."
"Yeah, it will. Luckily, I'm here to make sure you don't get to suffer through it alone." Tone said, expecting a sarcastic remark as soon as he said it. When none came, he paused, his mouth open and the hayburger floating mere inches from it. Come on, give me the punch line so I can bite this burger, would ya? he thought to himself.
"...Thanks."
Tone bit his own tongue in response, letting out a sharp hiss and sucking the appendage back into his mouth. "Ack! Whuth?" he asked with his tongue not quite working right.
"I said thanks. Having someone wanting to help is... comforting, if nothing else." Luster said hesitantly, poking the table idly with her forehoof. Tone blinked, his agonized tongue forgotten for the moment.
"Wow... I wasn't expecting that as a response." Tone said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head before returning to his burger.
"...But it's the sort of response you've been wanting on for a long while, isn't it?" Luster guessed, causing Tone to glance at her before finishing his mouthful of burger.
"What?"
"Tone, don't play dumb with me. I can see it in your posture, hear it in your voice and the way you talk to me. I can see it in the air for crying out loud. You care about me; see me as a friend..." Luster trailed off, turning her eyes down and flattening her ears against her head. "Even though you know who and what I truly am..."
Tone looked at her with a slightly surprised, but also thoughtful look on his face. He sighed and set his burger down before glancing around to make sure nopony was too close to eavesdrop before leaning over to Luster somewhat.
"Chrysalis... let me be clear, here. You are my friend. I like to think that it's possible, at least. Because I don't care how you look. Your face doesn't matter. You do." he said before poking her gently in the chest with his hoof. "And you needed my help. I gave it. And the more time I spent around you, the more I saw in you. You've been through a lot, Chrysalis, and you've done a lot. Almost none of it was good, but that doesn't have to define who you are." Tone sat back and gave a soft smile. "I'll be honest, I want to help you turn things around. I want to see your face when you realize that there is such an amazing and beautiful being underneath that chitin, just waiting for you to set her free. I want to see you happy, just like I do for all of my friends."
A silence fell between them as Chrysalis let his words sink in. She closed her eyes and sighed. "The sentiment is touching, Tone, even if I feel you are a fool for believing it." For several minutes, she remained silent, allowing him to finally return to his food. Then, she opened her eyes and looked at him tentatively. "What was your nightmare about?"
Tone stiffened before slumping slightly, swallowing the last of his burger before making the salad front and center. "You noticed?"
"You were thrashing and panicking in your sleep. Pretty hard to miss for me, being a light sleeper and all." Luster pointed out before nibbling on some more of the hay on her plate, doing her best to ignore the protests of her stomach.
"I... I dreamt that you were found out. That for some reason your disguise failed in the middle of Ponyville. Everything went into chaos. Ponies either ran to hide or to get Princess Twilight, Starlight or the rest of their friends." Tone closed his eyes and shivered at the memory. "I tried to convince anypony I could that you weren't going to hurt them, but nopony would listen. Princess Twilight and her student showed up and... and they..."
Luster couldn't help but wilt slightly at seeing how he was shaking at the memory of what was only a bad dream. Tone sucked in a breath before continuing. "They started to drag you away, sometimes hitting you with magic to keep you from fighting back... the crowds were holding me back, preventing me from trying to help you."
"I... I'm sorry, Tone Shift. That must have been horrible."
"It's strange, though..." Tone continued with curiosity gradually slipping in to replace his fear and anxiety. "When it was at it's worst, it seemed to suddenly go... calm? I guess? I don't know. It was like everypony just went quiet and slowly retreated back to their homes. I remember that I began to feel pleasant... but I don't remember what happened after that."
"That must have been caused by a simple calming spell I cast on you. It seemed like a pretty nasty nightmare and, well, you came to this city to do a job. Hard for you to do that if you're half asleep because a nightmare woke you up in the middle of the night." Luster said almost casually before noticing the look Tone was giving her.
"I appreciate it, Luster. Thank you." Tone said quietly and honestly, reaching a forehoof over to grab one of hers on the table. Luster flinched and jerked her hoof away at the contact, causing him to recoil with an apologetic look. "Sorry, sorry!"
Luster didn't say anything, merely shooting him a mildly annoyed glare before looking away, her face hidden from him by her mane. With an awkward silence now hanging in the air, Tone went about finishing his meal. Luster ate what she could stomach of hers, which in the end was simply the muffins on the side and one more bite of hay. Once all was paid for, they began to make their way back towards the hotel.
* * * * * * *
Tone Shift shook his head slightly to cast away a fogginess that had come over his mind. He was back in Ponyville, out on the streets. Luster was by his side, an uncharacteristically warm smile on her face. Tone didn't even bother to think about how they had gotten here, or why. It never even occurred to him that they weren't in Baltimare anymore. For what felt like an eternity, he just enjoyed the feelings of being home with Luster by his side, walking through the streets and occasionally making small talk.
A breeze was starting to pick up. Tone looked around for the source but saw nothing. There wasn't even a single cloud in the sky, let alone the weather teams putting any sort of wind front into motion. Suddenly, for only a second, the breeze turned into a powerful gust that almost ripped Tone Shift off of his hooves. He closed his eyes to shield them from the intensity of the wind, then cracked them open when it stopped.
"Gah! T-Tone Shift!" Luster wheezed from his side, her voice filled with pain and effort. Tone looked towards her and his eyes widened. Flickers of green fire were starting to appear on her body against her will, gradually dissolving the disguise to reveal Queen Chrysalis beneath. She let out an agonized gasp as the disguise was finally ripped away in it's entirety, her legs giving out under her weight. She fell to the ground in a heap, gasping for breath.
"What the?! Chrysalis! Are you alright?!" Tone half shouted, kneeling next to her. She was clearly not okay. She was trembling violently and her eyes were bloodshot and dilated. Her breathing was uneven and ragged, coming in deep and desperate gasps. "What's happening?!"
"Chrysalis!" Another voice came onto the scene, angry and bitter. Tone looked up to see Princess Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia, Princess Cadance and also Starlight Glimmer approaching, all of them wearing hardened expressions. It had been Starlight that had made the shout.
"No! Wait!" Tone pleaded desperately, putting himself between the advancing princesses and the weakened Chrysalis. "Please! Just hear me out!"
"Stand aside! I don't intend to let this insect walk away a third time after everything she's put me and my family through!" Cadance snarled, her horn lighting up and throwing Tone Shift off to one side with enough force to knock the wind out of him.
"Guards! She's here!" Celestia announced loudly, her words echoing across all of Ponyville. The area was swarming with royal guards in only a matter of seconds, many of whom went for Chrysalis in order to detain her. No small amount of disgust could be seen in their advance, insults and strikes thrown at the former Queen en masse.
"Please, don't hurt her!" Tone screamed in despair, getting to his hooves only to be knocked back to the ground by a guard tackling him.
"You have been housing and protecting an enemy of Equestria! You are under arrest!" The guard snarled at him, a horn on his head igniting with magic and pulling a set of hoof cuffs out, the chains rattling ominously in Tone's ears.
"Please! Stop this! Don't do this! Stop! PLEASE!!" Tone screamed at the top of his lungs, wanting nothing more than all of this to just stop!
Suddenly, all went cold and quiet. A soft, soothing breeze passed over him, making him open his eyes, which he had closed in fear. Everypony was gone, night seeming to have abruptly replaced the afternoon. He slowly got to his hooves and took a deep breath. "What is going on... is this...?"
"A dream? Yes, it is, Tone Shift. And it's contents raise a great many questions." came the unmistakable voice of Princess Luna. Tone Shift felt his ears go flat against his head, the blood draining from his face. He slowly turned, praying he was wrong, but he wasn't. Princess Luna stood maybe ten feet away with an unreadable look. She began to advance.
"There is a great deal of fear in this dream. Fear, tension and worry. The presence of Queen Chrysalis and your immediate decision to rush to her aid when she became weakened makes some interesting possibilities known. I, for one, would like to hear your explanation." She said simply, trotting towards him and coming to a stop right in front of him, looking down with a scrutinizing gaze.
Tone wilted under her gaze before looking down. "...I doubt it would matter if I lied, would it? You'd be able to tell."
"Correct."
Tone blew out a puff of air before looking back up. "Then I'll be blunt. Queen Chrysalis has been hiding in my home for a little while now, because I saved her life when she was on her last leg. I... I've come to see her as a friend in that time. I'm trying to think of a way to get the ponies of Equestria to give her a chance, but..." he trailed off, looking down.
"...But you are afraid that any efforts made will be meaningless if she is discovered before you can put the plan into motion, yes?" Luna guessed correctly, earning a solemn nod and sigh from Tone Shift.
"Please, don't tell anypony she's with me!" Tone pleaded, looking back up at Luna with his ears flat against his head. "I don't want to see her suffer anymore. There's a real chance here, a chance to make her happy and get her to coexist with us peacefully...But if she is discovered too soon, we'll lose that chance forever."
Luna looked at him with narrowed eyes and a thin frown, though she seemed to be contemplating what he said. Without a word, she turned her head slightly, her horn lighting up with blue magic. The world around them blurred and twisted before reforming. Tone looked around and realized that they were now in a forest somewhere. He did not recognize this location, but he did recognize the form of Chrysalis facing away from him not far off.
"What is-"
"The night you first met her. That's what this is." Luna interrupted him before the magic faded from her horn and the scene around them began to move. Chrysalis was peering through the treeline at something out of their sight, and it was now the middle of the day.
"But... I met Chrysalis at night in the everfree." Tone said with confusion, looking back to Luna questioningly. "When was this?"
Luna merely motioned her head to Chrysalis, and Tone turned just in time to see her disappear in a flash of teleportation magic. For a second, there was silence. Then, she returned in another flash, carrying a stunned and panicking Tone Shift in her forelegs. The two came to a stop, Tone looking at her and opening his mouth to scream in terror.
He didn't make a sound, however. Chrysalis cast a spell that seemed to still his vocal chords. All he could do was thrash and breath as Chrysalis pinned him down and opened her mouth. Tone widened as he saw Chrysalis drain his past self of love energy, forcefully pulling it right out of his chest and sucking it up in one continuous stream. He saw his past self thrashing and struggling, but steadily growing weaker.
Finally, Chrysalis let up, dropping her spells and stepping back from Tone Shift, who gasped and groaned dryly, rolling over weakly in an effort to crawl away. Chrysalis merely snarled at him. "I'm not through with you yet!" She snapped venomously, stamping a forehoof between his shoulders and pinning him there. Were he not so drained, he would have screamed. All that came out was a strangled whimper.
Chrysalis lit her horn up once more, a line of magic moving from the horn to Tone Shift's head. He let out a sigh and fell still, the world starting to blur away as Chrysalis turned to look at something unseen.
The scene melted away and was soon replaced with the edge of the everfree forest on a cloudy night. Tone blinked as he realized this was the night he remembered finding Chrysalis, wounded and starving. He looked to Luna for answers.
"What we just saw was the very first time you met Chrysalis. She erased the memories as thoroughly as she was able, though your heart held traces enough for me to put together a rough recreation." she explained, before nodding to the scene before them. "And this is the night you saved her..."
"Luna, why are you showing me these? I already know everything past this point." Tone asked seriously, looking at the moon princess sincerely.
"Merely so that I can be properly informed of the situation. I may be able to see the images your mind and heart remember and infer the feelings and intentions attached to each, but nopony knows you like yourself. I am hoping you can provide some insight for me as I run through some key moments." Luna answered before allowing the scene to play out before them, falling silent so they could observe.
"Oh my goodness, you're hurt! You need help!"
"Stay away from me!"
"You need help. Please, let me take you to the clinic. It's the least I can do-"
"Absolutely NOT! I'd sooner die here than be subjected to them! Or anymore of you! You should just turn around and forget you ever saw me! You need to... just..."
"Do you remember me...?"
* * * * * * *
It seemed to take hours, even though Luna only touched on what she considered to be events of particular note. She would play an event and when it was over she would spend a good while asking Tone various questions about why he did what he did, or why he acted the way he acted. He answered all of her questions completely and honestly, hoping with all of his heart that he could convince her to hold off on sending in a guard squad.
Finally, Luna played back the scene at the restaurant where Tone and Luster had spoken to each other of his nightmare and his growing affections towards her as a friend. She watched in intently, but said nothing when it finally ended. For a few moments, she wore a thoughtful expression.
Tone Shift blinked and found himself back where he was when Luna had first entered his dream. He rubbed his eyes with a foreleg and glanced around for her. Luna was standing where she had been before, now wearing a charmed smile.
"I must admit, Tone Shift, what I saw and heard tonight was... heart warming, in a way. You may yet have a chance to succeed in this endeavor of yours."
"So, you won't tell anypony about her?" Tone asked, perking up with hope in his voice.
"Your secret will be safe with me, unless events transpire in such a way that I am obligated to reveal it. I hope you won't disappoint me on this. You have an enormous opportunity for not just yourself, but for Equestria.... And for Chrysalis." Luna said with a her smile widening somewhat. She turned, the dream beginning to dispel around them.
"Thank you so much, your highness." Tone sighed with relief and gave a deep bow. Luna came to a stop a few paces into her walk and looked back at him with a knowing smirk.
"You are welcome. Although, I must admit there is still one thing i am curious about..." She turned to face him more fully, earning a tilt of his head.
"What would that be?"
"Are you sure you see Chrysalis as a friend?" Luna asked, putting emphasis on the word 'friend.'
Tone recoiled at her words as though offended. "What? Of course! I wouldn't be doing any of this if I thought less of her than that!"
"Of course, Tone Shift. You misunderstand my question." Luna said as the dream truly began to dissolve. She began flapping her wings and began to lift towards the full moon behind her. "I merely ask you if 'friend' is the right way to describe how you feel towards her. Give it some thought..."
She vanished into the moon, and the dream ended.
* * * * * * *
Tone Shift awoke with a start in his hotel bed. It was morning. He needed to start getting ready to head down to the recording studio, actually. He glanced over at Luster's sleeping form on the bed across the room from his. Slowly and quietly, he moved on to the bathroom to use the facilities and shower for the day.
As he went about the routine, he couldn't help but wonder about what Luna had said. While in the shower, he closed his eyes as the soap and shampoo gradually was rinsed out of his coat.
"What do I think of her...?" he pondered aloud before opening his eyes and shutting off the shower, the last of the suds having been washed away. |
The Bug in the Herd | 12 - 'Pillow' Talk and Homecoming | When Tone Shift left the hotel to go to the studio, Luster had yet to awaken. He decided not to wake her, leaving quietly so she could get in some likely still needed rest. When she did awake, he had been gone for almost two hours. She opened her eyes and let out a long, wary sigh. She had dreamt of the hive again... about her drones.
She slowly sat up and blinked the remaining sleep away from her eyelids before stepping into the bathroom to bathe herself. She didn't normally shower or bathe; she didn't normally need to. Changing her form often eliminated most of the grime or dirt on her body. Cleaning that way never really allowed her to relax or ease her mind, and she felt she could use something to clear her head and get her thoughts in order.
Still in her disguise as Wildwood Luster, Chrysalis turned on the warm water and then just stood there, letting it wash over her. She didn't bother with shampoo or soap, opting instead to just let her mind wander.
The love in the air is so... thick... she thought to herself as she looked around. Sure enough, residue love energy hung in the air like a thick fog. She was somewhat glad that she could slightly adjust her vision on the fly to filter out the haze; usually useful when infiltrating someplace and needing to have absolutely no distractions.
Now, she basically needed to filter it out just to see in the bathroom. She grit her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut as the full weight of her situation hit her like a tsunami. "...No more." Luster breathed quietly to herself as the water kept running over her, steam rising into the air. "I'll return with him to Ponyville... but that's where our paths must separate."
With slow movements, she turned off the shower and stood. She didn't move for the towels or anything, simply letting herself dry naturally while she got her plan worked out in her mind. Finally, when she was fully dry, she opened her eyes and left the bathroom, sitting down on her bed. She refocused her vision to see the love energy in the air before opening her mouth and pulling all of it in. It was incredibly dense and filling; more than enough to keep her going for a few days. She could find more in that time easily.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of being alone with her thoughts, she looked up to see Tone Shift return. He closed the door and pumped his forehoof in the air with a giddy 'boo-yah!'
"Mission accomplished?" Luster asked curiously, slipping from the bed and looking at him more closely. He seemed quite energetic and happy.
"Yes ma'am! They've already written up my check and I have it in my saddlebags. A pretty substantial payoff this time, I must say! Should give me a nice buffer zone and cushion in case more work takes a while to find." Tone said happily, doing a little 'happy dance' that earned an amused smirk from Luster.
"Do you know how stupid that dance looks?" She quipped with a playful hoof gesture.
"Do you know how much I care?" Tone shot back with a playful grin of his own.
"Not enough, clearly." Luster was suddenly surrounded in green flames as she abruptly transformed into a perfect mimic of Tone Shift before doing the exact dance he had just done; except she kept it going so it's ridiculousness could really sink in. She returned to being Luster and halted the dance when Tone hurled a rolled up cloth that was supposed to be in the bathroom at her face. She ducked.
"Hardy har." Tone stuck his tongue out at her before quickly sucking it back in. "At any rate, I think now would be a good time to start getting our things together, checking out of the hotel and getting back to the train. Bills are in Ponyville and I'd like to get them dealt with before anything else."
"When is the next train, anyway?" Luster asked, glancing towards the clock.
"In a little over an hour." Tone replied, heading over to his belongings, which were casually deposited in their suit-case in one corner of the room and getting them more firmly placed inside the container. "If we start now, we should get there with time to spare."
Luster nodded silently as he went about getting everything in order. Staring at the back of his head as he went about all of this, she felt a slight pang of guilt. She had given him no end of crap since they had met, and any and all jabs he had gotten at her were swiftly countered or rendered null by her own ruthlessness.
With a small nod to herself, green flames whipped around her again and she lost the horn, turning into an earth-pony variant of Luster. With a small smile trying to force down the frown she was wearing, she picked up one of the pillows on her bed and promptly used it to smack Tone Shift right on the butt. He let out a startle yip and looked at her to see a predatory gleam in her eye as she held the pillow in her teeth.
With a forehoof, she hefted up one of the other pillows and chucked it at him. He caught it and glanced at her in confusion. She took the pillow from her own mouth long enough to give him a challenging, open-mouthed smirk. "Even though I clearly won all of our other little tussles or jabs on this trip, I offer you the chance to win them all back."
She set her pillow down, picked up the cloth he had thrown at her and then threw it onto the ground at his feet with a grin. "I challenge you to a duel. One on one, winner takes all." She picked back up the pillow and got into a dodging stance. Tone glanced at the cloth before giving a smirk of his own.
"Did you just throw down the gauntlet with a washcloth?" he asked, doing a pretty good impersonation of Chrysalis while he was at it. Luster simply rolled her eyes before smiling wider as he picked up the pillow she had thrown him. "Very well, then, lady Luster. I accept your challenge. Just don't think I'll go easy on you because you're a lady of high status." His 'medieval noble-pony' voice was impeccable.
Chrysalis waggled her eyebrows. "Don't think I'll go easy on you because you're a pony."
"Touche."
And with that, they lunged at each other. It was an epic struggle of wits and cunning, strength and reflexes, speed and determination, as well as just seeing how out-of-control they both allowed the other to get. Neither seemed to have any limit, though. Luster, for her part, seemed more than happy to stay as an earth pony to let Tone actually have a chance in this little struggle of theirs.
Finally, in a bold move, she shot forward, using her pillow almost as a shield ad tackled Tone in the belly, as he had been rearing back to use all of his body weight to crash the pillow in his hooves onto her head. Tone let out a loud 'oomph' as Luster ploughed into his gut and set him sprawling onto his back on the bed, Luster now looming over him with her own pillow reared over her head with one hoof, while the other rested on his chest.
"Do you yield?" She asked sharply, applying some pressure with her hoof and tensing up as though she were about to smack him with the pillow again. When she got no answer, she focused on his face and went still and silent.
He was looking at her as though in awe. His eyes had widened somewhat and a slight pink tint had come to his cheeks. His mouth was slightly agape as well. The two stayed motionless for several seconds. Tone noticed how on hi her attention was and, while maintaining his transfixed expression, managed to subtly grab the spare pillow on the bed and slam it into the side of Luster's face.
Combining the force of the blow with his own body weight and momentum, he swiftly turned the tables with Luster pinned beneath him and, a victorious grin on his face as he swat away her pillow and kept her down. "Do you yield?" he asked, somewhat short of breath after the exertion. Luster looked up at him before smiling softly, a faint shimmer coming to her eyes. It left as quickly as it had appeared.
"Yes. I yield. You have bested me quite expertly, sir." The two relaxed as the end of their battle was concluded. Tone dropped his pillow and looked down at Luster with a tender, gentle gaze.
He swallowed hard before Luster noticed the tint returning to his cheeks. She looked at his eyes and, by how rapidly they were shifting in very subtle ways, she had a good idea of what he was about to try. "Um... Luster, I-"
"Totally forgot what time it was?" Luster interrupted, putting a hoof on his face and turning his head to look at the clock.
"Oh, buck me..." He groaned before getting off of her and running for his suitcase.
"I could say so much to that, but, well, it would just be too easy." Luster said as she turned back into a unicorn and slid off of the bed.
"Hush, you!"
As Tone Shift went about getting everything ready, Luster refocused her vision to see the pink haze in the room. With a sorrowful expression coming over her, she began to pull in and eat the energy, making sure to savor it on it's way in.
* * * * * * *
It was the middle of the afternoon the next day when they finally arrived in Ponyville. Tone Shift saw to it that they got the luggage back to his house before he went galloping off to get his bills finally paid off, leaving Luster in his house to look around. A few of the books he had borrowed for her still rested on the couch. She had finished reading them already. Any she hadn't finished were ones she simply wouldn't.
She took a moment to breathe, calm and ready herself. This was going to be so hard for her... for both of them, but she had no choice.
She jumped in surprise somewhat when Tone closed the door behind him on his return, the sound knocking Luster from her thoughts. His saddlebags were jingling quite nicely with the sounds of plenty of bits. "Alright! Now I can relax a bit." he said happily, setting down the bits and heading for the couch. "Hey, Chrysalis, do you want to-"
"Tone Shift." She said suddenly, interrupting him. The way it came out immediately caught his attention. Luster was looking down at the ground, ears flat against her head. "There's... something I have to tell you."
The raw emotion, no matter how well she controlled it, was plainly evident in her voice. She slowly looked up, her disguise peeling away to reveal the chitin-clad Queen Chrysalis once more. Her eyes looked into Tone's, immediately pulling him in.
"Is something wrong?" Tone Shift asked carefully, stepping forward and resting a hoof on her shoulder. She seemed to lean into the touch, relaxing somewhat.
"I... Tone Shift, you... not only did you save my life twice, but you took me into your home and... you have shown me more acceptance than anything, pony or otherwise, I have ever met. After everything that I've been through, everything I've done... you gave me someplace I feel like I can call home.
"But I haven't said what I need to say... you've done more for me than anyone I have ever met, and you didn't even ask for much, if anything, in return... you helped me because you wanted to..." Chrysalis closed her eyes and sat on her haunches, bringing her more to his eye level. "I can never, ever, in my entire life hope to repay that..."
"You don't have to repay anything." Tone whispered, giving her shoulder a comforting pat. "Like you said, I did this because I want to help you. If I succeed, that will be reward enough for me."
Chrysalis choked down a sob as he said this before leaning past him and drawing him into a tight hug, squeezing him so close that he could feel how horribly she was starting to tremble.
Chrysalis sniffled. "Th-thank you... thank you so much. Thank you for saving me, for giving me a home... thank you for everything..."
Tone's eyes suddenly widened as a green flash erupted from Chrysalis' horn, a haze coming over his vision. Tone could feel his limbs and body going weak and his eyes closing on their own. Sleep reached for him almost instantly, dragging him swiftly away from the waking world. "Chrysalis... what's... happening?" he mumbled, losing strength before, finally, falling into a silent, dreamless sleep.
Chrysalis clutched at his unconscious body, still as a statue save for the uncontrollable shakes rattling her system. "I'm so... so sorry..." she uttered in barely even a whisper. She sobbed again before letting out a long, miserable cry of regret. She pulled him tighter, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I would ask you to forgive me... but you can't forgive what you don't remember..." |
The Bug in the Herd | 13 - Better Off | For Chrysalis, it felt like all of the hundreds of years of her life up to this point were trivially short in comparison to this one moment. Tone Shift asleep in her forelegs, unable to wake until the spell wore off tomorrow morning. When he did finally return to his senses, it would be with no recollection of having ever found Chrysalis at the edge of the forest or bringing her into his home. She'd have to make sure his memories of her were the same as they were just before he found her. A face of a pony he didn't know and nothing more.
Finally pulling herself together, Chrysalis gently and carefully lifted Tone in her magic and deposited him onto her back before striding towards his room. Upon arrival, she pulled back his blankets and set him under them. She sat down by the bedside and tried to smile, only to fail as another sob tore through her.
"Dangit, Chrysalis, pull yourself together...!" she said to herself quietly, trying to push the emotions aside so she could do what she needed to do. With a heavy sigh, she looked at Tone Shift's peacefully sleeping face. His eyebrows were still tilted to portray the fear and confusion he had felt when she cast her spell.
"It's for your own good, Tone Shift. You gave me a chance to survive... the only way I can think of to repay that is to ensure my time here doesn't jeopardize you, your safety or your happiness. I could never forgive myself if you were hurt because of me..."
"And the only way I can make sure that does not come to pass... is if I was never here." Chrysalis, with a shiver and grimace, lit up her horn with magic. "You'll forget we ever met... All traces of my time here will have to be removed... but I'll try to leave the happy thoughts and feelings as intact as possible..." she leaned down and touched her horn to his head.
One by one, she began to gather up the sections of his memory that had her in it, carefully identifying what she could safely erase without creating notable gaps or inconsistencies that he could notice or follow. She couldn't help but relive some of the memories he had of her as they came up. Now, seeing them through his eyes and understanding how he felt during each moment, she felt another sob rattle her.
"...What was it, Tone?" Chrysalis whispered almost silently as she had the spell primed and ready to fire. All she needed was to let the spell off and he would forget everything they had done together. He would forget finding her by the forest edge. He would forget bringing her to his home. He would forget deciding to keep her presence a secret. He would forget the time she spilled out her grief and sorrow over her hive to him.
He would forget she had ever even been here, and would be able to live his life happily without risk of accusations of treason or betrayal. He would be able to find more work and keep those bills paid for and himself fed. He wouldn't have to worry about feeling bad about her sudden departure. "...what was it that made you care so much?"
Then she came to the memory where he had been looking up at her during their pillow fight at the hotel in Baltimare, when she had tackled him and pinned him to the bed. She froze on that memory as what he had been feeling and thinking was almost literally made into an open book to her.
His heart had been beating faster, butterflies in his stomach... She's so beautiful... he had mentally replaced the image of Luster with Chrysalis, colorful fur replaced with black chitin, and his feelings didn't change. The emotion was crystal clear, and Tone had thought of it without delay as soon as he realized it. ...I love her.
And of course, when he had flipped them over so he was on top, when she yielded to him in their playful pillow duel, he had looked down at her and wanted nothing more than to lean down and kiss her. He had been just about to do so when she directed his attention to the clock.
As soon as all those thoughts and feelings and memories flashed through Chrysalis' mind, she locked up completely, her fears having been fully confirmed with no room for doubt. She had given him such a hard time, embarrassed him in public, inflicted height-induced panic attacks and assaulted him with an armory of pillows in an effort to get him to become angry with her, to stop caring. But it didn't turn out that way...
He loved her and that on its own made what Chrysalis had to do so, so much harder. Chrysalis retreated into her own mind, trying to pull herself together. Don't think about it... just do it. Cut the memories and erase them. He'll be better off...
She mentally prepared to fire off the spell. Just as she was about to, however, she stopped. She tried again and, just like before, stopped just short of casting the spell. She tried one last time before she realized it, her jaw clenching shut in an effort to hold in a humorless chuckle.
"...I can't." Chrysalis dropped the spell and leaned away slightly. "I just can't do it." Sagging with exhaustion, Chrysalis simply extended the sleep spell so it would end in three days instead of tomorrow morning. "You've enjoyed our time together far too much... it would be dishonest, selfish and cruel of me to take them away from you... even if those are all the traits that make me who I am, I just can't... not to you..."
She stared at him for several minutes, silently saying her goodbyes. When the sounds of pegasi shouting out instructions outside caught her attention, she rested a hoof on his unresponsive shoulder. "Please don't make either of us regret this, Tone Shift..." Chrysalis stood and returned to his living room. She paused for a moment to memorize the environment, taking it all in and making sure she could remember it whenever she had to. Then she set about leaving a note on the coffee table tucked just under the photo they had taken outside his house. The photo of the day she had finally trusted him enough to leave his house with him...
* * * * * * *
"Attention everypony! Ponyville is now on lockdown due to the confirmed presence of an Ursa in the Everfree forest nearby! Nopony is to leave Ponyville until we give the all clear, and refrain from leaving your homes unless you have to!"
Very similar messages were being relayed across the entire town by the pegasi weather team. Luster looked up at them all flying around, shouting out the instructions to everypony in town to make sure the message was heard. "An Ursa, eh? Not a major and not a minor... probably looking for something to eat." she muttered to herself before looking towards the forest. "Which means that everypony will be looking out for that... a distraction." Her analysis of the situation updating by the second, Luster slunk into the shadows and made her way towards the edge of town, intent on slipping into the forest and disappearing.
Not far away, a small group of earth ponies and unicorns, one of several put together by Princess Twilight when this situation came up, was going from door to door to hoof out instructions and guidelines for the situation. Among this group, Starlight Glimmer. She came to a brief stop at the door to Tone Shift's house, knocking hard three times and then levitating the sheet of duplicated parchment.
No answer. "Hello? Is anypony home?" she called with another sharp set of knocks. There was still no answer, but Starlight could have sworn she felt a tingle of strong magical residue in the air around the house. She at a glance towards the others in her group. "Hey, I'll catch up in a minute. Gotta check something real quick."
"Real quick, miss Glimmer." one of the ponies, a stallion replied. "We need to hit as many homes as possible and if you're hanging back, we're all slowed down."
"I understand." Starlight gave a nod as the group moved on to the next set of homes. Once they were a fair ways off. She gave her horn a quick charge and teleported inside the house. "Is everything alright in here?" She asked loudly now definitely picking up some residual magic. A pretty potent spell had been cast here. Recently.
She followed the residue until she came to the house's only bedroom. An earth pony stallion lay sleeping in his bed, unusual considering the hour. But it was even more strange because of the heavy magical residue in the air. Looking him over, she soon discovered the source of the residue; a sleep spell had been cast on him only an hour ago, the charge on it timed to fade in around three days.
"What the...?" Starlight muttered to herself before preparing a counter spell. For several moments, the spell charged and then fired once she was sure she had it all worked out. As soon as she did, the Stallion opened his eyes wide with a loud gasp, bolting upright.
"No!" He half shouted, reaching a foreleg out as though to catch somepony in front of him.
"Woah, mister. Easy." Starlight said carefully, putting a hoof on his shoulder to get his attention. "Are you okay?"
The stallion dragged a hoof over his face as he began to get his bearings. "What happened?"
"I don't know. I felt a magic residue and kinda, um, entered your house to make sure everything was alright. You had a high power sleep spell on you but, beyond that, I don't know the details." Starlight explained as the stallion slid from the bed on shaky legs. "Are you alright?"
"I think so. Name's Tone Shift, by the way." Tone said when he was sure he could support himself with his own legs.
"Do you have any idea who might have cast that sleep spell on you, or why?" Starlight followed up, stepping back a bit to give Tone some space.
Tone Shift's eyes snapped wide open and he froze. His blood ran cold and a chill ran down his spine as he remembered Chrysalis' gratitude... and the faint echo of her apology before he passed out. "Oh no..."
"Huh?" Starlight tilted her head at him, then jumped back as he shoved past her into his living room.
"Luster!" Tone called uselessly, looking around the living room and then darting into the kitchen. Starlight slowly entered the living room as Tone came back, starting to look like he was in a panic, pulling at his mane with his hooves and his eyes darting everywhere. "Oh no, oh no, oh no!"
"Tone Shift, calm down. Who's 'Luster'?" Starlight asked in a soothing voice from next to the coffee table, holding a foreleg out in an effort to calm him and get his attention. Tone looked at her, then to the coffee table she stood next to. He went silent.
Slowly, Tone picked up one of the photo's on the table and passed it to Starlight. "That's Luster..." he said absently, his attention instead focused on the note that had been under it.
"I remember her. She seemed kind of agitated when we met.. Is everything okay with her?" Starlight asked, but then shrinking slightly at the growing look of dread and despair on Tone Shift's face.
"No... no, No, NO!" Tone's voice rose to a scream as he turned and sprinted for his door, unlocking it, throwing it open and sprinting out into the evening streets without stopping.
"H-hey!" Starlight called after him, confused. She took a moment and saw that he had left the note on the table. Grasping it with her magic, she brought it up to her face and read the contents.
Tone Shift
I can never hope to thank you enough for everything you've done for me. In the short time you had me in your home, you saved my life twice and brought me back to good health from the brink of starvation. You gave me a home. I appreciate the effort more than I can describe with words
But I have to leave. If I stay with you, you will only suffer greatly, and I would rather avoid causing you any more unnecessary pain. My departure now has probably saved your life. I hope you can forgive me, even though I do not expect you to.
You told me that if I wanted a happy ending, I should just ask. Well, if that's the case, then I ask of you; do not dwell on my absence or the time we had together. In fact, try to forget if you can. As it is, the happiest ending I can hope for in this chapter of my life is for the pony that saved me to remain unharmed and happy himself.
By the time you read this I will be long gone. Don't try to find me.
Take care of yourself.
Sincerely yours, Wildwood Luster. |
The Bug in the Herd | 14 - Ursa | By the time Starlight found Tone Shift, he was already past Ponyville's town borders and sprinting directly for the Everfree forest. A couple of ponies that had tried to stop him along the way could be seen picking themselves up off of the ground, stunned at how little restraint he showed in shoving them aside to get through.
"Tone Shift! Stop! There's an Ursa out there!" Starlight shouted, grabbing Tone's tail in her magic.
"I. Dont. Care!" Tone screamed back at her, turning to face her with a gaze that gave her immediate pause. There were tears in his eyes and his lips were trembling as he struggled to hold himself together. "I can't let her leave! Not like this!"
"We can send out a search party. We'll bring her back, but I can't let you leave!" Starlight said uneasily before pulling Tone back towards her. Tone's forehooves dug small trenches in the dirt as he tried to pull away from her to no avail.
"Let me GO!" Tone shouted as he came within a foot or two of her before lashing out with a foreleg, striking Starlight in the face, hard. Starlight yelped in pain and stumbled back, falling on her rump and covering her now bleeding nose with a hoof.
"Ack! T-That's enough!" She snapped, readying a sedating spell to calm him down.
"I don't care what you have to say! Somepony I cherish - no, somepony I love is out there and I am NOT waiting around or sitting on my plot for you lot! Every second wasted here is another second between me and her! If there is an Ursa out there, I'll happily do whatever I have to in order to get past it and find her! I will not lose her! Not again!"
Starlight's magic flickered out from his onslaught, her eyes looking at him widely in shock. He was hyperventilating, tearing up and shaking horribly. Tone shook his own head to get a hold of himself before he continued. "I will not stop. I'll face any consequences later, but making sure that she is safe and sound is my only priority." he stepped forward and glared down at Starlight. "Anypony that gets in the way of that is gonna lose."
Despite knowing how hollow a threat it was, Starlight gave a silent nod anyway. "...Fine. Just don't get yourself killed out there... I'm sure Twilight will want to talk with you when you get back."
Tone gave a thankful nod of his own. "Alright.. Thank you." Without another word, he turned and galloped away into the everfree forest. For several moments, Starlight sat in silence before standing and looking up at one of the pegasi in the air.
"Would it be possible for you to tail him? Make sure he doesn't do anything too stupid?"
The stallion shook his head. "Not me, I'm not allowed out of town, but I bet Rainbow isn't so hindered.
"Okay, go do that, then. Once I'm done passing out instructions I'll go let Twilight know what's going on."
* * * * * * *
When the great roar of an angry, adolescent Ursa reached his ears, Tone Shift realized that this was probably an absolutely terrible idea. The ground gave a horrific shake that knocked him from his hooves and sprawling to the ground. Looking up, he saw a faint green flash in the same direction the Ursa was, it's own blue luminescence clearly visible from even this far away.
It spotted her... she's fighting the Ursa! Tone picked himself up and kept going. What do I do? What can I do? Tone asked himself as another tremor rattled the earth, a pained scream sounding from the Ursa that threatened to make Tone's ears bleed. He slowed down slightly so as to not draw too much attention when he arrived at the scene.
And what a scene it was. Chrysalis had shed her disguise in favor of her true self and was currently struggling to keep the Ursa's long, aetherial claws from breaking through a magic shield. It had her against the ground, cracks beginning to rapidly form in her barrier. Chrysalis let out a strained shout before dropping the shield spell in favor of ducking and rolling to the side. The massive boulder she had been standing on was smashed into a pile of rubble by the force of the impact. Chrysalis let out a cry of pain as a particularly large chunk of rock slammed into her and knocked her to the ground below.
She hit another, smaller rock jutting from the ground with a crack, her side taking most of the impact before more stones from the above boulder fell and seemed to bury her in rubble. Tone's eyes widened, his blood went cold and his heart froze. "CHRYSALIS!!!" He screamed out, galloping towards the stone pile Chrysalis had been buried under.
He didn't reach the pile before it exploded in a rapid expansion of green magic. Chrysalis took a shuddering breath as she got to her hooves, blood trickling down the side of her head and covering one of her eyes, the eye that would otherwise see Tone Shift. She looked up at the Ursa, the massive, celestial bear surging down at her with the intention of crushing her beneath it's massive paw
She managed to teleport off to one side, coming out of it in a slide that put her right next to Tone Shift. Now she saw him. Her eye widened as she looked back to him, mouth agape. "Wh-what?! How-"
"Look out!" Tone blurted, tackling Chrysalis to shove them both to the side as the Ursa continued its relentless assault. The two of them let out pained grunts upon their impact with the ground a few feet away, the Ursa's angry roar causing Tone's ears to mute all other sounds in favor of merely ringing.
Chrysalis quickly grabbed him in her forelegs and pulled him away, her wings buzzing furiously to get them far enough away to deposit him behind cover. When she found a suitable safe place in what would otherwise be a small animal hideout beneath a tree, she sped for it and unceremoniously dumped Tone Shift there. "Stay. Here!" Chrysalis shouted at him to make sure he heard her over the ringing in his ears. He nodded before Chrysalis took back to the air.
The Ursa turned to glare at her furiously, it's massive teeth bared threateningly, saliva dripping from them as the walking constellation drooled in hopes of a decent meal. Chrysalis snorted before taking a moment to calm herself and focus. She barely even noticed the pink haze that was rapidly filling the area, or that she was actively eating it all up without losing focus on the Ursa.
With an angry yell, Chrysalis lit up her horn and shot like a rocket at the Ursa, green fire surrounding her. Such a basic spell for Changelings, affectionately called 'comet' or 'meteor.' The drones in the invasion of Canterlot so long ago had used this same spell, if a weaker version of it, to cause structural damage and enter the city quickly. The fire-like magic doubled as a personal shield, dampening the impact with the ground.
The Ursa was not expecting Chrysalis to shoot for it's chin. It tried to bite down on her, but missed as she slipped under its jaw and slammed into it's throat with enough force to reduce stone to dust. The Ursa let out an agonized roar before toppling backwards from the impact and falling to the ground, shaking the earth and kicking up quite an impressive cloud of dust.
Chrysalis finally set herself down on the ground, panting heavily from exertion. She winced in pain as the wound above her eye gave a sharp sting to remind her of it's presence. She absently gave a quick healing spell to stop the bleeding, then turned to Tone Shift, who was now poking his head out of it's hiding place.
Chrysalis gulped, then approached him with a harsh glare that began to turn sad the closer she got to him. "...Tone Shift, how are you awake?" she asked quietly when she stopped face to face with him.
"Somepony woke me up..." Tone replied, lowering his gaze to stare at the ground. For several seconds he was silent. Then, he shuddered as a sob tore it's way from his mouth. "Why?"
"Tone...?"
"Why did you do it?!" Tone asked loudly, his voice cracking and uneven as he looked back up at her. The look on his face caused her own heart to go cold. "How could you do that?! You knocked me out and then went to leave me all alone!" he shoved her harshly with his hooves. "You came out here and got attacked by an Ursa! You could have died!"
Chrysalis didn't say anything, simply looking away and hiding behind her mane. Tone took a moment to breathe before reaching out and pulling Chrysalis into a tight hug, a stunned yelp being squeezed out of her from the abruptness of it.
"Please, don't do that again! It hurt enough when the thought of losing you reminded me of my mother... Don't go away now that I..." he couldn't finish the sentence, simply crying openly now into Chrysalis' chest, given the height difference.
Chrysalis sighed softly. "Tone, I... I have to go. If I stay-"
"I don't care what happens to me if you stay! What good is a home if the resident just leaves?!" Tone snapped, pulling back and glaring at her intensely. "And besides... I don't think much would happen if you were found out under the right circumstances..."
Chrysalis blinked and looked at him questioningly. "Tone Shift?"
"Somepony already kn-"
Tone didn't get to finish the thought as the world around them began to shake again. His eyes widened as he looked behind Chrysalis. His jaw fell open and Chrysalis could guess what was happening. She broke away from the hug and turned around to look at the Ursa as it stood back up, a large discoloration forming on it's throat and some faint trails of magical energy that served as its blood trailed from its mouth.
It's eyes bore a hatred and rage that put immense unease into Chrysalis. She looked over at Tone Shift. If the ursa got it's claws on him, then...
"Tone Shift." Chrysalis said sharply, earning Tone's attention.
"Wha?"
"Stay back..." Chrysalis gave him a smile; a confident one. "I'll keep you safe."
Before Tone could question her, Chrysalis' eyes began to change. They lost the reptilian slit, her pupil rounding out and looking more like what a normal pony would have. Further, pink trails of magic energy began to drift from their outer edges. Chrysalis turned fully to face the Ursa, her horn lighting up with green magic. A gust ripped at the air around her as more magic began to pour out of anything it could, just itching to be put to use.
Tone stepped back, letting out a startled gasp as Chrysalis suddenly shot into the air faster than he could track. The Ursa roared in fury and lunged for her, it's claws reaching out to tear her apart. A bubble shield formed around her just before impact, catching the claws and holding them in place. With a grunt of effort, Chrysalis expanded the shield in the Ursa's direction, turning the protective force into an offensive force, shoving it backwards and knocking it off balance.
Tone ducked as sticks and small stones blasted by him, thrown around like ragdolls by the force of the winds Chrysalis was emitting. He watched with wide-eyed wonder as she pursued the Ursa, never letting up in her assault.
With another enraged roar, the Ursa lunged at Chrysalis. She scoffed at it's effort and shot up into the air, letting the bear sprint past her uselessly and into a cluster of Everfree trees. The sound of the trees snapping in their trunks and falling was a testament to the power at play. In her current state, Chrysalis was unimpressed. For a moment, she wondered where this power increase had come from. Then she remembered Tone Shift and smiled. I'm defending more than myself...
She was gaining power from her own affections for him. Her desire to protect him and keep him safe because, even if she wouldn't admit it out loud, she cared about him, was giving her power. Her smile widened, she readied the comet spell again, shooting after the Ursa and ramming into it's back fast enough to break the sound barrier.
The Ursa roared, turned, but didn't get off another attack. Chrysalis didn't let it. She shifted away and shot a massive beam of magic at it, tuning the energy in just such a way that it attained a sharpened 'edge. ' Constellation creatures like Ursa's don't bleed or bruise in the same way as purely organic creatures. Blunt force would only stun it or make it angry. If she truly wanted to scare it off, she needed to cut it.
The focused beam of magic sliced a sizable gash across the Ursa's cheek, drawing a pained growl from it before she fired off several more in rapid succession. Long slices, cuts and gashes began to appear across it's entire body, trails of magic leaking from the wounds in large amounts.
Knowing that it was beaten, the Ursa turned and broke into a retreat away from the triumphant changeling. Chrysalis sent it a few parting beams to make sure it got the message and did not return. When she was satisfied that it was gone for good, Chrysalis let herself touch back down to the ground, almost falling down when she landed. She laughed slightly as she realized just how out of energy she was.
"Tone Shift! It's safe!" She called, stumble-walking towards where he had been hiding. She shook her head slightly and then wiped at her eyes with a foreleg to get rid of the blood and sweat that was pouring into her vision. "Tone, where are-"
She froze as soon as she lowered her foreleg and saw what was in front of her. When the Ursa had knocked over the trees...
"Oh no..."
Chrysalis felt stiff, rigid. She blinked several times, hoping with all of her heart that it was just a hallucination, that he was fine. But the image persisted. Slowly, she trotted towards the scene in front of her, one thing in particular grabbing her attention.
Tone Shift lay with his hind legs buried beneath one of the fallen trees, much of his upper body covered in dirt, stone and splintered wood. Even from here, Chrysalis could see one of his hind legs was broken and bent at a horrific angle. "No... please... don't die on me..." Chrysalis whispered, almost silent as her horn lit up and pulled the tree of of him. Tone didn't respond. He was perfectly still.
Chrysalis, dreading what she would learn, leaned down and put an ear against his mouth to see if he was breathing. She was relieved to find he was, but put into panic when she realized how faint the breaths were.
"No, no! Come on, Tone Shift... stay with me..." She mumbled in a trembling voice, setting herself down and preparing a healing spell. No healing spell could fix the bones, not properly at least. Those would need to be re-aligned and treated by a medical expert in combination with magic to heal properly. Still, Chrysalis could at least slow down any bleeding and buy him some time.
"Chrysalis!" A voice came from above, sending a spear of despair through her. She looked up to the speaker and saw it was Twilight Sparkle being led by Rainbow Dash, both of which were glaring at her furiously.
Chrysalis tried to ignore them for just a moment longer, focusing every ounce of magic she could into the healing spell. "Get away from that pony right now, Chrysalis!" Rainbow shouted from above as Twilight landed, the latter's horn lighting up with magic, ready to strike if needed.
"I'm sorry..." was all Chrysalis managed to choke out, more to Tone Shift than anypony else before she stood and galloped away from the battlefield.
"Get back here!" Rainbow shouted, ready to give chase.
"Rainbow, stop!" Twilight shouted, causing her prismatic friend to halt. "This pony needs medical attention and you don't have magic. Get him back to Ponyville and to the hospital, I'll look for Chrysalis."
Rainbow huffed with annoyance at being left out of the fight, but otherwise didn't object. She swooped down and gingerly scooped Tone Shift's mangled form onto her back before flying him for the hospital at high speeds.
* * * * * * *
Twilight didn't find Chrysalis. After searching for some time, she finally gave up the search and returned to Ponyville, the sun having set a while ago and the moon reaching into the air. That night, Chrysalis found a small, secluded cave and hid herself away. Using parts of the environment, she hid herself before laying down to try and sleep.
She didn't know what she was supposed to do, now. All she knew for sure was that Tone Shift had been hurt because of her own stupidity. The price of cowardice was high, she now knew, and she just prayed she would never be stupid enough to have to pay that price again.
Please, be alive when I wake up...
With that thought repeating in her mind over and over, Chrysalis fell into a light, miserable sleep. |
The Bug in the Herd | 15 - This Heart, Trapped in Chitin | When Chrysalis awoke the following morning, she found herself refusing to open her eyes for several minutes, wishing with everything in her that she was back on Tone's couch or that hotel in Baltimare. She didn't want to open her eyes and see the cave she had hidden herself away in. She didn't want to remember how her own cowardice and stupidity had gotten Tone Shift hurt. She didn't want to face the day that could possibly bring her news that he hadn't made it.
A draft passed through the cave at about the same time a drop of moisture fell from the top of the cave and hit her on her neck. With a tired sigh, she opened her eyes and got up. The sun was just coming up over the horizon, painting the world in a soft orange glow that was magnified slightly by a thin cloud of mist blanketing the area. This weather wouldn't be the same in Ponyville, she knew.
She hadn't noticed the small stream running by the entrance of the cave, trickling and flowing gently downhill towards one of the small lakes or ponds around Ponyville. Stepping toward it hesitantly, she gazed into her reflection. Even as broken up by the ripples as it was, the despair and exhaustion on her face was apparent in the water. She closed her eyes to think.
"Tone Shift was hurt because I chose to run away from him... from my fear." she opened her eyes, a new resolve appearing in them. "I won't run anymore. If the cost of cowardice is so high, then I won't pay again."
She turned a hard look in the direction she knew Ponyville to be and set off, shifting into the form of some random pegasus stallion. She could cover more ground and hopefully evade suspicion this way. With a scowl, Chrysalis lifted into the air on her fake wings and set off as fast they could carry her for Ponyville.
* * * * * * *
Upon her arrival, Chrysalis had been rather surprised to see everything so calm. Twilight had no doubt let everypony know that the former Changeling Queen was in the area, and yet the town seemed as tranquil and peaceful as ever. She didn't let her guard down, though, moving casually through the streets while keeping her wits about her until Tone's house came into view. A pang of guilt shot through her, but she ignored it for now.
She hid next to the house, waiting for anypony in the area to be out of earshot or eyeshot. When she was sure she was safe, she slid back into the disguise of Wildwood Luster and teleported into Tone's house.
As the reverberations of the spell's sound faded into the silence within the residence, Chrysalis stood still, eyes turned down. With a wince, she shifted back into her true self before looking around. It was almost exactly the same as it had been when she left. Almost nothing was disturbed...
Save for the photograph on the floor, looking like it had been dropped unceremoniously, the note she had left for Tone Shift on the floor next to it. Levitating the note to her face, Chrysalis felt a rush of first guilt and then anger, her face twisting into a self depreciating scowl as the letter burned into cinders in an instant. "Fool..." she snarled at herself before turning her gaze to the photo.
In her magic, she slowly brought it up to her face, her anger swiftly giving way to remorse. She had looked so happy, even though she had been forcing her smile that day. Tone was truly happy in the picture anypony could see that. Wth a shudder, Chrysalis replaced the photo on the table exactly where it should be before lifting a hoof to touch her chest, feeling her heart beating underneath.
"...If this heart trapped in chitin could not feel love for so long, then why now? Why him?" Chrysalis whispered to herself, hoping for something to answer her in a way that made sense. "What was it about him that makes me feel so terrible for getting him hurt? What was it that made me want him safe?"
She pulled her hoof away from her chest and gazed at it as if she no longer knew who she was. Truthfully, she was beginning to wonder if she even could recognize herself at all. "And what was it about me that made him care so much? What was it that made him fall in love with me before he even knew it?!" her voice began to rise in volume, shaking more and more as she continued before falling silent.
"...What made me return the feeling?" she whispered before sitting down on her haunches, closing her eyes and trying to think. It seemed like hours she spent in her own mind, trying to piece together a puzzle with no pieces and no consistent logic. Finally, though, as she began to give up on figuring it out, it just... clicked.
Her eyes snapped open as she let out a small, quiet gasp. How naive was she? She had lived for centuries and fed on love for her entire life. She was sustained by it and yet she understood it only as food. She didn't ever look at it as an emotion or a feeling beyond a satisfying decrease in hunger. She had fed on the emotion for hundreds of years.
And now she understood.
Love didn't subscribe to logic or common sense. It was one of, if not the most powerful emotion ponies can feel. It drives ponies to do things that would otherwise be seen as insane or stupid for the pony they loved. It was the reason Cadance and Shining Armor had been able to restore their own magic so easily and blast Chrysalis and her entire army out of Canterlot.
Now that she felt it, she understood why. It didn't have to make sense; it simply was.
"...Fine." Chrysalis said with half a smirk starting to appear on her face. "I don't need to understand. Not right now." She turned for the door and changed back into Luster, her face turning to a frown as she steeled herself. This was going to be the most insane thing she ever tried to do. With a deep breath to prepare herself, Chrysalis stepped forward and pushed the door of the house open. Her destination was the hospital, where Tone Shift would be.
I'm coming Tone Shift... I will put things right, I swear.
* * * * * * *
Luster kept her eyes dead ahead as the hospital seemed to get bigger and more intimidating the closer she became. Her fears could go buck themselves. She had a job to do and she was going to do it. With another deep breath to calm her mind, Luster gently pushed open the door to the entrance lobby. The mare behind the receptionist counter glanced up and gave a friendly, practiced smile. "Hello. What can I do for you?"
"I'm here to visit somepony." Luster said simply, coming to a stop at the counter and looking at the mare seriously.
"Okay, then. Who are you here to see?"
"Tone Shift."
The mare bit her lip as soon as she heard that. "Oh...I'm very sorry, miss, but he's not receiving visitors right now, and-"
"I'm not taking no for an answer. It's... kinda my fault he's here at all. I have to make up for my mistakes." Luster said, her eyes lowering and some of her guilt slipping into her voice. The mare looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Well... what's your relation to him?"
"I'm... " Luster looked down for a moment, closing her eyes to say it. "...Just somepony that cares about him more than I thought possible."
"What's your name?"
"Wildwood Luster."
The mare's ears instantly shot up, her eyes widening for a moment before she cleared her throat. "Oh, really? In that case, follow me. I'll take you to him."
Luster looked at the mare incredulously. "Huh? Just like that?"
"It's fine, miss. Wildwood Luster is labeled as a pony allowed to see him at any time, so long as the doctors aren't working on him." The mare said with an almost knowing smile before stepping out from behind the desk. "Follow me, please."
Luster was understandably confused, instantly raising her guard. She complied, though, following the mare through a set of doors and through the building. They were on the second floor when they came to Tone's room. The mare paused and put a hoof to Luster's shoulder before she entered.
"I should probably warn you, miss Luster. Tone Shift is... not in good shape. He's stable, but... well... it's not a pleasant sight. Brace yourself." She said gently but firmly, earning a solemn nod from Luster before the mare stepped back to let Luster in.
With one last deep breath, Luster placed a hoof on the door and gently pushed it open. The sight that awaited her within was... breathtaking.
Tone Shift was covered in countless places by bandages and stitches presumably where the doctors had closed off incisions after opening him up to remove shards and splinters of his broken bones. His foreleg was hooked up to an IV, and numerous other contraptions and devices were hooked up to him and keeping him alive, monitoring his heart rate. His broken hind leg was in a cast and rested at a slight angle above him, held up and tied to hold it still.
"Take as long as you need..." The mare said softly, closing the door behind Luster to give her some privacy. Luster didn't even notice. Her ears were flat against her head, hear breath caught in her throat and her eyes misting up.
Wordlessly, she slowly approached the bed, every step of her hooves sounding like a thunderclap in the otherwise mostly silent room. The beeping of the heart monitor was unheard. Tone's face was scrunched in a look of discomfort, a bandage wrapping over his left eye. Luster sat down next to the bed before shedding her disguise. She didn't care anymore. Let them see her...
"Hi, Tone..." she said weakly in a choked voice, reaching a hoof out to touch his own. "I... I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner... sneaking through ponyville isn't exactly easy... I made it without problems, though, and now I'm here..." she bit back a sob.
"I... I'm so sorry, Tone Shift. I messed up so badly... I got you hurt because I ran away... I was a coward... I should have stayed... but I didn't, you came after me, you found me fighting that damn Ursa, you gave me strength, but got hurt yourself and now-" she couldn't keep going. The emotions were becoming too much to talk through. She closed her eyes and sniffled, struggling to hold back her tears.
"I'm just so sorry, Tone Shift... I'm so sorry... please forgive me..." she couldn't take it anymore. Chrysalis rested her face against her forelegs on the side of the bed, crying openly as it all came spilling out. It felt like an eternity that she just sat there, crying helplessly next to him. Finally, she opened her eyes and looked at his unmoving form.
She sat upright, her face going blank as she focused. "...no more..."
Her horn began to glow with magic.
"No more hiding."
A soft, green glow began to envelop Tone Shift's body/
"No more disguises."
The heart monitor began to beep faster as she set her spell into motion.
"No more running."
Beneath the bandages and flesh, Chrysalis felt that his bones had been put back into place. They were just waiting for a doctor trained in healing magic, it seemed...
"No more lying. No lying to you... no lying to them... and especially no lying to myself."
The spell went off, the room filling with a bright green light, the beeping reaching a climax before starting to return to normal speeds. Chrysalis closed her eyes and alarmed voices could be heard outside the door, drawing closer.
"It's time for me to be honest."
The door clicked and swung open. Chrysalis barely even glanced towards the door, her face unchanging.
"Hello... Queen Chrysalis." The new arrival said, closing the door behind her.
Chrysalis didn't reply as Princess Twilight Sparkle came to stand on the other side of the bed, looking at her in the eye with a serious expression.
"We have some things to discuss." |
The Bug in the Herd | 16 - Giving Freely | "We have some things to discuss." Twilight said simply, sitting down in a chair on the other side of the bed from the sagging changeling. Even with the help of the chair Twilight was only just at eye level with Chrysalis, who scoffed quietly in response, but said nothing more. Twilight observed Chrysalis for several moments, noticing instantly how she ignored her almost immediately to look back at Tone Shift on the bed.
Twilight felt her gaze lose some of it's intensity as she took in a number of the little details here. Chrysalis's distraught appearance, the fresh tear stains on her cheeks and on the side of the bed, as well as Chrysalis showing no aggression or hostility. She simply seemed resigned to whatever would happen next, her eyes having lost a great deal of whatever passion or intensity Twilight remembered the having on the occasions they had met in the past.
"If we have things to discuss, start talking." Chrysalis said shortly, earning a nod from Twilight.
"First, I want to know how long you've been in Ponyville. How long have you been staying with Tone Shift?" she asked carefully, carefully observing Chrysalis' response.
"If we discount time away in Baltimare with him, then maybe a week." Chrysalis replied without hesitation.
"I see..." Twilight sat back in her seat slightly, closing her eyes and giving some thought. "Then we need to talk about the terms of your stay."
Chrysalis shot Twilight a glance, narrowing her eyes but otherwise reacting very little. "A cage with visiting hours would be preferable."
Twilight clamped her jaw shut at that, tilting her head at Chrysalis. "Uh... what?"
"You're going to put me in a dungeon, aren't you?" Chrysalis guessed bluntly, returning her eyes to Tone Shift. "I'd like to make sure I can get visitors..."
"Wha... no, no we're not throwing you in a dungeon!" Twilight said quickly, drawing Chrysalis attention far more than before.
"What?"
"When I said 'terms of your stay,' I meant the ground rules you'll have to follow in Ponyville to avoid serious backlash." Twilight explained, giving her hoof a few rolls to emphasize the important points.
Chrysalis blinked disbelievingly. "Forgive me if I am completely confused. Why do any of that?"
"Because we know you're different now, Chrysalis." Twilight said gently, leaning forward slightly with an almost friendly smile appearing on her face. "Luna knows you've been here for a few days already. She filled Princess Celestia and I in on what she knew when we found you in the forest after your fight with the Ursa."
Chrysalis stiffened at those words, looking at Tone Shift. "...The Lunar Princess knew?"
"She found out during one of Tone's nightmares about you getting caught. She heard the entire story from him and replayed all of the memories he had of you to confirm his statements." Twilight furthered, leaning back into her chair once more.
Chrysalis was silent for what felt like years. Finally, she looked down and sighed. "Okay, fine. What is rule one?"
"Well, following the laws here in Equestria is the big one. Rule number two is that you don't go taking love energy from anypony without consent-"
"Done." Chrysalis butted in simply, looking down at Tone Shift. Her lips began to press into a thin line. "Is one of these machines keeping him from waking up?"
"Uh, yes. Why?" Twilight asked, somewhat caught off guard by the abrupt change in topic.
"His bones were put back into line. I ran a healing spell over him just before you got here; that was the spike in his heart rate."
"Ah, right. The heart beats really fast for a few seconds to get blood moving through the newly available tissue when healing magic is cast on somepony." Twilight deduced immediately. Chrysalis only nodded.
Chrysalis looked down at Tone Shift sadly. "I want to talk to him... Talking at his unresponsive face doesn't exactly move the conversation anywhere." she gained a very small smile at her attempt at morbid humor, but quickly lost the expression. "There are a few things I need to tell him..."
Twilight stared at Chrysalis thoughtfully for several seconds. Then, a genuine, warm smile crept onto her face. "I guess Luna wasn't exaggerating... you've definitely changed, Chrysalis."
Chrysalis looked at Twilight skeptically, raising an eyebrow in a silent question.
"The changeling queen I met years ago at my brother's wedding would have rather starved than say any of that. She would have been growling at me, mocking me insulting me and would have had this incredible ego around herself." Twilight leaned forward again, her smile widening. "But look at you now! You're being reasonable, if a little blunt. You're not outright disrespecting me or your surroundings and hay, you came to this hospital to talk to a pony you hurt. To apologize. Because you care about him.
"You've changed a lot in these last six months Chrysalis. I'll be honest, I'm happy for you."
Chrysalis grunted impatiently. "As touching as this discussion is, I would appreciate you turning off whatever contraption is preventing him from waking up!"
Twilight jumped slightly at Chrysalis' sharp tone and quickly went to unplug the sedatives from Tone so he could start to wake up. As she went about doing so Chrysalis softened her expression and sighed.
"...Sorry."
"It's fine."
The sedatives were undone. Tone Shift remained asleep, though now there was nothing entering his body to keep him that way. Now it was just a waiting game. Chrysalis shifted uneasily. "How long until he wakes up?"
"It's probably going to be a little while. He already has a fair amount of pretty potent sedatives in him. I'd give him an hour before he wakes up enough to be coherent." Twilight answered simply, running the numbers in her head rapidly for her result.
"Joyous... fine, then run the remaining 'terms' by me. It'll give me something to pass the time, if nothing else."
Twilight nodded with a smile before clearing her throat and getting underway.
* * * * * * *
"Wake up, sleepy head..." Chrysalis said gently to Tone Shift maybe forty minutes later. He had shown signs of waking up for a while, slipping in and out of consciousness periodically. Twilight and Chrysalis had finished running through the terms of Chrysalis' time in Equestria maybe five minutes prior. Twilight was figuring that Tone Should be coherent by now.
Tone gave a low groan through his rather dry throat as he began to fully wake up. He shifted slightly, wincing as his still very tender skin moved. "Gah, mother bucker..." he tried to exclaim, though it only came out in a weak murmur. Chrysalis smiled slightly before looking over at Twilight.
"Could you bring us some water?"
Twilight nodded slightly. She trotted over to the sink and set about filling one of the disposable plastic cups with water while Chrysalis stayed next to the waking voice actor.
"What.... What happened? Oooooagh, my head... where am I?" Tone grumbled, moving a forehoof up to rub at his face and discovering that one of his eyes was covered up by bandages.
Chrysalis couldn't help but giggle slightly as she realized something. "Wow... you look pathetic." she whispered to him. Tone tried to open his good eye, then slammed it shut again as crust fell into it.
Grunting and groaning uselessly, he tried to scrape and brush the offending material from his eye before Chrysalis stopped his hoof with telekenisis.
"Here, allow me."
Twilight finished with the faucet, levitating the water cup to Chrysalis, who then, with her own magic, dipped a small cloth under the faucet. She got the fabric wet under the water before bringing it over and gently, so very gently scrubbing Tone's good eye to clean it of intruders. When she was done, he managed to blink his eye open and look around, no doubt only seeing blobs at the moment.
"Where am I? What's going on?" Tone asked before Chrysalis passed him the cup of water.
"Drink up, first." she looked to Twilight. "Leave us, please."
"Alright." Twilight gave a small nod and professional bow of her head before stepping out. Chrysalis snorted before looking back at Tone, who had just finished the cup and looked greatly refreshed.
"Oh, that's much better." his vision must have corrected itself, as he looked at Chrysalis with a mildly confused expression. "Chrysalis? What happen-" before he could finish the question, he must have remembered what happened to put him here. His eyes widened and he looked at Chrysalis with a rapidly wilting expression. Chrysalis' own face fell upon seeing his shift like that.
"I'm so sorry that I got you hurt, Tone Shift... you didn't deserve that." she sghed and closed her eyes. Don't think about it... just do it.
"Chrysalis... I-"
"Quiet." Chrysalis suddenly said more harshly than she intended, flinching immediately. "Sorry... I just... this isn't easy for me, I hope you understand." she looked back up at him directly in the eye.
"What are you-"
Chrysalis shook her head sharply, looking at him with pleading eyes. "Tone, please. Just.. don't say anything. Don't make me think about this." she took several deep breaths before continuing, making sure Tone stayed quiet. "You have given me so much to think about. You've helped me in such a way that I can never hope to repay you in full. You saved my life, even when you had no good reason to do so. You kept me in your home and befriended me when you had even less reason to do so..."
Chrysalis reached a foreleg up to her chest and rested it there. Tone's eye widened as he realized there was a very soft, gentle light coming from her heart and shining through her chitin. "You came to see me as more than a refugee... first a lost soul to be put back on track, then a good friend you'd go out of your way for. Then..." she closed her eyes and smiled softly, a tear streaking down her cheek. "And then you began to love me without even realizing it. You saw so much in me even though you knew who and what I was."
She opened her eyes to look at him again, reaching her other foreleg out to rest on the side of the bed next to Tone's foreleg. "I have never felt a pony give love so freely, especially when knowing it was me, Chrysalis, queen of the changelings they were giving that love to. It was unconditional... pure..."
Chrysalis stood and set the hoof on her chest down next to Tone's head. She leaned over him and saw him looking back up at her with his good eye as wide as a dinner plate and a soft red tint coming to his cheeks. That sealed it. No turning back now.
"I never really let that love go returned without some string attached... no more. It's time I give freely." she whispered before, with no other warning, leaning down and kissing Tone Shift on the lips. Tone Shift tensed up in shock at the sudden contact before melting into it, wrapping his forelegs around Chrysalis' shoulders and returning the kiss honestly, though a bit sloppily.
A few seconds later, Chrysalis slowly, almost reluctantly pulled away. Tone's eye looked down and then squinted as the light from Chrysalis' heart began to grow in brightness and intensity rapidly.
"Chrysalis?! What's happening?!" He asked in alarm as Chrysalis felt herself lifting off of her hooves without any input on her part. She looked down at herself for a moment, a final flicker of fear and anxiety on her face before she smiled and softened, her face becoming peaceful and relaxed.
"It's fine, Tone Shift. This only solidifies what I'm about to say." with a deep breath, Chrysalis closed her eyes, bracing herself for what was to come. "...I love you."
The light from her heart expanded and grew in intensity to the point it was blinding. The energy externalized itself from her body, appearing as glowing sheets that wrapped around her and then solidified into a bright blue cocoon. The cocoon floated lazily in the air for a moment before drifting down to touch the floor.
Another explosion of light, forcing Tone to cover his eye and shield it with a foreleg to avoid being blinded. Finally, the light faded away and he could see again. Opening his eye slowly, he gasped as he saw Chrysalis, who had just undergone a sudden and impressive change.
Her chitin was no longer black. It was now a bright yellow at the tips of her hooves, fading into an almost white, buttery color the farther up the body he looked. Her mane and tail were now beautifully colored in a soft gradient from bright blue to an almost yellowy-green. Her wings were no longer the ragged shapes they used to be, now appearing as full bright purple wings that carried a profound grace to them. Her horn was no longer crooked, coming into a perfectly curved point. The holes in her legs had filled in completely.
Most noticeable of all were her eyes. They had become deep pools of bright blue that slowly opened with uncertainty, looking towards Tone Shift almost as if she were seeking his approval.
His jaw was slack at the sight. For almost a minute, he simply looked at her, dumbfounded, before an enormous, goofy grin broke out across his face. Then he started laughing.
Chrysalis frowned in confusion. "What the hay is so funny?"
"N-nothing, heh, so to speak," Tone said before taking a deep breath to hold off his giggles. "Just... that was one hell of a first kiss you just gave me."
Chrysalis rolled her eyes at him. "Oh, shush. I'm certain that you've kissed somepony before me."
"Actually, no. You just gave me my first kiss, honest. Frankly, I don't think even your most powerful memory wiping spell could make me forget." Tone said with a giddy smile still clinging to his face. Chrysalis simply tutted at him before shifting uneasily.
"Well... how do I look?" she asked almost timidly. Tone simply smiled more softly and affectionately, reaching a foreleg out in a 'come hug me' gesture. Chrysalis didn't hesitate, coming in and hugging him once more. After a moment, Tone leaned back just enough to kiss her softly on the lips before smiling at her.
"You're beautiful... just don't forget that your appearance doesn't matter to me." Tone Shift said before poking her in the chest. "You do."
Chrysalis simply gave a content hum before stealing another quick kiss. "...I could get used to this."
"Please do."
For several moments, the two simply basked in the comfort of the other's presence. Finally, Chrysalis looked at him in the eye with a hopeful look in her eyes. "I think I'll ask for that happy ending, now."
Tone chuckled before nuzzling her affectionately. "I think you already earned it..." |
The Bug in the Herd | 17 - Epilogue | 3 months later...
Chrysalis sat towards the back of the absolutely packed ballroom in Twilight's castle, observing everything happening in front of her with an unreadable expression. There was a large event taking place designed to celebrate numerous milestones between Equestria and Thorax's Kingdom. The celebration was being held only a day before hearth's warming eve. Princess Twilight had said it would 'add another layer of love and friendship to the coming year, making the energy that much more powerful.'
So a massive number of reformed changelings were down on the ballroom dance floor, dancing with either other changelings or with ponies that were in attendance. It was an almost perfect one to one ratio of changelings and ponies, and the smiles they were sharing were warming to the eyes of most.
Chrysalis was unmoved, for her part. In truth, she was conflicted about how to feel about all of this. She had not spoken with any of her hive since she left nine months ago. She wasn't even sure they knew she had undergone the metamorphosis. Either way, she simply observed the joy below with a neutral expression.
"You sure you don't want to join the dance?" Tone asked from her side, rubbing her shoulder gently with his own.
"I'm sure..." Chrysalis said, closing her eyes and just listening to the lovely music being provided by a full orchestra.
"...are you still worried they'll reject you?" Tone asked gently, wrapping a foreleg reassuringly over Chrysalis' shoulders.
"I'd be lying if I said no."
Tone gave a small nod. "I gotcha..." he looked around for a few seconds before standing up. "Hey, uh, I'll be right back, okay?"
"Where are you going?"
"Just saw my dad down on the dance floor. I haven't spoken with him since before you moved in so I bet he has all sorts of questions. Maybe I'll introduce you two?" Tone said as he began to trot for the dance floor below.
"Alright. I'll be here." Chrysalis called after him before settling down and resting her eyes a bit. She let herself sway lightly as the music in the room made it's way into a new, very slow and relaxing song.
"Queen Chrysalis?" A male voice asked tentatively from her left. Chrysalis opened her eyes and looked over, spotting Thorax approaching her slowly.
"...Hello, Thorax." Chrysalis greeted with no notable emotion. She looked at him with a curious, but heavily analytical gaze.
"I, uh... I see you changed." Thorax noted awkwardly.
Chrysalis gave a snort. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. You're a king now, Thorax. Can you try and have a bit more social confidence?"
Thorax cleared his throat before laughing sheepishly. "Sorry. Just, well, you know... last time I saw you, you were kinda..."
"Angry. Devastated. Depressed. Heartbroken. I could go on." Chrysalis said dryly before turning her eyes toward the dance floor again.
"...I'm sorry."
"Thorax." Chrysalis said firmly, standing up and turning to face the changeling king. "I have a question for you, yes or no." she stepped forward and looked at him blankly in the eyes for several seconds. "Are they happy?"
"...Yes. They are." Thorax managed to say with a measure of confidence in his voice. "It's been a bit of an adjustment but, well, we're adapted to our new bodies and biologies pretty well, I think. And not having to eat love is such a relief."
Chrysalis nodded before looking down to the drones, her children, down on the dance floor. A distant look came to her eyes as she wondered if she should go talk to them.
"Uh, if you want to talk to the others, I can bring them up here." Thorax suggested as if reading her mind
"No. There's no need for that tonight. Let them do their dance. Let them have their fun and spread their joy. A reunion with their abusive old mother will only disrupt all of that right now." Chrysalis replied with a small smile. She turned back to Thorax. "Another time, perhaps."
"Alright. Uh... it's good to see you like this, Chrysalis."
"Thorax, if you insist on calling me 'Chrysalis,' I won't stop you. Just remember that was part of the ranking system. I'm not the queen anymore. You don't have to call me by my name." Chrysalis said gently, looking at Thorax with a warm, if somewhat sad smile.
Thorax nodded. "Alright. Good night, then... mother."
"You too." Chrysalis said as Thorax turned and walked away. For a few moments, she simply stood there before turning and trotting out of the room and onto a nearby balcony overlooking the snow covered landscape. She took a moment to just enjoy the quiet and serene landscape, taking in a deep breath.
"Like it out here?" Tone asked a few minutes later as he joined her on the balcony.
"It's better for thinking when you aren't surrounded by a lot of noise." Chrysalis said absently, lowering herself slightly to be more on Tone Shift's height.
"I guess." Tone replied quietly, looking over the moonlight lit landscape with a smile on his face. Chrysalis shot him a small smile before wrapping a foreleg over his shoulder.
"Where's your dad?"
"Oh, he said he'll meet us back at my place. Said 'it will give him something to look forward to.'"
Chrysalis hummed in affirmation before the two basked in the silence and warmth they shared.
"It's going to be midnight in a bit." Tone noted in a whisper as Chrysalis started rocking them back and forth slowly.
"Wanna do a cliche?"
"What, you mean time it?" Tone gave Chrysalis an amused glance.
"Well, you brought it up." Chrysalis shot back with a playful smile.
"Hm... so I did."
The two turned so they were facing each other in their embrace. The clock tower in ponyville began to chime, signaling the coming of midnight. There weren't any words needed. Chrysalis and Tone Shift leaned in and kissed each other softly but passionately, a flurry of various fireworks being set off all across Ponyville and Equestria in celebration, lighting the sky and surrounding lands in a warm, comforting glow.
A glow that Tone Shift and Chrysalis were happy to share.
THE END |
The Bug in the Herd | [APRIL FOOLS] 1,622 - Idiocy in Spring | "I love this show..." Discord said happily to himself from his comfortable sofa in his personal house- well, if one could consider an entire dimension to be his house. He was gazing at a television on his wall showing Twilight Sparkle as a changeling playing what looked like chess with a thoroughly flabbergasted Queen Chrysalis.
"I know," the other Discord laughed to himself. "I of course knew her identity the whole time, but not revealing it created so much chaos that I couldn't resist just watching it play out. Of course I was also quite stoned at the time."
Discord one gave Discord dos a high-five. "I am quite saddened that I missed such an opportunity."
"Make one." Discord dos encouraged with a little nudge-nudge and wink-wink. "After all, things have been pretty boring on my side of things since Serpens bit the dust. We could use a bit more chaos over there."
Discord one pondered this thoughtfully, a big tree with blue leaves appearing beneath him. "Yes, perhaps, but the chaos as a result would potentially cause damage to dimensional barriers.
"And when has that ever stopped us?"
"We like not dying?"
"Eh, whatever. This isn't canon anyway, sort of, so who cares?"
"Fair enough. So, where shall we put them?"
"Let's flip a coin!" Discord dos announced excitedly, a massive circle of copper appearing in his claws.
"Heads it's mine tails it's yours?"
"Sure!"
And then the coin was flipped.
* * * * * * *
"How the BUCK did you manage this?!" Tone Shift demanded, throwing the thoroughly destroyed washcloth to the ground in front of Chrysalis in his kitchenn. Chrysalis looked at him before using her magic to wipe the splattered egg yolk off of her face.
"Did you just throw down the gauntlet with a washcloth?" she asked teasingly, earning a twitch of Tone's eye.
"I asked you a question. Answer. Do it!" Tone stomped on the floor. At about the time he did, they both heard a loud POP!
"...Where are we?" Tone Shift quickly asked, looking around at the rather large chamber.
"This one was not my fault." Chrysalis snidely remarked.
* * * * * * *
"Check," Twilight stated smugly, much to Chrysalis' supreme annoyance.
"How did you even do that?" she asked. "I had you cornered!"
"You should never underestimate me," Twilight responded, her smug look not abating for even a moment. "I am, after all, the former protege of Princess Celestia, the master of chess."
"Playing chess with your lives, in order to redeem her sister, doesn't count."
Twilight shrugged. "Meh, I forgave her. Friendship is magic and all that."
"Please stop saying that," Chrysalis deadpanned. "Who even came up with that phrase? It sounds like something for children."
"Adults can also learn the magic of friendship," Twilight argued. "It doesn't have to be all explosions and death."
"Not with our track record."
"Err... my Queen?" Carduus said over the hive mind. "You are in Cafe' Le Blanc right now, correct?"
Twilight and Chrysalis glanced at one another in confusion.
"Yes, why would you even need to ask such a thing. I'm enjoying an infuriating game of chess with my daughter."
"Then why are you also shouting at a pony in front of your mother's statue?"
"WHAT?"
Twilight sighed. "It's probably just Thorax playing a joke or something."
"It better be," Chrysalis grumbled. "Are you sure it's me, because I'm pretty sure I'm here. Let me check... yes, definitely here."
"I've checked, and no drone here is claiming responsibility. Plus the other... you, is being rather rude to the poor stallion. I'm a little confused to be honest."
Chrysalis' eye twitched. "Twilight, this is your fault somehow."
Twilight looked offended. "What!? How do you figure that?"
"Everything happens to you," she pointed out. "Ancient evils, friendship lessons, Pinkie Pie. Serpens. It all happens to you and only you."
"I would remember cloning you in the mirror pool," Twilight argued back. "No, this one isn't on me."
"Well, whoever's fault it is, could you please come here? The other you is starting to notice she isn't alone with the stallion... and it's scaring me."
"You're a Captain of the Royal Guard, grow some backbone!" Chrysalis chastised Carduus.
"But I need an adult," Carduus stated, though his tone indicated he was joking.
"You ARE an adult!" Chrysalis raged.
"I feel like we're stalling right now," Princess Twilight pointed out. "We should probably see what really is going on. I mean, it can't really be another you. And what is a pony even doing here?"
"It might be the pony's fault then," Chrysalis muttered. "I'm going to have words with him, and demand he dispel the obviously fake doppelganger at once!"
Chrysalis slammed her hooves onto the table (breaking the chessboard, much to Twilight's irritation) and stood up, striding out of the cafe' seeming with rage.
Twilight had a very bad feeling all of a sudden. It was saturday after all.
* * * * * * *
"What is this place?!" Chrysalis asked loudly, causing several nearby changeling drones to scatter in panic. "And why are there changelings here?! I don't know any of you!" She pointed at one in a suit of armor, who flinched away. "WHAT IS YOUR NAME?!"
"Uh... Carduus..." he said, taking a step back.
"Chrysalis, calm down. Shouldn't this be a good thing?" Tone asked carefully, before realizing what he just said. "Or rather, good for you? Equestria's kinda screwed if so, but still!"
"The only Carduus I ever had in my kingdom was a cleansing drone! He cleaned out latrines, gutters and did janitorial work!" Chrysalis spluttered, glaring at 'Carduus' with a confused anger radiating off of her.
"Well, if these drones listen to you will you make sure they don't try to eat me or whatever?" Tone asked, suddenly becoming very nervous as he saw all of the fangs on the drones looking at the two.
"I'll consider it." Chrysalis spat at him before looking around. Her eyes twitched as she looked at the big statue in the middle of the big room. "WHAT IS GOING ON?!" she shouted.
"I should be asking that of you, imposter!" Chrysalis, the other one, retorted as she exited her flight and slammed into the floor between the intruders and Captain Carduus. "Pony! Dispel the illusion this instant!"
"WHO ARE YOU AND WHY DO YOU LOOK LIKE ME?!" Chrysalis, the first one, shouted back, jabbing a hoof in her direction. Tone Shift absently brushed a hoof over his mane, which conspicuously had no horn jutting from it.
"I am Queen Chrysalis, ruler of the Badlands Changeling Hive! You are in my domain, and I demand to know why YOU LOOK LIKE ME!"
"Uh, I'm not a unicorn," Tone said meekly from where he stood. "So, I can't be doing this..."
"I knew that!" Chrysalis lied.
"Huh... telling them apart is gonna be a challenge." Discord muttered to his other.
"Indeed." Discord dos said absently. "Let's just make a mild change here shall we...?"
"Ooh, we're changing names?" Discord one asked excitedly.
"Oh, of course! The nice one shall, henceforth, be known as Chryssi!"
"Which one is the nice one?"
"Why does that drone look like the Princess of Friendship?" Chrysalis demanded with more anger in her voice, pointing at a now very confused Princess Twilight Sparkle just as the young changeling arrived.
'What!?" Chryssi asked. 'That's my daughter you cu-"
"There we go."
"Got it."
"So... what's going on here?" Twilight asked. "Making friends are we?"
"Friends?" Chrysalis snarked out. "I don't think so."
"Wow, you must be a loner," Chryssi remarked. "I feel sorry for you."
"Shut up!" Chrysalis barked before looking around again. "And send us back!"
"Definitely an alternate reality then," Twilight started, walking up to Chrysalis and looking over her as a scientist would a guinea pig. "What's your world like? What am I like there, the other Princess Twilight I mean."
"Oh, sweet merciful Chitina it's another one..." Chrysalis groaned in aggravation. "Somepony pinch me and wake me from this nightmare..."
"So, you're not my mother where you come from?" Twilight asked, a little hurt in her voice.
"Considering your bull-headed brother and his wife ruined my initial plans and plunged my kingdom into a few years of starvation, all because you, or, well, the other you, noticed Cadance was being off..." Chrysalis snarled out. "I would sooner bash my brains out then have you as a daughter."
Chryssi, on seeing her child insulted, quickly crossed the distance between herself and her counterpart and looked ready to cross horns in combat.
"YOU DARE INSULT MY DAUGHTER!?" Chryssi yelled. "Our mother, Queen Avia, would be appalled at the changeling you became in your world!"
"Congratulations. I don't care." Chrysalis snapped. "Also, who is Queen Avia? My mother wasn't named Avia, and I simply took over from her when she eventually passed away."
"Well, at least you don't have Crudelis for an aunt," Chryssi muttered. "Not that it matters, it looks like you are a suitable replacement."
As the argument continued on, Twilight could have sworn she saw a glowing crack appear in the base of the statue, before it vanished again.
"I don't have an aunt anyway." Chrysalis said dismissively. "So are all these drones yours, or did Sparkle Butt over there birth some?"
Chryssi's and Twilight's eyes widened. "W-what?"
"Birthed, you know? Popped them out en-masse to create an army capable of laying siege to the land."
Chryssi swore she was about to throw up. "I... NO! No no no no, just no!"
Chrysalis was confused by her other's odd reaction, but simply rolled her eyes before turning to Tone Shift. "I don't know how you stomping your hoof brought us here; maybe it was just poor timing or your hoof is magic in some way, but right now, I don't care. We. are. LEAVING."
Tone nodded sheepishly. 'Uh, sure..." he said, trying to hide that he had just seen the phrase '-yours, Discord and Discord dos.'' burned into his hoof.
"Well," Twilight spoke up. "Unless you have a mirror portal conveniently stashed in the large ego of yours, then you're stuck here. Too bad for you."
"Piss off!" Chrysalis snapped before picking up Tone Shift in her magic and buzzing off, much to Chryssi's relief.
"My Queen," Carduus addressed. "We really shouldn't let them leave. What if she tries to attack Princess Celestia or something and they think it's you?"
Chryssi began to realize the implications. "Shit."
Twilight sighed, and then took the initiative. "Lockdown the hive, now! Apprehend the Chrysalis carrying around the pony like I used to carry Smarty Pants!"
* * * * * * *
Chrysalis looked around with Tone Shift flailing in her magic and panicking hysterically, begging for Chrysalis to keep him right-side up while she went, to which she simply spun him faster out of spite. "Where is the exit..." she grumbled to herself.
"There!" another voice shouted from below. Chrysalis looked down, saw a small swarm of drones flying at her with swords drawn.
"This is NOT how I thought today was going to go!" Chrysalis yelled as she quickly flew the other way. The drones gave chase, only to pass Chrysalis completely. She had taken on the form of a candlestick and hid Tone Shift behind a wall-mounted tapestry after knocking him out.
Once the drones had passed, a little, tiny drone peeked around at them from a nearby corner. "Huh?" the nymph, Iuvenes, asked as she approached the candlestick. "Why is this here?" she asked with an adorable amount of childish curiosity. She poked the candlestick, causing Chrysalis to drop the disguise as one of her most sensitive spots just got poked.
"Yeep!" Chrysalis squeaked, her hold on Tone failing and he dropped to the floor with a sound not unlike a wet sack of tomatoes falling over.
"You look like the Queen," Iuvenes noted, but a frown showed she wasn't sure. "But you also look like a big jerk!"
Tone Shift, starting to wake up, mumbled: "You are correct..."
"Shut up!" Chrysalis snapped at both of them. "How did you know I was right here?"
"My friends and I always play hide and seek here, and that candle was new! So I poked it."
"Play?" Chrysalis replied, wording it as if it were a foreign phrase she was trying to figure out the pronunciation of. "Oh, I see. I think." She gave an impressed grin. "You're using such a game to improve your stealth! Why didn't I think of that? You're... er, hive may not be such a shitshow after all."
"You said a bad word," Iuvenes scolded. "And I don't play for practice, I play for fun!""
"First, yes, I said a bad word. Fucking deal with it. Second, good, you have fun being sneaky. You'll make a fine infiltrator. Now piss off. I'm leaving." Chrysalis picked up a now very motion sick Tone Shift in her magic again and flew away.
"...Jerk..." Iuvenes pouted.
Just as Chrysalis made her escape, however, she had the ultimate misfortune of running into and being grappled rather violently by her EXTREMELY pissed off counterpart.
"Hold her down!" Chryssi ordered, many drones grabbing onto the other Changeling Queen where they could.
Princess Twilight, for her part, was just making notes on a pad marked 'interdimensional relations and how they can royally fuck up'.
"Damn! How did you find me!?"
"My daughter said you told her a bad word over the hive mind," Captain Carduus replied. "Fuck you for that, by the way."
"Hypocrite..." Chrysalis snarled before tilting her head as she was hefted up with her forehooves covered in green slime. "Hive mind? You have that?"
Twilight immediately entered research mode. "The Changeling Egregore, or hive mind, is a startling evolutionary advantage. It allows communication between changelings at close ranges, but not much else. Each changeling is on their own unique-"
"Bored now. Shut up," Chrysalis interrupted, earning an annoyed snort from Chryssi and a pout from Twilight.
It was during her pout (no one disses booksmart!) that Twilight noticed the cracks again, only this time they weren't going away.
"Um, Mother? Could you look at-"
"Don't interrupt my daughter, you half-wit!" Chryssi growled at Chrysalis, very much so ignoring Twilight at this point as 'mama wolf' mode kicked in.
"Or what?" Chrysalis challenged, using some of her own magic to remove the green slime at her hooves.
Chryssi had finally had enough, and with a heavily twitching eye she ignited a blade of pure magic. "There can be only one!"
A chunk of the hive's wall nearby broke away, floating in mid-air as purple light and weird energies were seen on the other side.
"Looks like it's breaking..." Discord dos commented.
"Aw, so soon? I had too much popcorn for this!"
By now Twilight had started to panic quite a bit. The whole universe was breaking apart, so on this rare occasion she was actually justified.
"I didn't survive getting shanked just to die to the inevitable heat death of the universe!" Twilight shouted to herself. "Not like this! I still have three sequels to survive!"
The changeling princess suddenly realised she had done a Pinkie Pie, and she blamed the fact that the universe had literally fallen apart. Tone shift stumbled over and showed her his hoof with the Discord and Discord Dos signature.
"Not to be a killjoy, but... we're screwed," he said simply.
Twilight stared at it, still ignoring the fact that her mother and her mother's alternate were cat fighting in the corner with a crowd of changelings making bets as to who would win.
"Oh Celestia dammit, DISCORD!"
And then the universe caved in on itself.
* * * * * * *
"Well, that was short-lived..." Discord grumbled to his other.
"It was, but at least it was fun. And besides," Discord dos gave a smirk, snapping his fingers and popping the whole of reality back to where it had been just before they started this nonsense. "We can always do it again..."
"I love you."
"No homo, now."
THE END
(Now back to our scheduled program) |
With the Flip of a Coin | pre | "Hmm. I expected that might pop up eventually. I do so hope I don't ruin the mood. You see, Octavia I have come here in search of my brother. It's a rather important matter, and of the utmost urgency. I have to find him, and stop him before anything bad happens. I fear what he plans to do now that he's here."
"Why would you need to stop him? Is he a bad pony, to need stopping?" inquired Octavia.
"One of the worst, actually. Also, he isn't a pony; he is most definitely a human like me. It's been a little while since I've last seen him, and as soon as I felt his presence near here, I knew I had to find him before he does something. You see, my brother - Josephi is his name - is a wily, cunning, and genius person. His silver tongue allows him to worm his way into many situations, often befriending the nearest figure of authority he can find, appearing as a 'benevolent' force to stop the 'evil' me. Alas, this feud has gone on for far too long, and I fear the end may be a far ways off."
"What happened to cause this to begin with, if I might ask?" Octavia, while rather uncomfortable with the idea of an unresolved family issue, was thoroughly intrigued.
Mike lowered his head and sighed before responding. "Well, a long time ago, I made a rather grievous mistake. While I eventually righted my wrong, he couldn't let go of what I'd done. I know that I can never fully make up for what I did to him, but I had at least hoped that we'd be able to come to an entente, of sorts. Alas, he still tries to find every possible way to hurt me, all in the name of revenge. And so, once I learned he was here, I came immediately to make sure that he does not pull others in, and involve innocents in our debacle."
"Well, Mike, I most certainly admire your drive to save others while finding a solution to your little feud. I hope there is a way I could help." Octavia had finished her pasta and breadsticks at this point, and was enjoying the remainder of her wine whilst listening to Mike's explanation.
"Actually, could you perhaps inform me of where I might find a high-ranking official or authority of some sort? He's had almost a full day, so I am sure I can find him around that sort, if my experiences are anything to go by."
Thinking for a bit, Octavia nodded to herself before answering. "I believe that the best place to start would be Twilight Sparkle's castle, off in that direction-" Octavia pointed with a hoof in the general direction of the castle, though it could clearly be seen above the rooftops. "which should be where you find Princess Twilight, and I doubt you get much higher of an authority in this area."
Mike turned around in his seat to see the castle looming a ways behind him. In hindsight, it was a rather obvious point, and it was all Octavia could do to guess how he had missed it. "My, that is quite the sight, wouldn't you say? I have to thank you for this, Octavia. I enjoyed our little chat, and I do so hope I might see you again sometime. You are quite the interesting one, Miss Octavia. I like that. Anyways, allow me to pay for your meal. It's the least I could do." Before Octavia could protest, Mike pulled a large handful of odd coins from his suit pocket and deposited them on the table, right next to the bill that the waiter had placed while they were speaking. These coins were unlike any that octavia had seen before; while they were around the same size as a Bit, they appeared to be made of silver, and were stamped with a human's face on one side, and an odd owl on the other. Needless to say, Octavia was skeptical of their ability to actually pay for the meal.
"Umm . . . Mike, I don't think th-"
"Don't worry," he interrupted, "It'll be fine. Trust me, I wouldn't leave you high and dry, as they say. Now, I'll be off, Miss Octavia Philharmonica. I bid thee, antío!" With that, Mike turned on his heel, retrieved his cane, and resumed the same pace he had earlier, following the streets toward the Castle of Friendship.
"Are you ready to pay, madam?" asked the waiter from beside Octavia.
She took a few more seconds to observe the retreating human, before looking over to the waiter. "Well, I would, but I don't believe that I have-" Once again, Octavia was astounded. Where the odd silver coins had been a moment ago, now rested a pile of Equestrian Bits, all totalling the exact amount of the bill. Shaking it off, she restarted. "Yes, actually. I believe that it is all there, sir. Thank you for the excellent service, and have a nice day." Having excused herself, Octavia retrieved her cello case from beside the table and began her walk back to her house. It had certainly been an interesting afternoon for her.
"Jaxi?"
"Yes, Al?"
" . . . Do you think we're going to get to do anything soon?"
"I must say, woman, CALM DOWN! This is the fifth time today that you've asked me that, Alcestis, and every time I have told you that I don't know. It'll take some time for the big man to get anything going, considering he just left yesterday. You've gone much longer without the master being near you; don't become a fidgety little schoolfilly."
"UGH! I know I've gone longer, but c'mooooon. We finally get a hint of some real action, and then we just end up sitting here! Don't you want to do something, Ajax?"
"I would be lying if I said I didn't. It has been a while, hasn't it. However, I choose to contain my anxiousness. Even 'Nesty and Po are biding their time. The very least you could do is prepare, or something."
"Fine, but I hope you know that I get first dibs on the Fountain."
"I have no qualms, though you might have to fight Ty for that one."
"Fuck no! Why don't you fight him for me?"
"Language, Al. The reason I don't want to is because - quite like you - I have no desire to find my insides on my outside and my everything thoroughly cooked. I will have no part of your petty squabble. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to be having my daily cribbage match with Ant. If you're really that bored, you can go assist Tree and Mead with their prep work. Goodbye."
Ajax left the room, leaving a very bored Alcestis to flop about on the oversized chair in front of the fireplace. "Where's that goddamn map?" she sighed. After a few minutes of scanning the room from the chair, she finally spied it on the table several metres away. "Ugh. Why is it always so far away?" Focusing on the map, she levitated it over to where she sat, looking up and down the crimped parchment.
"Hey Jaxi?" she yelled out, hoping he was still within earshot.
"Yes?" came the slightly irritated reply.
"Where was it that we were going, again?"
"We covered this extensively, Al."
"I know, but I forgot again. Humor me, here."
"Equestria, Alcestis. We're going to Equestria."
He had just about had it. It had been about a month since he had begun moving inland, and Ete was growing more and more unhappy. It was his fifth day in the McIntosh Hills, and already it was on his growing list of 'places to never visit again'. Considering the size of it, most would assume that it could be crossed in about two days, possibly three if one stopped frequently outside of sleeping. They would be wrong.
"Pointy," muttered Ete to himself. "Why does everything have to be so. Fucking. POINTY?"
As he had learned, much of the McIntosh Hills were made up of small points and ridges, deep crevices and thin ravines, mostly made from eroded sedimentary rock and hardened shale chips. The ridges and small, thin, closely grouped mounds that covered almost all of the surface made walking through the Hills a nightmare. One wrong step could result in a stuck limb, a punctured anything, or even a tumble down a rock face . . . onto more pointy rocks. There wasn't much cover at all, with no caves to speak of, and finding a flat piece of ground without pointy rocks was a near impossible task. To say that Ete was a little tired was a very large understatement. He was low on rations, there was almost no vegetation or water sources, and the sun was always beating down with not a cloud in sight. In all, Ete was not enjoying his time in Equestria at all. Sure, the landscape was actually quite beautiful, what with clearly visible layers in the rocks ranging from deep grey to saturated reds and oranges, and a natural rolling feel to the rock formations, but not to Ete. Ete was willing to level the whole area, if only he was capable of doing so. He would keep going, though. The map that the locals had given him a few weeks ago said that there was a railroad track fairly close to the edge of the Hills, if he managed to get out. Ete was determined to get there. Once he was, it would be smooth sailing from there. At least, smoother sailing than trying to navigate the McIntosh Hills.
"Maybe I'll keep one of these damned rocks, then, when she starts laughing, I can shove it down Electra's throat and watch her gag on it. Bet she already found the boss, dammit. I was hoping to keep my 300 drachmae."
Ete continued to grumble to himself, and though it made him appear a bit crazy, it definitely helped take his mind off of the pointy rocks. He was going to have trouble forgetting those for a while.
Mike quite enjoyed young children. It often warmed his heart to see such young innocence enjoying the world around them. It was no surprise, then, that Mike was delighted to have come across a trio of fillies on his way to the castle that Octavia had directed him to. The three in question were in the process of running around the corner when they came to a screeching halt in order to avoid actually running into Mike. Upon seeing him, any other thought processes ground to a halt.
"Uhm, girls?" said Applebloom.
"Yeah?" chorused Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.
"Yer seein' what ahm seein', right?"
In unison again, "Eeyup."
.When Mike saw the three, however, his face broke into a pleased smile. "Hello there! How are you three on this fine day?"
After the Cutie Mark Crusaders had finished gaping like stranded fish, it was Scootaloo who responded first. "Um . . . fine. Who the heck are you?"
"Well, little one, my name is Mike. Might I ask for your names?" Mike hummed curiously after he finished speaking.
"Ah'm Applebloom, this here is Sweetie Belle -" she pointed a hoof at Sweetie "- and this here's Scootaloo," she did the same with the orange pegasus. It was, of course, Applebloom who had answered Mike's question, on account of Scootaloo being too busy muttering something to herself about 'not small'.
"Well, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Applebloom, and you as well, Miss Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Now then, where were you three headed in such a hurry?"
"We were just goin' back ta our clubhouse from Twilight's castle. Say, you look like the fella' we found and took back ta Twilight. Do you know 'im?" Applebloom squinted her eyes, almost as though it would help her learn more about Mike.
"I daresay I most likely do. Unfor-" Mike was cut off before he could even finish his word.
"Really!?" Scootaloo sounded ecstatic. "Do you know any cool stories? I bet you do. The other guy didn't really want to talk much, and when he did, it was all really confusing."
Mike rubbed his chin with one hand. "Did he now? Yes, that sounds quite like him. I suppose I do have some time, so I could tell you a story . . ."
"Scoots," Sweetie Belle said, "I don't think now's the time-"
"No, no, Miss Belle, It's quite alright. I haven't had someone to tell stories to in quite a while. First, though, we should find a more comfortable place to talk, rather than the middle of the road."
"But the nearest-" Applebloom started.
"Aah, here we go!" Mike interrupted. The fillies looked over to where Mike was gazing. There, against the wall of one of the smaller cottages, was a park bench just the right size for all four of them. It had certainly not been there a moment ago, much to the confusion of anypony who had been paying attention.
"How did you-?" Scootaloo asked.
Mike smirked. "Magic."
As the three went to sit on the bench next to Mike, Scootaloo was busy muttering to herself again. "I am really starting to hate that response."
"Pardon?" asked Mike.
"Nothing . . ."
"So, you three, what kind of story would you like to hear?" Mike leaned forward against his cane.
"Do you know any classic-like ones?" asked Applebloom.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Like, one with a hero and a villain and a big struggle or somethin'."
Mike stopped and closed his eyes to think for a moment. After a minute of thinking, he had his choice. "I think I have just the one, then.
"It was a long time ago, in a land not too far off, not too different from your own. Now, this place was one of the most beautiful places that had ever existed. It never knew cold nor hot, disasters or unpredictability. The flowers always bloomed, the grass was always green, all of the animals lived together peacefully, and the rain always arrived at the right time and in just the right amount to keep the land healthy. Indeed, this place was perfect. In that perfect place, there was a small village. There weren't too many ponies that lived there, but they were all very happy. How could they not? Life was great for them. Everything that the ponies needed to live was provided by the land around them, and they always made sure to never harm the land. Life continued for many years and multiple generations before any change came. For the most part, the Wizard kept to himself, hardly ever being seen outside of his house. The few times he was, he didn't talk much to the townsfolk, but he did help them out if they needed it, and everypony came to see the Wizard as one of their own.
"Several months after the Wizard's arrival, he started spending more time around the ponies, often proposing and leading grand projects. Using his grand magic, the Wizard helped the ponies expand their little village, advance their technology, and grow as a community. The land was perfect as it always had been, and it continued to be so for a long time. During these years of progress, the Wizard came to be seen as a prominent town figure, often being a source of guidance for the ponies when they needed help. It was over a hundred years later that things changed once again.
"The Wizard had ushered in an era of expansion for the ponies, and they grew rapidly. The small village was no more, and in its stead was a small city. The hundred-or-so ponies there had become multiple thousand, and life continued to remain perfect. During all this time, the Wizard himself never changed; he stayed the one constant among a sea of change. What the ponies didn't know, however, was that there was a storm brewing, and it was just waiting until the right time to be released. The residents of that city were alarmed when a stallion went missing one day. Though they tried hard to find him, none could. It was a month later when a couple more ponies went missing. The next month there were even more ponies that never showed back up. At this point, panic was slowly spreading across the city. Who was next? Who was doing it? What happened to the missing ponies? Why was their perfect way of life being disturbed? During these months, the ponies repeatedly asked the Wizard for help, and though he promised he was doing his best, not even he could discover what was going on.
"And so it was that in the fifth month since the kidnappings started that everypony found out what had been going on, though they quickly wished they hadn't. The one whom many called friend, leader, and comforter, had turned his back on those he had been helping since he had arrived. Yes, it was the Wizard himself who had been taking the ponies; many had been stolen from their own homes and brought to the WIzard's cruel lair he called a home. Inside, he had been performing the most evil of experiments, testing his theories on the living ponies he had so callously taken. The Wizard was after something, and he was determined to get what he wanted: an army.
"It turned out that the Wizard had travelled to the small village all those years ago to begin a long-term project, in which he would mold a civilisation to the point where it had enough citizens to turn into his own personal army. With these ponies, he planned to take over the nearby lands and claim them as his own. For the Wizard though, he had a problem: he needed soldiers much stronger than the average pony. No matter how many thralls he had in his service, they would never last if they were mere ponies. At first, the Wizard had began his experimentation on the deceased, attempting to enlist the dead into his service, but it turned out to be a fruitless endeavour. What he needed were living beings, fully capable of thought, but with strong bodies and complete subservience.
"That was when he started his tests on the living townsfolk. Finding simple mind control ineffective, and crystal augmentation too unstable, The Wizard finally found what he was looking for. He realised that one of the most resilient things he could find was his own shadow; it never felt pain, it couldn't be physically altered, and - best of all - it never did what he didn't want it to. It was at that point that the Wizard had focused his efforts on turning the ponies into living shadows, completely formed to follow his will. With an army of those shadow ponies, he would be near unstoppable.
"This is what the townsfolk found out the hard way when they discovered they could not escape the city. None were a match for the Wizard's strange magics, and one by one they fell to his twisted designs. Exactly one hundred and sixty-two years after the Wizard had first appeared in the small, perfect town, not a single pony remained. In their stead was an army of living shadows - beasts meant for nothing more than war and destruction. These shadow ponies, which he called 'the Umbrum', ravished the land they once called home. Forests were burned to the ground, fields made barren and salted, and water sources corrupted to become the most foul liquids ever seen. It was then that the cold set in. Gone was the perfect weather, and in was the biting cold, bringing with it snow and ice and the harshest of winds. The land become a desolate arctic wasteland, completely uninhabitable. It was a place cold enough to freeze a wendigo, and had a weather so oppressive and indomitable that not even the strongest of magics known could halt the unending winter. Any memories that the once-perfect land had held were frozen solid and shattered, not a soul alive to remember its legacy, nor a relic left behind to give clue as to what was once there. The Wizard had won, and with his victory came a tragedy the likes of which had never happened in all of history.
"However, it was not the end.
"Before the Wizard could begin his conquest of all that could be seen, another stranger traversed that vile winter desert, and confronted the Wizard. This stranger had heard, long ago, about a mystical place far to the north, where the sun always shined and the grass was always green; where the land gave everything, and no one knew anything but perfection; where harmony was the very substance of life. This stranger set forth to find that mystical place, and would stop at nothing to get there. Along the way, the Traveler learned many things, and grew in magic and knowledge, eventually finding his way to the destination of many years. However, this was no longer the perfect land that had been spoken of: it was the abomination that the Wizard had turned it into.
"The Traveler eventually found his way to the heart of the land, and was determined to stop the Wizard. When the Wizard attempted to dispatch the Traveler, he was stopped by the Traveler's own powerful magic. Yes, the years that the Traveler had journeyed had taught him much, and he became a powerful match for the Wizard's evil magic. The battle raged on for what was said to be twelve moons, neither one resting or relenting. It was on the first day of the thirteenth cycle that the Traveler gained the upper hand, and defeated the Wizard, binding him to the ethereal plane for what was to be hundreds upon hundreds of moons.
"Despite his triumph over evil, the Traveler still had the problem of the Umbrum. The shadow ponies were no longer under the Wizard's control, and they quickly retained their individuality and sentience. However, these ponies, corrupted beyond any hope of repair, were still malevolent creatures, prepared to wreak tragedy upon anything they could come across. The Traveler did not have the heart to destroy the Umbrum, so he decided to contain them. Using the great crystals that had formed under the city since the Wizard's reign began, the Traveler trapped the Umbrum inside of them. Unfortunately, these bonds would not hold on their own: they needed another source to keep them imprisoned.
"Using a large crystal that he infused with the strongest of his magic, the Traveler created a powerful artefact that would continually strengthen the bond holding the Umbrum in their crystals. On its own, though, the artefact would slowly drain, and eventually weaken to the point that the Umbrum would be released into the world once more. Using his magic one last time, the Traveler created a great city atop where the old used to be, and stored the relic inside. Journeying back to the land he had come from, he led a large group of individuals to the city he created, and set them to watch over the artefact, regenerating its magic when needed. Leaving the residents of the new city to grow and develop, the Traveler had created an ever-living guardian, one where the magic inside of each of the citizens would regenerate the artefact, keep out the dread winter that was its surroundings, and make another land of harmony where the previous had fallen.
"The fate of that city was lost to the annals of history, and none knew what became of the Traveler, but it was said that he began a new journey, waiting until the Wizard made his next appearance. Thus ends the tale of the land that was, ceased to be, and was once more."
When Mike had ended his tale, he looked around to see that he had caught quite a bit of attention, and had a very large crowd surrounding him and the three fillies. Some sat awestruck at the grand tale, others had tears in their eyes, and some appeared completely entranced in eagerness, as though hoping to hear more.
"WOW!" Scootaloo yelled. "I. Have. NEVER. Heard a story as awesome as that!" Following the orange pegasus's declaration, a tremendous applause echoed out across the street, all of the ponies in attendance absolutely amazed by the story.
"Where did you hear that story?" Applebloom asked, her energy clearly seeping into her every word.
"My dears, that story is one of the greatest plays to have ever been created. It has been said that the original actors performed it so well, that none have ever been able to recreate that first performance. Some say that it was so lifelike, that it actually was a real story. I am not surprised that most, if not all, of you have never heard it before: it is a rather special one from where I come from, you see." was Mike's response.
"It was really cool, mister Mike!" said Sweetie Belle. "Do you have any more?"
"I'm afraid," Mike responded, "that that is all I have time for today. I really must be going." With a pleased chatter, the ponies dispersed, going back to whatever they had been doing before stopping to listen. Once he had ample room, Mike stood back up, picking his cane up from where it had been leaning against the bench. The Crusaders hopped off of the bench as well, moving to stand in front of Mike.
"Thanks fer the story, Mike!" Applebloom said.
"Yeah, it was really awesome!" agreed Scootaloo.
"Do you think," Sweetie Belle asked, "that we could hear another story some other time?"
Mike hummed in thought for a few moments. "Perhaps. It mostly depends on how the rest of this evening goes." Looking into the sky, one could see that it was getting late into the afternoon.
"Well, we hope you can visit us again soon!" Applebloom held untold amounts of hope in her eyes. "Yer a really nice fella'!"
"Thank you, young Applebloom. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a little reunion to attend to. Good bye, you three." With that, Mike began walking the same path he had earlier, onwards to the Castle of Friendship, giving a backwards wave as he sauntered on.
"I don't know about you girls," Sweetie said, "but I think I've had enough excitement for today."
"Yeah, I have to agree on this one," responded Scootaloo. Deciding that their day had been a productive one, the trio of fillies headed back to their clubhouse, intent on calling it a day. No one noticed that the bench, once a great centre of attention, was no longer there. |
With the Flip of a Coin | Act 1, Scene 4 | A beginning is a truly wonderful thing. A beginning can change a pre-existing set of circumstances or create entirely new ones. Beginnings, though they vary, always involve something important: a change. In stories, a beginning mostly occurs as two different types: a true beginning or in medias res. A true beginning is where the story starts off before or when the first changes occur to, around, or for the focal subject of the story, slowly building up to greater and greater pieces over the course of the narrative. These types of beginnings, planned or not, function as or contain expositions, in which the stage is set for the reader or listener to get an idea of where, when, and who the rest of the story will focus on In medias res, the story immediately jumps into the middle of some form of action, dragging out an important piece of information from some time later on in the plot line. Almost all stories that start with medias res tend to prefer starting in the middle of, start of, or end of a battle or great struggle. While this is not always the case, it creates a sudden, right-off-the-bat burst of action to intrigue the reader. These kinds of beginnings are extremely effective against the reader or listener who would otherwise be disenchanted by a lengthy introduction or description of place and time. For plays, beginnings most often start with either the same true beginning of a story, or in a hybrid of medias res and true beginning. These beginnings, first seen when the Greeks began mastering playwriting, start with the Chorus - a group of people outside of the play, but knowledgeable of the story - explaining past events that led up to the part where the actors start acting. In everyday, real-life experiences, beginnings keep the point of change. A person realises that something has changed about or for them, and they either act or do not act in accordance with the change or changes. While many would argue it, a beginning requires a subject to be aware of what is occurring, no matter how small. This is what makes a beginning, and beginnings never cease to appear; there is always a beginning being discovered somewhere.
An end is a truly wonderful thing. An end can tear apart the greatest of bonds or forge them even tighter. Endings come in an infinite array of options, with no two endings exactly the same. Sure, many endings have the same result, but no two endings were ever completely alike. All endings are the culmination of what happened before them, each one altered from their very beginning. As such, any deviation or change prior to that ending makes for a new, unique ending. These changes do not even have to occur directly in relation to that ending. There exists a theory in which even if the world were stuck in a perpetual loop, every ending would still be different; this can be true because if something were to change outside of the world, that ending would still be different. Of course, this makes endings impossible to completely control. While it may be argued otherwise, the counterargument is that the outcome is what can be manipulated. An ending can achieve a desired effect, but the ending itself wasn't entirely controlled, just the parts that lead to a specific outcome. Because of what an ending is, everyone has an innate aversion to endings. For many, it means no more of something they were used to or wanted. The unmanageability of an ending earns it the derision of those who are used to controlling their lives or other situations. Though many can 'appreciate' an ending, there always exists a negative feeling towards it, no matter how little. There are always a few who appreciate endings, having realised that endings are inevitable and not to be feared, for indeed, once a beginning has come, an ending cannot be prevented. Endings, unlike beginnings, do not require the realisation of the situation to occur. Realisations during endings often signal another beginning, not the ending itself; this allows for the constant development of life and change in and of itself.
Beginnings lead to endings, and endings make more beginnings. What is most often glossed over is that an ending does not directly follow a beginning. There is, no matter the circumstance, something that happens in between a beginning and an ending. During this time, the events that take place are more crucial than the beginning or ending to any progression of story or change. It is by the middle content that it is judged, though the beginnings and endings are the most focused-on points.
The beginning, for three of Equestria's princesses, started when the creature known as Josephi introduced himself. However, the maelstrom of change started long before, in a place far from Equestria, and it began with two brothers. As such, the two of them being in the same place again after not having seen each other for a long time would most likely escalate things just a bit. And it did.
Electra enjoyed sleep. Often, she would complain about not getting enough or simply wanting more, no matter the circumstance. After walking several miles overnight, traveling through a strange town, and then having a little outburst upon finding her destination, all while aggravated at a certain human, it was rather understandable that Electra passed out on the chair almost immediately after Josephi himself left to go sleep. Something still seemed off to her, though. Electra's sleep wasn't as calming as it usually was for her; she was clearly bothered by something. Josephi had just casually mentioned that his brother was in Equestria, and while Electra could understand the princesses not getting the full impact of that, she certainly did. There was no way that Josephi didn't expect her to worry; he wasn't that stupid. Electra took the time to start making plans while she slept. She was fairly certain that someone had tried to enter her dreams at some point - she had no clue who it could have possibly been - though they failed quite miserably.
It seemed rather obvious to Electra that the other princesses would stay in the small crystal castle for a while; one did not leave a being of suspect nature and power to remain unchecked. Celestia and Luna had decided to stay in one of the larger guest rooms for at least another day, until they could get some information secured and security assigned. Electra never did enjoy the concept of sleeping around royalty - too many possibilities to become collateral damage in an assassination attempt - she figured it was unavoidable, though, considering she was in a castle, after all. Because of this, Electra had decided to make it a light nap, and as luck would have it, that let her wake up as soon as she heard the knocking at the castle door. Groaning, she got out of the chair she had been sprawled on and made her way to the door, ready to rip into the person audacious enough to wake her up.
Twilight was already on her way to the door by the time that the knocking started. Considering she was no longer working, she reactivated the proximity wards that let her know somepony was coming to the door. Twilight considered it a good thing that she headed there immediately; she didn't want a repeat of Josephi and Electra. Pleased with her actions, Twilight nodded to herself, sure that she could avoid any incidents now that she was answering the door.
"I'm telling you, sister. Nothing. Not a single one!"
"Luna, calm down. There's no way that's possible. Everypony has dreams, even if they don't always remember them. I'm sure there's more to it."
Luna was not satisfied with the response. "Nay, sister, I would know. There isn't a single indication of any dream from him! It's as if he doesn't exist in the dream realm."
"What about Electra?" Celestia asked. "Do hers indicate anything?"
"It troubles me, sister. I can't enter her dreams. They aren't normal, either. There is no door, for her. The dream is there, but it is clouded in the foulest, darkest substance I've ever seen. I can see that she dreams, but any attempts to go in are met with failure. It almost acts quite like whatever is keeping me out is sentient itself. Never have I seen such a thing, and it frightens me."
While the two sisters continued their argument about possibilities within the dream realm, a loud knocking interrupted them.
Sighing, Luna said, "Do we wish to allow dear Twilight to handle this one, or should we perhaps go to see who it is?"
Celestia pondered it for a moment. "Well, it is Twilight's castle, and she's no doubt already on it. Either way, it wouldn't hurt to go see who feels like visiting this late in the evening."
Deciding upon it jointly, the two Princesses headed toward the foyer where the visitor was to be admitted.
"It's a godsdamn castle that doubles as a library; who the fuck knocks?" Josephi wondered aloud as he made his way back down the stairs from the guest room. "Not to mention it's made of hollow crystal. This shit echoes waaaaaaay too much for its own good."
Despite her best efforts, Twilight didn't arrive at the door first. It was rather close, though; just as she entered the foyer, the purple alicorn could see Electra already a few hoofsteps from the door. Foreseeing the potential mess, Twilight immediately cried out, "Wait! Don't-"
Whatever she'd been going to say was cut off as Electra threw open the double doors to the castle. "Whaddaya want?" She slurred drowsily. "'m tryin' ta sleep and-"
Just as Twilight had been cut off, so were the storm-grey pegasus's words abruptly halted as soon as she took a look at who was outside the door.
"Why hello, my dear Electra. Quite the wonder seeing you here. Tell me, would Josephi happen to be here?" The voice that sounded out was crisp and refined, giving a permeable sense of sophistication and pleasantness to the sentence alone. As such, it rather confused Twilight as to why Electra was rooted in place, seeming to all the world as just a statue.
Once the doors were open far enough, the full figure of who was at the entrance became visible. Standing there was a very tall bipedal figure, taller than Josephi, even. His dapper appearance gave a sense of formal relaxation, and his posture belied a jaunty personality. To be completely honest with herself, Twilight found that the person at the door looked quite a lot like Josephi in terms of species.
Finishing her very brief observation, the purple alicorn looked up at the smiling figure still standing outside. "Can I help you, sir?" she asked, still unsure as to what else to say at the time.
"Aah, yes. My name is Mike, and I was looking for Josephi. I was told there was some authority here, so I wondered if you might know of his whereabouts."
"Well, actually, I d-" Twilight's speech was once again cut off, this time by the intrusion of a certain pair of princesses.
"Twilight?" Celestia asked. "Who is this?" She and her sister had just come down the stairs to be greeted by the sight of Twilight a few feet away from Mike with Electra still frozen in place off to the side.
"My, my! More of you! This place is a veritable wealth of authority. It seems my stroke of luck continues. My name, since you asked, is-"
"Mike." The sentence was finished not by the man in question, but rather, by Josephi, who had just walked into the main foyer. The way that Josephi had said it was practically a growl, and the extreme scowl upon his visage made it obvious that he was not pleased with the fact.
"Aah! More of this luck!" Mike said almost giddily as he slightly bounced into a straighter position. "I didn't even need to get the location from these lovely ladies in the end!" All the while Mike had been speaking, Josephi had been walking slowly closer and closer towards the taller man.
It was at that point that Electra seemingly snapped out of her daze. Against everything that the other ponies in the room would have expected, Electra's first action was not to start speaking to Mike, or even moving towards him; instead, she was practically crouched down, ears splayed back, and slowly backing herself away from Mike, eyes like saucers. There was the mare who insulted and cursed at extremely-powerful alicorns and made death threats to those stronger than her, backing away from a single person like a filly in front of a manticore. At first, it wasn't noticeable, but as Electra got closer to the others in the room furthest from Mike, her muttering became clearer.
"Not today. Not today. Not today. Not today. Please, gods above, not today. I don't want to go like this. Not today . . . "
This only served to confuse the Princesses more. Here was a brand new visitor to the castle, and yet the other two guests immediately act as though the end times were upon them. They didn't know exactly what was going to happen, but everyone in the room had the feeling it would be nothing good.
"Please, my dearest Electra," Mike said, turning towards her, "There's no need to worry; you are going to be perfectly fine." He turned back to the still advancing Josephi. "You, however . . ."
None of the observers were sure when it happened. The action was over in the blink of an eye. Mike was no longer where he had been. Instead, he was directly in front of Josephi, and the sleek black cane he had been holding was completely gone, replaced by a violet, ethereal-looking estoc. Said estoc was currently protruding from the back of Josephi's body, having been run completely through from the front.
"Shame on you, brother," Mike started again, calmly continuing his speech as though he didn't have a person impaled upon his weapon. "Letting down your guard like this. I'd expected better of you. Oh well, we've been through this song and dance before. Next time, I expect you to actually try to do something instead of just standing there."
Josephi was standing stock still in front of Mike, mouth occasionally opening and closing as though to say words, though no sound came out but pained wheezes. He raised his head from looking at the sword currently skewering his body up to his brother. After a moment of working his jaw, he finally managed to get a word out.
"Ouch."
"Now, now, Josephi," Mike said, smiling evenly, "that's not a very good choice of last words." As he had finished saying it, Mike quickly withdrew the sword from Josephi, pulled back, and swung the estoc fully at his neck. The sword appeared to pass harmlessly through Josephi just before a white rift of intense light appeared behind him. "Ta ta, dearest brother. Tell Hades I said hello!" With that, he pushed Josephi backwards into the rift, his body toppling backwards, shortly followed by his head. "Oops. Don't want to be too inconsiderate. Here: I'll cover the ferry cost." Reaching into his pocket, Mike pulled out a small silver coin and flipped it into the rift after Josephi. Once the coin was through, the rift closed, and the room was back to as it had been, minus one Josephi and plus one large pool of blood on the crystal floor.
That time, it was all of the other inhabitants of the room who stood in shock. Someone had just been murdered in the Castle of Friendship's antechamber. To Celestia and Luna, it was the first murder on Equestrian soil in over two-thousand years. To Twilight, it was the first time she'd seen another creature die from anything other than old age. Electra was practically hyperventilating, eyes darting from one doorway to another, looking for the fastest possible way out.
"Well," Mike began, pulling a small white cloth out of his pocket that he started using to wipe off his blade, "I must say that you've got your work cut out for you; crystal is a very easy surface to get blood off of."
"What . . . wh- wh- what HAVE YOU DONE!?" Luna's horrified shout echoed throughout the entire castle, snapping the other ponies out of their shock.
Mike's disinterested glance in her direction spoke both volumes and nothing at all. "I stabbed my brother through the heart, then cut off his head before kicking him through a rift to the underworld. I thought that much was obvious."
The sword, once clean, had disappeared and been replaced with a cane, though it seemed that this transition had happened between blinks. Seeing Celestia advancing slowly towards him with horn lit, Mike decided it was an appropriate time to actually do something.
"Now, now, Celestia, you clearly know what happened to the last person to try and walk at me all 'menacingly-like'." Celestia halted her stride, but not her hardened gaze. "Besides, I'm no threat to you; in fact, I won't do a single thing to any of you. Oh, and that includes you, Electra." Electra, still backing towards a doorway, froze yet again upon hearing her name. "I told you to calm down, and you haven't even done that." His voice took on a tone that was hard to identify. "Besides, if you don't relax, how will you get to enjoy all the fun you're going to have with your old friends when they stop by?" With the most recent words, Electra started trembling slightly, still not breaking the eye contact she had with Mike.
Mike, deciding he'd said enough, straightened up and came off of leaning on his cane. "It's been an absolutely delightful evening, and I do so wish I could stay to chat a bit, but I'm afraid I have some prior arrangements that I must be off to. Celestia, Luna, be sure to send your parents my respects; the last time I saw them, I'd just given them their last anniversary present. Twilight, I'd advise using some bleach. To all, I bid thee antío."
"No! Stay ri-" Luna's second outburst was cut off as the air in front of Mike seemed to ripple and shimmer before he simply vanished from sight.
A deathly silence settled over the library, no pony moving at all. Whatever it was that those four had just witnessed, it would take some time to digest.
It had been several hours since Luna's moon had replaced the sun in the sky, and the quaint town of Ponyville was extremely calm, as though it hadn't just had the first murder on Equestrian soil in hundreds of years occur within their very town limits. Of course, no one excepting the alicorn princesses and one pegasus knew it had happened, so business continued as usual. Octavia had just finished getting settled in for the night, her house finally warming up after having been empty and unused for the past few days while she was in Canterlot. Following her quick construction of a fire in her fireplace, she headed over to her couch before pulling out the Daring Do book that she'd been in the middle of before she headed to Canterlot, tea in hoof. Not a few pages in, Octavia's relaxing read was interrupted by the quick staccato of knocks on her cottage door. "Of course," she thought to herself, "why should I expect relaxation after a busy week? I swear the universe is conspiring against me." Reaching the door and opening it swiftly, Octavia found herself met with two pillars. Craning her neck upward, it was quite obvious that said pillars were, in fact, attached to someone.
"Mike?" Octavia inquired, "What are you doing here at this hour? I thought you had business to deal with regarding your brother?"
Bending down ever so slightly so as to better look the pony before him in the eye, Mike smiled softly before replying. "Hello, my dear Octavia. I know it is quite late, but I was wondering if you might be willing to entertain some conversation for a bit."
The musician was rather surprised at the request, but couldn't find it in her to turn down the request from the man who had been nothing but gentlemanly to her. "Of course, though I hope you don't mind feeling a bit cramped. These houses weren't really build with someone of your stature in mind. Please, come in."
"I must say," Mike chuckled lightly while dipping his upper body so as to fit in the doorway, "just a few glances and I can already tell that this is a rather homely abode you have here. I do so love antiques."
"Really? I've found only a few others who truly enjoy them like I do, and none of them live in Ponyville, that's for sure." Octavia decided to simply move into small talk while grabbing the rest of the tea that she had brewed earlier.
"Alas, some of the most truly beautiful of crafts are often forgotten or ignored, are they not? Shame, really. Oh well, the most one can do is slowly change the minds of the general populace bit by bit, showing others the beautiful side of an art they've been ignoring," Mike lamented, finding the couch to be more suitable for his size than the small chairs.
Having fully settled down after giving Mike a cup of tea, Octavia sat and looked over to tall creature who was so woefully large for the space he currently occupied. "So tell me, Mike, what is it that you wished to discuss?"
"You see," Mike began, looking Octavia over before fully settling his gaze directly on her eyes, "I find you rather curious. Not only were you the first person to come talk to me in this quaint little town, you did so without trepidation. However, far more curious than that is what you first said to me."
Octavia briefly racked her brain to remember how she'd originally started the interaction with Mike, though it had only been some hours ago. "Hmm. I believe I said 'Who are you?', correct?"
The pale human hummed in agreement around the teacup he currently had his lips pressed to. "Excellent tea, by the way. I must know what kind. Anyways, you are entirely correct. You asked me who I was."
"And? I would hardly think that makes for a unique talk."
"You see, Octavia, you asked me who I was, not what I was. Out of all of the places I've been to in my travels - towns, cities, countries, continents - you are the first to ask me that in a VERY long time. Far longer than I know you're probably imagining right now. Of course, to many, this difference in wording may not seem much, but I can guarantee you that for me, it's been an extremely delightful surprise, and I don't come across those often."
"You're . . . welcome? I guess? I'm afraid I'm drawing a blank as to why this would possibly cause you to seek me out so close to midnight. Not to mention you'd said your business with your brother was rather pressing. Seems quite odd to me." Octavia took a long sip of her tea, awaiting the response of her late-night guest.
Mike waved a hand dismissively, as though to brush the notion from the air before him. "First, just to avoid it getting in the way later, let's just say that the matter of my brother has been resolved for the time being. Now, I don't believe it will stay that way for too long, but it's given me a bit of time to progress without his interference, though I'm afraid he'd already managed to get the locals involved anyways by the time I got there."
Octavia absorbed what she'd just heard and nodded to Mike, signalling for him to continue.
"I would really like to make this very brief, but I'm afraid that I'll need to be thorough in my explanation. First though, I would like to ask some questions, if that's alright." Mike looked to Octavia's face yet again for confirmation before continuing when she nodded for the second time. "Tell me, miss Octavia, let's say that you were to hear that something terrible happened to a large group of ponies, caused by the actions of another. Now say that you can only be told either who did it or what it was they did, which would you choose?"
Openly joining this game of moral hypotheticals, Octavia was quick to respond. "Why, I'd have to choose the 'who' option. However, this could still cause a great deal of confusion. Realistically, I'd want to know why that individual did what they did. What happened and who did it should come secondary to knowing the underlying reasons."
The amazed, joyous laughter of Mike was an interesting contrast to the conversational atmosphere that the room had had since the beginning of the conversation between the two. Yet again, Octavia was a slight bit confused as to what exactly was going on. It took a short while for Mike to regain his composure before returning eye contact with the grey pony across from him.
"I can't believe this! Finally! You, miss Octavia, are yet again the first to give me the correct answer in ages! You saw through the question and found the THIRD option. Now, let me say, I entirely agree with you. I find that actions are always justifiable, depending on the reasons for doing so. So many are willing to throw out looking at motivation if the person who did something is some socially pre-defined "good" or "evil". A hero who kills ten people is almost guaranteed to be acquitted compared to a villain who kills ten people. Why is that? It is entirely because the "hero" is seen by the majority as just that, and likewise for the villain. The general consensus that I've found in my travels is that people look at the who first, the what second, and disregard the why. Do you still follow me?"
The cellist hadn't really thought that far into such a line of philosophy, but Mike had made several points that she couldn't rightly disagree with, nor did she find herself wanting to. Octavia looked down to her now-empty tea cup before setting it aside on the end table next to her chair. "I most certainly do still follow, though I have many questions as to this line of inquiry. The world we live in isn't really that turbulent nor have we had issues that stand between right and wrong. I'm rather curious as to where you got these notions from."
Yet again, Mike was laughing. Unlike previously, however, this laugh seemed a bit harsher, with an almost bitter edge to it. "My dear Octavia, I must ask, how big is the planet upon which we live?"
Octavia wanted to say she knew quite accurately, but the way Mike spoke made her reconsider. "Well, The planet is quite evenly split between land and sea, with the land being made up of one large mass - or continent, if you will - though there's a bit of a strait separating Equestria proper from the badlands. The Griffon Kingdom is a decent sized area of land on the eastern side of the continent with the Crystal Empire up north. We assume that the dragons migrate to a small island out in the ocean before returning to Equestria following the migration. Other than that, there's not much to explore but a large, empty ocean."
Mike gently placed down his tea cup and stood from his spot on the couch before moving forward and crouching in front of his evening host. "What if I told you that everything you knew about the world was a lie, miss Octavia?"
The notion was one that she almost refused to entertain in her head, fearing the migraine it would bring. However, there was still easily a part of her that remained curious. "I'm not rightly sure how I'd feel, to be honest, though I get the sense that you'll give me insight anyways."
"Well, I can't really say that everything you know is a lie - that would be the real lie - but a great deal is out there that you haven't been told about, be it by your leaders or who it is that makes the maps. I have utmost confidence that you know a good deal of things when it comes to your homeland here, but I can similarly guarantee that you would be amazed of the world beyond those coasts."
It was not long after Mike had said this that it became evident of a racket being made throughout the surrounding area of town. Shaking her head from its stupor, Octavia moved to the window and parted the curtain to see a large contingent of guards moving from door to door, knocking on the doors of ponies' houses and questioning the occupants when they answered, many being visibly upset at having been roused so late at night. Letting the curtain fall back to its resting position, Octavia slowly turned around looked up to Mike, who was still crouching where he had been, though now he had his cane in hand an almost mystical, manic glint in his eye. "What . . . what exactly did you do, Mike? Do you have something to do with why I'm about to get a late-night visit from the royal guard?" The cellist sounded almost accusing, though not harshly.
"That I do, dear Octavia. Let's just say that my manner of dealing with my brother wasn't exactly to the liking of those princesses you mentioned, made much more troublesome by the fact that they were watching while it happened."
"Did you hurt somepony? I thought your issue was with your brother!"
"Absolutely not! I harmed absolutely zero ponies in my debacle with my brother, though I wouldn't call it too much of a debacle, really. Anyways, your princesses did not exactly take a liking to the results, nor execution, of my plan, so I believe they're trying to find me. Shame, really. I must ask that you remember what you said earlier, miss Octavia. Right now, you alone know the why behind what I did, and I can easily promise that that was no lie. Believe me when I say that a lot of innocents would have died had I not done what I did earlier this evening."
Octavia was no longer upset after remembering that exact bit of information, but she was still worried about the approaching column of guards. "Can't you just go tell the princesses what you told me earlier? Save the trouble of such a big incident?"
Mike sighed. "Remember also what I said about people asking who, then what, and not why? Unfortunately, your rulers are much the same, and Josephi had plenty of time to inform them that I was "evil", so they already believe they have the who, and they saw the what, so there is no need for them to listen to why." Octavia's brain was attempting to come to terms with all of the new information provided in the past evening of conversation, so Mike decided to press onwards. "Tell me, miss Octavia Philharmonica," Mike moved to just inches from her face, "do you want to see the world that so few of your kind have seen before? Do you want to risk life and limb to pursue a one-in-a-lifetime chance? Do you want to stay here, living a life of monotonous repetition? Does the idea of BEING someone and DOING something to impact the world appeal to you more than your dreams of becoming famous for music? I had hoped to give you more ti-"
"Yes!" Octavia said hastily, cutting him off.
"Really?" Mike almost floundered for a bit, not used to being cut off like that. "You didn't even let me finish. I had this entire dramatic bit about not coming back to give you another chance and everything."
Octavia was still generally composed, but her eyes sparkled with an unseen intensity. "Mike, do you have any idea of how many times I've wished and hoped that there was something beyond the borders of Equestria? The nights I spent as a filly wishing that someday I'd find something other than the world we're told exists? By the time I took up the cello professionally, I'd given up on that dream, though I can't say I don't greatly enjoy my music. I'd give anything to be able to fully live out that dream."
"Really? Anything? Interesting. Yet again you amaze me, miss Octavia. I must say that it will be quite refreshing to have a new companion on board with the upcoming adventures." Mike stood up. However, it wasn't the crouched, bent stand he had done when entering the house. Instead, he stood to full height, though Octavia couldn't see how. He was clearly too tall for the ceiling, but he didn't hit his head, nor did he go through it. He was simply . . . there. "Anything you wish to bring, Octavia? I'd like to warn you that you'll be gone for quite some time."
At this point the guard contingent was just next door, though the sense of urgency already persisted without the guard factored in. Grabbing her cello and quickly scrawling a note for what few friends she had, Octavia trotted briskly over to Mike. Just as Octavia set down the cello and looked to Mike, there came a knock at the door. "Royal guard! Open up!"
Mike looked down to Octavia with a bright grin spreading across his features, multicoloured eyes shining in the dim light. "Tell me, Octavia, do you enjoy plays?" |
Escaping The Invasion | pre | Twilight was currently looking around the ship and what she saw did not please her.
Spike was trying to calm down a hyperventilating Rarity, and Starlight was also trying to calm down Trixie who was huddled into her own ball.
Fluttershy was also cowering behind a crate and Applejack put her hat under her eyes and sighed, seemingly in acceptance.
Pinkie Pie was also trying to jump into a crate and then tripped inside it.
Twilight groaned, her friends were not being helpful on this quest, things did not look good for the group.
Twilight soon looked around the area to see a giant tarp, a bunch of rope and a big crate to fit eight ponies and a small dragon.
"I've got this." Twilight smirked confidently before Twilight levitated the tarp to Starlight who looked confused, "Hold this."
"What are you doing?" Rainbow Dash asked incredulously but Twilight didn't answer and instead used her magic to pull the lever nearby which dropped the group into the sky with a scream.
As the group continued screaming, Twilight soon used her wings to slow her descent which allowed her to concentrate and use her magic to levitate the whole group into the crate and soon used her magic to tie the rope onto the crate and the tarp like a makeshift hot air balloon, and finally grabbed Spike, faced him on the makeshift balloon and squeezed him to force enough fire to allow the tarp to inflate and finally they were floating in midair.
"Phew! Quick thinking there Twilight." Applejack complimented.
"Yahoo! Ha ha!" Twilight celebrated triumphantly.
"Next stop Mount Aris!" Rainbow Dash began pushing the hot air balloon towards Mount Aris.
"We're home free!" Twilight cheered much to the delight of all her friends.
Starlight smiled happily as Twilight looked on from the distance, beaming with pride, though she did feel concern about her too. Twilight's normally much more level headed and calm but Starlight noticed Twilight seemed a lot more tense, and was starting to act more cynical.
"Twilight? Are you okay?" Starlight asked beaming alicorn as Twilight smiled out in the distance.
"Why wouldn't I be? Things are finally looking up." Twilight smiled at her friend.
"Well... you just seemed to be a lot more... moody than usual and I wanna make sure you're okay." Starlight admitted sheepishly.
Twilight looked with a raised eyebrow at Starlight before sighing, "I'm fine Starlight. I just want our home saved."
"And we will save it. Trust me." Starlight reassured her, "We just need to have faith."
Twilight sighed but rolled her eyes with a smile, "Yeah. Thanks Starlight."
Starlight smiled warmly, maybe things really were looking up. |
Escaping The Invasion | One Small… Wait, A Big Problem | Starlight was currently walking with Trixie and Spike up the mountain's trail, it was a bit grueling but Starlight had to find her way through a changeling hive with only Thorax and Discord with her and Trixie so this wasn't much of a hassle.
"We had to crash the balloon at the bottom of the mountain! That's it! I simply... cannot... even! I have nothing! The bad guys have won! I'm so sorryyyyyyy!" Rarity dramatically cried out as she laid on the ground.
"Oh my Celestia..." Trixie grunted before screaming, "Would you stop your whining?! We can hear you from all the way up here!"
"Ow. Trixie." Starlight rubbed her ears in pain from the screeching she witnessed.
"I'm only sorry that I hurt your ears but that's it, she deserved that." Trixie apologized, semi-remorseful.
"Meh. Good enough." Starlight shrugged before walking ahead with Trixie by her side, catching up with Twilight and Spike.
"We're almost there." Rainbow Dash announced gaining Starlight's attention.
"Will you stop saying that?!" Rarity asked incredulously.
"No really." Rainbow Dash smiled before she flew ahead of Starlight causing her to see the entrance to the Hippogriff Kingdom, two Hippogriff statues facing each other, which had Starlight smiling.
"This is it." Twilight gasped with a smile before she went inside with Starlight and the others following.
"Well I'll be." Applejack laughed goodnaturedly before saying, "Hippogriffs, here we come!"
Starlight was elated, they'd finally be free.
Twilight slowly formed a disturbed look as she looked around the town, it felt old and abandoned, especially so empty.
"Are we sure this is the right place?" Rarity asked in a hushed tone.
"Trixie is starting to think you're not so good at map reading Twilight." Trixie spoke condescendingly which caused Twilight to glare at the stage magician.
"Hello?! Is anypony home?!" Applejack yelled out.
Pinkie Pie soon bounced around the town searching for Hippogriffs before heading towards Twilight and sighing miserably, "I'm sorry. I couldn't find any Hippogriffs."
"But... Celestia... The map. They have to be here." Twilight said desperately.
"Something bad happened here. Something that turned this whole place into a ghost town." Spike sweated nervously.
"Did the Storm King already... win?" Starlight asked sadly which caused Fluttershy to pat the unicorn's back, "I'm not sure." She said softly yet honestly.
Suddenly Twilight heard distant humming and gasped as she saw a small tunnel entrance where the humming was coming from. "It's coming from over there."
Twilight soon lit up her horn so she could see and she went inside the tunnel, with her friends following and soon they found themselves in this wide cave. She also caught Starlight lighting up her horn and Trixie following her, Twilight could see why they were sticking together and soon they found themselves near a pond where the humming was now louder and a big flower was in the water and shining.
Soon Pinkie Pie ended up kicking a rock much to the singer's shock.
"What was that?" A scared voice said before a yellow figure jumped in the water.
"Hey! Wait up!" Pinkie Pie smiled as she ran to the pond, "Cannonball!" She said happily before jumping in the water.
"Pinkie!" Twilight cried out fearfully before she and the others walked in the pond but soon Pinkie Pie spat out the water and shrugged at Twilight, "She's gone." She shrugged with a confused frown.
Suddenly a whirlpool formed and the follower went underwater, much to Twilight's terror, as she and the others tried fruitlessly to swim to shore but were slowly sucked into the whirlpool and underwater.
Twilight opened her eyes to see her and her friends struggling to hold her breath but soon she felt her world go black.
She suddenly woke up and took a big breath and found herself in an air bubble as well as the rest of the group.
"Way to wait till the last minute Twilight... or did Starlight do this? She does tend to study some complex spells." Pinkie Pie began blabbing before Twilight spoke up, "I didn't make these bubbles?"
"Neither did I." Starlight admitted bashfully.
Soon a shadowy figure sped by which caused everyone to huddle up to Twilight.
"Hello. We're looking for the Hippogriffs." Twilight said meekly.
"How do I know I can trust you?" A yellow orb formed as a voice spoke suspiciously.
"Please. The Storm King invaded our land. And we need their help." Twilight begged sincerely.
"The Storm King?" The orb seemed in shock before manifesting into a yellow seapony and smiled, "I'm so glad I saved you guys! I'm totally taking you to my mom!" The seapony grabbed Twilight's hoof before leading them towards the distance.
"Does your mother know where they are?" Twilight gasped with a smile.
"She might have an idea!" The seapony singsonged much to Twilight's shock and happiness.
"We're almost there." The seapony smiled before Twilight saw a bright light and saw a circular castle.
"Wow!" The group said in awe.
"This almost looks like Atlantis." Starlight admitted starstruck much to everyone but Twilight's confusion as she was aware of what Starlight was talking about. The seapony didn't seem confused either so she might not have heard it.
"Sunset told me about ancient myths from her world." Starlight briefly explained which satisfied the group
Soon the seapony led them to the entrance of the castle which was a hole in the ground and soon the seapony swam up to her mother who was likely the queen, "Mother, guess what I found?" She sang happily.
"Is it another shell?" The mother asked bored as the daughter shook her head, "Because I am telling you if it is another shell, I am..."
She then gasped once she noticed Twilight and her friends and spoke sternly to her daughter, "Princess Skystar, what have you done? You know surface dwellers are forbidden here! Guards!"
Soon four sea ponies in armor swam over and pointed their spears at the heroes, as the yellow seapony Skystar pleaded with her mother, "No no no! M-M-Mom, please! It is so not like that! The Storm King is trying to destroy their home, too!"
"We need to find the Hippogriffs. Do you know what happened to them?" Twilight asked pleadingly.
"Well of course I know. I'm the queen. I know everything." The Queen spoke sternly.
"Oh, oh, it's such a good story!" Skystar said happily before the Queen spoke angrily, "Don't you dare tell them." She commanded.
"Once upon a time, like, a while ago, the Hippogriffs did live on Mount Aris." Skystar revealed an image of the hippogriffs peacefully in Mount Aris.
"Did I not say don't tell them? But hey, I'm just the queen. Don't mind me." The Queen muttered angrily.
Skystar soon sighed angrily, "Fine! I can't tell you." before smiling and creating a projection of the Storm King, "But if I could tell you, I'd say that that horned beast did show up to steal their magic!"
Skystar then projected another image of the hippogriff queen and then the projection of the underwater kingdom, "But, to keep it out of his clutches, their brave and majestic leader, Queen Novo, hid them deep underwater where he could never go! We are... Well, we were the Hippogriffs! Ta-da!" Skystar smiled triumphantly before whispering, "But I totally did not tell you that."
"Well, I guess the pearl is out the oyster now. I am Queen Novo." The Queen, now known as Novo introduced herself.
"Hold on now. Lemme get this straight. When the Storm King came, you just abandoned your entire city and fled?" Applejack asked in confusion as she swam a little closer to Novo's throne.
"We didn't flee! We swam! Y'know, in order to flee." Skystar explained giddily.
"But how?" Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh! Can we show them? Huh? These are the first guests we've had in, like, foreveeerrr! Can we, can we, can we, can we, can we, can we, can we, can we, can we?" Skystar asked enthusiastically.
Soon Novo shrugged before admitting, "Well I suppose I should make sure it still works."
She soon swam near a jellyfish chandelier and a pearl came floating down and Novo gently grabbed it much to Skystar's excitement.
Novo soon gently used her pearl to send a magical aura towards Twilight and her friends which had her cover her eyes before realizing her bubble popped and she now had a merpony tail and smiled happily before noticing her friends and Trixie also had a seapony tail and Spike was unfortunately a blowfish.
"Oh wow. I'm a seapony!" Trixie smiled towards Starlight, "Hey Starlight, I wonder if I have an angelic voice now."
"That's a siren Trixie." Starlight corrected her friend with a good natured eye roll.
"This is amazing! With this, we could transform everypony at home into something powerful enough to face the Storm King's army!" Twilight smiled enthusiastically as she went up towards Queen Novo who held her pearl protectively, "Or it could end up in his greedy claws!"
"But..." Twilight said meekly before Novo interrupted stern but sympathetic, "Honey, I'm sorry about your home. I truly am. But my responsibility is to protect my subjects. The pearl," she began as she put the pearl back inside the jellyfish chandelier, "is not going anywhere."
"But we've come all this way. And you can't just hide down here! Trapped forever. There's so much you're missing." Twilight argued with a begging look.
"We are one hundred percent okay with that!" Queen Novo argued in annoyance before a small squid appeared and chittered. "Yes Jamal?" She asked before Jamal chittered again.
"Ooh! Time for my seaweed wrap." Queen Novo told the squid before swimming to the exit.
"So that's it? We left home for nothing." Applejack asked incredulously.
"Well... we're screwed." Trixie rolled her eyes before Starlight nudged her at the sides but Twilight figured they were indeed screwed.
"Oh, my gosh! Best... idea! You can stay with us! Forever!" Skystar laughed before she began rambling, "There are so many things we can do! We can make friendship bracelets out of shells and picture frames outta shells and decorative wastebaskets out of shells... Oh, I have so many projects that involve shells, haha! Now I have someone new to share them with aside from my friends Shelly and Sheldon."
Skystar soon showed her two clams made out of purple and red shells and googly eyes.
Rarity soon swam over to Skystar and laughed nervously, "That sounds lovely, darling, but you must realize, we can't stay."
"We've gotta get back to our families." Applejack explained sadly.
"Oh... no, of course. Of course you have your own friends back home. It's fine. It's fine." Skystar chuckled nervously, "Shelly and Sheldon get jealous anyway." She whispered before she sighed sadly, "It's probably for the best. Yeah I'll just... I'll get Mom to, uh, turn you back so you can go home."
"I know we have to go, but you guys saw how disappointed Princess Skystar was. Couldn't we stay a little longer?" Pinkie Pie asked pleadingly to Twilight.
"Pinkie's right. She clearly deserves to have friends and maybe we could help with that. Even if we're gone." Starlight smiled at Pinkie Pie who smiled back.
An idea formed in Twilight's mind, it might not be the most noble but desperate times call for desperate measures.
"Girls, we don't have time for..." Applejack began speaking before Twilight interrupted, "Oh no. Pinkie and Starlight are correct."
"Say what now?" Rainbow Dash asked incredulously.
"Well we still need to come up with a plan to get back. A few minutes won't make a huge difference." Twilight admitted as she led Starlight and Pinkie towards Skystar's direction, before smiling fondly at the two mares in front of her, "And if there's anypony who can cram a lifetime of fun into a blink of an eye, it's Pinkie Pie. Plus if there's anyone good at helping ponies through friendship issues through experience, it's Starlight." Both smiled at Twilight, hearing this.
"So go ahead and show Skystar the best time ever!" Twilight said in determination.
"We won't let you down Twilight." Starlight said happily before Twilight led the rest of her friends towards Skystar's direction as well.
Trixie raised an eyebrow before swimming in front of Twilight, "Aren't you coming?"
"I think I'll sit this one out. I might as well make a plan." Twilight lied with a smile.
"Okay..." Trixie leered suspiciously before swimming off, "Just don't do what I think you're doing, I doubt it will end well."
Starlight swam with Pinkie with a determined smile as they spotted a saddened Skystar and looked at Pinkie in worry but she gave Starlight a firm nod before heading to Skystar and taking her two shell friends. She hoped this would cheer Skystar up.
(Song Begins)
"Hey, now, don't be sad.
I know we cannot stay." Pinkie Pie imitated Shelly and Sheldon much to Skystar's shock.
"But we've got a couple minutes.
And a little time to play." Pinkie Pie said happily as she gestured herself and her friends, Skystar looked happy at first before sighing.
"I know you have important things.
So it's okay, just go." Skystar began swimming away forlorn
"But we can still pick one small, little thing, to do with you, you know." Starlight added happily as she swam in front of Skystar before she and everyone else led Skystar outside the castle and led her to the open sea
"One small thing, doesn't seem like a lot.
One small thing, work with the time you've got." Pinkie Pie sang as she showed Skystar a reflective shell.
"Soon, one small thing becomes two.
After two, perhaps another few." Starlight sang as she levitates a shell necklace around Skystar's neck.
"Then one small thing is not so small.
One small thing can be the biggest thing of all!" Pinkie and Starlight sang together before they, Skystar, and the rest began swimming and riding with large green fish.
"All right now, since you're here
Let's see what we can do
Swim with the flow until you go
Together, me and you." Skystar sang which caught the other hippogriffs attention.
"I've got necklaces for every fish
So what else do ya got?" Pinkie Pie asked in song.
"Well we can play the bubblefish
You'll like this one a lot!" Skystar said as she grabbed a bubble fish while Pinkie Pie almost grabbed Spike before Starlight levitated another bubble fish towards her.
"One small thing, it's a good place to start." Skystar, Pinkie, and Starlight sang as the group all blew their bubble fish.
(Just one small thing)
"One small thing, and we don't seem so far apart." Pinkie and Skystar sang as they intertwined fins.
(Don't seem apart)
"Soon, one small thing leads to more
It's so much more than there was before
Just one small thing, and you will see
The start of something big for you and me." Everyone sang as they gestured for the other hippogriffs to join in which gained the attention of Queen Novo.
"One small thing" Pinkie Pie sang as she held a small jellyfish.
(Just one small thing)
"Or a tall thing." Skystar began dancing.
(Just one tall thing)
"Or a sing thing." Fluttershy played pattycakes with a foal.
(Just one sing-y thing.)
"Or a bling thing." Rarity fanned the air with some shells.
(Just one bling-y thing.)
"A conga thing." Applejack sang as she led a conga line with the hippogriffs with Spike and Trixie towards Rarity.
(Yeah, a conga thing)
"Or a longah thing." Rainbow Dash led another conga line.
(Just one longah thing)
"A blue thing, true thing, you thing." Starlight sang as she swam in a circle with Skystar.
"A whee thing, sea thing, me thing." Skystar sang as well.
(Oooh-oooh-oooh!)
"So many things and everything until our time is done
There's one small thing for each and everyone!" Pinkie, Starlight, and Skystar sang together.
"One small thing, so much we can create
You and me, we started something great
It's so amazing, look around
At all the happy sights and sounds
One small thing is big, it's true
You did this all for us
I just wish there was one small thing
An extra special kind of thing." Skystar began singing happily as she looked at Novo who seemed proud.
"That we could do for you..." Skystar harmonized with the hippogriffs as Novo swam up to her.
"One small thing!" Everyone finished.
Novo sighed in satisfaction as she began laughing which allowed Starlight, Pinkie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Spike, and Rainbow Dash to laugh and embrace each other as well while Trixie looked in pride.
"Well I guess there is one small thing we can do." Novo smiled fondly much to Starlight's delight.
"Really?" She asked happily.
Soon an alarm began blaring and Starlight faintly heard someone say, "The pearl alarm! Oh, no, the pearl alarm!"
Soon Novo and Skystar swam towards the castle with Starlight and her friends following as Starlight silently looked on in shock and fear.
'No. She didn't.'
Soon they made it to the throne room where Twilight was wrapped in stingers and she was reaching for the pearl.
Queen Novo looked enraged as she immediately swiped the pearl much to Twilight's sadness, "No! Please!"
"All of this so you could sneak in and take the pearl?!" Novo asked furiously before grabbing her daughters' fin and pulling her close, "This is why we don't bring strangers into our home!"
"Wait! Your highness! I swear me and my friends were not aware of Twilight's true plan!" Starlight pleaded desperately with tears forming as she swam near Novo, "We genuinely wanted to help your daughter!"
"Oh sure you were! Like I'll believe that for a second!" Novo hissed at Starlight much to her fear.
"You don't deserve to be one of us." Novo spoke ominously before the pearl began working it's magic again.
Twilight gasped for air as she made it to the surface of the water, the rest of her friends and Trixie also gasped and coughed as they made it up as well.
Twilight soon made it to shore and began drying out her mane and felt everyone else's presence behind her as soon she heard Applejack speak angrily, "What were you thinkin'? I mean, stealin' their pearl?"
"It was the only way to save Equestria." Twilight said in her defense.
"Except it wasn't! The Queen was going to say yes! We did what you told us and that's what made her realize we were ponies worth saving!" Pinkie Pie said sadly as Twilight looked on in disappointment.
Soon Pinkie gasped in realization, "Unless... You didn't really want us to show her the best time ever! You just wanted us to distract her!"
Her friends gasped in shock before Trixie rolled her eyes and walked over next to Pinkie, "I thought she might try it. I did warn her not to though but noooooo, she decided to be an idiot."
Twilight soon found herself getting angrier and soon began walking towards Trixie angrily, "I never would have done it, but this isn't Equestria! We can't just dance around with con artists, make rainbooms in the sky and expect everything to work out! It's not enough! We are not enough!"
"Oh. We aren't, are we?" She heard a voice speak lowly and was shocked to find it was Starlight walking towards Twilight in silent fury.
Starlight couldn't believe this, Twilight seriously resorted to stealing from another royal, it was cruel, it was thoughtless, and... almost evil. This isn't the Twilight she knew.
"Well I have news for you Twilight! WE stuck together, WE were gonna get the help we needed to save Equestria but YOU screwed it up, because for some reason, you decided to steal from another kingdom!" Starlight began yelling furiously.
"Well I'm doing the best I can!" Twilight yelled back, before adding, "Our home was being invaded and Novo did not seem like she was gonna give up the pearl, and you, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash were already screwing things up and slowing us down!"
Twilight then sighed as she walked away from Starlight and said, "It's all on me. I'm the one Tempest wants. I'm the last Princess!"
That did little to calm down Starlight, Twilight was being overly selfish, she thought this was all about her.
"Oh it's ALL about you isn't it?!" Starlight rolled her eyes angrily, "It's not my fault you're not staying true to your Princess status can't put any trust in your friends!"
Twilight soon turned back at Starlight furiously, "Well maybe I would have been better off without friends like YOU!" She yelled angrily before her horn briefly flared up, making Starlight back away in fear and trip, memories to her and Twilight's time battle came back to her and soon the words Twilight just said sunk in.
'Well maybe I would have been better off without friends like YOU!'
Starlight's lip quivered and tears silently fell from her eyes. It felt like her's and Twilight's rivalry all over again, only this time it stung much more.
"Starlight, are you..." Spike began walking up to her in concern before Starlight immediately scrambled to her hooves and began running off. She couldn't let anyone see her like this.
"Starlight wait!" Twilight desperately begged, "I didn't mean to..."
However Starlight didn't want to hear what Twilight had to say, she had faith Twilight didn't mean what she said, but could she trust that?
"Leave me alone!" Starlight commanded furiously much to everyone's shock before looking tearfully at Twilight, "Nothing you can say will make what you just said to me any less hurtful. I need some time to myself to recollect."
She soon ran off to another side of the shore, she couldn't face Twilight right now.
Twilight looked on in shock as she saw Starlight run off and turned to the rest of her friends and Trixie giving her glares, Spike just looked in concern.
"Well done your majesty." Trixie said angrily, "Now I need to go find her and get her back to normal. Though after what you just said, I think it's gonna be a while."
Trixie then trotted off after Starlight while Pinkie Pie sighed at Twilight before saying, "I think... you need some space." She advised calmly before turning to the others, "Come on girls."
Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash glared at Twilight as they followed Pinkie while Fluttershy looked at Twilight in fear as she followed the group. Only Spike stayed by Twilight's side but that did not matter, Twilight basically turned almost all her friends against her, she soon headed the opposite direction from her friends, they clearly couldn't face her right now.
She soon stood on top of a tiny rock formation and kept her head down, she just barely saw Spike nearby, "Twilight? It's okay. You'll figure it out." He spoke softly and reassuringly, "Starlight and the rest of our friends WILL forgive you. They just need time."
"No." Twilight began quietly weeping, "I can't. There's no chance to save Equestria now and it's all my fault."
She was a bit surprised that Spike was being silent until she turned around and gasped, a Storm Guard had grabbed Spike and his mouth was muffled.
Twilight began flaring her horn to potentially blast the creature for it's treatment against Spike but soon felt a cage being dropped on her which had blocked her magic and soon, the cage floor closed to trap her causing her to jump back a bit.
"No, no, no, no, no! Noooooo!" Twilight said fearfully as the cage began rising up to the airship.
"Spiiiiiiiike!" She tearfully cried out, soon she saw the Storm Guard's arm catch on fire, likely due to Spike's firebreath, "Twiliiiiight!" |
Escaping The Invasion | Rebuilding Hearts and Rescue Plans | Twilight found herself in the middle of the metal ship, with metal fenced flooring that is covering the lava beneath. She tried desperately to break down or blast the cage open, but it was proving to be useless, but she had to try, she had to make things up with her friends, she just had to.
Soon Tempest walked over to the caged Twilight, much to the alicorn's shock before Tempest spoke with a mocking smile, "Aww, the 'Princess of Friendship'. With no friends! And no way out."
"Why are you doing this?" Twilight asked softly, "You're a pony like me? Why would you want to turn against Equestria?"
Tempest soon put her hooves on the cage and her horn began to light up.
"I'm nothing like you. I'm more than you'll ever be." Tempest said angrily before she began circling around the cage.
(Song Begins)
"It's time you learned a lesson
It's time that you understand
Don't ever count on anybody else
In this or any other land." Tempest began singing sternly before she looked out into the distance, almost longing.
"I once hoped for friendship
To find a place among my kind
But those were the childish wishes
Of someone who was blind!" Tempest sang sadly before she faced Twilight again.
"Open up your eyes
See the world from where I stand
Me, among the mighty
You caged at my command." Tempest sand with a smirk as Twilight glared angrily at her.
"Open up your eyes
Give up your sweet fantasy land
It's time to grow up and get wise
Come now, little one, open up your eyes!" Tempest sang as she cupped Twilight's chin.
"We all start out the same
With simple naive trust
Shielded from the many ways
That life's not fair or just
But then there comes a moment
A simple truth that you must face
If you depend on others
You'll never find your place." Tempest sang as she developed an angry frown.
Tempest growled angrily before turning to Twilight sternly, "Me and my friends were playing catch when it happened, using our magic to toss the ball around, we accidentally threw it into a cave. My friends, being the cowards they were, left me to go get it, I got the ball but an Ursa Minor attacked me." She explained bluntly.
"Is that how you lost your horn?" Twilight asked sympathetically.
"Smart, aren't you?" Tempest chuckled bitterly, "That explains why you were able to maintain that group of idiots."
"Yes, I lost my horn and once I lost my horn, my friends left me too." Tempest explained, almost saddened but she masked it with anger.
"Why are you telling me this?" Twilight asked curiously.
"Clearly you're going through a similar thing, they left you by yourself in tears didn't they? I figured you deserved a reality check." Tempest admitted sternly.
Soon Tempest started singing again, "And as you take that first step.
Upon a path that's all your own.
You see it all so clearly
The best way to survive is all alone.
Open up your eyes
See the world from where I stand
Me, among the mighty
You caged at my command."
Tempest soon pulled the lever to raise the cage Twilight was in.
"Open up your eyes
And behold the faded light."
Tempest soon made it to a higher level of the ship and held onto the cage before it could raise up anymore and smirked at Twilight.
"It's time to grow up and get wise
Come now, little one, open up your eyes." Tempest smirked up at Twilight as the cage made it up to the top of the ship.
"Open up your eyes!" Tempest harmonized.
(Song Ends)
Twilight shielded her face from the sun as it barely shined and saw Canterlot from a distance.
Soon Tempest stood next to Twilight as the airship flew towards Canterlot and now Twilight felt a strange amount of sympathy she's hardly felt ever since she met Sunset, Stygian, Discord to an extent, and...
'Starlight.' She thought miserably as she remembered their fight just earlier. How could she have said that to her?
"I'm sorry you felt so alone." Twilight said remorseful of Tempest's past and somewhat due to her own actions.
"I saw the truth. My 'friends' abandoned me when times got tough." Tempest said bitterly before turning to look at Twilight, "Looks like I'm not the only one who had to deal with that."
Twilight looked away as Tempest continued speaking, "Face it Princess. Friendship has failed you too."
"Friendship didn't fail me. I failed at friendship." Twilight corrected the commander sadly, she wasn't sure if Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Starlight would ever look at her the same way again.
Starlight just aimlessly stared at her reflection in the ocean, it's not like she could do anything else?
'Canterlot's been overthrown, Twilight's mad at me, and any chance to get help is pretty much gone.' Starlight sighed as she laid on the sand.
Soon she felt a shadow above her, and looked to see Trixie was smiling nervously, "Uh... Trixie is not so good at this comforting stuff, like I told you, even Trixie makes mistakes."
Starlight chuckled a bit, she remembered that well but it did little to help her.
"How are you feeling?" Trixie asked sheepishly.
"Like dirt." Starlight sighed, "I wanna believe that Twilight didn't mean what she said, but I'm not too sure. You know how I am Trixie. I'm impulsive and sometimes selfish, maybe Twilight's grown tired of me."
Starlight stood up as she continued speaking, "I can't really blame her. I literally insulted the reason she became a princess and wouldn't even try to hear her out. No wonder she snapped."
"Starlight, you had every right to be mad at Twilight. Sure she had... good-ish intentions but she stole the pearl and manipulated you into doing it too." Trixie spoke in her defense.
"I'm not arguing there but the least I could have done was hear her out." Starlight added before asking, "Do you think me and Twilight will get through this? We never fought like that before."
"Uh..." Trixie began speaking before Starlight sternly corrected, "We never fought like that as friends, our rivalry doesn't exactly count."
"Well Trixie admits you will need to take some time to deal with what she said but Trixie can also guarantee Twilight didn't mean what she said about your friendship, it's understandable your reacting this way, you've never gone through this sort of problem before." Trixie smiled reassuringly before adding, "Though remember, you and I also had a bunch of arguments during our Saddle Arabian Tour, heck you even sold my wagon, for admittedly an understandable motive, and we're still friends. You and Twilight just need to talk, and you'll be able to get through this."
Starlight softly smiled in realization, all of what Trixie said was true, they have gotten through rough patches before, why should this fight with Twilight be any different?
"You're right Trixie. I think if I talk with Twilight, we'll be able to make up." Starlight smiled at her friend before wondering, "But why did you help me? I know you're not a fan of Twilight."
"I may have a distaste for that annoying pony, but I know her friendship with you makes you happy and... I didn't want your bond to be destroyed because of this." Trixie admitted with a sheepish smile.
"Aww." Starlight cooed before she and Trixie shared a hug, soon they let each other go and Starlight spoke in determination, "Come on! Let's go get the group back together!"
"Now that sounds like the Starlight I love." Trixie smirked proudly.
Soon Starlight and Trixie began heading back to the right, they'd have to rally up the others first and then talk to Twilight, she figured Twilight would be more willing to forgive herself if the rest of her friends were there.
Soon they reached where Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash were, and it was clear they were all still brooding in sadness over what happened with Twilight.
"Girls." Starlight spoke up to gain their attention, "I know we're all upset about what Twilight said and did, but we can't dwell on this for long, Twilight is our friend, even when she screws up, we can still be there for her."
"She's right." Applejack nodded firmly, "I think we've given her enough time. We should go talk to Twilight."
"SHE'S! BEEN! TAKEN!" Spike screamed in horror as he ran over to the scene.
"What?!" Rainbow Dash asked incredulously as she flew up to Spike.
"Twilight's been taken! Tempest! She grabbed her! And took her on her ship!" Spike explained as he pointed to the sky.
"We gotta get her back!" Rainbow Dash said with a determined frown.
"How?" Fluttershy asked sadly, "We'll never catch up."
"Ah yes. It's not like Starlight can teleport long distance or anything." Trixie rolled her eyes.
"I can only go so far. I'm not Discord, It'd have to take multiple trips." Starlight argued sadly.
"Besides, we have no way to defeat those monsters." Applejack added.
Suddenly a familiar sly voice was heard, "Well, good thing I happen to know of a group of mighty heroes that could handle this easily!"
"Capper?!" Starlight said in shock as she looked to see that Capper was indeed, on top of the tallest rock.
"Look what the cat dragged in. Himself." Rarity rolled her eyes.
"These heroes have faced the Storm King's army and escaped! I've seen them tackle the streets of the roughest towns, break out of the tightest situations, and inspire others to join their cause!" Capper said happily much to everyone but Starlight and Applejack's awe, as they already knew who Capper was truly talking about.
"Now don't get too excited." Applejack told everyone with a roll of her eyes.
"Yeah, he's just referring to us." Starlight said, a bit bored as well.
"Aw." Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Spike, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity groaned.
"Meh, I'm just glad to be seen as a hero." Trixie admitted with a shrug.
"They even escaped certain doom at the hooves of Commander Tempest!" Capper slid down the rock and gestured to Starlight and the rest of her friends.
"Yeah. That was pretty great." Rainbow Dash admitted fondly.
"Are you kidding?" A familiar female voice asked from an even higher stone before Starlight looked up and saw that it was Captain Celeano and her crew, who all soon jumped down to join the group.
"That was awesome!" Celeano said triumphantly.
"Figured you could lose a claw." Boyle smirked as he used his golden makeshift claw to emphasize.
"We're on board to help you fight the Storm King!" Celeano said with a determined smile before stammering, "Just not on board our... actual ship."
"That crazy unicorn destroyed it. But you got back our argh! And we're ready to kick some booty." Mullet said happily as the pirates bared their weapons.
Suddenly a yellow orb began forming much to Starlight and the group's shock but soon that shock turned to a smile, she knew exactly what, no who it was.
Soon Skystar transformed into her hippogriff form much to Capper and the pirates' shock.
"Is that who I think it is?" Capper asked, clearly bewildered.
Skystar soon flew down to the ground and smiled, "Helloooooo, me again. I'm gonna get so grounded, but I talked things over with Shelly and Sheldon and they pointed out that you were just trying to help your friends."
Starlight and Pinkie Pie both smiled at each other proudly before Skystar continued speaking, "So I wanna help too," she then flew over to Pinkie and Starlight and said, "Because you know, one small thing..." before whispering to the two mares, "can make a really big difference."
"That's it right? We didn't make friends with anypony else?" Spike asked with a stone faced look which earned him a glare from Starlight, making him chuckle sheepishly.
"All right, y'all! I think our course is clear." Capper smirked in satisfaction, "Y'all ready to do this thang?" Capper asked happily.
"We're coming Twilight!" Pinkie Pie shouted to the heavens which caused Starlight to cheer along with everyone else.
"As soon as we bake up a plan!" Pinkie Pie added.
Starlight realized that Pinkie had a point, they did need a plan.
"So how are we gonna get back to Canterlot anyway?" Starlight asked the group.
Celeano put a claw to her chin in thought before saying, "Well, we could always try rebuilding the ship. Tempest didn't cause any unrepairable damage. Plus it landed in the shallow waters.
"Plus we heard that unicorns can fix things pretty decently with magic but it depends on the power they have." Boyle added.
All eyes turned to Starlight who smirked as she held a hoof bump for Trixie, "Well I did hold my own against an alicorn once." She then shared a hoof bump with Trixie.
After a quick use of her magic, Starlight was able to fix the airship, Celeano was currently piloting the ship but Starlight wanted to call Trixie, Spike, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy to a team meeting for something important.
"You wanted to see us Starlight?" Spike asked curiously.
Starlight sighed before admitting, "This isn't easy for me to say... but Twilight was right about something. We WERE screwing things up."
"What?! But we almost got Queen Novo to give us the pearl!" Rainbow Dash said incredulously.
"Yeah but sometimes we did make the trip harder for us than needed. Pinkie, you kept goofing off, Fluttershy, you just cowered behind us most of the time, albeit I see why. Rarity kept complaining, Rainbow Dash gave away our position with the Rainboom, and heck I almost got myself killed! Almost all of us did something to make our journey harder." Starlight explained bluntly.
"Okay okay, we screwed up, but what's the point of this?" Rainbow Dash asked in annoyance.
"I think what Starlight's trying to say is that this is our last chance to save Equestria." Spike stood next to Starlight with a stern frown, "We have to take this seriously, this is not just for Equestria anymore but for Twilight and our friends too."
Starlight smiled proudly at Spike before talking again, "Exactly, we need to save our friends! Big Mac, The Cutie Mark Crusaders, Maud, Granny Smith, basically any and everypony! We can't let the Storm King or Tempest win! Who's with me?!"
"I was already with you." Trixie smirked haughtily
"I'm with ya Starlight!" Applejack nodded firmly.
"I agree. We've fooled around for far too long." Rarity smirked confidently.
"I... think I can manage." Fluttershy smiled meekly.
"You're right! We gotta take this seriously!" Rainbow Dash pounded her hooves together with a smirk.
"I'm loving this teamwork vibe! Yay us!" Pinkie Pie stood on the table as she spread confetti out from her mane.
Starlight smiled fondly, she now had faith things can turn itself around.
'Don't worry Twilight. I won't leave you again.' Starlight looked up to the sky with a smile.
Twilight found herself being wheeled in her cage by two ponies who were forced into it, led by Tempest, she shared a quick glance with Songbird Serenade before keeping her head down.
After a while, she found herself inside the throne room of Canterlot where some circle had been formed, she looked at the stone statue of Celestia in horror as she was soon placed in the top right corner of the circle. Soon the ponies left with dejected frowns, and Grubber closed the doors to the throne room entrance and laughed giddily yet maniacally.
"Tempest, don't do this. Don't give the Storm King..." Twilight began speaking before Tempest cut her off, "Your magic? It's unfortunate for you I'm sure, but be glad you're not stone."
Tempest soon turned around and smirked, "I'd love for everybody out there to know what I can really do."
"Ooh fascinating." Twilight turned behind her to see the large white ape creature himself behind them at the Sun door entrance, which seemed to surprise Tempest as she turned around too.
"What can you really do?" Storm King asked with a smile.
"Your bidding of course, your mighty one." Grubber immediately praised the Storm King, clearly trying to defend Tempest, before he scurried off to exit the throne room.
"Bidding's good. I like bidding." The Storm King smiled jubilantly before turning to Twilight in confusion, "Um, what are you supposed to be?"
"I'm the Princess Of Friendship." Twilight spoke neutrally to mask her fear.
"Oh, that's nice!" The Storm King laughed before turning to Tempest angrily, "Why is this one still moving?"
"She and her friends put up a bit of a fight, but she's alone now. She won't be a problem." Tempest smirked at Twilight who frowned.
The Storm King soon walked past Tempest uncaringly and spoke up as he walked to the thrones, "Yeah. So, speaking of problems, this place, it seems a little too, oh, I don't know... CUTE!!!" He said furiously.
"I don't like cute! I never did like cute! Doesn't really go with my whole 'big bad powerful magic guy' thing, does it?!" Storm King asked angrily, which did not seem to give Tempest a reason to care.
"Deliver the punchline, Tempest, because this has gotta be a joke!" The Storm King yelled before planting the staff in the tiny hole in the circle, and soon the circle lit up and soon magic was soon being drained against Twilight's will and from the three princesses.
"No!" Twilight screamed in horror.
"Check out the light show!" The Storm King laughed maniacally as magic continued to flow into the staff.
After a while, The Storm King finally took out the staff from the circle and smiled as the Staff Of Sacanas crackled a bit, "Wow!"
Twilight soon felt herself grow weak as she kneeled down.
"Let's get this storm started." Storm King smiled before noting, "Ooh that's good I should trademark that."
Soon he let lightning form in the staff and soon Twilight found herself being blasted with the magic and being sent out of her cage and onto the balcony, where she laid down, feeling weak.
"Not bad. Actually, kinda first rate. What else does it do?" The Storm King asked as he fiddled with the staff.
"Your Excellency, you promised to restore my horn and give me..." Tempest began speaking before The Storm King interrupted, "Deh-deh-deh-deh-deh, okay. Hang on."
The Storm King began to aim to zap Twilight which caused her to cover her face before she felt nothing.
She looked up to see The Storm King moving his staff and moving the sun with it.
"You gotta be kidding me?! I can move the sun?!" The Storm King said happily, before laughing and walking above Twilight to get a better view of the balcony, which caused her to look at Tempest as if to ask her if this was worth it. Tempest shifted her eyes but walked to the Storm King anyway.
"Time to play! Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday! Day, night! Day, night! Day night! Day night! Day night! Sunrise, sunset!" The Storm King kept playing with the sun and moon and dancing gleefully while Twilight looked behind her sadly. |
Escaping The Invasion | Taking Back Canterlot | Starlight was currently pulling a cart with a giant blue cake on it with the rest of the Elements Of Harmony and Trixie while Spike was pretending to be the candle for the cake. The pirates and Skystar were all inside said cake, ready to attack when needed. Capper and Pinkie Pie both came up with the idea together, which was a weird but clever combination.
She looked at the sky and saw the sun and moon radically rising and setting, Starlight frowned nervously, she hoped there was still a chance to save Twilight.
They were currently being led by said anthropomorphic cat to the entrance to Canterlot where two Storm Guards were guarding it.
"I still don't get why you can't use your magic to teleport us in the castle." Trixie whispered to her friend.
"Unlike Discord, I don't have as much magical power as he does. If I teleported ALL of us from a far distance I might burn out and end up being useless until my horn recharges. This is our best option." Starlight whispered back.
Soon they reached the entrance to Canterlot and two Storm Guards stood firmly at the entrance.
Capper immediately began his manipulation tactics, "Uh, yeah, I got a delivery here for a Mister 'The Storm King'. I was given explicit instructions to bring this here cake to this castle's throne room." He spoke as he put his finger on the fake menu.
The Storm Guards looked at each other before pointing their spears at Capper who smirked nonchalantly, "All right, then. Look here. Could one of y'all go be a pal, go tell your boss he's not getting' his 'Congratulations on subduing defenseless pastel ponies' cake? 'Cause I don't wanna be the one responsible for the big guy missing his special dessert. You know what I'm sayin'?"
Capper soon walked back to face Pinkie Pie who frowned sadly at Capper, thinking the plan didn't work but if Starlight knew Capper well enough, the Storm Guards were gonna let them through in three, two...
The Storm Guards allowed the group entry to the town much to Pinkie Pie's delight, thankfully Capper was standing in front of Pinkie so they didn't see it.
Starlight soon walked in the town borders along with the rest of the ponies and Capper as Capper told the guards, "Thank you kindly, fellas. I'mma be sure and put in a good word for the both of y'all."
Starlight immediately noticed Pinkie Pie's grin and whispered harshly, "Pinkie. Quit smiling. You're gonna get us caught."
"Oh, gotch." Pinkie whispered back before putting on the fullest frown she could muster.
Starlight walked through the town with a hidden smile, if they keep going with no problems, they could make it to Twilight.
"GUARDS!" Grubber yelled out from behind the cake much to the shock of Starlight before Squabble immediately covered Grubber's mouth and forced him inside the cake.
Unfortunately, the guards heard Grubber and began brandishing their spears.
"Uh Oh. Plan B?" Capper asked, a bit scared.
"The jig is up!" Rainbow Dash yelled fearfully before kicking the cart, allowing the pirates and Skystar to break out of the cake and begin fighting, they soon spread out and began attacking the Storm Guards.
Starlight then used her magic to get everyone out of the cart and soon joined the battle with the rest of the group.
Due to the shock of the battle among the guards, Starlight began blasting Storm Guards left and right, allowing them to fall, they weren't dead, Starlight made sure of that, but they would not be conscious for a while.
As she looked to see how the rest of the group was doing, she saw Applejack lasso a Storm Guard's limbs together, Rarity and Capper tie three Storm Guards up with a long ribbon, and Pinkie Pie overwhelming one guard with a multitude of cupcakes.
'Where in Celestia does she get those?' Starlight wondered to herself.
Soon Starlight continued to blast guards, she even saw Trixie throw some smoke bombs at them to stun them so Starlight could blast them easier, she sent a look of gratitude towards Trixie, while it was small, it was helpful.
Starlight then turned to see Grubber in front of her, who shielded himself with his arms, "Please don't blast me! I'm not a big fan of the Storm King! I just wanted to help Tempest get her horn back!"
Starlight, for once, cast a look of sympathy at a Storm King supporter, from what Grubber was saying, he was just trying to help his friend but she wasn't sure if she could trust him.
Starlight levitated Grubber to her face and sternly but softly said, "I'll let you go since I feel some sympathy for you, but if you do become a problem I won't be so nice next time."
Grubber quickly nodded with a smile so Starlight let him go and she and Trixie ran back to where Capper, Skystar, Spike, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie were.
She soon heard Celeano speak up towards them as she fought a Storm Guard with her sword, "Head for the castle! We'll hold them off!" She said referring to herself and the pirates.
"Come on!" Rainbow Dash told the group before they all ran towards the castle and Starlight soon saw Fluttershy talking with a Storm Guard who seemed to be in tears.
"Fluttershy!" Starlight called out along with the rest of her friends.
Fluttershy soon rejoined the group and they all headed up the stairs to the castle, Starlight soon saw a few Storm Guards running after them, she fired a blast, allowing four of them to fall to the ground.
"Keep going!" Skystar told Starlight before going off to supposedly fight of the remaining guards, Starlight silently prayed for her safety.
As they made it up to the top of the castle grounds, they were greeted by multiple Storm Guards who put up their shields and spears.
"Uh Oh." Applejack gulped, Starlight wasn't so sure what they could do next until Capper turned to Spike, "Hey, ain't you a fire-breathin' dragon?"
Soon Capper held onto Spike and aimed at the Storm Guards as he ferociously breathed fire on the guards who began running in fear as their tails were set on fire. Starlight smiled, not because of the Storm Guards being on fire, but due to how close they were getting to saving Twilight.
Meanwhile on the balcony, Twilight and Tempest looked at the scene in shock, Twilight being happy, while Tempest just plain shocked, "What?! How are they doing this?!"
Twilight gasped with a smile, "It's the Magic Of..."
"Yeah yeah." The Storm King smiled mockingly as he grabbed both Twilight and Tempest, "Friendship, and flowers, and ponies, and bleh."
He then let them go as he spoke sternly, "I'm so totally over the cute pony thing."
"This! Ends! Now!" The Storm King smirked maliciously as he pointed his staff towards the sky and shot lightning bolts at the clouds, which began to make a tornado much to Twilight's shock and horror.
Meanwhile Starlight noticed Capper stopped using Spike to shoot fire and let him go as all three of them now noticed the sky was darkening.
"Uh Oh." Capper gulped.
Rarity and Fluttershy screamed as the wind began blowing more and more.
Starlight couldn't believe this, they wouldn't be able to make it to the castle in time.
Starlight realized something, THEY couldn't make it in, but...
She then looked at her horn and turned to Capper, "I'm teleporting in! Tell the others to meet me there!" Starlight alerted the hopefully former con-artist before lighting her horn and teleported.
She then found herself inside of the castle, and looked around the room, not a guard was in sight. She kept her horn flared up, Twilight had to be around here somewhere.
Meanwhile Capper had led the ponies and Spike away from the tornado and hid behind a walled structure.
Trixie looked around the area and spoke up, "Where's Starlight?!"
"Relax! I saw her! She teleported inside the castle!" Capper reassured the blue unicorn, although he wasn't sure how reassuring that would really be.
"We gotta go help her! She can't do this alone!" Spike cried out fearfully.
"But how?! You'd have to be flying faster than a speeding Pegasus to break through that wind!" Rainbow Dash told everyone before Pinkie Pie gasped with a smile and soon took a helmet out of her mane and slowly put it on, "Excellent idea Rainbow Dash."
Twilight looked on fearfully as The Storm King spoke triumphantly, "Now I truly am the Storm King! And the entire world will bow to my ba-ba-ba-boom, baby!" The Storm King soon shot a stray lightning bolt in the air.
Soon Tempest walked over to the Storm King and said, "Yes yes, you are every bit as powerful as I promised, Sire. Now, restore my horn and I swear to use my magic to serve you." Tempest bowed before the martyr causing him to laugh maniacally as lightning shot besides him.
"Who cares about your dinky little unicorn horn?" The Storm King pushed Tempest behind him as he began to walk away from her.
"But... we had an agreement." Tempest said pleadingly.
"Get with the program!" The Storm King growled with a smile, "I used you! You think I'd seriously trust YOUR kind?!"
He soon tried to blast Tempest with his new staff but she dodged expertly, Tempest soon blasted him with as much power as she could, knocking him into a wall, letting him fall to the ground as she hung onto the balcony to keep herself from being swept by the tornado, Twilight looked at the staff and at the struggling Tempest and soon she knew what to do next.
Twilight soon ran to Tempest who was about to be swept away but Twilight soon grabbed her left hoof with both hooves and cried out, "Hold on!"
"Why are you saving me?!" Tempest asked in shock.
"Because..." Twilight began contemplating before smiling, "I feel you can be more than what you are."
Tempest smiled warmly at the gesture before Twilight pulled her back onto the balcony as they laid down panting.
Unfortunately the Storm King recovered quickly from the fall and laughed sarcastically, "Aw. Isn't that just so sweet?!" He then pointed his staff at both ponies with a maniacal smile, "Yeah, see ya."
Before Twilight could feel an incoming blast, a turquoise blast was fired at the Storm King from the left, but this time he dodged it.
Twilight looked in shock before seeing that Starlight held a determined gaze at the Storm King and flared up her horn, "Leave. The Alicorn. Alone."
The Storm King glared hatefully at the new arrival and growled, "Fine. I'll take you down first."
The Storm King immediately fired blasts at Starlight but she kept dodging the attacks, and firing lasers back at the Storm King but he used his staff to make a lightning shield.
Soon Starlight shot a powerful beam at the martyr who fired a beam right back, Starlight was trying desperately to win this, but it was clear The Storm King was starting to overpower her.
"Run." Starlight said weakly much to Twilight's shock.
But soon Tempest fired a lightning bolt at the Storm King's chest who fell back with both that and Starlight's beam hitting him and leaned against the side of the balcony but before Starlight could get the staff, he stood up and kicked her back to Twilight and Tempest.
He slowly began to stand up and snarled, "I! Am sick! Of this lovey dovey nonsense! I will NOT lose!"
Meanwhile Mullet, Capper, Trixie, and Squabble were next to a pump that would fire the Easy Bake Confetti Cannon.
"You sure about this?" Mullet asked, unsure.
"Just do it!" Pinkie's voice echoed from inside the cannon, "Thank you!" She added politely.
"I'm excited! Who's excited?! Aaah! I've never been so excited!" Pinkie Pie asked from the inside of the cannon where she, Spike, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity were all squished in.
"Alright. Here goes." Trixie gulped before pressing down on the pump, firing the five ponies and the dragon through the tornado and they headed for the balcony.
"Ahahahahahahaha!" The Storm King laughed maniacally at the three ponies as he began to charge up his staff much to Twilight's sadness, she looked down at Starlight and embraced her, "I'm sorry." She whispered sadly.
Before Starlight could respond, something hit the Storm King from a distance, causing him to fall back and into the castle rubble while the staff got stuck in the circular window and soon Twilight saw that her friends: Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Fluttershy were inside the throne room.
"Bullseye." Pinkie Pie said, a bit dazed.
Twilight and Starlight immediately went inside the throne room and Starlight immediately ran towards the group and spoke proudly, "I knew you girls could do it!"
"Pinkie! Spike! Starlight! Girls! You all came back!" Twilight smiled, happiness overwhelming her, "I'm so sorry! I was wrong to..."
She was cut off by a hug from Starlight herself, she softly hugged back with a smile.
"I'm sorry too." Starlight apologized with tears of joy before wiping them as she let go of Twilight, "I know you messed up but I should've been more..."
"Uh, make up later!" Rainbow Dash yelled, gaining their attention, "This isn't over!" She pointed to the staff that was currently stuck to the top of the castle and shooting lightning at the castle ceiling and causing the terrain to fall down.
"I gotta get control of it!" Twilight said fearfully.
"Go! You got this Twilight!" Pinkie Pie smiled encouragingly.
"No. We got this. Together." Twilight said triumphantly.
Soon Starlight found herself holding onto Twilight's left hoof while Rainbow Dash grabbed onto her back hooves, behind them were Pinkie Pie, Spike, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Applejack in that order as Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy used their wings and Starlight used her levitation spell to slowly rise the chain up to the staff with Applejack tied to a boulder to keep the group from being pulled into the storm.
Suddenly the Storm King began climbing the pile of terrain with a glare, "The staff belongs to me."
Twilight and Starlight tried soaring higher to the staff to get closer to it but they couldn't seem to reach it. They couldn't fail now, there's too much at stake.
"Gah! Mine!" The Storm King cried out as he leaped for the staff and suddenly Twilight pulled herself closer to the staff and grabbed it, which caused her the window to break and the Storm King to fall into the tornado, and Twilight to get sucked in as well, Starlight tried her hardest to hold onto her but she couldn't and Twilight was soon in the tornado.
"Twilight!" Starlight cried out in horror, "NO!"
Starlight looked on the tornado to see if there was any sign of Twilight but there wasn't, and soon the winds stopped causing the tornado to slowly subside and soon Starlight slowly levitated down with everyone else slowly falling with her. They all looked to the distance and saw no sign of Twilight.
She then saw Pinkie Pie go to lean on Applejack who hugged her back sadly as well.
Starlight couldn't hold back her tears and began silently crying, immediately earning a hug from Spike. Now that Twilight was gone, I guess she and Spike had to rely on each other more than ever from now on. She still looked teary eyed at the sky, one of her best friends was now gone for good, and unlike with Sunburst, she wasn't coming back.
Suddenly Starlight saw the sun shining as well as a distant figure slowly flying down. She let go of Spike to rub her eyes and saw that she wasn't hallucinating, Twilight was actually flying back down with the staff in her front hooves and smiling warmly as she descended onto the balcony.
"Yay!" Pinkie Pie cheered eagerly as Applejack shouted, "Yee-haw!" as they, and everyone else began running towards Twilight.
Starlight noticed that Twilight had a few loose strands in her mane but she could care less, Twilight was alive, she was still here!
"Group hug!" Pinkie Pie called out, Starlight didn't have to think twice before joining the hug. She finally felt warm inside, a warm feeling of safety in her heart was formed.
Starlight looked back to see Tempest just nearby and behind them, to Starlight's surprise, she smiled just a little. Starlight smiled back at Tempest, showing all was forgiven.
Tempest nodded in a show of respect before she began to leave the area, Starlight couldn't blame her, she wasn't sure if anyone besides her and Twilight would forgive the former commander, even after saving Starlight's life.
Soon Starlight went back to the hug when suddenly she heard hoofsteps and saw Tempest was running forward in determination. Starlight was a bit surprised, what was going on?
She then looked behind her to see the Storm King with a black and green orb and knew exactly what Tempest was aiming for.
"Get down!" Starlight told the group and soon she and the rest of her friends ducked.
"No!" Tempest cried out before being struck by the orb and then jumping towards the Storm King, causing both of them to turn to stone with the former already falling off the balcony and his stone form shattering on the ground by impact, but Starlight knew it wasn't too late to save Tempest as she grabbed the statue of Tempest with her magic and tried her hardest to levitate her up to the balcony but soon she saw some other magic aura take Tempest and levitate her to the balcony.
"Whoa! I can't believe she did that!" Rainbow Dash said in shock.
Twilight shared a look with Starlight and the alicorn spoke with a soft smile, "I can."
With another burst of magic from the staff, Tempest was no longer stone and back to her normal self much to her shock as she scrambled onto her hooves, she soon shared a look with Twilight and smiled warmly at her.
"Now what?" Fluttershy asked curiously.
Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and Spike shared the same sentiments as they weren't sure what to do next. And if Starlight were to be honest, neither did she?
"Now... we fix everything." Tempest said with a soft smile before she led the group inside the castle.
Twilight and Tempest soon stopped next to the little hole in the circle that was presumably used to take the alicorn magic a while ago.
"All you have to do is place the top of the staff in the circle and the magic and your castle will be restored." Tempest told Twilight before taking the staff and saying, "This was my mess so I'll fix it."
Tempest soon put the staff in the circle and soon magic began flowing through Twilight's veins again, Starlight was probably right to assume she now had her magic back but that wasn't all.
Starlight looked to see Cadence, Luna, and then Celestia were freed from their stone prisons and soon Celestia smiled warmly at Twilight.
"Twilight." Celestia said proudly.
"Princesses." Twilight smiled in relief before sharing a hug with all three alicorns with the rest of her friends joining in too.
Tempest looked at Starlight with a raised eyebrow and spoke up in confusion, "Aren't you going to join them?"
"Eh, I'll let them have this moment."Starlight shrugged with a nonchalant smile as she saw the castle walls were being restored, "Besides, something tells me that Twilight and I already need to talk eventually so I figured I'll let her have this."
"Am I right to assume you are the one who had the argument with Twilight?" Tempest asked.
"Yeah. That was me." Starlight sighed sadly before brightening up, remembering their brief apologies to each other, "But I have a feeling we'll get through it. That's what friends do. They forgive each other."
"Right, forgiveness..." Tempest sighed.
"Don't worry Tempest. I know from experience how difficult redemption can be." Starlight smiled reassuringly before Tempest hummed in confusion, "Long story, but anyway, as long as you work on improving yourself. You'll be forgiven in due time."
"I'm guessing you did something heinous in the past too?" Tempest asked carefully, though Starlight didn't mind.
"Oh where do we begin with this one?" Spike asked with a joking chuckle as he walked to the scene much to Starlight's embarrassment.
"It probably wasn't as bad as yours depending on how you look at it, but let's just say I was no better than you at one point and these ponies encouraged me to change, well mostly Twilight but they all were helpful." Starlight answered as she gestured to Twilight and the rest of the Elements Of Harmony who all smiled warmly.
The Princesses however did seem to glare a bit at Tempest, Starlight and Twilight weren't sure if that was a good sign but Celestia spoke up, "We'll discuss what to do with Tempest later, but rest assured it will not be to the levels of Tirek's punishment."
Starlight smiled at both Twilight and Tempest in relief, that was a good thing. |
Escaping The Invasion | Epilogue: Healing Wounds And Closer Bonds | Twilight smiled fondly at the night sky as Spike stood on the stage, breathed into the microphone and enthusiastically stated, "Ladies and Gentlecolts! Give it up for a little..."
The spotlight soon shined at the end of the stage where the white pegasus in flashy black clothing known as Songbird Serenade was.
Twilight cheered along with her friends, Trixie, Capper, the pirates, and Skystar.
"And now, to celebrate the fact that we're all still here in one piece, give it up for Princess Twilight and her friends!" Songbird Serenade said happily as a spotlight pointed at Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, and even Starlight and Trixie.
Twilight began hearing praises and cheer from everyone around the festival, but soon she saw all three princesses bow in respect in which she did the same.
Suddenly the spotlight turned off and Songbird Serenade started singing, "I know you, you're a special one
Some see crazy where I see love."
Twilight looked over at Starlight and smiled, and soon she smiled back, for some odd reason, those lyrics reminded Twilight of her.
"You fall so low but shoot so high
Big dreamers shoot for open sky." Songbird Serenade continued singing before her backup dancers popped out from behind the stage.
"So much life in those open eyes
So much depth, you look for the light."
Twilight looked to then see Celeano and Rainbow Dash share a fist bump, Rarity giving Capper a new top hat and black cape, and finally Pinkie Pie and Skystar sharing a laugh.
"But when your wounds open, you will cry
You'll cry out now and you'll question why."
Soon Queen Novo flew in with some of her Hippogriff subjects and soon Skystar ran up to her and gave her a hug, "Mom!"
"You are so grounded." Novo laughed much to Skystar's shock, and Twilight also saw Starlight and Trixie look on in annoyance and/or disgust. Twilight couldn't really blame them, Skystar was helpful to their cause. Suddenly the podium Songbird Serenade was on began to rise.
"I can see a rainbow
In your tears as they fall on down
I can see your soul grow
Through the pain as they hit the ground
I can see a rainbow
In your tears as the sun comes out
As the sun comes out." Songbird Serenade sang as she flew over Twilight and Twilight smiled before looking behind her to see Tempest at the very back of the crowd, so she decided to check up on her and flew over to Tempest who was looking longingly into the distance, she seemed to know Twilight was here so she began speaking softly, "Well, that's one thing that never changes around here. The party."
"Well, I hope you'll stay for it. More friends are definitely merrier." Twilight smiled softly.
"I know. But... in a few moments I'll be spending a couple weeks in jail and doing community service. I'm just lucky I had a change of heart when I did or I would have gotten a worse punishment." Tempest sighed longingly, "All this for getting my horn back."
"You know, your horn is pretty powerful, just like the pony it belongs to." Twilight smiled reassuringly, "And don't worry, those few weeks you'll be spending in prison are gonna fly by. Soon you'll be able to reinvent yourself."
Tempest smiled softly too as she began heading towards the edge of Canterlot, "I did tell you I wanted to show everypony in Equestria what I could do, right?"
Tempest soon shot out a lightning bolt and fireworks began shooting everywhere.
"I can see a rainbow
In your tears as they fall on down
I can see your soul grow
Through the pain as they hit the ground."
Twilight heard Songbird Serenade sing as she smiled warmly at Tempest.
"Nice touch Tempest." Pinkie Pie smiled from the crowd.
"Actually that's not my real name." Tempest admitted sheepishly.
Soon Pinkie Pie bounced over as Spike, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity also walked to Twilight and Tempest.
"Ooh. What is it?" Pinkie Pie smiled as she leaned next to Tempest.
"It's Fizzlepop Berrytwist." Tempest whispered with a smile.
Pinkie Pie soon gasped happily before yelling, "Okay! That is the most awesome name EVER!"
She got a small smile from Tempest before Pinkie spoke up, "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go make sure my good buddy Skystar doesn't get grounded. Bye now."
She soon sped off much to Tempest's amusement, "She definitely seems like a handful doesn't she?"
"Honestly all of us are oddballs in our own rights." Twilight heard Starlight say as she and Trixie walked over to the scene.
"Sorry to intrude, but we were getting bored of hearing Celestia and Queen Novo talking about political things and blah blah blah." Trixie said in an annoyed tone.
"Why were you even with them anyway?" Spike asked curiously.
Pinkie Pie suddenly ran back over and spoke up, "Yeah, I was gonna talk to her before you showed up."
"I needed to talk with Queen Novo about her punishing Skystar." Starlight admitted with a sheepish smile, "I felt it was unfair she was gonna get punished for helping her friends save their land."
"She's not mad at us is she?" Twilight asked in concern, the last time they saw Novo she banished them from their underwater kingdom due to Twilight's attempt to steal the pearl.
"No. I was able to clear things up with her. I guess the fact her daughter even came here at least proved the rest of us were genuine with our intentions." Starlight spoke reassuringly before gaining a nervous grin, "Although... she does want to speak with you. That's the real reason I showed up."
Twilight gulped, she was about to face the very ruler that she tried to steal a magic pearl from and likely was going to face her former mentor too. Twilight had no doubt she was screwed.
Starlight was apparently able to sense this emotion and asked, "Do you... need me to come with you? I have no problem supporting you on this."
Twilight smiled at this, after everything that's going on, she felt like she could really use a friend right now.
"That would be nice." Twilight admitted happily.
"Actually, there's no need to find us." A familiar voice spoke from above, soon Celestia and Novo both flew in front of Twilight with neutral looks, though Twilight couldn't contain her nervousness and immediately began babbling, "Queen Novo I am so sorry! I shouldn't have stolen the pearl! I should have had more faith that we could turn our situation around by more civil means, I shouldn't have tried to steal from you!"
Twilight soon sighed as she looked behind her to look at her five Ponyville friends and then Starlight, "I was so delusional in my twisted methods to save Equestria that I also ended up hurting the ones near and dear to me."
"I'm ready for whatever punishment you have in store." Twilight sighed sadly.
"Twilight, we are disappointed in the methods you took to save Equestria, we cannot deny that." Celestia admitted.
"But in a way, we could understand where you were coming from. From what Celestia told me, your land was being enslaved by that monster." Novo added with a sigh, "Honestly I just wish I was more willing to stand up to the Storm King like you were. Your friend Starlight also gave me a better understanding of what you were going through to protect Equestria."
Twilight looked in shock at Starlight who sent her a reassuring wink, which she smiled at.
"So even if we believe your methods were wrong. It would feel unfair to punish you." Celestia smiled warmly.
"Thank you." Twilight shared a hug with Celestia before Celestia then said, "Now if you'll excuse me, me and Novo need to discuss how to better improve our relations with both our kingdoms."
The two then flew off and Twilight soon embraced Starlight, "You didn't need to stand up for me, but I'm grateful you did."
"I had to stand up for you. You would've done the same for me, plus you didn't deserve to be punished." Starlight smiled back.
Starlight began to get ready for the train ride home as she began packing her saddlebags with some of Trixie's magic show equipment with the showmare herself at where Trixie's show was stationed. After a while, the festival began to die down and every creature was getting ready to go home, well except Capper, he would be joining Captain Celeano and her crew from now on to make a brand new start. Starlight smiled fondly at that, at least Capper would finally be free from that town full of dirtbags.
She then saw Tempest and Grubber walk over to where they were with two royal guards at their side.
"Tempest? Grubber? I thought you two would be serving your sentences by now. I will say I'm glad you two are at least getting off easy." Starlight admitted with shock, yet said happily.
"We wanted to talk to you first though. Celestia gave us the okay to do so." Grubber explained with a smile, "Thanks for not blasting me with your magic horn. You had every right to do that but you didn't."
Starlight smiled at this, she knew there was some good in Grubber after all.
"You're welcome. I didn't see a good reason to do so given you seemed relatively harmless and from what you said, you were just trying to help your friend get her horn back." Starlight told the hedgehog happily who shared a smile with Tempest.
"And I wanted to thank you for giving me the courage to eventually redeem myself." Tempest told her fellow unicorn before continuing, "I also wanted to give you some advice, don't give up on what you have with Twilight. From what I heard, you were both equally hurt from that argument you had with each other. It's clear you two mean a lot to each other."
Starlight blushed as she remembered all the good times she had after Twilight helped her see the light, "Yeah, she really means a lot to me."
Trixie just rolled her eyes with a smirk at this.
"Then let her know that. I'm sure you're already making progress with her given your hug, but I don't think you talked with her about the argument." Tempest advised her.
"You're right... I haven't." Starlight admitted with a sigh, "I plan to talk to her though, I can't shake off what we said to each other."
"I'm glad." Tempest smiled proudly before she and Grubber were led by the guards to the castle, "Now if you'll excuse us. We need to serve a few weeks in the Canterlot Dungeons."
Trixie was a bit shocked at that statement, "Only a few weeks. That seems like their getting off easy."
"Tempest sacrificed herself to save me and the others while Grubber hardly did any acts of aggression except being an ally to the Storm King. Twilight also vouched for them a bit." Starlight explained as she packed up the last of Trixie's equipment with her magic and put it in her saddlebags.
"I suppose that makes sense." Trixie admitted with a shrug as she picked up her saddlebags and they both started heading for the train back to Ponyville where Twilight and the others were waiting for them.
"That party was AWESOME!" Pinkie Pie cried out joyfully.
"I have to agree." Fluttershy smiled, "It was good to see Discord was able to come back from his vacation to show up."
"Honestly it would have been better had she showed up from the beginning. That Klutzy Draconequus can't do anything right." Trixie rolled her eyes angrily.
"Come on Trix. Things did work out in the end. Discord didn't know this was gonna happen, and if we're being honest, the Storm Guards do have magic shields and Tempest also had those Obsidian Orbs so I'm not sure how quickly he could have ended things." Starlight spoke in defense of Discord.
"Eh, fair point I guess." Rainbow Dash shrugged.
They soon boarded the train and she and Trixie decided to sit in front of Twilight and Spike. It didn't take Trixie much hesitation to do so, Trixie was at least familiar with Twilight and Spike more than the others.
The train ride was silent, and Starlight knew exactly why, Twilight and her were going to have to talk about the beach argument, and they couldn't really find a way to not talk about it in front of the rest of the townsfolk on the train.
Twilight immediately collapsed onto the floor when she, Starlight, and Spike finally made it back home. It was a long day and Twilight just needed to take a breather from all the world saving and partying they did.
"Wow. You seem exhausted." Starlight noted as she patted Twilight's mane softly which made Twilight sigh with a smile.
"Yeah. We went through a lot today." Twilight hummed in honesty.
"We sure did." Starlight sighed softly.
Twilight knew now was the time to talk to Starlight, she deserved to have a proper apology.
"Spike, I'm gonna talk to Starlight. You mind getting ready for bed?" Twilight asked softly to the dragon.
"Sure thing." Spike smiled in understanding before he began walking off.
Once Spike was out of hearing range, Twilight turned to Starlight and began apologizing profusely, "Starlight I am so sorry for what I said to you at the shore. You had every right to get mad at me and I... I said the most hurtful words I could possibly say to you. I don't expect you to forgive me yet, but I figured I should just..."
"Stop." Starlight interrupted Twilight before talking, "I shouldn't have been so hard on you either. I should've tried to understand why you stole the pearl like you did when I tried to get rid of cutie marks. We both acted out of line here, especially since I practically insulted your Princess title. Even if I don't find you in the same league as Celestia, Luna, and Cadence due to our bond, I still shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry too."
Twilight was shocked to hear Starlight
"But why did you get so mad at me anyway? You seemed much more upset than Pinkie and Trixie were." Twilight asked curiously.
"I... I felt like what I saw wasn't the real you out there, and I didn't like what you were starting to act like." Starlight admitted with a tearful frown, "Stealing the pearl like that is something I wouldn't even think of you doing, you weren't being yourself and... it reminded me of when I acted like that. I guess that triggered some sort of rage inside me. I know you could never be like how I used to, but the thought of you doing so felt so awful.
"I promise I'll never be like that." Twilight embraced Starlight comfortingly, "Even at my worst, I don't ever think I could become like Tirek or Chrysalis and I never plan to, not if it would hurt you or any of my other friends."
"I believe you, I just got a little worried about you is all." Starlight admitted.
"I understand. We all have our worries about our friends going down a bad path." Twilight said understandingly as she released Starlight.
"You know, I'm not sure if I'll be able to sleep tonight." Starlight admitted sheepishly.
"Why? Did I do something wrong?" Twilight asked in concern.
"No, it's not you, but I just can't shake the feeling that if I'm alone, something bad will happen. I'm still a bit shaken up by the adventure." Starlight admitted rubbing her hoof nervously.
Twilight began to think about how to help Starlight, this wasn't like when Spike had a fear of ghosts, this was something that actually affected her friend.
"Maybe... you could sleep with me tonight." Twilight suggested with a nervous smile before quickly adding, "Not in an inappropriate way of course, just so you don't feel alone."
Starlight looked a little shocked by the offer before smiling with an awkward blush, "Are you sure? I don't wanna make things weird."
"My bed can fit us both. It doesn't bother me. Besides, I had worries about you too. I think we both need each other right now." Twilight smiled at Starlight.
"Okay. If you're sure." Starlight smiled sheepishly.
Starlight looked at the castle ceiling as she laid on the bed in thought. Today had been hectic, she had to escape the Storm King army, go on a rescue mission to save Twilight and all of Canterlot, and they even still had the Friendship Festival afterwards.
All of this journey, Starlight never truly felt at ease, she hardly felt a feeling of warmth or safety.
Soon she felt her torso being grabbed by Twilight as she softly smiled in her sleep.
Starlight knew she was only doing it platonically as a way of comfort, but it still made Starlight smile fondly, it was proof that Twilight did care about her, and still valued their friendship and Starlight now knew she could always count on that.
She finally felt warm and safe. |
Dueling for a Chance | pre | "Two tuners?" echoed Suri as Rarity's monsters ascended into the sky. Again there was a pillar of green light but, as it faded, nothing happened. It looked like Rarity had screwed up or something. Yet, the odd thing was that Rarity didn't look worried. Suri opened her mouth in preparation to ask where her monster was when it happened. In the sky above them appeared a massive golden omega symbol. As it lowered onto the field, its white body began to phase in around the symbol taking an almost dragon like appearance. White, spiked circles appeared around the upper part of the omega before arms became attached to them. More and more body appeared until, finally, its four black tattered wings phased in. Vylon Omega let out a roar that shook the roof as it displayed its 3200 attack points.
"In addition to summoning Vylon Omega, I will give 1000 of my life points to equip my two Vylon Prisms to it," said Rarity as her two tuner's began to circle around Omega, her life points dropping to 3700. "Also, when Omega can equip one Vylon monster in the grave to itself once per turn. So I think I'll equip the last Prism." Another Prism appeared and joined the other two circling Omega. Then, all at once, they drew closer. Two attached themselves to Omega's sides fusing onto its body like power cells while the third attached itself to the monster's chest. "Next, I'll play this equip card you might remember: Mage Power. For every spell or trap card on my side of the field, Omega will gain 500 attack points." Omega let out a roar as it's power rose to 5700.
As Suri took an instinctive step back, Rarity pointed at Frightfur Tiger. "Now, Vylon Omega, attack with Divine Impact!" The golden omega symbol began to glow brightly to an almost blinding level. Rarity watched as Suri raised a hoof to shield her eyes before her jaw dropped.
"You're monster!" screamed Suri. "It's attack points rose to 8700! How is that possible?"
"It's Vylon Prism," explained Rarity coldly. "You see, each one of them raises the attack points of the monster they are equipped to by 1000 during the damage step." The light continued to shine brighter and brighter until Frightfur Tiger burned away in the divine light. As for Suri, her life points took a massive drop to 1500. And that wasn't the only drop. All of her monsters lost their 900 attack point boost. "That ends my turn."
Suri gritted her teeth as she drew her card. "You must think you won, right?" she growled. "So you got a big, bad monster on the field. Big deal! The deck I have is a champions deck and its power belongs to me! Your monster is yesterday's fashion compared to the creatures at my disposal and I'm about to prove it! I use my second copy of Frightfur Fusion to remove Fluffal Dog and Edge Imp Saw from my grave to summon another Frightfur Leo!" Like that, a new Frightfur Leo appeared on the field. "And now I use his special ability to-" Suri was cut off as the omega sign began to glow once more. "What are you doing?"
"Whenever you use a monster's effect, I can negate and destroy it by removing one equip card attached to Omega," exclaimed Rarity as she removed a Prism. Frightfur Leo let out a cry of pain, raising its paws in a vain effort to protect itself from the light before it burned him away as well.
"Fine, whatever," growled Suri as she changed her monsters to defense position. "Sooner or later I'll get around that dumb monster of yours. Until then, my cards will keep me safe. Fightfur Saber-Tooth can't be destroyed by battle or card efforts, remember? And when you destroy Frightfur Sheep, it'll just return to the field. So go and take your turn. It won't matter!"
"But it will," replied Rarity as she drew another card. "Because I now play my last equip card for this duel: Vylon Component! This card allows my monster to deal piercing damage when it attacks. I'm sure you know what that means."
Rarity could see Suri's eyes widening, implying that she did understand the meaning. Vylon Omega attacked once more, the attack going through Sheep and straight to Suri who screamed in defeat while her life points dropped to zero. As the holograms faded away, Rarity walked over to the other mare while using her magic to take a hold of the scroll she had fought so hard to get. Meanwhile, Suri was pounding at the ground with her hoof.
"You won," hissed Suri as Rarity approached. "Now get out of my store."
"It would be my pleasure," Rarity said coldly as she looked down at the mare. "But, before I do, I want to know where I can find Night Stitch." Suri looked at Rarity for a moment with a puzzled expression. Like she had never expected Rarity to ask her this. The puzzled expression didn't last however as she got up, a smug look overtaking her features.
"Well I could tell you," she said while eyeing the scroll. "But what's in it for me?" Without a word or ever looking at it, Rarity levitated the scroll over to the other mare. -x-
Not too long afterwards, Rarity found herself manueving through an old abandoned apartment complex. The walls were lined with graffiti, vile phrases assaulting her at every turn. Some of them were better than others as she did her best to avoid puddles of liquid that she was sure weren't water. But then there were very...graphic depictions of a mare and a stallion doing things that she was glad Sweetie wasn't here to see. The air was horrid towards the mare's senses, but she pressed on in an effort to find Night Stitch.
After climbing three floors, Rarity was beginning to think that Suri lied to her. Again. The only ponies she had found in here were some stallions who were protecting what little they owned with the fury of a dragon. None of them would talk to her, not even when she offered them several bits for information. If Suri had lied to her than she would not wait to see the Princesses in order to make sure Suri paid.
While passing by another room, Rarity could hear something. Pausing, she perked her ears in order to listen better. After several hearts beats, she recognized that voice. As well as what she was saying.
"Mommy, please wake up."
Fear and panic overtook Rarity as she ran down the hall towards where she heard the voice. As it got louder, she could better make out the panic in her words. She could almost hear the tears running down the filly's face as she cried out for her mother. Rarity no longer cared what she stepped in or what she ran through, her only prayer being that she hoped she wasn't too late.
Eventually she found who she was looking for in a room at the end of the hall. There was Night Stitch, an open medicine bottle next to her with the 'pills' she had worked so hard to get. Her tiny hooves where pressed again the body of a mare that had to be her mother as she laid on an old, dirty mattress. While the older mare's eyes were closed, her mouth was open and Rarity could tell the body had grown still. As Rarity entered the room, Night turned to look at Rarity almost causing the grown mare to gasp. Night's eyes were bloodshot while also appearing...broken. Rarity had no better word for it. It was as if all the life and energy that those eyes had once held was gone.
"Mommy won't wake up," said Night Stitch before she turned to look at her mother again. "I got her the medicine. Why won't she wake up?"
Rarity said nothing as she walked over to the filly and sat down. Slowly, she wrapped her hooves around the filly who still tried to wake her dead mother from the grave. |
Dueling for a Chance | Their Due | The funeral was held a few days later, paid for by Rarity. While both Night Stitch and her mother had lived in Manehatten for their entire lives the service was held in Ponyville followed by the burial. Rarity had felt this best since Manehatten probably contained too many painful memories for the poor dear, both good and bad. The less time she spent there, the better off she would be.
The service was lovely with ponies from all across town coming to pay their respects. Pinkie Pie showed a shocking level of understanding as she did not once send confetti flying across the room in an attempt to liven the atmosphere. She simply brought with her plates of food without any of the usual fanfare that accompanied her. Along with her were the Cakes, who wanted to help cheer the poor filly up. Twilight came, as did the rest of Rarity's friends. Like Pinkie, they were completely sober during the event. They were so used to coming together to celebrate some great victory or special occasion that none of them knew how to act in a situation like this. So they mingled around quietly, talking to whoever wanted to talk.
The CMC also attended, coming in a vain attempt to cheer Night Stitch up. The bat filly, sadly, was mostly not responsive during the entire ordeal. Ever since her mother's body was moved, Night Stitch just seemed to be in a complete daze as the world moved around her. It was like she was broken inside. Something that Rarity could understand. She had gone so far, doing things that she knew weren't right, all in an attempt to save the life of somepony she held dear only to fail. She had stolen, hurt somepony who was trying to stop her...and for what?
Rarity frowned as she thought about the mare who had done this. The mare who had given this filly false hope just to use her. Naturally she had told her friends about this leading to a variety of reactions. Unsurprisingly, Rainbow Dash wanted to give Suri a Sonic Rainboom at point blank range to the gut while Fluttershy (very surprisingly) offered to hold her in place. Twilight said that she would check with the other Princesses to see if there was anything they could do without any hard evidence. Pinkie Pie said Suri would make an awful cupcake before walking away, surprising everypony there with how random that was. Yet, despite not knowing what she was talking about, all of them suddenly had a case of the shivers. As for AJ, her contribution was to tell them all to leave Suri be.
"What she done ain't right," she had said. "Nopony here will deny that fact. But right now we got a bigger issue on our hooves than making that snake pay. Little Night Stitch is all by her lonesome right now and needs us."
As much as Rarity didn't want it to be so, she knew that Applejack was right. Suri wasn't the real issue here. As enjoyable as it would be to make sure she learned her lesson in a very...creative way, Night Stitch had to be their focus for the time being.
So now, with the service over and the body buried, Rarity stood besides the grave with two other ponies when all other ponies had left. Sweetie Belle had a hoof placed on the shoulder of Night Stitch who was now staring at the freshly dug grave with her lifeless eyes.
"Well," said Rarity after a while of standing there. "I suppose we'd better get going."
"Are you taking me to jail now?" asked Night Stitch, speaking for the first time since Rarity had found her in Manehatten. Her voice was hoarse and hollow, strained from all the crying she had done while lacking any emotion. Rarity saw Sweetie tense at those words before looking over at her older sister as if to see her reaction.
"No darling," responded Rarity gently as she moved a bit closer to the filly. "You're not going to jail." She noticed Night Stitch's wings twitch at this while her front hooves dug a little deeper into the ground.
"Are you going to yell at me before you take me to jail?" asked Night Stitch in the same tone.
"Of course not," answered Rarity.
"Why not?" asked Night Stitch with a bit more emotion in her voice. It was louder now while her head was sinking lower to the ground.
"Because you did nothing wrong," replied Rarity as she reached out her hoof. But at that moment, Night Stitch had spun around surprising everypony there with her sudden action. Tears looked like they were starting to form again as the dam she had set up inside herself threatened to burst at any moment.
"Yes I did!" shouted Night Stitch. "I lied and stole from you." She turned her head to look at Sweetie Belle. "I hurt you when you were trying to help me." Slowly the mare turned to look at the grave now. "M-Mommy told me never to steal. That no matter what the reason was it was never the right thing to do. She told me never to hurt others on purpose because only bad ponies did that." Night Stitch fell to the ground with a thud, her eyes closed tightly. "But I did all that anyways! Mommy would hate me now because I'm a bad pony!"
"No she wouldn't," said Sweetie Belle firmly. "She could never hate you."
Night Stitch shook her head. "But I hate myself! After everything I did it hurts to even look at myself in the mirror. If...If mommy had ever found out what I did, if she had looked at me the same way I did then..." Night Stitch's words trailed off as she choked back a sob.
"Night, Sweetie Belle is right," said Rarity gently causing the bat filly to look up. "I don't think that she would hate you."
"But-"
"She might have been disappointed if she found out," interrupted Rarity quickly. "Yes, you did things that weren't right. But I am sure she would have understood given the circumstances you were both in. She might have talked to you about what you did and how to make it right."
"Besides, you're not a bad pony," said Sweetie Belle. "A bad pony wouldn't be acting this way or even caring what others thought of her. They would have just shrugged it off and not let it bother them. We know you're sorry for what you did so I'm sure your mom would have known as well."
"But...I still let her die," sobbed Night Stitch. "I couldn't save her in time."
"Oh darling," said Rarity as she scooped the filly up with her hooves and brought her in close. "I don't think there was anything you could have done to avoid this. Your mother was very sick for so long. I don't think that things would have been any different even if you had gotten every princess on the planet to come see your mother. It was simply outside of your control." Rarity could feel Night Stitch opening and closing her mouth, feeling the filly wordlessly say the name Suri against her coat. "As for that...mare, the things she put into your head were simply awful. I don't know what she actually said to you and, frankly, I don't want to know since they were all vile lies. You need to understand this."
"It hurts so much," breathed the filly in Rarity's chest.
"Don't worry," said Sweetie. "The whole of the CMC will be here to help. So if you want to talk about it or anything, we'll be there for you." At that, Night Stitch turned to look at Sweetie. Both mares could see the confusion on her face.
"Even after everything I did?" she asked. Sweetie nodded. "Why?"
"Because that what friends do," replied Sweetie in a matter of fact tone. "They help each other out when they really need it." Night shook her head.
"That's not what my friends did," she replied. "When...When me and mommy lost everything we asked around for a place to stay, nopony would help. Not my friends. Not mommy's friends. When we saw them on the streets they pretended like they didn't know us."
"Well that just means they weren't really good friends," said Sweetie. "But don't worry; I'll introduce you to plenty of nice ponies who will want to be your friend when school begins."
"School?" echoed Night as she tilted her head.
"You didn't think I'd just throw you back to the streets, did you?" asked Rarity with a hint of a smile. "I've worked it all out with the mayor and Princess Twilight. Assuming there are no further complications, you'll be staying with me and sharing a room with Sweetie Belle when she comes over. As for your apprenticeship with me well that will simply have to wait until after school. Perhaps even a little bit later so you can go out and spend time with ponies your own age?" As Rarity spoke, she noticed something in the eyes of Night Stitch. They looked a tad brighter than before. They had more life and joy in them. Still, Night Stitch wept but her tears were of a different nature.
As she held onto the filly, waiting for her to calm down, Rarity thought back to Suri's unfortunate truths. Yes, there were plenty of homeless ponies out there and she could not help them all. But she could help and guide this one. But not because she was cute or had a sad back-story. No, on that, Suri was so very wrong. It was because this filly had walked into her life, becoming a part of it. She could do more to help her and she was here now. Perhaps later she could contact Coco to see if they could start doing things to help more of the homeless ponies of Manehatten. Perhaps using extra fabrics and such to make blankets or clothing for them. But that would have to wait just a little bit longer. -x-
Meanwhile, Suri walked out of her store with a smile on her face. Life was simply perfect right now. Despite costing nearly every bit she had, Suri had managed to make enough of the fabric in order to fill out all of her overdue orders. She had been working around the clock to get the ones to her more prominent clients done first since their influence would help word of her work spread. Right now several were ready to be picked up and letters to their owners had been sent. Within the next couple of days, some of the most important ponies in all of Manehatten would be showing up to her store before walking out while wearing her finest dresses.
While at the moment Suri had only a few bits left to her name, she knew in her heart that it would change soon. Once ponies saw her amazing dresses worn by the rich and famous, she could begin her climb to the top. As long as she had this amazing fabric she knew she could do it. There was no other like it and it was all hers! Sure she would need to figure out how to create more color variations (which could end up costing her both time and money from experimentation) but it would be worth it! Perhaps she could find some unicorn out there in the city and get her to work as an assistant. Somepony gullible enough to think working for her for free would help her get a hoof in the door.
But that could wait until after lunch. Today she felt like celebrating her great success.
After walking several feet, Suri stopped as her eyes twitched. "What's that noise?" she said while she and everypony in the area looked around. It was a strange whistling noise that seemed to be getting louder by the second. She turned her head to look upwards and her eyes grew several times in size at what she beheld. Shooting down from the sky was a large flaming rock, heading towards the city. Specifically her shop!
Suri turned around, ready to run into her store to save her work but it was too late. Before her very eyes as well as many of the onlookers, the large rock slammed into her store. Bricks and shards of glass went flying in all directions as smoke and flames rose into the air. Suri sat there, her mouth wide open in amazement while sirens filled the air. Yet, the odd thing was that none of the other shops in the area had been damaged. Just hers.
As Suri began to process this information the being known as Discord appeared above the rubble with a massive tennis racket on his shoulder. "Geez Karma," he shouted to the sky. "You hit that one way out of bounds. It's like you're trying to lose on purpose!" Ignoring everypony around him, Discord levitated the rock up into the air before swinging his racket at it to send it flying upwards. As the rock flew out of sight Discord vanished, not repairing any of the damages done to Suri's store.
"Celestia, I wish I still had insurance," said Suri in a feeble voice before she began to laugh hysterically. |
A Broken Warrior | pre | Lance turned to the other guards. "Why hasn't he been contained!?"
"They tried. They failed. Not their fault." 34 pushed himself off the ground. "More on you, since you haven't checked my report, but that is besides the point. What do you want?"
"Listen here, creature... you're in our cell! You'll listen to what we say, got it!? I'll be asking the questions!" Lance pointed a hoof at him.
34 exhaled through his nose. This Lance guy was annoying, but he didn't have much of a choice. "Then ask." He said with as little anger as he could.
"That's better." Lance smirked. "Now, before we transport you, I'm going to have to take that weapon on your arm off."
"This is my arm. You can't just take a part, and I am not giving it to you either." 34 explained.
Lance grew annoyed. "Did you not understand the 'listen to what we say' part? Are you stupid?"
"Are you?" He asked back. "I was the one who destroyed part of your city, which is the only reason I'm in this dungeon. Understand that?" 34 furrowed his brow and stood up. He put his metal arm on one of the bars and bent it slightly. "I am here by choice, not because you all are keeping me here. Threatening and insulting me is to your detriment." He continued to push on the bars, a few guards raising their spears at him. "This is getting us nowhere. Tell me what you want from me." 34 demanded angrily.
Lance was about to say something before the guard he was talking to earlier began to speak. "Sir, we should be able to answer any questions you have. We've had time to ask him questions of our own." The mare said with a salute. "He's made it clear he can break out. From the broken chains and the damage outside, I think we can both agree it's best to not provoke him." She said in the nicest way she could.
Lance grit his teeth and reluctantly agreed. "Fine..."
While they gave the sergeant the information he needed, the remaining guards decided to stand in front of his cell. Glaring at him. 34 didn't like this. Their judging stares. He could tell just by the look in their eyes what they thought of him. They were the same gazes as the guards... the doctors... the numbers. 'Creature.' 'Demon.' 'Monster.' He grit his teeth as his eyes flashed white. A few of the guards took a cautious step back at this before 34 contained himself.
He sighed. He loosened his fist and sat back down, waiting for them to be done with their talk. It went on for about half an hour. From the little he heard, they were going over nearly everything they've talked about. Name, origin, background, age, and how he got to Canterlot. Interestingly, the only part that was left out was his siblings. He'd have to thank them for that later.
Once finished, Sergeant Lance turned back to him. "Well... 34, I got the info needed. Now, what I'm actually here for. You've been called by the Princess for an audience."
"I don't know who that is." He looked up at him.
"You'll figure it out. Now, I don't want any sudden movements from you, got it?" He demanded. Lance didn't even wait for a response before turning to the guards at his command. "Alright, listen up. Once it's out of the cell, I want two wedge formations! Unicorns, get the locks on him before he leaves the cell! We'll be transporting him to princess Celestia! We can't afford to mess this up!"
34 blinked. He wasn't told anything about locks. He reasoned that it made sense, given his less than perfect track record so far. He groaned as he stood up and put his arms out to his sides. He knew the drill. Four of the unicorns unlocked the cell door and quickly floated a new pair of cuffs to him. They snapped around his legs first, not making him able to move faster than a shuffle. Then, another pair around his wrist. What made these different from the last pair was that these covered his hands, forcing him to ball them into fists. Finally, another muzzle was put over his mouth. Each unicorn used their magic to pull a chain on each limb, forcing him out the cell door.
It was humiliating. Dehumanizing, being treated like some animal. Some of the ponies gave him looks that said 'sorry', but it was overshadowed by the looks of disgust coming his way. He tried his best not to growl in annoyance.
"Alright! Form up!" Lance ordered as 34 was pulled out of the cell. "Start walking." He gave him a push. 34 did so, albeit reluctantly. He tried to take his focus off the dozen clopping hooves around him, and instead focused on the pathway he took. Up a set of stairs. Past a hall on his right. Past another on his left. Up another flight of stairs. Down another hallway. Finally, a large set of double doors on his left, nearly reaching the ceiling. Lance used his magic to push open the doors, and the guards transported him in.
34 looked around the room. The first thing he noticed was the rather lush throne room. Red carpet, stained glass windows, white marble floor, and a large, golden throne with the sigil of the sun. On that throne was that alicorn he saw a few days ago. She stood up and spread her wings. As she took steps down from her throne to approach the human, the guards spread out in a defensive formation, making sure they had him completely surrounded.
The alicorn stopped in front of him, looking down at him. Now that 34 got a better look at her, she was just about twice his size. She took a deep breath. "I am Princess Celestia. Ruler of Equestria. I... wish we could've introduced ourselves under better circumstances."
34 looked up at her. "I am called 34. Don't really have a name, so that will have to do. I wish the same too. I am sorry about the damage I've done. Hope nobody was hurt."
Celestia blinked in surprise at the apologetic nature of it. She smiled a bit. "Thankfully, no pony was hurt. While the damage is done, it can be repaired... I did hear from Iron Armory that you protected a filly before he found you. I must thank you for that."
"It was my fault in the first place. Didn't know where I'd end up before the portal collapsed in on itself." He explained. "I'm sorry."
"Tell me more about this 'portal' you mentioned. How did you get here exactly?"
34 sighed. "It's a very long story. Summarizing it, I escaped my containment, ended my captors, then found an escape route. Coincidentally, their power source for mana was from a portal that led to here. The portal collapsed in on itself, taking me onto this side... I figured out where the portal ended up after I came though, then I crashed. You know what happened after that."
She nodded. "Yes. Though I do have a few questions. First, what is mana?"
"It's..." He looked for the words to explain it. "After 'The Awakening', mana was discovered within every person. It's hard to explain. It's like... a form of energy that each of us have. We can focus on it and use it, like the unicorns here do, though not exactly."
She grew a bit worried, yet kept her same posture. "...Can you use magic?"
"Yes." He answered. "Though I don't want to hurt any of you. No reason to."
She shook her head, as if to shake off the worry. "Moving on... what is 'The Awakening'?"
"'The Awakening' was an event that caused a massive change in human society. One day, every being awoke with mana, though with different amounts. It caused a complete revolution on everything we've ever known. Animals evolved differently, weather changed, and humans did what we do, and found a way to use it to our benefit."
"...and what is that benefit?" Celestia asked hesitantly.
34 sighed, knowing she wasn't going to like it. "Greed. Conquering the stars, other alien races, then eventually, each other. Humanity decided that they would be the ones to rule the cosmos. I'm a product of that greed. They trained me to eventually use my power for whatever they deemed fit."
"And what do you plan on using that power for?" She asked the boy. She wanted an answer. Needed one that would make sure he wouldn't be a threat.
34 stood in silence before he spoke. "Can I ask a few questions first?"
Celestia was taken aback by the ask, but if it helped mold his answer, she'd be more than willing to answer. "You may."
"First, I want to know if you treat all prisoners like me, or if it's just me." He frowned. The guards looked between each other, then a few to the princess.
"I... am sorry that your treatment here has been less than the standard. You must understand, you did just destroy part of the capital. You were, and still are, considered a terrorist."
"Oh... ok. Didn't realize." He shrugged. "Fair enough. Second, I wish to know how long I will stay contained."
"...I cannot give you a better answer besides until I deem you safe to the public. You may not want to hurt anypony, but my ponies still aren't ready for something like you to be amongst them, nor am I able to fully trust your word."
"I don't believe you. With all the different races in this world, none can accept me? You just want a reason to keep me under your watch." 34 frowned at her. Celestia's smile fell at that. "Last question. Are you my enemy?"
She shook her head. "No, of course not."
"Really? Because so far, you haven't shown me anything to make me think you aren't." He stood up straight, pulling on his chains a bit. "Release me, and I will believe you. I'd rather not be your enemy either, but right now, our wants aren't with each other."
Celestia lowered her head to be at eye level. "And what is it that you want?"
"Freedom." He stated simply.
Celestia sighed as she craned her neck back. "I can't do that. Guards, take him back to the dungeon. A stronger one if you can." She turned to go sit back on her throne.
34 could feel the tugging on his chains, and Lance's hoof on his back. He grit his teeth. "So... you are my enemy..." He growled at the alicorn. "I refuse... to be treated like an item anymore! I will have my freedom!" He shouted.
He focused mana into his fist. His restraints on his arms quickly turned red hot before coming off with a large bang. The guards took a step back and covered their eyes from the blast. Celestia turned around just as he did the same with the restraints on his legs. 34 and Celestia made eye contact for just a moment before he began to make his escape.
He shot a blast of fire at the door, forcing it open, and running out, hearing the yelling of the guards and the princess behind him. He could tell from the window of his cell that he was on the side of some mountain, meaning the only good exit was the entrance, which was bound to be heavily fortified. Too big a risk to take. Remembering his path to the throne room, 34 retraced his steps to just outside the dungeon he was kept in. As he made it down the stairs, he stomped his foot on the floor, making a stone wall behind him. It'll buy him a few seconds at least.
He tore open the bars to his cell with his metal arm and jumped inside. Lowering his body to the ground, he surrounded his left hand in stone before punching a hole through the wall. Some of the rubble fell down the mountain side below. He was beginning to have second thoughts, looking at the absurd height, but those thoughts were stopped when he heard a blast of magic breaking his barricade. He glanced to his side to see Celestia and the guards behind her. "34, stop this instant!"
He looked at her directly. "No." He said before jumping down the mountain. 34 flipped himself in the air to see Celestia and a few of the pegasus guards chasing after him. He turned his right arm into a rifle and fired a few shots off, making the guards spread out in an attempt to avoid them. A few were hit, making them slow down to regain their balance. The alicorn was fine, having some sort of magic shield protecting her. He returned a shot of her own back at him, an electric one from the looks. He assumed it was to stun him. 34 didn't have time to dodge. He put his arms up to shield himself from the blast, but it wasn't effective. Upon thinking about it, he realized that the force of the blast did knock him back a bit, but the stun had no effect at all.
34 realized he was still falling. Any longer and he'd reach terminal velocity, and it'd be much harder to slow down from that. He put his arms out in front of him, making a torrent of wind, forcing him back towards the mountain side. He dug his metal arm in, making him slow to a stop after a few moments. He didn't have time to rest though, having to jump to the side to dodge another of Celestia's magic attacks. 34 switched his hands, trying his best to land a few hits on her, but the barrier kept getting in his way.
This wasn't the monarch's first battle, but it has been a while for her. Part of her was embarrassed that she was fighting a child, but that was overshadowed by her currently focusing on said battle. The human, 34, was persistent. He had to have learned by now that his attacks were doing nothing. More importantly, that attack she sent earlier had no effect either. She dove in closer in an attempt to grapple him.
34 saw her coming. He jumped to the side before she could wrap her hooves around him. Celestia, not wanting to run into the wall, teleported back to where she once was. She looked back to where 34 was, to see stone platforms jutting out the mountain side and the human using them as foot holds. He was heading back towards the city. One of the pegasus guards following her was able to recover and get back to her. He was about to begin chasing after 34 before the princess called out to him.
"Guard! Send word to Sergeant Lance to mobilize every available guard! We don't want to lose him in the city!" She demanded as she began flying to keep pace with 34. The guard saluted and flew back up towards the castle. 34, of course, heard this. Things are getting harder by the minute. He was halfway to the city edge before a volley of magic was sent his way. These ones were meant to hurt. He could tell from the dents the magic left in the rock. "So... we're trying to make things HURT!" He shouted back to her in anger. His eyes flickered white as he used his hand to focus a ball of water into his palm. He continued to focus, increasing the pressure in it before releasing it in Celestia's direction.
Celestia had to admit, she was surprised by the amount of magic he had... well, in this case mana. She'd even be impressed if said magic wasn't focused in her direction. She was narrowly able to dodge the beam of water, breaking one of her defensive barriers and bouncing to the side, dispersing in the sky below them.
'Of course she had more barriers. It only made sense.' 34 thought to himself as he fired off a few more for good measure. It was at least able to make her back away a little. He finally was able to make it to the city edge. Perfect timing too, as a few dozen guards descended from above Celestia and locked onto him. He jumped up the large wall using a burst of wind focused at his feet and began running through the city. Unicorns and Earth Pony guards were already looking around for him, a few seeing him and alerting the others, but weren't able to keep up with him.
Rooftops would be easier to navigate, but would make it easy to follow him. Streets were obviously a no go. He'd have to stick to the alley ways. Wouldn't be anywhere near easy though, since he had no time to cover his trail. They would eventually figure out where he was, so he needed a way out of Canterlot.
34 looked behind him to see Celestia still right on his tail. It'd be hard to lose her. Fast flier for her size, he had to admit. 34 focused magic once again into his hands, this time, the element of fire. He planted his feet into the ground before turning around and slamming his hands into the ground. A large explosion of smoke spread from where he was to the nearby streets. He had cover. 34 ran into a nearby alleyway to escape them.
"Spread out! We cannot let him get away!" He heard Celestia's voice boom. The 'Yes Ma'am!'s of various guards were heard as hoof steps went in every direction. He'd need to start moving. 34 began moving as quietly as he could, ducking behind cover when needed. His adrenaline was starting to wear off, and began feeling some of the pain and fatigue from the skirmish. He huffed as he looked around. He was able to wander in front of a main street. Meaning the exit had to be down one of the ends of the street. He looked to his right, seeing the street lead to around about. If luck was on his side, and if this world made at least some sense, the exit would be to his left. He lurked back into the alleyways and began making his way towards his destination.
His muscles were sore, and his heart was racing. Despite this, he kept walking, trying not to breathe too hard to alert anyone. But, he was getting sloppy. It was getting hard for him to focus on so many things. One mistake could mean his hope of freedom would be gone. He grit his teeth.
Lady Luck smiled upon him, as he was able to make it towards what appeared to be an exit. The gate was grand, with decorated metal bars blocking the entrance to the city. Three guards were blocking the gate, making sure nobody, more specifically, 34, wouldn't make it out. He leaned against a wall and slid down, taking a small break behind a dumpster to think of his next move. But he made a mistake. An empty can clanged down the alley as his foot made contact. His heart dropped.
The ponies ears perked up. They looked at each other. "Hey, you two, go check." A guard said. 34 heard the pairs of hoof steps draw closer as he sat in silence, hoping they'd walk by. They didn't.
Two guards turned down the alley. He dreaded every hoof step as they drew closer. He looked up when two pairs of hooves stopped in front of him. He was surprised. "Hey... Iron Armory, right?" He huffed at him before turning to the mare. "Sorry... we talked back when I was in the cell... but I don't think you told me your name..." 34 said between huffs.
The two sighed. "...I guess I didn't. I'm River Rose." She gave a small smile. "...You'll have to come with us."
34 coughed. "...I figured... Glad it was you two though... you two are nice to me at least... Not many I can say that about."
River Rose looked at Iron Armory, who just kept looking down at him. "We've spent a good hour looking for you, kid..." He said as he took a step forward. He was about to tell River to send a signal before he had a thought. "Hey, 34... let me ask you something."
He took a few puffs of air before talking. "Go ahead."
"What did you plan on doing once you escaped?"
34 thought for a moment before giving a bit of a chuckle. "Didn't... really think about it to be honest... I've been imprisoned for so long... I finally had the choice to think for myself..." He said through a few tears. "...I don't want to hurt anyone... but I have to if I want to live. I just want to... be free... be able to make choices myself... Choose my own destiny... not have my fate be controlled by others anymore." He wiped some tears from his eyes. "I want... I want to live..."
River and Iron looked at each other. They couldn't relate to the human, but they could tell that his words were genuine. They both sighed before River spoke. "...I feel like we're thinking the same thing..."
Iron smirked. "Maybe... I won't tell if you don't."
River smirked back. "If we're fired, I'm blaming you."
34 was able to catch his breath, slowing his breathing. "...What're you..."
"We'll lead them away. When we do, dash for the gate and jump it." Iron explained as he turned around.
"Our signal will be when you hear a loud bang." River patted his head. "Just promise us that you won't cause any more trouble."
"...Why go so far for me?" 34 asked.
River smiled at him and lifted his head up. "Call it intuition. You have power. Use it to save others. It's what we've devoted ourselves to do as guards." She dropped her hoof.
34 sniffed. "...I... I promise." He said as he stood up. "One day... I'll make sure to see you two again."
They turned their backs to him and went back to their posts. The guards walked alongside each other. River whispered to her colleague. "So, what's the story?"
"Follow my lead." Iron whispered back before stopping in front of his commanding officer. "Sergeant Lance." the two saluted.
"So, what took you two so long!?" He shouted at them.
Iron Armory held his salute. "Sir! A stray cat was just doing as they do! However, we've found evidence that he was here earlier! There were scrapes on the bricks, as if to mark that he's been here before! River and I were speculating, and we do not believe he would wait here until nightfall! Instead, we believe he's looking for another exit!"
"Buck!" Lance shouted in frustration. "River Rose, send an all clear! I'll report to the other squadrons! The both of you, keep watch of this gate!" He finished as he ran towards the castle.
They let his hoofsteps get out of earshot before River fired off a burst of magic, exploding a green light in the air. That was his signal. 34 rushed out of cover, making sure to look around for any other guards. Thankfully, there were none. He quickly ran past the two and used his wind magic to jump the gate. He turned around to look at them one more time. "I won't forget this, or our promise." He said before running into the woods lining the pathway to Canterlot.
The days following the humans' escape was hectic to say the least. All travel in and out of the capital was blocked. While the officials knew why, the public didn't, and of course, it caused some unrest among the citizens. Of course, that didn't blend in well with the presumed attack that happened. The guards played it off as a problem with the initial construction.
There were also attempts to hide info on 34, but of course, he didn't go completely unseen by the residents of Canterlot. Sure, they told all citizens to get inside their homes before 34 went through the city, but there were still windows. Rumors spread among the city folk quickly. A minotaur-like creature with eyes flickering white ran throughout the town. It had no fur, a short snout, and a mane that stayed short on its head. But the most unnerving thing was that its eyes flickered white when it saw its prey. Ponies even began to link it to the "attack" on Canterlot, but the guard quickly snuffed that. One filly was heard talking about the creature, saying that he was good, and she met him even. Of course, the words of a child are rarely taken seriously.
And after having all the trouble in the capital happen during her stay, a certain filly wasn't willing to stay any longer. Lucky for her, the lockdown ended today. The off-white filly brushed her deep opal mane to the side of her horn. She looked in the mirror, her own cerulean eyes staring back at her. "You can do this!" She gave herself a little pep talk before leaving her room. After a few minutes of walking, she was waiting in line to exit through the Canterlot gate. This was new, but she expected as much with the rumors. Another few minutes went by when it was finally her turn.
"So..." The guard looked down at her. "What's a kid like you doing out here? Where's your parents?"
"Oh, Mom and Dad passed away a few years ago. I'm on my way to visit their graves. It's just on the outskirts." She sighed. It was a lie, but the guard didn't need to know that. She just needed to play to their sympathy.
"Ah... I'm sorry..." The guard lowered his head for a moment. "Go on through then. Just be back before sunset. Next!" The guard called as the filly walked past.
All according to plan. Now she could get home easily. She walked into the forest lining the mountain. However, the forest was different compared to the last time. It felt... quiet. She began walking deeper as she looked around. As she ventured further in and the forest grew darker, she began to notice a few things. Some of the fruit trees and bushes were picked. Some were older than others. Some vines were torn, and rocks overturned. What unsettled her the most was that there was a faint smell of blood. She'd need to be careful to make sure she isn't seen.
Unfortunately for her, she was already seen. 34 stood atop a tree branch, looking down on the filly. His tattered clothes have now been replaced with different hides of animals kept together with some vines. Speaking of, she wandered across a cougar he recently killed. A shame it had to happen, but it came at him first. Might as well use the remains.
The young mare gagged at the sight of the bones and organs covered in a layer of dirt and mud. She was about to begin walking away before she heard something land behind her. She turned around to see the human in all its glory. She wanted to run, but her legs couldn't move. She winced, preparing for the end.
"...What are you doing out here, alone?" 34 asked.
She took a few steps back. "Oh, you know... just... heading home."
"...In the middle of a forest? Are you lost?" He approached her a bit, only for her to back up more. She didn't respond. 34 was about to ask another question but was instead met with a blast of magic in his face. After quickly blocking it, he saw the filly running. So of course, he did the most reasonable thing. He ran after her. And caught up quite easily.
"Why!? Why are you chasing me!?" She screamed while running.
34 was right on her tail. "Because... I can tell you have something to do out here! You have a way out of this forest, a way the guards won't see!" He grabbed her by the scruff and turned her to face him. "I wanna see it."
She stared back at him and huffed. "What... what's in it for me?"
"Well, nothing really. Besides, if I let you go, I'll find and follow you anyway."
She cursed under her breath, knowing she was stuck with him. "...fine. What should I call you then, you... hairless ape?"
He dropped her gently. "Don't have a name, but I got a number. Call me 34." He introduced himself. "And yours?"
"Mossy." She groaned in slight annoyance. "Now, smarty, come on. There's a cave that leads to the bottom of this mountain." She pointed towards the cave. "I'm headed further south. About a two day walk."
"Might come with you then. You should get home safe, and I have nothing better to do." He shrugged. "Lead the way, I'll watch your back."
By now, they've made it through the caves and walked for a few hours. Mossy kept to herself mostly, despite 34's advances, but he was able to learn some new things from her at least. She spoke a bit about pony society and how they act, more specifically about how to blend in with them. 34 knew there was more to her than she let on.
"So, Mossy, tell me, why walk so far with no gear? You need food and water, don't you?" 34 asked as he kicked a rock.
"...you ask too many questions, you know that?"
"Well excuse me. In case you haven't noticed, I'm new to the area."
"I can tell." She stated in annoyance. 34 took the hint as they went back to their walk in silence. 34 tried to stay focused on the path, but couldn't help to notice the beauty of the scenery around him. The forest stretched on for miles, leaving his eyes to drift through a sea of greens. The occasional fruit tree and flowering plants made the place more vibrant. More alive.
He took a deep breath of air. It felt nice. "I was never told about how a forest felt." He said, trying to bring up some small talk. "It must be nice to go through this so often."
"One would think..." Mossy shook her head. "I've been through this place so many times, it gets kinda bland after a while.
"Wha- how?" He said putting his arms out. "Everything's so... cool! The dirt on my feet, the wind against my skin, the cool air! It makes me feel so... nice."
"What, first time you've been outside?" She gave a light chuckle.
"Yeah! It's great!" He smiled at her.
"...by the pantheon..." Mossy said under her breath. "How have you been living where you haven't been outside?" She asked in disbelief.
34 walked silently for a bit before answering. "...Not good."
"Ah... I'm sorry." Mossy felt a bit bad now.
"Don't worry about it. You couldn't have done anything." He tried to console the pony a bit. The two walked a bit more before they realized the setting sun. "...It's getting late, how about we get some rest?"
She nodded. "Sounds like a good idea. I'll go get firewood." Mossy turned to look at 34, the human looking back at her, somewhat skeptical. "Don't worry. I'm not gonna run off on you. Just clear out an area for a camp."
34 nodded before she went into the forest, using her magic to pick up some branches as she went. 34 turned around. Lucky for him, they stopped in a moderately sized clearing. He cracked his knuckles before putting his hands on the ground. He pushed mana through his body, out of his hands, and into the earth. The ground in front of him rumbled as it moved to 34s will, condensing and rising to make a small earth shelter. Not being able to do the minor details, he was forced to cut out an entrance with his metal arm. A blade extended from the forearm and 34 stabbed it into the earth shelter. He moved his arm to cut a door frame.
Looking at the job he did, he was satisfied and decided to look for some food. Best to stick with plants. He doubted that the ponies ate meat. As he walked, he noticed that the forest was quiet. Aside from the occasional cricket, it was pretty calming. He'd hope to have more of this in the future.
After picking some wild fruits and vegetables, 34 made his way back to camp. When he arrived, Mossy was already waiting in front of a campfire for him. "Oh, you're here. I wasn't expecting a small house like this when I said to set up camp." She chuckled to herself as she added another stick to the fire. "Come, sit with me before bed."
34 did so, sitting across from her, seeing her face through the dancing flames. "Want a bite? You must be hungry." He offered as he raised a fruit in his hand that looked like an apple.
She shook her head. "I... I already ate."
34 eyed her for a moment before taking a bite of the fruit. "Alright..." he said with rising suspicion. "Thanks for not running off on me. I appreciate it."
Mossy blinked. "Uh... yeah, don't worry about it." The two sat in silence for a little while. The crackling fire warmed them up as the temperature began to drop as the sun fell below the horizon. 34 took a few more bites of his food. He looked up to see Mossy eyeing him.
"...You sure you don't want any?"
Mossy regained focus. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking... How old are you?"
34 swallowed. "Eight I think."
"...Huh... you're a lot younger than I thought." She changed her position to lay on her side.
"What about you?" 34 asked. Mossy raised an eyebrow. "How old are you?"
"Oh, thirteen. Not much older than you." She answered.
34's eyes widened a bit. "...What's the average lifespan of you ponies?"
Mossy grew curious at that question. "Around eighty years... why?"
34 gave a sigh of relief. "Oh good. It's just where I'm from, ponies live around twenty five."
She blinked. "...Where are you from?"
"Not entirely sure. Best I can tell you is not here." He picked up a vegetable this time before yawning. "...I'm feeling sleepy"
"When was the last time you slept? You've had bags under your eyes since I met you." She asked, sitting up.
"...Before I got here a couple days ago." He admitted.
"...You should head to bed. Don't worry, this forest is safe enough where we don't have to keep watch. Head inside and I'll follow soon after." She stood up and began to smother the fire with some mud. 34 got up and walked into the shelter.
34 stretched a bit before yawning and claiming a corner of the shelter as his own. He sat down in said corner and laid his back against the wall. He shut his eyes in an attempt to sleep, but failed. He opened them a few minutes later when he heard Mossy enter. He didn't say anything as they made eye contact for a moment before Mossy laid down in the corner across from him. He closed his eyes for a few minutes more to try again.
"Trouble getting to sleep?" His eyes opened again when he heard Mossy's voice.
"...Yeah... Seems like another night awake for me." He sighed.
She gave a sigh of her own before she sat up. "Look, 34 right? I may be overstepping, but just listen." 34 turned to look at her before Mossy continued. "...I could be wrong, but it seems to me that you're lacking companionship. Call it instinct on my part... my race was meant to be with one another, and when away from one another, we grow... weaker when alone for lack of a better word." She finished before asking another question. "When was the last time you had a good sleep?"
34 sat silently as he thought back. He didn't have to go far, but the memories were still painful. His brothers... his sisters... Ms. Ysolda. Back when he lost the last of his siblings, that was when he last had a good sleep, or a good anything. Sure, Ms. Ysolda did alleviate some of the pain, but that was her job. She did it because she had to, not because she wanted to. He finally answered. "...A couple months ago I think. I don't want to get into the details... not yet."
She thought to herself for a moment. "...I won't act like I know how it feels or anything." Mossy said before laying on her side and patting the floor next to her. "When I was younger, my mom let me sleep with her when I felt alone. If you think it'll make you feel better, you can lay with me."
34 thought about it for a moment. "You ponies are a lot kinder than most of the humans I've met." He stood up and walked over before laying next to her. "Thank you. I'll make sure to repay you one day."
"Not that big a deal. Don't worry about it." She shook her head before pulling 34 to lay his head on her side. It was warm. He laid there for a few minutes before falling into a peaceful slumber.
After the first night of good rest in a while, he got up and thanked her. The two destroyed the camp they made, 34 making sure he covered his tracks well. He clasped his hands together, making the shelter fall to rubble. The grass should cover the dirt in a couple days, so he should be safe from any pursuers.
34 and Mossy continued their journey in a similar fashion for the following two days. The third day was harder than the last two. Mossy, who still hasn't eaten since they've met, which 34 worried about, told him that they were now outside the Equestrian border and now in the Badlands. Apparently they only had a few hours left of travel. He's asked what type of home Mossy lived in a few times, but she avoided giving a straight answer. He decided to let it go until he actually saw the place.
The terrain grew rocky as they progressed. He noticed that the life around him lessened and lessened as they walked. Once grassy fields turned into a sea of stone and sand. The smooth hills turned to jagged, threatening rocks. The clear sky grew yellow and cloudy. These badlands reeked of death. The last signs of life were the few bugs and vultures he saw.
"We're here." Mossy said, snapping 34 out of his train of thought. He climbed the rock Mossy was on to see what she was looking at. What he was expecting was a city similar to Canterlot. Maybe an oasis in a desert or something. What he got was a massive structure made from some black stone-like material. It was filled with holes like a termite hill, with many spire-like buildings jutting out into the sky. While he couldn't make out what they were, there were some flying black blurs flying around the top of the structure.
"...This is... I'm confused." He admitted as he turned to Mossy. "Seems like a weird place for ponies."
"...I have a confession." She blurted out.
34 raised an eyebrow. "...yeah?"
"I'm... not a pony." Mossy confessed. Her horn glowed a lime green light before she was surrounded in lime flames. 34 took a step back, not sure what to do. A moment later, the flames fell to reveal something new. In place of a pony, it was something that wasn't quite. Her once off-white fur turned into a nearly black chitin. Her hair was a dark cerulean, and was longer than before. Her horn was jagged, turning suddenly back and forth as it grew out her forehead. Harlequin eyes looked back at him. "I'm a changeling."
34 lowered his guard. "Ok...?" He said, confused.
She stepped a bit closer. "...you aren't scared?"
"No? What?" 34 grew more confused. "Why would I be?"
She processed what he said before giving a sigh of relief. "Thank the pantheon. I thought you'd run away or something."
"I wouldn't do that. You haven't given me a reason to. Makes sense why you hid yourself. One of the guards said you were on bad terms with the ponies... Speaking of hiding yourself, is Mossy your actual name?" He asked.
"No... My name is Chrysalis." She offered a hoof. 34 shook it. "Now, I wasn't supposed to be out, but I can't just sneak in with you behind me... so... we'll have to go through the front. Follow my lead and we should be fine." Chrysalis said as she began pulling him towards the entrance.
Two changelings, much larger than Chrysalis, stood guarding the entrance to the hive. The most notable difference between her and the guards were the eyes. They didn't have pupils exactly, just a blueish white spot where it would be, and the rest of their eyes being an arctic blue. Rather than hair as a main and tail, it was more similar to a fin, being a lighter gray than their chitin. One poked the other, then nodded their head in their direction. The guards waited for them to approach before speaking. "Snuck out again, eh? You were gone longer than normal. The queen definitely noticed, you know." He saluted before looking at 34. "Aaaand you bought a pet... I see..."
"I'll let that comment slide, since you've probably never seen a human before." 34 furrowed his brow a bit. "So, for future reference, please don't call me a pet. My name is 34."
The guard looked at him, then to Chrysalis behind him. "Uh... ok then..." He said before turning to Chrysalis. "He'll have to wait outside while I notify the queen."
"No, he'll come with me. You have my word that he will cause no harm. Right?" Chrysalis turned to look at 34 for confirmation, who nodded. Chrysalis turned back to the guards. "Let us through."
The guard sighed. "By your order..." The changeling stood up straight. The two guards stepped to the side, saluting her. The two walked through them and into the hive. 34 wondered about that answer for a moment, but he didn't think it was worth asking. Especially since they were going to meet the changeling queen. He'd ask her, given the chance. Each changeling he walked by saluted Chrysalis, then gave him a strange look before walking away. He kept following Chrysalis through the many twists and turns of the hive. Then she jumped up into a hole a couple feet above him.
"...Are you serious?" He looked up at her.
Chrysalis turned around and poked her head out. "What? Can you not climb?"
34 shook his head. "Not that, it's just- like, why go up? Not even a stairway." He put his hands out in disbelief.
"I mean... we are kinda like insects. Speaking of, calling us bugs is a slur, so don't even joke about it." She stated sternly.
"Oh, holy shit, I didn't know. Didn't plan on it, but thanks for telling me I guess." 34 said as he put his hands on the floor. After a moment, his hands and feet were covered in dirt. He sharpened the digits to get a better grip on the terrain. He jumped up and began climbing up to where she was.
"Oh, so that's how you made the shelter the last few days. Looks real convenient. What else can you do?"
He thought as the two continued climbing. "Uh... Fire, water, air, and earth manipulation, but I haven't had much practice on precision. I can only use said elements when I have materials around me to do so. Like... I wouldn't be able to use water unless I'm near a source of water."
Chrysalis jumped out of the crawl space they were in, 34 following behind. "Oh, so you can only use it offensively?"
"Depends on the element. Fire is destructive by nature, so not many ways to use it defensively. Water can be used defensively, but it depends on how much I have available to me. I could use it as a shield for example if I made it denser." He kept looking at his surroundings, trying to make mental markers to not get lost. He continued talking. "Air, it's hard to explain. I can't stop physical things with wind, but I can redirect them, as well as magic sent at me. I can also increase air pressure and send it towards attackers. Earth is definitely meant for defense, since I can just create walls in front of me, but it's situational. A stone wall will work better than one of dirt. I can also use it to attack. Getting boulders thrown at you would definitely hurt."
"...I'm not going to lie, I didn't understand half of that and zoned out the other half." Chrysalis admitted.
"...Put simply, no, I can also use it defensively." He sighed as he crossed his arms as they walked. "What about you? What magic do you know? Probably different from the magic where I'm from."
"Uh, well as changelings, we specialize in illusion magic, so that's how you saw me transform from Mossy. We can learn other types of magic, but I specialize in Illusion and destruction." She explained.
"...what other types of magic are there? And what else can you transform into?"
She put a hoof to her chin as she thought. "Well... there's Destruction, Illusion, Alteration, Restoration, and Conjuration. Pretty self explanatory names. You can learn pretty much any type, but most specialize in one. If you practice all of them, aside from the basics, you don't get as far compared to changelings who specialize in one." She explained before answering his second question. "And we changelings can transform into anything we've seen in person before. It lasts as long as we have the magic to keep the illusion up."
"Sounds interesting. I'll try learning all the types. May turn out to be helpful. I hope one of you can teach me the illusion thing. Can't exactly go out looking like this and not cause trouble." He put his arms out motioning to himself.
Her eyes lit up a bit. "So you plan on staying?"
"If I'm allowed." He nodded. 34 then thought back to a few days ago. He was about to ask another question but Chrysalis stopped.
"Ok, we're here. Try not to say anything that could get you in trouble. She's kind once you know her, but if we mess this up, you're out of the hive." She looked him in the eyes as she talked.
34 nodded. "Got it."
Chrysalis wasn't too assured, but she had to take what she could get. She took a deep breath before walking into the throne room with 34 in tow. 34 looked around to see many changelings in bug-like armor, eyeing them as they entered. Well... mostly him. He could tell it was similar to the stares that the ponies gave him, but he wasn't as... angry for some reason.
"Chrysalis..." A feminine voice said from in front of them. He looked up to see a rather large changeling sitting on a throne in the shape of a crown. The changeling was Celestia's size, if not slightly larger. Her hair was golden in color, similar to Chrysalis' being long with holes here and there. The elytra covering her wings was golden in color as well. She looked down on them with her yellow eyes. She sighed, standing up from her throne and spreading her wings, them glistening in the light. "Normally, I'd give you a light scolding for sneaking out, but you were gone longer than normal. " She shifted her eyes to look at 34. "...you also bring this creature into our hive... Where did you go exactly?"
Chrysalis shrunk down a bit. "...Canterlot..." She admitted.
The tension in the room grew as she stepped down to be in front of Chrysalis. "Guards, could you leave us for a moment?" The guards took the hint, saluting then quickly shuffling out the entrance way and shutting the door behind them. The queen's demeanor changed quickly as she pulled Chrysalis into a hug. "Oh, my poor hatchling! Did they hurt you? Were you caught? What happened? Why did you go there of all places??"
"Mom..." Chrysalis coughed. "You're... crushing me."
"Mom?" 34 said to himself. He meant to think it, but he said it aloud. The two turned to look at him, remembering he was there.
The queen let her daughter go and cleared her throat. "Excuse me... Allow me to introduce ourselves. I am Queen Khrusallis, leader of this hive. This is my daughter, Princess Chrysalis."
"Princess?" He asked. This time on purpose.
"Mom, this is 34. I met him while I left Canterlot. He helped me on my way back here. He also didn't mind I wasn't a pony!" Chrysalis pulled 34 closer with her hooves.
Khrusallis looked at the human. "I see... and do you know of our relationship with the ponies?"
"Most that I've been told was that it's bad." He admitted.
She hummed in agreement. "And what do you think of us?"
34 thought for a moment before answering. "I have no reason to dislike any of you. So far, you've actually treated me better than Celestia. I had to escape the capital, hung out in a forest and found her." He motioned to Chrysalis.
"Wait... you're the reason why the capital was on lockdown?" Chrysalis asked.
"Not now honey, I have a few more questions for this-... what are you exactly?" Khrusallis asked, lowering herself to his eye level.
"I'm a human." He answered.
"Alright. Well, human, I'll ask you other questions depending on what you plan to do." She stood back up and returned to her throne. Chrysalis walked up and sat down next to her.
"Well, I'm not entirely sure. I don't exactly have anywhere to go. I-..." He didn't know what to say before he remembered his conversation with Iron Armory and River Rose. "I want... to help others. I promised that I would. I want to keep that promise to repay the kindness I was shown by the ponies." He got down on one knee and looked up at her. "As of now... I have nothing to offer besides my strength. I ask that you let me stay here, and live alongside your race. I understand if you decline. If that is the case, then I will leave peacefully, and look elsewhere for a purpose."
The queen sat in thought for a long while, with 34 still kneeling below her. She weighed her options, then looked at her daughter. Chrysalis looked at 34, then back at her mother. "Can he stay? I can vouch for his strength. He can use magic even. He may not be a changeling like us, but 34 deserves a chance!"
Khrusallis looked back down at 34. "...You don't have to kneel, 34." She smiled at him as he stood up. "I will allow you to live with us for the time being. You seem to get along well with my daughter, so I hope you two will grow closer. After some training and schooling of course, I hope to put you in charge of her safety." She spoke as Chrysalis hugged her side. She walked down the steps to the throne once more and stood in front of 34.
"Thank you, queen Khr..Khrusallis." He bowed his head, hoping she ignored the stutter. Her name was hard to pronounce.
"Just don't cause too many problems and you'll fit right in. I'll make an announcement soon on your arrival. For now, I need you to come with me. Chrysalis, you go to your room. You may be safe but you're still in trouble, young lady!" She pointed. Chrysalis groaned before flying off. 34 followed the queen for a short walk into what he assumed was her chambers. Walking inside to see everything one would see in a royals room. A lush bed, a large carpet, some art pieces around the room. But something that stood out was the large bookcase she kept on the wall. She looked around the bookshelf for a bit before finding what she was looking for. A rather thick book with a changeling on the cover. She checked a bookmark left in it before flipping to a page marked by it. "So, 34... I remember Chrysalis saying you knew magic?" Khrusallis asked. Her question was answered by his nod. "Good, the page I flipped to explains how we changelings change our form. I want you to study it." She handed him the book. 34 put out his hooves to take it, to be met with a hoof atop his hand.
"...what is it?" He asked.
She took a deep breath. "...34, you could be the hope I was looking for." She stated. He was about to ask what she meant before she continued speaking. "...We changelings are... more akin to parasites. Taking from others to survive. Because of this, we're on bad terms with many races. But you... you have the potential to make this better... A neutral party, someone that can make a bridge between our races of changeling and pony. I've been trying to make peace between our races since I inherited the throne. I'd like you to help me with my dream."
34 thought he understood what she meant. Her dream wasn't a lie, but taking the book had some hidden meaning. She would want him to infiltrate where the ponies live and live alongside them as well. He was someone who could experience both sides, with the same biases and prejudices he'd experience. As a pony, a changeling, and a human. He'd be an experiment to see if they could truly live alongside one another. "It sounds like a nice dream... I'd like to help with it."
Khrusallis let go of the book, letting 34 read the pages. Interestingly, he understood the written language, as if he's grown up with it. He thought that he understood it, but now just needed to think of what he'd turned into. He closed his eyes and did what he did when learning a new spell. Empty his mind, and focus. Think of what he wanted to change into. A flash of green fire surrounded him. It lasted a while as he realized what he needed to do.
34 felt his legs grow fur, his hair moving to turn into a mane. His tailbone poked out as it grew hair as well, turning into a tail. His digits shrunk into his body as his hands and feet turned to hooves. 34's eyes grew bigger, his ears moved up and ended in points and wings sprouted out of his back. The fire stopped and he collapsed to the floor in fatigue and slight pain.
Khrusallis helped him up. "Are you alright? You're a quick learner, I must admit, though your way of transforming is unheard of."
He coughed a bit. "...what was I supposed to do?"
"Well, we changelings don't change our bodies, we change how we're perceived. For example, I can transform into a rhino, and I'll feel like a rhino, and I can interact like a rhino, but I'm still physically a changeling. From the looks of your magic, you changed what you are physically." She tried to explain.
"...I-... think I understand." He breathed for more air. 34 looked around for a mirror. Finding one, he walked over to it to see himself. He was now a young colt, with a white coat of fur and navy blue hair. His mane was a bit spiky, and was more akin to bed hair. It was short for now, but he could grow it out. He fooled around with his muscles before being able to spread his wings, the same color as his fur, but his feathers ended in navy blue tips. His eyes were purple, and seemingly glowed. "...Guess I'll need a new name... Apparently 34 is a weird one."
"Well, admittedly, it is odd. Did you have any in mind?" Khrusallis asked, patting his head.
He continued to look at himself in the mirror. "Well, I'm a Pegasus... let's go with... Skystrike Nebula."
She smiled. "Well, Skystrike Nebula. Nice to meet you. I hope we can make some good memories." |
A Broken Warrior | Nightmare Moon | It was about two weeks before the Summer Sun celebration in a town called Ponyville. A Stallion came to town clad in midnight black armor. His helmet resembled a dragon's skull. Many came to know this traveler as Atlas Nebula. Of course, there was tales about him that were not entirely true, but those only helped his name grow. He wore full body armor, leaving a hole on either side of his side for his wings. The bones of his wings were protected by razor sharp metal, as well as the tips of his outer feathers on his wings. Two large swords were under his wings, each swords hilt resembling a dragons open mouth, the blade coming out of it. There was a large jar on the side of his right back leg, containing a small thundercloud coursing with electricity. He was walking through the town as the sound of his armor rustling made him heard. The towns folk feared him for reasons unknown, hiding in their houses and waiting for him to pass. He did not however, and stood in the middle of town square for almost an hour before a pegasus came flying towards him.
"Look out!" He heard a feminine voice say before he looked in her direction. Out of pure instinct, he ducked out of the way, causing the pegasus to crash into some nearby barrels. Walking over to the dazed pegasus, he looked down at her, getting a better view of her. She had a grey coat with blonde hair, about half his size. Now able to think clearly again, she looked up. A very intimidating pair of blue eyes coming out of his mask stared into her yellow, crossed eyes. She flinched, expecting something terrible to happen. Instead, he put out his hoof, offering to help her up. She hesitantly took it before looking at him. "T-Thank you..." She quietly said.
A deep, soothing voice responded. "No problem. Just try to slow down next time, Miss...?"
"I'm Derpy Hooves. Nice to meet you Mr. Nebula."
"Pleased to meet you too, Derpy. Would you mind if i asked you a few questions?"
"Of course." She was still hesitant. All those tales about him made him feared and respected across equestria.
"The ponies in this town all hide in their houses, so I'm kind of lost. I need to get to the post office and the town hall. I have a delivery to make to a friend in Canterlot."
She perked up at this. "I'm actually the mail mare here. I'd be happy to help you with the delivery. As for the town hall, It's past the Carousel Boutique. The largest building here. You can't miss it!"
Skystrike pulled out a large package from his saddle bag, carrying with his wing. "Thank you. I need this to get there by the time of the Summer Sun celebration. It goes to a mare called Moondancer. It's for her birthday." Derpy flew into the air, preparing to pick up the package. As soon as Skystrike let go of it, She fell a few feet, before balancing herself and waving goodbye to him as they both continued their separate ways.
Opening the door to the town hall, The mayor was currently looking through some files before hearing the bell above the door. "Welcome!" She said turning around. "I'm Mayor Ma-" She stopped realizing who she was in front of. "G-Greetings Sir Nebula. H-How can I help you?"
"Just call me Nebula. As for why I'm here, I want to know if there's any available land in Ponyville? I'm thinking of settling down and making my own house."
She blinked. "Oh, we do, but I don't think you'll want it. It's fairly dangerous."
"You may be surprised." He said blankly..
"It's been available since Ponyville was founded, and has a beautiful view of the lake. The only problem is...well..." Skystrike raised an eyebrow. "It's right outside the Everfree forest."
"And what does it cost?"
"It's about four acres of land so 20,000 bits, with another 2,000 for taxes. Would you like to set up a two or four year payment plan?"
Nebula pulled out a sack of bits too big to fit into his saddle bag. It fell on the floor with a loud thud. "I'd like to pay it all upfront." Her mouth hung open before she started stuttering. "I... But... Why-" She stopped herself before she recomposed herself. "Very well. I just need you to go through some paperwork and it's yours." She went to a filing cabinet before pulling out a ten page document. He quickly read through it before taking out a pencil and signing it. "Alright, that should be it. The land is now yours. Will that be all?"
"Yes. Have a nice day Mayor Mare." He left the Town Hall, making his way to his land. There was a nice view of the lake like the mayor said. A large cave was in his plot of land. There were some dead trees and large boulders he had to clear out. He could tell he had his work cut out for him. "You should get started." Echo spoke to him. "You have a 45% chance of clearing out the debris and building your house in two months assuming you have no interruptions."
"Thanks. Welp, better get started."
It was the day before the Summer Sun celebration and Skystrike just finished the generator under his house. Glad that his work was over, he made his way towards town. It was his first time at the celebration in this world, and he wanted to enjoy this. He entered town to see a pink earth pony gasp in shock at a unicorn before speeding off. The unicorn spoke to a baby dragon before walking off. Skystrike paid no mind to it. He spread his wings before flying off at incredible speeds towards Sweet apple acres. Being in charge of the food, he wanted to see if they needed help, and to see if he could get some samples. Landing at the entrance, he saw a large barn house and a orange earth pony running from tree to tree bucking apples. He walked up to her before speaking. "Hello there." The mare jumped from the sudden surprise. She took one look at him before her eyes widened in what seemed to be fear. "I've been told you're family is in charge of the food?" She nodded. "Do you need any help?" She shook her head. "Alright then. I'll be on my way. He started to walk away, but he turned round to see the same unicorn and dragon walking in the gate. Skystrike walked away from the earth pony, allowing the unicorn to greet the farmer.
"Let's get this over with." The unicorn said with a sigh. "Good afternoon. My name is Twilight sparkle." The orange pony immediately started shaking her hoof.
"Well, howdy do, Miss Twilight. A pleasure making your acquaintance. I'm Applejack. We here at Sweet Apple Acres sure do like making new friends!" She said in a country accent.
"Friends? Actually, I..." She tried to start while her voice was vibrating.
"So, what can I do for ya?" Applejack asked, winking at her.
the unicorn stood speechless for a moment, her hoof still moving up and down despite Applejack no longer shaking it. The dragon next her her grabbed her hoof, stopping it as Twilight gave him a glare as he giggled to himself. "Ahem." She started, "Well, I am in fact here to supervise the celebration for the Summer Sun celebration, And you're in charge of the food?" She asked.
"We sure as sugar are! Would you care to sample some?"
"As long as it doesn't take too long." She said as Applejack ran off. She rang a triangle before shouting. "Food's on everypony!" A stampede of earth pony ran by and pick up Twilight, Spike and Skystrike. The three sat at a table, the former two dazed buy what just happened. Applejack popped up next to spike before speaking.
"Now, why don't I introduce y'all to the apple family." Many ponies appeared around the four, all smiling.
"Thanks, but I really need to hurry..." She started before being cut off by an apple fritter in her face.
Applejack began naming her family as each put some food on the table in front of them. "This here is Apple Fritter, Apple bumpkin, Red gala, Red delicious, Golden delicious, Caramel apple,
Apple strudel, Apple carp, Baked apple, Apple brioche, Apple crisp," She took a long gasp, "Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom and..." she shoved an apple into Twilights mouth. "Granny smith. Up and at em' Granny Smith, we got guest."
The elder pony stood up. "Huh, wuh? I'm coming, I'm coming."
"Why, I say they are already part of the family!" Twilight spit out the food in her mouth. "Ehehehe, OK, well, I guess that the food situation is handled, so we'll be on our way." She got up to leave to the dismay of the others. "Aren't you gonna stay for brunch?" Applebloom asked in a sad tone giving her puppy dog eyes.
"Sorry, but we have an awful lot to do."
"Aww..." The ponies around her sighed sadly. Twilight looked around before biting her lip.
"Fine..."
The apple family cheered, glad that she would stay. Skystrike stood up getting ready to leave himself. The same fly looked at him. "Aren't you staying too?"
"The better question would be if ponies would be comfortable with me here, and I doubt that's a yes."
"Nonsense! We wouldn't be happier to have ya here!" The filly smiled.
"Thanks kid." He patted her on her head. "But maybe next time. Besides, you got a celebration it cook for. See you around." He flew off towards Ponyville. Most of the apple family felt safer now that he was gone, and began feasting on the meal that they bought out.
Skystrike was walking around Ponyville. Of course there was a crowd, but they made their way around him, trying not to get too close. In the corner of his eye, he saw a rainbow trail that was seeming to do tricks. Deciding to follow it, he sees it crash into the same unicorn he saw earlier. The two mares fell into a puddle of mud in the road.
The cyan pegasus was the first to get up as she laughed nervously.
"Heheheh... Uh, excuse me?" She kept laughing. "Lemme help you." She zoomed off before coming back with a raincloud. She positioned it over Twilight before bouncing on it, making rain fall onto her, getting off the mud and leaving her soaked. "Ops. I guess I overdid it." She chuckled. "How about this?" She flew around Twilight, causing a small rainbow tornado to engulf her. "My very own patented Rain blow dry!" She flew down to Twilight, puffing her chest out in pride. "No no, don't thank me, you're quite welcome." She opened her eyes to see Twilights hair now poofy and curly.
"Pft, BWAHAHAHAHA" She yelled out laughing as he fell backwards. The dragon followed her, doing the same. He let out a light chuckle at the display. Deciding it was nothing to worry about, he walked away, deciding to explore more of the town.
He made his way into Town Hall. The place was partially decorated with banners and ribbons which seemed to be placed with the utmost precision. He walked in to see a white unicorn with a blue curly mane humming to herself as she hung ribbons everywhere. "You did a very good job with the decorating." He said congratulating her.
"Why thank you darling. It is oh so important that everything must be-" She said before turning around, seeing the black mask and the blue eyes stare at her. She screamed at the top of her lungs causing Skystrike to cover his ears. After she finished, she ran her back against the wall. "What do you want? Get away from me!" She shouted. He quickly left, passing by Twilight while she was looking around Town hall.
He was walking along a dirt road past the Everfree forest outside of Ponyville. He was walking slow, taking his time to watch the greenery around him. The Orange sun sat above sunset as the lake reflected it's orange rays. He took about 15 minutes to get to a small cottage on a hill. Twilight was in front of him, watching a yellow pegasus conduct music with her many birds.
"Oh my, um, stop please everyone." She said quietly. She flew over to one of her birds. "Excuse me sir? I mean no offense, but you're rhythm is just a teeny, tiny bit off." She flew away and hovered a few feet in the air. "Now, follow me please. A one, a two, a one, two, three..."
"Hello!" Twilight shouted, not realizing she interrupted. Her loud voice startled the yellow pegasus and scared the birds away. "Oh my, i'm so sorry, I didn't mean to frighten your birds. I'm just here to check up on the music, and it sounded beautiful." The pegasus landed and looked away from twilight, kicking her hoof against the ground. Twilight smiled awkwardly, glancing around.
"I'm Twilight sparkle." She looked at her nervously. "What's your name?"
"I'm... im Fluttershy..." She said quietly.
"Im sorry, what was that?" Twilight asked again.
"I'm..." The pegasus mouthed her name.
"Didn't quite catch that."
An inaudible squeak came from the pegasus' mouth before looking away. She noticed Skystrike in the background behind Twilight. He started walking towards the two as Fluttershy crouched down.
"She said her name was Fluttershy?" He said looking at the shy mare for clarification. She nodded.
"Oh, I didn't see you there, Mr. Nebula. Thank you for telling me."
"Not a problem. By the way, Miss Fluttershy, your birds singing is very impressive, your way with animals even more so."
"Well, it looks like your birds are back." Twilight started, trying to avoid further conversation. "So I guess everything's in order. Keep up the good work!"
Fluttershy squeaked again.
"OK... well that was easy." She said to her dragon that walked up to her. A gasp was heard from behind the three. "A baby dragon!?" Fluttershy said cheerfully. She dashed forward, knocking Twilight out of the way "Oh, I've never seen a baby dragon before! Aw, he's so cute!" The dragon looked back at twilight to see Skystrike helping her up.
"Well well well!" The dragon said puffing his chest out and crossing his arms.
"Oh my, he talks! I didn't know dragons could talk! That's just so incredibly wonderful, I... I just don't even know what to say!"
"Well in that case we better get going." Twilight said, levitating spike over with her magic. She tried to walk away, but Fluttershy followed.
"W-Wait! What's his name?"
"I'm Spike!"
"Hi Spike. I'm Fluttershy. Wow! I'm talking to a dragon! Um, what do dragons talk about?"
"Um, what do you wanna know?"
"Absolutely everything." As she finished her sentence, Twilight was past annoyed as she let out a long sigh. "And why are you following us, Mr. Nebula? Surely you don't want to talk to Spike to?"
"I'm trying to get to the library, but might as well listen to his story on the way." She gave out another sigh.
"Well," Spike started. "It all started out when I was a purple and green egg..."
The walk to Ponyville was long, and Spike's story even longer. The group was now inside out town as spike finished his story. "And that's the story of my whole entire life. Well, up until today. So, wanna hear about today?"
"Oh yes please!" Twilight quickly turned around, stopping the conversation.
"I am so sorry, how did we get here so fast? This is where I'm staying while in Ponyville, and i'm so sorry, but my poor baby dragon needs his sleep!"
"No I don't! Woah!" He was pushed off of Twilight's back by her kicking her hind leg.
"Oh, look at that, he's so sweepy he can't even keep his widdle balance!" She gave Fluttershy a wide smile.
"Poor thing, you simply must get to bed!" She swept up Spike and flew into the library before being pushed out by Twilight.
"Yes, we'll get right on that. Well, goodnight." She slammed the door in the mares face, forgetting Skystrike was outside. Now realizing she was alone with him, she squeaked before flying away. Skystrike entered the library, closing the door behind him. The lights were off inside the library as the two ponies looked around.
"Huh, rude much?" Spike grunted
"Sorry spike, but I have to convince the princess Nightmare Moon is coming and we're running out of time! We just need to be alone to study without a lot of crazy ponies trying to make friends all the time." She glanced around. "Now, where's the lights?"
"SURPRISE!" The lights turned on. The three looked around to see what seemed to be every pony in town inside the library, which was decorated with party streamers. Twilight sighed in annoyance as Skystrike stood dumbfounded. He was surprised that none of the ponies here feared him. That was, until the looked at who was next to Twilight. They all seemed to notice at once, taking a step back. It was Skystrike turn to groan in annoyance.
"Mr. Nebula, what's wrong?" Spike asked.
"Everypony here is afraid of me and I don't know why. I did literally nothing to interact with these ponies until today, and they were even scared of me when I did nothing."
"...Are you serious?" A pony asked in the crowd.
"This has to be a joke." Another said.
Derpy walked towards him. "Mr. Nebula, your helmet and swords are... well... kind of scary."
"That's it?" The crowd murmured in agreement.
"..."
"..."
"I'm not taking off my helmet, but I guess i can put my swords away." He pulled out his swords before putting them into his saddle bag. They seemed way too big to fit, but somehow they did. Now seeing him as less of a threat, the crowd sighed in relief, and got back to the party. Then, a pink pony jumped up and started speaking quickly to Twilight.
"Surprise! Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie, and I threw this party just for you, were you surprised? Were you? Huh? Huh? Huh?" She said quickly before bouncing up and down.
"Yes, very surprised!" She said before her annoyed look came back. "Libraries are supposed to be quiet."
"Silly! What kind of welcome party would it be if it were Quiet? Duh! Boring!" She said drawing out the last word as Twilight started walking away. Pinkie followed.
"Ya see, I saw you when you first got here remember? You were all 'Hello' and I was all *gasp* remember? Ya see, I never saw you before and because I never saw you before that's new, and I know everypony, and I mean everypony in Ponyville!" Twilight let out a sigh. And since you're new, you haven't met anyone yet, and ya haven't met anyone yet, you must not have any friends, and if you don't have any friends, you must be lonely! And that made me so sad, and I had an Idea! And that's why I went *gasp*. I just had to make a great big super-duper ginormous super-duper spectacular welcome party to invite everypony in Ponyville!" The four other ponies stat Skystrike met earlier appeared, smiling at Twilight. "See? Now you have lots and lots of friends!" Twilight turned around, her face red hot. She was sweating heavily.
"You alright sugarcube?" Applejack asked. Twilight jumped into the air before running off. Skystrike went to the punch she was drinking, specifically the bottle she poured the supposed punch with.
"Why is there hot sauce here?" he asked worried.
"For the cupcakes."
"The what?" All 5 ponies except Pinkie said in unison.
"What? It's good!" She drenched a cupcake in hot sauce before swallowing it whole.
"That... was actually kinda impressive Pinkie Pie." Skystrike said in a calm tone.
The party was fun for all the ponies, but Skystrike decided to distance himself. He watched the ponies play many games as he ate a cupcake that Derpy offered him. He noticed that Twilight went to her room a few minutes ago when he couldn't see her anywhere. Applejack and Rainbow were being competitive while Fluttershy kept asking Spike questions. Skystrike was about to get up to get some punch before Rarity walked over to him.
"Hello, darling." She started in an attempt to start a conversation. "I couldn't help but notice you over here by yourself. Aren't you enjoying the party?"
"Not exactly, but i'm not used to chatting with ponies. Besides, this is the first party that i've been to when I was guarding somepony." He replied. If one could see his face, you could tell he was uncomfortable.
"You must get our more Mr. Nebula. Come on, I'll introduce you to some ponies. I think you'll like them." She smiled at him. She intended to help him settle in in Ponyville, but he shook his head.
"I appreciate the gesture, but I would like to meet ponies my own way. You shouldn't worry about me, just go enjoy yourself."
"Please, just take it as an apology. It was not ladylike of me to... scream at you earlier." She said as she chuckled nervously.
He stayed silent for a few seconds. "Alright, I accept. Lead the way." They both stood up. Rarity walked towards a pair of ponies before talking to the two.
"Golden Harvest! Junebug! So good to see you!" She said happily. The two turned to face her. "Oh hey Rarity! How are you?" Junebug spoke, glad to see her friend again.
"Well, i'm doing just fine, darling. I actually want you to meet someone."
"Sure Rarity. Who is it?" Golden Harvest asked. Skystrike walked towards the two, every step he took made the sound of rustling chainmail. He slowly walked up to the three mares before speaking.
"Hello there. How do you do?" He asked, trying to be nice. It didn't seem to work.
"Uh, im doing... good. How are you Mr Nebula?" Golden asked hesitantly.
"I'm doing good. You two enjoying the party?"
"Yeah! You can always count on Pinkie to throw a party!" Junebug said forcing a smiling, trying her best to stop the awkwardness. Skystrike quickly caught on. He sighed
"Look, I know this is awkward, and I know i'm also not the most pleasant pony to be around, so imma just go. Nice meeting you two though." He left to go get some more punch, leaving rarity with a frown on her face. As he was pouring himself more punch, Pinkie Pie and Applejack came up to him, the former hopping while the ladder walked. "Hi!" Pinkie said with glee. "Sorry that I don't throw you a party yet Mr. Nebula, but dont worry, i'm already planning for a 'Sorry that I didn't throw you a party.' party!" She said in one breath.
"Anyway." Applejack started. "Why don't you come play a game with us? You might be able to beat Rainbow if you try." His ears perked up at this.
"Is that a challenge?" He asked, now somewhat interested in the party.
"If ya want it to be. We're bobbing' for apples, care to join?" He got up and tilted his head towards the sky. The jaw of his helmet opened up as he poured the punch into his mouth. He closed his mouth, letting out a sigh of satisfaction. "Prepare yourself."
The three walked over to a large wooden pool, Rainbow's head currently submerged in the water. She lifted her head, pulling out an apple and eating it. Her eyes made contact with Skystrike. He stared back, before walking up to the mare. "I bet you twenty bits that I can get more apples than you." He pulled out a small bag. "Care to gamble?" he said inwardly grinning. The rainbow pony quickly accepted.
"Sure! This'll be the easiest 20 bits in my life!" She said full of pride. She had no idea what he was able of doing. Pinkie started to count down as applejack added a few more apples to the pool.
"Three... Two... One.... GO!"
After a quick game, Rainbow Dash gave Skystrike a bag of bits, scoffing.
"I hate losing." She said in a mad tone. He had annihilated her, eight apples to three. He chuckled at her attitude.
"That ego of yours will be the death of you." He counted out his bits before storing them in his saddle bag. "There's always next time. I've lost too before, but you'll get over it sooner or later."
"I guess..." She said still disappointed at her loss.
"Hey, that just tells you to try harder. Or just not to make bets." She chuckled at his response.
"Hey everypony!" Pinkie got everypony's attention. "Time to play 'Pin the tail on the pony!" She said enthusiastically, holding a fake brown tail in her hoof. Out of the corner of his eye, Skystrike saw spike go to Twilight's room. He came back, ready to play the game. Skystrike decided to take a breather, stepping outside to look at the moon, and the mare in it. It was a few minutes before ponies started to walk out of the library towards the town hall. The sunrise was coming. He followed the crowd inside, finding himself next to twilight and an ecstatic Pinkie.
"Isn't this exciting?" She asked, inches away from twilight's face. "Are you excited? Because I've never been so excited, except for..." He drowned out what else the mare was saying. He gets annoyed easily, and hr already had to put up with her high pitched voice at the party. He looked around, seeing everypony waiting for the sun to rise. The sounds of birds could be heard, Fluttershy conducting them. A spot light shone on Mayor Mare. She looked around before giving a speech.
"Fillies and Gentlecolts, As mayor of Ponyville, It's My great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!" The crowd erupted into cheers. So far, the Celebration was exactly what Skystrike expected. But he knew what was truly going to happen that night. He knew that Nightmare Moon was a real thing, and he also knew that she was also the forgotten princess of the night. As soon as his suspicions were confirmed, he had to help her. Very few deserved the fate of being alone.
"In just a few moments," Mayor mare continued. "Our town will witness the magic of the sunrise and celebrate the longest day of the year! And now, It is my great honor to introduce you to the ruler of our land. The very pony who raises the sun and moon each and every day, the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all Equestria, Princess Celestia!" A curtain opened, only to reveal that the princess wasn't there to the crowds horror and Sky Strikes relief. The crowd began to chat among each other while mayor mare tried to calm them down.
"Settle down, everypony, there must be a reason for this."
"Oh!" Pinkie chipped in "I love games! Is she hiding?" she said as she looked around.
"She's gone!" Rarity said from the balcony that Celestia was to appeared at. The crowd gasped in shock. Pinkie let out a scream as she saw a blue mist creep in through the windows and onto an adjacent balcony. A surging sound could be heard before the mist condensed and spread out, Revealing a black alicorn with a blue mane and tail, flowing in the wind. She looked down on the crown, a grin appearing on her face.
"Oh my loving subjects." She began in a mocking tone. "It's been so long since i've seen your precious faces."
"What did you do with our princess?" Rainbow Dash asked glaring at the alicorn.
She laughed in response. "Why, am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?"
"You're Nightmare Moon." Skystrike said in response. "The mare that was banished to the moon out of jealousy of Celestia, believing none respected the night. Personally, don't see why you envied her, but we all have our reasons." He flew up to her, saying two words that only she'd be able to hear. "Right Luna?" She scoffed remembering the name. "You've got guts, i'll give you that. Now, I have a proposition for you."
"...Im listening." The crowd gasped in disbelief. Applejack spoke up.
"Now wait a gosh darn minute, you're seriously thinking about it? Don't you see that she's evil?"
"To be fair, she hasn't said or done anything yet for you to claim that she's evil. Now what was this offer?"
"You will be the head of my royal guard, leading my men to battle against Celestia and her foolish kingdom, leaving Equestria in eternal night!" She finished with a laugh.
"You see, that was evil." Skystrike said looking back at Applejack. "And sorry to tell you, but no. For two reasons. One, it seems like a personal matter between you two, and Two, I don't like being used. You do realize that after a thousand years, your position does not hold any leverage?"
Her frown deepened. "Maybe so, but my magic does. With my magic, I'll make sure. The night. Will last. Forever!" A blue mist erupted from her horns as she laughed. Skystrike flew backwards, staying a safe distance away from the mist.
"Seize her! Mayor Mare shouted, pointing a hoof at Nightmare moon.
"You fools!" Nightmare Moon said to the oncoming royal guardsmen. Bolts Of thunder rained down in front of her, narrowly missing the guards. She laughed before turning herself into a blue mist and slithering out the door. Rainbow flew after her.
"Come back here!" She yelled. The blue mist easily outran her, going towards the Everfree forest.
"Night time? Forever?" She asked to herself worriedly. She looked down to see a determined Twilight running out of town hall, Skystrike following.
The two met up at the library, Twilight putting spike to bed. He turned towards Skystrike. "You gotta... stop Nightmare!" He said before falling asleep. Twilight put a blanket over him before turning to the armored pony. "How did you know about Nightmare moon? How did you know she was real?"
"You aren't the only one who's done research." He said as he pulled out his swords, putting them back on his sides. "Besides, does it really matter? How about you focus on finding a book about where to find the Elements?" She blinked before nodding. She then ran off to the book shelves, throwing off books. "Elements, elements, elements..." She spoke to herself.
"And just what ARE the elements?" Rainbow dash said flying in her face. "How do you know what's going to stop her? And you!" She said flying over to Skystrike. "You come to our town two weeks before the Celebration, and you already know so much about her! Are you a spy for her?" She said getting in his face as well. He didn't flinch.
"If I was a spy, I would have accepted her offer and laid waste to this town. But I haven't, have I?" She was about to retort, but she was pulled back by Applejack before she could. Applejack sighed before releasing Rainbow
"Simmer down, Sally! He ain't no spy! But these two know what's going on." The other five ponies Twilight met got closer. "Don't you?" Applejack finished with a skeptic look.
Twilight looked around before starting. I read all about the predicaments of Nightmare moon. Some mysterious objects called the elements of harmony are the only thing that can defeat her, but I don't know what they are! Or where to find them! I don't even know what they do!"
"I may be able to answer some of those questions." Everypony turned towards Skystrike.
"I doubt you can." Twilight started. The only pony to know about the elements is the Princess."
"How about you let me finish before you make assumptions? Now as I was saying, I can give you answers. I may be able to tell you where the elements are."
"And how would you know exactly?" Asked a curious Applejack.
"Simple, I just put two and two together." He said gesturing with his hooves. Twilight raised a brow. "Think about it. When was the last time the elements were recorded in history?"
"The day Nightmare Moon was banished! Everypony knows that!" Rainbow said confidently!
"Good. that means that with Nightmare back, the elements are most likely back as well. Now, where were the elements last used?"
"The castle of the two sisters?" Twilight answered.
"Good. That means that that's most likely where the elements are going to be found. One question left. Where is the castle? And where did Nightmare moon go off to?"
The group widened their eyes in realization. "The Everfree Forest!" The all said in unison.
"Then that's where we can find them. Now we just need to know what they do exactly. I remember seeing a book on it here during the party..." He finished as he looked around.
"The elements of harmony, a reference guide."
"Thanks Pinkie."
"How did you find this?" Twilight asked dumbfounded.
"It was under E~" she said in a singsong voice while hopping around.
"She pulled out the book and opened it, beginning to read it. There are six elements of harmony, but only five are known, kindness laughter, generosity, honesty, and loyalty. But the last one is unknown."
"Well that's just awful! How are we supposed to defeat her without the sixth element? We don't even know what it is!" Said a distraught Rarity."
"Magic." The six looked toward Skystrike
"What?" Twilight asked.
"The sixth element is magic."
"And how would you know that?" Said Applejack raising an eyebrow.
"Simple, I'm just following the basic laws of this world. Everything has magic in it, things like rocks being exceptions. That's why unicorns have more trouble picking up a boulder compared to a pebble, they have to put more magic in the boulder to react with their own."
"And how does that relate to the sixth element?" Twilight asked.
"The other five elements cant work without each other, except the sixth. The sixth element works almost like an amulet, increasing the wearers magic capabilities. When in contact with the other elements, it shares that power throughout the others. Well, that's the theory that makes the most sense."
"A theory?! That's all that was?!" Shouted an annoyed Twilight. "Great, now we don't know how to get the last element!"
"But you know where." Verified Skystrike. "As we concluded, it's in the castle of the sisters." He got up and began walking to the door. "I'll leave that to you six. I have to go take care of nightmare moon."
"You're going alone?" Asked Fluttershy
"Don't worry, Ill be fine. I've been through worse." He finished as he tried to walked out the door.
"Now wait just a minute!" He was stopped by Rainbow flying in front of him. "How do we know you aren't working for her? You know too much just to be some random pony! Who are you?" She pointed an accusing hoof at him. He sighed.
"Fine, i'll just show you." He pressed a button on the jaw of his helmet. It folded back into a collar revealing his face. He looked almost the same as he did as a colt, though his hair was longer and had a small scar behind his lip. They each let out a small gasp, realizing who he was.
"Well i'll be. Skystrike?" Applejack asked. He closed his mask, turning back into the dragon mask that it was."
"I'd prefer you not to tell anypony yet. I'll explain later. For now, you six try and find the elements. I will stall her." He walked out the door
Walking along the path outside of Ponyville, Skystrike was paying close attention to his surroundings. Nothing unusual was happening except for the ere silence. Echo decided to break that silence. "I don't understand you." He started. "You spent so long hiding who you were, yet you throw it away just like that? Why?"
"Simple, I needed them to trust me. I'm not entirely sure I can defeat her without killing her. I'm just being cautious."
"But do you think they'll keep their word?"
"Maybe. Maybe not. That's the least of my worries right now, anyway."
"Very well. But remember, trust is fragile. It can be easily broken."
"I know Echo, I know." He said in an understanding tone. He didn't want to, but he knew he had to put his trust in someone, even though his past showed it was a terrible idea. He spent almost all of his life in this world alone, traveling from place to place, even ending up in magic elementary for about a year. In all that time, he made no more than ten friends, and he only truly trusted one of them. Sighing and trying to bury his thoughts, he came in front of the Everfree forest, a blue mist hugging the ground. He entered the forest and instantly, the blue mist thickened. He was then surrounded by a dark blue light, before appearing in front of Nightmare. She glared at him before speaking. "Ah, the stallion from earlier, the one who showed no respect for royalty. I see you chose the coward's way out." Her horn glowed, making magic chains form around him, holding him down by his ankles.
"Sorry, but respect isn't something I give at the drop of a hat." He glared back, not flinching as the chains formed around him. "You have to earn it, and so far, you've done nothing to accomplish it."
"Just as you've done nothing to stall me! You truly think I didn't know what your intentions were when you entered this forest? Your friends will at their feeble attempt to try and get the elements. And you can do nothing to stop me." She said with a grin as she walked up to him, trying to take off his mask. She failed.
Skystrike caught on at what she was trying to do. "There's a button on the left side of the jaw."
"Thanks." She said quickly getting thee helmet to fold back.
"Lets get two things straight. One: they're no more than acquaintances. Two: they will get the elements. Weather they use it or not is up to you." He may not trust they, but they should be reliable.
A dark chuckle escaped her mouth. "So sure are we, Mr?"
"Nebula." He said, giving her his traveller name.
She nodded.. "Now then, besides your failed attempt at stalling m, why are you here? Have you reconsidered my offer?"
"No actually, I'm here to talk, believe it or not."
She blinked before laughing. "And why do you want to talk to me?"
"Simple, to tell you that you're wrong." Her ears perked up at this. "Let me ask you something, why did you turn into Nightmare Moon to make the night last forever?"
She answered with no hesitation."Because no one respects the night. Is it not obvious?"
"That's where you're wrong. I, along with many others respect the night. You, blinded by the jealousy of your sister didn't realize this." Her ears went back as he said this. "You wanted to be acknowledged by ponies around you, but you threw that away for nothing. When you were banished, you left everypony in Equestria heart broken. One of their princesses disappeared on the day equestria should've been at its happiest. Then let's talk about what respect you had. Gone overnight. The story of a jealous princess going down in history. Then your sister, Celestia gained all the respect you once had, forced to raise the sun and moon for the past thousand years."
"She chose that outcome by herself. I still love my sister of course, but what I do now doesn't change the past." She said sadly looking away from him. He responded quickly.
"But you can change the future." Her ears perked up at this, looking attentively at Skystrike.
"Say you did get your wish of eternal night. What then? There is a very low chance that this world can survive in eternal darkness. Not to mention the fact that ponies will see it as a prison." She looked at him in recollection. "What's the point of being in a world that you're alone in?"
"Fine then! What do you suggest me to do?" She said now yelling, almost at the verge of tears. "I have no one to rely on! I.." She was cut off by Skystrike.
"You can rely on me." She looked at him, eyes wide. "Believe me, I know what it's like to feel helpless, like the whole world was against you. But unlike me, you have somepony to stand by you at your darkest hour. Excuse the pun. You just have to accept that help."
She looked at him, contemplating the offer she gave him. She turned around. "I wish I could, but it's too late for me." After that, a blue mist surrounded Skystrike. His body feel numb as he could no longer control his body. He looked at Nightmare moon one last time before she turned into a blue mist and flew out the window. "This is actually the most relaxed i've been in a while." He said before falling asleep.
He woke up from his sleep feeling well rested, the blue mist around him gone. He stretched his limbs as he realized he was still in chains. "Welp, my plan failed." He said to himself. He pulled at the chains, breaking them as they dissipated in a sparkle of dark blue light. He put his mask back on before flying up to a broken window and lying on the railing. He enjoyed the view he got, getting a beautiful view of the moon. His attention was bought elsewhere by a bright light coming out of an adjacent tower. He quickly flew over, looking in from one of the windows to see Twilight lying before Nightmare Moon, five stones floating around her as she laughed, lightning erupting around her.
Twilight stomped her hoof, preparing to charge. "You're kidding." Laughed Nightmare moon. "You're kidding, right?" Twilight charged, Nightmare moon charging as well., horn glowing. A bright light appeared from Twilight's horn before she teleported, inches away from Nightmare moon. She appeared in the middle of five stones, her horn glowing again. She was then shocked by a bolt of lightning from the stones, sending her back a few feet. Her spell seemed to have worked though, Skystrike assuming from Nightmare's shocked expression. The spell stopped. 'Nevermind' he thought to himself.
"But, where's the sixth element?" asked a confused Twilight as Nightmare laughed. She stomped her hooves, the sheer force of them causing the elements of harmony to shatter.
"You little foal! To think you could defeat me!" Shouted an angered Nightmare moon. "Now you will never see your princess or the sun. The night. Will last, For-" She was cut off by a blue trail coming from the window and landing between Twilight and herself. "You! You're supposed to be paralyzed!"
"I was." Said Skystrike as he cracked his neck. "You wouldn't know, but not the first time i've been poisoned. Decided to take a quick nap while I was add it." He got on his two hind hooves, his boots folding out into claw like feet. There were a few rods on his gauntlets that extended out, sharpening giving him claws. A metal dragon-like tail folded out over his tail. A line of short spikes went from his neck down. His eyes shone a blue light as he drew his swords. He got into a back stance, one sword over his shoulder, the other pointing at Nightmare moon. "Twilight, get to the others, i'll hold her off."
"I can't leave you here alone! I can-"
"Twilight, right now is not the time. Get to the others, figure out something, then we can deal with her."
"But..."
"Twilight, where should you be right now?"
"With the others?"
"WITH THE OTHERS" He yelled as Twilight ran off. Leaving a chuckling alicorn.
"My my, how kind of you. I do love a moving target." She said as her horn glowed. She was just about to fire before Skystrike quickly ran up to her, grabbing her by the horn. Her jaw hung open as she was left speechless.
"Sorry, but this is between the two of us." He said as he threw her over his shoulder, causing her to skid across the ground. He turned towards her, putting his hand out before making a 'come on' motion with it. She angrily shot a blast of magic at him. Skystrike raised his right hand before slapping the blast away with the flat of his sword, a hole in the wall to his right was formed from the explosion. She fired again, this time charging behind it. He split the magic attack down the middle before side stepping out of the way of Nightmare's horn. Now enraged, she released a blue mist from her horn as it hugged the floor.
"Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice..." He said as he put both of his arms out. He spun, swords in each hand, as a small tornado was made. The wind coming from it sucked up all of the mist. He stopped spinning, as he landed in a front stance, swords behind him. "Shame on you." He said as Nightmare moon let out a loud groan. "So, you done? I don't want to hurt you, so we could be doing this forever.
"Then forever it shall be!" She shouted before teleporting behind him, trying to buck him with her back legs. He caught her hoof before throwing her again, this time upwards. He heard the sound of hoofs running behind him before he jumped back, landing next to the door. Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie pie all came galloping through the hallway.
"I see you six got here safe. Twilight, did you figure out something?"
"Yes, I would like to see what the foal dragged in." Said a amused nightmare moon.
Twilight took a step forward, a determined look was on her face. "You thought you could destroy the elements of harmony just like that? You couldn't have been more wrong!" Nightmare's glare deepend, though Twilight didn't flinch. "The spirits of the elements, are right here!" Each of the six mares had their own determined look on their faces. The shattered stone shards each glowed a certain color, rattling on the ground. They then hovered in the air, leaving a stunned Nightmare moon.
"Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of honesty!" Orange stone shards orbited Applejack.
"Fluttershy, tamed a manticore with her compilation, represents the spirit of kindness!" Pink shards orbited the pegasus.
"Pinkie pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of laughter!" A shade of brighter pink stones orbited the smiling earth pony.
"Rarity, who sacrificed her tail for a serpent's meaningful gift, represents the spirit of generosity!" White glowing stones surrounded the unicorn.
"Rainbow dash, who wouldn't abandon her friends for her own gain, represents the spirit of loyalty!" Red glowing shards floated around the rainbow pegasus.
"The spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us."
"But you still don't have the sixth! It wont work!" Reminded Nightmare.
"But we do. A different kind of element!" She said as a matter of factly. "I found it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear, to see how much each of these ponies cared about me! When I realized that you all are my friends!" She said turning towards Nightmare. A shining stone with a six pointed star etched into it slowly floated down in front of twilight. Nightmare moon covered her eyes from the light.
"You see Nightmare moon, when those elements are ignited by the.." she thought of a word to say. "Spark, inside of the hearts of us all, it brings the sixth element. The element of... Magic!" The stone shone brighter, making everypony cover their eyes. Each of the shards around them turned into a crystal before combining and turning into a necklace with their cutie mark in the center of it. Twilight, however had a tiara with small sapphires lining it. The six mares came together, causing a rainbow to form and rush towards Nightmare moon.
"NOOOOOO" Nightmare moon yelled n horror as the rainbow engulfed her. A rainbow tornado overtook where she was once standing. A bright light filled the room. When Skystrike opened his eyes, he found the six mares lying on the ground exhausted and a blue alicorn lying asleep. He heard the groans of the mares as he turned his armor back into its default form.
"Everypony ok? Asked Applejack as she looked around.
"My tail grew back!" Shouted an enthusiastic Rarity.
"Oh my, it looked lovely." Complimented Fluttershy.
"I know. I'll never part with it again!" She said hugging her tail.
"No, your necklace. It looks just like your cutie mark."
"It looks like ll of your cutie marks actually." Said Skystrike as he rubbed dust off his armor.
"Jeez Twilight, Mr. Nebula, I thought y'all were just spoutin' a lot ah hooey, but it looks like it happened to be true."
"Indeed it did." Said a voice as sunlight shone from above. Sky Strikes eyes widened, recognizing the voice instantly. The sun could be seen rising from the window, as Celestia herself appeared in front of the seven ponies. Everypony save for Twilight and Skystrike bowed.
"Princess Celestia!" Twilight trotting over.
"Twilight Sparkle!" She said happy to see her student in one piece. "My faithful student. I knew you could do it." Skystrike clicked his tongue as Twilight gave her a confused look.
"But you told me it was all an old ponytale?" Twilight asked.
"I told you that you need to make some friends." She said smiling. "I saw the signs of Nightmare moon's return, and I knew it was you who had the magic inside to defeat her. But you couldn't unleash it until you let true friendship into your heart." Skystrike let out a loud groan before trying to walk away. Celestia stopped him. "And of course, I would like to thank you for helping here too, Nebula."
"How about next time, don't send your student to deal with family matters. I'm going to find someplace to sleep."
"Hold on a minute!" Said Twilight. The others were too speechless to respond after what they just witnessed. "First off, you cant speak to the princess that way, second, what does she mean by 'Nebula?'"
"Twilight, please don't mind his tone, he does have a point. And I was aware that Nebula was his name?"
"Actually princess, his real name is-" She completely forgot his request from earlier. "Skystrike."
"That Skystrike?" asked Celestia.
Skystrike sighed. "The only being in equestria who can't use magic, yes. The same one that left magic elementary."
"I was wondering where you were. Many assumed the worst as to your whereabouts." Said Celestia.
"Figured."
The conversation was interrupted by a groan from behind Celestia. Skystrike quickly walked past her, looking at the blue pony lying on the ground. She let out a gasp as he offered her a hoof. She took it and got to her feet. She was on eye level with Skystrike, with a light blue mane and tail and blue eyes.
"It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this, sister." Said Celestia walking up behind the two. "It's time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together."
"Sister?" asked the mares.
"Will you accept my friendship?"
She hesitated for a minute before hugging her older sister.
"I missed you so much, big sister."
"I missed you too."
Pinkie pulled out a tissue before waterfalls came out of her eyes. Skystrike took this as his chance to leave, only to be stopped by the other princess this time.
"Wait, please." Said Luna holding out a hoof. "I can't let you go without sore sort of apology."
"Don't worry about that. Spend time with your sister. You've a thousand years to catch up on." He said as he flew out one of the broken windows. It took him less than five minutes to get to his house, or construction of his house. He found a small tree before he fell asleep under its layers of leaves. He would deal with all of his new found problems tomorrow. |
A Broken Warrior | Ticket Master | It was about five in the morning when Skystrike woke up. He had gotten about four hours of sleep before he woke up to his natural alarm clock. He jumped down from the ranch he was sleeping on, the armor he wore clanking as he landed.. Multiple cracks and pops could be heard as he stretched out his limbs. He rubbed his eyes as he looked around. The sun still hasn't risen yet, and very few birds have even started chirping. Letting out a yawn, his mask mouth opening with his own, he walked over to a large boulder near the scaffolding of his house. It was roughly the size himself.As of right now, that was the closest he was going to get as a weight. As he lifted the boulder with a grunt and put it on his back, he began doing push ups, though his back legs were off the ground. To a normal pony, this would be jaw dropping, though Skystrike has been doing this for years.
After finishing 100, he put his back legs on the ground and put his front legs behind him. He began doing wing pushups at a much slower rate than the pushups he was doing earlier. They were much harder to do than the ones he did earlier, with the wings being much more frail. The bones and muscles in his wings were tired, making weird popping sounds begging him to stop. He listened to their pleas, stopping after doing another 100. He had three more things to do before his work out routine was done.
He stood up with the boulder still resting on his back. He leaned back, letting the boulder slide off before picking it up with his front hooves and holding it over his head. He stood up straight, standing on his hind legs before beginning to do squats. He exhaled every time he went down, inhaling every time he went up. After finishing his 100, he threw it over him, landing in front of him with a large boom. The trees shook at the impact, leaves falling and birds flying away. He panted heavily as he looked in the top corner of the inside of his mask. It was 5:30 a.m. He sighed as he pulled out a bottle of water from his saddle bag, drinking the whole thing in one breath.
His fourth task was 100 sit ups. He went to the scaffoldings and flew up to a horizontal bar, He sat on it and put his hands behind his head, leaning back to the point where his back was almost perpendicular to the ground. He breathed out as he came up as he kept his eyes closed, trying not to get dizzy. He finished his hundred before flying down, landing next to the boulder he was lifting earlier. He checked the time 5:35 a.m.
He began running around the edge of the land he owned. It was about 5 square miles, though one square was completely overrun by the everfree forest. He made sure to run at least 1 mile a day. He has been able to do this for almost four years now, so he made a new challenge for himself. He adds another two miles to his run each year. It was a relatively new challenge for himself, only starting two years ago. He was working to increase his stamina, being the lesser of his focus for a while now. He was two miles in before he sped up his pace. He ran through the trees, side stepping left to right to dodge the pines he was running through. He finished his run sweating heavily. Multiple flaps of armor opened, instantly letting out the steam from his body that built up during his workout. He checked the time. 5:55 a.m.
He got back to his house, leaning on the boulder next to it, catching his breath. The sun just rose as the time struck 6:00 a.m. He waited a few minutes before getting up and walking to the nearby lake. He took off his armor and saddle bag. He had a bulky figure, multiple scars all over his body, mostly on his sides and belly. He got into the lake, the cool water enveloping his body as he went deeper. Now hip deep in the water, he began washing himself. The water around him turned slightly brown from the dirt on him. He spent about half an hour in the lake before getting out and shaking the water off himself. Putting back on his armor and saddle bag, he made his way back to the making of his home. "Time to get back to work." He said to himself as he pulled out a tool set and began working on his house.
It was about 9:00 a.m. Twilight and Spike were walking out of the library, the former having a determined look on her face. Spike let out a yawn as he rode on Twilights back. The unicorn walked through Ponyville in silence until spike spoke up.
"Why do you think he hid his identity from you and your friends?" He asked, looking at twilight.
She stayed silent for a minute, thinking. She then spoke carefully. "I don't know spike, but if we knew each other and he knew the others, he had to have a reason."
"What do you think it is? I mean, since he showed us yesterday, it couldn't have been that good of one."
"I don't know spike." Sad a slightly annoyed Twilight.
"Do you think he'll tell us the truth?"
"I don't know spike!" She said with a groan. Spike quickly stopped talking at this outburst.
After another few minutes of silence, they arrived at Skystrike place. He had was cottage-like, having a olden style architecture with stone walls and clay roof tiles. The corners were made of wood, as well as the edges of the roof. Twilight walked up to the door and knocked on it. Skystrike answered the door, opening it and staring into the mare's purple eyes.
"Hey Twilight, need something?" He asked not breaking eye contact.
She responded quickly. "We need you to come with us."
"Why?" He asked, confused by the sudden demand.
"There's... some ponies who want to see you at the library." She said avoiding his eye contact.
"Alright. I have a few hours to spare." He said stepping out from his house, locking the door behind him. "Who are they?"
"Umm..." Twilight stuttered. Whoever they were, Twilight was sure he wouldn't want to see them. "Friends of yours?" She answered after a few seconds of silence. Spike rolled his eyes and rested his head on his hands as Skystrike inwardly raised an eyebrow.
"Twilight, if you learned anything about me during my time in magic school, you should know that I rarely make friends." He said as Twilight chuckled nervously. He let out a sigh. "I'll humor you for now. I assume they're at the library you reside in?"
She let out a sigh of relief. "Yes, we shouldn't keep them waiting." She said gladly before she gestured for him to walk beside her. He began walking beside her, making their way towards Ponyville. The two ponies and dragon walked for a few minutes before Skystrike spoke up, deciding to make small talk.
"So how have you and the others been?"
"I've been fine, and my studies under the princess have been going well. And what do you mean by others?"
"You know, Twinkleshine, Minuette, Lemon Hearts, Moon Dancer, Lyra."
"Oh..." She said, a sad frown forming on her face. "I haven't really been keeping in contact with them." She said in a sad tone. "Lyra moved about six years after you left though. Speaking of leaving, why did you leave? From what the others told me, you only left all of us a note saying goodbye?"
He kept looking forward as he recomposing himself. He gave her a straight answer. "Let's just say I had family matters. The outcome of it made me stay away from Canterlot. I'd prefer not to get into the details." He said that last sentence not as a request, but more of a demand. Twilight took the hint and noted not to ask about it.
"Where did you go after Canterlot then?" Asked a curious Spike. Twilight shot him a look, but the look quickly changed to surprise at Skystrike answer to the question.
"I traveled mostly. Spent a few years in Cloudsdale, another year on a rock farm. By the time I was about 15 I was working with the Wonderbolts. Left after a few months, then I started exploring places in and outside of Equestria." He said looking back on his past. "When I was exploring, I was under the alias of Atlas Nebula. Didn't realize how popular I became until I visited Manehattan."
"It must've been fun travelling so much. I wish I could do that." Said spike, admiring him. Twilight rolled her eyes.
"We're here." She said in relief as she pushed the door open. She galloped inside, Skystrike strutting behind her. He stopped in his tracks as soon as he saw the ponies she wanted him to meet. The two alicorn princess' were sitting at a table sipping their tea. Celestia and Skystrike made eye contact, the former smiling. Skystrike pressed the button under his jaw, letting his features show. Twilight bowed as Skystrike stood still.
"What are you doing?" She whispered to him. "Bow!"
"It's quite alright Twilight Sparkle." Luna spoke to her in a booming voice. "On this day, we wish to speaketh with thou as equals." She finished, turning to Skystrike as she poured him a cup of tea, setting it on the table..
He replied flatly. "Alright." He walked up to the table the two princesses were sitting at. He sat down, ready to start the conversation.
"So, what do you need?"
Celestia spoke up. "Well first off, we want to know how your set of armor works and who it was made by. No pony has seen anything like it."
"Because I made it." He answered quickly. "And no, I will not tell you how to make it." He said cutting Celestia off before she could ask.
"Ok then. May I ask where you've been staying? When I noticed Atlas Nebula making a name for himself, I failed to get in contact with him. As for you, many of your classmates and I thought you... perished."
He rubbed his chin. "Not surprised. I'm surprised that many cared for somepony like me. I'll try and get back in touch with everyone, let them know I'm alive and kicking."
"Very well." Celestia started. "I would like to know how you're doing though. It's been 8 years if I counted correctly?"
His stern look stayed on his face as he nodded.
"You two know each other?" Twilight asked. "Personally?"
Skystrike thought for a moment before answering. "In a sense. I declined being her personal student when I was about nine or ten."
Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Why would you decline that?! You do realize you missed a once in a lifetime chance?"
"Please do understand my student" Celestia tried to call down Twilight. "From what he has told me, he wished to have a somewhat normal life. Being my student would attract unwanted attention."
Skystrike nodded again. "Now, if I may ask you Luna, I don't think you came along as a sideshow attraction?"
Luna chuckled lightly at this, as Twilight was now sweating bullets. "Thou art correct, Skystrike Nebula." She said in her royal canterlot voice. "We still wish to repay thou for thou's effort in helping us." Skystrike raised an eyebrow at this as the Princess of The night made a scroll appear out of thin air and floated it towards him. He raised his hoof and grabbed it. He opened the scroll and read through it, before pulling out three tickets.
"The grand galloping gala shall arrive in a few months from now. I trust that you will accompany us?"
Skystrike's eyes widened a bit at that last sentence. He looked at the tickets. Then back at Luna. Then the tickets again. This went on for a few seconds before he made his words into thoughts. "Are you asking me out?"
Luna's face turned purple from the blush she tried to hide as she stuttered for a bit. "Wha- Um... No. W- We didn't mean it like that..." She said as Celestia held a hoof over her mouth giggling. "Anyway... that was all that we had to say to you. Let us go, sister." Luna said standing up, the blush still on her face. Celestia stood.
"Goodbye Twilight, Skystrike. I hope to see you at the gala." She said giving The purple pony her own scroll, walking out the door to entourage of Royal guards waiting outside for them.
Twilight let out a sigh of relief, before giving the armored pony an angry look. "What in the hay were you thinking talking to the princesses like that? You could've been banished!"
"But I wasn't, was I?" He said turning toward Twilight. He gave her an uncaring look. "Besides, I specifically remember that she wished to speak with me as an equal?" He finished as his collar took it's helmet shape.
Twilight stuttered for a but, before giving up with a sigh. She read the letter that her mentor gave to her. Her normal smile came back as she clapped her hooves.
"OhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygosh!" She said as she hopped around the room. She stopped mid jump as the door opened, Applejack walking in.
"Well hello Twilight, Skystrike." He nodded his head in greeting. "I'm just here to see if y'all wanted to come with me to Sweet Apple Acres." She said before pointing to two buckets full of apples on her back. "I could use the help, if ya dont mind."
"Of course! Just let me get Spike!" Twilight said before trotting upstairs.
"I'll pass." Skystrike said catching the earth pony's attention. I planned on exploring the town. You and the other ponies decided to hide for the last few weeks."
She chuckled nervously at his response. "Sorry about that. You just seemed..."
"Intimidating?"
"More or less." She said as she shrugged her shoulders, chuckling again. "But ya gotta cut us some slack, don't ya?"
He was the one to shrug his shoulders this time. "I suppose."
Twilight came down the stairs, a tired spike on her back yawning. "Are you ready to go?"
"You betcha!" Applejack gladly said as the two walked out the door, Skystrike in tow. They waved bye to each other before they went their separate ways. It was about noon, as most ponies were running about, looking for stores to eat at. He to was looking for a quick snack. He looked around for a little while looking over the menus.
"Hay burger is a maybe..." He spoke to himself. "I kinda feel like a salad?" He said as he tried to rubbed his chin, his helmet getting in the way. "Or maybe some fruit?"
A beige pony with a pigment blue mane with a rose pink streak walked up next to him. "Um, excuse me, Mr. Nebula?"
"Why hello there." He said turning to the mare. "And please, call me Nebula."
"Alright. My name is Bon Bon. I was at the party yesterday." She said, hoping that he'd remember her.
"Sorry, don't think I saw you, though I will remember your name. So, what do you need?"
"Oh, right!" She said, getting back to her original goal. "I saw that you were looking for something to eat. I know a place that has good salads. I'm meeting up with a friend for lunch. Would you like to come?" She asked, smiling at him.
"Sure, but why?" He asked. Many of the ponies he met before mostly cared for themselves, and the ones who didn't wanted to use him for their own gain. You could say that he was hesitant at the offer."
"Well, no offense, but you seemed kind of lonely at Pinkie's party..." She said, rubbing her chin as she averted her gaze. "I just wanted to be your friend?" She said, staring into his blue eyes.
"None taken, and I appreciate that." He said thankfully. Now, where's this restaurant at? I'm hungry."
"It's just down the street." She said, turning around and waiving a hoof for Skystrike to follow. He started walking next to her, making their way to the restaurant. "So how are you enjoying your stay in Ponyville so far?" She started, trying to make idle conversation.
"Aside from people hiding in the stores when I was walking around for the past few weeks?" He asked sarcastically. "Dandy."
She giggled at his answer. "We are sorry for that. Ponyville doesn't do well with visitors like yourself."
"I can see that." He said chuckling to himself. "I just hope no pony else has to go through something like that."
"Oh, we're here!." She said stopping before looking around. It looked like your average cafe, even having an outdoor section. A few circular tables littered the area. A pale magenta earth pony with a lime mane and tail waved at the two. "That's her." Bon Bon said as she galloped to the table she was sitting at. The pony didn't expect Skystrike to follow behind, her eyes widening in response. The two sat down, Bon bon sitting next to the mare.
"This is my friend Daisy." Bon bon introduced the mare.
"Hello..." She said sheepishly, obviously nervous.
"Hey, how's it going?" He replied.
"I'm doing good..." She replied, not making eye contact. A moment of awkward silence passed by, before a waiter came to the table, putting a menu in front of each of them. The three looked over the menu, studying each option before ordering. The waiter came back, taking their food off the platter he was holding and setting them in front of the ponies. The three got in a conversation, Skystrike staying quiet mostly, eating his large salad. The two mares occasionally looked in his direction, seeing his helmet partially open, and him stuffing himself, large crunching sounds coming from the lettuce he was eating. Daisy said something that caught Skystrikes interest.
"Oh, did you see the Princess earlier? She was at the library." She started.
"I did, and did you see the blue one? Apparently that was her sister. Wonder what they were here for?"
"She wanted to talk to me about what happened at the celebration." He said as he wiped his face, a large empty bowl in front of him. "She and her sister wanted to award me for my help."
Daisy looked at him. "You mean you went after Nightmare Moon?"
"I can't decide!" Their attention was swerved to Twilight yelling at the table she was sitting at. Skystrike quickly got back to answering Daisy's question.
"Yes." He said that like it's nothing. "I became a warrior to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Me not doing anything is me not keeping a promise to myself."
"So what did she give you? If you don't mind me asking." Bon Bon asked curiously.
Little did he know, telling her would be the biggest mistake he would make today. "The Grand Galloping Gala." He said, pulling out the golden ticket and reading it. "I got three for some reason though..."
"The Grand Galloping Gala?!" The two girls said in sync before squealing.
"I can't believe it! I always wanted to go!" Bon Bon said enthusiastically.
Daisy was about to speak, before it started to rain heavily. The two quickly ran inside the cafe, though Skystrike stayed outside. He looked up at the sudden rain clouds, drops of water hitting his helmet, a quiet metallic sound being the product. His attention was torn from the clouds to see Spike and Twilight sitting at their table, the two beginning to eat their food.
"Um, madam? Sir?" He began, looking at Twilight and Skystrike trotting towards her. "Are you going to eat your food in ze rain?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It's not raining." Twilight replied, looking around. She was then proven wrong when she turned to see a wet Skystrike and rain pouring down around her. "What's going on?" She questioned as she looked up, Rainbow Dash appearing out of a hole in the clouds.
"Hi there best friend forever I've ever had! Enjoying the sunny weather?" She asked, giving her widest smile.
"Rainbow Dash..." Twilight growled angrily. "What are you doing?"
"What do you mean? I just saw the smartest, and coolest pony about to get rained on, so I thought I'd kick a hole in the clouds so she could eat in peace, that's all!" She replied innocently, making Twilight raise her eyebrow.
"Then why didn't you kick a hole for Skystrike? He has tickets too?" Spike said, not stopping his pace at eating his hay fries.
"He does?" Rainbow asked, thinking of ways to get one from him.
"Rainbow, you're not doing extra favors to make me give you an extra ticket, are you?" Twilight asked, putting emphasis on the extras and drawing out the last word.
"Me? Pfft, no no no, of course not!" She said, smiling again.
"Uh huh." Twilight said, eyebrow still raised.
"No seriously, I'd do this for anypony."
Twilight looked around, seeing multiple ponies running, trying to get away from the rain. Rainbow noticed this to, an awkward laugh being the response.
"Rainbow, I am not comfortable accepting unwanted favors, and Id appreciate it if you closed that rain cloud right now!"
Rainbow let out an annoyed sigh. "Fine." She said before zipping the cloud shut.
"You did not think that through, did you?" Skystrike asked, face hoofing.
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked confused. The rain then poured down on her, ruining her mane and sandwich. She groaned as spike tried his best to hold in his laughter.
"Twilight, Skystrike! It's raining!" Rarity said in worry.
"No really?" Twilight responded annoyed.
"You don't say?" Skystrike said sarcastically.
"Come with me before you catch a cold!" She said, pulling Twilight off her seat. Skystrike gestured for Spike to sit on his back. He hopped on and the two followed behind.
The group appeared inside of the Carousel Boutique, Twilight shaking off the water. She didn't realize Rarity behind her. "Wops.. Sorry about that..." Twilight apologized to the drenched Rarity.
Her look of annoyance quickly turned to one of forgiveness. "Oh no, it's quite alright. After all, we are the best of friends! Are we not?" She said buttering up to Twilight. "And you know what the best of friends do? Make over!" She said, jumping into the air.
She ran off, coming back with a dividing screen, going behind it with Twilight. Multiple sounds could be heard as the place rocked, ranging to machinery to a hand saw. Rarity Then pushed the screen away, revealing Twilight wearing a blueish purple saddle and a necklace with various gems on it.
"Why darling, you look simply dashing!" Rarity complemented.
"Uh, yeah! It is kinda pretty, isn't it?" Twilight said, looking over her outfit.
Rarity then zoomed over to spike. "And you! Well Spike,you must have an outfit too!" The screen came back. She went to work on Spike, despite his yells of protest. He was then revealed wearing a royal blue frilly outfit with a blond wig to match. "Now you just need a hat to go with it!" Rarity clarified before coming back with a black mantine, a golden feather sticking out.
"Uh uh! I don't want none of this girly gala gunk! I'll be in the library." Spike ran out the door, leaving his clothes behind.
"That's a shame, but of course, we can't forget you!" She said turning to the pegasus. She pulled out the screen once more, but was stopped by his hoof holding the screen in place.
"Sorry but i'm not looking for an outfit. Besides, if you two are the best of friends, you probably shouldn't be doing this just for the ticket, should you? And judging from the same outfit Twilight's wearing over there..." He pointed a hoof at an exact replica. "Meeting us at the cafe wasn't a coincidence."
She lowered her head at this, biting her lip. Twilight shook her head, getting out of the trance she was in from her reflection in the mirror. "So that's what this was about. You were just buttering me up so I'd give you the extra ticket. Well it's not gonna work!" She said as she threw off her outfit, said outfit going over Rarity's head. "You're just going to have to wait for my decision like everypony else! Now, if you'll excuse me, I've been trying all day just to get some lunch!" She finished, about to slam the door behind her. What stopped her from doing this was an orange earth pony butting in.
"Did somepony say lunch?" Applejack said, pulling Twilight and Skystrike out the door. Skystrike caught himself before the fall, Twilight wasn't so lucky, falling on her face. The two looked up, seeing a large wagon full of various apple products.
"You gotta be kidding me!" Twilight said irritated.
"I got apple pie, apple fritter, apple dumplings, apple tarts, apple crumbles, apple crisps, and apple brown betty!" She said, holding up a slice for Twilight, and a second for Skystrike. "For dessert, of course. What do you say there, best friends?" She asked, her brightest smile she could give was on her face. Twilight however, was not sharing her enthusiasm, her belly rumbling instead. Steam was now coming out of her ears as she glared at Applejack.
"No, no! I just don't know who im giving the ticket to, and all these flavors aren't making it any easier to decide. In fact, im less sure now than I was this morning! Ugh!" She finished before running off, Applejack starring in confusion. She then looked nervously at Skystrike.
"So, thats a maybe?" She said as Skystrike face hoffed again. Deciding to go after Twilight, he trotted up to her, keeping pace with her speed.
He followed the unicorn to the library, a sad Twilight lurking outside the door..
"Ugh, never thought being showered in favors would be so aggravating!" She said frustrated.
"I know the feeling Twilight." Skystrike pitched in.
She looked back at him. "Well, at least someone isn't begging for a ticket..." She said grumbling before opening the door to see Fluttershy cleaning the Library, her birds helping her.
"Fluttershy, not you too..." She sighed in disbelief.
"Oh, hello Twilight and Skystrike." She said pausing her work. "Hope you don't mind, but were all doing a little spring cleaning for you." She said gently.
"It's summer." The two said in united before looking at each other.
"Jinx, you owe me a soda." Skystrike said quickly.
"Really? Now?" She said even more annoyed than earlier. This caused a chuckle to come out of his mouth.
"Well, better late than never, right?" Fluttershy said, blushing in embarrassment. "It was Angel's idea." She said proudly, looking towards a bunny making a salad.
Skystrike look directly into sky blue eyes. "You know full well you didn't do this out of the kindness of your heart, despite that being your element."
"No im not!" She said acting hurt. "I'm doing this because you two are my very best friends! I tried to clean yours too, but it was locked."
Twilight raised an eyebrow as Angel bought her the salad he was making. Skystrike just sighed. Despite her stomach rumbling again, she declined the salad and Fluttershy's help. "No, no, no!" She said before starting to walk to the door, Skystrike waiting there. "It was very nice of you and Angel, but I'm not accepting any other favors until I made my final decision!" She opened the door. "So I'm going to have to ask you to leave.
"Surprise!" A group of ponies said before blowing party horns and pulling Twilight out. They started throwing her into the air, Pinkie singing while doing so.
"Twilight is my bestest friend as anyone could be!"
"Whoopie!"
"The cutest, smartest, all around best pony!"
"Pony!"
"Thank you." Twilight said interrupting the song, slightly annoyed..
"My friend, I'd throw a super duper fun party!"
Twilight now had her hooves crossed, before falling back down into the crowd.
"So she'll give the extra ticket to the gala to me!"
"Pinkie!!" Twilight yelled drawing out her name.
All the ponies throwing her backed away, letting her fall to the ground with a thud.
"Yes Twilight?" She said, fluttering her eyes.
"At least the other ponies tried to be subtle about the tickets." She said sitting up.
"Wait, what ticket? What gala?" A pony from the crowd asked.
"Oh, you didn't know?" Pinkie said innocently, more ponies joining the crowd. "Twilight has an extra ticket to the Grand galloping gala!"
"The Grand galloping gala?!" All the ponies said in sync.
"Yeah! I mean, he does too, but his name didn't fit my song." She said pointing to Skystrike. Both his and Twilight's eyes widened in response to Pinkie's disclosure. Just as she finished that sentence, everypony in sight bombarded them in complements. Spike ran by, pulling the two along with him. They were stopped by Daisy holding up a pair of flowers.
"I can help you with your gardening!" She said before the trio ran in the other direction before being stopped again.
"I have a cart load of extra carrots!"
"I'll paint your house!" I'll cut your grass."
A scared Spike climbed onto Twilights back. "What are we gonna do?" He asked worried.
"The only thing we can." He said,digging his hooves into the ground. "Run."
The took off, leaving the ponies in the dust. The crowd followed just behind them. They were chased through mainstreet, quickly hiding behind Applejack's wagon from earlier. They were noticed once again by two ponies, one from inside a house, and another under the food in the wagon. The trio was forced to run again, the crowd after them again.
The three quickly put on a disguise, looking like a married couple, Soike acking as the baby in a carriage. Twilight let out a sigh of relief, before being noticed by a pony who stopped and looked back at the three.
Running for the third time, they hid under a bridge, the stampede of ponies running over it. Spike lost his grip and fell with a loud splash, making the herd chase them once more.
They were finally caught, now backed into a corner by the ponies in pursuit. Twilight charged up her horn, teleporting herself and Spike away. They all then stared at Skystrike. Inwardly cursing at himself for magic not working on him, he stood up and dug his hooves into the ground. The ponies got closer, continuing to offer him favors. Finally, he jumped into the air, and with a flap of his wings, flew straight up, a royal blue trail following behind him. He flew at speeds rivaling Rainbow Dash's. He refused to stop until he got to his destination. The library. He appeared and flew into an open window, stopping moments before he hit the ground. He looked to his left to see a dazed Twilight and extremely burnt spike.
"Sorry, I didn't even know that was going to happen." Twilight said looking at Spike.
"Just... warn me next time..." He responded, coughing up smoke.
"Quick, lock the doors!" She said about to run to one before seeing Skystrike already doing so.
"Turn all the lights off!" He said as Twilight and Spike quickly did so, running up the stairs, turning lights off as they came back down.
Twilight and Spike laid against each other as Skystrike sat down, each letting out a sigh of relief, until his ears perked up. "We aren't alone in here..." He said cautiously before the light flicked on, revealing the five ponies who have been bugging them for the whole afternoon, each smiling at the two. Twilight yelled out in stress before lying on the floor. Skystrike reaction was far different.
"God dammit!!" he yelled, clenching his hooves.
"What's wrong with you two?" Rainbow said worried.
"The hell do you think is...!?" He stopped his outburst mid sentence. "You five have been bugging Twilight so much today. You honestly think she can decide to give any of you a ticket when acting like this? I mean look at her." He pointed to the mare, nearly on the verge of tears, hooves over her head. "I'm sure you all have good reasons, considering why she hasn't decided yet, but out of your own greed, you put herr through so much stress. She doesn't want to disappoint you, as her friends, yet you're making it no easier for her to decide, doing these over the top favors for her, and acting like you're best friends."He finished his short rant, looking at the ponies, most of them looking down at the floor, while Applejack hid her face with her hat.
He quickly started one of the ponies straight in the eyes. "Rainbow, what reason do you have to go?" He said as his stare hardened.
"The wonderbolts perform every year, and I want to see them show their skills." She said backing away slightly. "I want to show them mine while i'm there?" She finished, hoping ky strike would accept the answer."
Skystrike walked to hid right, now eying Applejack. "Yours?"
She placed her hat back on her head. "I plan on selling our farm products so I can help out the family and fix up the barn." She said quickly
"Pinkie?"
"All the goodies, and pinatas, and fun, and cupcakes, and games, and fun, and..." She said quickly before Skystrike held up a hoof causing her to stop.
"I get it Pinkie. Ok, what about you Rarity."
She stood up straight, military like. "I... I want to make my name known throughout Canterlot, and find my true love... Prince Blueblood." She said with a slight blush as she held her hoof up, trying to hide it.
Skystrike face hoofed. "Fluttershy?"
"Um... I want to explore the Canterlot garden and make friends with all the critters. The garden is said to be the most beautiful place.
After the last finished her reason, he backed away, turning his back to them a moment of silence went by before Skystrike cleared his throat.
""Alright, you all have your own reasons, and each is... somewhat understandable, by my views on your reasons can wait. Right now, pretty sure you need to fix some things with your friend." He finished, causing Twilight's ears to perk up. The five mares began to walk over to her, each starting to apologize.
Applejack placed a hoof on her head before speaking. "Sugarcube, ah didn't mean to put pressure on you, and if it helps, I don't want the ticket anyway. You can give it to somepony else. I won't feel bad, I promise." She finished, trying to make the unicorn feel better.
"Me too." Fluttershy pitched in. "I feel so awful that I made you feel so awful."
"And me too." Chipped in Pinkie. "It's no fun upsetting your friends."
"Twilight, it was unfair of us to try and force you to chose between us."
"Yes! That means the ticket is mine! I got the ticket~ I got the ticket~" Rainbow sang to herself, causing everyone to glare at her. Skystrike however reacted different. He flew up to the pegasus just high enough to be eye level. He showed his face, his blue eyes stared directly into her magenta eyes. His intimidation worked. "On second thought, I haven't perfected my signature moves for the wonderbolts anyway. I don't need the ticket either." She said nervously, trying to get the others approval.
"We were so hung on going to the gala, we couldn't see how unhung we were making you." Applejack said for the group.
"We're sorry Twilight." The five said in unison.
Twilight was now feeling much better as a slight smile crept back on her face. "Spike, take a note." She said holding up a hoof. As she began speaking to Sipke what to write down.
"Dear Princess Celestia, I've learned that one of the joys of friendship is sharing your blessings, but when there's not enough blessings to go around, having more than your friends makes you feel really awful. So, though I appreciate the invitation, I will be returning both tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala."
"What!?" Everyone save for Skystrike and Spike said in sync as she placed the tickets in the letter.
"If all of my friends cant go, I don't want to go either." She said turning to her friends with a smile.
"Twilight, you don't have to do this!" Applejack said trying to stop her.
"Nope! I've made up my mind. Spike, send the letter." She said without hesitation as Spike opened the window, setting the letter on fire, the ashes going off into the sky.
"But you can't go to the gala either?" Fluttershy said worried.
"It's ok girls." Twilight reassured them. I couldn't possibly enjoy myself without my best friends there with me." She finished as the mares entered the group hug. "So i'd rather not go at all. What about you, Skystrike, are you staying?"
They all turned to him, expecting an answer. "Wish i could. I cant because of two main reasons. One, Luna herself invited me, and two, I'd probably be requested to guard someone again."
"Again?" Applejack asked.
"Not my first time being to the gala." He answered plainly. Spike began gagging.
"Why wallop my whiskers spike! Isn't that just like a boy, cant handle the least bit of sentiment." Applejack said in response to his actions.
"First off, we have sentimentality to, second off, duck." He said as Spike let out a burp, fire coming out along with magic. The magic swirled in the air before materializing into a letter.
"A letter from the princess? That was fast." Twilight said, excited to see what the princess responded with. Spike grabbed the letter and began reading.
"My faithful student, Twilight. Why didn't you just say so in the first place?" HE said with an odd look as six golden tickets appeared in the letter. "Six tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala! Wow!"
"Now we can all go!" Twilight said as they all began cheering before Twilight's stomach grumbled again.
"Allow us to treat you to dinner. You to Skystrike!" Rarity said happily. Spike held the door open for the mares, each taking a ticket from his hand as they passed.
Skystrike shrugged to himself. 'Why not.' He thought to himself. He was about to leave before hearing a sad dragon mumbling to himself.
"Why don't I get a ticket?" He said looking at the floor.
Skystrike bent down and rubbed his head. "She may not be reliable, but she always comes through when she's needed." As soon as he finished, Spike burped up another letter.
"And one for you, Spike." He said, pulling out a ticket as he giggled happily out the door, stopping when Applejack looked at him smugly, crossing her hooves. Spike giggled to himself as he walked past her, Skystrike following. They caught up with the group who was a few feet ahead. Halfway to the restaurant, a sudden realization his Skystrike.
"God damnit." He said, causing everyone to look at him.
"What?" Twilight asked worried.
"...I forgot my tea from earlier." |
A Broken Warrior | Applebuck Season | Waking up with a yawn, Skystrike got out of bed. He went to the bathroom, the tiled floor tapping as he walked across it. He looked in the mirror and brushed his teeth, getting out any plack that was once there. He spat out the toothpaste and rinsed it down the drain. Looking out the window, he saw that the sun was just about to rise. He walked outside and took a quick glance at his house. The small hut he once had has been refurbished into an entrance room. A large two storied building was behind it, a door inside connecting the two. To the right of his house was a part under construction, the scaffolding still there.
"I'll work on that later." He said with a sigh. He stretched his limbs, his metal arm creaking in response. He quickly put his arm out straight, signaling for his armor to come. Pieces of black metal flew towards him, coming out of the windows of his bedroom. The metal slowed down as they neared him. They started around his chest, combining to make his chestplate. They then moved to his legs, starting at his hooves and moving their way up. His helmet instantly turned on and formed around his head.
"Armor online. Current mode: Balanced" Echo said, giving a status report. "Good morning, Skystrike."
"Morning." He said, greeting his friend. "I'm about to start my work out. Can you time me at each section."
"Of course." He said. A small digital timer appeared in the helmet, Skystrike being able to see it. "Start when ready."
"Your time has decreased by 12 seconds. Impressive." Echo said comparing his last time.
'Nice' He thought to himself as he went inside his house. He went to the kitchen and took out same things from the fridge. Milk, Hay bacon, eggs, and hashbrowns. He opened one of his cabinets and pulled out a frying pan. He turned on the stove, allowing for the pan to heat up before throwing on all of the food. The food was making a sizzling sound as it was cooking. Skystrike inwardly thanked himself as the oil popped on his armored hoof. After a few minutes, his food was done. He put all of it on a plate and set it at the table in the living room. He poured himself a glass or milk before digging into his food. He quickly cleaned up and walked out the door.
He was now heading towards town, planning to find something to do. Besides Nightmare moon and Twilight's breakdown, the last few days have been uneventful to say the least. Being an adventurer meant something different each day. He began wondering if he made the wrong choice settling down this early. He didn't. The ground began to shake as the sound of hoof steps could be heard in the distance. He knew full well what it was, as it wasn't the first time he's seen one.
"STAMPEEEEEEEEDE!!" He heard Rainbow shout from the air. He then heard loud 'Moos' from the same direction that the trampling came from. He flew up into the air to get a better view. Many cows were running towards Ponyville at an alarming pace. Multiple ponies were running around, getting into their houses and locking their doors.
Pinkie however, was laughing. "Hey, this makes my voice sound silly!" She said, her voice distorted from the small earthquake.
"Pinkie, are you crazy? Run!" Twilight shouted before running around like the other ponies.
"Everypony, calm down!" Mayor Mare said, trying to stop the panic.
"But mayor, whatever shall we do?" Rarity said, putting a hoof over her head in anguish.
"Let Applejack handle it." Skystrike said, landing next to Rarity.
"What do you mean?" She said confused.
"Look over there!" Rainbow said pointing to a pony running alongside the stampede.
Sure enough, Applejack and her dog was running beside the cows as the crowd cheered for her.
"Other side, Winona!" She said as her dog barked back before moving to the other side. The pony and dog worked together to move the cows close together. Skystrike smelt butter before looking over to see Pinkie eating popcorn and Rarity acting like she's about to faint. He rolled his eyes before looking back at Applejack.
"Come on, lil' doggies. Turn!" Applejack said nudging one of the cows towards the herd., letting out a Moo in response. She whistled, getting Winnona's attention. "Put em up Winnona!"
The dog barked before jumping from cow to cow, riding on their backs before landing in front of them, leading the herd. Applejack got on a cows back before pulling out a lasso and grabbing the lead cow. She joined Winnona at the front and pulled hard on her lasso, narrowly causing the cows to avoid the town. The crowd of Ponies cheered for her, Pinkie even holding up a flag.
Applejack pulled them to a stop before throwing the lasso away. She turned to look at the cows. "Now what was that all about?"
"Moooooooo." One cow started before clearing her throat. "Oh my! Begging your pardon Applejack, but Moorealla here was startled because of a snake." All of the cows ears perked up to the mention of a snake. "And it just gave us all the willies, dontcha know?"
"Why I completely understand, just next time, try and steer clear of Ponyville."
"We certainly will, Applejack." The cow said as the herd began walking away. "So long, Winnona~" She said before joining the herd. Winona barked a goodbye.
Applejack stood in front of the crowd of ponies, receiving more cheers from them. She ran towards her friends.
"Woohoo! Ride em' cow pony!" An ecstatic pinkie said as she began doing flips.
"Why Applejack, that was just... just..." Mayor mare paused, looking for the right word to say.
"Apple-tastic!" Pinkie pitched in from above before falling down.
"Gotta say, that was something else." Skystrike said.
"I must say Applejack, you must be rewarded for single hoofedly saving the town." Mayor mare began.
Pinkie let out a gasp. "I know! We could throw... A party!"
"That's a great idea! Can it be ready by next week?"
"Okie Dokie lokie!" She said before running off.
"Hey uh, Skyst-" Rainbow was cut off by Skystrike's hoof over her mouth.
"Please call me Nebula in public. Very few know im alive remember?" He said to both Rainbow and the group.
"Ok then Nebula... I should've asked you way earlier, but where were you for all those years."
"Not in Equestria foor the most part." He said plainly.
"Ok, but why?"
"Family issues." He again said it plainly.
"He doesn't want to talk about it." Twilight said butting in.
"Fine..." Rainbow said giving up. She landed on the ground in defeat while Skystrike lifted himself up into the air. He flew off at high speeds towards his house, planning to finish some chores he needs done.
The ponies he left however, their jaws were on the floor.
"Wow..." Fluttershy said quietly.
"He's quite fast, even with that ghastly armor on." Rarity said, Twilight nodding in agreement.
"But I... well, he's not THAT fast..." Rainbow said, looking away.
"Not with that armor on. It's weighing him down." Twilight said observing his apparel.
"But he's still not as fast as me, right?" She let out a nervous chuckle.
"Uuuuuuuuhh..." The three said in response, causing Rainbow to fly away in Skystrikes direction
A week has passed since the stampede incident. A knock was heard from Skystrike's front door, along with the voice of the visitor.
"Skystrike? Are you awake?" Rarity said from the other side of the door. Skystrike quickly put on a crimson red cape he had hanging up, it draping over him, yet not long enough to touch the ground. It was held in place around his neck by two intertwining steel circles.
As for his right arm, he had a difficult way of hiding it. Because of his armor, he didn't need to hide it, with it looking the same. He faced the palm of his hoof towards himself, and a small holographic screen came up. It quickly scanned his face before a menu came up.
Manual Handling: Off
Appearance: Bulky
Mode: Pony
He changed the appearance to thin. Layers of armor folded in on itself before sealing itself in place. His metal limb was now the same size as his actual limb. Finally, he pulled out a white sleeve from his dresser. He put it over his metal arm and fixed his fur to make it match the artificial fur on his sleeve. It looked and felt realistic. Of course, he put on his helmet and met Rarity outside.
"Yes. what is it?"
"I need your help with Applejack's party. Everyone else is busy, do you mind helping?" She asked, trying to butter him up, even rapidly blinking her eyes to try and sway him.
He was having none of it. "That might have worked on other stallions, but it wont work on me." He said in a disappointed tone, causing her to nervously laugh. "Fine, i'll help. Let me lock up."
He stepped outside and locked the door. A small click could be hear from it. "So what do you need help with?"
"Just decorations. Ribbons, banners, you know." She said, pulling out each item from a saddle bag as she said them. "By the way, what happened to your armor? It's quite unusual to see you without."
"I was in the middle of waxing it." He said as he stretched his body. "Walking around with it half waxed is not visually appealing."
"I see. Well, we should start heading to town. It takes a while to walk here you know." She said getting ready to start walking.
"Then we have no time to lose."
"Huh? W-Wait!" she cried as Skystrike picked her up wedding style. He stood on his hind legs before letting off a strong flap of his wings, propelling him into the air. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" Rarity screamed as they took off at high speeds toward Ponyville.
It took all of two minutes to get to the town square, the rest of the main 6 save for Applejack was already there. He landed on the ground with a loud thud, a gust of wind was spread across the ground kicking up dirt and his cape. He put Rarity down hooves first, though she was frozen stiff from the shock. After she realized that she was on the ground, she breathed in large gasps of air.
"Sweet Celestia, Skystrike! What did you do?!" Rainbow said in shock.
"She said that it was a long walk here from my house, so I picked her up and flew her over here." He said, dusting dirt off of his cape and himself.
"You flew her over here because it was a long walk?!" She said in disbelief.
"I just saved us about a half hour so i'd say it was worth it. Besides, I flew slow enough so G forces wouldn't have a large effect.
"G forces?"
"The effect that gravity has on your body. I figured you learned this in school Rainbow." Twilight said looking up from a clipboard she was holding.
"That's besides the point! You can't just do that!" She said trying to get back on topic.
"Rainbow, dear, i'm fine..." Rarity said standing up. Her legs still slightly shaking. "Just, warn me next time, please?"
"Sure thing." He said before stretching out his wings. "Well, let's get started."
"And that finishes it." Rarity said as Skystrike hung a banner over town hall. "Thanks for the help Sky!"
"Don't mention it." He said as he flew down, once again kicking up dust.
"Now all we need is Applejack." Twilight said Walking towards the two ponies. "Is she ready?"
"Actually, I haven't seen her all week." Rainbow said slowly flying over.
"Not since the stampede!" Pinkie said joining in.
"Don't worry, she'll come." Twilight reassured them.
"For sure. Applejack is never late!" Rainbow agreed.
The time for the party had come. Everypony in town had come to the event. Twilight walked up onto the stage beginning to make a speech. She took out some note cards and quickly sorted through them and straightened them out before taking a deep breath. "Welcome everypony! Today, we are because of the pony we can always count on! A pony who'd contributions to-" She was cut off by Rainbow flying right next to her, her flashcards dropped to the floor.
"Did you see Applejack out there? What an athlete! This week, she helped me with y new flying trick, and I know it's going to be so awesome!" She squealed.
"Exactly!" Twilight said as she pushed the pegasus out of the way. "And-"
She was cut off again by another pony. "This week, I get to run Sugarcube corner for the first time!" Pinkie said in excitement.
"And how does that have anything to do with Applejack?" Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow.
She blinked. "Oh! She's a really good baker, and she's gonna help me! Applejack makes everything great, sofree samples for everypony!" The crowd cheered in response.
"Ok, that's great." Twilight said pushing pinkie out of the way. "If i could just make a point without being inter-"
"Twilight?" Fluttershy spoke softly.
"-rupted" She said annoyed as she moved over to let her friend share the podium.
"I'm so sorry, but I just wanted to mention that Applejack is also helping me this week with the bunny counting." Twilight rolled her eyes. "We're counting up all of the baby bunnies born this season. Shes gonna help gather them with her herding skills." She looked over at Twilight who was giving an annoyed look in return.
"Anyone else?" Twilight groaned looking into the crowd. No one came up. "No? Well then, as I was trying to say-" Mayor mare gave her a large smile. Twilight let out a loud groan as she threw her stack of cards into the air. She walked off the stage.
"And so, without further adieu, it is my privilege to give the prized pony of Ponyville award to our guest of honor. A pony who's trustworthiness and reliability and integrity. Ponyville's most capable and dependable friend, Applejack!" A curtain was pulled back to reveal the earth pony, only for her to not be there.
Skystrike tapped Spike on his head to stop his shouting. He still didn't realize that she wasn't there. He let out a chuckle in realization. Mayor mare cleared her throat as awkward silence came from everypony.
"Awkward..." Spike spoke as he scratched his arm.
"My thoughts exactly." Skystrike said as he looked above the ponies for any sign of Applejack. "Speak of the devil."
"Im here!" Applejack said from the back of the crowd. She made her way though with a large bucket of apples on her back. She yawned. "Sorry i'm late. I was just- Did i get your tail?" She stumbled onto the stage. "Ms. Mayor, thank you kindly for this here uhhh... art thingy." She yawned again. Her eyes had large bags under them. "It's quite shiny and..." She looked into her reflection off of the trophy and giggled. "I sure do look funny ont I?" She moved her head back and forth, Pinkie going up and joining her.
"Ok? We just want to say thank you Applejack for saving us from that scary stampede." Said a slightly worried Twilight. "And always being there for everypony."
She yawned again. "Yeah, I like helpin' pony folks... n' stuff." She said in between a yawn. She fell asleep on stage. Standing up.
"PPFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT" Skystrike held in a laugh, Twilight glaring at him.
Applejack quickly shook herself awake. "Huh, wuh? Yeah, thanks!" She said as she started to drag away the trophy.
"...Was it just me, or did Applejack seem a little..." Twilight was looking for the right word.
"Tired?" Rainbow said.
"Dizzy?" Fluttershy chipped in.
"Messy?" Rarity asked. Rainbow looked at her. "Well, did you see her mane?"
"She seemed fine to me!" Pinkie said as jumped up and down laughing.
"I'm going to go finish waxing my armor. Watch out for Applejack, she looks terrible." Skystrike said as he turned to leave.
"Oh yeah, what're you doing with Applejack?" Pinkie said in curiosity. "Are you going on an adventure? Are you gonna do a sword fight? Are you gonna play games? Are you-" Pinkie was cut off by Skystrike holding up a hoof..
"We aren't doing anything. I can do most things myself."
"But darling, you can't do everything by your lonesome." Rarity said.
"That's why I said most. Besides, I'm never alone." He said tapping the side of his helmet.
"Are you for real? Helmets cant talk." Rainbow said laughing.
"Are you sure about that?" Echo said in a John Cena like voice. Everyone jumped at the sudden voice.
"Who said that?" Pinkie said looking around.
"Me. The helmet on Nebula's head."
"Ooooooooo! What's your name?" She said grabbing the helmet and Skystrike's face?
"I am designated as E.I. 15, though I am referred to as Echo."
"E.I,?" Rainbow said raising an eyebrow.
"Endless intellect." Skystrike said answering her question.
"I still don't believe this 'talking helmet thing'. How do we know that you aren't just making a fake voice?"
"Ask me any question that I will know and Nebula doesn't know. This can be about anything." He said confidently.
"What order to I categorize my books?"
He paused for a second. "Sunday through Tuesday, alphabetized by author. Wednesday through Thursday, alphabetized by title. Friday and Saturday, you take out every book and dust them, check for stains, then repeat the schedule."
To Twilights surprise, he was right on the mark. Rainbow however expected this.
"I always knew you were an egg head." She said crossing her hooves.
"You have got to let me study him! He could give us so much information!" Twilight said in excitement.
"Nebula knows almost everything i know. He has a photographic memory."
"You dick. Now she'll want to do experiments on me or something."
"You said we're in this together all those years ago. You said it. Own it." Everyone laughed at Echo's roast. Twilight however inched closer.
"You must let me do some test. Aside from your armor, you have nothing else to do, right?" She said with an unsettling smile.
"I do have other things. It'll take a while."
"What are you doing? I can help it go faster."
"Um..." He quickly thought of an excuse. "I'm thinking up of names for my moves. No offense, but I think you'll be bad at it."
"Hey, I can think of great names!" She said defending herself.
"You seem like the pony that keeps your pet's species name in its name."
"Only if it fits!"
Everyone face hooved to Twilights confusion. "I'm going home..." Skystrike said in a disappointed voice.
"But-" Twilight began.
"I'm going home." He said again before flying away.
Skystrike was now sitting on top of his normal workout boulder. His front hooves were crossed and his eyes were closed. He wasn't asleep nor meditating. He, along with Echo, were thinking.
"Alright, I come down from the sky and hit the ground hard, staggering anyone around me. Any ideas?"
"Heaven Fall." Echo said after giving the name thought.
"Meteor Strike." Skystrike said competing.
"Sounds good to me." He said in approval.
"Ok, so the next one. Remember that time that I was in the air and i span towards that guy while kicking him? Why don't we call it 'fleet hoof'."
"Too simple. Remember that really old fighting game with ryu?"
He nodded. "Street fighter right? What about it?"
"We call it the 'Tatsumaki Senpukyaku'."
"First off, that's a mouthful, and second, kinda weebish." He said inwardly cringing.
"And who's here to call us a 'weeb'?"
"Your right." He said with a chuckle. They sat in silence for a few more minutes before Echo thought up a move.
"So you charge up an Incinerate spell in your hoof right?"
"Yeah..." He said, not sure where he was going.
"Then you compress it and move it to your fingers, right?"
"Is this Dragon Ball Z?" He said like he was joking. Sadly, he wasn't.
"Then you shoot it out in a straight line, right?"
"I cant believe you're doing this..." He said in disbelief.
"Then it explodes, right? Lets call it 'Special Beam Cannon'."
"Wow." He said surprised. "You even got the name the same. I don't like it. Besides, cannons don't burn things.
"That's what makes it Special." He said that as if it was obvious.
"What are you talking about?" The two were interrupted by a Twilight looking up at them.
"Nothing..." He said brushing off the previous conversation. "We will continue this later." He whispered to Echo as he hopped down from his bolder. "So what's up? From the rainbow streak that went across the sky earlier, I guess it's about Applejack?"
"Yes." She said with a sigh. "Big Macintosh injured himsalf so she decided to buck every apple herself. I was hoping you could talk to her?" She asked with pleading eyes.
He sighed. "I cant."
"But why? Don't you care about your friends?"
"Friends are ponies you can trust. It is earned, not given like an unneeded extra." He looked her straight in her purple eyes. "So far, none of you have done anything substantial to earn my trust." He turned around and got back on his boulder. "The main reason is because I'd rather not be any more of a hypocrite than I already am."
"What do you mean?"
"Twilight, for as long as you've known me, have you ever seen me ask for help or get help from anypony?"
"No, but I don't think that matters." She said boldly.
"It does. Me refusing help from ponies then offering help to the same ponies just doesn't feel right."
"But..." She was stumped on how to respond.
He let out a loud groan. "Tell you what, you get her to let the others help, and ill help too. Will that get you off my back?" He said in annoyance.
"Yes. Thank you, Sky." She said with a smile.
He grunted. She began making her way back to Ponyville as Skystrike decided to start meditating.
"What are you doing?" Echo asked.
"I'm meditating!"
"You're not meditating, you're sleeping, I know the difference!"
"We came as soon as we heard!" Twilight said to the nurse.
"What the hell happened!? Skystrike yelled.
"Thank you both for coming. We need all the help we can get!" She pulled back the curtain to see over a dozen ponies sick, one puking in a bucket. Some he knew.
"It was a mishap of home of the baked goods.
"More like baked bads." Skystrike laughed to himself as he walked inside, everypony groaning save for one.
"Heh heh... I get it..." Pinkie said before barfing.
"Alright, I got this." Skystrike said before stopping at one of the beds.
"Nebula, we have medical training. We just need you to-" The nurse was cut off by Skystrike speaking over her.
"Do you know how many times ive had to take care of myself out there?" Broken bones, poison, heat stroke, frostbite, etcetera. I know what I need to do." He said as he opened up his saddlebag. Inside were a large amount of small red vials with corks on each one. He walked up to a grey pegasus, getting ready to barf in the bucket under her head.
"Hey Derpy." He said looking at the mare.
"Oh hey, Mr. Nebula." She said in an uneasy voice. She barfed in the bucket as her face turned green. "How are you?" She said looking up at him.
"Nevermind that. How did this happen.?" He asked.
"I ate some really weird muffins that Applejack made. She held back a barf. "I don't know what was in it, but thats why everyone's here."
His blue eyes turned a lighter shade, even faintly glowing. "From the sound of it, you all have food poisoning." He said as he put his saddlebag on the ground. He pulled out one of the red vials that he bought with him. "Drink this. It should make you feel better."
"What's in it?" Twilight said watching on.
"Sorry, you'll never get my recipes." He said with a smirk.
"If we don't know what's in it, it could make her feel worse!" The nurse yelled.
"I know what im doing, ok?"
"But-" The nurse was cut off again.
"Derpy, drink."
"Ok." She said as she was handed the vial. She put her head back as she drank it. She made a weird face as the fluid was probably not tasty. She coughed as she finished the vial, giving it back to Skystrike, who put it back in his bag.
"Derpy, are you alright?" Twilight said as she held the mare. "What did you give her? It didn't make herr better at all!." She screamed at him.
"I gave her one of my potions. Aside from broken bones, it cures all diseases. And it did make her better, medicine just needs time until the effects are shown." He said as he pulled out another vial.
"Wow, I don't know what that was, but it did make me feel better!" She said as she stood up on her bed. She stretched her wings before she took to the air, flying around the room as if it was the best she felt in months. Twilight and every nurse in the room looked at him.
"Well? Help me pass them out. It'll go faster." Twilight picked up the vials and passed them out to each pony.
"Drink it everypony!" She said. They did just that before handing the vials back to her, Twilight putting the vials back into Skystrike saddlebag. Each one of them got up and ran out thetent they were in, all with wide smiles on their face.
A nurse with a white coat and pink mane put her front hooves on Skystrike shoulders. "You must tell us what's in those! It'll be a huge help!" She said shaking him.
"Choose your wishes wisely." He said as he began putting corks back on his vials.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She said confused.
"If I did, you all would be out of business. So, i'm not gonna tell you."
She bit her lip knowing he was right. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a certain earth pony to see." He said as he left the tent.
Skystrike was on his way to Fluttershy's cottage before he felt the ground under him shake. "That's the second time this month!" He yelled in annoyance. His eyes were now an electric blue.
"STAMPEEEEEEEEEEEEEDE!!" Rainbow screamed again as the crowd panicked. Again.
He saw a herd of bunnies rushing through the town. A pony fainted right before the bunnies were about to trample her. The bunnies just went around however. After the herd of bunnies past, he looked around to see many of the town's residents lying on the ground. Twilight just came back from wherever she was to witness the aftermath.
"The horror, the horror!" A beige and red pony cried.
"It was awful!" A pink and blonde one whined.
"Disaster! A horrible, horrible disaster!" Daisy whined.
Twilight looked around the town. It was empty, but seemed untouched. "I don't get it." She said in a deep, confused voice.
"Our gardens!" The pink one said, looking over her ruined flowers. "Destroyed!"
"Everylast flower, devoured!" The beige one said.
"They, they, THEM!" Daisy said pointing to the bunnies eating the town's flowers.
"Um, please stop little bunnies!" Fluttershy said trying her best to get their attention. "No, no! Please, let's go home! Oh my goodness!"
"Fluttershy!" Skystrike yelled.
She jumped. "Y-yes?"
"Who caused this?" He said, his eyes were now a sky blue.
"Applejack scared them and they ran into town!" She said quickly.
"Thank you!" He said before trotting off. Twilight followed ust behind him.
"Skystrike! Where are you going? And what's with your eyes?"
"My eyes get lighter the angrier I get! I take back what I said earlier! I'm going to talk with Applejack!" He yelled going towards Sweet Apple Acres.
He walked up a hill to see the orange earth pony bucking a lone tree.
"Just keep buckin'...Just keep buckin'...Just... a few... more..." She said to herself half asleep.
"Alright Applejack, your apple bucking hasn't just caused you problems, it's over propelled a pegasus, practically poisoned plenty of ponies, and terrorized bushels of brand new bouncing baby bunnies. You. Need Help." Twilight said firmly.
Applejack kicked a tree, the last of the apples falling from in. "Ha! No I don't! Look! I did it! I harvested the entire Sweet Apple Acres without your help." She said with a smirk. "How'd you like them apples?" The three looked over the orchard. It was void of any apples.
"I'd like them alot more if you didn't put other ponies lives at risk, did not nearly give Rainbow a dislocated limb, and didn't drive a hoard of bunnies through the town. You don't seem to care at all for the others or yourself! You denied help even though you clearly needed to." He poke a hoof into her chest. "You were blinded by your own pride to get help, and you're blinded by it again!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" She said letting out a light growl.
"LOOK!!" He yelled pointing to her left. Her jaw dropped as she looked over the other half of the orchard.
"How do you like them apples?" Big Mac said coming out of nowhere.
"Huh? But.. wha..." Applejack stuttered until she finally collapsed from exhaustion and shock.
A few minutes passed until Applejack regained consciousness, "Applejack? Applejack!" Twilight called out before she answered.
"Huh?" She said in response.
"Oh good," Twilight said with a smile before her stern look came back. "Look, we know you respect the apple family ways. You're always there to help anypony in need. So maybe you can put a little of your stubborn pride aside and ask your friends to help you.
She looked over the appletrees before sighing in defeat. "Ok, Twilight."
"I am not taking no for an answer-what?" She cut herself off.
"Yes Twi. Yes please! I could really use your help. You too Sky." She pleaded.
"Will do. Twilight, can you get the others? I plan on getting this done quickly." He said as he pushed one hoof into another, a cracking sound being the product.
"Will do." She said before teleporting away. She came back with the gang in tow.
"Alright, you're here. So, you girls wanna see something cool?" Skystrike said looking back at everypony.
"...Yeeeeeeeeeeees?" The girls said carefully.
Skystrike flew up into the air. He could feel the air thin as he got higher. He positioned himself over a large amount of the trees.
"What do you think he's doing?" Rarity asked holding a hoof over her eyes to block the sun.
"Probably just some lame trick." Rainbow said not expecting much.
"Ooooooooooo!" Said Pinkie hopping up and down. "This is going to be so cool!"
"I think I know what he's doing..." Twilight said wearily."
Skystrike began do dive towards the ground, a navy blue streak following him. He flapped his wings hard as he came closer to the ground. The air began to bend around him, forming an acute angle.
"Hold on to something girls!" Twilight yelled as the group hugged the ground.
A large boom was heard as a Navy blue and sky blue circle expanded behind him as he hit the ground. "HEAVEN FALL!" He shouted as he punched the ground. The land shaked and a large gust of wind went by everything in sight. Every apple in every tree fell to the ground, as did some of the leaves and small branches. Everypony's jaw dropped
Skystrike stood up and dusted himself off. "Pretty cool if I do say so myself."
"Cool!?" Twilight shouted. "That was-"
"AWESOME~" Rainbow said, throwing her hooves up into the air. |
A Broken Warrior | Griffon The Brush Off | It was almost 10 a.m when Skystrike was interrupted from his work by a loud knock on his door. He threw on his armor and grabbed his swords. He put them on his waist and walked towards the front door. He looked through a camera in his mask that was hidden outside in one of the various bushes he decorated his land with. He saw Rainbow trying to look through a window. The door made a loud creaking sound as he opened it, catching the visitor's attention.
"Hey Skystrike! How's it going?" Rainbow asked greeting him.
"It's been going fine. Just finished the armory, started on the trophy room. How about you?" He answered.
"Well, me and Pinkie found something you may like over in Ponyville!" She said smiling.
"Neat. What is it?"
"It's in front of Sugar Cube Corner! I'm going ahead so no one else can get it!" She said trying to hide a snicker.
He decided to play along. "Alright. I'll meet you there." Rainbow flew away as Skystrike began jogging towards town.
When he arrived, Rainbow was standing there with a box on her back, trying her best to hide a grin.
"So? What is it?" He asked.
"The cakes made a batch of cookies from a new recipe they've been trying, and I got them fresh! Want one?" She said handing him one.
He eyed the cookie curiously. It seemed like your normal chocolate chip cookie. He took a bite, the chocolate melting in his mouth. "You know, i often don't like chocolate, but this is good." He said taking another bite.
Rainbow pointed at Skystrike with a grin before Pinkie appeared out of nowhere behind him with her party cannon. Skystrike turned around, seeing straight down the barrel of the cannon. The strike of a match could be heard as Pinkie set the fuse. As soon as he heard this, Skystrike pushed against the ground and rolled out of the way. He landed on his hooves, his body low to the ground. A large boom was heard as a very large cake came out of the cannon, along with confetti, and streamers. All of those landing on Rainbow Dash who did not react fast enough. She looked like she dove straight first into a cake, but it was the other way around.
"Well you tried." He said as he stood up straight.
Pinkie was laughing as Rainbow tried to get the cake off of herself. "How'd you know we were doing that?" She asked, freeing one of her eyes.
"I didn't. I just heard the fuse burning and smelt smoke." He said as he scraped a glob of cake off of her and ate it. "This is also good."
"But you did it so fast!" She exclaimed.
"When I was fighting, I had to react fast. If I didn't, I'd die. If you wanna prank me, you're gonna have to try much, much harder than that." He said as he got the last of the cake off of Rainbow. Pinkie was still laughing. Skystrike however, decided to play a little joke of his own.
"Hey, you missed a spot." He said pressing a hoof against her chest.
"What?" She said as she looked down to try and see where he was pointing. He grinned as he dragged his hoof up, making the back of it rub against her face.
"BUCK!" She shouted as Pinkie laughed even harder. She just fell for one of the easiest pranks ever.
"You got played." He said as he walked away from a pissed off Rainbow who give him a glare before chuckling to herself
-line-
He knocked on the door of the Carousel Boutique. "Come in!" Rarity said in the middle of sneezes. He walked inside to see her mannequins dressed up in various outfits as he heard running water from down the hall.
"You ok?" He asked as he continued hearing sneezes from her direction.
"Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie put sneezing powder in some flowers on my doorstep. I'm almost done washing it off." She said before coming out to greet him. "So Skystrike, what do you need?"
"I want you to make me a cape."
"But dont you already have one?" She asked as she rubbed her nose.
"Yes, but I want a different one." He said to her. "I already got it planned out too." He said as he pulled out a sketch of his cape. It had a look of a normal cape. It was a midnight blue that faded to black as it went further down. On the back of the cape was a large white four pointed star. It had lines going through it, being the same shade as the rest of the cape. In the center of the star was a hour glass that was surrounded by the same gradient as the rest of the cape. It was to be held in place by two steel circles like his last cape.
She hummed to herself. "I think I could do this. I think it'll take me a week tops. Is that fine with you?" She asked putting on her reading glasses and taking the sheet of paper from Skystrike.
"Yup. And how much will it be?" He asked as he reached into his bag, his whole arm going in.
"How did you do that?" She asked. "And don't worry about payment. We're friends, aren't we?"
He gritted his teeth, Rarity not being able to see it due to his helmet. "Do what?"
"Your bag. It's like it's bottomless."
"Oh, I found this bag while adventuring some ancient poni ruins." He explained. "Apparently, it was enchanted by a group of powerful unicorns. They made it so if you put something in, it doesnt age at all in the bag. And anything you put in the bag, it stays in until you take it out again. It may be endless, but there isn't much in here anyway."
"So it's like an endless storage?"
"Ye-" He was about to confirm her question before the sound of the door opening could be heard.
"Hey Rarity, I'm home!" A filly's voice could be heard from the front as the door shut behind her.
"Oh my, I forgot today was a half day. Sweetie belle! I have someone I'd like you to meet!" She said as hoof steps could be heard coming towards the two.
A white unicorn filly with pink and purple hair walked into the room. Her green eyes widened when she and Skystrike made eye contact.
"Uh... Hi." He said awkwardly. He was about to introduce himself before he covered his ears due to the loud high pitched squeal coming from Sweetie Belle. She then began hopping around him.
"Oh my gosh! It's really Atlas Nebula! I'm your biggest fan!" She said as she stopped her jumping. "I didn't know you were friends with my sister!"
"You could say that. Right now, i'm here for business."
"I'm making him a cape. It's rather large for one, but he is too." Rarity said showing her sister his design. Skystrike stopped himself from making a size joke.
"Oh, can I help?" Sweetie Belle offered.
"Uh sorry Sweetie Belle, but this seems really important. You can't-"
"You know what, why not." Skystrike said as both Rarity and Sweetie Belle were both surprised. "I'll just see what happens. Maybe it'll be good."
"Are you sure? It could go horribly wrong." Rarity asked.
"If it does, i'll pay for the lost materials." He said, fine with whatever the outcome may be. "You two have fun. I gotta go work on my house." He waved goodbye as he walked out the door.
-line-
It was a new day, and Skystrike finished his daily work out. He had just finished breakfast before he heard knock at his door. He looked through his cameras once again to see a large being at his door. It was as tall as your average stallion, so still shorter than Skystrike. It had an eagle like face and wings, along with its front legs. It's back legs were like a lions along with its tail. It was carrying a large bag on it's back.
He opened the door to the griffon. "Got a package here for Atlas Nebula?" She said pulling out a large box and reading the name tag.
"Thats me." He said taking the package and giving her her payment. He looked at her, getting a better view. Their eyes made contact. "...Gilda? From Junior speedsters flight camp?"
She looked confused. "Do I know you?" She asked wearily.
He pressed the button on the side of his mask, allowing her to get a good look at his face. "Long time no see."
"No way. Skystrike? I thought you were dead!" She said in surprise.
"Nah, just hid for a while." He stated as he shook his head.
"Hey dude, you wanna come hang with me? I was planning on meeting up with Dash after I delivered your package."
"Why not. I got nothing else to do." He said as he locked his door.
"Hey Strike." She started. A grin crept onto her face. "Last one there is a dodo bird." She said before she sped off towards Rainbows house.
"You're on." He said before pushing against the ground, pushing him forward. He began flapping his wings, and in seconds, he was neck and neck with Gilda. She gave him a look of surprise before she flapped her her wings harder, going past Skystrike. He however, was just getting started. He flew high into the air, Gilda now much farther ahead. She looked back and smiled, thinking she was going to win. Skystrike dove down at an angle and built up speed. He pulled up slightly, allowing him to fly horizontally, being able to keep all his speed he had gained. He flapped his wings hard, and in mere moments, he flew past Gilda at speeds that she couldn't keep up with. Seeing Rainbows cloud mansion in the distance, he flew upwards, the gravity against him slowing him to a stop before he began flying just above the clouds. A long moment passed before Gilda's claw grabbed onto the cloud, pulling herself up. She was sweating heavily.
"You're slow." He said as Gilda looked at him, panting heavily.
"You only won because of that thing you did." She said looking back at him.
"I just worked out. I don't want to use up most of my energy again. Besides, no one realizes how heavy this armor is. It weighs as much as me." He defended himself. "And as long as we're up here, I gotta fly."
"But you're a pegasus. You can land on clouds." She said, stating the obvious.
"Normal pegasi can. I have no magic, meaning I can't land on magic clouds." He said crossing his front hooves.
"Oh right." She said as she knocked on Rainbow's door.
The sound of the door unlocking was heard before the mare poked her head out.
"Gilda! Long time no see!" She greeted her old friend. "How have you been?"
"It's been going well. Guess who I bought to hang out with us?" She said before stepping to the side, revealing the armored pony.
"Wus poppin'" He said as he waved to her, still flying.
"Hey Nebula!" She greeted him. "You remember Gilda, right?"
"Yup. already showed her my face." He answered. "By the way, beat Gilda on the way here even though she got a head start." He said, jokingly puffing his chest out.
"You beat Gilda?" She asked, her jaw dropped.
"Is that surprising?" He asked confused.
"Yeah! You never beat anyone in a race! Not in flight camp or in school!"
"That's because every race I had during those times, I was always flying, so I was understandably tired. And if I did race, where would I rest?"
"Oh yeah... I guess that makes sense." She said as she thought about it.
"Aside from flying, I was the top athlete in gym, and got the highest grades in our grade."
"Egghead." Both girls said in unison before giving each other a hoof-fist bump.
A voice could be heard from below the three. "Rise and Shine, Rainbow Dash! It's a brand new day and we got a lot of pranking to-" Pinkie was cut off by Gilda stretching her head over the clouds, looking down at her.
"Mornin' Pinks!" Rainbow said before flying down.
"Oi." Skystrike said as he dove down before skidding to a top. "What are you wearing?"
"Gilda, this is my gal pal, Pinkie Pie." She introduced her. An eagle like screech was heard before gilda landed. Pinkie's facial wear all fell to the ground.
"Hey, what's up?" She asked uninterested.
"Pinkie, this is my Griffon friend, Gilda." Rainbow pointed a hoof motioning to her.
"What's a Griffon?" Pinkie asked.
"The love child of a lion and eagle." Skystrike said getting a glare from Gilda.
"The what?" Pinkie said laughing.
"She's half eagle, half lion." Rainbow explained.
"And all awesome." Gilda said landing next to Rainbow and giving her a side hug. Rainbow pushed her away before doing a secret hoof-hand shake.
"Gilda is my best friend from Junior Speedster Flight Camp." Rainbow's eyes lit up in realization. "Hey, you two remember the chant?"
"Of course I do. They made us recite it every morning. I'll never get that lame thing out of my head." Gilda said with a groan.
"You mean the song that was extremely cringy, boring, and seemed to be made the day before camp started? Yes." Skystrike also said with a groan.
"So~" Rainbow said hoping to get them to sing it.
They both let out a sigh. "Fine..." They both said as all three flew up into the air.
They all sang in unison.
"Junior speedsters are our lives!
Sky bombs, soars and daring dives!
Junior speedsters, It's our quest!
To come and be the very best!"
They finished by standing on their hind legs, waving their arms in the air. Pinkie's only reaction was to laugh as Rainbow bowed while Gilda slid her hand across her head feathers. Skystrike had a look of pure disappointment.
"Can't believe I did that.." He said as he facehoof
"That was awesome!" Pinkie said walking up to the three. "I just got a great idea for a prank!" She smacked her face against the ground, her facial wear put itself back on. "Gilda, Nebula, you game?"
"Huh... well i grove on a good prank as much as the next griffon. But dash! You promised me we'd get a flying session in this morning." She said as she flew into the air.
"Don't get me wrong, pranking is funny, but I wanna hang with Gilda for a little while. Haven't seen her in years."
"Yeah, uh, well, Pinkie Pie? You don't mind do you?" Rainbow said as the two flew up into the air after their griffon friend. "We'll catch up with you later!"
"Oh, um, sure, no problem! Have fun you guys! I'll catch up ..." She let out a sigh as the three flew away, none but Skystrike looking back. "Later." She said sadly
-line-
The three friends were flying over Ponyville doing loops, corkscrews, and other various flying tricks. They were enjoying themselves. Gilda flew past Rainbow, making her speed up. Skystrike caught up to the two from behind easily. Skystrike flew just above a large cloud ass gilda landed on it. Rainbow tackled the cloud making a 'poomf' sound as she landed. The two girls laughed as Skystrike opened his helmet, wiping away a little sweat.
"Can we land on the ground? I'm getting a bit tired."
"Come on, Sky. You can handle it." Rainbow said reassuring him.
"We've been flying for almost 3 hours. I can handle it, but I don't wanna wake up tomorrow with my wings feeling like jelly." He said with a slightly annoyed tone.
"Come on, just a little longer you filly." Gilda said teasingly
"Fine, you chicken." He said getting a chuckle from her.
"So know what?" Rainbow asked.
"Hey there!" Pinkie said poking her head through a cloud before falling.
"Huh?" All three said.
"It's later!" Pinkie said poking her head back through before falling again. "And I caught up!"
The three looked down to see Pinkie jumping on a trampoline. "Well, she's determined." Skystrike said in awe.
Rainbow laughed. "Pinkie Pie, you are so random!" She said with a snort.
Gilda gave Pinkie an annoyed look.
"Hey Dash, Strike, Think you got enough gas left to beat me to that cloud?" She asked pointing a claw to the furthest one she could see.
"A race? You are so on!" Rainbow said getting ready to take off.
"Ok. Guess I gotta beat Rainbow now." Skystrike said as he got ready.
"One, two, three, go!" Gilda said as the three took off, Skystrike taking the lead. He was meters ahead from the two as he touched the cloud, going through it.
"Winner winner, make me dinner." He said in victory.
"I was just going easy on ya." Bluffed Rainbow as she came in second.
"Sure you were, Dash." Said Gilda being a close third. "Besides, you got last."
"What! No way, I was way ahead of you!" Claimed the blue pegasus.
"As if!" Gilda said crossing her arms.
The two began to argue between each other as Sky strike watched a slowly rising pink pony being held up by balloons coming up to their cloud.
"What?" He asked in disbelief as Pinkie came up.
"Wow guys!" Pinkie shouted, startling the two girls. "That was really close! Buy Rainbow just beat you by a teeny-meanie-itty-bitty-smidge of a hair! Or a tinie-meanie-itty-bitty feather!"
Rainbow laughed as Gilda's glare of annoyance tightened. Skystrike gave the griffon a curious look before turning back to Pinkie.
"See? Good thing Pinkie Pie is here to keep you honest, G." Rainbow said jokingly.
"Ok, Dash! Last one to that cloud up there is a gnarly dragon!"
"I'll go and call the winner." Skystrike said as he flew ahead, looking back. Gilda didnt her him however, allowing him to get a full view of what happened between the griffon and the flying earth pony. He looked past an oncoming dash to see Gilda popping Pinkie's balloons. A face of worry appeared on the pony's face as she slowly fell toward the ground. "Rainbow won." Skystrike said, acting like he didnt see a thing.
"Wow! You guys almost got away from me that time!" Pinkie said flying up in her own makeshift helicopter. She peddled the pedals to keep the propellers spinning. Gilda was now undeniably angry. She put on a face to her friends as if it was normal.
"Say Dash, Skystrike, got any moves in your tricktionary? I mean 100% old school!"
"New moves?" She asked as if she was being underestimated. "It's gonna take a while." Said Rainbow as she flew away, Gilda giving her a fake smile.
"I gotta go sharpen my swords." Skystrike said making an excuse to leave.
"Alright, bye." Gilda and Rainbow said as they waved.
It was time for Skystrike little stealth mission to begin. He flew away from the three and dove toward the ground. He pulled out a pastel blue potion and drank it. Almost instantly, he became invisible, the light seeming to bend around him. He quietly flew back up to Gilda and Pinkie as Rainbow was doing flips and turns. He began to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"Hey Pinkie, com' ere." Gilda said motioning a claw.
Pinkie did so. "Yeeees?"She asked innocently.
Gilda grabbed the pole connecting her to her rotor blades. She got uncomfortable close to her face. "Can you not take get lost for an answer?" Glda asked angrily. "Dash doesn't need to hang with a dweeb like you now that i'm around. You're dorkin' up the skies Stinkie Pie." She mocked as she grabbed her nose. "Now make like a bee, buzz off!" She yelled as she pulled back both claws and grabbed Pinkie's rotor blades, causing her to spin instead. Pinkies face was a mix of dizziness and fear as she fell towards the ground.
Skystrike cursed under his breath as he dove after the pink pony. She was going towards the earth fast, but he was faster. He quickly grabbed her out of the seat while the machine was still spinning. He watched a dizzy Pinkie in his hooves and her contraption dive towards the ground, ending with a crash. Pinkie snapped out of her dizziness as Skystrike landed on his hind legs. She jumped out of his hooves an looked up from where she fell as a look of puzzlement formed on her face.
"Skystrike? I thought you went to sharpen your swords?" Pinkie asked surprised to see him. "And thank you for catching me."
"When you lived the life i've lived, stealth becomes your second nature." He explained before looking at the scrap heap that was once pinkie's mini helicopter. "I could probably fix that if you need me to."
"Dont worry, I got a spare. C'mon! I wanna go talk to Twilight about this. You were there, so you could help!" She said as she pulled him along. Skystrike sighed.
-line-
The two were now in Twilight's home. Pinkie was ranting to Twilight about what happened, said mare was listening, or barely seemed to be.
"So, Pinkie Pie, Skystrike, are you sure this friend of Rainbow Dash is really so mean?" Twilight asked as she skimmed through a book she was reading.
"Uh huh!" Nodded Pinkie. "Yeah! She keeps stealing Rainbow Dash away, she pops my balloons, and she told me to buzz off! I've never met a Griffon that mean!"
"I don't think you've met any others, but i assure you, they aren't all like that. She is right though. Gilda may not have noticed, but i saw all the things she did to Pinkie.
"You know what I think Pinkie Pie?" Ask Twilight finally looking up from her book. "Well, I think you're jealous..."
"Jealous!?" She asked in disbelief.
"Green with envy." Said Spike butting in. "Or in your case, pink with envy."
"Well, yes, jealous." Confirmed Twilight.
"Twilight, you haven't known Gilda like I have, let alone met her." Skystrike started as he crossed his hooves. "Everything Pinkie said about Gilda is true. She has been pushing her away....Wait, if she's been doing that during JSFC, that would explain why those two are best friends. She pushed away the other candidates, and she tried with me. That was Rainbows only friend during that camp."
"Lets not make baseless claims, Skystrike. You may be a little jealous too." Said Twilight as she levitated a book towards her.
"I could care less if Rainbow doesnt want to hang out with me. I just care about who she's with."
"Look, I don't want to upset either of you, but just because Rainbow Dash has another friend doesn't make Gilda a grump." Pinkies eyes widened in shock as Skystriker narrowed with anger. "I mean, perhaps it's you two who needs to improve your attitudes.
"OUR attitudes?" The two said in sync.
"Nice to know you don't believe us...." Skystrike said as he walked towards the door. Hey Pinkie, you said you wanted to hang out today right?" He asked looking back at the angrily stuttering Pinkie. "Well let's go." He said as he pulled open the door hard.
An angry grunt was all that came out of her as she followed him out. She slammed the door behind her. The two were walking around Ponyville quietly for a good while before Pinkie broke the silence with a sigh.
"Maybe Twilight is right, maybe Gilda isn't a big mean grumpy mean meanie pants. Maybe I'm just a big jealous judgemental jealous jealousy pants..." She said as she looked down.
"Pinkie, don't doubt yourself. In some situations, we may end up being in the wrong, but in this one, only we and Gilda know the truth. We have nothing to be jealous about." Skystrike reassured her, hoping to get her spirits backup. "Wanna go to Sugarcube Corner? My treat." He asked as the shop came into distance.
"Sure... " She said as she kept looking toward the ground.
Skystrike enter the store, greeting Mrs. Cake as he walked towards the counter. He bought a medium smoothie for Pinkie and an extra large vanilla milkshake for himself. He paid the bill as he balanced his milkshake on his head and held Pinkie's in his hoof. He bought the drinks out to a sad Pinkie who was lying her head on the table she was sitting at. After putting her drink down, she lifted her head just enough to reach the straw. Skystrike got to work on his own, sucking through the large straw from his 1 liter drink. The sweet taste of vanilla entered his mouth, soothing each one of his taste buds. "This is unnaturally good." He said to himself, almost half of his milkshake gone.
"Haahahah! That was sweet!" Said a familiar voice from above as Pinkie hid under the umbrella shading her table. Skystrike took his mouth off the straw and hid as well.
"I gotta take care of some weather around here, shouldn't take long." Rainbow said as she and Gilda flew by. "So hang out in town and i'll come by when im done."
"That's cool I guess. Imma go chow down." Gilda said as she landed
"Later!" Rainbo said as she flew off.
"Hey Pinkie, wanna help me on a stealth mission?" Skystrike asked as he finished his drink.
"You know it!" Said Pinkie with a smile. The two quickly hid behind a building. Skystrike peeked around the corner as Pinkie stood on his back as she did the same, keeping an eye on Gilda. Said griffon looked over to Granny Smith who was smelling some fresh produce for sale. Gilda appeared behind the cart and put her tail up, scaring the elderly pony.
She shrieked. "A rattler, A rattler! Run for the hills, everypony save yourselves!" She yelled as she slowly ran away.
Gilda stood up and patted her tail against one of the tomatoes the pony was selling. "This stuff and fresh dude." She said as she walked away.
"That was just messed up." Skystrike said as Granny Smith slowly ran away. "Wasn't even a joke."
"Yeh, how mean!" Pinkie agreed before shaking her head. "No no, I cant misjudge her. It was kind of funny." She said as they kept watch. "I guess..."
Gilda walked up to a group of ponies talking around one of the produce stands. She looked around to make sure nobody was watching before swiping an apple from one of the buckets and eating it, core and all.
"I knew it!" Pinkie gasped. "I did misjudge her. She's a meanie, and a thief!" She said, slamming a hoof on the ground before shaking her head again. "No no no no no. She might give it back!" She said hopefully.
"She ate it Pinkie. How is that gonna happen?" Asked Skystrike as he kept looking towards Gilda who was walking down the path.
"Almost there. This way." Said Fluttershy gently as she was leading a mother duck, father duck, and her ducklings through the town. A few ponies were watching the scene as Gilda was walking directly into Fluttershy. They met with a bump.
"Hey!" Gilda shouted.
"Oh, please excuse me.." Said a quiet Fluttershy.
"Watch where you're going!" Shouted Gilda as she spread her wings to look bigger. "I'm walkin' here!"
"I'm sorry, I was j-just..." Stuttered the shy pony as she backed away.
"Im sorry, Im sorry." She mocked. Why don't you just watch where you're going, Doofus!" She screamed as she walked closer to Fluttershy, scaring the ducks away.
"B-b-b-but I... I..." Fluttershy could barely speak.
Gilda let out a lion like roar, Fluttershy running away crying. The ponies around her watched as she ran towards her house.
"OK, that's it." Skystrike said walking out from his spot next to Pinkie. He walked directly in front of Gilda. "Gilda, the fuck do you think you're doing."
"That pony ran into me. She should've looked where she was going." She said grinning. A crowd was starting to form around the two.
"You knew damn well you were going to run into her." He said, his eyes turning an electric blue. "But you know what, I guess it's fair. You ran into something you didn't see coming just now.
"And what was the-" he was cut off by his left hoof colliding with her right cheek. The crowd gasped in shock as she skidded across the ground. She went back a few meters before the dirt painfully rubbing against her stopped her momentum She stood up, clutching her cheek. A look of anger appeared across her face.
"I have to go comfort a pony, so I'm gonna have you do one of two things. Leave now and don't fuck with anypony here, or let my knock your non-existent teeth out of your mouth. He said as he threw his swords to the side. "Your choice."
"I don't need to deal with a dweeb like you anyway." She said trying to regain her pride before sluggishly fling away due to her hurt wing.
Skystrike looked around at the crown. A few took some steps back in fear as most stood completely still. One pony walked up to him in puzzlement.
"Hey Bon Bon." He greeted as he rolled his wrist.
"Dear Celestia, Nebula, why did you do that?" She asked throwing out a hoof.
"If you remember the last time we met, I said I protect those who cannot protect themselves." He said as he picked up his swords. "If she did the same to anyone of you here." He said motioning to the crowd." I'd doubt the outcome would be different. He tightened the straps around his waist, letting his swords stay in place. He pulled two bits and threw it to a pony with a white coat and cobalt blue mane. "That's for the apple Gilda stole." He said as she caught it. He flew off in the direction that Fluttershy ran into. He followed the path, leading to her house. Landing on her doorstep, he knocked on the door. Fluttershy opened the door to her cottage to greet him, and it was obvious that she'd been crying.
"Hey Flutters." He said putting a hoof on her back before pulling her close into a hug. She cried some more. "I'm sorry I was gone for so long. I'm sorry that I wasn't there to help you. But I don't plan on leaving anytime soon." He comforted her as she cried into his shoulder. They spent the next few minutes in a hug before Fluttershy stopped crying. She invited him in for tea, and he gladly accepted, even taking off his helmet. The two caught up on the past, telling each other what they've been up to, sharing laughs and such. The animals slowly began to warm up to Sky after Fluttershy introduced him to them. Some birds even picking out some of his hair to make their nest, much to Fluttershy's amusement. They spent so long talking that their tea had become cold. It was relaxing for the both of them. A knock was heard at the door as they were talking.
"Hey Fluttershy wanna come to a party i'm hosting for Gilda?" Pinkie asked quickly.
"Oh um..." She pondered.
"Sure, we'll come." Skystrike said appearing next to her.
"That might be a bad idea after what you did earlier..." Pinkie said trying to hint at a 'no don't come'.
"What did you do earlier?" Asked the yellow pegasus as she raised an eyebrow.
"You know how I said I protect those who cannot protect themselves?" He said as Fluttershy's eyebrow raised more.
"He hit her in the face." Pinkie said innocently.
Fluttershy sighed in disappointment. "I'm not surprised. It does sound like you." She said holding her hoof to her face.
"I'm still going to the party." He said laughing. "Just to make sure the party goes well. I also got some stuff to say to her. She's going to get slayed." He grinned.
-line-
Pinkie was waiting at the door for ponies to come. She welcomed each in as more came. The
Room had streamers hanging from the ceiling an a table packed with food on top of it. Many games were set around the room, though no one played any yet. Pinkie welcomed Skystrike in, and almost instantly, everypony who was at the fight earlier looked at him before murmuring to themselves. He sighed at did what he normally does. Or so he thought.
"Hey Nebula, over here!" He looked to see Applejack waving at him and Rarity standing next to her with a package on her back.
"What's up you two?" He asked as he walked up next to them.
"We're fine, darling, and I finished your cape!" She said handing him the package. "We'll me and Sweetie Belle. Hope it's to your liking."
"I'll open It later." He said as he pushed it into his bag. "Don't want to get it dirty."
"Anyway, who's this Gilda fellow that i've heard nothing' about?" Applejack asked.
"I hear she's an old friend of Rainbow Dash, and you Skystrike." Rarity noted.
"She was my friend. Not anymore." He looked over to his left to see Twilight and Fluttershy talking. "You two enjoy the party, I gotta go talk to Twilight." He said before walking away.
"You've met Gilda! What's she like?" Twilight asked Fluttershy, who avoided eye contact.
"Oh um, well... I'd think it's best if you meet her." Fluttershy said quietly.
"Hey Flutters, it'll be alright. I got a plan." He said before walking towards Rarity and Applejack, leaving a confused pony.
"I'm back." He said greeting the two again.
"Darling, what do you mean by used to?" Rarity asked slightly confused.
"You mean with Gilda? She's not the griffon she used to be. I guess I just don't want to handle that."
"Now sugarcube, you can't abandon one of your friends just because they changed." Applejack said not believing what he said.
"You'll see what I mean when she comes here." He said with a sigh
"Gilda!" Pinkie shouted.
"Speak of the devil." He said with a chuckle.
"I'm so happy that you came to my signature Pinkie Pie Party!" She said smiling. "And I really, truly, sincerely hope you feel welcome here amongst all us ponyfolk!" She finished as she put out a hoof. She slowly put up her claw to shake it. As soon as she grabbed it, a surge of electricity went through her. She fell dizzily to the ground.
Pinie and Skystrike both laughed at this until Pinkie revealed the cause. Rainbow came up Laughing. "Oh Pinkie Pie, the old hoof shake prank. You are a scream!"
"Yeah." Gilda faked a laugh. "Good one Pinkie Pie."
"Come on G, i'll introduce you to some of my other friends."
"Right behind ya, Dash!" She turned to Pinkie. "I know what you're up to." She warned.
"Great!" She replied smiling.
She growled. "I know what you're planning!"
"Well I hope so, this wasn't supposed to be a surprise party!" She laughed.
"I mean, I got my eye on you."
"Any i've got my eye on you!" Pinkie joked before going to the center of the room. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet Gilda! A long time dear friend of Rainbow Dash and Atlas Nebula!" She pulled her into a hug. "Let's welcome her to Ponyville." The crowd cheered for her, making her snap out of her death glare to Pinkie and putting on an awkward smile.
"So she does have teeth." Skystrike said aloud as he kept watching Gilda.
"Help yourself!" Offered Pinkie as they walked up to the snack bar.
"Vanilla lemon drops! Don't mind if I do!" Gilda said not noticing Rainbow Dash having a wide smile. She popped one into her mouth and her face turned a hot red. Fire bursted out of her beak as Pinkie roast a marshmallow. "Hot, hot!" She puffed as she ran around.
"G, the punch!" Rainbow laughed as Gilda ran to the punch and got a glass of the drink. Only for it to run down the cup and spill onto the floor.
"Hah! Whaddaya know! Pepper in the lemon drops and punch in a dribble glass!" Pinkie said as everyone laughed along with her.
"Your face was priceless!" Rainbow laughed.
Gilda ran to some water cups on the counter. She threw it into her mouth and breathed heavily. "Yeah hilarious..." She growled.
"Hey G!" Rainbow caught the griffons attention. "Look, presents!"
She dashed up to the table with the gifts sitting on top. She grabbed one and pulled the ribbon off with her beak. Spring snakes jumped out in every direction, the surprise leaving her feathers all puffed out. Skystrike laughed harder than normal.
"Spitting' snakes! Somepony pulled that prank on me last month!" Applejack giggled along with Rarity.
"Ha ha." Said an annoyed Gilda. "I bet I know who that was..." She said looking toward Pinkie.
"You do?" She asked as she fluttered her eyes.
"Wasn't me!" Skystrike yelled calming down from him laughing fit. Gilda ignored him.
The party went on quite peacefully, ponies chatting with each other and Fluttershy orchestrating some birds to sing together. Pinkie came out with a large cake just a tad smaller than herself. "Cake time everypony!" She called.
"Hey, can I blow out the candles?" Spike asked childishly.
"Why don't we let Gilda do it? She is the guest of honor after all." Twilight tempted.
Gilda elbowed Spike out of the way. "Exactly!" She said before taking a deep breath. She blew out the candles with a large smile only for the candles to light back up. She blew them out again for the same thing to happen. She blew them out again, and they lit up again. This continued until she was out of breath, panting heavily as everyone was once again laughing.
"Relighting birthday candles! I love that prank!" He clutched his belly as he laughed harder. "What a classic!"
"I wonder who could have done that?" Pinkie thought.
"Yeah, wonder who?" Gilda glared.
Spike ate his way through the cake, bursting out of the top. "This cake is amazing!"
"Spike!" Twilight said annoyed.
"What? It's great!"
Gilda ha her wings spread out in ander as a scowl formed on her face. "Hey G,you're not upset over some silly candles, are you?" Rainbow asked after she stopped laughing.
She put on a relaxed face. "No way, Dash! Like I said, I'm down with a good prank."
"C'mon then," She ran towards a game. "Let's try this one!"
Gilda pulled Pinkie behind the cake as Skystrike was eating his way through, ignoring any cake or frosting getting on his mask. He ate his way around the side of the cake.
"Hey I'm watching you, like a hawk." Gilda warned.
"You're half eagle, and hawk." Skystrike said as he made his way around towards them.
"Besides, you can watch me like a griffon?" Pinkie snorted.
"Hey y'all! It's pin the tail on the Pony!" Applejack said as ponies gathered around the game. "Let's play!"
"Oh, my favorite game! Can I go first? Can I have the purple tail?" Rarity asked as she went to grab the fake tail lying on the floor.
Gilda ran up and grabbed it from under her nose. "Well I am the guest of honor, and I'll have the purple tail." Gilda said as she got a glare from Rarity.
"Yeah, Gilda should definitely go first!" Pinkie pitched in. "Let's get you blindfolded."
Spike walked up to her and put a blue blindfold on her.
Gilda cried out in protest as spike tied it and Pinie spun her around. "We're spinning you around and around so you can pin the tail on the pony!" Pinkie got her lined up with the picture. "Now just walk straight ahead and pin the tail!"
"Now just walk straight ahead and pin the tail!" Gilda mocked. "Yeah right, this is another prank isn't it? i'm going this way." She said turning around. Only to slip on some cake icing and run into the storage room. She came out covered in cake with the tail over her beak like a mustache.
"Uh Gilda? You put the tail on the wrong end." Pinkie said before the room howled with laughter.
Gilda let out an angry roar shutting everyone up. "This is your idea of a good time? I've never met a lamer bunch of dweebs in all my life! And Pinkie Pie, Skystrike! You two are queen and king lamoe with your weak little party pranks! Did you really think you could make me lose my cool?"
"You did, and you haven't even triggered my prank yet." he said holding back a laugh.
"Shut it! Dash and I have ten times as much cool as the rest of you put together!" She said pulling her into a side hug.
"Ten times zero is zero." Skystrike said barely containing himself.
"I said shut it! Come on Dash, we're bailing on this pathetic scene." Rainbow stood there, giving Gilda a glare that rivaled her own. "Come on Rainbow Dash, I said we're we're leaving.!
"You know Gilda, I was the one who set up all those pranks." Rainbow stated to the griffon.
"What?" Gilda asked dumbfounded.
"Oooooooooo." Pinkie said in suspense.
"So I guess i'm queen lamoe." Rainbow said as her glare tightened.
"Come on, Dash, you're joshing me." Gilda said not believing her.
"They weren't all meant for you specifically, it was just dumb luck that you set them all off.
"I should've known! That dribble cup had Rainbow Dash written all over it." Pinkie realized getting in Spike's face.
"No way, it was Pinkie Pie and Skystrike! They set up this party to trip me up, to make a fool out of me!"
"Me? I threw this party to improve your attitude!" Pinkie said hurtfully. "I thought a party could turn that frown upside down!"
"I didn't know this party was happening until an hour before it started." Skystrike defended himself.
"Skystrike?" A party goer asked.
"That's the nickname she gave me." He lied.
"And you sure didn't need any help making a fool out of yourself." Rainbow said continuing the argument. "This is not how I thought my old friend would treat my new friends. If being 'cool' is all you care about, maybe you should go find someone 'cool friends' to hang out with."
Gilda was undeniably angry now. "Yeah, well, you, you, you're just a flip flop! Cool one minute, then lame the next."
Skystrike burst with laughter as everyone stopped to look at him.
"What's so funny dweeb?" Gilda mocked.
"I'm sorry, it's just your insult was so bad." He said wiping a tear from his eye.
"I doubt you could do better, dweeb." Gilda challenged.
"Ok." He cleared his throat. "One of the griffons most notable traits is that they have a lot of greed and pride. As you know, you're a mix of an eagle and a lion. You however, are an exception. You pick on beings smaller than you. You made Fluttershy cry for no reason, you stole from a pony in the market, and to butted spike out of the way just before the candle prank. Not once did you try any on that with me. I offered you a perfect chance when I threw my swords aside earlier, yet you ran. And to top it all of, you were envious of Pinkie, afraid that she'd take away your only friend. You are nothing like griffons are described. You aren't half eagle, you're half chicken." He finished as everyone's jaw dropped onto the floor.
"That was just heartless." Spike said under his breath.
"You, you're a, urg!" Gilda said as she walked out the door, only for a giant plastic hand with pounds of whipped cream on it smacked into her from the roof.
"There's my prank!" Skystrike said as everyone roared with laughter. Gilda flew away faster than he could believe past the outskirts of town.
"Wow, talk about party pooper." Spike said as the laughing died down.
The ponies began to chat among themselves. "I'm sorry, everypony for bringing Gilda here. I didn't know how rude she was." Rainbow said looking down at the ground in disappointment. "And Pinkie, im really sorry for hanging out with her instead of you."
"Hey, if you wanna hang out with others, that's your business."
"I'd rather hang out with you. No hard feelings?" She put out a hoof.
"No hard feelings." Pinkie confirmed as she shook it. They both shocked eachother as they laughed together.
Twilight walked up to Pinkie and Skystrike. "Pinkie, Nebula, I'm sorry for saying that you were misjudging Gilda. Looks like i'm the one who misjudged you."
"It's all good Twilight." Skystrike waved a hoof.
"Even you can't be a super smart smarty pants all the time!" Pinkie agreed.
"But she tries to anyway." Skystrike said as Pinkie laughed. "Come on everypony, there's still a lot of party to finish!" Pinkie said as everyone cheered. Spike however burped up a letter.
"A letter from the princess!" Twilight said as she took up the letter and began reading with her eyes closed. "My faithful student Twilight, I..." She opened her eyes. "Nebula, this is for you."
He took the note, allowing only himself to read it, despite the main 6 trying to look on. He let out a loud groan as he pulled out a ticket. "Rarity, i'm glad i got the cape. I'm going to Canterlot.
"WHAT?!" Everypony and dragon yelled in surprise. |
A Broken Warrior | Trouble in Canterlot | Skystrike had just woke up from his overnight trip to the equestrian capital. He was sitting on one of the train benches when he awoke. He wiped the sleep out of his eyes and yawned before sticking his face out of the window. He could see Canterlot in the distance as the wind brushed against his face. He looked around, seeing a few passengers still asleep. It seemed that it would be another hour before the train arrived at its destination. He decided to keep himself busy by sharpening his swords against his armored hoof. A scraping sound was heard as he rubbed the metal together. He let out a tired sigh as he thought about what happened yesterday. He looked over the letter that Celestia sent her.
Dear Skystrike Nebula,
It has been some time since we've seen each other.
I ask of you to come to Canterlot to meet
With Princess Luna and I over a cup of tea.
I have attached a train ticket for your departure.
I believe the train leaves this afternoon.
My apologies if you had any plans for this evening.
I have also assigned an escort to meet you
When the train arrives.
I have also prepared a place for you to stay
During your visit here.
Sincerely,
Princess Celestia
He could remember each of the ponies reactions when he told them he had to go. Rarity was begging him to bring one of her outfits, saying his armor was not fit for a meeting with a princess. Twilight was hyperventilating, worrying of what could go wrong after what happened with Nightmare Moon. Applejack and Fluttershy wished him luck. Pinkie remembered that she still hadn't given him a welcome party, so she'd give him the best welcome back party ever. Rainbow Dash hoped that he would get the wonderbolts on her good side if he met them. Each one of them met him at the station that evening, even Derpy and Bon bon came to say goodbye. The former gave him a basket of muffins to eat on the train ride. He thanked each of them before leaving.
The train was about 10 minutes away from Canterlot as the passengers were awaken by the loud root of the train's whistle. They began to prepare their luggage as Skystrike looked around. Remembering Rarity's gift, he pulled it out of his bag and opened the box. It was neatly folded, and seemed almost exactly the way he asked, A blue that faded gradually into a black. The only difference was that it seems that the blue parts had glitter mixed into the dye. The four pointed star was still the same, the white circle around it with the blue surrounding it. He put it around his neck, keeping it in place with the two steel rings that were attached to said cape. He pulled to out with one hoof to look at it once more. He reminded himself to thank Rarity and Sweetie Belle later. Right now, he was forced to spend the next 5 days in Canterlot doing who knows what. The train finally came to a stop with the last blow if it's whistle. He ate the last muffin Derpy gave him and stepped of the train, the passengers walking around him pulling their suitcases. He checked his bag to see if he had left anything.
"Excuse me, are you Atlas Nebula?" He was interrupted by a feminine voice. He looked up to see a mare with a almost white coat and sky blue mane. She wore a spartan-like helmet that her hair hung down from, as well as a golden chestplate that covered her whole body, save for the legs. Her hooves were covered by golden shoes, the front going up to her ankles. She had rose red eyes, which currently, were looking directly into his navy blue.
"Yes, that's me. I'm guessing you're my escort, miss?" He said as he closed his bag with his wing.
"My name is Stardust, sir!" She said confidently, saluting him.
"Just call me Nebula, none on that 'sir' stuff." He said as he put his hoof on hers, trying to lower her salute. He failed.
"I cannot do that sir!" She said keeping her salute on her head. "I was ordered by Princess Celestia to treat you with the utmost respect, as well as to follow every order while you stay here!"
Skystrike couldn't tell if this was serious or one of Celestia's jokes. "So, you're supposed to listen to any order I give you?" He questioned.
"Yes sir!"
"Then I order you to refer to me as Nebula."
"No sir! Princess' orders!"
He sighed as he stretched his wings, a cracking sound coming from them. He checked his wings, making sure the tips had their razors on them, also making sure they were sharp. "Alright, i'm guessing we go to the castle?"
"Yes, sir! Right this way, sir!" Stardust said before she began walking away from the train station and into the capital. Skystrike quickly trotted up to her and began walking next to her. As the two walked through the city with her, he realized that the city barely changed since his first visit all those years ago. He looked around to look at the ponies walking by. Each of them wore formal clothing and held their heads high, ignoring most passerby. Some occasionally gave Skystrike a look before turning their heads to continue doing whatever they were doing. He combed his hoof through him mane in annoyance.
"So, Stardust, what do you find fun?" He asked trying to make small talk.
"Whatever you find fun, sir!" She said said.
"Ok, what do you do in your spare time?" He asked, trying to get a real answer.
"I practice my swordsmanship sir!" She responded.
He nodded. "You'll have to show me later after the meeting with the princess."
They walked further towards the castle, crossing the moat that divided the castle from the city. As he got closer, the royal guard stepped out of their way so that he could enter the castle They walked through the castle hallways, passing large wooden doors that lined them. They stopped before an even larger pair of wooden doors that were guarded by 10 unicorn guards. They stepped to the side, two of the guards lit up their horns and pulled on the handles of the door, slowly opening it. Skystrike and Stardust walked into the throne room. Its ceiling was high enough for a large dragon to fit in, being held up by dozens of pillars, even more royal guards ponies standing in front of them. Both Celestia and Luna stood up from their their thrones as the two came closer. They stopped in front of the princess' and Stardust bowed.
"What's up." Skystrike said as he stood there. Loud gasp could be heard from both Stardust and the guards in the room, all while Celestia was giving him a cold glare.
"What are you doing?" A pegasus guard spoke up. "Bow!"
Skystrike took out one of his wings and held it under his head. He positioned one of his finger-like feathers and put one under his chin and his thumb-feather under his cheek, being careful not to cut himself with his tipped feathers. He hummed to himself before giving an answer. "Naw."
A grey unicorn with a silver mane and tail stepped out from the crowd of gods. His only armor was some silver shoes and body armor. He gave Skystrike a stern glare. "The princess has invited you to meet her. Show some respect." He remembered this stallion from all those years ago. He was the pony that questioned him while he was in the Canterlot dungeon. He was going to have some fun.
"To be fair, I could have sent the letter and ticket back because it never said I had to come, but that would be rude, so here I am." He said with a smug grin, though the unicorn wasn't able to see it through his helmet.
"How dare you!" He said getting up in Skystrike face, who was currently slouched over. "Do you have any idea who you're speaking to?"
Skystrike let out a yawn before standing up straight, looking down on the unicorn. "I could care less who you are. There are few of high power that I respect. Prove to me your strength, and you will get the respect you wish for."
"Then i'll have to take you up on that offer." He said as Skystrike raised an eyebrow. "I, General Magnus of the royal guard challenge you to a duel!" He said as he pointed a hoof at him. Everypony's eyes widened, including the princess'. "If I win, you will show the princess' the utmost respect. If I lose, I will let this slide."
"Wait!" Luna said trying to stop the confirmation of the duel.
"Don't worry Luna. This isn't the first fight I have been in, nor will it be the last." He assured her before he turned to Celestia. "You do realize what's at stake, don't you?" He asked.
"What do you mean, Nebula?" She asked confused, although still keeping her glare..
"If I win, i'm sure it'll lower the moral of the guard. That being said, it is very disrespectful to and nor do I plan on losing purposely. With knowing that, will you allow this duel?"
A moment of silence went past as she thought for a moment. "Thinking that far ahead, my goodness... Yes. The duel will be held tomorrow at noon in the Canterlot coloseum. I hope that is to your liking?"
"Couldn't be better. I could barely sleep on the train anyway." He said as he tapped Stardust on her shoulder. "I'll have Stardust here lead me to my quarters. I suppose you'll want to meet with me later, Celestia, Luna?"
They nodded before they stood up from their thrones and left from a door behind them.
Skystrike, Luna, and Celestia were sitting around a tea table, quietly sipping their tea and eating cake. A moment of silence went by until one of the princess' spoke up.
"Why did you pick a fight with Magnus earlier? Now you'll lose your status that you've build up." Celestia said as she sipped her tea.
"Why do you think i'll lose to him, so easily? Just because I cant use magic doesnt make me helpless." He said slightly annoyed. "Wasn't trying to pick a fight anyway. I was just saying that i'm not going to respect you anymore or any less than your average pony just because of your social status." He sipped his own tea.
"But should a pony be respected by their power? They must make a lot of decisions that affect their ponies." She said putting down her her tea cup before cutting a rather large slice of cake for herself.
"And because of those decisions, I respect them off of what decisions they've made, no matter how big or small. You fuck up, my respect is gone." He looked up from his tea to see Celestia to see her cutting herself another slice.
"Apart from thous show earlier, thou is quite admirable." Luna said speaking up. "Ever since our meeting in Ponyville, we have tried to learn much about thee, but barely anything has came up?"
"That's because I leave before questions can be asked. I'm sure you heard of the group of travelers, 'stormcloak'?"
"They disbanded a few years ago, I believe?" Celestia said, covering her mouth as she finished another slice of cake.
"I believe so. Twas a group of nearly every race in this world." Luna said as she raised her tea cup with her magic.
"Yes. We had many. We consisted of an earth pony, pegasus, unicorn, dragon, hippogriff, griffon, diamond dog, avian, changeling, and zebra. I was the founder and leader of said group."
Celestia's eyes widened. "A changeling? They're extremely dangerous and untrustworthy and could attack at any moment!"
"Each one of us could've as well. But we didnt believe that things that their race did in the past should affect who they are. For example, I don't believe you judge ponies now, despite that they nearly went to war in the founding of equestria. Besides, she helped a lot in stealth missions."
"What dost thou mean?" Luna asked confused.
"There were only three times that you could see all of us together. When we finished missions, when we're at each others funerals, or when we fought an enemy that was too powerful. That hasn't happened yet, anyway." He said in a serious tone. "We mostly worked in groups. I was in each one, due to my abilities, and she, along with me and the other ponies were stealth ops."
"So you specialize in sneaking about? I don't see where that would be useful." Celestia said stopping from her cake.
"There were a number of corrupt nobles and generals in the past, as well as royal guardsmen in Canterlot. Both I and the changeling were able to easily disguise as the royal guard and expose stop them from the shadows." He said as he closed his eyes. "Sad to say, on one occasion, we had to take one's life due to proof that he was planning on assassinating you."
The room grew silent as he finished his sentence. "If we may ask, what caused thou to disband?" Luna asked.
"We all were attacked by a group of trained assassins called Hydra. They were a group of 10 that attacked us, and there were more outside of battle. Everyone got out mostly unharmed except for a few. The diamond dog lost an hand, so I had to give him a metal one. The avian lost her foot, so she made herself a peg leg, the griffon lost an eye and had a grandson to take care of, so he retired, and I held them off while the others escaped to safety."
He waved his hoof, his armor falling off, and his helmet turning into a collar. He was covered head to hoof in scars, large stab marks all over his abdomen and deep cuts on his legs. Parts of his hair that was under his helmet was grey from the scars on his head. He had a small scar on his neck, seeming to just barely cut his throat. Both of the princess' had looks of horror on their face.
"I was too afraid of my power back then, so I held back. My friends almost died because of me. I disbanded them because of that reason. Out of my own rage, I killed each one of the assassins and hunted down the ones in hiding, knowing who they were by a tattoo of a hydra somewhere on their body." He waved his hoof, the pieces of metal levitating towards him and snapping back together. "That was three years ago. I do not regret the lives that I have taken, but I do have pity on their souls. That is why I accepted Magnus' challenge. I'm not afraid of my power anymore, and I will prove it during our duel tomorrow." He sighed as he stood up, getting ready to leave. "You must realize, I respect you either way, I just won't call you by your titles or bow until i see you as worthy for me to bow my head." He said as he opened the door. "And Celestia, no offense, but you might want to lay off the cake a little."
"It's all going to that ass, so it's not that bad." Echo said out of nowhere. Luna bursted out laughing as Celestia's face turned a deep red.
"Im turning off your ability to speak until we're alone." Skystrike said as he pulled up the settings.
"You can silence me but you can't silence the tru-" He was cut off by the voice setting being muted.
Skystrike looked at Celestia who was still blushing, then Luna who was on the floor laughing. Then at Stardust who was standing at the door. "We have to go. I wanna explore the city." He said before trotting away, Stardust following behind.
"Yes sir!"
Skystrike and Stardust were currently walking around Canterlot. Skystrike was currently going off of memory as to where he wanted to go. They were currently walking in silence, being able to hear the rustling of his armor as he walked.
"Sir, if I may ask, what were you thinking back there?" Stardust asked breaking the silence.
"You think i didn't notice you or the other guards eavesdropping?" He said with a chuckle. "You always have to be aware of your surroundings."
"But sir, I think you're underestimating General Magnus! He-"
"Trained Shining Armor, i know. I used to spar with him before he was captain. He was good, and I hope that he's gotten better."
"You're still underestimating him, sir! He has never lost a battle one on one to anypony!"
"Then i'll be the first." He said with a grin. "Besides, no one has ever documented any fights i've been it, except me of course. They don't know how strong I am."
"Well how many fights have you been in, sir?" She asked curiously. In response to this, Skystrike pulled out a thin book and handed it to her.
"In that book is almost every fight i've been in, including the date and who i was against."
She quickly began to skim through it as her eyes shrunk in realization. "I can't believe these. They seem too vague to be true.
"I wrote down every fight and drew pictures of the creatures I fought. Each has its own separate book." He said as he pulled out another thin book. "Here's one where I fought a Tatzlwurm."
Her eyes widened as she stuttered and failed to speak, making Skystrike laugh. "I'll tell you more about my battles at another time. We arrived." He said as he stopped walking. They both looked in front of them to see a donut shop.
"Sir, if you wanted some donuts, the royal guard could've had it delivered to you?" She said raising an eyebrow.
"The donuts are just an added bonus. I'm here to see some ponies. We used to meet here every wednesday. If they're still friends, then they should be coming in few minutes." He said as he looked at the clock in his helmet. "Wanna get a donut? My treat." He pulled out a small bag of bits.
She nodded as they walked in the door, there was a ring of a bell as Skystrike opened it.. "Just a minute!" A stallion's voice could be heard from the back. The clanking of bowls and silverware could be heard as he came out to the counter. He had a light amber coat and a moderate orange mane. He had grey hooves and a horn, mentioning he was a unicorn. "Welcome to... Well if it isn't Atlas Nebula, my favorite customer!" He said as he greeted his old friend. "I see you finally got a marefriend!"
Stardust let out a blush. "We're not dating!" She yelled obviously embarrassed.
"Nice to see you too, Joe. She already knows who I really am." He said as they gave each other a brohoof. "How's business going?"
"It's been great since that investment you made all those years ago. Thanks to you, I was able to buy this place! I can't thank you more!" He said thankfully. "I'll give you the usual, on the house! And for your friend?"
"Um... A chocolate donut with sprinkles please..." She asked, still flustered. Donut Joe nodded before going under the counter into the glass display case. He put Stardust's order into a small paper bag and set it on the counter. He then went back under and pulled out a large paper bag. He began putting various donuts and donut holes into the bag before handing the bag to Skystrike.
"There you go, one of each!" He laughed. "I know how much you eat!"
The doorbell could be heard as the hoof steps of three ponies could be heard as they entered the shop. They stopped as they made eye contact with Skystrike, or Atlas Nebula to them.
"Looks like I remembered correctly." Skystrike said as he put the large bag on a table.
"Do we know you?" The unicorn with a maya blue coat and periwinkle mane and tail with a pigment blue streak and blue eyes asked as she took a weary step back.
"Oof, im so hurt. You don't remember me after all these years, Minuette." He said sarcastically.
"How do you know us?" The unicorn with a yellow coat, a cerulean mane and tail with a lighter tail streak, and raspberry eyes asked as she took a step forward.
"Aw, and I even spent time to come meet you here. Mah feewings are a hurted, Lemon Hearts" He said as he laid a hoof against the wall as he looked away from them as Donut Joe laughed hard.
The unicorn with an ivory coat, curly pink mane and tail and electric blue eyes spoke up. "Just tell us who you are!" She yelled at him.
Skystrike chuckled to himself as he took off his helmet after making sure the store was empty. The three gasped as he greeted them. "Long time no see, girls. How have you been?"
A moment of realization went by until Minuette jumped on him, knocking him over with a hug.
"Oh my gosh! It's been so long!" She said, tightening her grip around his neck..
"It has. Almost 6 years, right?" Twinkleshine asked as she peeled Minuette off of him.
"What happened to you? We looked everywhere but we couldn't find you!" Lemon Hearts asked as she gave him a hug of her own.
"I was outside equestria for a little, then came back and went under an alias to hide from some ponies." He said as he got his bag and pulled out a donut. "You guys want some? We did this every week when I went to school here." They gladly accepted. The group including Stardust sat down at one of the tables in the shop.
Twinkleshine took one from the bag before the group sat down. "You've gotten huge, Skystrike. You're as tall, if not taller than Princess Luna!" She laughed as the others joined in.
"Why do you think I eat so much? This body needs fuel." He said as he ate a blueberry donut in one bite. "And you can tell by this armor, but i've been working out, so that's more fuel I need."
"And when did you take up swords?" Asked Minuettee as she pointed to his swords.
"I actually was self taught and have been practicing since I was 3. And swords aren't the only things I use. Heh, one time I used a horned helmet in a fight." He laughed to himself.
"Speaking of fights, did you hear about the fight General Magnus will have tomorrow? They haven't named the other fighter yet." Lemon Hearts said as she put down her donut on a napkin.
"We were asked by the challenge to not disclose his identity." Stardust said as she got over her earlier embarrassment.
"Oh yeah, we didn't get your name earlier. You're lucky to get a stallion like Skystrike." Minuette said as Stardust's blush came back.
"First off, i'm flattered. Second, her name is Stardust, and she's not my marefriend, she's my escort. Besides, if you thought she was, probably wasn't a good idea to hug and snuggle me." He ate another donut.
"Well it doesn't matter since that new law." Minuet defened.
"What law? If it's recent, then I probably don't know it, traveling all the time."
"We'll get back to that. Where are you living now?" Twinkleshine asked as she finished her donut."
"I bought some land and built a house in Ponyville."
"How's Lyra doing?"
"Lyra's in Ponyville?" He stood up from his chair.
"I figured you met her already." Lemon Hearts.
"For the first month, ponies avoided me because of my looks. I actually made my first acquaintances the day I came, but it was just delivering mail to a mail carrier." He took out another donut. "Now, what's this about a new law?"
Twinkleshine let out a sigh, "You're gonna need to calm down for this. I'm sure you noticed that mares outnumber stallions nearly 10-1."
"Yeeeeeeeeees?" He said as he side eyed her, taking a bite of a glazed donut..
"Because of that, The princess and the nobles realized a huge population problem." She continued. "As of three years ago, because of the population issue, stallions are able to have more than one spouse."
Loud coughs and wheezes were heard from Skystrike as he choked on his donut. He got a glass of water to drown down the food in his throat. He took deep breaths before answering. "WHAT!?" The girls laughed. "I should've expected this, but the fuck!" They laughed harder.
"So far, they don't have a limit to how many you can have, either" Lemon Hearts said with a grin.
Skystrike breathed heavily before recomposing himself. "You girls should come visit me at my house some time. Imma go practice my swords, see you at the duel tomorrow!" He said quickly before awkwardly trotting out the store, leaving his friends laughing behind him.
Skystrike walked into a large circular arena. The crowd was oddly silent as he came out from his side of the colosseum. He looked around to see the crowd. There was two halves of the arena, one for the royal guard, and the other for commoners. In the middle of both were a seating section for nobles, and above that were three thrones, two were occupied. Each of the nobles below the two princess' were giving him a strange look aside from one with a monocle. He looked at the commoner crowd to see Donut Joe, Twinkleshine, Minuette, and Lemon Hearts, all having looks of extreme surprize, realization, and confusion. He gave them a slight wave before making sure his mask and armor isn't loose. He looked around the guards area to see them all giving him harsh glares. He saw Stardust in the front row giving him a smile and a salute. He looked straight ahead to see Magnus come out of his tunnel. Skystrike gave him a bored look as Magnus returned it with an angry glare, as if he had something personal against him.
"Surprised you didn't apologize by now." Magnus said as he stood tall.
"I'm surprised you didn't run." Skystrike replied as he stretched out his wings from under his cape, revealing his bladed feathers. Magnus' glare deepened as he gritted his teeth. "There is nothing left to say. We will hear each other's words through battle."
Celestia stood up from her throne and spread out her wings before addressing the audience. "Welcome all, to the Canterlot coliseum! As you know, a duel will be held today between General Magnus of Canterlot, and Atlas Nebula of unknown origin. This duel will continue until one of you are knocked unconscious, rendered immobile, or receives a fatal wound! Do you two agree to these terms?"
"I do." They both said.
"Battle, begin!" She shouted as the crowd roared, mostly in support for Magnus.
Magnus drew a steel sword from his sheath with his magic and held it in front of him. Skystrike flapped his wings, as he stood on his hind legs. His armor folded out, creating his look of the dragon, exactly the same as the fight with Nightmare moon. The crowd gasped as he did this, but he wasn't done yet. From under his cape was four longswords that had 10 foot chains attached to the hilt of each sword. The swords were razor sharp and glowing blue, being able to slash and peirce. The blade had hooks on the end, being able to latch onto anything it's forced into.He drew all four, holding one in each of his claw-like hands. The other two were laying on his back, the chains being attached to a swivel joint under his cape.
Without hesitation, Magnus shot a red, burning magic blast at him. Skystrike ran at it, swords in tow, before using the flat of his blade to slap the blast to his right. It scorched the wall as it landed. Skystrike rose his other sword and tried at an overhead slash, it being stopped as sparks came from the clash between Magnus' sword and his own. He spun his body over him delivered a hard kick to the unicorn's side, sending him flying into the wall. Magnus got up and breathed heavily as Skystrike ran at him. Magnus swung his sword horizontally, a magic wave coming out and zooming towards the pegasus. Skystrike gave his wings a heavy flap before rocketing over it. He threw one of his longswords at him, only for it to be intercepted by a magic barrier. The sword bounced off, breaking the barrier. Skystrike quickly threw another sword at him, grazing his back leg as blood fell from the wound. Skystrike landed on the ground before taking the two swords in his hands and throwing them at Magnus again. Magnus side stepped and prepared a magic blast, only to be stopped by Skystrike pulling on the chains. A neon blue trail followed the swords as they ran into Magnus' side, denting his armor as he was sent flying again. Magnus caught himself before falling over. He stood up again, obviously tired from the beating he received, though Skystrike wasn't tired at all. He threw his swords into the ground and crossed his arms. A gust of wind went by, his cape flapping with it.
"Prepare yourself!" He taunted, making Magnus grit his teeth.
"I could say the same to you!" He shouted back before sending a barrage of small magic blast at him. Skystrike picked up his swords and helt up the one in his right hand. He let out some of the chain before moving his arm in a circular motion, the sword spinning in response. He walked forward as he spun his sword, Magnus sending a barrage of magic at him. The spinning sword seemed to make a circular blue shield as the magic ran into the sword. He stopped the spinning before letting out the full length of the chains. The chains under his cape was retracted as his equipped swords' chains now about 20 feet long. He threw the swords behind him before pulling the chains in front of him, the swords arcing at Magnusband delivering a cross slash, shattering his chestplate. As it fell off, a look of anger appeared on Skystrike face. Everypony in the stadium gasped as they saw a large scar on his chest. In the shape of a Hydra's head.
"So the truth has been exposed..." Magnus said as he looked at Skystrike. "Nice to see you again after all these years, Atlas Nebula."
"So you're the sole survivor, then. I'm disappointed that I let one of you live." Skystrike scoffed as he evened out the chains.
"I've waited so long for my vengeance. Because of you, my brothers and sisters are dead. I am alone because of you!" Magnus shouted as he picked up his sword again.
"And because of you, my friends, no, my family, have to live with something they can never get back. I'll give you a fate worse than theirs." Skystrike said as he looked at the princes'. "Celestia, Luna, the duel is called off. One question though." He pointed his sword at Magnus. "Dead or alive?"
"We need him alive." Celestia said before she addressed everyone. "Everypony, you don't need to worry. I have faith in Atlas Nebula."
"It wont be that easy!" Magnus shouted before taking out a pendant. It had the shape of a phoenix with a small blue crystal in the center. He put it on with a devilish grin as his eyes glowed blue.
"Just because you have stat boost..." Skystrike lunged at him. "Doesn't give you an advantage!"
Magnus shot large flaming blast at him at a fast pace, only for Skystrike swinging his swords faster, cutting through each blast as the blades absorbing the magic. He tried to kick Magnus, only for him to jump out of the way. His speed and magic increased significantly, as expected of the phoenix amulet. In mid air, Magnus charged up a spell, only to be interrupted by Skystrike throwing a sword at him. He missed purposely before waving the chain, the sword and chain wrapping around him. Skystrike stabbed the two hanging swords into the ground and ther the fourth sword at the unicorn, it also wrapping around him, locking his legs in place. He turned around and pulled on the chains with amazing strength, sending Magnus plummeting into the ground. A puff of dust went up as he landed. He got air back into his lungs before sending an electric shock through the chains. Skystrike was paralyzed by the current going through his arms, but he powered through it and succeeded in sending it back at him, a scream in pain being the outcome. He pulled the chains back as they untangled, a still conscious Magnus coming with them. Skystrike short hopped and hit him directly in the chest with a double kick. Cracks could be heard as some of his ribs broke. Blood was pouring from his mouth, staining his grey coat.
"Mercy..." He pleaded to Skystrike, only for him to pick him up by his hair.
"You've got some nerve asking for that." He growled. "Where was the mercy for that griffon when you slashed his eye? Where was the mercy for the avian when you cut off her foot!?" He was now screaming as his eyes were glowing brighter. "Where was the mercy when you cut off the Diamond dogs' hand!? You want me to give you something that you wouldn't?!"
Skystrike sent him into the air with a strong uppercut. He jumped into the air and hovered there, all the while he was delivering punches and kicks, keeping Magnus there, blood coming out his mouth. He quickly flew backwards and let out his longswords. He held onto the chains and span sideways, the blades cutting Magnus as they passed. He stopped his spinning before grabbing two chains in each hand, the swords all next to each other.
"CLEAVER!!" He yelled as he brought down all four swords on him. A fiery explosion was seen as he released the magic the swords absorbed. He flew down and landed to see a beaten, burnt, and unconscious Magnus below his feet. He sighed as he walked up to him as took of the phoenix amulet. He checked his pulse. He was alive. He looked around the crowd to see everypony, including the princess' gave him fearful looks. He walked up to Magnus and looked down on him.
"He'll wake up in a few hours. Treat his wounds or let him die, I don't care. I'll be in my room." He said before turning his armor back into its pony form and sheathing his swords. He flew towards the castle.
The darkness in his room was overwhelming. It was pitch black, the only light that could be seen was the glow of his helmet's inner visor. Skystrike sat in silence as he took in what he just did. Out of his own rage, he beat a pony until he could barely move. It may have been justified, but his heart felt heavy. He laid down on his bed and looked at the ceiling. He needed to find a way to slow, if not stop, his wrath. There was no question that he should, but it was rather if he could. He let out a sigh as he made up his mind. He would not let his emotions overcome him, no matter the cost. That was the promise he made to himself.
"Skystrike?" The call of his name could be heard from the other side of the door. It was Celestia.
"It's open." He said. She pulled on the handle, the outside light poured in more and more as the door opened.
Celestia, Luna, Stardust, Lemon Hearts, Minuette, and Twinkleshine all walked into the room. Skystrike sat up and looked at them, not saying a word. Minuette walked forward a few steps. "Why didn't you tell us you were going to fight? Do you not trust us?"
"If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have met you at our meet up spot, nor would I have shown you my face." He said before giving her a glare. His eyes wavered in color before staying its normal blue. "I didn't tell you because you would've wanted me to forfeit due to a mixture of my safety and your ignorance of my skill."
"Your 'skill' almost killed a pony. You could've held back." Luna said somewhat annoyed.
"You ponies don't know true strength. He was holding back." Echo spoke up, surprising the three unicorns. "He used just enough strength to overpower him. I'm surprised you lot haven't realized yet."
'...Is what he's saying the truth?" Celestia questioned and gave him a weary look, only for Skystrike to nod in response.
"I've held back more than you realize." He chuckled to himself. "It got annoying to open doors without breaking the handle. But you can trust me not to abuse it. If I wanted to, I would've blackmailed you years ago." Celestia's eyes shrink at his statement. "I got three days left before I go. I'll try to be discreet." He said as he layed back down on his bed. "I'll see you girls in the morning." He rolled away from them. A few moments passed before the sound of hoof steps could be heard leaving him room before the door closed slowly. It seemed that he made more trouble for himself. He cursed under his breath before forcing himself to sleep. He knew that they wouldn't come see him again. It wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last time he lost some friends due to fear. |
A Broken Warrior | Boast Busters | "So why did you follow me home?" Skystrike asked as he broke the silence on the train ride back to Ponyville.
"Due to your duel, the princess asked me to monitor you, as well as give a weekly report, sir!" Stardust saluted.
"Heh, I see why. I am fairly dangerous." He sighed and flipped a coin on his hoof over and over in a rhythmic fashion.
"Fairly?" She chuckled to herself. "With all due respect sir, you beat Magnus without breaking a sweat! If I told the princess about your book of battles you had, I wouldn't be the only guard."
He nodded, knowing she was right. The train blew its whistle, notifying the passengers that they were nearing Ponyville station. "Oh yeah, I got a party to go to after we arrive at Ponyville. After that, i'll show you where you'll stay for the time being."
"Understood, sir! The princess has given me monthly funds, so I should be fine financially!"
"Good to know." He finished as he caught the coin in his hoof. The train slowed to a stop before the doors opened. Skystrike picked up both his and Stardust's belongings, despite her protest. The two were met outside by Rainbow Dash spotting and flying over to them.
"Hey, Nebula! Welcome back to Ponyville!" She said nicely before patting him on the back.
Too nicely for his taste. "Thanks..." He said as he moved his head towards the earth pont behind him. "That's Stardust, a guard Celestia assigned to me. Stardust, this is Rainbow Dash."
"Nice to meet you, Miss Rainbow Dash." Stardust put out a hoof before Rainbow raised a brow and shook it.
"Well let's get going! The party's at Twilight's!" She said as she started walking.
"Sweet. Who's all there?" Skystrike said as he followed behind along with Stardust,
"Oh, you know. Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, AJ, Pinkie, and me of course." She said suspiciously.
"I thought it was a late 'welcome to Ponyville' party. Figured that more ponies would be there?"
"They all had... stuff to do...." She avoided eye contact.
Skystrike looked around at the ponies around him. Each pony instantly ran away at the realization that Skystrike looked at them. "Uh huh..." He said before looking at Stardust, who was giving him a confused, yet suspicious look. The three arrived at the library, Spike opening the door. They exchanged greetings before walking inside. It wasn't what he was expecting though. There were no party tables, streamers, confetti, or balloons. The closest thing to a party was a plate of cookies that Spike offered him. The door locked behind him before Rainbow stood next to the rest of the mares that were already there, each giving him looks that varied from anger to nervousness. He sighed, knowing full well what this was. Might as well hear them out.
"Skystrike, what happened in Canterlot?" Twilight asked with an angry tone.
He sighed. "Twilight, if thats the first thing you ask me, and you ask in that tone, pretty sure you already know what happened."
"Don't get smart with me!" She scowled.
"Don't ask questions that you know the answer to. A better question would be 'What actually happened?' Because despite being her student, she doesn't tell you everything." He responded, making Twilight angrier.
"Of course she would tell me everything! Why would she hide anything from me?"
"Well she didn't tell you about me, so she had to have a pretty good reason." He shrugged his shoulders as Twilight was clearly letting it get under her skin.
"Now Skystrike, there's no need for that. We're just trying to help you." Rarity said as she tried to calm down Twilight.
"Help with what? Because from my view, you girls don't know what you're talking about, lied to me, saying thin intervention was a party, and Celestia probably didn't give enough clarification. So, how will you help me if you don't know what's wrong, and worsened things for yourselves?" He asked, trying not getting annoyed, or trying to at least.
"Actually I have the message she sent." Spike said as he stuffed a cookie into his mouth.
"Good. Can you give me the short of it?"
"Well... it just says that you'd be in a bad mood when you came back. The newspaper said that you and I quote, 'senselessly beat a pony to near death.'" His eyes widened as he skimmed.
Skystrike sighed. "Alright, they're not wrong, but she left out the why. Tell you what, tell me what you all planned on getting out of this, then i'll tell you the part that Celestia and the media left out."
"We were um... going to take your swords..." Fluttershy tried not to make him mad.
"First off, there's three things you don't take from me. My weapons, my armor, and my pets. Second off, which swords?" Skystrike counted on his hoof as Fluttershy stopped a laugh from escaping her mouth.
"What do you mean by 'which swords'?" Rainbow asked cautiously.
"There's Soulsteel, the Bloodskal blade, the Blade of Woe, Atrius, my Daedric swords, the Buster sword, the Terra blade, Aatrox, Martis, Alucard, Magnetite..."
"We get it." Rainbow face palmed. "And where did you get these swords?"
"Most are ancient blades that I find, restore, then upgrade. Other than those, I make them. So, you wanna know why I beat Magnus to near death or not?"
"What reason would you have to mess him up that bad?" Pinkie said with the tilt of her head. "They couldn't have been that big of a meanie."
"Does nearly killing you and your friends in the past count as being a big meanie?" Skystrike asked as the whole room went silent. "Don't trust everything the media says They're in it for money." He said as he unlocked the door. "Stardust,come on." He said before he left the library, heading towards home.
Skystrike opened the door to his house and set his saddle bag to the side of the door. Still carrying Stardust's bag on his back. He motioned for her to follow, giving her a tour of the house. The entrance room had a few decorative vases in it and some corner shelves and some weapon racks, all currently occupied with various staffs. It also had some display cases. One sat on a table as the other sat on a shelf, the former holding a large black and silver collar, seeming to belong to a large being. In the center of the caller was a sapphire that glowed a dim blue. Stardust eyed it for a bit before following Skystrike to the next room.
The main room was in a rectangular shape that had an indoor balcony on the second floor. The first floor had a large reversible turquoise sofa in front of a dark brown tea table. There was a large, flat screen TV in front of the couch. Blue tinted lights shined upon the room. Aside from that, it was mostly empty.
The archives and alchemy lab were to the left of that room. He pushed open two thick metal doors to enter the laboratory. The walls were lined with a metal alloy in case of explosions. The room was circular, with three floors in it. The first and third floor were for the lab, while the second was the archives. The walls were lined with thousands of books on nearly every subject. It could rival Canterlots by topics. Each shelf had a protective glass screen on it. The lab had many shelves housing various flask and solutions.
The armory was across from the lab. It was full of armor stands weapon racks, display cases, large and small, a grindstone and a workbench. It was a tad smaller than the living room, but had much more stuff in it. Various suits of armor for many different species were in chest that sat on the floor. The weapon racks were sorted by the type of weapons. There were war hammers, battle axes, shields, swords, and other unique weapons. The display cases held items from circlets to knives.
Behind the living room was the trophy room. There were large pedestals that held all types of beasts. There was a mannequin of a greater timber wolf, a large patch of fur that was a deep purple with stars on it, the skull of a cyclops, a miniature Roc replica, and various other objects ranging from necklaces to goblets. It was a rather small room, being able to hold about 10 ponies.
The two went upstairs and walked past a locked door and a vacant room. He opened the door, revealing a queen sized bed with a magenta pillow and sheets. It was a guest room.
"You'll be staying here. I have a few rules that you'll need to follow." He started as he put down Stardust's bag. "If you wish to use one of my weapons, ask me first. If you want to go into the archives, don't let any of the books leave this house, especially not the black books and Oghma Infinium."
"I thought those were fake?" Stardust looked at him.
"Don't go into the basement, that's my workshop." He continued, ignoring her question. "Don't let anyone in, not even the princess', unless I say you can. And finally, don't go snooping around in places that you don't think you should. Am I clear?"
"Yes sir!" She saluted. "Though I can't promise about the princess'."
He nodded before turning around. "I'll leave you here to get set up. Imma go walk around the town. The kitchen is next to the armory. There's cook books in there and some food if you're hungry. I'll be around town." He said before leaving her to her things.
There was a small carriage in the town square, where a lot of ponies were gathered around. A teal unicorn with a purple cape and wizard hat was making a huge scene as more and more ponies gathered around. She seemed somewhat familiar.
"Come one, come all! Come and witness the amazing magic of the great and powerful Trixie!" The mare introduced as the carriage folded out into a small stage. A puff of smoke went up before dispersing, revealing Trixie behind it. The crowd cheered at the show.
"Watch in awe, as the great and powerful Trixie, does the most spectacular piece of magic ever witnessed by pony eyes!" She stood on her hind hooves as fireworks came from under the stage.
"My oh my, such boasting!" Skystrike could hear Rarity say from in front him.
"Oh come on." Spike sighed. "No ponies magic is better than Twili-" He caught himself. He cleared his throat. "Hey Rarity, I uh... must dash!" Spike said before running off, only to run into Skystrike.
"Oh hey..." He said wearily.
"Don't worry, i'm not mad. I rarely hold grudges." He reassured the dragon.
"Oh good. Come on! I wanna get a better view!" Spike said before pulling Skystrike by the hoof, making him walk to the front. Spike was caught off guard when he was grabbed by the tail and put onto Skystrike's back.
"Thanks." He said before pointing out Twilight and the other mares.
"There's nothing wrong with being talented, is there?" Twilight asked her friends.
"Nothing at all. Except when somepony goes aroun' showin' it off like a school filly with fancy new ribbons." Applejack glared at Trixie.
"Just because one has the ability to perform lots of magic does not make one better than the rest of us." Rarity pitched in.
"Especially when you got me around being better than the rest of us!" Rainbow said proudly, only to get a glare from Applejack.
"If there was something wrong with being talented, we wouldn't have cutie marks." Skystrike came towards the girl. "And Rainbow..." He rubbed his snout with his hoof. "Just don't." Spike laughed.
"Well well well, it seems we have some neigh-sayers in the audience!" Trixie spoke.
"HAH! I get it!" Skystrike laughed to himself.
"Who is so ignorant to challenge the magical ability of the great and powerful Trixie!?" She boasted more. "I'll have you know, that you're in the presence of the most magical unicorn in all of Equestria!"
Rarity blew a raspberry. "Just who does she think she is?" Rarity scoffed.
"Yeah! Since we all know that Twilight here is-" Spike was pushed to the side by said mare.
"Spike! Ssssh!" Spike was lead outside of the crowd my Twilight.
Rainbow Dash flew up into Trixie's face. "So, great and powerful Trixie, what makes you think you're so awesome anyway?"
Trixie giggled. "Why, only the great and powerful Trixie has magic strong enough to vanquish the dreaded Ursa Major!" More fireworks came as they exploded, showing the picture of a bear with a star on its forehead. "When all hope was lost, the ponies were lost and had nopony to turn to, but the great and powerful Trixie, with her awesome magic, vanquished he ursa major and sent it back to its cave! Deep within the Everfree forest!
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA" Skystrike burst out in laughter at her broad statement, catching the eyes of everypony around him.
"What's so funny, tin can?"
"Im sorry! It's just you're full of shit!" He laughed harder. He finally calmed down before continuing. "If a unicorn was single handedly able to do that, why have none of the ponies here heard about it? I've done some cool stuff but no one was there to record it. I wouldn't go around saying I did something with no proof."
Trixie gave him an angry look before smirking. "It's true my enthusiastic little admirer, but i'll humor you. What, prey tell, is this 'cool stuff' you've done?" She asked only for the crowd to murmur in front of her.
"Oh, these ponies already know one. It was my most recent one, and my first recorded one that wasn't written by me." He chuckled before throwing a newspaper at her hooves. "Read the front page."
She read it only to smirk. "Even if you did, he was still no match for an Ursa Major!" She scoffed. "Very well Ponyvillians, I challenge you. Anything you can do, I can do better! Any takers? Anyone? Or is trixie destined to be the greatest equine ever lived?" More fireworks came up.
"I'll go last. The show has to be longer than this."Skystrike laughed before watching intently.
"Please! She's unbearable!" Spike groaned. "One of you have to do something!"
"There's no way i'm using my magic now Spike, especially since-" Twilight whispered before being cut off.
"How about you?" Trixie pointed to Twilight who stayed silent. "Well? Is there anything you can do the great and powerful Trixie cant?"
"She can talk in first person. Does that count?" Skystrike joked as the audience giggled. Trixie ignored him.
Twilight stuttered before Trixie moved on. "What about you, hayseed?" She said mockingly to Applejack.
"That's it! I can't take no more o' this." She said walking up to the stage
"Yeah! You show her, Applejack!" Spike cheered.
"Can your magical powers do this?" Applejack did some rope tricks with the lasso on her tail.
"That is cool as fuck!" Skystrike shouted.
Applejack then swung her tail around, making the lasso grab and pick an Apple from a nearby tree. It fell into her mouth as the crowd cheers for her. "Top that missy!"
"Oh ye of little talent. Watch and be amazed at the magic of Trixie!" She pulled off her hat, making the rope sway back and forth like a snake, hypnotizing Applejack. She then tied her hooves together and put a apple in her mouth. Applejack angrily hopped off stage back towards the group.
"And the great and powerful Trixie prevails!"
"Enough struttin' around and showin' off like that!" Rainbow flew up to her.
"No." Trixie replied calmly.
"That's it. My job." Rainbow flew off towards a windmill and flew around it, making the mill turn faster. She then flew up into the sky at high speeds, going through clouds. She dive bombed going through a cloud, the water from it following her. She then went back through the windmill, making it spin faster. Finally, she skidded to a stop, the water still behinder, hit her, making a small rainbow over her head.
"They don't call me Rainbow and Dash for nothing." She finished as the crowd cheered again.
Trixie was unamused. "When Trixie is through, only thing they'll call you is loser!"
"ROASTED!" Skystrike shouted again.
Trixie shot a magic beam at Rainbow Dash, It surrounded her, making the rainbow above her begin to circle her. It madea rainbow tornado, making Rainbow spin with it, carrying her off into the air. It slowed down, making the pony land on her head, her eyes rolling around in her head.
"Seems like anypony with a dash of sense would think before tussling with the great Trixie." Trixie made a dark cloud appear above Rainbow before lightning struck her hind quarters. The crowd laughed.
"What we need is another challenger. Somepony to magic her up." Spike said as he nudged Twilight with his elbow.
"Yeah! You need to show this unicorn who's boss!" Rainbow helped.
"A unicorn on unicorn tustle." Applejack agreed.
"Enough. Enough all of you!" Rarity interrupted. "I can take a hint, but Rarity wont have such nonsense. Rainbow Dash and Applejack may be fine with being a little rough, but why don't we conduct ourselves with beauty and grace?"
"Ooo, what's the matter? Afraid you'll get a hair out of place in that rats nest you call a mane?"
"Holy shit."
"Straight up savage."
"Oh it. Is. on!" Rarity growled "You may think you're tough with your so called 'powers', but there is more to magic than your brutish ways. A unicorn needs more than that." Rarity used her magic to pull down a curtain, spinning it around herself. "A unicorn needs to have style!"
A flash of light was seen before revealing the white pony in a glittering blue and yellow dress. Her hair was up and done nicely as the crowd gasped in awe. "A unicorn without grace and beauty..."
Trixie used her horn to begin a magic spell.
"Rarity wont let Trixie get the best of her! She's beautiful, she's..." A flash of magic interrupted Spike as he stared in silence. The whole crowd gasped in horror after looking at Rarity. Save for Skystrike.
"Quick! I need a mirror! What did she due to my hair? I know she did something terrible to my hair!" Rarity squealed as she panicked.
"Nothing." Twilight said.
"It's fine!" Rainbow avoided eye contact.
"It's gorgeous." Applejack reassured.
"It's gre-" Spike was cut off by Skystrike's hoof on his mouth. All four of them gave him a look, telling him what he needed to do.
"I got this." Skystrike said walking up to Rarity. He pulled out a bag of bits. "Go to the spa and get the best treatment they give. I feel generous today."
"Skystrike, don't hide it from me, what's wrong with my hair?" Rarity pleaded.
Skystrike tried his best to say it as calmly as possible. "It's... green..."
Her eyes widened as each one of the mares gave him a look.
"What?"
"Oh no! Green! Not green! Green hair!" Rarity cried before running off crying. "It's such a horrid color!"
"Well, i'd never!" A pony with a green made said angrily.
"Well come on Twilight, it's up to you." Spike said as Trixie whipped her hoof.
"What do you mean? I'm nothing special..." Twilight said to both Spike and the crowd.
"What do you mean? You're better than her!" Spike growled.
"I'm no better than anypony!"
Trixie laughed. "You think you're better than the great and powerful Trixie? You have more magical talent! Well come on, show Trixie what youve got! Show us all." She taunted.
Skystrike sighed. "I heard you were annoying, but this is just ridiculous." Skystrike stepped on stage. "It's my turn I guess."
"And what can you do that Trixie can't?" She laughed.
Skystrike looked at her. "Well, I can actually attempt at what the contestants did for one. Applejack could do rope tricks. All you did was wave it around with filly level magic. Rainbow actually flew around and did tricks, all you did was make her dizzy. Rarity turned a simple curtain into a beautiful dress, while all you did was change her hair color, which barbers can do." He counted off with his hooves. "You didn't do anything they did 'better', so you're a fraud."
Trixie gritted her teeth as he continued. "Second, what do you know about dragon shouts?"
"You mean roars? That's not hard to do." She smirked.
"Oh it's much different. Let me show you. Everypony, cover your ears." They all did so as Skystrike took a deep breath. He opened the jaw of his helmet.
"Fus... RO DAH!" An explosion could be heard as he finished his chant. A wave of energy went over the crowd, their hair flowing in the force of the shout, and ran into a tree, knocking all the apples and most of the leaves off it. Everyone gasped as Trixie's jaw dropped. "You see that? That was two things. The easiest shout you can learn, and something very few dragons and even fewer ponies can do. Now, can you do better than that using only your voice?"
Trixie recomposed herself. "Of course I can!" She cleared her throat as the audience covered their ears again. "Fus... Ro Dah!" She shouted. The audience flinched, expecting the same, but slowly came up one my one realizing nothing was going to happen. "T-That was just a dud..." She said with a quiet, scratchy voice.
"Hah, you got a sore throat now. My job here is done." He jumped down from the stage. "You guys should go check on Rarity. I'm going home. And Trixie, learn when to shut up." He left as the crowd began laughing behind him, though Spike followed him.
"What was that? I've never heard of anything like it." Spike said jogging net to him.
"I don't expect you to. Most dragons dont know of it. It makes sense that you wouldn't, being raised by ponies. What that was is called 'Thuum', ancient dragon tongue for voice. The one I used back there was 'Unrelenting force'. The first one I learned."
"Who taught you?" Spike asked.
"An old dragon from the outside the dragon lands. His name was Paarthurnax."
Spike thought for a moment. "Could you teach me the voice?"
"If you really want to, but they're mostly used for battle." Skystrike warned the young dragon.
"I know! And it's cool!" Spike smiled.
Skystrike couldn't help but crack one of his own. "Alright then. I'll talk to Twilight about it. If she doesn't want you to, I can sneak you out. I hope you won't mind having a training partner?"
"Of course not! When do we start?"
Next week. Now go check on your crush. I'll see you later Spike." He finished, leaving Spike with a blush.
Skystrike was currently making a salad and some fried rice for dinner, his armor in the corner. Stardust was currently trying to lecture him about what he did earlier that day. It was not working out in her favor, but it didn't stop her from continuing.
"Sir, you realize that I have to tell the princess' about this?" She sighed.
"Yup." He replied as he continued cooking.
"It will only make you more known, and make even more fear your power, sir." She pushed a hoof against her forehead.
"I know." He took out some plates from the cabinet. He lifted the frying pan and evenly split the fried rice onto both of the plates. He then took the bowl of salad and put some in a small bowl for each of them. He turned off the stove and held a plate on each wing. He walked over to the table that Stardust was waiting at. He tilted one of his wings down, letting the plate slide down and stopping in front of her. He did the same at his seat before pulling back the chair and sitting down himself. He figured that Celestia would know the truth about it sooner or later, being he used a different shout during his escape those years ago.
"Honestly sir, I wouldn't be surprised if we were called back so soon." She said as she picked up her utensils.
"Unless she or anypony I know is in immediate danger, i'm not going back until the gala. Speaking of which, I still have these two other tickets. Probably gave me two extra because polygamy became a thing." He took a bite of his food. The word being said caused a light blush on Stardust's face.
"What about that pony Lyra? You said you knew her in the past?"
"Yeah, good idea. Then you can have the extra ticket." He thought aloud.
"Oh, don't worry about the ticket, sir. As your guard, I get in essentially free." She said as she finished her salad.
"That's... oddly convenient and planned." He said as he finished his plate. "And one last thing. Starting next week, you're training alongside Spike. You could use the practice."
"Yes sir!" She saluted. Skystrike looked at her plate. Empty. Skystrike looked at her, some rice stuck to her face.
"I'm guessing it was good?" He chuckled before picking up their plates. He got a napkin and wiped her face before throwing it across the room into the trash. He put the plates in the dishwasher. "I hope you'll make friends here better than I did. You atleast look normal" He sighed to himself.
"I will, sir! When I do, i'll let you meet them!"
"I would appreciate that." He smiled at her.
Large booms could be heard as the ground rumbled beneath their hooves. Skystrike and Stardust exchanged looks before they went outside, seeing a large blue, starry bear follow Spike, a tall filly, and a short filly, each screaming for their lives as they ran towards Ponyville.
"Stardust, lock the door! We're going out to stop that ursa!"
"Yes sir!" She said as Skystrike took off towards the town.
He quickly ran past the bear as the fillies went towards Trixie's wagon and Spike towards the library. He realized exactly what they were trying to do as Trixie came to the door and began talking with them.
"Didn't Trixie say the great and powerful Trixie wish not to be disturbed?" Trixie raised a brow.
"Trixie, we have a little problem." The short one said in a squeaky voice.
"More like a big problem!" The tall one said pointing to the large bear behind them.
Trixie looked behind the two to see Skystrike and the bear running at them. She let out a cream as she was frozen in fear. Skystrike grabbed the two fillies and mares, just before the ursa smashed the wagon with a large claw. He quickly put them down before before saying one word. "Run!"
They quickly followed behind him as they weaved through the alleys, trying to lose the bear. The bear continued to follow them as the other residents woke up at the massive creature running through the town. The four were backed into a corner as Skystrike gritted his teeth.
"Great and powerful Trixie! You've got to vanquish the Ursa!" The short pont pleaded.
"Yeah! Vanquish so we can watch!" The tall one said as the bear inched closer.
"It took alot of trouble to get that thing here!" The short one smiled before getting an angry response from the two grown ponies.
"What!? You bought that thing here!?" They said in unison.
"Are you out of your little pony minds!?" Trixie asked, her eyes shrink in shock.
"But you're the great and powerful Trixie!" The short one said confused.
"Yeah, remember? You defeated an Ursa Major!" The tall one clarified.
The bear let out a roar in their faces before Trixie gulped. "O...ok. Here it goes!" She focused magic into her horn, causing a nearby vase to rattle, a long rope coming out of it. She tied the ursa together as she exhaled. "Piece of cake."
The ursa looked annoyingly at its paw, showing that only two of its toes were tied together. He split them apart, the rope snapping easily. It looked back at them.
"Now is not the time for games, Trixie!" Skystrike scoffed as he got ready for any attacks.
"Yeah!" Shorty said.
"Vanquish it!" Skinny pitched in.
She focused her magic once more, a storm cloud appearing above the bear. It rumbled a bit before lightning struck its tail, only making it angrier.
"Well that was a dud..." Skinny grunted.
"Yeah, come on! Do the stuff you did earlier!" Shorty suggested.
The storm cloud struck the bear on its back, leaving a black mark from the burn. The bear opened its mouth before they all took a step back.
"Uh oh." Trixie quietly said.
"Fucking run!" Skystrike ordered as the bear roared. The four quicky zoomed under the bear, making it rampage through the inner parts of the town. Each pony outside looked to see the blue bear hunched over a house before running.
"Sir!" Stardust caught up to the four ponies and began running next to them.
"Trixie, get rid of the ursa now!" Stardust shouted.
"I... cant!" She sighed as her ears went down.
"What!?" The two colts said behind them. Skystrike looked back to see Twilight and Spike standing next to them.
"I've never done it! No one can vanquish an ursa major! I just made the whole story up to make me look better!"
"Made it up!?"
The ursa began to growl as it neared them. It stood on its hind legs before bringing its arms up with a roar. THe crowd, including Rainbow, Applejack and Rarity all gasped as they saw it so close.
"Everypony! Get evacuate the area! Stardust! Trixie! I need you to help evacuate!"
"What about you?" Twilight said walking up next to Trixie.
The bear roared again before trying to bring a paw down on the two mares and stallion. Skystrike quickly pushed the two out of the way before the bears claws dug into his skin. His coat was slowly turning red as blood ran down his side. He let his guard down, a foolish mistake.
The girls and dragon called out his name as he caught his footing. He looked back at everyone who was still there. "GO!" He said before he jumped at the celestial beast.
He pushed his back hooves into the bear's skull, the outcome being a roar in pain from the beast. The bear swiped at him, trying to knock him back. Skystrike saw it coming before jumping over it then divekicking the bear. The ursa opened its mouth, trying to bite at the pegasus in mid air. Skystrike air dodged out of the way with a flap of his wings before landing a roundhouse kick to the bear's cheek. He landed on the ground in front of the bear, slightly dizzy from the loss of blood. He needed to finish this quickly, or at least stall it long enough for it to escape. The blue beast brought down both of its front paws onto Skystrike. He stood on his hind hooves and put his front hooves up, catching the paws. The force coming down on him caused a small crater under his hooves. He let go of its paw before landing a strong uppercut, it making a cracking sound as the bear fell backwards. The large ursa fell onto its back, failing to keep its footing. Skystrike landed on all fours as he dizzily stood up. He looked behind him, seeing everypony in Ponyville cheering for him as he defeated the ursa.
"That wasn't an Ursa Major..." He said weakly.
"...What? Both Trixie and Twilight said shocked.
"That... was... a Minor...." He finished before he fell over onto the ground. He could hear the calling of his name as his vision turned fuzzy. "You girls really need to take... care of yourselves... He said as he coughed up some blood. His hearing grew weaker before he closed his eyes.
His eyes shot open as he looked up at a white ceiling. He quickly sat up as the cover fell off of him. He sucked air through his teeth. He looked to his right to see his side bandaged up, as well as Stardust asleep, her head lying on the side of the bed. He looked to his left to see Spike sitting in a chair sleeping, and Fluttershy lying in the same fashion as Stardust. The three had tear marks on their faces. Not wanting to wake them up, he layed back down. He was about to put a hoof on his forehead, only for it to be stopped by his helmet in between. Looking around, he notice that there was an IV bag running into a vein in his left hoof. Next to it was a desk that had multiple bouquets of flowers, as well as get well soon cards. One stuck out to him it being a glass of sky blue tulips with a blue card under it of the same shade. It was a get well soon card from Trixie Lulamoon written in cursive. He smiled at her thoughtfulness. The warm sunlight shinned on his face, making him squint.
The sound of hoof steps could be heard coming closer to his room. He looked at the doorway to see a mare with a white coat and pink mane and tail, her hair in a bun and sporting s nurse hat.. She looked up from her clipboard to see Skystrike looking right at her. She dropped her clipboard.
"Hey Redheart. What's up?"" He waved.
She let out a sigh of relief. "I'm so glad your ok, Mr. Nebula, as well as the rest of Ponyville."
"...huh."
"What?" She asked confused.
"Figured the whole town would avoid me after Magnus. Speaking of which, how long was I out?"
"Almost a week. Five days to be exact." She said sadly.
He sighed in realization. "At least I still got time before training begins."
"Oh of course!" Redheart said in realization. "You have some visitors. They've been coming nearly everyday. I believe that they were quite worried about you."
"Well, let them in. I got nothing else to do."
She nodded before leaving the room, only to come back with Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and even Bon Bon. Each one of them let out their own sigh of relief before waking up the three sleepers. They slowly woke up, glancing at the now conscious pegasus. Each one of them joined in on a big, yet slightly painful hug.
"Sweet Celestia Nebula, don't scare us like that!" Rainbow said in a shaky voice.
"What in tarnation were you thinking' goin' after that Ursa minor?" Applejack scolded.
"I was thinking that if I fought it, it would buy you guys time to escape." He answered. "But me taking that hit was my fault entirely."
"That's not true!" Spike said as he rubbed his eyes. "If Twilight and Trixie weren't there, you wouldn't need to take the hit for them!" Twilight flinched
"Maybe, but his control of him emotions weakened him." Echo spoke. "After the duel with Magnus, he suppressed his anger. His power rises as his anger grows, so, Skystrike essentially lost most of his strength, speed, and defense."
"Wait, so the angrier you get, the stronger you get?" Pinkie questioned.
"Pretty much. I see it as a second adrenaline. We call it wrath." Skystrike shrugged. "It also got me out of near death situations. Pretty handy."
"Just don't run into battle like that again. You worried all of us." Fluttershy pleaded.
"Sorry kiddo, but if you or anyone else can live at the cost of me dying, i'll take that L."
"Darling, don't you care for your life at all?" Rarity asked.
"Eeeeeh... It's not that I don't, it's more like I see other lives having more value than mine."
"How could you say something like that sir?" Stardust said with tears in her eyes. "Each one of us here care for you!"
"Not to ruin the moment, but think about it, you got the elements of harmony, a knight from the royal guard, a civilian who's done nothing wrong, and a baby dragon. You all have done so much good in this world, compared to me, who's taken more lives than I saved, some out of my own anger. You heard what I asked at the duel." He said, no hesitation could be heard in his voice. "That being said, i'm going to try my best to live as long as I can."
"Anyway." Spike started, changing the subject. "When is Skystrike getting out of the hospital?"
Nurse Redheart looked at her clipboard. "Well since he's conscious and doesn't seem to be in too much pain, maybe at noon?"
"Wait, Skystrike??" Bon Bon said as Spike smacked his hands against his mouth, realizing his mistake. "You're Skystrike?"
"Am I that popular?"
"You're famous! Or were. Most ponies thought you were dead." She threw out a hoof. "I have to say though, you're nothing like Lyra said. Well besides how you like to fight."
"Hold up, you know Lyra?"
"Yeah, She's my roommate."
He stayed silent for a moment. "That's convenient. I'll come see you later this week. I gotta train Spike and Stardust the day after tomorrow."
"You what?!" Twilight shouted. "Spike didn't tell me about this!"
"Skystrike gave Spike an expecting look. He looked back at him, the dragon quickly tilting his head at Twilight, telling him to deal with it. Might as well.
"He asked and i'm going to do it." He said quickly.
"But he's supposed to help me in the library. He is my assistant." She grumbled, slightly annoyed.
"All his time won't be taken away from the library. Besides, can't you do it yourself over the course of a few days, instead of doing it in one?"
"Well it's my say if he goes or not!"
"Twilight, growing up, I had to sneak around and steal to survive. This won't be the first time I've had to kidnap somepony." He smirked. "But i'll just say this. Skado skadee, he commin' with me." He finished before grabbing Spike and running through the hospital. He stopped at the front desk and paid his bill before running again from the hoofsteps behind him.
"Spike, first lesson, it's always ok to run."
Spike laughed as he rode on his back, riding Skystrike throughout Ponyville. |
A Broken Warrior | Dragonshy | Skystrike walked into the library, quickly greeting Twilight who gave him an annoyed glare. Technically kidnapping Spike, even if the dragon enjoyed it, may not have been the best idea to get on her good side. But, that was the least of his worries. Spike was currently dusting off some of the library's books as Skystrike walked towards him.
"Hey Spike! Ready to go?"
"Yeah! Just let finish this shelf!" He said as he quickly finished dusting the books. "So what do we do first?"
"First, we go to Rarity's" He turned and walked towards the door. "And you're going to be walking for a while. We'll see you later, Twilight." He walked out the door.
"Bye Twilight!" Spike said, excited to start his training. Twilight waved goodbye with a sigh.
The two walked through Ponyville. Most ponies were still inside, either sleeping or eating breakfast. Lucky for them, Carousel Boutique opened fairly early. They walked inside, meeting Stardust and Rarity inside, who stopped their conversation and looked towards the two boys.
"Why, good morning you two." Rarity greeted.
"Morning Rarity. How ya doin?" Skystrike waved.
"Why, im quite well, darling. I hope you didn't have trouble getting here?"
"Eh, my wing is a bit sore, but i'll manage." He shrugged.
The sound of hoof steps could heard quickly coming towards the three.
"Hey sis! Late for school! Gotta go, bye!" Sweetie Belle said quickly, running by with a blur.
They all stayed silent for a moment, taking in what they just saw. Suddenly, Skystrike realized something.
"Spike, how old are you in pony years?"
He thought for a moment before answering. "Uh...7?"
"And have you ever went to school in Canterlot.?"
"No?"
"You're gonna start going to school. You need mental strength as much as you need physical."
Spike groaned reluctantly. "But you barely went to school back in Canterlot!"
"That's because I was able to skip a lot of grades and graduated really early. So, i didn't go to school long because I was already ahead of everypony else." He chuckled to himself.
"But how did you-"
"Photographic memory. Took me over a week to read all of those books. Was it worth it? Probably not." He laughed.
"How can you say all of these amazing things so calmly?" Rarity questioned.
Systrike shrugged. "Anyway, Rarity we need your help."
"Alright. Tell me what you need."
"Well, everytime I train somebody, we get them a specially made cape with the same symbol as mine to show that they are my disciples." He said pointing to the three stars on his cape. "They'll tell you the design they want, just make the symbol like mine, but only the large star. My only rule about the capes are that it has to match your look."
Rarity nodded before picking up a notepad with her magic. "Alright, I think I can do that. Just tell me what you need!" She grinned eagerly.
Spike scratched his chin. "Well... can I have it my color purple, fading to black like Skystrikes? Then I want lime green fire coming from the bottom up." He finished as Rarity sketched it down on her notepad.
"What about you, stardust?" She asked as she flipped a page.
She hummed to herself before answering. "Can I have it a pinkish-red with a pastel blue fade at the top?"
Rarity looked up after finishing her sketch. "I think I can get this to you by next week friday at the latest."
"Fine by me." Skystrike nodded before pulling out a bag of bits. "Here's the payment before hand. I know they're gonna like it." He gave her a smile. "Come on, you two. We gotta get started."
"Yes sir!" they both said as the three left Rarity to do her work
Skystrike, Spike, and Stardust all walked towards the river that separated the Everfree Forest from the manor. Skystrike looked into the river to see a few fish swimming by. He hummed to himself before deciding what their first lesson will be.
"Alright you two, lets go over some rules. If you want to get stronger, you have to follow these rules, understand?"
"Yes sir!" They both saluted.
"First rule of Skystrike training. Don't talk about Skystrike training. Second rule of Skystrike training, you must have a reason to get stronger, whether it be your beliefs, your pride, your honor, or anything else. Third and final rule of Skystrike training, if you fail, try again. There's no quitters here."
"Yes sir!"
"Alright, now for your first task, each of you have to catch one fish and put it in this bucket." He said as he pulled a pail of water.
"How are we supposed to do that?" Spike asked in shock.
"This task is meant to test your reflexes, as well as your ability to handle multiple possible outcomes." He said as he got into a back stance. "I'll be here, practicing my one-handed skill. By the way, if you dont catch one, you don't get lunch." He said with a chuckle to their surprise. The two instantly got into the cool river water as Skystrike began swinging his sword. You could hear the air being cut as he swung his blade.
Spike eyed a fish coming towards him as he tried to grab it with both hands, only for it to slip through his claws. He turned to look at it, only to see it swimming quickly down the stream. He grumbled as he tried again, only for it to swerve out of the way, dodging him entirely.
Stardust was having a different problem. She first tried using her helmet to scoop up a fish, only for the fish to jump out or swim around her, leaving her with wet headgear. She dropped her helmet, letting her pastel blue mane fall out. She tried grabbing a fish with her hoof, only for it to swim under her.
Skystrike was working on his stamina, speed, and blind spots. He wasn't able to do as well as he did with Magnus, only having a fraction of his power. He kicked a nearby tree, leaves falling from it. He held his sword behind him before swinging it over his head and around his right, cutting the leaves above and beside him. There were a few leaves falling in front of him. He quickly turned his blade and bought his sword in front of him, grabbing each one with the tip of his blade. He then turned his sword again to spin a few times, cutting the rest of the leaves around him. It wasn't good enough though. He needed to get back to his former state, without his rage. He kicked the tree again and repeated his previous exercise.
Back at Spike's end, he was getting more and more annoyed. After countless tries of trying to catch s fish, ranging from blocking the water to making a makeshift fish trap. All of this happening in the last two hours. Spike finally had enough and slapped a fish as it passed. Ironically, he slapped it out of the water, making if flop around on the land. Spike stood in the river for a moment before his eyes widened in realization, as he quickly ran out and picked it up before throwing it in the bucket. He celebrated to himself before telling Skystrike that his task was done.
Stardust watched as Spike caught his own, making her slightly more annoyed. She tried the same tactic as thee baby dragon, and to her luck, it worked.
"Nice job you two. Let's go eat. You two are helping me cook, and we're cooking lot." He said before picking up the bucket.
There were nine plate and chairs all set around the table, Skystrike having pulled them out from a storage closet in the room. There was a excessively large plate of salad in the middle of the table, along with two dozen buttered bread rolls, a large, square cheese pizza, and a large pitcher of lemonade. Spike, however was eating something different. He was going to eat the fish that the two had caught earlier, after a little convincing from Skystrike and the enticing smell. After frying it and seasoning it, it was ready to be eaten.
"Sir, why do you-' Stardust's question was cut off by a hoof on her muzzle. Skystrike put a hoof over his mouth, making a motion telling them to stay quiet. Skystrike quietly flapped his wings as he got closer to the front door. He quickly opened it, only to see each of the main 6 falling on top of one another with swirls in their eyes.
"There's food here if you're hungry. If you wanna talk, come sit with us." He turned around and sat down at the table, putting a bread roll in his mouth.
The six got up before reluctantly sitting down at the table, each having looks ranging from annoyance to suspicion to uncaring. Skystrike turned his helmet into a colar before pouring himself a glass of lemonade.
"And how exactly did you know we were there?" Applejack sked in suspicion.
"I've said this so many times..." He faced hoofed. "I needed to know when i was being followed to survive in the past. I've made many enemies. Better question, why did you all follow me? You've been tailing us since Rarity's."
"You noticed that long ago? But how-" Twilight stopped herself, realizing her question was answered by his previous statement.
"So, i'll ask again, why did you follow me?"
"I came to see how you train and see if I could get faster" Rainbow crossed her forehooves
"I'm here to... study you." Twilight mumbled.
"Seriously?" He got another slice of pizza.
"Well I wouldn't need to if you let me sstudy you directly!" She defended.
He sighed. "Next."
"I was just making sure you weren't up to something." Applejack put some salade on her plate and started eating. "You are a good cook ya know?" She said with her mouth full.
"I'm just checking on little Spikey-wikey. A baby dragon shouldn't need to learn how to fight." Rarity said as she hugged said dragon.
"That is Spike's choice, but I believe he appreciates your concern. Besides, you don't learn how to use weapons until the 2nd week." He waved a hoof. "Right now, we're working on using your emotions for certain situations."
"I'm here because Twilight asked me for help." Fluttershy spoke quietly.
"I'm here because it looked like fun!" Pinkie smiled before she picked up a slice of pizza and ate it whole. "Mmmmmmm!"
"Aight, so first off, if you wanted to watch, you could have asked. Second, neither of my disciples can fly, so I doubt my work out will help you, Rainbow. And third, it kinda seems like you all dont trust me, which is, to be fair,understandable." He took another bread roll.
"Man, Skystrike this fish is good!" Spike burped after finishing his plate. Stardust silently face hoofed.
"Fish!?" Everypony save for Fluttershy said in shock.
"You fed Spike fish!?" Twilight was visibly angry, though Skystrike couldn't tell for some unknown reason.
"Yeah. The fish we caught earlier, trout to be exact, I taught him how to clean, descale, and gut it. Good to know he's not that squeamish."
"Why would you give him fish in the first place!? He could've been allergic!"
"Because, even though he's a baby, he is still an omnivorous, yet mostly carnivorous dragon, and he needs his protein?" He said as if it was obvious. "And I've yet to see a carnivore allergic to meat. Besides, it was either this or whatever animal we found in the everfree, so pick your poison."
"Darling, how do you know how to cook fish anyway?" Rarity asked, a slight look of disgust on her face.
"I travelled with a griffon, an avian, a dragon, and a hippogriff. I also have two birds, a bear, and a lizard as pets.. All but two eat only meat. I had to learn sooner or later." He drank some more lemonade.
"But think about Fluttershy and her love of animals. It has to hurt her to see Spike eating that." Applejack pointed a hoof.
"Fluttershy, your thoughts?" Skystrike got a third slice.
Fluttershy drank some lemonade before sighing. "Um, well, I take care of and have taken care of a bear, eagles, falcons, owls, and many other predators." She took another sip of her lemonade. "The only difference here is that it's cooked. It's uh... not new to me." She said in her soft voice.
Skystrike held back a chuckle at their silence before speaking again. "So, you girls gonna eat or what? By the way, training is over today, you two. You can either do some basic weight training or come back tomorrow." He finished before getting himself some salade.
The rest of the girls picked up their utensils and started serving themselves. Each of them hummed in approval as they bit into their food. They quickly finished their plates, much to Skystrike's laughter.
"How do you cook so well? This is just delicious!" Rarity asked before getting a second serving of salad.
"Well, the dragon I travelled with taught me what herbs are good, and the avian taught me how to cook a lot better." He replied with a happy sigh.
"Where do you get all of these things for cooking anyway? I've never seen you in the town market." Rainbow asked n curiosity.
"They're in my bag." He pulled out said bag, before opening it. Each of the ponies and dragon lookes inside it to see a black shadow inside the entire bag.
"But, there's nothing in it?" Rainbow stuck her hoof inside to prove her point, only for her hoof to go through the shadow, it engulfing her hoof whole. She pulled back her hoof and carefully checked it. "What!?"
"That was my first reaction to." He chuckled. "Basically, it's a seemingly bottomless bag. Anything you put in it, it doesn't age past the point it was in until you pull it out again. This is where I store everything."
"That's amazing! I've never heard of a magic item like that! You have to let me study it!" Twilight said with sparkles in her eyes.
"I'd rather not have it returned broken, sorry." Skystrike dismissed it.
"I won't break it!"
"You say that now..."
"So, what exactly do ya have in there?" Applejack asked.
"What don't I?" He laughed. "Name it and I probably have it."
"Do you have a ruby in there?" Spike asked, drool falling from his mouth. Skystrike stuck his hoof in his bag for a few seconds before pulling out a ruby the size of his hoof. Spike grinned before eating it whole.
"Do you have a strawberry, chocolate, and raspberry cupcake?" Pinkie aske quickly. He again stuck his hoof in his bag before pulling out the cupcake. She picked it up in her tounge and ate it in one bite.
"I bet you don't have a limited edition signed picture of Spitfire from the wonderbolts!" Rainbow said.
Skystrike pulled out a picture of both him in his pony form and Spitfire next to each other, both dressed in the wonderbolt uniforms, and Skystrike having his collar on. Skystrike was obviously younger, being almost 15 at the time. Written on the picture in Spitfire's hoof writing was. 'I had fun with you here. You know where to find me, captain.'. He smiled looking at the photo, remembering the times they shared together. "Sorry, Rainbow, but this is important to me. I took this after I left the wonderbolts."
"YOU were in the wonderbolts!?" She asked, completely shocked at his last sentence.
"Well who do you think trained them before Spitfire? I owed the one before me a favor, so I took his job for a few months." He scratched his chin.
"You TRAINED them!?" Rainbow's eyes shrunk before she almost passed out..
"How fast are you if you trained the wonderbolts, sir?" Stardust asked.
"Uh..." He thought for a moment. "If I tell you how fast I am, it'll put you in a sour mood, but if I don't tell you, you wont stop bugging me, so... let's just say pretty fast."
Spike groaned. "I think I ate to much..." He burped. "Twilight... can we go home...?"
Twilight sighed. "I guess it's time for us to go. We'll see you later, and thanks for lunch." She smiled.
"I should start working on your capes." Rarity got up.
"I need to check on the animals." Fluttershy stood up.
"Applebloom is about to get out of school." Applejack walked towards the door.
"Pinkie and I are gonna hang out for a while. We'll see you later, Skystrike." Rainbo flew up from her seat as Pinkie hopped away.
"Bye, guys. I'll see you next time." He said as they left out the door.
It was around noon when Skystrike went into Ponyville he was sitting next to the river, listening to the sound of the water as it flowed by. It was somewhat soothing to him. Stardust was sitting next to him doing the same.
"Sir, what are we waiting on?" Stardust asked as she broke the silence.
"Either a signal or for somepony to come interrupt us." He replied, his eyes still closed.
"Who would send you a signal? Can they send you a letter?" She questioned.
"Well, it's easier for him. He's also gonna help me make you and Spike's weapons, armor, and equipment. Got a pretty good idea for what you two will like." He opened his eyes and looked at her. "Speaking of which, I need you to watch the house for me. I'm making it so only you and Spike can go in and out."
"And why not the others?"
"I don't fully trust them. Spike makes sure to keep his promises to the best of his ability, and so do you. Not sure about the girls yet." He shrugged. "I already put up the security when we left."
"Where are you going anyway?"
"Where ever the signal comes from. Should be south, the direction we're facing." He said nodding his head towards his front.
Stardust was about to reply before she was stopped by Fluttershy. "Skystrike! Stardust!" She said in her quiet voice.
"Oh, hello, Fluttershy. How can we help you?" He turned around to see her.
"No pony else is listening to me, and there's-" She was cut off by Twilight standing on the bridge next to them.
"Listen up!" Twilight started, Spike sitting on her back. "Smoke is spreading over all of Equestria."
The crowd behind them looked to each other in worry. "That's what I've been trying to-" Fluttershy was interrupted again.
"But don't worry, I've just received a letter from princess Celestia informing me that it's not coming from a fire." She reassured them.
"Oh thank goodness." Fluttershy gave a sigh of relief.
"Watch her say something more threatening than a fire." Skystrike said under his breath.
"It's coming from a dragon!" Everypony gave out gasps of shock while Skystrike tried his best to stop his laughing.
Skystrike looked up to see the smoke. That was his signal. He got up due to Twilight asking him, Fluttershy, and Stardust to meet him at the library, which he reluctantly agreed to. With a sigh, he started his walk to the purple pony's house.
"What in the name of all things cinnamon swirl is a full grown dragon doin' here in Equestria?" Applejack questioned as Twilight put down her book.
Skystrike looked up from polishing his sword, a curious spike looking at his reflection in it. "Either it's here for something, or if found a new home after being chased out his last one?"
"What type of creature can chase a dragon away?" Twilight looked at him.
"A Lot of creatures actually. To name a few, Tatzlwurms, Rocs, and other dragons." He answered.
"If we need him gone, I can deal with him quick. I have a way of influencing them.
"Sky, not even you can take on a dragon." Applejack chuckled.
"Never said I was gonna fight it." He chuckled back. "Anyway, were you about to say something, Twilight?"
"Oh, uh, the dragon is probably sleeping." She nodded before pulling out a saddle bag.
"Huh?" Applejack gave her a confused look.
"According to princess Celestia, he's taking a nap. His snoring is what's causing all this smoke!" She looked back at them.
"He should really see a doctor. That doesn't sound healthy at all." Pinkie pie said.
"Well, at least he's not snoring fire!" Rarity replied "What are we meant to do about it?"
"You could just let me deal with him. Shouldn't take long." Skystrike said as he sheathed his sword.
"I'll tell you what we'll do about it!" Rainbow started as Skystrike gave a 'this mare' look to Rainbow. "Give him the boot!" She kicked a wooden carving over before Twilight caught it with her magic. Rainbow dived at the carving before Twilight lifted it, making Rainbow dash whiz under it and crash into the wall next to Skystrike, upside down.
"Well good luck with that." Skystrike said as he helped her stand upright.
"We need to encourage him to take a nap somewhere else." Twilight corrected her. "Princess Celestia has given us this mission, and we must not fail!" Rainbow dash saluted her. "Are you paying attention, Skystrike?" She looked over to see him tapping his hoof.
"I'm the last pony you should be telling that to. Besides, i'm just waiting for this to be over so I can start going to this guy."
"Darling, you can't be suggesting that you and Stardust are going by yourselves?" Rarity motioned a hoof.
"Actually, miss Rarity, I'm staying here." Stardust raised a hoof.
"Wait, you're going alone?!" Applejack asked in surprise.
"That's what I planned on. What, you need me to come with you for a reason I don't know about?"
"That doesnt matter, Skystrike, you're coming with us. Everypony, lets go quickly. We have a long journey ahead of us. Let's meet back here in less than an hour." Twilight gave a determined look.
"Ok girls-" Rainbow dash started.
"And guy." Skystrike said jokingly.
"You heard her!" She flew up to Rarity and Pinkie before pulling them into a hug. "The fate of Equestria is in our hooves! Do we have what it takes?" They all gave cheers of approval before trotting out the door.
"Um, actually..." Fluttershy whispered.
"What's up, Flutters?" Skystrike asked. "Oh, and Stardust, you can head on home."
"Oh, um, well, I don't want to worry you..." She said shyly.
"How are we gonna be friends if I can't help you with your problems?" He asked. "You can tell me or not. Not gonna pressure you."
"Oh, well... it's nothing." She said before running out the door.
Skystrike shrugged before going outside and sitting on the steps. He closed his eyes, letting his
mind make up the surroundings around him. All he saw was black. For a few minutes, the darkness continued before a bright light was seen. The light dimmed down before sounds could be heard. It sounded like children. Children playing to be exact. He looked down at himself. He was a human child, standing in a playground in a thin white robe. He looked around to see some kids, no older than six, crowded around him. Infront of him was a large, bulky child wearing the same apparel, smirking maliciously at him. The kid had pale white skin and blue eyes. His blonde hair flowed in the wind. He knew exactly what this was.
"So, what do you want, 48?" His mouth moved on its own.
"You know what, 34. It's time I beat some sense into a failure like you. You cant even use magicka, and you're making us look bad to our parents!"
"Whatever. You're making yourself look like an idiot right now, not me." He groaned,
"What did you say?!" 48 screeched.
"Wanna look cool in front of those crazy scientist? Go waste your time somewhere else." He said before turning around and walking away.
48 gritted his teeth. "Don't run from me!" He chased after him, throwing a punch at the back of his head. I quickly ducked under it before sweeping his legs, ending it with a uppercut to his chin.
48 fell on the ground before gripping his jap in pain. "Now you made yourself look bad." He said before walking away. Skystrike went towards the wall of the indoor playground and stared at it. It was filled with color. Picturing the outside world, and the happiness it held. They were taught that the happy world was being taken over by the aliens that came all that time ago. They believed that lie for so long. It grew on them like a plague.
"P.R.O.W-0034" I heard my name called from behind me. I turned around to see a scientist in a lab coat looking down at me. "I saw that performance earlier." He gave a sly smile. "I believe now is the time." He put out a hand.
His younger self wasn't able to hear the malintent in his voice, but by the time he grabbed his hand, it was too late.
"...strike. Skystrike." He heard a muffled voice. "Skystrike!"
His eyes snapped open. He looked around to see the mares standing in line next to him, and Twilight yelling at him.
"Were you even listening?! This is important!" Twilight said angrily.
"No, sorry. Just having a flashback." He stood up. "Ready when you are."
Twilight sighed before walking a few feet away and pulling out her map. Twilight walked up behind her and began whispering to her. Twilight, being the hypocrite she is, wasn't listening, giving her 'uh huh's and 'ok's as answers. That is, until Fluttershy said something that caught her attention.
"Maybe I should just stay here..." Fluttershy gave a concerned look.
"Uh huh." Twilight said before realizing what the pegasus said. "Wait, you have to come! Your way with wild animals will surely come in handy!"
"I don't think I..." She started before she was cut off by Twilight.
"And don't worry about your little friends in the meadow. Spike's got it covered while you're gone."
She looked down to see Spike at her side, birds an his shoulders, and rodents around his feet. "You can count on me!" He said proudly.
Her worries were not rested though, as a bunny on his head thumped his skull, making the animals run away from the sudden shaking.
"I don't think he's up to the task. Maybe..." Twilight began to walk away. "I... but...." She tried before letting out a squeak.
Skystrike sighed at the sight of this. Rainbow flew up to Twilight before whispering to her. Probably something about Fluttershy slowing them down or something equally stupid. Their conversation ended as they saw Fluttershy hiding from her...shadow? Skystrike was dumbfounded.
"Alright everypony, move out!" Twilight said before the mares, save for Fluttershy, began running towards the mountain.
Skystrike looked at Fluttershy, who was currently shivering. He gave her a reassuring look. "Don't worry, you can do this." He said before walking up to her and giving her a push. She gave him a weak smile before the two slowly caught up to the group.
You could hear the snoring of the dragon from the base of the mountain. Each of the mares let out a gasp at the sound.
"Woah... What was that?" Rainbow asked.
"That's the sound Twilight makes after a long night of study over Equestrian history." Skystrike chuckled. The other mares, save for Twilight laughed at his joke.
"That was the sound of a dragon snoring." She put emphasis on that.
Fluttershy looked from behind Skystrike, who she was hiding under. "It's so... high."
"Well it IS a mountain." Rainbow pointed out the obvious.
"REALLY???" Echo started out of nowhere. "I thought that was a pebble."
Skystrike laughed at this. "Holy crap, chill!" He said between laughing.
"Shut it, Echo." Rainbow scoffed. "I'm gonna fly up there and check it out!" Rainbow began to fly off, only to be stopped by Applejack catching her by the tail.
"Hold on, now. I think we should all go up together. Safety in numbers and all." Applejack said to the groups approval.
"Reports have shown that the more people in a group while hiking a mountain is more likely to cause a landslide."
"Three of us can fly." SKystrike reminded him. "We should be fine. Anyway, let's get moving." Skystrike said before beginning to climb the mountain, his armor clanking with each limb.
The mares followed behind him up the steep slope, Rainbow flying above them with her fore hooves crossed. After a few minutes, Rarity started small talk.
"I hear the only thing that sparkles more than a dragon's scales are the jewels they use to build their nest!" She said. "Oh! , do you think I can convince him to part with a few?" Rarity asked hopefully.
"Maybe. The dragons dont really give things away unless you trade them for something of equal value." Skystrike said looking back at her.
"Hey there, Rarity! Welcome to my cave! Care for a diamond?" Pinkie joked before letting out a roar.
"Heh. good one, Pinkie." Skystrike laughed, the others joining in.
"Ponies!" Twilight interrupted their laughing. "This is no laughing matter! Fluttershy, you're the expert on animals. What do you think the dragon will be like?" She looked back, only to see nopony. "Fluttershy?" She called out.
Everypony else looked back to see her hiding behind a bush at the base of the mountain.
"What are you waiting for!?" Rainbow yelled for her to hear. "An invitation!?"
"Ooo!" Pinkie realized. "I think I have one in my bag!" She pulled it out, confetti coming with it.
"It's so... steep..." Fluttershy's voice wavered.
"Well it is a cliff." Rainbow dash was starting to get annoyed. "You could just, I dunno, fly up here?"
"Come on, Fluttershy! You can do it! Flap those wings!" Pinkie cheered for her.
"Um... ok..." Fluttershy began to take flight. She was at their height before the dragon let out a loud snore. The sound scared her, making her wings snap shut. She fell into the bush under her.
"We don't have time for this!" Twilight groaned before Applejack took her map and laid it out. "What are you doing?"
"I'll need this if i'm gonna take her around the mountain another way." Applejack said.
"Ugh. AROUND the mountain?" Rainbow groaned before Applejack slid down the slope. "That's gonna take them forever!"
Skystrike eyes flashed white before he recolected himself. "I'd rather it take forever than it feel like forever with your complaining" He said before jumping down the entirety of the cliff, landing next to Fluttershy. The dragon let out another loud snore, making Fluttershy roll on her back with her legs in the air. "I'll carry her. You lead. Sound good?"
"Yessiree!" She nodded before Skystrike rolled Fluttershy onto his back. "Twi, we'll be there soon." Skystrike assured her.
"We make it." Applejack said as the three came from around the corner, meeting the four. They got up before continuing to walk, Fluttershy still paralyzed from the shock. The group came to a cliff before jumping across, landing on the adjacent one. Skystrike put Fluttershy down for a minute before panting.
"Shouldn't have increased my armor weight today of all days." He said before jumping across.
"Your turn, Fluttershy." Twilight looked over to see said mare hugging the wall.
"But it's so... wide..." She looked away from the cliff.
There was only one thought in Skystrike mind as he drowned out the surrounding sounds. Is she serious? Its is a 4 foot crack that she could skip across. He only jumped to not make the cliff crack under him. This mare was light. Couldn't be more than 80 pounds. He understood that she was scared, but for real?
His train of thought was stopped by Fluttershy taking a weary jump over, only to look down and catch herself between the cliffs. He inwardly sighed before helping her across.
Their voyage was stopped a few minutes later when Skystrike stopped them. "Stay quiet. I looks like we're entering an avalanche zone. Just don't talk louder than a low talk and we'll be set." The mares nodded before continuing.
"An ava... ava..." Fluttershy was sushed by Twilight.
Rainbow dash flew ahead, brushing by a tree, making some of the leaves fall. Skystrike paid it no attention before it fell on Fluttershy's butt behind him.
"AVALA-" Fluttershy began to scream before her mouth was covered by Applejack's hoof. Skystrike inwardly cursed at the sudden scream before looking around, along with the rest of the mares. The ground began to shake as each of them had worried looks in their eyes.
"AVALANCHE!" Each of the mares yelled before dodging the boulders falling from above. Skystrike drew one of his swords as he cut a rock above him clean in half. He looked at the other mares, seeing them run/fly around, trying their best to dodge. A rock was about to fall on Twilight before Applejack tackled her out of the way, only for the rock to come hurtling towards Skystrike. He gritted his teeth as the rock hit him head on. If he didn't have his armor, he would've been knocked out. That was the least of his worries however. The momentum of the rock pushed him towards the edge of the cliff. He dug his hooves into the ground and pushed against it, narrowly stopping himself from falling off.
"Holy fucking shit." He panted as adrenaline stopped running through him. "Everypony ok?"
He got weak yes' from each of them. "And now I have to clean this armor again." He sighed.
"...Sorry..." Fluttershy apologized.
"It's ok, Fluttershy!" Twilight assured her. "We'll just have to... climb over." She sighed.
"Idea. Imma go scout ahead and make sure things like this won't happen again and find a safer route. I'll set down a trail you can follow." Skystrike said before flying off.
After being a safe distance away, he flew above the side of the mountain. He let out a sigh at the current situation. He knew it wasn't Fluttershy's fault entirely, being that Rainbow wasn't looking where she was flying, but that didn't change their problem. The mound of rocks and dirt that the girls were currently walking over made the rocks above them less stable. It increased the chances of another rock slide, and on top of that, blocked off a potential path that lead them to the top. Skystrike inwardly cursed before he flew ahead to look for another way up.
Skystrike landed in front of the girls who were now at the mouth of the cave. "I see you made is up ok, and the scaly boy is still asleep." He said before looking around for a head count. "Wait..." He looked at them to see some disappointed faces and an annoyed one. "Where's Fluttershy?"
"Fluttershy left. She's afraid of dragons. Go figure." Rainbow Dash crossed her fore hooves.
Skystrike stood in silence before calming himself. He let out a slow sigh before talking peacefully. "Rainbow, which one of the elements are you?"
She was caught off guard by his question. "Loyalty?"
"Are you sure? Because from what i've heard during this trip, and I have very good hearing, you've done nothing but complain about your supposed "friend" Fluttershy. You've been nagging Twilight this whole time. 'You sure we should have bought her along?' 'She'll just slow us down.'" He said in a mocking voice, which surprised each of the ponies there. He unfolded his mask and flew straight up to the stunned mare. "You, who's been her "friend" since elementary, decides to ditch her, and bad mouth her behind her back, just because she's an inconvenience? I'll ask once more, which one of the elements are you?"
Rainbow was taken back by this. She stuttered before giving up on her sentence. Skystrike flew past her and landed on the ground. "I feel like you, more than anypony should know about loyalty, and I especially know about if from my travels. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go get my friend. Good luck with the dragon, and don't try anything risky." He left the mares as he dived off the side of the mountain before beginning to circle it.
He began looking at the path he marked for the girls to take. Lucky for him, Fluttershy hasn't gone far down. In fact, she was behind a rock near the cave.Her head hung low as she looked at the ground. Skystrike landed a few feet in front of her so not to startle her.
"Hey Fluttershy." He gave a reassuring smile. "Wanna tell me whats wrong?"
She looked up at him, her head still low. "I'm afraid of dragons..." She said quietly.
Skystrike sat down on the stone beneath him and patted a hoof on the ground next to him. Fluttershy walked over before sitting down. "So Flutters, i'm not going to sit here and force you to do anything. I'm just going to give you some advice i've learned. If your willing to listen?"
She nodded as she stayed silent. "The only thing to fear is fear itself. You can't get through life without overcoming at least one of those fears. Now, what i'm about to say, I need it to be our secret, ok?"
She nodded again. "I was afraid of blood a few years ago."
"...What?" She turned her head as she sat up straight.
"I was afraid of blood. It was around the time I was in Cloudsdale with you and RD all those years ago." He started with a sigh. "I was about to be mugged when I had to overcome it. One of my friends and I were cornered into an alleyway, and he couldn't fight. I hated the idea of someone getting hurt because of me. I was afraid that if I did something, they'd die. But at that moment, I realized that if I sat there, if I didn't fight, my friend may have very well died. I had to choose between succumbing to my fear, or protecting my friend."
"And I can already guess what you did." She looked at him.
"Remember when I came to school with bruises and cuts? Thats why."
Skystrike wrapped a hoof around her and pulled her close. She let out a quiet squeak as he did this. Skystrike pointed a hoof at the cloud of smoke above them. "Now you have that choice to make. You can either walk away from this now, and let me and the others deal with the dragon, or you can overcome that fear, and go help your friends. Either way, i'll support your decision." He gave her a genuine smile.
Moments of silence passed as Fluttershy thought about her decision, only for it to be interrupted by a loud roar. Soon after, the other five mares smashed into the rock they were behind, shattering the top half of it. The two hidden ponies were now revealed to the dragon.
Fluttershy looked down over the rock to look at her friends lying in a cluster in front of her. She looked up to see the dragons red eyes staring down at her. She looked back and forth between her friends and the tall winged lizard in front of her before giving the dragon a mean glare.
"How dare you..." She stared at the dragon. The dragons glare unwavered. "How dare you!!" She shouted at it before flying up and landing on its snout.
"Listen here, mister! Just because you're big, doesn't mean you get to be a bully!" She looked him right in the eyes. "Just because you have big teeth and sharp claws and snores smoke and breathes fire, but you do not, I repeat, do NOT. Hurt. My. Friends! Got that?"
The dragon was taken aback by her sudden outburst. He hunched down a bit. "But that rainbow one kicked me." He said in his deep voice. Rainbow nodded proudly.
"And i'm very sorry about that, but you're bigger than she is, and you should know better. You should also know better that snoring causing smoke hazard to other creatures."
"But I-" he started only to be cut off by Fluttershy.
"Don't you 'but I' me mister." She scolded. "Now what do you have to say for yourself?"
"...Dovah kaal taught me to only attack if another means you harm..." He said as he scratched his scales.
"Oooooh." Skystrike walked out from behind the rock. "Yeah, that's my fault. I told him that so he wouldn't cause too much trouble for passerby."
The dragon looked down to see Skystrike looking up at him. Almost instantly, the dragon lowered his head. "Dovah kaal! Please forgive my rudeness. Had I known they were with you, i would've said something."
"Dont worry about it. I didn't even know you were here to warn you, so im in the wrong too."
The mares stood up. "Wait, you knew a dragon was coming here?" Fluttershy practically shouted.
"And what does Dovah Kaal mean?" Twilight asked.
"To answer your question Flutters, I knew he was coming, but he wasn't supposed to be here, and to answer yours Twilight, dovah means dragon and kaal means champion." He pointed at them respectively
"So you called something that dangerous here, and you did nothing about it!?" Rainbow was now the one to shout. "Are you serious!?"
"Well first off, Keyn Lok here may be one of the strongest dragons, he's a softie. And I was going to do something about it, but like Twilight said, 'that doesn't matter. You're coming with us.'."
"Oooooh. So THIS is the dragon you travelled with!" Pinkie exclaimed as Twilight sheepishly laughed.
"Oh, no. I couldn't be compared to lady Tethys." Keyn Lok said humbly. "She is much stronger than I."
"I think we're all ignoring the question, how does Skystrike know not one, but two dragons?' Rarity asked.
"Dovah Kaal doesn't get his name from nowhere, but now I believe i've said to much. Dovah Kaal, shall we get ready?"
"Yeah, just go put my stash in this bag." Skystrike threw him his saddlebag. Keyn Lok stood up and went back into the cave, scooping large handfuls of valuables into his bag.
"Wait, all that is yours?" Applejack asked. "But... how?" Everypony's mouth was agape.
"I traveled a lot, cleared out dungeons, looted bandits, the list goes on. Anyway, Rainbow dash, I think you have something to say?" He side eyed her.
Rainbow Dash let out a loud groan before flying over to the dragon. "I'm sorry Kien Look for kicking you..."
"I'm sure he appreciates it, even if you pronounced his name wrong, but that's not who I meant."
Rainbow's brain processed this information before she face hooved. "Fluttershy, i'm sorry for everything. I've been an awful friend to you. Can you forgive me?"
"Of course, Rainbow Dash." She hugged her.
"Aight, that's adorable and all, but I gotta go to my workshop with Keyn Lok. I'll be back in about a week." Skystrike said as Keyn Lok came out of the cave. He handed him his bag before Skystrike tightened the buckles on his sided.
"Wait, what?" They all said in sync.
"I said that Spike and Stardust was going to get weapons next week, right. We're just going to my workshop in the north. I'll see you later!" Skystrike jumped onto Keyn Lok's neck. With a heavy flap of Keyn Lok's wings, the dragon took off into the sky. "Go ahead and tell Celestia, Twilight. I don't care." Keyn Lok took off towards the north at amazing speeds |
A Broken Warrior | Bridle Gossip | As he rode on Keyn Lok's back, Skystrike pondered to himself. After working for nearly a week without sleep, he was extremely proud of his work, making weapons and armor for Spike, Stardust, and himself. On his mind right now was how he was either going to keep hiding things from Twilight and the others, or tell them the whole truth. Either way, they will find out eventually, including about him being human. If he told them as of now, they would no doubt tell Celestia without Skystrike telling her himself. At that point, he would once again be taken prisoner, and he would sooner die than that happen. Right now, all he can do is try to get closer and earn their trust. Already having Fluttershy's, that leaves 7 including Spike and Stardust.
He sighed to himself as he looked over the horizon, the orange sun just peeking over the horizon line.. It looked to be about 7 in the morning, and from the speed Keyn Lok was going, they'd be at the mountain they met in about 10 minutes. "Keyn, drop me off where we met up. It would cause trouble if you landed in Ponyville." Skystrike said to the disappointment of Keyn Lok. He gave him a rub on his back. "To make it up to you, I'll come see you at your new home on the day of the migration."
"You don't have to do that, Dovah Kaal. I will be fine."
"Dont worry about it. We're friends, aren't we?" He smiled behind his helmet. "Speaking of friends, how's Tethys?"
"From what i've seen, she's still trying to get stronger and is still mad about your guild breaking up. Aside from that, she's doing well, and some of us believe she's on par with the dragon lord."
Skystrike inwardly smiled. "I'm proud of her. If you see her again, tell her where I am, and tell her to bring her armor." He said as the mountain came into view. "Also, when you see the dragon lord again, tell him that i've gotten stronger. I'll visit when he comes over."
Keyn Lok landed in front of the cave they were at two weeks ago . Skystrike hopped off with a yawn. The last time he slept was an hour ago, and it was only a mere 5 hours. The two exchanged goodbyes as they went their separate ways. Not feeling like walking, Skystrike dove off the edge of the mountain. After falling a few hundred feet, he spread his wings and glided all the way to Ponyville, landing just outside of the small town.
Unexpecting of him, many of the town's residents were running around in fear. After seeing the flower sisters freaking out for real, Skystrike determined it was serious. Although it was way to early for this, he had no choice. "Rose, Daisy, Lily, what happened?" He groaned.
"Oh, it's just horrible!" Daisy started.
"Absolutely terrifying!" Lily continued.
"A huge snake monster came out of nowhere!" Rose stood up as the other two continued to roll around on the ground. "It did not damage anything, thank Celestia, but Twilight and the others are holding it off!"
"Wait, it did not destroy anything?" Skystrike was surprised by her statement.
"No. It just came and looked around for a little while, then went off towards the everfree! What was really weird was that it had a sort of bag in its mouth." She continued.
"...I feel like it isn't trying to harm anypony, but it's looking for something." He spoke to himself. "You said it went towards the Everfree, right? How long ago was that?"
About 10-15 minutes ago! You should check on the girls, Mr. Nebula. They may be in trouble!" Rose said to him before Skystrike turned around. Skystrike began to walk towards his house as he drew his sword. It was way too early for this.
The mane 6 and Spike were currently trying to keep the monster at bay. The creature was long, somewhere between 30 and 40 feet long. It had black scales with a pattern of golden scales going down its back. Its underbelly was a smooth set of tan scales. The head of the snake-like creature was large, easily able to fit a pony in it. It had rows of razor like teeth, though it didn't have fangs like a snake. It had orange snake eyes and frills around its neck that spead open at will, as well as two ear holes behind its eyes. Rainbow dash was flying around it to keep it occupied while the others were trying to think of a way to get rid of it.
Twilight levitated a book in front of her face as she tried to find data on the beast to find their first plan of action. After skimming through the pages, her eyes widened as she found something useful.
"Ok, girls, I found something! In my book on ancient and mythical beings, it seems that it's a basilisk, and an earth basilisk at that."
"What's the difference?" Applejack asked her.
"While a normal basilisk has its size and speed, an earth basilisk is seen as royalty among the basilisk. They can control the earth around them if they are taught how." She said to their shock. "The only problem is why is it so far from its home in the badlands?"
"That doesn't matter right now!" Rainbow Dash yelled as she circled the earth basilisk who was currently curled up in a coil, a large pouch inside said coil. "We just gotta get rid of this thing!"
"Rainbow Dash is right, darling." Rarity agreed. "The basilisk is our top priority. Fluttershy, can you try talking to it?"
"We don't need to talk to it! We just have to give it the boot!" Rainbow shouted before kicking it on the nose. Everypony and dragon had their heart skip a beat as she did this.
The earth basilisk rubbed his nose with the tip of its tail in annoyance. The lizard stretched its body upward to give it height. Rainbow Dash lowered to the ground in fear and gave a nervous chuckle. The basilisk opened it's golden frills as it let out a terrifying screech, telling them to back off.
"Again, Rainbow!?" Skystrike shouted at her from down the road. He ran towards them and the basilisk with his sword drawn. He slowed down in realization as he got closer to the beast.
The basilisk looked at him with excitement. Skystrike looked at in in realization.
"No way... Naga?" Skystrike unfolded his helmet, letting it see his face. It lunged at him as soon as it saw his face.
"Skystrike!!" They all called out to him, only for their worry to be soothed away by the retaliation of the basilisk coiling around him and squeeze him into a hug.
"Good to see you too, Naga! You've grown, haven't you? Last time I saw you, I could still carry you!" He laughed.
"Wait, you know this thing?" Fluttershy asked in confusion.
"Yeah, she's the pet I told you about. Well, more of a companion than a pet." He answered.
"When did you tell us about her?" Pinkie asked. "And can I pet her?"
"I told you two weeks ago I had a lizard, didn't I? And you have to ask Naga."
Pinkie walked over to Naga and put out a hoof. Naga placed her head against her hoof, giving her the ok to do so. The rest of the girls and dragon asked her as well. All but one was accepted.
Rainbow tried to put her hoof on her neck, only for her to back away as Naga hissed at her. "What's her problem." Rainbow asked as she glared at her.
"...You kicked her in the face, you nut." Skystrike said. "Anyway, Naga, can I ride on you again?" Naga picked him up in his mouth and threw him into the air, him falling on her head. "Oh yeah! Lets go! My house is straight ahead!" Naga picked up the rest, save for Rainbow Dash, and put them on her back. She picked up her pouch before they rode of towards Skystrikes house as Skystrike laughed.
Skystrike knocked on his door to see if Stardust was there. She opened the door to greet him. "Welcome back sirrrrrr....." She realized that she wasn't looking at Skystrike, but instead, an orange eyeball the size of her head was looking into her very soul. She backed away in fear at the sudden sight. Naga backed up to let the pony see Skystrike. "Sup. Sorry, it took longer than I thought." He smiled at her. "This is Naga. Naga, that's Stardust." The basilisk stuck out her tail, expecting Stardust to shake it. She slowly did so as she caught her breath.
"Sir, where did you find a basilisk!?" She shouted at him.
"I'll tell you in a bit. Come outside first." He jumped off Naga and started walking. "Naga, I need you to do something for me." He finished as Naga followed behind him.
They walked around to the side of his house to find a large plain of grass. "Can you make part of the field into an arena? Im training my disciples and we're gonna train today. There's also a cave nearby if you're gonna stay."
Naga nodded before slithering past him. She put her tail in front of her and slapped the ground with it. An area of grass almost instantly turned into a dirt circle.
"Thank you." He said as he rubbed the side of her head. "By the way, what's in the pouch?"
Naga realized that she was still holding the pouch before she dropped it in front of him with a loud thud. Skystrike untied the knot keeping it closed to find a number of things. There was a massive thick yellow blanket, yet is too small for Naga now, pieces of silver colored metal and leather, as if it was once armor, a silver color blade that was as long as Skystrike, and a collection of her shedded scales. Each piece of armor was no bigger than his hoof.
"Oh, wow. Of course you'd grow out of your armor. I'm surprised you kept if this good, aside from a little rusting. Nice job."
Naga purred at the compliment and smiled at him. "Sir!" Skystrike and Naga turned their heads to see everypony and dragon standing behind them. "Oh good, you're here. Come over here, I got your stuff."
Spike walked over to him while Stardust stood still. "Stardust?"
"Y-y-yes?" She hesitated.
"You're afraid of Naga aren't you?"
"...yes, sir..." She admitted.
"Aight. Understandable. You'll get used to her." He chuckled. Skystrike took off his saddle bag and put it in front of him. He sat on the ground and pulled out various items, mostly armor and weapons. Lucky for him, he had spare armor for Naga. Skystrike walked over and gave Stardust her sword and armor, then did the same to Spike.
After a few minutes of tinkering with his creations, he finally got to see them in their full glory.
Stardust still had her spartan-like helmet and armor, but instead of it being made of gold, It was made with the same material as Skystrikes armor, but charcoal in color. She had a rapier that was the same charcoal color, but the hilt of the sword had a symbol of the same star on her cape. Her helmet had a button on her left side. When she pressed it, the helmet folded over her face, having the shape of a stereotypical knight with the slits for breathing, seeing, and all. Her legs were somewhat guarded by knee plates, clawed metal greaves, and pink dyed leather covering her inner thighs.
Spike was given a small chestplate, clawed boots, purple dyed leather gloves with guards on their backs, and elbow guards, all the metal purple in color. His helmet had a slit going down the back to let his green spines stick out. His helmet also covered his entire face, save for the eyes. It also had a few slits so he could breathe. His weapon looked like a black and purple suitcase.
"Oh man, you two look cool. I'm proud of myself. " Skystrike nodded at their looks. "Now it's my turn."
"You upgraded your armor?" Twilight asked from behind them.
"Yep, give me a minute to attach it." He said as he sorted through his bag as he pulled out various metals. He was about to take off his chestplate before he realized something. "Are you girls gonna turn around or will I have to go inside?"
"What do you mean?" Pinkie tilted her head.
"I don't want ponies looking at me when i'm starch naked." He responded.
"But we're naked all the time." Pinkie said. "I don't see why it's different."
"It's different because I have a dick and balls, and I don't want ponies looking at my genitals that I can't hide with my tail? Why do you think I walk in front and wear my armor and cape?"
"Oooooooh." Pinkie realized what he meant. "I see your point..." She chuckled nervously. Each of the girls turned around. Just incase, Naga circled around him to make sure no pony was looking. After quickly changing his armor and switching out his metal fore hoof, he tapped Naga, who was looking away, tapped her side to let her know he was done. At the sound of Naga moving, the girls turned around to see Skystrike in his new armor.
His armor was much more intimidating to say the least. His helmet stayed the same, though his armor changed drastically. The armor covering his back was layered and mimicked that of an armadillo. His belly was protected by multiple sections of armor that allowed him to twist and bend his body. His greaves were bulkier and had stationary metal claws on them for increased grip and all terrain use.
"I see that you changed it, but what does it do?" Rainbow crossed her hooves.
"I can do this!" Skystrike jumped into the air before curling into a ball. The armor plates on his back went down and covered him as he landed on the ground. His fore hoof greaves turned into shields and covered his sides, making him spherical in shape. "But wait, there's more!" Spikes came out of every side of him as he rolled around them at quick speeds. He uncurled and stood in front of them. "Pretty cool, huh. Only downside is that I can't see yet. It's a work in progress."
"Uh, Skystrike? Why do I have a suitcase?" Spike asked as he held it with both hands. Said suitcase was the size of the dragon, if not bigger.
"Oh, that's a prototype. It's a combination of weapons depending to the button you press. That's one of 10 that I made while gone." He took the 'weapon' from spike and pressed one of the three buttons on the underside of it. The length side of the suitcase unfolded, adding the length, but decreasing the width of it. A black pole extended from between the two purple parts, before the upper box opened and a large curved silver blade came out. It was a scythe.
When he pressed the second button, the pole bent, making itself into a curve. A metal guard came out from the middle of the pole to protect his hand, making a magic bow.
When the third button was pressed, the pole went straight again. A metal spike came out the bottom of the staff while four short blades came from the opposite end. The four blades curved so they all pointed upwards, making a staff.
"I'm not sure I feel comfortable with Spike carrying that around." Twilight sighed.
"Dont worry about it. If anything happens, i'll take responsibility. Besides, He just needs to get used to carrying it. I'm going to sleep. I'll come back in like 4 hours." He stepped inside.
After waking up with a yawn, Skystrike sat up and hopped off his bed. He stretched a bit before finding Stardust in the living room with Naga a few feet away. With the giant lizard in the room, the place seemed kind of cramped.
"Good afternoon, Stardust, Naga." He said as he walked down the stairs.
"Good afternoon, sir." Stardust said in an uneasy tone as Naga let out a chirp in greeting.
"I see that you two are getting along somewhat." He chuckled.
"Somewhat, yes." She giggled back. "I'm still getting used to her, but she's pretty nice." She reassured him.
"Alright. I'm gonna go out into town for a bit. Wanna come?" He asked as he grabbed his cape from the coat rack. "Just going to SCC and Rarity's. Maybe see Applejack."
"Yes, sir! Let me just get my armor." She went to the armory and quickly came back with her new apparel.
"Naga, will you be fine here by yourself?" He asked only for her to respond with a nod. "I'll pick you up something on the way back. I'll cook something for you when we get back, too." He said as the two of them walked out the door.
Stardust and Skystrike have been walking for a good ten minutes in silence before Skystrike thought of something. "So, what happened while I was gone?"
"Actually sir, Twilight invited me, Applejack, and Rarity to a sleepover."
"Skystrike smiled. "Oh wow, that's nice of her. Anything happen?"
Stardust giggled as she thought back on it. "Actually, Applejack and Rarity were arguing most of the time, so it was mainly between me and Twilight. We ended up playing truth or dare. Turns out Applejack looks pretty good in a dress. What really made the night was when a tree fell through the... tree? During a thunderstorm." She turned to see Skystrike with a worried expression. "Don't worry, no pony got hurt. Turns out it helped Applejack and Rarity make up. What did you do? Besides making the armor and stuff."
"Well, I had to get the materials for the armor. I had to find a steel spider, and ask for some of it's thread, be it wanted a trade, so I had to find a safe place for it's nest. Then I had to find all the things for my metal mix. After that, I had to smelt it, let it harden, and then make it into the armor and weapons. Then I went looking for magic stones to put into your weapons, which you'll get the magic stones later. Finally, I had to test all of the armor's efficiency." He explained. Suddenly, he thought back to earlier that day.
"Stardust, can I ask you something?"
"Anything, sir."
"I have a... fairly big secret that i'm keeping. The problem is that if I tell somepony, I, and whoever I tell may be in an unmeasurable amount of danger. Enough to the point where we may be fugitives. Not to mention that they may rat me out." He sighed. "Do you think that I should tell them the truth?"
"If by 'them', you mean Twilight and the others, then do it when you feel the time's right." She reassured him. "Just try not to do it too late."
"Thanks, Stardust. I'll take your word for it." He smiled at her before they came up on Ponyville. Something, however, was off. The once lively town seemed to be nothing but a ghost town, the occasional tumble weed coming through. What was even weirder was that everything was still there. The carriages, the food stands, even some toys that some files were playing with. Being prepared for the worst, Skystrike kept his hoof on his sword as he and Stardust walked through town.
"Do you think they're hiding from Naga, sir?"
"Unlikely. They were still outside when Naga came through. This is actually oddly nostalgic of when I first came to town..." He answered.
"Psst!" A whisper could be heard from nearby. Skystrike looked around before he heard and saw the source of said whisper.
"Skystrike! Stardust!" Pinkie poked her head through Sugar Cube Corner door before ducking behind it again. "Come here! Hurry! Before she gets you!"
The two ran towards the door and jumped through, Skystrike rolling to the side to get out of sight. "Alright, Pinkie, why are you alone in the dark?"
"She's not alone." He could hear Twilight's voice. He looked around to see everyone there.
"Ok... why are you all alone in the dark?"
"That's what I said, and that's also what I'm wondering." Twilight nodded.
"We're hiding from her!" Applejack pointed out the window. Twilight, Stardust, Skystrike and everypony else all looked out the window to see a cloaked figure digging at the groundwith a stripped fore hoof. Said figure turned towards the group, looking at them with glowing yellow eyes. Everypony and dragon save for Skystrike, Twilight, and Stardust ducked for cover.
"I really feel like this is oddly nostalgic..." Skystrike groaned.
"Did you see her, Skystrike? Did you see Zecora?" Applebloom asked as she tugged at his back leg.
"Oh hey Applebloom. Didn't see you there. How ya doin'?"
"Applebloom, I told you never to say that name!" Applejack scolded.
"And yes, I saw Zecora glace this way. Right, Twilight?" He asked to receive a nod.
"Glance eeeevily this way!" Pinkie said with shrunken eyes.
"And then most of you flip out for no good reason?" Twilight looked at the ponies.
"No good reason?! You call protecting your sister no good reason?" Applejack said, only to get a raised eyebrow from Skystrike. "Why, as soon as mah sister saw Zecora riding into town, She started shaking 'er little horseshoes off!"
"Did not!" Applebloom managed to get out while her older sister shook her back and forth.
"So ah swept her up an' bought her here!" Applejack put her on her back.
"I walked here myself!" Applebloom protested.
"For safekeeping."
"Applejack,i'm not a baby! I can take care of myself!"
"Not from that creepy Zecora!"
"She's mysterious..." Fluttershy held her head down.
"Sinister!" Said Rainbow Dash
"And spoooooky!" Pinkie Pie added.
Skystrike, Stardust, and Twilight all exchanged looks before rolling their eyes. The three looked out the window before the rest pushed in behind them for a better look.
Zecora pulled off her hood to reveal her head. Her coat was grey, and her made was in a mohawk with black and white stripes. Each of the ponies gasped.
"Will you cut that out?" Twilight and Skystrike said in unison.
"Just look at those stripes! How galish!" Rarity glared at Zecora through the window.
"Don't talk about somepony behind their back, Rarity. You already got enough doing it. We don't need one more." Skystrike glared.
"She's a zebra!" Twilight explained.
"A what?!" They all shouted.
"A zebra! And her stripes aren't a fashion choice, Rarity. They're what she was born with!" Rarity faints at this revelation.
"Born where? I've never seen a pony like that in these parts! Cept, her!" Applejack trembled.
"That's because she's from a different continent across the eastern ocean. She's probably new. I'm guessing that because I haven't seen her house." Skystrike explained.
"That's just it... She lives in... the Everfree Forest!" Applejack exclaimed.
A loud boom was heard in the background as she said this. "Spike!" Twilight yelled to see spike in the kitchen.
"Heh... Sorry." Spike shrugged.
"The Everfree Forest just ain't natural!" Applejack started. "The plants grow...
"The animals care for themselves..." Fluttershy said.
"And the clouds move..." Rainbow added.
"All on their own!" They all said together. Rarity fainted again as Twilight held an unamused look.
"...you do realize that that all happened almost everywhere outside equestria, right? Go to Zecora's continent, they don't have pegasi to make it rain for them, so how do plants grow? It's survival of the fittest there, so how do animals survive? There's also something called wind to move the clouds there."
"And that wicked enchantress Zecora lives there doing her evil... stuff! Oh, she's so evil, I even wrote a song about her!"
"Here we go..." Rainbow Dash sigher before Pinkie belted into a song.
"She's an evil enchantress!
She does evil dances!
And if you look deep in her eyes,
She'll put you in trances!
Then what will she do?
She'll fix up an evil brew!
And she'll gobble you up!
In a big tasty stew!
So... watch out!"
"Wow, catchy..." Twilight said sarcastically.
"It's a work in progress!" Pinkie said proudly.
Skystrike had an unamused look as he glared at each of the ponies as he let out a grunt. "Ok, what have you seen Zecora do?"
"Well... " Rainbow Dash thought for a moment. "Once a month, she comes into
Ponyville..."
"Ooooh!" Twilight said sarcastically.
"Then, she lurks by the stores.
"Oh my!" Twilight gasped.
"And then, she digs at the ground!" Fluttershy pitched in.
"WOOOOOOOOOW" Skystrike yelled. "It's SUCH a bad thing that she comes into town looking to buy stuff, then fidgets at the ground as she waits for the stores to NEVER open because you all are scared of some RUMORS that you all MADE UP!"
"Yeah!" Maybe she's just tryn'a be neighborly!" Applebloom stood beside him. "Everypony likes to shop! Ya know what I think-"
"Applebloom!" Applejack cut off her younger sister. "Hush and let the big ponies talk!"
Skystrike's eyes flashed a light blue. "She's acting much more like a big pony than most of you here!"
"Skystrike darling, why are you taking this so personally?" Rarity asked.
Skystrike sat down and rubbed the sides of his head. "If you can't tell by now, I'm just more disappointed in you mares. Literally the same shit happened to me when I came here! I came to town every week trying to buy stuff, but loe and behold, all the shops were closed! When I was finally able to talk to some ponies like Derpy and Bon Bon, you wouldn't believe the rumors they told me. Apparently, I'm an evil pony who'll chop you up and feed you to the animals in the Everfree, I'm heartless and only care about money, and I'm a follower of Nightmare moon! I'd think it's safe to say where some of these rumors come from. Now, the exact same thing happened again and no pony wants to change? If any of you are brave enough to approach her unlike what you did with me, maybe, just MAYBE, you'll get your answers."
Each of the ponies, save for Twilight and Stardust had looks of realization and guilt on their faces. Skystrike glared at each of them before sighing. "I'm sorry for yelling like that. I shouldn't be taking out my anger on you all. He rubbed his forehead"
"No, we're sorry, Skystrike. We should've realized sooner how you felt." Fluttershy patted him on the back, getting a weak smile in return.
"Hey! Where's Applebloom!?" Applejack looked around.
"The door's open... She went outside!" Rarity realized.
"Zecora's still out there!" Rainbow added.
Skystrike, inwardly hoping said filly took his advice, ran out just to make sure she's ok. His best guess was that she and Zecora were on their way to the Everfree forest.
His guess was right as they found her tailing Zecora rather sneakily. Applebloom turned around as she heard her big sister call her name, the only thing separating them was a field of blue flowers. "Applebloom, you get over here right now!"
"Beware, beware you pony folk!" Zecora spoke from under her hood. "Those leaves of blue are not a joke!" She warned as she backed into the mist surrounding her.
Applejack picked up Applebloom before countering Zecora. "Y-you keep your mumbo jumbo to yourself, ya hear!" The rest of the ponies, save for the obvious three backed her up. Skystrike facepalmed.
"Beware, Beware!" She gave one last warning.
"Yeah! Back at you Zecora!" Rainbow Dash said as she and the rest of the ponies stood in the blue flowers. "You and your lame curses are the ones who better beware!"
"Destruction 100." Skystrike chuckled to himself.
"And you! Why couldn't you just listen to your big sister?" Applejack scolded.
"I... I" Applebloom stuttered.
"Who knows what kind of curse Zecora just put on you?"
"Just like in my song!" Pinkie sang her song again as she jumped through the flowers.
"You guys, there's no such thing as curses!" Twilight shook her head.
"Well that's interesting to hear, coming from Ms. magic pants herself." Rainbow flew through the blue flowers and poked her horn.
"How is a zebra who cant use magic place a curse?" Skystrike raised an eyebrow. "Magic comes from within your body, and is something you're born with. Curses are made with potions and incantations, i.e. artificial magic." He ignored Rainbow mocking him in the background.
"Curses are just old pony tales anyway." Twilight added, only for the girls to start walking away.
"Just you wait you two, you're gonna learn that some pony tales really are true." Applejack turned her back and walker through the blue flowers.
"...It's been 3 hours since I woke up and i'm already done for today. Stardust, we're going home." He began trudging through the flowers.
He walked through the black corridor of the hive entrance. After walking for a few minutes, getting deeper into the cave, he got more familiar with it. Despite his photographic memory, 6 years did a number on his memory. As he walked towards the barracks, he was surprised to see no pony there. Finally getting to his destination, he rounded the corner to find a community hotspring. Currently, he wasn't wearing his armor, letting everypony in the room see his features.
Every changeling in the room turned to look at him, each giving him a smile after the well overdue reunion. "Captain!" Some of the changelings called out after realizing who it was. The others just gave him glares.
"Hey, everyone." He smiled back. "Long time no see. How is everything?"
"We have no reason to tell a traitor like you!" One changeling shouted. Skystrike side eyed him. He decided it was best to ignore him.
One of the changeling walked up to him before giving him a high hoof. "Everything is going well! Your ideas are working really well! No one is even suspecting any changelings living with them! And your training to keep up our disguises while sleeping was a good idea, though hard to do."
"Glad to see everything's working out while i'm gone, Grubbonax." He said as he stepped into the hotspring, the hot water was soothing to his skin as he stepped deeper into the water. He sat down on the stone flooring under the water. "How's the combat training and technology coming along?"
A female changeling spoke up. "Well, the combat training is going well. After you giving us some books to learn some spells, though none of us except the queen can learn any past the apprentice level. The good news is that each of us is required to learn a ward spell." She answered. "And we were able to refine some of the magic stones you gave us. Though we don't know what we can use it for, and some changelings got... too passionate. One got some burns while handling the fire stones."
Skystrike let out a snicker. "That's great, Labrum. Guess you could say they got caught in the heat of the moment." He laughed as each of them let out a loud groan.
"Captain, that was terrible!" Labrum stood up from her spot in the hotspring.
"Hey, if i'm bugging you, just say something!" He laughed.
"Stop!" Each one of them yelled.
Skystrike was laughing even harder. "I'll be here all week."
As they talked and made up for missed time, the sound of their laughter attracts some unwanted attention. "What's going on in here!?" Everypony heard in a loud booming voice coming from behind them. Every changeling in the room turned around. Upon realizing who it was, each one bowed. Skystrike finally turned around to see Queen Chrysalis with an angry look on her face, a changeling following behind her.
"There's the traitor, your highness!" The changeling behind her pointed at Skystrike.
"Hey, Chrysi. You've grown a lot since I've last saw you." He said casually. "I remember you being my human height. Time sure flies, huh?"
"Don't give me that!" She growled. "You know full well you've been banished from here. How did you even get in?"
"I snuck in. The guys at the front are new, I guess. Despite me passing the traps, they weren't able to detect me. Then again, my sneak is at 100." He chuckled. "And I may have been banished, but it's not breaking the law unless you're caught, am I right?" He shrugged.
"Enough! I will not forgive you for turning your back on us! Leave now, or I will force you out myself!" She bluffed.
"You know you won't be able to do that if you tried, but fine." He sat up. "I just came to see how everything is going. I'm glad I got to see you all again, despite what's been said towards me." He smiled as he proceeded to leave the hive. Despite the smile that he gave all them, he was sad that she hasn't forgiven him. He couldn't blame her though. He hasn't forgiven himself either.
After quick dream of what actually happened that extra week he was gone, Skystrike woke up the next day to frantic knocking at his bedroom door. "Sir? Sir, there's something wrong with me!"
He quickly threw of his covers and ran towards the door. He flung it open to see a different sight than he was expecting. Stardust, or what had the voice of Stardust, was standing in front of him with a worried face. Instead of Stardust in front of him, it was... himself?
"Holy shit... I really haven't looked in the mirror in a while." He chuckled to himself.
"Sir, this is not a joke!" Stardust's skin turned from white to purple as her wings were absorbed into her body. She shrunk down a bit before a purple horn came out from her forehead. Her blue hair turned black that had a flat cut with a violet and deep blue stripe going through her mane. She turned into Twilight.
"Wait..." Skystrike had a theory. "Act like Pinkie Pie. I may know whats wrong, or at least what's causing it."
Stardust gave him a confused look before doing so. "Hi! I like cakes and cupcakes and candy and muffins and..." She said while jumping up and down, only to stop when her coat turned pink and her mane and tail turned a deeper pink. Her mane and tail turned curly and puffy.
"Ok, now do Applejack."
"Why howdy darn doody! I'm Applejack and I love apples! Apple pie, apple fritters, apple juice, candied apples..." She once again stopped when her body took on the form of Applejack.
"Ok, so it looks like your looks change depending on who you act like, or you act like what you think of them. And i'm guessing you cant act like yourself, considering it's 9 a.m. and you had a lot of time to try." Skystrike sighed. "We should probably go to Twilight's. Probably has a book on it or something similar."
"Shouldn't we go to Zecora? She specializes in treating things like this?" Stardust thought aloud.
"Yeah, lets go after Twilight's. Considering we were in the Everfree, which is probably the cause of this, with them, I doubt you're the only one with this problem. I probably don't have any abnormalities because of this armor." He realized. "It covers everything."
"Well that's great for you, sir, but I can't go out like this!" Stardust said before she turned into Rarity. She looked at herself in horror before calming down.
"You can borrow my cape. It'll be big on you, so it can work as a cloak probably." He offered as he went to get his cape off the coat rack. He came back and threw it over Stardust. Sure enough, it covered her whole body, using part of it as a hood. Her sapphire blue eyes, due to her changing into Rarity, could be seen through the shadow covering her face and horn. She tugged on the cape, making it tighten around her.
"Thank you, sir."
"No problem. Now let's get going. I want to go before Naga wakes up. I love that basilisk but she is a piece of work." He laughed, only for it to be stopped my a quiet, echoing roar in the distance. "We gotta go."
Skystrike and Stardust walked in the library to see everypony else having the same problem as Stardust. Twilight's horn was floppy with blue spots, Pinkie's tongue was swollen with blue spots, Rainbow dash couldn't fly straight, Rarity's mane and coat were in long dreadlocks, Applejack was the size of a hoof and was riding on Applebloom's back, and each were saying it was a curse.
"It's a curse! A curse I tell ya!" Applejack said in a high pitched voice.
"But... Fluttershy, Skystrike and Stardust seems just fine!" Twilight pointed out.
"Yes, I don't see anything wrong with these three." Rarity agreed.
"Well, i'm wearing armor so-" Skystrike was cut off by Twilight.
"Your armor doesn't protect you from everything, Skystrike! Even if it is a curse!"
"Apparently it did if im not affected." He shrugged. "And this isn't a curse."
"But that still doesn't explain why Stardust and Fluttershy aren't having problems." Applejack said.
"Stardust, you wanna show them, or should I?" Skystrike looked at her from the corner of his eye.
Stardust let out a loud sigh before taking off the cape. Each of the ponies looked at her who currently looked like Skystrike. She readied herself before acting like one of the ponies in the room. "Oh boy, I sure do love books and magic! I'm so lucky to be the princess' student!" She said while puffing her chest out, before her coat and mane changed colors to match Twilights appearance.
Skystrike and Spike let out a loud 'pfffft' as everypony else eyed Stardust.
"I don't sound like that do I?" Twilight asked worried.
"So Fluttershy, were you affected by it too?" Skystrike asked, ignoring her question.
Fluttershy looked away from him.
"Is there something wrong with you?" A concerned Twilight asked. Fluttershy nodded, still looking away.
"Would you care to tell us?" Twilight tilted her head. Fluttershy shook hers.
Twilight raised an eyebrow. "So... you're not gonna tell us" Fluttershy nodded.
"Yes, you're not, or yes you will?" Fluttershy shook her head.
"Good gravy girl, what's wrong with you!?" Applejack shouted as she hopped over to her.
"...I dont wanna talk about it..." Fluttershy said in a deep manly voice.
Spike and Skystrike looked at each other before bursting out laughing. Skystrike couldn't even laugh anymore, as he leaned on the table wheezing loudly. "I... cant... fucking breathe!" He said in between his laughing. All the girls there were shooting daggers at him and Spike.
"Wait, wait, wait! Fluttershy, can you sing this for me?" SKystrike pulled out a sheet of paper and gave it her. She gave him an un amused look. "Please?" He pleaded with a wide grin on her face. She took the paper and looked over it. With a sigh, she began.
"I see trees of green,
Red roses to.
I see them bloom
For me and you.
And i think to myself...
What a wonderful world~"
Skystrike stood silent for a moment before a long wheeze came out. He collapsed on the floor as his wheeze became a higher and higher pitch. "Oh my god, thank you!" He wheezed towards Fluttershy.
"This is hilarious!" Spike laughed. "Look at all of you! We got Hairity, Rainbow crash, Spitty pie, Apple tinnie, Flutterguy, and..." He stopped at Twilight. "Uh... I got nothing. It's Twilight Sparkle! Seriously, I can't even work with that. Stardust is out of the question.
"3 things, you're right with Stardust, I'd go with crab-applejack, And how about... Twilight Flopple?" Skystrike grinned. Spike put out his hand as the two shared a high five.
"Eheheh, this is no joke you two, now Spike, start looking for more books wo we can't find a cure!" Twilight fake laughed. Spike groaned as he walked toward the bookshelf.
Rainbow pulled herself out of the ladder that she got her head stuck in. "I think we'll find a cure for this curse at Zecora's!" Rainbow tried to fly in the air.
"It's not a curse!" Twilight said as Rainbow fell backwards.
"Ah agree with dash!" Applejack said as she hopped up on the table. "We'll go to Zecora's, and force her to remove this hex!"
"It's not a hex either!" Twilight shook her head. The others however cheered in agreement.
Skystrike saw Applebloom mumble something to herself before she began to walk out the library. He then was Applejack sneakily jump into her little sister's tail. Skystrike walked up next to Stardust. "Can you stay here and help out Spike? I'd let you come, but it's very easy to get lost in there." He whispered. Stardust saluted him, giving him the ok. "Thanks. I'll see you later."
Once outside of Ponyville, Applebloom started to run towards the Everfree forest. Just before the filly entered the forest, Skystrike saw Applebloom skid to a stop before Applejack popped out of her mane. He saw a brief argument go by before Applebloom left her tiny big sister on a tree branch over a large fall. Applebloom began to walk away as Applejack yelled in protest. After Applebloom was a safe distance away, Skystrike appeared across from the tiny pony.
"Well hello there." Skystrike said to the stranded mare.
"Skystrike! Thank goodness you're here! I need you're\-" She started.
"Ironic, isn't it, AJ?" He looked at the mare.
"Huh?"
"This 'curse' that Zecora supposedly put on you shrunk you, the big sister, down in size. From what I've seen ant what your little sister experienced since Zecora got here, you've been treating her like she can't do anything for herself." He sighed. Applejack opened her mouth to protest, but she was cut off once again. "Remember yesterday, when you made up that story about her being scared stiff from Zecora? Or when you wouldn't even let her say Zecora's name? Or how about when you expect her to listen to everything you say?"
"I... I'm just tryin' ta protect her! Is that so wrong?"
"There's such thing as being to over protective, and I've learned that the hard way." He said as he showed her his scars on his side. "If she's able to make a decision by herself, then she also has to be prepared to take the responsibility. You haven't given her a chance to do that. SO. When she had the chance, and you weren't able to stop her like all the other times, she took it. Can you blame her?" He asked. Applejack looked down in defeat. "Dont worry, ill make sure she doesn't get hurt. The others are probably on their way here right now, so you won't have to wait long. After that, you can get back at me whatever way you want." He finished as he turned around. "And hopefully, I can get your sister to forgive you if you forgive her."
"Skystrike? Skystrike, get back here! This isn't over!" She shouted only for it to fall on deaf ears.
Although a little guilty of leaving Applejack in the state that she was, he kept going forward along the trail. It was a small dirt path leading towards the inner part of the forest. Lucky for him, the path was somewhat damp, letting him see the hoof steps of presumably Applebloom. There were another set of hoof prints belonging to an older pony, or most likely zebra. Knowing he was on the right track, he quickened his pace to get to his destination faster. After a few minutes, a small hut came into view few decorative masks and a doormat outside.
Skystrike walked up to and knocked on the door. The sound of footsteps could be heard coming towards the door. He backed up a bit as the door began to open. Skystrike made eye contact with Zecora before they shared a small hug.
"Of all the ponies to visit out of the blue, I was always hoping it would be you." Zecora spoke in rhymes.
"It's good to see you again to, Zecora. How have you been holding up?" He greeted as he broke the hug.
"I travelled to Ponyville, in hopes of finding you. I figured a chance to see eachother was long past due. Though the ponies that reside here in regard to me do not know what to do." She sighed.
"Sad to say, but it was nothing knew. Heh, that rhymed." Skystrike pointed out. "It was the same with me once I moved here a few months ago. I'm really sorry about them."
"No need to apologize, my friend. It has not been all bad, as I've only been inconvenienced a tad." She waved a hoof. "You should come in. I would like to ask as oh how you've been." She stepped to the side, allowing Skystrike to walk inside.
After closing the door behind him, he found Applebloom sitting on a stool next to a cauldron. Her eyes went wide as she realized he was there. "S-Skystrike! What are you doing here?"
"Just making sure you're ok, and no, I'm not taking you back. And good job for trying to find your own answers, despite what your sister said." He said as he looked around. "Nice place you got here, Zecora."
"I assume you know Applebloom, my friend?" Zecora asked.
"Not that well, actually. Today would be the second time we've met, though I know her sister somewhat well. First time I met Applejack was before I met you, all those years ago when I was at some camp. She's a good kid though." He answered.
"I could tell from talking to her. She reminds me of how you once were." She chuckled.
"Oh yeah, I know this is kind of early for me to be asking you favors, but we need your help." Skystrike realized.
"Yeah! Mah sister an' her friends got cursed or somethin'! They think that it was you!" Applebloom stood from her seat.
"A curse you say? And the effects took place today?" Zecora asked.
"Yeah! Ah came to fix it!" Applebloom answered before looking down. "It was mah fault anyway."
"Oh sweet little Applebloom, there was nothing you could do. You could do nothing to stop them from stepping in the leaves of blue." She reassured her.
"...Wuh?" Applebloom looked up confused.
"Remember yesterday, they stepped in some blue flowers, and Zecora said, 'The leaves of blue are not a joke'? That was her warning us of the plant called Poison joke." Skystrike explained. "It plays a joke on the receiver that relates to their personality, their physical body, or their mental state, though it's mostly physical."
"...so what yer sayin' is that it's their own fault?" Applebloom asked.
"Yup, but the effects don't go away on their own. That's the third reason why I came. Zecora, do you know how to cure it?" SKystrike turned towards the zebra.
"The cure is simple to brew, though my ingredients are few, and I cannot make do." Zecora said as she motioned to a shelf of missing ingredients.
"We can get those for ya!" Applebloom offered. "We'll help any way we can!"
"That is good to hear, young filly." She smiled as she walked towards her saddle bag. She pulled out a list with her mouth. "Some can be found here in the forest. My hope is you can get it done quickly." She spoke through her teeth as Applebloom took the list. Zecora then put her saddle bag on the filly.
"Sure thing, Zecora. We'll see you faster than you can finish a sentence without rhyming." He joked.
"You want to make that a bet? Then the deal is set!" She declared, only to realize that she rhymed a few seconds later.
After walking in the forest for a few minutes and finding some of their ingredients, Applebloom got more talkative with Skystrike, enjoying his company, as he was hers. While walking, she saw this as some sort of adventure. Of course, Skystrike was there to make sure she wasn't doing anything dangerous. She had already almost walked into poison ivy thinking it was an ingredient they needed. After that, Skystrike started walking in front to ensure her safety. This action, however just annoyed Applebloom.
"Skystrike! I'm not a lil' kid! I can watch our fer myself!" She said as she tried to walk in front.
"I know you aren't, but you aren't big enough to look out for yourself." He looked back at her.
"Yes I am! Ah was able ta get to Zecora's house all by myself!" She said proudly.
"Sorry to break your bubble, but you were able to get to her house so easily because of the repellent she lined the path with. I'm just looking out for you, kiddo." He pointed a hoof at her while he spoke.
"All you've done while we were here was look out for me. You don't let me do anything at all! Its like you don't even care about me. You're just like Applejack!" She whined.
Skystrike stopped walking. Applebloom, not expecting this, almost fell forward. Skystrike turned around and looked her dead in the eye. "Don't you dare say that. Older siblings always watch out for their younger ones. Applejack does that, Big Mac does that, and i'm doing that right now. I'll admit, I am kind of babying you, but this is for your safety and both my and Applejack's peace of mind." He stared at her. "Don't ever say something like that again, alright?"
Applebloom stood silent for a moment, taking in what he said. "...A-alright. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it, Applebloom. You aren't out of it yet, anyway. We still gotta deal with your sister."
"We?" Applebloom was confused.
"I... may have left your sister on that branch you left her on." He admitted. "So we've got each others back I guess."
Applebloom let out a chuckle in agreement. "Ah guess yer right."
"Alright. Now we should get back to Zecora's place. With any luck, we can get there before Twilight and the others. That being said, ever flown through the skies?"
"No?"
"You wanna?"
"...Yes?" She answered slowly.
Skystrike crouched down. "Hop on and we'll be off. I also doubt we have much time." Applebloom hopped on his back and wrapped her front hooves around his neck. "Hold on tight. I'll start of slow." He stood up, and with with a heavy flap of his wings, he took of into the sky. After a few seconds passed, the two were flying above the everfree.
"Wow..." Appleblow awed at the sight as she looked over the land they were flying over. "You can see everythin' from up here."
"It is nice, isn't it? It's a shame I don't fly often." He agreed.
"Can we stay up here for a little while? Please?" She pleaded.
"Sure. Its pretty peaceful, and nothing seems wrong, so i'll fly slow." He said as he slowed his pace.
After a quite peaceful flight, the two lander a walk away from Zecora's hut. As Skystrike crouched down to let Applebloom hop off, he noticed the front door to Zecora's hut was wide open, and he could hear faint yelling coming from inside.
"Fuck!" He screamed. Internally that is. From the sounds of it, Twilight and the others were obviously there, but he couldn't make out what they were saying.
"Well what're you waitin' for, Skystrike? Lets go!" Applebloom said as she began running towards Zecora's hut. Skystrike jogged behind her, letting out a sigh in mild annoyance. They slowed to a walk as she entered the doorway.
"Zecora, I think we've found all the things you asked for." Applebloom stopped herself mid sentence as she and Skystrike looked around the trashed room. The cauldron was flipped over, some of her bottles were broken, and there were dropped ingredients everywhere. "What in Ponyville is going on here!?"
Applejack let out a gasp as she stopped wrestling Zecora's ear. "Applebloom! You're ok!"
"Why wouldn't ah be?" Applebloom asked in confusion.
Twilight quickly jumped in front of Applebloom in defense. "Because Zecora's an evil enchantress who cursed us and was gonna cook you into soup!"
A moment of silence went by as Twilight stared daggers at Zecora. Zecora looked at her, then at Applebloom, then at Skystrike. She and Applebloom both cracked a grin before bursting out laughing. Skystrike was working on calming himself down.
"Oh Twilight! Did those silly fillies finally get in yer head? You know there's no such thing as a curse?" Applebloom giggled.
"Scuse me for a moment." Skystrike said as he walked out the door and closed it behind him. A loud yell in annoyance could be heard from the other side of the door before he came back inside as if nothing happened. "Imma just stop explaining thing to you ponies if you don't stop to think." He thought aloud. "God damn, the irony of all this."
"Applebloom, sweetie, you can't just stand there and tell me this isn't a curse!" Twilight motioned to the other four, save for Applejack, standing next to her.
"This isn't a curse!" Applebloom walked past the mares and stood by Zecora.
"If you remember back, the words I spoke were quite exact." Zecora said as she agreed with the filly.
"It was a warning! About that blue plant! It's called poison joke." Applebloom clarified.
"That plant is much like poison oak, but its results are like a joke!" Zecora rhymed
"What in the hay does that mean?" Applejack asked as she came out from behind Zecora's mane.
"It means this plant does not breed wrath, this plant just wants a laugh."
"...Will somepony please talk normal?" Applejack looked to the other ponies
"When you ran in to save the kid, you walked right into the poison joke. The problems you blamed Zecora on are just effects of the plant you walked into. Both Skystrike and I noticed it had some relation to how you act or what you do. Fluttershy talks quiet, so she got a deep voice. Pinkie talks too much, so her tongue swelled up in hopes to keep her quiet, but that failed. Rarity works on her looks, so it made her look like a walking mop. Rainbow Dash takes pride in her flying, so it made her fly like a newborn filly. Applejack thinks she's all big, so it quite literally shrunk her down some sizes. Twilight relies way too much on her magic, so it made her magic unusable. Make sense?" Echo said, finally speaking after a long while.
"Mop?" "Filly" "Pthbt?" Each pony said respectively to the roast Eco dished out.
"...Echo, you're kind of a dick." Skystrike chuckled.
"You know I'm right though." Echo replied as Skystrike chuckled more in agreement.
"But what about the cauldron?" Rainbow asked.
"And the chanting?" Fluttershy asked in her deep voice.
"And the creepy decor?" Rarity asked through her hair.
"Treasures! Of the native land where i'm from!" Zecora answered as she looked at the mask Rarity was referring to. "This one speaks 'hello', and this one, 'welcome.' She said showing a light blue and green and a green, blue, and orange one respectively.
"Not welcoming at all, if you asked me." Rarity looked at a rather discomforting mask one would have trouble describing to say the least.
"The words I spoke are from olden times. Something you would call a nursery rhyme." Zecora explained.
"But... the cauldron... the Applebloom soup?" Twilight asked, wanting her final question answered.
"Lookie here, Twilight, that pot o' water wasn't for me, it was fer all these herbal ingredients!" Applebloom motioned to her bag next to a open book. "The cure fer poison joke is a simple natural remedy. Ya just gotta take a bubble bath!" Applebloom finished as she lifted up her sister in her hoof.
"You know, I kinda do feel like a bubble bath now..." Skystrike hummed to himself.
"But I tried to find a cure in all my books and couldn't find anything! What book has this natural remedy?" She asked.
Zecora flipped the book close, letting Twilight see the cover. "Here is the book, you see? Sad that you lack it in your library."
Twilight looked at the book in confusion, realization, then regret. "Actually, I do have this book, but I didn't look inside because the title was so... weird." Zecora opened the book again to let the unicorn see the inside cover. "Super naturals: natural remedies and cures for all that is simply super." She read.
"I... I'm so sorry Zecora, I had the answer the whole time, if only I bothered to look inside." Twilight looked away in guilt.
Zecora chuckled, accepting her apology. "Maybe next time, you should take a second look, and not judge the cover of the book."
Applebloom and Skystrike giggled. Something about how Zecora speaks in rhymes seems funny for some reason.
"Zecora, would you be kind enough to make another batch of the herbal bath?" Twilight asked.
"Mix it up, I certainly will, but I am missing an herb from Ponyville." Zecora explained.
"Whenever Zecora comes to town, all the shops are mysteriously closed." Applebloom said.
"Oh. Well, I think we can help you with that." Twilight smiled at her.
"But before that, Skystrike, c'mere!" Applejack said from atop her sisters head.
Skystrike knew what was going on. "Take of yer helmet!" She said. He did so, letting her and the other ponies see his wide grin. She pulled out a blue flower from behind her and smacked it against his nose. Surprisingly, it seemed nothing happened.
"Was that the leaves of blue?" Zecora asked wide eyed.
"Yep." Applejack said proudly.
Zecora's eyes went widder as her fears were worsened. "Pony, you know not what you do!"
"Huh?" Applejack backed away a little in confusion.
"This isn't the first time Skystrike suffered from poison joke. As Skystrike keeps mostly to himself, and poison joke does pretty much the opposite, every thought that enters his mind, he's forced to say it." Echo sighed.
"That doesn't sound that bad." Fluttershy said as she let out a sigh of relief, thinking it was something serious.
"Fluttershy I need you to do something for me!" Skystrike exclaimed suddenly.
Fluttershy almost instantly regretted what she said. "Oh no..."
"Every time I point to you, can you say, 'doh doh doh doh' just like i did?"
"That doesn't sound too bad..." She had no idea at all what he was planning. "Ok."
"I told the witch doctor I was in love with you!" Skystrike said as he pointed toward Fluttershy. Everypony's eyes went wide as they realized the song.
"Doh doh doh doh." Fluttershy said reluctantly.
"I told the witch doctor I was in love with you!" He pointed again.
"Doh doh doh doh."
"I told the witch doctor I was in love with you!" He pointed again.
"Doh doh doh doh."
"And then the witch doctor, he told me what to do he told me Oh Eh, Oh ah ah! Ting Tang! Wala wala bing bang! Oh Eh, Oh ah ah! Ting Tang! Wala wala bing bang! Oh Eh, Oh ah ah! Ting Tang! Wala wala bing bang!"
Pinkie suddenly pulled a saxophone out of nowhere and belted out the saxophone solo as everypony both inwardly and outwardly groaned.
After what felt like a long walk out of the everfree forest, the group started on their way back towards Ponyville. Skystrike's thoughts have not stopped at all from then.
"Is sand called sand because it's between the sea and the land?" He said as he kept walking. Everypony groaned once again.
"It's been twenty minutes! How is his voice not tired yet!?" Rainbow Dash asked from behind her anger.
"I asked myself that long ago, but its best for yourself you do not know." Zecora sighed.
"Wait... we can use this..." Rarity thought aloud. "If we ask him a question, he can only think of the actual answer first!" Once everypony realized what that meant, the questions started coming.
"What's the most embarrassing you've done?" Rainbow Dash immediately asked.
Everypony's ears perked up at this. "I stuck into Celestia's chambers while I lived in canterlot. There were alot of magic locks and detectors I had to bypass, but when I got by, all I found was a cardboard box under her bed." He chuckled. "And lemme tell you, Celestia is KINKY." He shouted. "Like Damn! You know what i'm saying? She had a full on 210 page BOOK in 12-point font!."
Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack burst out laughing. Applebloom had a look of confusion, being too young to really understand. Rarity and Fluttershy had deep blushes on their faces. Twilight had a look of arousal and hunger. Zecora face hoofed.
"Oh, oh!" Pinkie hopped. "What do you do in your free time?" Pinkie tried to speak through her tongue.
"I try to brew potions, train, send letters, write my autobiography, and polish my blades and armor. YOOO, when you clean your vacuum cleaner, you become the vacuum cleaner!"
The ponies groaned again. Suddenly, Skystrike had another thought. "Guys... clothes are just full body condoms."
"Sweet Celestia, we're finally here!" Twilight shouted in annoyance. "Skystrike, can you try not to think?" Skystrike looked at her.
"If I could I would! I'll try my best though!" He said plainly
As the group started to enter town, the ponies immediately took notice to the. After noticing Zecora was walking with them, they began to panic and run inside their houses out of fear.
"I feel like I've seen this scene before." He said to himself.
Twilight walked up to a flower shop and knocked on the door. Daisy poked her head out from the crack in the door she opened. "Daisy, we need to talk."
Skystrike waited outside the spa for his turn in the tub. His armor was already off in preparation, save for his helmet. After quickly getting Stardust and explaining what happened to himself, Stardust laughed at nearly everything he said on his walk to the spa. As he waited, his thoughts didn't stop.
"Skystrike, you know we won't mind if you come in here with us, right?" Twilight said through the closed door.
"But it's kinda weird, isn't it? I've read too many romance novels to know where that'll go!" He said back. "That last part was supposed to my my personal thought." He clarified as he heard snickers through the door.
"We're under water! You won't see anything!"
"Maybe so, but for all I know, that water is clear!" He yelled back. "Now, Imma continue my thoughts in safety!"
A moment of silence went by before he continued with his thoughts. "If I stay a virgin until 30, will I be able to use magic?" He thought aloud.
The sound of splashing water and wet hoof steps could be heard coming towards him. He turned his head to see Zecora and Rainbow Dash standing behind him.
"We don't want to hear your thoughts anymore, Skystrike." Rainbow growled as he grabbed him by the front hooves and began to drag him into the tub.
"I agree, we can only deal with you to a certain degree!" Zecora pushed him from behind.
Skystrike was thrown into the tub with a loud splash, despite this protest. He stayed underwater for a few seconds. He quickly stuck his upper body above the water, letting the mares see his toned muscles.
"...Nice..." Rarity spoke quietly.
"And now i'm not the only one having trouble keeping my thoughts to myself!" He laughed. "But hey, this is nice. Like, really nice. You know what, I might get a membership." Skystrike looked behind him to see Stardust on the stairs leading up to the bath.
"Stardust, you gonna get in?" He asked.
"Oh! Uh, yes!" She said, momentarily turning into Fluttershy before quickly diving into the pool. There was a moment that passed when she didnt come up from the water. Skystrike looked where she dived to see a dark black protrusion poke out from the water. It went back under the water before Stardust came up, taking a deep breath. Skystrike looked around to see if the others noticed if they saw it. From the looks of it, they were all preoccupied talking with each other. Skystrike let out a sigh of relief.
"So, Stardust, you want a membership? I might get one." Skystrike asked.
"Yes sir!" She answered as if nothing happened.
"Oh yeah, Applejack, i'm guessing that makes us even now, huh?"
"You betcha!" She laughed from the bucket she was sitting in, as everypony joined in. |
A Broken Warrior | A Somewhat Normal Day | It was tuesday in the early morning. Due to this being the first day of Stardust's and Spike's training, Stardust was excited to say the least. Twilight agreed to bring by Spike, as well as some others, who he assumed would be the other mares. Skystrike invited Zecora to watch and join in if she wanted, which she happily accepted. After a breakfast of eggs, hay bacon, and pancakes, Skystrike and Stardust walked outside.
Walking towards his field next to the Everfree, he found everypony he was and wasn't expecting. Twilight, Pinkie, Rainbow, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Spike were there, Spike having his armor and weapon equipped. Zecora was there as well, having her brown cloak on, but the hood off. There were a group of ponies he wasn't expecting, but his main focus were on the two alicorns guarded by eight royal guardsmen holding spears.
"Hey everypony. I'm guessing the princesses were the ones you referred to as others, Twilight?" Skystrike asked. Twilight avoided eye contact, giving him the answer he needed. "Alright. I don't really have anywhere for you to sit, so let me call Naga."
"Who's Naga?" Celestia asked.
"Oh, she's my lizard companion I met on my travels. I think you'll like her. Let me call her." He said as he walked to an open area of the field. He crouched down, getting lower to the ground, and tapped the ground twice in a rhythmic pattern. After a few seconds of confusion from the princess', the ground began to rumble. A mound of dirt could be seen coming out from the Everfree forest. It stopped right behind him before the mound of dirt was found in all directions an Naga jumped out of the hole. Celestia, Luna, and all of their guard had looks of fear on their faces. All the guards instantly ran in front of their princess' and pointed their spears at the basilisk.
"Defend the princess' at all cost, men!" A unicorn guard said as he tried to shake off his fear.
"Hey, I'd put your weapons down. She's actually pretty friendly." He assured them as he looked over at Naga. The end of her tail was wrapped around a large barrel full of coffee. She took a sip of it, not even paying attention to the ponies in front of her.
"Nebula, you're telling me you've tamed this beast? An Earth basilisk?" Celestia asked, wide eyed.
"Yeah? I figured Stardust told you in her reports?"
"Actually, sir, I turn in my reports every monday. The letter that talks About Naga would have reached her this afternoon." Stardust clarified.
"Anyway, isn't Naga too dangerous to be so close to Ponyville?" Celestia questioned.
"Arent you and Luna dangerous to be so close to anypony do to how much magical power you two have?" He looked her dead in the eye.
"Well that's different. We can control out magic with ease." She justified herself and her sister.
"Naga, make yourself small enough to fit around my hoof." Skystrike demanded, trying to prove a point. Naga let out a hiss/sigh as her body turned into a black and gold sand. The sand started to lose form and began burrowing into the ground under where she once was. After all the sand went into the ground, a miniature form of Naga, about three feel long, emerged and wrapped herself around Skystrike hoof.
"I taught her at control her magic as a hatchling. It's easier to take her larger form because it's her natural form. So, and more questions, or can I get started?"
"...Can we pet her?" Luna asked. Naga responded by jumping off of Skystrikes arm and started to slither over to Luna The princess put out a hoof as Naga slithered up her and nuzzled her.
Skystrike fell to the ground and clutched his chest. "My heart... to cute..." He joked, making the others let out a chuckle.
"Anyway, Naga, do you mind making some benches for us? We're about to start training, so you can join in too." He asked his companion.
Naga jumped off of Luna's fore leg and slithered over to where Skystrike was standing next to the battlefield that was made last week. Returned to her original giant form before slapping the ground with her tail, a few stone bleachers. Naga dove into the ground next to the bleachers, only to come back up, her head sticking out of the ground. The other ponies took seats on the bleachers
"Aight, Spike, Stardust, let's get started. Take out your weapons."
Spike pressed a button on his briefcase and turned it into a scythe and held it diagonal in both hands. Stardust unsheathed her rapier and held it to her side.
"So, i'm going to explain briefly about the types of physical damage weapons can do. Basically, they can be dumbed down into 3 categories. The three categories are slash, impact, and peirce. Stardust's rapier has high piercing and slash, but low impact. Spike's scythe had medium slash, peirce, and impact. My swords have high slash, medium impact, and medium peirce. Every weapon, with the exception on weapons like hammers have some balance of these three categories. Makes sense so far?"
"Yes." They both said at the same time.
"Alright. Now for what factors into the damage done." He said as he pulled out a chalkboard from his saddlebag. He quickly set it up and drew a sword with a white line following the tip.
"Slash has depth. Depth is how deep the cut is which depends on strength, which causes a bleeding effect, lowering your enemy's strength, and stamina, though you'll rarely give a deep enough cut where it's noticeable against a well trained enemy."
He drew a picture of a sword stabbing through an object. "Pierce has three factors, both of which affect the piercing power. The velocity of your weapon increases the impact of your attack. The angle of the tip of your blade is the factor that turns your impact into piercing damage. Finally, there's the defence of your enemy." He drew a shield with his chalk. "If the enemy has armor like me, there's no real way to damage them with piercing, unless you aim for the spots between the armor, which most of the time are guarded by chainmail. It's better to aim for the least defended places for the most damage.
He drew a picture of a hammer shattering an object it pieces. "The last one, impact, also includes velocity, as well as knockback towards both you and your opponent. If you hit them with the blunt of your weapon, you can cause enough impact to knock them unconscious. If your enemy shields your attack, all that force in that swing will knockback towards you, leaving you open."
"So which one is better?" Spike raised his claw.
"Good question. Overall, id say it's impact, because it breaks bones hella fast, but it depends on the situation. For example, if your opponent was heavily armored like me, impact would work the best. For thin armor, it'd be peirce, and for magic, it'd be slash, because you can cut right through it." He answered simply. "Now, there's two thing left before we officially start this training."
The two trainees nodded as the watchers listened closely. "At any point, the training may seem meaningless, hopeless, or anything else, you must push through it, am I clear?"
"Yes sir!" The two said.
"Alright, now, I'm going to give both of you a two choices of six items. Both of you have to chose one. I will not give you a description of these items, so go with your gut." Skystrike said, getting confused looks from Spike, Stardust, and everypony else there.
Stardust pulled out the 6 said items. A glowing yellow triangular prism, a grey bracelet with a diamond in it, a pair of hoof guards, some glowing red marbles, a small blue gemstone, and a set of red and black throwing daggers.
After looking over the items carefully, not sure which to pick, Stardust took the grey bracelet and the gemstone, while Spike took the prism and the throwing daggers.
"Good choices, don't lose them, they're super important. Ok, so, equip your items." Skystrike nodded.
Stardust put on her bracelet, while Spike tightened the leather straps of his throwing knives on his waist. They were stuck with the last items however.
"Ok, Stardust, touch the gemstone with your rapier." Skystrike said as Stardust followed. As she touched the objects together, the blue gemstone was absorbed by the rapier, making the blade and hilt turn blue, the hilt having a wave like pattern. Stardust rose her sword to the sun and looked at it in awe, slowly turning the blade.
"Now Spike, put the prism at the end of your staff." Spike turned his scythe into a staff. He put the prism near the spiked ind of the staff, and as he put it closer, the staff automatically pulled the triangular prism toward the staff, locking it in place in the middle of the spikes as the prism slowly turned.
"What just happened?" Spike asked as he looked at his staff.
"You two just evfused your weapons with magical items and equipped magical items onto yourself."
Twilight stood up from her seat. "You gave Spike magical items!? Is that even safe!?"
"Yes it's completely safe, giving magical items to ponies, what do you think!?" Skystrike yelled back sarcastically. "Anyway, I was about to explain your items. I'll start with you, Spike. That prism, I call it 'bright prism' and it focuses the suns rays onto a high power, concentrated beam. Downside is, it's weaker when not in the light of the sun. You also choose the item 'vampire knives', which are completely magical, so as long as you still have magic, you can keep throwing them. It takes the life force of any living being it hits and adds it to your own."
He turned to Stardust. "Now, that blue gemstone was an water sapphire. It gives you control over the water element, but more specifically, the blade. That bracelet it's the weakest version I have of a ward spell, with a special twist. As you get stronger, the bracelet grows stronger with it."
He walked away from them, and turned around after he was a few feet away. "As both of you get stronger, your weapons will in turn. That's why your weapons feel so light, because they're some of the lowest levels."
"...So why didn't we start at the first level, sir? I understand why I didn't, but what about Spike?" Stardust asked.
"Well, you are in the royal guard, so you have some idea of how to use weapons. Spike, despite being a baby, still is a dragon, and still knows how to somewhat fight due to his natural instinct." He explained. "Now, any questions from the peanut gallery?" He looked over to see Naga sleeping, and three ponies raising their hooves.
He pointed to Celestia holding up her hoof. "Where did you find these magic items?"
"Most of them, not in Equestria. The only two I did find in Equestria was the bright prism. The story behind it is that there was a crazy cult for Celestia a few years back up near the frozen north that was trying to use the prism to bring about a prophecy that the land will reside under eternal sun. The prism, which was apparently was a prototype, was going to be sent to the sun, multiplying its intensity hundreds of times over. The vampire knives, I got after slaying a vampiric dire spider. The water sapphire was a gift from a tribe from Saddle arabia as a parting gift. The bracelet was a project me and the unicorn of 'all' worked on." He reminisced. "All of them are fairly strong, but with their levels now, it'd be like taking away a cup of water from a lake from somepony like you."
He pointed to Rainbow Dash, "What do you exactly do you train for?"
"Alright, good question. First off, it's bonding time. Second, it keeps you in good shape. Finally, on the off chance that some beast like the Ursa Minor or something of the sort happens again, somepony besides me has to step in. I won't be here all the time."
He pointed to Luna, holding her hoof up. "We hope we can join thee in thy training. We do need to get back in shape."
"Sure, but it's gonna be hard. Otherwise, come on over." He wave her over.
Luna stood up and flew over towards the three, ignoring the glare that Celestia was giving both Skystrike and her sister a glare. Luna instead smiled at Skystrike, Stardust, and Spike.
"Oh yeah, Luna, take this," Skystrike took one of his sheathed swords at his side and handed it to Luna. She caught it with her magic, but the sword fell a few inches as she held it. "Heavy, right? I can give you a different sword. Oh, and you have to hold it with your hooves of you wont get a good work out.
Luna did so, finding it even heavier. "We would like a lighter sword, if thou wouldn't mind."
"Aight, have you used weapons before?"
"We have used a sword."
Luna handed Skystrike his sword back. He replaced it by his waist before reaching into his bag. He moves his hoof around in the bag before pulling out a silver katana. He gave it a few swings before pointing the hilt of it at Luna. She took it and eyed it for a moment.
"Alright, first, we're gonna work on your stances. Your stance has to be firm, but malleable. It also needs to cover any openings that you'd have. Just make up one for now."
Spike held his staff diagonally in front of him, gripping it tight. Stardust held her rapier straight in front of her and spread her legs a bit apart, crouching lower to the ground. Luna held her katana straight up, widening her stance as well.
"Alright, your stances are good for the most part. Spike, widen your stance and turn it into a front stance." Spike did so.
"Alright, let's start with something simple. Swing your weapon twenty times. I'll be joining you, of course." Skystrike said as he drew his sword. "Remember, don't let your weapon carry you. You must have complete control over it. You may begin."
The four of them began swinging their weapons. Spike, obviously a newbie, was having trouble swinging his scythe, loosing his balance occasionally. Stardust, not used to rapiers, was able to swing it well, though was not used to how short it was compared to the standard issue spears. Luna was swinging it at a faster rate than the last two, but was not used to swinging it in her hoof. She had to get back to her fighting stance from time to time. Skystrike, obviously having prior experience, was able to finish his quickly, making sure to keep his hooves in check and his swings straight each time. Skystrike finished first, then Stardust, then Luna, then Spike.
"Alright. Pretty good for your first day." Skystrike looked back at them to see them all slightly gasping for breath, Spike raising his claw. "Yes, Spike?"
"Aren't you going to show us like, certain types of styles? Something like yours?"
"I could, but it would be counter productive in the long run. Think of it this way. If you're taught a certain style that other ponies may know, you have a chance of being countered easily. That's why I'm self taught. It only makes your opponent go off of the standard teachings to dodge or block attacks they cant counter. I'd think it's best to figure out how you fight best."
Spike nodded as they continued their training. "Now for our next part, we're going to work on actual combat. After all, the best way to learn how to fight is through actual fighting." Skystrike said.
"Absolutely not!" Twilight and Celestia both said in sync.
"Why not?"
"Spike is gonna get hurt of course!" Twilight glared.
"I have to agree with Twilight on this darling, I know princess Luna can take care of herself, but 'd hate to see Spike get hurt." Rarity added.
" 'Spike is gonna get hurt of course!' " Skystrike copied Twilight. "Of course he's gonna get hurt! That's like going to the pool and complaining you're gonna get wet." He said, looking at Twilight like she was stupid. "Besides, Spike is the one you should be the least worried about."
"And why is that!?" Twilight said, still yelling.
"Um.. actually Twilight... dragon scales are very strong." Fluttershy explained.
"And before you ask how strong, Spike's scales can take steel spear to the gut and bend the metal. When he's full grown, he can be hit by a train and be fine." Skystrike added. "So Celestia, what's your problem?"
"I'd rather not have my sister come back to Canterlot with scars."
"That's why we have the medic here. Me and Zecora spent two hours this morning making potions of vigorous healing. Speaking of, Zecora, you wanna come spar or at another time?"
"Another time perhaps." Zecora answered.
"Aight. So, Stardust, Spike, you'll be sparing against each other without using your gear I gave you. Luna, you'll be sparing with me."
"We are not complaining, but does it have to be with you? Despite you winning against Magnus due to your armor and weaponry, We would think we'd have a disadvantage against thou."
"...What do you mean, due to my armor and weaponry?" Skystrike looked at her, obviously taking insult to her words.
"Well, your armor stops magic, while your swords store magic. Thou can't deny that thou's arsenal caused thee to win." Luna explained.
"You know, what, trying not to get mad, so tell you what. I wont wear my armor, save for my helmet for obvious reasons, and one more thing." He opened his saddlebag. "Any item you pull out of my bag, I'll use as a weapon, unless you'd prefer me to fight you bare hoofed."
"...Very well. We shall take your kindness and not let this victory go to waste." She quipped, obviously cocky. Skystrike gave her a look like she was the dumbest pony ever. She reached into his bag and rummaged around for a few seconds. Finally, she pulled out a large paint brush. She, Stardust, Spike, Celestia, and everypony else save for Zecora let out different levels of laughs. Skystrike had on his best poker face.
"Alright. Give me a minute... Can't have a good fight without music. " Skystrike pulled out a boombox from his bag.
"You ready?" Skystrike looked her straight in her eyes.
"We should be asking though that." Luna responded.
They both walked to opposite sides of the circular arena before facing each other. Skystrike took his armor, throwing it on the ground with a loud thud. After revealing his trained and toned body, each of the ponies and dragon winced as they saw his scars. Scars however, shows his experience.
"Magic is allowed, flight is not allowed, the winner is decided when your opponent is either out of bounds or cannot continue. Stardust, give us a count down and press the play button." Skystrike ordered.
"Yes sir! Three... Two... One... Begin!" Stardust said as she pressed the play button, a battle theme began playing.
They both stood still, waiting for the other to make a move. They began to walk clockwise around the arena, keeping eye contact.
"I'd think it's safe to assume that Luna has won." Celestia chuckled.
"You're right as always, princess!" One of the guards laughed. "It seems Nebula's overconfidence finally bit him in the flank!"
"I would say the same for your princess. You all are underestimating our leader is my guess." Zecora snickered
"Oh come on, Zecora! What can he do with a paintbrush of all things? I swear, you're a joker!" Rainbow Dash laughed.
"If I've learned anything during our travels, the hidden potential every item has, he can unravel."
Once the ponies got back to focusing on the battle in front of them, the two stopped circling each other. Luna took the initiative and dashed forward, her katana going straight for his chest. Faster than she could realize, Skystrike quickly ran to the other side of the arena before she could stop running forward. Skystrike pulled back his right hoof, tightening his grip around the brush. The tip of the paintbrush turned orange, and as he thrusted his forehoof towards Luna, a line of paint came out, hitting Luna straight in the chest. She slid back a few feet and staggered a bit. Everypony's jaw dropped at the sight, obviously underestimating him. Skystrike grinned at their expressions, especially Luna's. After regaining herself, Luna started to take the fight seriously.
Luna came up to Skystrike quickly with an overhead swing. Skystrike blocked it with the handle of the brush. Luna fired a blast of magic point blank, sending Skystrike back a few feet, still standing on his hooves. Luna fired some blast of magic again at him. Skystrike swung his brush again, large blobs of blue paint coming out and intercepting the magic attacks. He swung his brush horizontally, a wave of green paing flying towards Luna. She jumped over it, unintentionally leaving herself open for Skystrike running up to her. He grabbed the princess out of the air before slamming her into the ground, knocking the wind out of her. He grabbed her by her back legs and swung her around, building up speed before throwing her into the air. He swung his brush again at her, a purple wave of paint going towards her. Luna teleported to dodge it, and appeared behind Skystrike.
Trying to slash him on his side, Luna's attack landed in the ground due to Skystrike Sliding forward, twisting his body around to land a green slash on Luna once again. Luna fired a flurry of magic missiles at him. Skystrike sidestepped to dodge, only to realize that they were tracking him. Luna, thinking she had him on the ropes, began to fire more magic at him, trying to block his path. He started running towards Luna, dodging all attacks from the alicorn. In the middle of charging a spell, she wasn't able to dodge Skystrikes attack. He pulled back his hoof once again, before hitting her with orange paint once again. She blocked the paint with a barrier, though wasn't able to see past the paint. Skystrike dashed through the spear, it shattering in a show of blue light.
Skystrike, much to Luna's surprise, ran right past Luna before quickly turning around and striking her with orange paint once again. Stunned from his attack, there was no way she could dodge her magic missiles coming straight at her. After falling on her back, Skystrike put his hoof on her, holding her down with the paintbrush facing her neck.
"I think that's game." Skystrike said, getting back to his normal tone of voice.
"...Does thou mind removing thous hoof? Our position is... uncomfortable." Luna blushed.
A look of confusion was seen on his face before he processed their position, Luna being in the pony version of the 'take me position', her marehood open for him to see.
"Oh.. oh shit!" Skystrike realized as he quickly backed up. "Oh, man, Celestia is gonna kill me." He chuckled to himself, Luna joining in on it. He ignored Celestia giving him a glare that could send him to the moon.
"Oh, and before I forget, take this." He pulled out a small red vial from his bag. "Health potion for ya."
Luna took it and drank it. Her wounds disappeared in a dim green light, though the paint in her fur was still apparent. "We'll have to take a bath later."
"Yeah, that's my b. Now, I know you'll have some questions, so ask away." Skystrike said.
"How was thou able to do all of that with a paintbrush?" Luna asked.
"Pretty simple actually. The paintbrush itself is a magic item, able to hold a seemingly infinite amount of paint. If one can poor magic into it, they are able to paint beings to fight for them, but I can't do that, so I used the paint like water."
"How did you get out without any damage? I saw you take a hit point blank!" Spike exclaimed.
"Oh, that was just part of my plan to get into Luna's head." He told Spike, only to get a look of confusion from him. "Ok, you see, battles are just a battle of the mind. If you can trick the mind, you have the best chance of winning. When Luna fired the attack, it didn't do anything to me, because her magic has no magic to react with to do damage towards me." He explained as he turned towards Luna. "When I slid back, you thought it damaged me, which led to the battle I planned out. I dodged the magic attacks to fool you more. When you thought magic worked on me, I used that to my advantage, making you waste energy and leave yourself open much more than if you knew magic had no effect."
He chuckled to himself a little. "That's why I didn't correct you when you said my armor stops magic. Makes sense?"
"... We can't believe thou thought that far ahead. It is very impressive. No hard feelings about what we spoke?" Luna asked.
"Of course not. I don't like to hold grudges." He waved it off
Skystrike looked out of the corner of his eye to see an earth pony royal guardsmen raising his hoof. "How were you able to move so fast?" The pony asked.
"Not afraid to ask questions and doesn't talk smack about me while im right here? I like you. What's your name?" Skystrike pointed at the stallion.
"Sturdy Shield!"
"NIce question, Sturdy Shield! And for your answer, my armor weighs as much as I do, so my speed essentially doubled when I took my armor off. And just because I like you, take this" He pulled out a black shield with decorative gold markings on it. He threw it over towards Sturdy Shield, who caught it before looking at the shield.
His jaw dropped. "This... this is made of ebony! Is this really ok!?"
"Yeah, I got more. Besides, that'll defend you better than that gold armor of yours." He assured him.
"Well I have to pay you back in some way! This is too much!"
"Well, I do need more guy friends... There's only like 6 guys in Ponyville including me. Just come by and visit when you're in the area and that's payment enough. Anyway Stardust, Spike, you ready?"
"Yes sir!" They both said.
"Same rules am Luna's and my duel. The equipment you have can be used. You can forfeit at anytime, if that wasn't obvious already." He said as he walked over to the boombox, while Spike and Stardust walked to the opposite sides of the arena. "Ready... Begin!" He said as a different battle theme began to play.
Spike turned his staff into a scythe and dashed towards Stardust, bringing it overhead and swinging it downwards, Stardust narrowly dodging it. Stardust slashed at Spike, the dragon flinching before instinctively blocking with the staff of his scythe. Stardust jumped backwards, gaining distance from her opponent.
Spike turned his scythe back into a staff before using it as a pole vault and landing a kick on Stardust's head, jumping back as he landed the hit. Spike then spun around before hitting her in the side with the staff. Stardust however, held her ground and grabbed his staff before swinging it, flinging Spike away. Spike landed on the ground some feet away. Realizing he lost his main weapon, Spike grabbed some of his vampire knives and threw them at the mare.
A few of the knife's hit, though most missed. As soon as the knife's hit, they dissolve into red mist and went back towards Spike, going into his chest. He felt a burst of strength and stamina go through him. He ran towards Stardust before curling into a ball, tackling her. The force of the impact made the mare drop his scythe and fall backwards. Before Stardust could get up, Spike grabbed his Scythe with his tail before throwing it over to his arms and holding the blade at Stardust's neck.
"And that's game! Spike wins!" Skystrike announced before Spike put his scythe on his back and helped Stardust up. "So, how were your first battles?"
"It was... exciting may be the word for it? Besides the painful parts. I don't even know how I was able to do all that." Spike said as he rubbed his arm, trying to soothe the pain.
"It was kinda enjoyable, though I must admit, I underestimated Spike a lot." Stardust admitted.
"Ok then, now we're going to analyze your attacks and movements." He said as he took out a orange notebook.
"What's the notebook for?" Spike asked.
"I write down the battle styles and tactics of all beings I fight or see fight." He said as he pulled out a pen from his bag and held it in his hoof. "So, Stardust, I'll start with you. Obviously, the training the royal guard gets is most likely bad, seeing as it seems to only focus on defence and not offence. That's something we'll have to work on." He jotted down some notes. "Going off of that and my battle with Magus, you most likely won't learn how to actually fight until you're a Corporal or Sergeant. That being said, your defense was spot on, you just don't know how to battle against beings that don't fight like a pony. You also can't dodge projectiles. Also something we'll have to work on." He said as he finished jotting down notes before turning to the next page.
"Now Spike, you're the exact opposite of Stardust. Your defense is bad, and your offence is good. That's your dragon blood in you, and how you know to fight. Now, your defence seems to be purely on instinct, and you had no follow up to blocking, so we gotta work on that. You are more agile than you realize, so Id recommend using your agility." He wrote down some more notes. "You seem to go for brute strength and don't seem to think past your second attack, which got you disarmed. If Stardust wasn't so bad at offence, you wouldn't have won." He finished jotting down his notes.
He looked at the inner watch in his helmet. "It's about 9:00, and we've been at this for about two hours. We'll be doing this every day except for Saturdays and Sundays. Same time tomorrow, or do you want later in the day?"
The two trainees looked at each other before answering."Same time."
"Alright, then that concludes the first day of training." He said as he closed his notebook. "I'm gonna go work on some theories, work on the house, then and walk around town after. You all are welcome to join me if you like." He said turning to the viewers. "Oh, Naga, you can come if you want. I still need to finish your armor." He said as he pulled out a different, larger blue notebook with the title Theories, The Explanation Of This World.
"Though, we'd like to stay, our duties cannot be put off. We hope to see you again, Nebula." Celestia said as she, Luna, and the royal guard left from their seats.
"I uh... have to take care of my animal friends." Fluttershy said as she began to walk away.
"Pinkie and I are gonna go hang out for a bit." Rainbow said as she walked and Pinkie hopped away.
"I gotta help Big Mac. at the barn." Applejack said.
"I have some orders to finish at the boutique." Rarity said as she began to walk away.
"I'll stay here." Twilight said as she walked up towards Skystrike, Spike, and Stardust. "I want to see what kind of theories you have, if you don't mind."
"Alright. I'm actually starting on a new one today." Skystrike said as he flipped to an empty page. "So, my most recent theory is about the names of ponies."
"...Why names of all things?" Twilight asked, somewhat confused.
"Well, you even noticed how ponies have names similar to their cutie marks?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, i don't think that's a coincidence. I know it has something to do with magic, so I narrowed it down to two things. The name you're given, and the magical power of the ponies, or beings giving you the name." He elaborated.
"...Can you give me some examples?"
"Alright... Take you, for example. Both your parents are unicorns with slightly above average magic prowess. When they gave you your name, I believe that the meaning behind those words, both being related to magic, is what made you exceptionally skilled in magic." He wrote down what he said in more detail in his notebook. "Going into my next point, it depends on the magical ability of the parents. If one of your parents weren't unicorns, you may not have as much magic as you do now. In that sense, your special talent is decided when you're born. Keep in mind, there are exceptions." He finished as Twilight finished looking at her cutie mark.
"When you put it like that, it does make sense." Twilight admitted.
"The part that worries me is that if my theory is right, how much magical power did the princess' parents have?"
"What about me, though? I was named by Twilight when she was a filly?" Spike asked.
"That is a good question. I don't know for certain, but considering you have a large amount of magic now, comparable to your average earth pony, my best guess is that you were given a name by your dragon parents before you were hatched by Twilight. That, or the magic Twilight put into you as a filly is and was already inside you before you were named, but you don't have full access to it, and won't for a long while."
"You have anymore theories? I'm getting interested." Stardust asked.
"Uh, well, I think I figured out why magic doesn't work on me." Skystrike said as Twilight's ears perked up. "It's extremely hard to explain, but I'll try my best. Think of magic as both an enzyme and a substrate. All living beings are the substrates, and when they react with magic, the enzyme, magic occurs. That's why it's much harder to pick up a large boulder than say Spike is for you, Twilight. You have to pour magic into said boulder and make your own substrate, then pour more magic into it to pick it up. I don't have a substrate for magic to work on me, if that makes sense."
"Then can't I just pour magic into you like you said?" Twilight asked.
"Well, the best way to explain that is like trying to change the water level of an ocean by pouring a cup of water in it. You'd have to pour enough magic into me that would be fatal to yourself to even hope to affect me. But that's just a theory. A magic theory! Anyway, that's all I got for theories that are plausible.."
"I wish I could have wrote all of this down..." Twilight sighed.
"Well, I believe that it's best to make your own theories than follow on somepony else's." He shrugged. "But while I'm enjoying this time we're all sharing, I have to finish Naga's armor. I'm working on the helmet, jaws, and tail blade."
"Can I have a tail blade?" Spike asked. "From the sound of it, it seems like a good idea."
"Sure. I'll have it done by next week. I do have something I need you and Stardust to do, though. Can you two go over to Rarity's and pick up your capes while I work on Naga's armor?"
"Yes sir!" The two said.
"Oh, and take this." He threw a small bag of bits into Spike's claws. "That's payment for the capes." Skystrike said as he got up and began walking towards his house. "You two can hang out if you want, It'll take me a few hours in my workshop. I'll be out around noon." He said as he waved goodbye to Twilight and his trainees.
Once he entered his house, he went to the back of it and entered the basement. The basement was filled with many things. Shelves of miscellaneous ingots, bottles, and molds lined the walls. A large bookcase was on the northern wall, containing smithing, enchanting, sharpening, and fighting style books, were on the two top shelves, while the lower shelves had half finished swords, hammer parts, and blades stacked next to each other. All of these protected by a glass door. To the left of the bookcase was an enchanting table, having the five symbols of magic. Destruction, conjuration, illusion, alteration, and Restoration. The table had some gems laying on it for use.
On the stone walls were some electric torches that burned brightly, lighting up the room. In the center of the room was a blacksmith's forge, complete with a firepit, anvil, a bellow, and a pit of water. Walking past all of this, he pulled on one of the torches on the wall, and with a rumble, the bookcase slid into the ground, revealing a hidden elevator behind it. Entering the elevator, he pressed the button to the actual workshop, and began his wait as he travelled down.
How far down? Well, to use the thermal energy made by the planet Eques' core, as well as be completely safe from anypony stumbling upon it, it was a safe and unreasonable distance of 4 miles.
After a 3 minute ride and some elevator music, he arrived at his destination. As the elevator door opened, the room revealed itself to him, showing a large collection of various weapons, armors, and magic artifacts of many sizes. The door had two sets of golden human armor to each side of it, both holding a sword facing downwards. He walked towards the center of the room towards a large quartz table, able to fit 20 ponies easily. After sitting down at the only seat the table had, he took of Echo and placed it on top of the table. He took off all of his armor and set it to the side of his seat, save for his gauntlets. Using his gauntlet and metal arm, he had a set of fingers fold out from them and set his hands on the table.
"Echo, enable construction mode." He said.
"Affirmative." Echo spoke as he opened his jaw of his helmet body. A light came out of the mouth, showing a holographic screen of the table from a top view. After the loading bar on it reached 100%, the edges of the table openned outward, large white, black, and blue robotic arms extending out with loud whirs, hums, and beeps.
A holographic keyboard and mouse appeared under his hands. He put his finger on the mouse and moved it over the "Naga" file and clicked on it. A picture of a black man came up on it.
"Shit, wrong file." He said to himself as he exited out of the file. "I should put that in the memes file..." He said as he dragged it over to the file labeled "Spicy memes" and dropped it in.
This time, actually clicking on the right file, prototypes of Naga's armor, old and new, came up, along with a 3d hologram of Naga and her proportions on the screen. He clicked on the blueprint of her helmet, and the center of the table opened. A loud hum could be heard as the parts of Naga's soon to be helmet came up and stopped abruptly. His keyboard turned unto circular pads, each controlling one of the arms.
He moved his right hand, controlling one of the robotic limbs. It moved towards one of the curved metal pieces and picked it up. It held it in place as he moved his left hand and did the same, making the shape of a jaw. Keeping both robotic arms in place, he switched control of his hands to the welding arms, and welded the two pieces together. He set the now one part down and redid the process for the upper part of the helmet. After combining the two parts and a half hour of careful work, the helmet was done.
It was the shape of Naga's head, fit for her, but with a line of 3 horns, getting larger as they got closer to the mouth of the helmet. The jaw of the helmet had two large teeth on each side on the jaw made for shattering. The top of the helmet had the symbol of destruction on it in gold. After using the same process to make the blade, his work was done. The blade was in the shape of a long right triangle, and was razor sharp with some runes in the edge of the blade, also in gold. He looked at the time on his monitor. It was 11:30 in the morning.
"Aight. Echo, shut off the systems."
"Affirmative." The system powered down and the robotic limbs went back into the table. "I have many more blueprints stored in my files if you need them for later."
"Wait, I thought you gave me all the knowledge you already had?" Skystrike gave Echo a confused look.
"I didn't. The council programmed me to give you information when needed. When you put me on for the first time, you filled the requirements to know the truth of why they made you, and what they wanted you to fight. The requirement? Loss. You don't realize when I give you info anymore because of the amount if it going in. It should feel like a prick in the next, from my understanding.
"Wait, so you're saying, you know more about P.R.O.W that I don't know? What are the requirements for that?"
"...You must defeat the counsel. Whether it's through annailation, submission, or friendship, it's up to you." He sighed. Though he had no facial features, one could tell that he had sadness written all over him. "All I can tell you as of now is that you cannot outrun your eventual fate. You can postpone it, however."
Skystrike stood silent for a minute, taking in what he just heard. He learned two major things. One, there's much about his original world, and two, the council did not die. He remembered taking their life away one by one, along with the researchers of his containment facility. The five of those bastards were still alive, and more likely than not, knew that he was in this world. They would come to this world and destroy everyone and everything. Celestia and Luna have no way to fight them with their technology, magic, and military strength.
On the off chance they don't know, they will just make more subjects like him, making them fight each other to make the strongest being possible. If there is one thing that Skystrike wants in these worlds, he wants peace between everyone. As long as the council lives, it's just a pipe dream.
"Echo, begin construction on the project that we made the blueprints for. Also begin construction on the 'switch out' battle armor, as well as the primes." He said as he stood up from his chair. "I know you don't want me to worry about it too much, so I promise you that I will only work on it when I feel it's necessary. Still work on them and get them done as soon as possible."
"Just started in now. And trust me, I want them gone too. I don't know why, but I feel as if they took... something from me." Echo assured him.
Skystrike gave him a smile. "Well on that note, let's enjoy the time we have before their arrival." He said as he put Echo back on and entered the elevator.
After exiting his house and entering Ponyville, Skystrike wandered around for a bit, trying to figure out what he could do. Should he go to Sugar Cube Corner? Nah, he has no one to hang out with. He could hang out with Rainbow, but she's with Pinkie. Applejack is working on her farm. Knowing Rarity, she's probably playing dress up with Spike and Stardust. Fluttershy is feeding her animals, it being around lunch time. What was he going to do?
He thought while he walked through Ponyville. A gust of wind went by and his cape flapped in it. His stomach growled slightly. Guess that told him what to do. He walked around looking for a place to eat at. Nothing too expensive, but he did not want hayburger. Having changeling magic, he was able to change his shape. However, adding in his world's magic, he's also to change his anatomy, as long as he has an understanding of it. This being said, he is able to, but he does not want to eat hay.
He walked by the stores, browsing the menus until he saw a familiar face. She noticed him too and decided to come greet him.
"Hey Nebula!" Bon Bon said as she walked up to him.
"Oh hey Bon Bon. Fancy seeing you here. What's up?" Skystrike greeted.
"Nothing really. I was just gonna get lunch with my friend. You're welcome to join if you like!" She offered.
"I'll take you up on that, then. I'm guessing your friend is waiting for you?"
"Yeah, over at 'Kale Me Insane'. I heard they're good." She answered.
"Man, I need to get out more. Can you show me the way?" Skystrike sighed.
Bon Bon giggled. "Alright then. Follow me." She said as she turned and began walking. Skystrike noticed that she moved her as she walked. After a few minutes of walking, she turned and looked back at him. "Like what you see?"
Skystrike swa what she was doing, and in response, acted oblivious. "I do actually. I never realized how good the architecture in Ponyville was." He said, getting a small yet barely noticeable look of disappointment from the mare. 'Nice save' he told himself.
Bon Bon, no longer swaying her hips, along with Skystrike arrived at the restaurant after a few minutes of walking. It was a small restaurant with an outdoor area. It looked nice, and he smells coming from inside was alluring to say the least. The two walked inside and found Bon Bon's friend sitting at a booth. As he turned into the booth to sit across from the two mares, he noticed who her friend was.
The unicorn mare had a mint coat with a cyan and white mane and tail. Currently, she was staring at Skystrike with wide sunglow eyes.
"Wassup." Skystrike said as he sat down.
"Nebula, this is my roommate Lyra!" Bon Bon introduced her friend.
"Bon Bon, you didn't tell me that you'd bring Sir Nebula along!" She turned towards the beige pony.
"Oh what's the harm? I just wanted to show my new friend around town!"
Skystrike chuckled. "From what you did earlier, you want to be more than friends."
Bon Bon let out a deep blush. "You knew!?"
"One of my mottos in life is act stupid, think smart. If I commented on that show you gave me, I would be in a worse situation than I am now." Skystrike said as he tapped his hoof against the side of his skull.
"I can't help but feel I'm missing some context here..." Lyra said silently as she looked at Bon Bon.
"Eh, don't worry about it." Skystrike chuckled again.
A green waitress with a pale green coat came by as Bon Bon regained her composure. "Welcome! My name is Cabbage Patch, and i'll be your waitress today. Can I get you all anything to drink?" She said as she passed out the menus.
"I'll take a Lemonade." Bon Bon said.
"Same here." Lyra said.
"Can I get a uhhhh....... Fruit punch?" Skystrike decided.
The waitress wrote down their orders on a small note sheet with her mouth. "Alright, I'll be back shortly with your drinks!" The mare said as she trotted off, deeper into the store.
"So, Nebula, we don't see you around town much. What have you geet up to?" Bon Bon asked.
"Well, I've been pretty busy actually. Due to the fact that nearly the entirety of this town is afraid of me, due to me punching Gilda, knocking out an Ursa Minor, and taking on Nightmare moon. I have a lot of free time, so I've just been doing what I wanted. Spike and Stardust started training under me, so that's something."
"Speaking of which, what happened to that snake monster last week? The flower sisters said you rain towards it or something?" Lyra asked.
"Oh, turns out that that basilisk was the same pet I had years ago." He said casually.
"Wait... you own that monster!?" Lyra went wide eyed.
"Yeah, had her for a few years. Met her when I was 14. I think I have a picture of when we first started traveling actually..." He said before reaching into his bag. He rummaged around for a few seconds before pulling out a picture of a younger version of him and a baby version of Naga on his back, sleeping.
"...To think that that beast was that small at one point. How did you even get her in the first place?" Lyra asked.
"I was out in the badlands and there was a lizard guy that wanted to play a game. There were three eggs. Two were just unfertilized hoof ball sized eggs, and one was fertilized. After 3 months of waiting, Naga hatched. She left to find more of her race, and i'm assuming she did, due to her being gone for like, two years." Skystrike explained.
"I noticed you have the helmet on in your picture, Do you always wear it? Why?" Bon Bon asked.
"Pretty much. And the only ponies who I trust knows who I actually am. There's a lot of ponies who think i'm dead. I am going to reveal myself sooner or later, figured I'd do it at the gala or something." He shrugged.
Cabbage Patch came back with their drinks. She passed them out to the customers. "Have you decided on your orders?"
"Oh! Right!" Lyra blinked. "I'll take a Radish salad with a side of celery.
"Can I have a hay burger wit a side of hay fries?" Bon Bon ordered.
Skystrike looked over the menu. "I'll take the mega jumbo salad with cabbage, raddish, pepper and carrots as toppings."
Cabbage Patch's eyes went wide. "Are you sure you can eat all of that?"
"Watch me. I am a slut for a good salad." He said as they all let out a loud 'pfft'.
"Alright then, I'll get right on it!" Cabbage Patch giggled.
She went back into the back of he restaurant, out of sight. Skystrike stuck a straw into his fruit punch. He slipped it through the teeth of his mask. He took a sip of his drink. He put his drink down before noticing the stares of the two mares sitting across from them "What?"
"Are you ever going to take off your helmet?" Bon Bon asked."
"Nope." He laughed. A moment of silence went by before Skystrike thought of something. "Hey, you two know of any guys besides Big Mac, Spike, and Mr. Cake? I need more guy friends."
"Actually, they're the only guys in town besides you at the moment." Bon Bon answered.
"That explains why pretty much this whole town has a schoolgirl crush on Big Mac." He chuckled. "He's the only single guy here besides me, and I doubt anypony is after me."
"...You don't have much self confidence, do you?" Lyra sipped her drink.
"I beat Luna with a paint brush this morning. If i'm not confident at all, something would be seriously wrong with me." He chuckled. "I just don't see how mares will have any appeal towards me. I mean, you cant even see my face." He pointed towards his helmet. "Buuuuut it's mostly because I don't get out much."
Cabbage patch came in with their dishes. She set the two mare's food down before setting down a large platter full of greens on Skystrike's side of the table. He was just barely able to look over the mountain of salad.
"Oh yeah! I'm going to town!" Skystrike waid as he grabbed a knife and fork before stuffing a large chuck of it into his mouth. Loud crunches could be heard as he chewed the crisp vegetables. After swallowing, he got another large chuck before repeating the process. A few minutes went by as the mound of food got smaller and smaller before it was completely gone.
"...How do you eat that much without gaining weight? I eat light just to keep it off..." Bon Bon sighed with a hint of jealousy.
"Start working out. The more energy you use, the more energy your body is able to store from the food you eat. I also have a high metabolism." He shrugged.
"Well I'm assuming you know some good workouts then?" Bon Bon said as she took a bite of her salad.
"Yup. Just do what I did. 100 sit ups, 100 pushups, 100 leg lifts, and a 10 mile run each day." He said plainly before realizing that that would be too much. "Actually, just run a mile and do 25 of each of what I said."
"Now that seems doable." Bon Bon laughed.
Some time went by as the two ate their food, enjoying the company of the third. Some time went by until Cabbage Patch came back with the check. As Skystrike was about to pull out the bits for the food, a loud bang was heard coming from the doorway. Skystrike stuck his head out of the booth to see a pegasus with a brown coat and grey mane and tail looked towards him and stomped over. Though his hair was covering his eyes, it was quite obvious he was mad about something.
"Cabbage Patch! There you are!" The stallion walked over
"Dumb-bell? What are you doing here?" The waitress said surprised.
"I came to ask for another chance." The pegasus responded.
"Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck." Skystrike groaned.
"You got a problem, tin can?" Dumb-bell growled.
"As a matter of fact, I do. I'm just going off of what I've heard so far, and I can piece the puzzle together. She dumped you because you did some stupid shit, and you, realizing your mistake, want her back. That's fine and all but you don't do that while she's working for fucks sake!"
"You stay out of this!" Dumb-bell barked.
"Really sir, it's ok." Cabbage Patch said to Skystrike.
"It is my business when you do this shit in front of me, like holy shit." Skystrike face hoofed. "Cabbage Patch, if you don't mind me asking, what did he do for you to dump him?"
She looked at her ex before answering. "He didn't do anything bad per say, but he wanted another marefriend besides me, and I didnt want an open relationship..."
"Hey this is our business, not his, and besides, polygamy is legal now!" Dumbbell defended himself.
"But..." Cabbage Patch started before a frog got caught in her throat as her ears went back.
"...You do realize that just because it's legal doesn't mean she has to be ok with it, right? Or are you like the first part of your name? Just respect her decision, you desperate boy." Skystrike raised an eyebrow. "I feel like i'm in some badly written story right now, dealing with this shit."
Dumb-bell had enough and grabbed Skystrike's drink before throwing it on him. He grinned as Skystrike slid out from his seat and got up. He stood right in front of him and stared him down.
"You wanna take this outside, pint size?" Skystrike frowned.
"Gladly." Dumbbell growled back.
Skystrike stood on the roof of a tall building and faced away from the crowd that formed, facing the horizon. In the middle of the crowd stood Dumb-bell. Directly in front of him was one of Skystrike's swords, sticking vertically out of the ground.
"So, you hiding up there, huh? Shows how brave you are." Dumb-bell grinned. The insult fell on deaf ears as Skystrike continued staring at the horizon, his blue and black cape flowing in the wind.
"What's wrong? To scared? No more quips to say!?" He was starting to get annoyed at his silence. "You think that just because you got to go out with those two mares, you're better than me!?" He growled.
"We aren't dating him!" Lyra shouted from the crowd."
"Pick up the sword!" Another pony said. Skystrike recognized the voice as Spike's. "He wants a fair fight!"
Dumb-bell reluctantly strutted up to the sword and picked it up in his hoof. As soon as he pulled it out of the ground, Skystrike turned towards his opponent and pointed his sword at him. He jumped off the roof, and as he fell, his armor came off piece by piece. The only piece of armor he had on as he landed was of course his helmet. Skystrike held his sword in his hoor and got into a fighting stance.
Dumb-bell charged at him, only go get grabbed by Skystrike on the neck. "I've been through too much shit today already. I only have one word to say to you."
"...Wha-" Dumbbell couldn't finish his word.
"YEET!" Skystrike held onto him while doing a flip and threw him over the crowd. The flying pegasus dropped his sword before flying off, disappearing in the sky with a flash in the shape of a star as he screamed.
Skystrike let out a loud sigh as the crowd dispersed. "So Spike, Stardust, what's up?"
The two trainees walked up to him. "Well, Pinkie was looking for you earlier, but it was too late." Said Stardust.
"Wait, did something happen?" Skystrike asked, somewhat worried.
"Well, to put it simply-" Spike's sentence was cut off by a swarm of various colored bugs flew by them before eating a nearby tree. Spike took a deep breath. "Fluttershy found a cute looking bug thing yesterday and gave some to her friends after they multiplied but after everypony got back to their places, Twilight found out they were parasprites that eat everything to multiply, and Pinkie Pie was going around town looking for instruments and is now trying to lead them away from town with music." He said in one breath.
"But that means that the ones from Fluttershy's house had to past by mine to get here..." He thought aloud before his eyes widened in realization. "What happened to my house?"
"Well... it's... gone..." Spike managed to say.
Skystrike inhaled deeply.
"FUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!" He shouted at the to of his lungs. It echoed through the forest as birds flew of of the trees. His home, once large and great, now looked like a rat made its home in a wheel of swiss cheese. Luckily, they were only able to get through the living room dining room, Skystrike room, and part of the kitchen, the other rooms being relatively untouched. The parasprites were just about to start on the library before the one mare orchestra that Pinkie was came by. The bugs stopped in their tracks before joining in on the line of parasprites following her.
"Fucking damn it! It took so long to make this!" He groaned.
"Hey, sugarcube, it'll be alright." Applejack said as she put a hoof on his shoulder.
Skystrike gave her an unintended glare before taking deep breaths. "You right. I just have to build it again. I need to make it bigger anyway. Has to be at least like, four times bigger."
"That's the spirit!" Twilight said, trying to cheer him up.
"Yeah! Now all you need to do is find a place to sleep!" Spike exclaimed before getting glares from everypony there. "What?"
"Shiiiiiiiiiyet." He groaned again. "Where am I gonna sleep?"
"You could stay with one of us?" Applejack offered.
Skystrike turned slowly to face the mares and dragon. Rainbow Dash's cloud house is out of the question, due to him not being able to walk on the clouds. Fluttershy's house is already cluttered with animals, and would be a huge convenience for her. Twilight is an obvious no, due to her insane actions. Rarity would most likely have a room to spare, but he'd have to play dress up, and deal with Sweetie Belle. He hasn't even seen Pinkie Pie's room yet. Applejack may have space, but worse case scenario, he'd share a bed with either AJ or Big Mac. Well, nothing is perfect.
"It'll take like, a week if I put all my time towards it. If anypony's willing to let me stay for that long, i'll take it." Skystrike said.
Before anyone could answer, Naga poked her head out of the ground. She gently grabbed Skystrike by the tail before slowly pulling him into the tunnel she made. "Nevermind I guess." He chuckled as he was pulled into the hole. |
A Broken Warrior | Winter Wrap Up | Skystrike woke up at his usual time with a yawn. The sun hasn't risen yet, seeing as the curtains in his room weren't blocking any bright light. He sat up from his bed and stretched a bit before leaving his room. He walked over to Stardust's room and knocked on the door.
"Stardust, wake up. It's almost 8:00am. I need you to go get Spike. Don't worry. Training will be a little easier due to the cold." Skystrike said through the door. He got a loud, tired grumble in response. "By the way, I modified your armor a bit. Added some spare wool and cotton I had in your armor and boots. Spike's was done earlier in winter due to him being cold blooded. By the time you're back, I'll have some food ready." He said as he left her to get ready.
As he was walking to the kitchen, he looked out the window to see the snow piled up to about 3 or 4 inches. "Man, that's gonna suck for Spike..." He sighed as he walked into the living room. Thanks to those bastard bitch ass parasprites, he had to rebuild the major parts of the house, as well as fortify every part to make sure it was harder for the parasprites to eat. He replaced the T.V., couch, and rug, though he added some new things to the room, which was now 3 times its original size. To fill in mist of the empty space, He added in a small statue of Naga, as well as mounted some paintings, pictures, and decorative weapons on the wall.
He walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator and took out what he needed. Some eggs, milk, hay bacon, pancake batter, and some blueberries. He put them on the counter before getting a two pans from the cupboard. He put the pans on the stove and turned them on medium.
He poured some batter on one of the pans, it spreading out into a circular shape. He waited for the bubbles to start before putting some blueberries on it and flipping the pancake in the air. It landed upright, letting Skystrike see the golden brown top. He waited for the other side to finish before putting it on an oven pan and placing it in the oven on warm, so it stays somewhat hot. He did this until all the batter and blueberries were gone.
Now that the pancakes were done, he cracked open the eggs onto the second pan, 6 in total. He fried them sunny side up. He set them to the side and fried some hay bacon. He set the hay bacon on some plates for each of them and laid 2 eggs on top for each of them. He then got the pancakes and set them next to the hay bacon and eggs.
Skystrike finished cleaning the dishes as Stardust and Spike came in, the ladder with sleep in his eyes, his armor on, and his suitcase weapon in his claw. "Oh good. I made breakfast. You guys need to eat up. We're helping out in winter wrap up." He said as he held one plate in his hand and balanced the other two on each of his wings. He walked over to the table as he placed the plates in front of himself and his disciples. He got a bottle of syrup before passing it to the two, as well as some butter and utensils.
Spike took a bite of his pancake. "Twilight was saying something about that earlier. Said how Ponyville doesn't use magic to change the seasons."
"Actually, the only beings I've seen change the seasons themselves are the equestrians. Avians don't, dragons don't, changelings don't. Honestly, I just don't see why you let nature take its course. Sooner or later, the snow and ice will melt." Skystrike said before eating an egg.
"Well, I don't see why either, but it is part of Ponyville's culture." Stardust.
"Oh yeah, Skystrike? What happened to Naga?" Spike asked.
"Oh, she's hibernating in her cave. Try not to wake her, as she's very cranky when she wakes up." He told them before taking a bite of his own pancake. "So, it's been nearly 5 months since you two started. So far, your training has increased your strength quite a bit."
"Really? I don't feel any stronger though?" Spike thought aloud.
"That's because every time I saw you two get comfortable at your level, I'd add a few pounds to your armor. Right now, it's around 10 for you and 30 pounds for Stardust. I figured I stopped for a while, as you two are at your limit for now. Once spring starts, we'll start working on increasing your magic capacity."
"Wait, how are we going to do that? Neither of us are unicorns?" Stardust asked as she wiped her mouth with a napkin.
"Well, there are many ways. The easiest way for Spike would for him to breathe fire until his magic runs out over and over, or eat magic imbued gems. The easiest way for you would be to either use amulets or get a familiar. The most efficient way is to slay magic beasts and take their magic stones." Skystrike said as he finished his plate and started cleaning the table.
"Setting aside magic stones, I thought amulets were used to increase unicorns' power of spells?"
"I thought so too for a while, but then I did some experiments with the unicorn of All. Turns out, it increases your magic capacity, therefore letting you increase the power of the spell, and use spells that take up more magic." Skystrike explained.
"But we cant use magic?" Stardust asked.
"That's what I'm testing with you two." Skystrike said as the two gave him confused looks. "Alright. What I'm testing is if other beings besides unicorns and the like can use magic. From what I've seen, unicorns, alicorns, changelings, and other beings are able to use magic because they have either a horn, or a medium to focus the magic through. If other beings have a large enough magic capacity, as well as spells specifically made by them, they might be able to use magic."
"That... would explain why Naga has earth powers. I never realized how smart you are." Spike thought aloud.
"Thanks, but I probably shouldn't have said that because Stardust has to make a report."
"Don't worry sir." Stardust waved a hoof. "I don't have to report everything."
"Oh. Sweet. That makes things so much easier." He said before grabbing his cape and adjusting it around his neck. "Alright, start getting ready. We got a big day today."
The two nodded as they got ready before the three of them walked out the front door.
The three of them stood in front of town hall. The rest of Ponyville were waiting aw well to get assigned to their groups. Each group had their own vests. Blue for weather, green for plants, and tan for the animals. Skystrike turned to look through the crowd to see Twilight running excitedly towards their location.
"Good morning everypony for being here bright and early!" Mayor Mare stole his attention away as she began speaking. "We need every single ponys help to wrap up winter, and bring in spring!" The crowd cheered in response. "Now all of you have your vest, and have been assigned to your teams! So let's do better than last year, and have the quickest winter wrap up ever!"
The crowd cheered again as he check his vest, only to realize he didn't get one, mostly due to them not having his size. Since they came somewhat late, neither did Spike or Stardust.
"Alright everypony, find your team leader, and let's get galloping!" Mayor Mare said as Skystrike looked over to the team leaders. Applejack was in charge of the plants, Rainbow Dash was incharge of the weather, and a random pink and purple unicorn was in charge of animals.
"So which team are you going to join, Skystrike?" Twilight asked walking up to him.
"Well, I cant join the weather team, so I figured the three of us would help plow the snow, break apart the ice, and help the animals. You?" Skystrike answered.
"I'm not sure. I don't even know what we're supposed to do."
Suddenly, his vision went black, before a spotlight appeared on Rainbow dash.
"Three months of winter coolness, and awesome holidays..." She sang.
"Oh no..." Skystrike thought aloud.
Another spotlight focused on Pinkie. "We've kept our houses warm at home, time off from work to play..."
"Please no..." Skystrike pleaded.
A third appeared above Applejack. "But the food we've stored is running' out, and we can't grow in this cold..."
A fourth on Rarity "And even though I love my boots, this fashion is getting old..."
Skystrike looked at Spike and Stardust before grabbing them and flying full speed away from Ponyville. "Sir?! What's wrong?!" Stardust yelled over the sound of the wind. Skystrike landed on top of a large hill a way away of Ponyville.
"Nope , nu-uh, no, Nien, nada, nope." He said as he landed.
"What's wrong?" Spike asked this time.
Skystrike sat down and looked toward the town. "I'm guessing you two are either used to it, or it never happens to you."
"What do you mean?" Spike raised a brow.
"From what I could tell, once those ponies begin singing, others join in. Not sure it's by choice or not, but I don't want that to happen to me... again."
"Again?"
Skystrike shuddered. "My body wasn't my own. I was moved around and forced to sing against my own will. I can't get that song out of my heart..."
"...What was the song?" Stardust asked slowly.
Skystrike let out a long sigh. "It's-"
Skystrike was cut of by the distant sound of... singing?
"Winter wrap up, winter wrap up!"
"Nonononononononono... "
The song grew closer and closer
"Winter wrap up, winter wrap up! Let's finish our holiday cheer!" A group of Ponyville's residents drew closer.
He tried to run, before realizing he was only moving towards them. "Winter wrap up, winter wrap up! Cause tomorrow spring is here!"
He tried to speak his mind, though the only words that came out of his mouth were the same words from all those years ago, the chorus of Winter wrap up. He, mutch to his protest, sang along with them. The only thing he could do was admit it was catchy.
"Remind me to run farther the next time they start singing..." He said as he walked sluggishly in front of Spike and Stardust, the two seemingly fine.
"I mean. It was kinda catchy..." Spike admitted as Stardust nodded. "Though I do get how you felt. I couldn't really control myself either.
"Let's just start out jobs. Who do you two wanna check first?"
"Rarity's." Spike said without hesitation.
"Ok I guess." Skystrike said as the three walked towards the boutique. Rarity was sitting at a table in front of her store with bundles of hay, sticks, and ribbons nearby. She was currently talking with Twilight sitting next to her.
"Oh, Skystrike, Spike, Stardust! Perfect timing, darlings. I was just explaining to Twilight how to make Birds nest!" She said as she showed off her birds nest made of sticks, hay, and robbins.
Skystrike raised an eyebrow. "Birds nest? Cant the birds do that themselves?"
"Well I suppose they could, but It's tradition!" Rarity shrugged.
"Fair enough, lets try this." He said as he sat down at the table as Spike and Stardust joined.
"Ok Rarity, where do I start?" Twilight asked.
Rarity set her attention back on Twilight as she floated over some materials to her with her magic. She then did the same for Skystrike, Stardust, and Spike. "I hope you three don't mind if I show Twilight first?" Rarity asked as the three shook their heads.
Rarity focused again on Twilight. "Now, take some of that straw and hay over there... and a little bit of branch..." Twilight had already organized all of her materials. "Now, weave them through there... yes! Take some ribbon... yes! Oh, not there... yes... uh." Rarity's voice got more and more worried as time went on. "Well, I guess that will do. Oh dear..." She said that last part under her breath.
"There!" Twilight exclaimed as she looked at her mess of a birds nest. It was uneven, thicker in some places, thinner in others, and had sticks and ribbond poking out in all directions. "It looks just like..." She was about to compare hers to Raritys, having the exact opposite descriptions of hers. "Yours... Oh my."
"That nest needs to be condemned." Spike said as he looked at Twilight's finished project.
"Oh Spike, it's not that bad, nor is it as easy as you think." Rarity said, trying to make Twilight feel better.
"Done." Skystrike said as the four looked at his finished bird nest. It was nearly identical to Raritys. "You know, it's not that much different then braiding once you do it."
"But... how?" Twilight asked, gawking at his work. "How do you even know how to braid hair?"
"You learn to do a lot of things when you live in an orphanage." He said as he slid his birds nest over next to Raritys. "Don't ask."
"But it took quite a bit of time, even for me. How did you do it so quick?" Rarity asked. Skystrike responded by putting up his forehooves as the metal claws came out from his armor and wiggling them around.
"Not magic." He winked as he pointed at her.
"I'd show you two, Spike and Stardust, but let me help Twilight with hers." She said as she started work on it. She began speaking to herself as she took twigs, straw, ribbons and hay out of Twilights, trying to fix it.
"I think we lost her." Stardust whispered.
"Ok, let's check up on Pinkie then." Skystrike whispered back as he slowly walked away.
"Mind if I come?" Twilight asked.
"Sure. The more the merrier." Skystrike said as the four of them began walking.
The group walked around to find Pinkie Pie, who was currently ice skating across the frozen surface of a pond.
"Hello, everypony!" She called out before jumping in the air and doing a twirl.
"Wow, Pinkie Pie, you're quite the skater!" Twilight complimented as she ran down through the shoveled snow. Skystrike walked behind, as well as Spike and Stardust. "You're the best skater I've ever seen!"
"Thanks, Twilight!" She said as she skated backwards towards them. "I've been doing this since I was an itty-bitty, little-little, twinkie Pinkie! This comes naturally!" She said before skating off and building up speed. She did a jump in the air before landing, now skating backwards on her hind hooves. "Which is probably why they designated me the lake sculpture." She continued as she kept doing various tricks. "I have to cut lines with my skates, that way when the weather team comes here to break the ice, it'll be easy as pie!"
"You sure have a lot of work to do then huh?" Skystrike spoke. "Quite a few lakes in Ponyville, aren't there?"
"Tell me about it." She said as she slid over to them. "Hey, you all wanna help me out?"
"Would I?" Twilight said with glee.
"Yeah! Just put on those spare skates over there! You and Stardust can join too, though I don't have any for dragons."
"Sure." Stardust agreed.
"Hard pass for me. If you haven't noticed, I'm fat as fuck, and I don't know how thick that ice is." He said as he waved a hoof. "Actually, if we just need to cut the ice..." He said as he pulled out his sword. He stuck his sword in so it went about half way through the ice. He then flew just above his sword and started dragging it along the ice, being careful not to go too deep and crack the ice. "Spike, do the same as me. You're light, so the ice won't crack. Try and make a grid.
Spike did so, as the two made parallel and perpendicular lines, trying to muffle their laughs of Twilight and Stardust constantly falling over. Twilight at one point couldn't control herself as she span out of control. Twilight then ran into Pinkie, then the two ran into Spike. A pile of snow at the edge of the lake slowed them down as they crashed into it. As Spike got out of the snow, he couldn't help but laugh.
"Haha! You are a natural, Twilight! A natural disaster!" He laughed more.
"Twilight, you did great your first time around!" Pinkie said trying to make her feel better. "My first time was probably as wobbly and bobbly and crashy as yours!"
"Really?" Twilight asked.
"...No"
Skystrike let out a loud wheeze as he did his best to stop laughing.
"But did I make you feel better?" Pinkie asked.
Twilight let out a sigh. "Yeah, I guess." She gave a fake smile.
"Don't worry Twilight. There's always something somepony doesn't know they're good at. It takes time." Skystrike reassured her.
"Hearing that from you doesn't make me feel that much better. I mean, you're good at everything, and I don't know how!" Twilight responded.
"Not everything. I actually suck at being able to read emotions that well. One time I confused someones uneasiness with curiosity. Don't ask. I also suck at organizing. That's why I'm glad I have this bag." He said as he patted his saddlebag. "Anyway, this lake is done, so we can move on to the next."
"Oh, thanks! You know, If you aren't busy, Fluttershy could probably use some help with the critters hibernating!"
"I'll stay here." Stardust skated over. "I'm actually getting the hang of this."
"I'm actually going to go check up on AJ." Skystrike said as he put away his sword. "Spike, stick with Twilight. She gets lonely."
"Well... I am good with animals." Twilight nodded. "Yeah, I'll go help her!" Twilight said as she slowly started sliding.
"It's uh... that way." Pinkie pointed in the opposite direction. Twilight went that way as she flailed her hooves, trying to stay upright.
"Holy shit, Twi, just take off the skates!" Skystrike said before she ran into another patch of snow.
Skystrike trudged through the snow to Sweet Apple Acres. Once he entered, he saw all of the stallions in Ponyville, as well as a few mares, plow the snow on the hills, as well as some others knock the snow off some trees.
"Wassup." Skystrike said as he walked up to Applejack.
"Why if it ain't Skystrike. You looking to help out?" Applejack greeted.
"Yeah, I already cleared out the snow near my house, so I'm just killing time."
"Well you're in luck. We needed a strong Stallion like you. We're short on pony power, and we need more if we want to finish winter wrap up."
"Now that I think about it, why do we start the day of? If we don't use magic, and you ponies work slow, it would make more sense to start like 2 days in advance?"
"Ya know, I dunno myself. I guess it's just tradition." She shrugged.
"I suppose so. Anyway, how've you an the family been doing? I've haven't seen much of anyone due to winter, because fuck the cold."
"Ah, well the whole family got ta relax 'cause of the season, so not much work to do. Big Mac and I have been takin' care of the animals, so we've got somethin' to keep us occupied. Applebloom has been going to school still, and she has some science fair coming' up." Applejack spoke as they walked towards the barn.
"Science fair, huh? I did pretty good in that when I was up in Canterlot. Never got first because of some noble jackass. But, the rest of the school kids just ignored him. If she ever needs help, tell her i'm open. Same to you, too. If Apple Bucking season happens and your short hoofed again, just come get me."
"I will, thanks. By the way, what did you do for that science fair? I never did any good." Applejack asked.
"The coolest thing I think I did was make a 2 foot golem powered by a magic stone I was given a few years before. It lasted 15 minutes before the circuits got tangled. I fixed it now, though I need a huga magic stone for what I'm trying to make now." He spoke as he remembered back to his middle school years. "The dumbest thing I made was a magic absorber that exploded. And that's how I learned to... Well I actually didn't learn anything that day."
Applejack chuckled to herself. "You have some funny stories to tell, though we're almost at the barn, so yer gonna have to tell me later." She said as she tapped on the barn door. She opened it to see Applebloom sitting inside, bored out of her mind.
Her face lit up. "Applejack! Nebula!"
"Howdy." Skystrike waved. "What are you doing in here?"
"Oh, nothin'. Just letting all the grown ups to the work. Applejack says im to small ta help." Applebloom complained.
"You'll enjoy it now while you're young. Though, no one has gotten the snow off the trees if you're looking for something to do."
"Ah already told Applejack but she told me it'll just melt off."
"Besidess, what if ya get caught under all that snow?" Applejack added. Applebloom let out a sigh.
"You can come with me if Applejack lets you." Skystrike said as he walked over to one of the plows and started to fasten himself in. Applebloom, meanwhile, was giving her older sister puppy dog eyes. Applejack caved in, deciding to let her go with the wave of a hoof.
"Alright, so what part of the orchard do I go to?" Skystrike asked as he started to exit the barn, Applebloom hopping behind him.
"Just plow any snow ya see." Applejack answered.
Skystrike nodded as he began going to the nearest patch of snow. He and Applebloom made small talk as he pushed through the layer of snow on the ground. The armor around his hooves began to get cold as he trudged through the mud under the snow.
"Hey, Applebloom, you're in school, right?" Skystrike tilted his head to see her next to him.
"Yeah, why?" Applebloom looked back.
"Trying to get Spike into school. He's about your age. Who's your teacher?"
"Ohh, well, Ms. Cheerilee is in charge. We don't get off of winter break until next week, so you have time."
"Ah, sweet. Thanks for telling me. Ya know, I wanna give you a nickname, but AB doesn't sound right."
Applebloom giggled. "Where did this come from?"
"Well, Rainbow Dash is Rainbow or RD, Applejack is AJ, Rarity is Rares, Pinkie Pie is Pinkie, Fluttershy is Flutters and Twilight is Twi. They got nicknames, so I figured you need one?"
"Hmmmm." Applebloom thought for a moment. She ran in front of the plow before walking backwards, keeping the same pace. "Flower sounds silly... Bloom is kinda off... " She thought aloud. She walked in thought for a few minutes before a small rumble could be heard.
Then it was a medium sized rumbling.
Then it was a loud rumbling with arguing heard with it.
Skystrike looked to his right to see a large snowball the size of a small building rolling towards him and Applebloom, Applejack and Spike stuck in it. He and Applebloom shared a look that simply said "We're fucked." Skystrike quickly looked to his left and realized that they were right next to the edge of a hill, an overly large of snow on top of it. When that snowball hits, the snow will come crashing down, burying them in at least 6 feet of snow.
"Ok, I'll see you later, Applebloom." Skystrike said plainly
"Wha-" Her words turned into a scream of surprise as she was hurled upwards into the sky. The large snowball hit Skystrike, and the snow pile rushed down and covered both him, and a large section of the orchard with it. Applebloom fell down and safely landed on the top of the snow, while Twilight, Applejack, and Spike stuck their heads out.
A woman wearing a black robe walked into a large testing chamber. A child with black hair was sitting behind a glass screen with a face lacking any emotion. The child looked up to see the woman.
"Ah, 34, nice to see you." She greeted.
"Hello, Ms. 4th." He responded.
"I see you're doing good on your testing." She said as she sat down on a chair in front of the glass.
"Thank you, Ms. 4th."
She smiled at him before continuing to speak. "I just came to tell you what we're working for again. You will be rewarded after everything is finished." She assured him. "We fight for the freedom of all humans. We won't sit by as those aliens do as they please to our world." She spoke with a grin. "We will bring freedom even if it kills us, or better yet, them." She said briefly.
"So, our mission is to spread freedom?" He asked. "If so, why am I never given a choice?" He said robotic like.
"Why? Well that's..." She thought of an answer as she bit her fingernails. "You're showing more and more promise each day..." She smirked before getting up to leave the room as she giggled.
Skystrike woke up. He sat up straight to fast, and a sudden headache kicked him in the head. Skystrike groaned in pain as he layed back down and looked at his surroundings.
"Mother fucker." He was back in Ponyville's hospital. He looked at the time. It was almost 6 pm. He looked out the window. No snow anywhere. He looked himself over. No bandages. He looked at his crotch. His dick was still there. A nurse came in after a few minutes. Skystrike rolled his head over to see who it was.
"Suuuup Nurse Redheart." He groaned.
"Oh good, you're awake." She said as she walked to the bedside. "You got trapped under the snow for about an hour. Your armor seemed to stop most of the cold, so you only came out with a minor head injury."
"Alright." He sighed. "Whatever happened to Winter Wrap Up? It looked like we finished."
"Oh, that unicorn Twilight was put in charge of organizing everything. Mayor Mare decided to put her in charge despite her using magic apparently."
Skystrike chuckled. "All we actually needed was lighters and some spray cans to get rid of all the snow."
Some more ponies entered the room, as well as a dragon.
"Hey, all." He said to his friends, Twilight having a look of regret on her face.
"Howdy Nebula!" Applebloom said as she put her hooves up on the bedside. "Ya feelin' better?"
"Yeah, i'll be fine. Not the worst thing I've been through. And it's not gonna be the worst thing I'm going to go through today." He chuckled.
"Thanks for saving my sister, Nebula." Applejack said as she took off her hat.
"Eyup." Her brother Big Mac said as he stood next to her.
"Eh, dont worry about it. I just do what I gotta do." He chuckled. "Fuck, It hurts to laugh."
"I'm sorry." Twilight finally said. "I know I wasn't supposed to use magic, but I just wanted to help out." Skystrike looked at her, his face asking if she was serious. "I felt like I couldn't do anything right the whole day, and watching the others doing everything so well made me feel-"
"Useless?" Skystrike finished her sentence for her. She had a look of surprise on her face before nodding. "Alright, Twilight, ponies weren't disappointed in you nor will ever be just because you can't do it, especially on your first try. Everypony understands that some ponies can do things better than others. That's what cutie marks are for. At the same time, ponies also expect things of each other, and they expected you, as well as other unicorns, to not use magic."
Twilight looked down at her hooves.
"Now let me finish before you start sulking. Ponies are always going to be disappointed about something, and the only one you disappointed today was yourself. Fuck what others think about you. It matters what you, and those you hold close, think about you, though mostly you." He pointed to her as she looked at him. "Was Pinkie disappointed when you couldn't ice skate on your first try?"
"No..." She answered
"Was Rarity disappointed when you couldn't make a birds nest on your first try?"
"No..."
"Was Applejack disappointed when you couldn't push a plow?"
"No."
"So who were you trying to prove something to by using magic? Was it them, or was it you?" He asked rhetorically. "You aren't good at everything. No one is. There's no cutie mark for that. Do you know how long it took me to learn how to fly, or how long it took me to make my own armor after many, many failed attempts? A long ass time. What i'm saying is, do what you're able to do. If you want to take a go at something, don't get all huffy that you can't do it on your first try. Don't take the easy way out of things you want to get better at."
Twilight stood in silence for a moment. "Alright." She said, feeling a bit better. "Thank you."
"No problem." He said as he waved it off. He sat in silence for a moment before realizing something. "Twilight, did Fluttershy ever go near my house to wake up any animals."
"No?" She answered.
"FUCK!" He shouted.
"What?"
"I have to wake up Naga."
"Alright, let's do this." He sighed as he walked into Naga's cave. It was dark, damp, mossy, and smelly. He turned on the flash light in his hoof to get a view of his surroundings. There were a few roaches scurrying away from the light, as well as some spiders. He ignored them and walked deeper into the cave. Once deep enough, he looked upon a large wooden door, its door frame carved from the stone of the cave.
Pushing the door open, he found Naga Sleeping, wrapped up in a large orange blanket. She let out soft snores as she slept peacefully. He walked up to her head and nudged her jaw, trying to wake her up, only to get shoved away by her pushing her head against him. He then tried pulling her out from under the covers, only to be smacked away by her tail.
"Ok, you asked for it." He sighed before pulling the blanket off of her in one fell swoop. Her eyes instantly shot open and glared at Skystrike. She let out a screech as she tried to swipe at Skystrike with her tail, only for Skystrike to jump over it. She tried to bite him out of the air, but he narrowly dodged it. He landed on her head and held on. She tried to shake him off, but it was futile.
If his memory was right, she had a spot that if you pet, she'd instantly calm down. He rubbed the side of her head just above her ear hole. She slowly calmed down from her rage. After calming down, she let him down from her head and gave him a an apologetic nudge.
"It's all good. Just won't be looking forward to it next year." He chuckled to himself. |
A Broken Warrior | Call of The Cutie | Skystrike was lying on his couch, reading a book called 'Magical Beasts and Anomalies'. Next to him was Zecora, reading her own book, 'Potions and Herbs'. Spike and Stardust were sitting on the floor playing a game of cards. Skystrike flipped through the pages, looking at the checkmarks he wrote at the corner of the pages. Each check showed the being he defeated, whether it be through submission, or death. Out of all the pages, about 20 beings weren't checked off. A few are alive. The rest being beings of myths. Luna, he didn't really count since it was both a mock battle, and neither were going all out.
"I am fucking bored." Skystrike sighed as he threw the book across the room.
"We could go walk around. Something to do, I'm sure can be found."
"Wanna have a picnic?" Stardust asked, looking up from her cards.
"I actually want to see you and Zecora spar. I've never taken Zecora as a fighter." Spike said as he placed down the 3 hearts card.
"Speaking of which, whose stronger?" Stardust asked.
"Me." "Him." The two said at the same time.
"Ok, better question, How strong are you, Zecora?"
Zecora looked up from her book, before thinking for a moment. "Magnus would be a difficult feat, though he, compared to what Skystrike did, would be harder to beat."
"Were you thinking of who to compare yourself too, or how to get that into a rhyme?" Skystrike asked jokingly.
"Yes." Zecora answered. Before the two shared a laugh.
"Anyway, I want to find something to do today. Is there anything going on?" Skystrike asked.
"I think? Twilight said something about a kid having her cutie mark party. I never paid much attention." Spike shrugged.
"Eh, we'll worry about it later. Let's just wander." He shrugged it off. "You coming, Zecora?"
Zecora thought for a moment before answering. "I may come, though I have work that needs to be done."
"Why are you always talking in rhymes? Is it some bet you lost before I met you or what?"
"Nearly all of my people do it, though you've never been to Zebrafrica. It's natural you've not understand why, even if only a bit."
Skystrike looked at her, pondering for a moment. "You're saying, nearly every Zebra does it?"
"Y-Yes?" Zecora answered awkwardly.
"I'd hate to spend even an hour in your country." He laughed.
"Besides the heat, it actually isn't bad. The sand, however, gets annoying, a tad."
"Huh. I guess I'll have to visit sometime. I'll put it on my list." He chuckled to himself. "Oh yeah, you know you can use my lab to work. I have some equipment in the drawers. At least enough to make some simple stuff. I'm working on making a cauldron.
"I'll make sure to come by, but for now, I must say goodbye." Zecora said as she stood up to leave.
"Alright. Same time tomorrow?" He looked over the couch to see her at the door. She nodded. "Alright. I'll see you later."
Spike threw his hands up in victory. "Winner is me!" He laughed. Stardust put her cards down in defeat.
"It's my loss." Stardust sighed.
"Sooooooo, who wants to come with me to find something to do?" Skystrike looked at the two.
"I actually wanted to go to the spa with Rarity." Stardust said as she reshuffled the cards. "I have about an hour before I go, so I have time to kill."
"Twilight's making me help with the library today. Honestly, I don't see how a library gets so dirty when I have to clean it and reorganize it everyday."
"It doesn't. She just likes her things to be over organized. Hell, one time in magic kindergarten, she organized her crayons by color and gradient."
"...I can see her doing something like that actually." Spike thought aloud.
"Oh yeah, catch." Skystrike threw something to the dragon as he caught it in his claws. "That's a key to my house. It unlocks most doors, save for my workshop, me and Stardust's room, and the lab and library. If you need a place to sleep or hang out, you can use the new guest room that's next to Stardusts room."
"Oh, thanks, Skystrike." Spike smiled as he put it in his pocket.
"No prob. Just don't let anypony in at random. Not even the princesses. Also not Twilight please."
"Ok?" Spike responded kind of confused.
"Alright, good. Now, I'm heading out. I'll be back around 6." He said as he put his armor and cape. He looked himself over for a moment. "Should I change the colors of my armor? I've been going with raven black for a long while."
"I think white would go well, though not too much. Maybe just a bit here and there?" Stardust said, imagining his look.
"How about adding some purple? I like purple." Spike said with a smile. "You'd look so cool."
"Aight, good ideas. Lock the door when you leave. I'll see you two later."
"Bye." The two said as they continued their game of cards.
Skystrike walked down the road to see a schoolhouse at the end of it. As he walked, he witnessed four filly talking to each other out of earshot. However, as he looked on, it seemed like two of the fillies, the ones with cutie marks, were picking on the ones without. One of the ones without, noticed Skystrike coming down the road.
"Mr. Nebula!" Applebloom called out as she waved.
"Hey, Applebloom." Skystrike said, walking by a pink filly and a grey filly. He patted Applebloom on the head. "Just got out of school?"
"Yeah! This is my friend Licorice Twist."
"It'th nice to meet you, Misther Nebula." She said with a lisp. She had a bright red mane and a cream coat, wearing an overly large pair of glasses.
"Please, just call me Nebula. Nice to meet you too, Twist." He chuckled. "Oh, do you two know if Cheerilee is still there? I was hoping to see her."
"She sure is! Right inside." Applebloom pointed to the door.
"Aight, thanks. I'll see you two later. Tell AJ I said hi."
"Wait!" Skystrike stopped before turning around and seeing the grep filly looking up at him with wide eyes. "You're Atlas Nebula?"
"...Yeeeeah?" Skystrike asked.
"It's soooo nice to meet you! My name is Silverspoon, and I'm a huge fan!"
'Oh no.' Skystrike thought to himself. 'She's fangirling. I never was prepared for this, and I'm prepared for so many other things. Fuck, how do you get yourself out of this situation? Brain, solution please!'
'Nah bro.'
'Fuck!' He thought of all the possibilities he could, before deciding on one. "Well thanks. I'm glad to see somepony likes me that much. Thanks, Silverspoon." He patted her on the head, to get a squee in response. 'Mission accomplished.' He thought to himself. "Well, I gotta go, so I'll see you kids around." He said before walking through the door.
A purple pony with a pink and light pink mane and tail looked up from her desk, a slight look of shock on her face. "Oh! Mr. Nebula, I didn't notice the time." She said as she straightened her stack of papers.
"Hello, Ms. Cheerilee, how are you today?" Skystrike greeted the mare.
"I'm doing well, just grading some of the fillies schoolwork." She said as she pushed a stack of paper to the side. "So, what brings you here today?"
"Actually, I wanted to see if I could get Spike to start going to school. From what Spike has told me, he hasn't gone to school at all, and he learned from books while under Twilight's care. From what Applebloom and Sweetie Belle have told me, you're a good teacher. I figured I'd at least get to meet you."
"Well, I haven't met him personally, but I can give you some paperwork to look over and bring to Twilight. If she agrees, I can get Spike to start school fairly soon" She said as she opened a drawer and pulled out a few sheets of paper and a school handbook before handing them to Skystrike.
Skystrike skimmed over the packet quickly, looking over all the legal stuff, then looking through the small book, looking over the school rules section quickly. "Well thank you. I will go talk to Twilight about this. I hope I can come to you if I have any other questions?"
"Of course. Come by anytime." Cheerilee smiled as Skystrike put the paperwork in his bag..
"Then I'll be taking my leave, and be out of your mane." He said as he started to walk towards the door. "Have a nice day."
Skystrike walked into town towards Twilight's library. He turned a corner to see Applebloom sitting next to a well with a glum look on her face. Skystrike walked up to her. "Hey Applebloom. Is this seat taken?" He asked. She only shook her head. "So, what's the matter, kiddo?"
Applebloom took a deep breath. "There's a cutesinara this afternoon and everypony in my class will be there and they'll all have their cutie marks and I wanna get my cutie mark but i'm no good at selling apples but I really wanna go to the party but how can I go to the party if I dont have my cutie mark and my big sister said I'll get it eventually but..." She finally took a deep breath. "I want it now!" She pouted.
"Ok, first, take some breaths. You made me tired by listening. Second, who said you actually needed a cutie mark?" Skystrike asked.
"Huh?"
"Well think about it. You seem to be the only one pressuring yourself to get a cutie mark, but you don't really need one, do you?"
"Well that's easy for you to say! You've done so many cool things. Your cutie mark is probably the most amazing one there is!" Applebloom said matter of factly.
"Even if it was, I don't really need it." He shrugged.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Well... let me ask you this. Cutie marks are supposed to represent what you excel at, right? You're great with all the work at your farm, right?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Why don't you have a cutie mark in any of those things?" He thought aloud. "Just because you're good at something doesn't mean you'll have a cutie mark of it. Your sister is actually great with lasso tricks, but that isn't her cutie mark. Basically, what I'm saying is, keep trying out things that you like, and don't worry what others think about you having a cutie mark. It isn't going to help you get it faster." He put emphasis on the last part.
"Speaking of cutie marks, what is yours? I've never seen yours." Applebloom asked, curious of what it could be.
Skystrike only chuckled. "Tell you what, if you go to that party thing, I'll show not only you, but everypony there."
"I'll... think about it." She said, looking down at her hooves.
"No pony is forcing you. I have some work to do, so I'll see you around, kid." He said as he stood up and began walking away.
He stopped in front of the sugarcube corner. Walking up the steps before knocking on the door, he was greeted by an older greyish amber stallion with a dark grey mane and tail.
"Ah, Mr. Nebula. Good to see you." The stallion put out a hoof.
Skystrike shook it. "Good to see you, Filthy Rich."
"Please, call me Rich. Filthy doesn't sound all too good." He chuckled.
"Alright then, Rich. I already got the food and party favors prepped, as per your request. I just need some time to set them up."
"That's great, but I don't see anything with you?"
Skystrike reached into his bag and pulled out a party favor to hand out for the kids. "I got about 20 of these for the kids, a special one and a gift for your daughter that was hoof made." He said, pulling out a pink gift box with a grey ribbon. He handed it to Rich. "I know you told me she has high taste, so I hope that's enough.
Rich took the present and handed it back to Skystrike. "I think she'll enjoy it more if you gave it to her. She seems to be a fan of yours."
"Alright, I will. I'm guessing that she's out right now?"
"Yes, and my wife is here with Pinkie Pie in the kitchen."
"Alrighty. I'll set up in here, then see if Pinkie needs help in the kitchen." He said as he walked inside. Looking inside, he saw tables lined against the walls of the bakery. He got to work and started placing dishes on the empty parts of the tables.
"Pizzas, check. Candies, check. Chips, check..." He listed off all the foods as he bought them out of his bag. After filling the majority of the tables, he looked over his work. Proud that he made food so good, but disappointed he won't be able to eat most of it. "Fuck." He said under his breath.
He sighed as his stomach growled. Pinkie probably needed help in the kitchen, and he still needs to meet Mrs. Rich. He walked into the kitchen, finding Pinkie Pie multitasking, trying to bake a batch of cookies and decorate a cake at the same time. All while a mare with a grayish pink coat and magenta mane sat on a chair, watching her with a displeased look.
"Looks like I came at the right time, huh, Pinkie?" He said as he went over to the sink and washed his hooves. "I can make the cookies. You focus on the cake. Tell me if you need anything."
"Oh, thank Celestia. You're a lifesaver." She smiled as she continued decorating the cake. Skystrike pulled out the sugar, flower, butter, eggs, milk, vanilla, and a bit of salt and set it on the counter in front of him. He got out two bowls from the cabinet and put flour, baking powder, and salt in one of the bowels before whisking the ingredients together. He then began putting the rest of the ingredients in the second bowl. He got to the sugar and began pouring some in before the displeased mare spoke.
"That's too much sugar! Those cookies will be too sweet!" The mare stood up from her chair. Pinkie had her normal smile, but looked at Skystrike, and one could tell from her eyes that she was annoyed.
Skystrike slowly turned towards her. "And you are?"
"Spoiled Rich." The mare said.
Of course that's Rich's wife. Ironic name too. "Mrs. Rich, have you ever baked cakes, cookies, or sweets?" Skystrike asked.
"Of course I have." She scoffed.
"Professionally, like Pinkie and I? Because I'd assume that because of your husband, you don't have to cook much, if at all. If that's the case, let us do our job that your husband, mind you, is paying us for." He quipped before pouring a bit more sugar in and began mixing the ingredients.
"How dare you talk to me like that!" Mrs. Rich said angrily.
"Can you shut your mouth? I am TRYING to do my job." He said, not looking away from mixing. After gradually mixing the mixtures from the two bowls together, he made small balls out of the now cookie dough and put them on a few trays to go into the oven. As he put the cookies into the oven, Pinkie finished decorating her cake.
"Aight, Pinkie, anything else you need help with? I got shit else to do." He asked as he washed his hooves.
"Nah, I think I got it from here. Thank you, though." She smiled at him.
"Aight. I got about 2 hours to kill, so I'll see you in a bit." He said before walking towards the door. He stopped mid step when he realized he'd have to walk past Spoiled Rich. He turned around, opened the window and jumped out of it. "Don't ask, this is quicker." He said before Pinkie snorted a laugh.
He started to stroll around town, looking for something to do. Walking by a music store, he remembered something. He always did want to teach himself an instrument. All the other members, save for Spike and Stardust, played some type of instrument as a hobby. Figured he'd match.
Skystrike walked in the store and was greeted by an earth pony with a yellow coat and blue mane. "Good afternoon, sir! My name's Fiddlesticks, and welcome to my store." She said with a slight country accent. "Anything I can help you with today?"
"Actually, just looking around for now. If I need anything, i'll let you know." He said before walking past her and beginning to look at the stuff she was selling. Music sheets, various instruments and string for said instruments, some in display cases, and some music players and headphones.
He walked up to the various headphones and eyed them for a bit. He figured he'd get himself a few things, as he hasn't bought himself something in a while. He looked up from the items to see a unicorn with a white coat and a cobalt blue mane with cyan stripes. She wore a pair of headphones over her ears and a pair of purple glasses over her eyes.
Skystrike waved to get her attention before making eye contact. She took off her headphones and looked at him as she straightened her shades. "You look like you'd know a thing or two about headphones. Which of these would you recommend?"
Without speaking, she looked at the pairs on her side before picking up a pair and handing it to him. He grabbed it and looked it over. It was a pair similar to hers, but black in color. She then pointed to a wall that had some stickers you could decorate your headphones with.
"Thanks for the help, miss." He said before he began to walk away. The mare stopped him before he was able and gave him her card. It had a head shot of the mare, and an address of a place in Ponyville. Also written on it was her profession and stage name 'DJ-Pon3'. "Ah, you're a DJ and you got a show tonight? I'll be sure to check it out then."
She smiled and nodded before continuing to browse the store. Skystrike then looked at the items in the glass cases. Some expensive trumpets, violins, and the latest piece of pony technology, the 'pony-pod'. With the use of magic in this world, the need for technology isn't very high, as most things can be solved by a simple magic spell. The need for magic then made unicorns on high demand.
Skystrike however, didn't have the luxury to pay for unicorns to do random jobs for him. Therefore, he's made some of his own technology. Most of them though, especially his secret room, was a mixture of his world technology that he modified from magic tools that he happened upon. The thing about his secret room was that it was there before his house. The reason why, though, he still doesnt know for sure. It being near the former castle of the two sisters, his best assumption was that it was a lab of sorts. Their technology would most likely be lost to age in that scenario.
"I'll look into it later." He said to himself before walking over to the display of instruments. Beside each instrument was a beginners guide book for said instrument. He looked around, trying to find something that could catch his fancy.
He stopped at a magic powered piano. It's advertised to play different sounds depending on some small discs, enchanted with magic and able to produce the pre-recorded sounds, sold seperately. He pressed down a few notes on the piano, each letting out a loud note. He then switched the soundboard to the 'gag' soundboard. He pressed down another key, a loud raspberry sound being the result. "Heh." He laughed to himself before picking up one of the piano boxes next to it. He then got some of the soundboard dist and walked up to the cash register.
"Hello there, Fiddlesticks. I'd like to buy these." He placed the items in front of her. "And one pony-pod, like the one up there." He pointed to the display case.
"Alright! Let me get that for you!" She said happily before reaching under her desk and pulling out a pony-pod. "With this and everything you bought up here, that will be..." She quickly pressed some buttons on the register. "250 bits, with another 10 bits as tax."
Skystrike pulled out a pouch full of bits and sat it on the desk. She put the bits in the cash register and gave him his receipt, and bagged the smaller items and handed him the bag.
"Thank you. I gotta go, because I got some party to go to in like half an hour." Skystrike said as he stood on his hind hooves, one forearm having his bags in hoof, and his other around the piano. He walked out the door and jumped into the air, beginning to fly home.
Skystrike began flying to the party, looking down at the terrain below as he flew. The lush green grass, the light blue lake with some fish jumping out from time to time, ponies walking wherever ever they're going to, just the normal stuff.
"...You know I never really paid any attention to things like this." He said to himself.
"That's because you stay inside too much and you're too worried about being found out." Echo responded.
"Can you blame me? You saw how they treated me when I came, and how they treated the changelings. If they find out I'm alive, and living under their noses, my life will be the least I would be worried about losing." He sighed.
"They will find out sooner or later won't they? You'll either tell them, or they will find out. What then?"
"...I don't know. Hope for the best I guess. I want to earn their trust. Then I can tell them. If they want to stay friends, then maybe I can confront Celestia with some friends behind my back." He sighed.
"And if they find out?" Echo Asked.
"I don't know. Back to hiding I guess. I'd rather no one die. For now, I just want to enjoy the time of.... relative peace we're having."
"Then enjoy it to the fullest. You still have a few friends to rely on." He said reassuring him. "...Also you're here."
"Oh, so I am." Skystrike said to himself, looking down at Sugarcube Corner. "...Ever thought about how this isn't even a corner?" He softly landed on the ground.
"...I have noticed before."
Skystrike walked into the bakery, instantly smelling all the sweets in the room. It was good but-
"Hey!" Pinkie Pie popped out of nowhere, interrupting his train of thought. "Good to see you could make it to the party!" She smiled as she balanced a cupcake on her head. She put a hoof around his neck. "Also, thanks for what you did earlier with Ms. Rich. Though I think you should be a teeny bit kinder."
Skystrike let out a chuckle. "No problem Pinkie, but as for that second part, maybe next time. I'm only kind to ponies who aren't... what's the word for it?"
"Rude? Entitled? Condescending?" Pinkie offered.
"A bitch, yes." He answered his own question.
"You know, I never asked, you keep using all these words that I've never heard of. What is a bitch?"
It was then that Skystrike realized that there were, of course, words ponies wouldn't know with him being human. He also realized that he couldn't explain it to the mare without children hearing.
"It is... a different way of calling somepony a horse. Anyway, where's Applebloom? Did she come?"
"Actually, she's behind that Chocolate pony statue!" She said as she hopped over. "Don't forget your party hat!" She giggled and quickly fastened one on Applebloom's head. "You too,
Nebby!" Pinkie giggled more as she placed a party hat on the two horns on his helmet.
"Nebby?" Skystrike asked.
"What? I give all my friends nicknames. You don't like it?" She had asked. "I can give you another."
"I'm fine with it. Just surprised me. Different, but fitting I guess. Thanks." He smiled.
"You're welcome!" She smiled back before hopping off again.
Skystrike chuckled at her antics before looking at Applebloom. He took a seat on the floor next to her. "So." He began. "How's it going kid?"
"Mr.Nebula, you gotta help me get out of here!" Applebloom whispered before hiding behind him. "I can't let ponies see me without a cutie mark!"
"Forgive me for not understanding, but isn't having a cutie mark really that important?" He said as he motioned for the filly to hide under his cape.
Applebloom got on his back and poked her head out from under said cape. "Of course it's important! Everyone from school was invited, and I'm only one here without a cutie mark!" She said before hiding back in Skystrike's cape to not be seen. "They're going to make fun of me!"
"...Well, what I should say as an adult is 'don't let it bother you' but I know from experience that saying that does nothing." Skystrike began walking towards the door. "But you know that running now wont stop them from bullying you?"
"Well what am I supposed to do? Just be humiliated in front of half the town?" She moped.
Skystrike stopped in front of the door before pulling Applebloom out from under his cape. "It takes much more courage to stand and fight than to run, though I cannot make that decision for you. What I will say is that I said I'd tell you my cutie mark if you came." He smirked, hoping she'd stay at the party.
Applebloom looked down for a moment before turning towards the ajar door, smacking her head against her older sister.
"Applebloom, you made it!" Applejack said looking at her younger sister. "After I heard about the twist, I was afraid you wouldn't show up!" She spoke as she walked forward, Applebloom stepping back as she did so. "Sure glad you came to your senses about this whole cutie mark thing." As she spoke, the door grew farther and farther away from Applebloom's reach. "These things happen when they're supposed to happen. Trying to rush it will just drive you crazy! I'll let you be, looks like your friends wanna talk to you."
The two sisters looked at two fillies standing in front of them. Both Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon each had a sinister look on their faces. Applebloom quickly ran and pulled off a tablecloth to hide her blank cutie mark.
"Applejack..." Skystrike sighed as he face hoofed. "You... you're dense..."
"Oh, Nebula, howdy! What do you mean?" She asked.
"Look at the situation." Skystrike said as Applejack turned her head. "See how those two fillies look like they're about to start something?"
"Uhh... I think so?" She said unsure.
"See how your sister isn't over her cutie mark as she's trying to hide it?"
Applejack nodded.
"You think meeting her at the door was a coincidence?"
"No..." Applejack began catching on.
"Now, doesn't this remind you of when you got bullied for getting your cutie mark last?"
"Oooooooh...." She said in realization. "Oooooooh." It then changed to mild worry.
"Yeah." Skystrike said plainly. "You're dense."
"Well, well, well. Look who's here." Diamond Tiara said walking up to Applebloom.
"Nice outfit!" Silverspoon mocked as the two snickered.
"It's just something I uh... pulled together last minute." Applebloom said, ignoring the jab.
"It really shows off your cutie mark. Oh, wait, that's right! You don't have one." Diamond Tiara smirked.
"That dress doesn't show off theirs either." Skystrike whispered to AJ, the mare trying not to show her snicker at his comment.
"...I have a cutie mark!" Applebloom lied matter-of-factly. Skystrike and AJ face hoofed.
"What? Since when?" Silverspoon asked, calling her bluff.
"Since... earlier today!"
Diamond Tiara looked unamused. "Oh really? Let's see it then."
Applebloom paused to think of something. "I shouldn't, I couldn't! My cutie mark is so unbelievably amazing that if I show it off, everypony would start paying attention to me instead of you!"
The pink and grey fillies stared at her, then each other in a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. Skystrike had to give her props. It was somewhat good for being made up on the spot. It would be found out later, but for the time being, it was a perfectly reasonable argument for a grade schooler.
"Your sister is smart." He said to Applejack as the two watched on. Applejack elbowed him, making Skystrike laugh a bit.
"Outshined at your own cutesinara? Could you imagine how embarrassing that'd be?" Applebloom put a hoof on Diamond Tiara's shoulder, the filly bit her lip in worry in return.
"Forget it, I didn't wanna see it anyway." Diamond Tiara looked away.
"Ok! Well, Imma go mingle. Enjoy your party!" Applebloom said walking away, ignoring the glares she got from the two.
"That... went surprisingly well." Applebloom said in disbelief.
"Yeah, but here's the part where the universe decides to make your life a sitcom." Skytrike sighed, being through this before.
"What do you mea-" Applejack cut herself off when she noticed her sister trip on her make shift dress, it coming off as she rolled into a low table holding the turnable. "Wha- how'd you know that'd happen?" Applejack asked, confused.
"I learned a bit from Pinkie Pie. You should try it. It helps you avoid a lot of stuff." He shrugged.
The music stopped. Every pony let out a gasp, looking in Applebloom's direction. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon looked along with smirks, before laughing at Applebloom. "Wow! That is an amazing cutie mark!" Silver Spoon mocked her as the two laughed.
"Nice try, blank flank" The two said in sync before laughing harder. The crowd around them let out small giggles, repeating blank flank amongst themselves.
"You got a problem with blank flanks?!" The voice of a young girl could be heard from behind the crowd.
"What?" Diamond Tiara said, looking for the voice.
The crowd moved aside to reveal two more fillies hiding under a table. Sweetie Belle stood up alongside an orange pegasus with a purple mane and tail. "I said, you got a problem with blank flanks?" The orange one repeated, the two walking towards Applebloom.
"The problem is she's like, totally not special!" Silver spoon said.
"Not special at all!" Added Diamond Tiara.
"No..." began Sweetie Belle. "It means she's full of potential!"
"It means she could be great at anything!" The pegasus added on. "The possibilities are, like, endless!" She mocked their speaking.
Sweetie Belle continued. "She could be a great scientist, or a good artist! Or a famous writer! She could even be mayor of Ponyville one day!"
"And she's not stuck being stuck up like you two."
Skystrike lurched forward, trying his best not to laugh. He looked over to Applejack, her cheeks puffed out trying not to laugh either. The two made eye contact before letting out air through their teeth. The majority of the crowd failed to do the same.
"Hey! This is my party! Why are you on her side?" Diamond Tiara asked angrily.
"Because..." The two fillies showed their cutie marks, both blank to Appleblooms surprise.
"I thought I was the only one!" Applelboom smiled.
"We thought we were the only two!" The pegasus replied.
Twilight stepped out of the crowd. "I think you are three very lucky fillies!"
"Lucky?" Diamond Tiara asked. "How are they lucky?"
"Because one, they're able to take more time to find out who they are, and who they want to be. And two, because they have all the time in the world to figure it out." Skystrike pitched in.
"You're on their side too, Mr. Nebula. I bet you have the best cutie mark here with all you've done!"
"You could not be further from the truth there." He said lifting his cape. "I don't have a cutie mark."
"Whaaaaaat!?!?" Everypony in the party said in unison.
"But... why!?!?" Asked Silver Spoon.
"I mean, I guess I just never needed one. I mean, I didn't need one to tell me I'm good at something, I just worked hard for things and got lucky sometimes." Everypony continued to stare, their jaws dropped. "Like, I'm pretty happy with my life so far. A while back, I just realized I didn't need one to continue doing what I liked. I mean, I'm sure most of the ponies here have other things they like to do that aren't related to their cutie mark."
"I can see your point, but... it's kind of weird." Twilight thought aloud. The crowded murmured in slight agreement
"But Nebula, having a cutie mark is like, your most defining trait!" Applejack butted in.
"Well yeah, but pretty sure everypony here's defined my character by what I've done.. Everypony did that when I first came to town. We all did that before we got our cutie marks. We can do the same for these three as they grow and find out who they are." He said pointing to the three fillies.
"Well, yeah, but why didn't you say anything about it before?" Applejack asked.
"No pony asked, nor bought it up, so I didn't really have a reason to until now. Besides, how do I bring that up? 'By the way, I don't have a cutie mark!'" He shrugged. "Anyway, I've said what I needed to. I'd rather move on from this conversation, as it tends to have an awkward silence as currently shown."
"Do you really think you can be a scientist?" A filly said walking up to Applebloom, breaking the silence. Skystrike inwardly saluted that brave soul.
"I wish I could be an artist." Another filly added, walking up to Applebloom as well. Soon nearly all the fillies huddled around the three new friends and chatted about what they want to be when they grow up, all to Diamond Tiara's dismay.
Skystrike had a thought. This was the perfect time to escape. If Sweetie Belle's here, Rarity must be too. If Rarity is here, Stardust most likely tagged along. Twilight is here, so Spike most likely is still at the library. He scanned the room for Stardust, seeing her eating a slice of cake. The two made eye contact as she was mid bite. Skystrike waved the mare over.
"We're escaping." Skystrike whispered. "We gotta rescue Spike."
"Uh... ok?" Stardust said, finishing her cake and throwing the paper plate away.
"I'm also doing this to avoid everypony asking questions. I'd rather wait until later."
"I... have a few questions myself actually..." Stardust admitted.
"...You get one question." Skystrike sighed before walking through the doorway.
"Do you even want a cutie mark?"
Skystrike thought as he walked. "Well... I wouldn't say no to one, but it seemed like the only reason ponies want one is because others pressure them to do it since birth essentially. Through my eyes at least."
"Are you sure you can even get one? You don't have any magic."
"I said one question and you used it." Skystrike said, walking up the Library's steps. He knocked on the door.
"Coming!" Spike yelled before running down the stairs. He opened the door to see Skystike and Stardust looking down at him. "Oh hey! I'm almost done, come on in." The dragon said, leading them inside.
The three walked inside, the two ponies looking around for a moment. "I'm almost done, just have to finish dusting the shelves!" Spike spoke as he ran across the room to climb up a ladder with a feather duster.
"Or I can flap my wings really hard and you can sweep up the dust?" Skystrike offered.
The young dragon looked at him for a moment, registering what he said. "A-alright?" He answered, somewhat hesitant. Skystrike flapped his wings hard a few times, the wind generated sending most of the dust in the room up towards the ceiling, before it started falling down around into a small dust pile in the center of the room.
"Huh, wings are useful, aren't they?" Spike said before getting a broom and dust pan. "So, what're you two here for? Doubt it's for a book."
"Skystrike said we had to 'rescue' you." Stardust said, making hoof quotations.
"Well of course! We never leave comrades behind!" Skystrike said in jest. Also, I got invited to some DJ's party that starts in like..." He looked at the sun, then the card he got. "3 hours. Figured I'd invite you two."
"Skystrike... I have a confession." Stardust said, tapping her hooves together. "I can't dance.
"Here's a trick I always use. Do what you do in confidence, and ponies think you know what you're doing." Skystrike chuckled.
"Wait, when did you do that?" Stardust asked.
"A couple times. Most recent one was when I took on Nightmare Moon myself." He thought.
"You WHAT!? How!?"
"Well, I needed to hold her off while Twilight and her friends found the elements. Of course, they didn't want me to, but I acted with confidence!" He laughed.
"No, not that! You took on NIghtmare Moon by yourself, and you're still alive!?"
"Uh... yeah? I mean, to be fair, I think she held back. Plus, she just got back from the moon, so she wasn't at her prime I don't think." He thought aloud.
"I-... Ok then...." Stardust said with a sigh.
"Anyway, you two coming?" Skystrike asked, changing the subject. "We don't have to dance, but I do wanna go since I've been invited, plus, the mare looks like she knows what she's doing."
"I mean, I guess I can..." Stardust agreed hesitantly.
"Ok!" Spike said happily. "I've been practicing, and I think I've been getting better!"
The two ponies looked at Spike in mild surprise. "Can't wait to see you break it down, my guy." Skystrike patted Spike on the back. "...Oh, that reminds me, I'm trying to sign you up for school, we just need Twilight's permission. Evidently, that'll be the hardest part."
"Wait, I'm going to school?" Spike asked, wide-eyed.
"Hopefully. You do need an education, and it'll be good for you to get to know the kids in town. You don't have to go if you don't want to, but I think it's a good idea."
"I'm not sure... Twilight never talked about school, since she'd always read books and didn't have many friends." Spike chuckled in mild worry.
"Well, I went to like 4 different schools, but it's pretty enjoyable if you make friends with the right ponies. In my case, I wasn't able to stay in one place long enough to make long lasting friends. I was lucky enough to meet a few here in Ponyville. I think it's worth it though."
"If you say so. I'll ask Twilight for permission then!" Spike smiled.
"Ask me for permission for what?" Twilight said, opening the door to the Library.
"Oh hey, Twilight. Quick question, can Spike go to school?" Skystrike asked overly casually.
"...What? I never heard of this!" Twilight stated, somewhat annoyed.
"Well yeah, I went and asked Cheerilee before the party today. Nothings confirmed yet, she just gave me this booklet and this form for you to fill out if you agree." Skystrike said, holding up the two spoken items. "And I can help him with school work and everything if needed, since I am the one that brought it up."
"But this is just too sudden! What if I need help at the library when he's gone? What if the princess sends me a message? I can't handle all of this by myself!"
"You've done fine by yourself when I've taken Spike for a while, Celestia can just teleport the message in front of you like she has when Spike wasn't always with you, and I can help when needed. Besides, he'll only be gone when the library has customers in it. You mostly have him help clean and organize after the school day is over." He listed off. "I don't know why you don't want him to, and it is your choice at the end of the day. I'd just rather the kid live like a kid, to be honest."
"While I agree with that last statement, you teaching him combat isn't exactly the best way for a kid to live like a kid."
"...Sooooo is that a yes?"
Twilight made a face, then inhaled deeply. She let out a long sigh before looking at Spike. "Do you want to go, Spike? School is a big thing to go into, you know."
"Yeah! You seemed to enjoy it, and Skystrike did I think." Spike said excitedly.
Twilight gave a small smile before levitating the document from Skystrike and signing it. Twilight levitated it back to Skystrike who grabbed it. "Alright, there. Spike, make sure to behave yourself when you go."
"Ok, Twilight! By the way, do you want to go to a party with me, Stardust, and Skystrike?" Spike asked the mare.
"Spike, you know I can't dance."
"Skystrike said just be confident and ponies will think you know what you're doing."
Twilight made eye contact with Skystrike, who smiled under his helmet. "There's no way I'm going to-"
"-that party... wait, we were just at the Library! How did we get here!?" Twilight yelled to Skystrike in the middle of a small crowd over the loud music.
"Plot convenience! We need to move the chapter along, plus, the author likes cliches!" Skystrike yelled back.
"What!?"
"What!? I didn't say anything!"
"Wait, where's Spike!?" Twilight asked.
"Oh, he's breaking it down on the dance floor!" The two looked over to the young dragon busting a move. This kid was going crazy as the crown cheered him on. "Is he break dancing? Damn, he wasn't kidding about the book! Holy shit, my man did a flip!"
Spike waved Stardust over, who hesitantly joined in. The dragon lead her through the steps, getting her into the rhythm of the music, before busting a move on her own. "Damn, she got the moves too."
Spike and Stardust both looked at Skystrike before grabbing him and pulling him into the middle of the crowd. Spike made a wave go through his body before passing it on to Stardust, who then passed it to Skystrike, who carried it throughout his body before break dancing and doing a couple spins on his head. Finally, he did a flip before moon walking back into the crowd next to Twilight, the crowd cheering around him.
"You know..." Skystrike said, slightly huffing. "Dancing is much, much easier when you aren't wearing heavy armor."
"Since when could you dance like that!? That was honestly impressive!" Twilight asked.
"Oh, I learned hoof work from Zecora, and break dancing from Pinkie. Honestly, not going to lie, Pinkie kinda scares me with all she can do."
The two chatted amongst each other for a few moments before Stardust and Spike joined them. "Hey, did you two stretch before dancing?" Skystrike asked.
"No? Should I have?" Spike asked.
"Eh, you'll definitely feel it in the morning." Skystrike chuckled a bit. |
A Broken Warrior | Fall Weather Friends | The few weeks of summer went by pretty fast after that party Skystrike revealed to the town that he didn't have a cutie mark. The weird looks he got from the townsfolk only increased from there. He knew ponies were quick to judge, but this was kind of silly. He did bring it on himself though. However, he didn't regret it, he made those three fillies feel a bit better about themselves.
The past few months, Stardust and Spike have made good progress in their combat training. Stardust hasn't become better at one thing, per say, but has grown in each field applicable. Her breathing has become better, her reflexes have become sharper, and she's grown used to using a rapier. What she doesn't realize is that she relies too much on her weapon. She'll learn sooner or later.
Spike has been doing really well for a baby dragon. He uses the staff more than the Scythe, most likely because he doesn't want to hurt anypony. Lucky for him, he shouldn't have to fight anything anytime soon. He's also been trying to breathe fire better, though that's going nowhere for him.
Skystrike has been working on a couple things of his own. Having all this new free time with settling down in ponyville, he's been trying to get some new hobbies to-
"Skystrike? You alright, darling? You usually aren't this quiet." Rarity asked, trotting up behind him on their way to Sweet Apple Acres.
Skystrike looked back at Rarity for a minute, Seeing Rainbow, Fluttershy, Pinkie and Stardust behind him. "It's... you know, I was about to say it wasn't important, but it kinda is." He chuckled to himself before sighing. "It's been quite a while since I've moved to Ponyville, but I've had a lot on my mind lately. I... I don't want to rant, but there's just a lot of work on myself that I need to do."
"What do you mean?" Fluttershy asked. "You can talk to us. We're your friends after all."
"See, that's the thing. I keep thinking to myself if I'm really a good friend. I think back to the moments where I've said some things in the moment because of my temper, and how that honestly should've ruined any friendship I had with them. Like when I told off Rainbow when dealing with the dragon, or when I was yelling at Applejack about not asking for help. Hell, I hit Gilda, and yeah she deserved it, but still" Skystrike scratched the back of his head. "I've been trying to work on my temper, but by the time I get that fixed, I'll probably have lost most of my friends. If I don't lose friends that way, It'll probably be because I feel I don't spend enough time with them, you all included. I just... I don't want to lose my friends... again."
A few moments of silence went by before Skystrike let out a light chuckle. "Heh, and I said I wouldn't rant, but there I went and did it."
"That's... quite a bit to take in." Rarity thought aloud.
"I'll say." Stardust added.
"Look, Sky, I know just hearing ponies say it won't help much, but just listen." Pinkie started. "You have been a good friend. Yeah, you've said some mean things a few times, but that's partially why we stay friends with you. You're the type of pony that will be honest, and sometimes, we need that. No matter how brutal."
"I agree with Pinkie Pie, here. You getting on Rainbow did good in the long run. She does put more thought into what she says." Rarity added.
"Thank you again... by the way." Fluttershy spoke softly. "And if you want to spend more time with us, you can always ask. We'd be more than happy to."
"...I'd appreciate that." Skystrike gave a soft smile.
"Besides, your temper is funny sometimes! Like when you argued with Spoiled Rich!" Pinkie said, popping up in front of Skystrike.
"Heh, that was great, wasn't it? Thanks, girls. It made me feel a bit better." Skystrike said as he looked back at them. "By the way, what are we going to Sweet Apple Acres for?
"Oh, apparently Applejack and Rainbow Dash are doing an Iron Pony competition. They're competing against each other to see who's the best athlete in Ponyville." Rarity answered before everyone's eyes turned to look at Skystrike.
"...Well that's kinda silly. It's Skystrike!" Pinkie hopped on Skystrike's back and pointed at his head.
"I think they're just over hyping it. Most likely some friendly competition. It would be fun to see though." Skystrike shrugged.
"What, you aren't going to compete? I'm sure they'd let you join in. Maybe you'll even win." Stardust said, quickening her pace to his side.
"Eh, I dunno. I'm like twice their size, so it wouldn't exactly be fair. Besides, going off of their builds, they'll tie, assuming the sports they'll be doing will be fair."
"What do you mean?" Pinkie tilted her head.
"Well, Applejack is obviously stronger than Rainbow, since she's an earth pony and works on the farm. Rainbow is more agile than Applejack, so the agility courses would be in her favor. And finally, they're both stubborn."
"You make a fair point, darling." Rarity said as the group walked through the entrance to Sweet Apple Acres. "But you should still join their little competition. It would be amusing to see those two up against you."
"I don't see why. I'd win anyway, so it wouldn't really be a competition..."
"What?" Rainbow Dash and AJ said in sync as they looked at Skystrike.
"Damn, they heard that." Skystrike said under his breath.
"Does that mean you'll join in, Skystrike?" Spike said, riding on top of Twilight's back.
Skystrike looked at the dragon, then to the four behind him, then finally to Applejack and Rainbow Dash, both of whom had a competitive look in their eyes. "If I say no, you two will never let me hear the end of it, so I guess I am." Skystrike shrugged. "Lucky for you, I came without my armor and in my sweatshirt."
"Let the games begin!" Spike said in excitement, the other ponies cheering.
Skystrike stretched his body for a few moments, waiting for Applejack to start the first course. A few barrels were spread about the sides of a dirt strip. Applejack got into a starting position.
"Ready?" Twilight signaled. "Go!"
Applejack took off, weaving through the barrels at an impressive speed. She nearly made it to the end before accidentally hitting one of the barrels with her side. "Dang Nabbit!" She said in annoyance as she crossed the finish line.
"Time, Spike." Twilight said as the dragon clicked the stop watch.
"Seventeen seconds!"
"Wow, that's pretty good, AJ. Nice job." Skytrike said, tapping her back. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash had her jaw dropped.
"I'm just as surprised! That breaks my record for last year's rodeo!"
"But... you get a five second penalty for nudging the barrel." Spike said to Applejack's dismay.
"Aw, shoot." She sighed as she kicked a rock. "Well, that's still 22 seconds! Not to shabby!" Rainbow Dash was visibly sweating. "Hey, don't be nervous. Remember, it's all in good fun." Applejack nudged Rainbow with her shoulder, the latter of whom then flew off to the starting point.
"Ready, set, go!" Twilight said. Rainbow Dash started the course, going much faster than Applejack, as well as not hitting a single barrel.
"Sheesh, that was some fancy hoof work there, Rainbow!" Applejack congratulated the mare.
Rainbow puffed some air. "Thanks, but I couldn't have been as fast as you."
'Huh, Rainbow being humble. Surprising." He thought to himself. "Nice job, Rainbow. Didn't expect you to be so quick on your hooves. So, Spike, what was her time?"
Spike looked at his stopwatch. "18 seconds!" He said in awe.
Skystike trotted over to the starting point. "Yeeah, that's gonna be hard to beat..."
"Hey, like AJ said, it's all in good fun!" Rainbow said, cheering him on.
"Ready? Set. Go!" Twilight said.
Skystrike took off at an amazing speed for his size, quickly making it to the finish line, not hitting a single barrel. However, he didn't stop as he wanted to. His failed attempt at planting his feel caused him to start rolling. "WAAAAAAAAAH!" Directly into a tree. "AEGH."
"Sweet Celestia, you ok Skystrike!?" Applejack said, running over to him.
"Everything is upside down, but yeah. Should've realized that my armor made it easier to stop compared to without it..." Skystrike picked himself up before shaking the dirt off himself. "What was my time?" He asked before sneezing.
"Uh... 15 seconds!"
"Fifteen!?" Everypony else said in unison.
"...sooo, I won the first course!" Skystrike proclaimed, pumping his hoof into the air.
"Yeah, but don't get used to it." Applejack said, elbowing his side.
"Aww, is somepony a sore loser?" Skystrike teased. The mare turned her head away in mild annoyance. Fluttershy put a "1" on the scoreboard next to a chalk drawn picture of Skystrike.
As the day continued, word spread around the town of the ongoing competition. Soon, they had a small crowd on some bleachers watching the three athletes compete.
The current challenge was a bucking contest. The pony had to kick a target, and a bell would ring if the pony kicked hard enough. Rainbow Dash went first, being able to hit the bell with relative ease. The crown cheered and threw a few flowers.
"Mighty respectable, but let me show you how it's really done..." Applejack said, confidently walking up to the target. With a swift kick, the target broke, the mallet went up, and the bell shattered, all to the amazement of the cheering crowd. "Years of apple bucking." Applejack said casually.
"Well now I can't compete..." Skystrike fake pouted. He looked to Fluttershy and Rarity who stood next to him. The three made eye contact.
"What is it, darling?" Rarity asked.
Skystrike slowly smirked. "Didn't think this is what they meant by 'bucking contest'." He said to the two.
"Wha- NEBULA!" Rarity shouted, her face turning red.
"Oh... my..." Fluttershy hid her face with her hooves.
Skystrike was using every ounce of willpower to not ugly laugh. Instead, he began wheezing heavily. "Your faces are priceless!"
Pinkie Pie placed a point on the scoreboard for Applejack.
"Why... Why me?" Spike asked as he sat on Applejacks back. The goal of this challenge is to try to get Spike off your back the fastest it seems.
"Spike, sacrifices must be made in battles like these... I'm sorry, homie." Skystrike said, chuckling to himself.
Before Spike could respond, Applejack began moving around, trying to get him off. Spike held on for dear life, though ultimately, he failed, being flung off into a nearby hay pile. He let out a groan of pain. "Ouch..."
Rainbow Dash shook the hay off her, Spike still on her back. "Ready for another pony ride?"
"No!" He answered quickly, but not quick enough to get off.
"Ready? Go!" Twilight signaled.
Rainbow Dash gave a few short jumps, easily sending Spike into the air, landing on top of the scoreboard.
"Alright, your turn, Skystrike!" Twilight said, starting to go fetch Spike.
"Eh... imma pass on this one. Doubt Spike can handle anymore from the looks of him." He said as Spike let out a loud groan.
"What? Don't wanna lose?" Rainbow Dash said, trying to antagonize him.
"Think of it this way, now, we're all tied, and you wouldn't have zero points. Also, my back still hurts a bit." He chuckled
The fourth challenge seemed to be lasso tricks. The three athletes stood on opposite ends of a fenced in area, doing some tricks for the crowd. Spike stood unamused in the middle.
Rainbow Dash did an attempt to do lasso tricks, but was more just spinning the rope in odd shapes. Skystrike was doing better than he expected, being able to make a simple circle with the lasso, spinning it above him.
Applejack, however, made a show of hopping through the circles she spun with her lasso, even catching Spike in the middle with it. 'Well that was a bit one sided...' Thought Skystrike, though still clapped for her victory.
"How do I always get the short end of the stick?" Spike pouted.
So far, the score was 2 for Applejack, with Rainbow Dash and Skystrike tied with one point each.
The fifth challenge had the ponies balancing bouncy balls the longest. Applejack fell first, barely able to keep the ball in the air. Skystrike fell second, trying to one up Rainbow by balancing three balls compared to her two.
The Sixth had them throwing hay bales as far as they could. Rainbow Dash went first, throwing it just to the edge of the white lines there for measurement. The pegasus flew to the end and stuck her tongue out at the two. Applejack responded by throwing her hay bale past Rainbows, landing it on said mare. Applejack smirked at Skystrike. He huffed before picking the bale up with one hoof, standing on his hind legs and throwing it farther than than both of the mares. All were tied again.
The seventh was a hoof wrestling contest. 'Are they running out of ideas?' Skystrike asked himself. Rainbow, the winner against Applejack, hesitantly took his hoof before putting all her weight into pushing his hoof down. She was definitely strong, but was nothing compared to his sword arm. Skystrike was in the lead.
The eighth challenge had each of them kicking a football as far as they could. Rainbow made a good attempt, nearly passing above the clouds. Applejack, of course, hit the ball above the clouds, making some pegasus ponies sitting on a cloud duck for cover. Skystrike landed the football in the cloud. "I... don't think we count that." Applejack and Skystrike were tied.
The ninth challenge had the ponies jumping through hoops that grew smaller and smaller after the ponies jumped through successfully. Skystrike opted out before the second hoop even came, knowing he'd just get stuck. Applejack and Rainbow Dash kept going for quite a while, though it came to a stop when Applejack got stuck halfway through.
"I knew I should've warned her." Pinkie said, appearing next to Skystrike out of nowhere.
"WHOA JESUS!" Skystrike yelled in surprise. "...Damn, I should be used to it by now. What do you mean, you should've warned her?"
"Well duh, she has a fat flank! Are you telling me you never noticed?"
Skystrike nearly choked before stabilizing himself. "I will not answer that." He quickly said as he avoided eye contact with the mare.
Pinkie Pie gave a smug grin. "What, are you a flank guy?"
"Pinkie, I think you wanna drop this. You think I haven't noticed?" Skystrike said, looking Pinkie in the eye.
Pinkie's ears folded back as her eyes went wide. "Wh-what do you... Noticed what?"
"Pinkie, you, Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Stardust and Rainbow have all stared at my flank. You're the one with the record actually. You aren't exactly discrete." Skystrike said as he raised an eyebrow.
"Y-you knew?" Pinkie said, taking a few steps back, feeling somewhat tense. "Why didn't you say anything then? This is embarrassing now!"
"What am I supposed to say? 'Oh hey, I've noticed you guys staring at my ass, stop.' out of nowhere? No matter when I bought it, it would've been awkward. Just be glad you're the only one that knows I know....Also I haven't said anything since I wanted to see if you girls knew I knew." He said laughing to himself. Pinkie elbowed him in the ribs, pouting as her face turned red. "Also yes."
Pinkie looked at him with a mix of confusion, surprise, and realization. Skystrike smirked at her widely.
"Fillies and Gentlecolts!" Spike began to announce to the crowd. "At the halfway point, our competitors are tied, all having 3 points each!"
"Who are you talking to?" Twilight asked Spike in annoyance, looking up from her list.
"Them!" He said, pointing to a majority of Ponyville who's now at Sweet Apple Acres. "Alright, everypony! The next contest will be a push-up contest!" Spike said as the crowd cheered.
"Damn, I hate push-ups." Skystrike said, walking alongside Rainbow Dash and Applejack.
The three ponies got into a starting position. "Go!" Spike said as Twilight began to count the ponies push-ups.
"96!....97!..." Twilight continued to count as the strain built on the ponies. Applejack grit her teeth as she struggled to push herself up again. Rainbow Dash had a similar action, her eyes rolling almost rolling back into her head. Skystrike was... still going at his normal pace somehow. The ponies around them looked on in excitement as they knew this part would be ending soon.
"98!...99!..." Rainbow Dash used her wings to push herself off the ground for what she hoped to be the last one. "100!"
"I win!" Rainbow Dash declared, throwing her hooves into the air.
Applejack fell, not being able to push herself back up. "Be a good sport, Applejack..." She said to herself in irritation.
"Oi, Twilight, Rainbow, we're still going." Skystrike said, waiting for Rainbow Dash to get back down for the 101st.
The crowd looked in disbelief at the stallion being able to continue. Rainbow Dash had the same look, yet the beads of sweat falling down her forehead made her hesitate on continuing. "This time, no wings" Whispered to Rainbow Dash, who responded with a gulp.
The two standing athletes looked at Twilight, ready to continue. "...101..." She started before Rainbow Dash fell from the strain in her muscles.
"Nebula is the winner!" Twilight declared to the crowd, who responded in cheers as Fluttershy flew up a point on the scoreboard for him.
The eleventh challenge was a simple long jump. Applejack took the courtesy of going first, jumping and landing about half way into the sand pit at the end.
Skystrike went second, landing just barely ahead of Applejack due to his weight. "Damn I'm fat" He chuckled to himself before shaking the sand off his hooves.
Applejack and Skystrike looked back to see Rainbow's jump. She had a look of hesitation, before getting a running start and jumping. She would've landed the same distance as Applejack... if not for her slowing her fall and getting a small double jump at the end.
Applejack glared daggers at the mare. Skystrike did the same, then looked at Applejack and patted her on the back in condolences.
The score was 4-4-3, Applejack being last.
The twelfth challenge was not what Skystrike was expecting. The three had to walk through pits of mud with chicks on their back to the mother chickens on the other side. Skystrike assumes that the chicks will jump off if they get mud on them. He balanced the chicks on his back before Twilight called them to start walking.
Skystrike started walking. Thanks to his height, walking through the mud was easier than he initially thought, picking up his hooves and taking long and stable steps.
Applejack tried trotting through the mud, but said mud splashed on the chicks, who hopped off onto Rainbow Dash, who was using her wings to keep them well above the mud as she took them to the end of the mud pit.
Applejack once again glared at Rainbow Dash.
"So... we all got 4 points." Skystrike stated as he sat on the ground, his forehoofs folded in thought. "...So we're gonna do more or just call it a tie?"
"Ain't no way i'm calling it a tie!" Applejack said, puffing her chest out.
"Me neither! I plan on winning this!" Rainbow Dash agreed.
"Wait, you girls were serious? I thought we were just having fun doing sport stuff." Skystrike said, looking at the two mares with a raised brow.
"Well, I just got more into it since you said you could beat us easily." Rainbow replied.
"Really? I thought we... Wait, am I the only one not taking this seriously? I actually thought we were just fooling around, being like 'Ahahah I am strong pony, look at my muscles!'"
"Wait, you were holding back?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"We're getting off topic." Skystrike waved a hoof. "What'll be the last challenge?"
The three thought for a few moments before Skystrike thought of the most generic and obvious answer he could think of. "...Tug of War?"
Applejack and Rainbow Dash slowly turned to look at the stallion, realization in their eyes.
"Why didn't we think of this before!?" Stardust said sitting on the bleachers next to Skystrike and the other mares.
"I know right!?" Skystrike laughed. The group looked on towards Applejack and Rainbow Dash, both holding the ends of a rope on opposite sides of a mud pit. "...also how come we got so many mud pits? I've seen like 10."
"There were only 2 so far." Twilight stated.
"Called hyperbole, Twilight, but thank you." Skystrike sighed.
"You're welcome!" Twilight smiled.
Skystrike slowly turned to look at Twilight before narrowing his eyes. "...I can't tell if you're being sarcastic and that worries me."
"Alright, this is the final event! Get ready!" Spike said, taking the group's attention from each other to him. "Ready!? Start!"
The two athletes began pulling on the ends of the rope, trying to pull the other into the mud pit below. It was evenly matched for a time, each mare trying their hardest to stop the other from getting the upper hand. However, slowly but surely, Applejack got the upper hand as Rainbow slowly was dragged towards, and over, the mud pit. The moment she began falling towards the mud pit, the pegasus spread her wings and began flying, pulling the rope, with Applejack on it, above the mud pit.
"Dass nnt frr! Ye cnn't use your wings to hep ye winn!" Applejack attempted to speak with the rope in her mouth.
"Huh?" Rainbow Dash held a hoof to her ear.
"Yerr cheetin!" Applejack attempted again.
"I can't understand ye with the year mouf!"
Applejack opened her mouth to speak, letting go of the rope. "I said! ...uh oh" Applejack had a moment to realize that she got played before falling into the mud pit below.
"Heheh, I won by a landslide. Or in your case, mudslide!" Rainbow boasted at Applejack, who was glaring at her through muddied eyes. The ponies around them cheered at her 'victory'. "I am the iron pony!"
"Only because you cheated!" Applejack pointed an accusatory hoof at her.
"That, aaaand I haven't gone yet." Is what Skystrike wanted to say, yet he decided that this probably wasn't the best time.
"What!?" Rainbow Dash grew annoyed as she flew down to be eye level with the country pony.
"You used your wings to win over half of your points!" Applejack declared.
"Sounds like sour apples to me!"
"Are you saying you didn't use your wings?" Applejack raised a brow.
"Well... no, but you never said I couldn't use my wings!" Rainbow Dash put her forehoooves on her hips.
"I didn't think I NEEDED to tell you to play fair! Heck, Nebula didn't use his wings!"
"Pff, I didn't even NEED to use my wings to win!" Rainbow stated matter of factly.
"Prove it!"
"Sure! How?" Rainbow said with a frown.
"Well, if we remove the points you won when you used your wings, you're down... 2 points. 3 if I let you keep using your wings during the push ups part actually." Skystrike said. "Besides, we would still need a tie breaker between me and AJ if we did remove points, so nothing's really solved.
"How about this? Tomorrow's the annual running of the leaves. I challenge you both, but more Rainbow, race me in it! Winner takes all!" Applejack offered.
"Heh, easy smeasy!" Rainbow waved a hoof, beginning to fly away.
"Hold on!" Applejack said, pulling the mare out of the sky by her tail "There's one condition. The point is to RUN. That means no wings!".
Rainbow bucked Applejack off of her. "No wings? No problem!" The two mares spit in their hooves and shook, before looking at Skystrike to join in.
"...I'm not shaking those hooves, that's disgusting."
"Come on, you chicken?" Rainbow Dash antagonized.
"Look, I'm hot, I'm muddy, and I'm sweaty. Rather your spit not be in it too."
"What are ya, Rarity?" Applejack smirked.
"I do like to stay relatively clean, yes." Skystrike said before taking off his sweat soaked sweatshirt. His light grey fur coat was damp with sweat after the day's activities. Skystrike looked at the mares around him who were currently gazing at his toned body.
"...why are you all staring? I just talked to Pinkie about this." He looked to Spike on the bleachers. "Spike, can you pass me my other sweatshirt?"
"I... we weren't- wait, what do you mean you talked to Pinkie Pie about this?" Stardust asked, trying to hide her reddening face along with everypony else.
Pinkie turned her head to look at Skystrike, who just smiled back.
"I'll let you tell them when I go home in a few minutes to take a bath. Oooor, do you want me to te-"
"NO!" The party pony answered immediately. Skystrike let out a hardy laugh.
"Oh jeez, I can just imagine your faces already." Skystrike wheezed as Spike walked up and handed him his sweatshirt. "Alright. You guys can come over later if you want, I'm not doing anything. I'll see you all later." He said before giving his wings a few practice flaps before flying off towards his house.
"You enjoy their suffering, don't you?" Echo said once they were out of earshot.
"AAAAA HAHAHAHA" Skystrike laughed to himself.
The sun came over the horizon as Skystrike woke up from his surprisingly restful sleep.In fact, he felt good today. So good in fact, he started his day as any normal pony would.
"Do. Do. Dooo. Do. Do. Do Dooo do dooooo I GET UP!" He sang as he hopped out of bed.
"That was stupid." Echo spoke as Skystrike went to the bathroom to brush his teeth.
"Yes." Skytrike agreed as he began brushing his teeth. "Anything I need to know about today?"
"It'll be chilly, so I'd recommend a light coat during the running of the leaves today. We're low on eggs and lettuce, I recommend doing a market run. Finally, we haven't seen Zecora in the last few days. I recommend checking on her." Echo stated, laying on the nightstand where Skystrike left him.
After finishing brushing, combing his hair, and washing his face, Skystrike took his helmet off the nightstand, his armor off his armor rack, and his mechanical arm off the wall before putting each on, wincing as he clicked his arm on. "Sss... reattaching nerves never gets easier." He said through the mild pain.
After doing his morning routine: morning workout, breakfast, and a quick patrol of the edge of the Everfree, he waited next to his mailbox. He stood patiently, preparing his will for what could happen today.
"Look out below!" A grey mare yelled as she flew at an... alarming speed diagonally downward towards the Stallion. Skystrike stared for a moment before jumping up and catching the mare, slowing her momentum and putting her down gently. "Thank you, Mr. Nebula."
"Lively as ever, eh, Derpy?" Skystrike chuckled. "And please, call me Nebula."
Derpy giggled as she reached into her mailbag, handing Skystrike 5 letters in her mouth. Skystrike took it in his hooves. "Thanks, Derpy."
"No problem, Nebula! It's what I do." She smiled before flying off towards what Skystrike assumed to be Fluttershy's residence. '...Is she flying upside down?' Skystrike thought to himself before shaking the thought out of his head.
Skystrike walked into his home, letters in hoof, before sitting on his couch and tearing open the first letter. It was from an unknown sender. He folded open the paper and read aloud the first sentence. "We've been trying to reach you on your wagons extended warranty GOD FUCKING DAMN IT!!" He yelled as he threw the letter into the fireplace, it turning into ashes.
Skystrike sighed as he opened the 2nd letter. "...That's weird." He muttered to himself as he saw the symbol of the wonderbolts on the paper. He folded it open to read through it.
Hey, Kid. Long time no talk.
Well, more from my end. You've been keeping up with the monthly letters huh?
To be honest, I haven't had much time to read them all. Still got a few dozen to read through. Realized around the 30th letter I haven't written you anything over the last few years. Figured I'd try it out. Don't really know what to say besides that I've been well. Wonderbolts have been as tiring as ever, new recruits need training, and I don't have somepony like you as an example.
It'd be nice to see you again.
-Spitfire
Skystrike smiled, thinking back to his old friend and the short time he spent with her. He should visit. He put Spitfire's letter to the side before opening the 3rd. "From... some Noble who wants me as their house's knight. Nope." He said as he tossed away the letter. Damn Nobles and their Noble stuff. The fourth letter had coupons for the Ponyville Spa. Seems they're having a discount on steam baths if you come with a group of at least two.
The fourth letter was for Stardust. Realizing this, Skystrike set it to the side. Finally, the last letter was in his hooves. He sighed as he opened the last one and read the letter. "Penis enlargement pills for sale aAAAAAAAAAH!" He screamed in rage as he threw the last letter into the fireplace. "Why are these even a THING!? Let me have ONE week with NORMAL MAIL!"
"Wha?" Stardust said, rubbing her eyes as she came downstairs, trying to figure out why there was so much noise.
"Bullshit letters that's what! I don't even OWN a wagon! Also you got a letter." Skystrike said as he handed Stardust her letter.
Stardust rubbed her eyes a bit more as she read the letter. Her eyes went wide as she read further. "Celestia and Luna are coming to Ponyville."
"...I'm not gonna let this ruin my good mood." Skystrike smiled through the news. "I got a few things to do before the Running of the leaves. I'll let you go get Spike for the daily routine." Skystrike said as he looked over himself, making sure he looked good enough to go out. "See you in a bit." He said before opening the door.
Making his way through the entrance of the Everfree Forest and jumping over the patches of poison joke, he walked towards Zecora's tree root hut, as he liked to call it. The lights were on, and there was a slight smell. Zecora was definitely awake.
Skystrike gave 3 knocks to the door. Said door opened inward to reveal the Zebra behind it. "Ah, Skystrike. Good to see you. For you, what can I do?" Zecora said, pulling him into a friendly hug.
"I have a couple things to tell you. One, I'm gonna do the running of the leaves, planning on inviting you. Two, come to check up on you, and Three, the princesses are coming to Ponyville."
Zecora stared for a minute, trying to process the last part. "I-"
"So, Running of the leaves. Are you up for it?"
Zecora thought for a moment before smirking. "I may come for the run, if you'd want to make it more fun."
Skystrike held back the urge to say "Oh my~!" He failed. Zecora playfully punched him in the arm in response. "What do you have in mind?"
"Do not fret, just a small bet. The winner can ask the loser one request."
Skystrike looked in confusion for a minute. "That.. that didn't rhyme?"
"I'm putting your brain to the test." Zecora smiled.
"...I feel like that's cheating, even though we didn't put any rules in place."
"I just thought I was fine as long as it rhymes."
"I'll let it pass this time... WAIT OK ME RHYMING ON YOUR SENTENCES DOESN'T COUNT."
Zecora busted into a laughing fit before straightening herself after a few minutes. "So, are you in, or are you chicken?"
"...I should get chickens, but yeah, I'm In."
Skystrike was in deep thought as he walked towards the Ponyville market. Zecora was never confident enough to make a bet against him. She has some sort of plan. His best bet is making second, since Zecora definitely plans on winning. 'Wait... why did I agree?' The pegasus thought to himself. He didn't even know what to ask of Zecora if he wins... Actually, he should ask for some help making potions.
His train of thought was broken when he realized he was at the entrance of Ponyville's market. It was as lively as it normally was, the many townsfolk lingering at stalls and buying supplies for the day. As he looked for the stalls he needed, he saw a familiar mare.
"Oh hey, it's Cabbage Patch. How's it going?" He said, walking up to the green mare's stall.
Said mare looked up from her book she was reading. "Ah, Nebula! Good to see you!" She smiled.
"Same to you. How's life been treating you?"
"Good. My little farm just produced it's harvest, so I've got quite a bit to sell. Even better, my ex hasn't contacted me.... Speaking of, how did you throw him all the way to Cloudsdale?" She tilted her head."
"Oh, I learned it from Pinkie. Well... not learned persay, but I guess her chaotic energy rubbed off on me." He shrugged.
"...Alright then. So, would you like some cabbages?"
"Yes, actually. You're gonna give me a weird look, but I need like... 30 cabbages."
Cabbage patch nearly fell over after hearing that number. "30!?"
"...Yeah?" He answered hesitantly.
"Wha-...I-... What are you going to do with 30 cabbages!?"
"...Make some stew? I feel like that's a normal thing to do with cabbages, right?"
"Yes, but it isn't normal to buy 30 of them!"
"So you do have 30 cabbages then?"
"...Yes." She answered with a sigh.
"Can I buy 30 cabbages then?"
"..150 bits." She said through squinted eyes.
Skystrike pulled out a bag of bits and set it on the stall table as Cabbage patch picked up 3 crates and pushed it out the side of the stall. "Thank you, Cabbage patch!" Skystrike said as he picked up the crates and balanced the three on his wings and back. "I'll see you next time!"
He walked past the next few stalls, and he came across two more familiar faces, one of the ponies calling out to him before he could greet them.
"Well howdy, Nebula!" A filly's voice called out to him in a country accent. Skystrike looked over to see Applebloom and her older brother Big Mac.
"Hey Applebloom, hey Big Mac. Doing good?"
"Eeeeyup!" Big Mac nodded.
"Cool, cool. Now, hear me out." Skystrike said as he held up a hoof. "Imma need like two barrels of apples."
Applebloom and Big Mac both stared for a moment, processing what he said. "Are...are you serious?" Applebloom asked.
"Yeah."
"Bu-... why do you need two barrels of apples?"
"...to eat? What else do you do with them?"
"But who in their right mind buys 2 barrels of apples!?"
"Me? Also I feel Pinkie would probably do that."
"Eeyup." Big Mac agreed. Skystrike had an odd sense of deja vu.
"Look, I already had to deal with this from Cabbage Patch. You got the apples or not?"
"Eeeyup." Big Mac confirmed.
"Alright, so how much?"
"...100 bits." Applebloom narrowed her eyes.
Skystrike sat a bag of bits on the counter. "Thank you."
Big Mac rolled the barrels over to Skystrike. Meanwhile, Skystrike got some rope from his bag and began tying the crates and barrels together. After tying the last knot he began flying, holding all his groceries with the rope in his hooves. With a couple flaps, he began lifting the crates and barrels off the ground. "Alright, I'll see you all later." Skystrike said before flying towards his house.
"Fillies and gentlecolts! Welcome to the annual Running of the leaves!" Pinkie Pie said from a megaphone in a hot air balloon.
'When did Pinkie get a hot air balloo-... Nevermind, it's fucking Pinkie.' Skystrike thought to himself as he looked up at the mare.
"This is Pinkie Pie, your official p-eye in the sky announcer! As everypony knows, the run is a very important tradition, for without it, the autumn trees of Equestria would never fall! So get ready, everypony! The running of the leaves will begin in five minutes!" Pinkie said excitedly.
Many of the Ponyville participants started to line up at the starting line, a few stretching in preparation. Skystrike slapped his number 34 over where his cutie mark would be and walked up to the starting line himself. He pranced in place for a few moments before stretching, cracking some bones as he did.
"Man, I should go to a bone doctor.." He said to himself.
"Excuse me! Make way for the iron pony!" Skystrike held in an annoyed sigh. He knew both that voice and that ego. He turned his head to see Rainbow Dash pushing through two ponies.
"Iron phony you mean..." Applejack said as the pegasus walked up to her.
"So Applejack, you ready to win second place?" Rainbow put emphasis on the 'second.'
"As ready as you are to win third... maybe fourth." Skystrike jokes, walking up to the two.
"I'm ready to run a good clean race. And what's that supposed to mean?" Applejack raised an eyebrow.
"Well Zecora challenged me, meaning she has a plan. That being said, I'm probably gonna get second."
"Anyway, you two are not allowed to use your wings!" Applejack glared.
"That seems fair, alright." Skystrike nodded.
"Pssh, easy! I can win this race with both wings tied behind my back!" Rainbow gloated.
Applejack smirked before pulling out a lasso.
"Oh my~ you're gonna tie her up?" Skystrike laughed.
"Shut up, Nebula!" The two mares said in sync as Applejack tied Rainbows wings to her side. "At least now we know we're racing fair and square!" Applejack said as she tightened the rope.
"I hope you will also play fair, else you would lose out." Zecora said, nudging Skystrike's side to get his attention.
"Well yeah. It's the Running of the Leaves, not the flying."
A trumpet was heard, telling the participants to get ready for the race to start. "Racers! Please take your positions!" Pinkie said over the mega phone. Skystrike looked over to her to see Spike asking Pinkie to be her co-reporter and climbing in the hot air balloon. Meanwhile, Twilight walked up to the side of Rainbow.
"Twilight? You're racing?" Rainbow Dash asked before laughing. "Good one, Twilight!"
"Oh, you're actually racing? Good for you, Twilight." Skystrike said to the mare.
"Thanks! It seems like it'll be fun!"
"But you aren't an athlete! You're an egghead!" Rainbow Dash said with mild surprise that the book horse was actually racing.
"I am NOT! I am well read!" Twilight said matter of factly.
"Actually, Twilight, sorry, but you kinda are."
"I am NOT!!" She repeated.
"What's the 8th spell Starswirl the bearded made?"
"Magic missile, of course." She said with pride in her knowledge. She looked back at Skystrike.
"You can tell from my helmet but I'm smirking since you just proved my point." Skystrike said as Twilight sighed.
Applejack snickered. "Have you ever... ran a race?" She said through the laughs.
Twilight thought for a moment. "Well, no, but I do know a lot about running!"
"From a book?" Skystrike asked.
"Yes! Several actually!"
Skystrike tried his best not to laugh. He failed. So did Rainbow Dash.
"Did you read Eggheads guide to running? Did you stretch your eye muscles?" Rainbow chuckled, getting an eye roll from Twilight.
"Scoff if you must, Rainbow, but the Running of the leaves is a Ponyville tradition, and I decided I must experience it for myself!"
"Well that's good. Just don't tire yourself out in the first quarter." Skystrike encouraged.
"Yeah, see you at the finish line! Tomorrow!" Rainbow Dash snickered once again, Applejack joining in.
Skystrike looked over to Zecora. "So, Zecora, ready?"
Zecora finished drinking a sky blue liquid from a flask in her satchel and wiped her mouth with her hoof. "Indeed."
"...You just drank a potion, didnt you?" Skystrike narrowed his eyes.
"Indeed. One swiftness to help my fitness."
"...Well that's cheap, aint it?"
"I'm still running. My speed will just be more stunning." She smirked.
"Alright, Ponies! Are you ready?" Pinkie said over the Mega phone before switching with Spike. "Get set... Go!"
Everypony began the race with a sprint. Skystrike knew he probably wasn't going to win. He did know, however, he wasn't going to make it easy for Zecora. He began running, sprinting ahead of the other racers with Zecora right on his side.
"And they're off! Nebula is currently in the lead with Zecora hot on his tail! You know, Spike, despite the name, the leaves actually don't do any of the running." Pinkie said from her balloon.
"Wha-... Yes, Pinkie Pie. it's actually the ponies that cause the leaves to fall!" Spike responded.
"Those lazy, lazy leaves!"
Skystrike was just barely ahead of Zecora. Damn, she was fast. The golden brown leaves from the trees fell behind them as they ran, more doing so as the large group of racers behind them passed the trees. Slowly but steadily, Zecora and Skystrike grew further and further ahead from the group. Skystrike had no time to think. He knew Zecora was going to have him do something crazy... no, insane even. And he heavily doubted he could win without using his wings.
"But this year, it's more than a race. It's about the three runners who want to win it. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Nebula." Pinkie continued.
"You know, Pinkie, these three ponies have a bit of a grudge match, trying to prove who's the most athletic!" Spike commented.
"Yes! And Grudge rhymes with fudge!" Pinkie said.
"Yes... it does... what?"
"And I love fudge and if I eat too much I pudge and I can't budge!"
"So... no fudge?"
"Ah, no thanks, I had a big breakfast. Now let's check in on our three most competitive ponies! Applejack, Nebula and Rainbow Dash! With Nebula coming fastest out of the gate, the two mares are tied for third! It was a big surprise with how fast Zecora is."
"Speaking of, where are they?" Spike asked as he looked over the track.
"Oh, they're just past the halfway point... JUST PAST THE HALFWAY POINT!? Holy Guacamole!" Pinkie shouted in surprise.
Skystrike had her in the first half, not gonna lie. While Skystrike had a quicker acceleration, Zecora was slightly faster, making this prolonged race ideal for her. Skystrike still continued to try to win.
"Oh, what's this? Nebula is pulling ahead of Zecora, taking that left turn beautifully to gain every inch of space ahead! But Zecora isn't having it, speeding up to pull ahead of him! She's ahead by a nose! Or a half nose! Or a quarter of a nose!" Pinkie went on as Spike gave an unamused look. "Roughly speaking."
Skystrike was just barely behind Zecora, who was looking back at him with a smirk. Not watching where she was going, her hoof fell into a dip in the road and she tripped. Skystrike slowed down, as to not run over her, before quickly helping her up and running ahead.
"And what sportspony ship from Nebula! Helping his rival out when it could've won him the race if he didnt!" Pinkie cheered.
"While I appreciate your help, the command will not be lighter... welp."
"You just couldn't think of anything that would fit and rhyme with help, could you?" Skystrike raised an eyebrow."
Zecora huffed.
"Nebula is once again in the lead, but looks like Zecora is doing her best to catch up!" Spike announced."
"I don't see how ketchup would help here. Maybe in a hotdog eating contest, but I prefer mustard. Maybe some relish. How about you Spike?"
"Uhh... I like pickles?" Spike shrugged.
Skystrike saw it. The thing. The finish line is way down the road. He saw victory. He was a few paces ahead of Zecora. He just had to make it to that finish line and he'd win. With four words, Skystrike spoke to himself to ensure victory.
"Speed.... I am speed." He said as he ran with all he had.
"And with a sudden burst of speed, Nebula pulls far ahead of Zecora! He's almost at the finish line! Will he be the iron pony!?" Pinkie said with baited breath.
'20 feet... 10 feet... Five feet... the ground... what?' Skystrike thought to himself as he neared the finish line before tripping on a tree root sticking up from the ground. "WAAAAAAAAAAA!" He screamed as he rolled, stopping just before the finish line as Zecora passed him, not being able to stop fast enough to help him.
"And Zecora wins due to an unlucky trip on Nebula's end!" Spike announced from above.
"Nebula, my friend! This isn't the time to meet your end!" Zecora yelled, running back to help Skystrike.
Skystrike, face in the ground, put up a hoof and slapped the checkered line he was inches away from.
"And Nebula comes in second!" Pinkie said.
"Ahhh wamm... I ere fmm hile.." Skystrike said.
"...what?" Zecora asked.
Skystrike took his head out of the dirt. "I wanna just lie here for a while" He said as a group of ponies passed by him. Zecora grabbed him by the hoof and pulled him to the side of the track, out of the way of the runners. Skystrike huffed and puffed, trying to fill his lungs with air. "Can I get...*huff* I dunno...*puff* some water?" he asked.
"It's Rainbow Dash! No, it's Applejack!, no, Rainbow... no, Applejack..." Pinkie flip flopped back and forth between names. Skystrike turned his head to the side, watching the two mares tumble down the final stretch of the track and crossing the finish line before breaking it up.
"I won!" Rainbow Dash yelled while catching her breath.
"No... I won!" Applejack declared.
"I won!"
"I won!"
"You tied!" Spike said as Pinkie lowered the altitude on her balloon.
"For first?" Applejack asked.
"For last!"
"For last!?"
"Then... who won?" Rainbow Dash asked. Twilight walked up to the two dirt covered ponies, a medal around her neck. "You!?"
"Oh, no, but I did get fifth place. Which is rather good for never running a race before!"
"What? How is that even possible?" Applejack said, dumbfounded.
"You ran so slow! And stopped to look at the scenery!" Rainbow added.
"Exactly! I paced myself, just how the book said! Then when all the other ponies got worn out, I sprinted to the finish!" Twilight explained, looking at the ponies tuckered out behind her.
"Speaking of sprinted, where's Nebula?" Twilight asked, looking above the crowd to see his tall figure.
"Heeeeey..." Skystrike sighed, putting up a hoof. Zecora came by and put a silver medal around his hoof. "I got second... and a lot of pain in my ears... they burn... is that normal?"
"I can't believe it... TWILIGHT beat us!" Rainbow said, not believing it.
"Hey... Nice job Twilight..."
"Well with all your horsing around, it was quite easy." She said, matter of factly. "And thank you."
"...You're right Twilight..." Applejack said as she swirled her hoof in the dirt. "Our behavior today was just terrible."
"Yeah... we weren't very good sports..." Rainbow lowered her head in shame.
"Sounds to me like an important lesson was learned today." A motherly voice said as the crowd bowed as a large figure walked through. Her head was held high and her wings spread wide as she walked towards the group, Skystrike still lying on the ground, catching his breath.
"Princess Celestia!?" The three mares said in shock. "Wait... Princess Luna too?"
"Wha- what are you doing here?" Asked Applejack before bowing.
"Priceless cholesterol and pinces lua? Am I hearing things right?"
The two monarchs looked down at him in confusion and worry. "Nebula... will thou be alright?" Princess Luna walked up to his side.
"Are chives? Are chives what?"
"Forgive him, princess. He fell earlier, so he may not have the right thought process." Zecora bowed.
"Oh, fell? Yeah, I fell earlier. Bright flash of light happened. Just give me a minute to walk off this hopefully headache..." Skystrike pushed himself to his hooves. "My vision is a bit blurry. What i'm I looking at?" Skystrike rubbed the dirt from his eyes.
Celestia and Luna starred in mild worry at him for a while while he stared back, processing the information his eyes gave him. "Oh, it's the princesses. Hello." He said, holding his head.
Luna gave a small wave, the look of worry never leaving her face.
"...Moving on, fall is one of my favorite seasons, so I came to celebrate the running of the leaves with my sister." Celestia looked at her student and her friends.
"I'm sorry you had to see us being a poor sport, princess." Applejack hung her head.
"It's quite alright Applejack. Anypony can be swept up in the excitement of a competition." Celestia smiled.
"It's important to remember that friendship is always more important than the competition!" Twilight smiled.
"That's right, Twilight. Now unfortunately since you two were busy tricking each other instead of shaking down trees, many of the lovely trees in Equestria are still covered."
"Well, princess, I bet we can knock 'em down for you lickety split!" Applejack said before looking at Rainbow. "What do you say friend, wanna go for another run?"
"I can't wait to stretch my legs." Rainbow nudged Applejack.
"So... does this mean I'm the iron pony?" Skystrike shook the dirt out of his helmet, and most of the headache away.
"...Well technically yes, since you won out of the three of you." Twilight rubbed her chin.
"Yeah!" Skystrike cheered early.
"But you still lost to Zecora." Twilight started as Skystrikes eyes went wide.
"And I have an idea for ya." Zecora smirked.
"Was there some sort of bet?" Luna asked.
"...I may have agreed to do one thing Zecora asks if I lost... which I did." Skystrike sighed. "Alright, Zecora, what is it?" Zecora pulled him close and whispered into his ear. Skystrike nearly died from hearing it. He looked at Celestia. They made eye contact. Shit. "...So you want me to die? I see how it is."
"You will not die from what comes after. I will, however, die of laughter." Zecora said, giggling already.
"...Nebula." Celestia looked at him.
"Yeah?"
"Does the challenge have to do with me or my sister, Luna?"
"Yeah...I dont wanna die, but I have to keep my word."
"Don't be silly, my little pony. We May not always get along, but I would never wish harm upon you. Do what you must." Celestia smiled.
Skystrike looked at Celestia, then Luna, then Zecora, then his friends behind him. Then the crowd behind the princesses. He sighed and pulled out his best worst pick up line.
"Damn Celestia, are you an egg? Because I want that sunny side up!" He said with all the confidence he could muster. A few things happened in the next few moments. First, Twilight's jaw dropped. Then the crowd gasped. Then Zecora, Luna, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack burst out laughing. Then, Celestia's entire face turned red from embarrassment. The crowd tried their best to not laugh. Many letting out stifled giggles. Finally, Skystrike internally screamed.
The ponies laughed for minutes on end as Celestia tried to compose herself. "I... have to admit..." She coughed. "That was probably the most original I've heard in thousands of years if it makes you feel better."
Skystrike sighed, the ponies around him still laughing. |
A Broken Warrior | Suited for Success | Skystrike opened the door to his house, creaking slightly. After the events of the Falling of the Leaves, and what he assumes is brain damage, he planned to rest for a bit before taking a bath. Planned. Skystrike turned around to the girls, Spike, and the two princesses.
"So... why is everypony following me?" He said as he rubbed his eyes.
"Oh, um... I was just making sure you were ok..." Fluttershy said from behind her mane.
"Same here, darling. You did take quite the fall." Rarity agreed.
"Im here to-" Pinkie started before Skystrike put a hoof on her mouth.
"I appreciate the enthusiasm, but please keep it down, Pinkie." Skystrike groaned as he rubbed his head.
"I'm here because I wanted to bake Zecora a 'Congrats on winning' cake." Pinkie said, in her high pitched voice.
"Pinkie promised me a cake." Zecora said.
"Applejack and I wanna raid your fridge." Rainbow Dash said, flying above him.
"I need to stay with the princesses." Stardust spoke from Celestia's side.
"I'm bored." Spike said from Twilight's back.
"...kids are always honest. And you two?" Skystrike said, looking at the princesses.
"We've both come for our separate reasons. Could we speak inside?" Celestia asked.
"...look, i'm gonna try not to be... as rude as I am, but could it wait until another day.?" Skystrike asked the princess.
"It would be more convenient for us if we just spoke today. Otherwise, we'd have to have you come to us."
Skystrike frowned as he thought. "Well I know you didn't take a train, as you would've had your royal guard here with you if you did. Meaning, you more than likely teleported here, am I right?"
"...thou are correct." Luna answered.
"So you're telling me..." Skystrike pointed a hoof at the princesses. "You both have enough magic to move Celestial bodies, but not enough to teleport here again?"
The princesses looked at each other as Skystrike continued to look at the two. Celestia returned with a stare of mild annoyance. "As I said, it would me more convenient for us if we just spoke today, as to not waste magic."
"My take away from this is that you're lazy." Skystrike glared back. Celestia looked down at him. An awkward silence went by as the two stared at each other. Skystrike sighed. He took off his helmet and rubbed his forehead. "Just tell me before hoof next time." He said as he turned to walk into his house.
Skystrike walked into his home, past the living room and into the kitchen. He grabbed two aprons off the hanger in the corner. One, he threw to Pinkie. The other, he tied around himself. "Alright, Pinkie, bake Zecora's cake, everyone else, set the table. I'm gonna start cooking... Actually, nevermind helping me, I have a feeling like half of you can't cook."
"...what's that supposed to mean?" Twilight asked through narrowed eyes.
"It means that you have an assistant for a reason, Twilight. You're welcome to help me cook if you'd like." Skystrike said as he reached above him and pulled down a couple jars. "Anyone have any allergies? I never asked." Everyone shook their heads no. "Great. I'm making Chimichurri Portobello Rice and Potato salad. I want something spicy." He pulled out a sack of potatoes and dumped them into a large pot. He filled it with enough water to cover it and lifted it onto the stove, turning up the heat.
"Wait, you can't just drop it like that. Who do you think can't cook?" Twilight said, bringing back up the subject.
"Well there's you, Stardust, then the princesses... Now that I think about it, it's more like a third of you can't cook." Skystrike pulled out a bowl from under the kitchen island. After wiping the bowl with a paper towel, he threw in some parsley, cilantro, and garlic. Once those were mixed, he poured in some olive oil and vinegar and began mixing with a whisk.
"How'd you figure that? I don't remember telling you I could cook. We've only eaten together a couple times, and it was never at my boutique." Rarity asked as she used her magic to straighten a table cloth she put on the table.
Skystrike stopped mixing, the mixture being finished. He dropped onions into a skillet on the stove, letting it brown. He then added vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and pepper to the pan for the potato salad. Then, he got another pot and began making Mexican rice. "Well, Twilight has Spike to cook for her, and since I doubt she's changed much since we were kids, she probably reads while Spike cooks. Stardust, well I always cook here and she seems the type to roam the cafeteria for food. Rarity has her sister, and wouldn't want her to potentially get hurt while cooking, so she learned to do it herself. Rainbow Dash lives alone, and at some point, she probably realized it's too expensive to eat out all the time. Applejack, I figured she cooked with her family when Twilight first came to Ponyville. Pinkie, it's literally her job. Fluttershy, she cooks for her animals."
"And ourselves?" Luna asked, pointing her hoof between her and her sister."
Skystrike drained the boiled potatoes and set them aside to let them cool. "Oh, easy. The last time I heard either of you cooking was to boost soldier morale on the frontlines for the war against Sombra." Skystrike set aside his bowl of ingredients and put a skillet on the stove. Dropping in some mushrooms and bell peppers, he salted and peppered them before pouring in the mixture and letting it slowly cook on medium heat. "...well in that case, I guess you're just MAD rusty."
"...I can't tell if we're easy to read or if you're just really good at putting pieces together." Stardust thought aloud.
Skystrike scooped the now finished rice out of the pot and put it in the same bowl as the chimichurri mixture and began mixing. "A bit of both, actually. I notice a lot of little things about you all that I don't think any of you realize you do. Helps a lot actually. Chimichurri is done."
"For example?" Applejack asked as she set the silverware.
Skystrike picked up the potatoes and put them into the skillet for the potato salad to heat them. "Potato salad is done, and you, Applejack, dig at the ground with your dominant hoof when you're nervous."
"And me?" Rarity asked.
"You hide a laugh behind a hoof or stutter when you're uncomfortable."
"Oh, oh! Do me next time!" Pinkie jumped. "Also, the cake is done!" She smiled.
"Your lip twitches when you wanna get angry at somepony but don't show it because you try to make everypony smile."
"You're quite observant." Celestia said as she sat down at the table.
"It comes in handy. Tells me if I fucked up somewhere in conversations." He chuckled before beginning to put everyone's servings on their plates.
"Why are our servings so big?" Luna asked.
"Because you, Celestia and I are much bigger than the average pony, and thus, we need to eat more." Skystrike said as he untied and hung up his apron.
"...Are you calling us fat?" Celestia looked at Skystrike. Skystrike sighed.
"Celestia, when have I ever not been straightforward with you? If I wanted to call you fat, one, I'd say it, and two, I'd be much more creative with saying it." Skystrike said as he took a sip of water.
"Besides, sister, we already know it all goes to your rear." Luna giggled.
Skystrike choked on his water as Celestia's face went red. "Luna!" She said in embarrassment.
"ANYWAY, let's start eating." Skystrike said as he steadied his breathing and took a bite of his potato salad. He really needed something on his stomach. Yawning and rubbing his eyes with his hoof, he continued eating.
"Mmmm..." Luna hummed, taking a bite of her own. "We must say, we are pleasantly surprised by your culinary skills."
"Oh, thanks. I learned from Sister Paprika." Skystrike said as he took another bite.
"Wait, you have a sister?" Rainbow asked, looking up from her plate.
"Not biological. I was an orphan, remember?"
"Wait, you were an orphan?" Rainbow Dash stopped mid bite.
"...Rainbow, don't tell me you never noticed?" Skystrike looked at her. She avoided eye contact.
"Er, well, to be fair, darling, I don't think any of us knew." Rarity put her hoof up.
"Really? I just figured you guys knew and just didn't want to be rude and bring it up." Skystrike shrugged.
"Well I knew. I thought telling them would be something best left to you." Zecora spoke.
"Ok... Well anyway, yeah, I was an orphan. Sister Paprika took me in when I was around 9 or 10. During my stay, I helped with all the cooking, since you know, kids are picky."
"Where was it at? You've never really spoken about the places you've called home." Twilight asked.
"It was in Canterlot. It was called the Church of the Two Sisters. Good place, just didn't have good funding at the time, so we had to make do with cheap food." Skystrike sighed as he thought about the past. "Not to mention some of the Noble kids messing with me and the little ones because of our social standing."
"Wait, how old are you?" Rarity asked.
"Uh... 23 I think." Skystrike said after finishing his plate.
"23... wait, I was living in Canterlot at that time! We were so close to each other! If only we met a bit earlier..."
"We did meet. I met both you and Twilight up there, though I met you later, Rarity." Skystrike clarified.
"We've met? I feel like I would've remembered if we did." The unicorn said, trying to think back to her past.
"It was brief. I met you and your family at a park. You were having a picnic with your mom and your dad decided to play with me and the other orphans. Cool dude, kinda wanna see him again, see how he's doing."
"...You have a freakishly good memory. And how'd you meet Twilight?" Rarity asked.
"Oh, that's easy. Celestia put him in magic school with me, so she could watch us both!" Twilight said as she finished her plate. "Can I get another serving?"
"She's right, and go crazy, Twilight." Skystrike waved a hood. "It wasn't fun being the only pegasus in a school full of unicorns, but it's whatever. I was only there for a few years anyway."
"So has EVERYPONY met Skystrike but me in the past!?" Pinkie said, putting her hooves on the table.
"Oh, well, I met him at the same time as Flutters, up in flight school. It was only for a short while until he said he had to move back to Canterlot." Rainbow said as she put her hooves behind her head.
"I met Skystrike at a summer camp. We were makin' music. I played the guitar, he sang." Applejack said after a moment of thought.
"Actually Pinkie. I think you know about me, but you just haven't realized. A couple years ago, I worked on a rock farm. They were mining deep into a cave and awoke some monster there. Needed someone to clear it out, so I came. Turns out, there were a lot more than one Graveworm in there.
"Wait, you were the one that took care of it!? They sent me letters about you! And what are Grave Worms?" Pinkie tilted her head.
"Basically giant scaly worms. Their scales are made from the stone that they eat, and they appear in the shape of gravestones. The fucker decided it wanted to start a nest." Skystrike shivered.
"Wait, I just realized what Applejack said." Rainbow said, going back on the ever changing subjects of this conversation. "You can sing?" Rainbow asked with a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Yeah. I feel I'm average at it. Don't do it that much though. Why?"
"Well, I don't think we've ever heard you sing."
"That's because I have not sung yet, silly. I can't just drop a musical at the drop of a bit like you all do." He waved a hoof. "That being said, if you want to hear me sing, Naga's birthday is coming soon."
"Ooo, it's Naga's birthday!? I need to prepare! I need to make her a basilisk sized cake! Speaking of cake..." Pinkie jumped from the table to Skystrike's oven and pulled out a cake. "Here's your cake for winning, Zecora!"
"Thank you, Pinkie." Zecora smiled as she set the cake in front of the Zebra.
"So when do we get the party invitations!?" Pinkie asked, jumping back to her seat.
"Naga said she'd hand them out herself later today." Skystrike thought aloud. Just then, a tapping on the window was heard. Skystrike looked over to see his pet, Naga, looking in the window expectantly. "Speak of the devil." Skystrike said as he got up from his seat and opened the window. Naga slithered in before coiling around him in a hug. "Nice seeing you too." He hugged back. She let go and gave him an invitation to her party. She then slithered around the whole table, handing each pony and dragon an invitation, including the princesses.
"Oh, Naga, I never asked. How many ponies are you inviting?" Skystrike asked. Naga made a slow circle motion with the tip of her tail and cooed. "What do you mean anypony that wants to come?" She cooed again, then made a raspy sound by rubbing her scales together. "Oh, so anypony that won't run away from you?" She hissed and pointed at Skystrike. "What do you mean I need more friends!?" She slapped her tail on the ground. "No, if I wanted more friends, I'd go make some. I don't want to right now." She hissed once more. "I can make friends, yes. As I said, I don't want to right now though." Naga turned her head and slithered back out the window. "Wait a minute... when did she learn to write?"
Meanwhile, everyone else was looking on, trying not to giggle. "I don't want to hear it." Skystrike said, mildly annoyed. Anyway, Celestia, Luna, you two wanted to speak with me?"
"...Yes, but for our own separate reasons." Celestia said as she finished her plate.
"Um... should we leave?" Twilight asked, referring to everypony else.
"Nah, you should be fine. If it was super important, they would've had me come to them... Well, either that or they want something done privately." Skystrike sat back down and looked at Celestia for confirmation.
"It is the latter, we need you to do some things privately." Celestia nodded.
Skystrike pressed a button on the underside of his helmet, it loosening from his neck. The metal creaked as it opened. The pegasus took it off his head and set it on the table, revealing his face, as well as some matted fur around his neck. "Guess it has to be pretty bad if you had to come to me, huh?" He chuckled.
"Well, as much as It pains me to admit it, you're more reliable than most of my guards, despite your... methods." She grimaced. "There's a settlement forming in the North-Western part of Equestria on the coast of the North Luna ocean. It's about 3 days north of Vanhoover. Yesterday, we received word from one of their representatives that a 'beast' of sorts was spotted in their forest, eyeing the ponies and their livestock. There have been a confirmed 6 missing out of the 30 or so that went."
"Ok... and why can't you send your Guard? Or some other mercenary? I'll need more deets on the whole situation." Skystrike put his elbows on the table and put his forehooves together.
"To clarify, Vanhoover is in Count Caesar's territory, but the ponies sent to start the new settlement were sent by Upper Crust."
Skystrike sighed. "It's one of these situations again, isn't it?"
"..what do you mean?"
"I've dealt with nobles before. It's either Caesar offered help, and Upper Crust feels like his pride was attacked, or Caesar is using this as a chance to prove Upper Crust is incompitent and develop another city. How close am I on the money?"
"Nearly spot on. Upper Crust is a very... prideful pony to say the least." Celestia sighed.
"So what, you want me to go in privately and solve the problem to solve this dispute?" Skystrike asked as he leaned back into his chair.
"Yes." Celestia said as she nodded.
"Echo, I need info on the local fauna in the area north of Vanhoover. Specify for ones that can fit the term monster."
"Affirmative. Information on the area is limited, so we can only make assumptions. The most likely candidates are: Cragadile, Diamond Dog, Frost troll, Ursa, and if we're unlucky, a dragon."
"Well SHIT!" Skystrike yelled before quickly calming himself down. "Haaah... Very well, I accept. I'll leave in a week. I'll need to prepare."
"Good, but...does your helmet just... store knowledge for you?" Celestia asked.
"That's one of Echo's functions. He's more of a second voice of reason for me, in case I'm blinded by emotions or dont think something through."
"You speak of it as if it's a pony." Celestia looked at his helmet in mild interest.
"I am a sentient construct, yes."
"Construct? You were created by Skystrike here?"
"Negative. He discovered me. I know not of my creators. I only know that it is my main objective to assist Skystrike."
"And I appreciate it." Skystrike said, stopping Echo from revealing more than they needed to know. "Anyway, we need to discuss my reward."
"Yes... of course. I'll be giving you a large sum of bits, of course." Celestia nodded.
"Yeah, no, Imma need a bit more than some bits, sorry." Skystrike waved a hoof as Celestia looked at him. "Now, I'm not unreasonable, so I'll give you some options. I'd like you to fulfill at least three of my asks if I'm going up there."
Everypony looked at him like he was crazy, making demands from the princesses like it was nothing. Celestia glared at him. "...Go on..."
"One, Access to all parts of the Royal Library. Two, a scheduled meeting with the Court Magician. Three, Access to the Royal archives. Four, two items of my choosing from the Royal treasury. Five, several of each type of elemental stone. Six, a large magic stone." He said as he wrote it down on a piece of paper.
"That-... wha... you said you were reasonable!" Twilight stood up with her hooves on the table. "How was any of that reasonable!? You're given a mission by the princess, and you're making demands!? You can't even USE magic! Why do you need all that magic stuff!?"
"Twilight, first off, lower your voice, please. Second, that's how requests work when on the giving end. When one asks somepony to do something, they must agree to their demands. Third, if you must know... I plan on doing some experiments. Now, Celestia, what do you say?" He said, looking the sun princess in the eyes.
"To be quite honest, I find your... 'requests' as you put them, quite unreasonable. For the things you're asking for, It'd make more sense to send the guard. I fail to see how your demands are reasonable." Celestia explained.
"Well, allow me to explain my reasoning, then." Skystrike started as he took a sip of water. "First, sending a whole squadron of your guard will cause civilians to be more worried than I assume they already are, since multiple ponies have gone missing. Second, amassing the amount of resources, food, water, warmth, etcetera, needed for said squad would cause the Nobles to get suspicious. It'd be much more efficient to send a pony that can take the minimum needed for the mission." Skystrike continued to write on a sheet of paper. "Third, you're on a time limit. Either until that whole settlement disappears, or until one of the nobles get fed up and cause some infighting."
Celestia looked at Skystrike. While reluctant to, she had to agree with him on his points. It would be more efficient to send one Pony, especially somepony used to fighting in unusual conditions. "Then-" Celestia started.
"Oh, I'm not done. There's one more important thing you may have failed to realize." Skystrike put up a hoof.
"...And that is?"
"Well, you said their representative said that there were 6 ponies confirmed missing. Not dead, missing. If they were dead, their bodies would've been found, or at least some of their belongings when they went missing. Tartarus, even blood would've been a good sign."
Celestia frowned. "And how would my little ponies spilt blood have been a good sign?"
"It would've meant that there was a struggle, or they're dead. Not exactly good, but it would be much better compared to the potential hostage situation that this implies. Something out there is either smart enough to bring it's food back to it's den to save for later, or smart enough to keep 6 ponies held captive. I assume it's the latter, as they would've reported a metallic smell, the smell of blood."
The word "hostage" rang through everyone's heads as they stared at each other, eyes wide. Celestia looked down in thought. She never even considered a hostage situation. The thought of her little ponies suffering sent a chill up her spine.
"Now..." Skystrike continued. "Assuming that what I said is true, that means we can narrow down our list of what I'm going up against. Diamond Dog or Dragon. Since in this scenario, they're holding multiple ponies hostage, it means I'll be facing multiple." Skystrike elaborated before tapping the table to get Celestia's attention. "You're sending me to potentially fight several high level threats, to a hostage situation, where I have to both slay my enemies, and save the hostages. In essence, a mission with VERY high demands to meet. That being said, I feel my demands are reasonable, wouldn't you say?"
Celestia tried to gain back her composure. "Yes... I can see why you've asked for so much as a reward... I'm amazed you thought so far ahead and so thoroughly off of so little information... We will agree to your terms, on the condition that you save everypony you can and neutralize every threat."
"Seems fair to me. Today's monday, so I'll need time to prepare. I'll depart Friday morning."
"Sir, will we be coming?" Stardust raised a hoof, referring to herself, Spike, and Zecora.
"...What type of dumbass question is that, of course not! Did you miss the whole 'super dangerous and high stakes' mission part!?" Is what Skystrikes stare said. What came out of his mouth was a simple "No."
"Aw, come on, Skystrike, we can handle it!" Spike said with way too much confidence.
"Spike, you and Stardust can barely handle a warm glass of milk, let alone a posse of dragons."
"But it's our chance to prove ourselves! Come on, give us a chance!" Spike pleaded.
Skystrike looked at everypony at the table. Twilight was giving him a stare full of daggers. Skystrike sighed, thinking of a way to get out of this. After a moment, he thought of something. "Very well, come outside then. Get your armor and weapons ready. I'll give you a chance."
"Skystrike, you can't be serious! You can't be thinking of putting Spike in danger!" Twilight shouted in anger.
"He's just a baby!" Fluttershy sided with the unicorn.
"He's like, 10 or something." Skystrike said walked past Twilight, he gave her a wink. Putting on his helmet and grabbing his two swords, he pushed open the door. Everypony followed behind.
"Now..." Skystrike started. "Spike, Stardust, go over there. I'll explain the rules briefly. All you two have to do is last against me for 10 seconds. Think you can handle that?" He said, glaring at the two.
Spike and Stardust both gulped as they nodded and walked over a few feet away from Skystrike. They both drew their weapons, prepared to fight.
"Zecora, give us a countdown." Skystrike sighed. He got onto his hind legs, his armor folding outwards, making a tail for balance and claws to grab his swords, one in each hand.
Zecora held her breath. "Three... Two... One... Go!"
Spike only took a step forward before a loud boom was heard by everyone present. A wave of dust passed everyone, making them look away. As the dust settled, everyone looked in anticipation to see the outcome of the match. Skystrike stood over his disciples, a blade centimeters away from each of their throats. Spike and Stardust both dropped their weapons and fell backwards. An aura radiated from Skystrike as he stared both of them in the eyes. Stardust began to sweat. The only thing the two could feel was a primal fear.
Skystrike sheathed his swords as he got back down on all fours. "Now, what did we learn?" His killing intent began to dissipate.
"...That... we aren't ready..." Spike said, looking up at him.
"Right. Not yet. Maybe another time, but I make no promises." Skystrike nodded before helping the two up. "And sorry for scaring you. Didn't mean to scare you that bad."
"Skystrike, darling, was that really necessary?" Rarity asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
"Well, no, but it was the quickest way for me to get the point across. I'm going into a situation where stealth and speed are the best options. A prolonged battle will give the enemy time to call for help. Quick, deadly strikes is what's needed."
"Wait, ignoring that, did you just make a sonic rainboom!?" Rainbow Dash asked as she flew to his side, looking behind him.
Skystrike turned around to see a blue ring expanding and dissipating as it went farther and farther out. "...Huh, didn't know I could do that... Well I guess in my case, it'd be a Skyboom... No, that sounds silly..."
"Dude, you're missing the point! You just accelerated at the speed of sound!" Rainbow grabbed his face and looked him in the eyes. "Do you have ANY idea how amazing that is!?"
"Not really. I mean, you can probably do it if you try hard enough. It took me years to do that."
"But HOW!?" She pulled his face closer.
"I dunno. One day I was just able. Sorry, I don't really know what else to tell you." Skystrike shrugged. "Oh yeah, Luna, you said you wanted to talk with me right? What for?"
The night princess blinked, realized she was being referred to. "Oh, yes, we do!"
"You zoned out, didn't you?" Skystrike smirked.
"...We did not." Luna lied.
"Yes you did."
"What we wish to discuss is more... private than what our sister wished." Luna said, moving along the conversation.
Skystrike stood still and thought for a moment. Before he had the best idea he's had today. "Ok I guess. This sounds kinda updog though."
"...We must apologize, we are yet to be fully immersed with the modern slang... What is 'updog'?" Luna tilted her head.
"LUNA NO!" Celestia put out a hoof in dismay.
Skystrikes smirk turned into a wide, toothy grin as he began laughing. "Nothing much, what's up with you?"
Pinkie Pie snorted. "Hehehehe, He got her! He got the princess!" Pinkie rolled on the ground in a laughing fit.
"...Are you proud of yourself?" Luna gave a look of disappointment.
"Yes." Skystrike smiled. "So, anyway, we need to talk alone I'm guessing?"
"Yes. We apologize, but you all will have to leave now." Luna said, referring to the others.
"Well girls, you heard the princess. It was nice to see you both, Celestia, Luna." Twilight said with a bow.
"Oh yeah, and thanks for the food, Sky. It was great." Applejack said, nudging him with her elbow.
"Oh, thanks. I'll see you all later." Skystike said. His friends began walking down the path to his house. "Well, head back inside. I need to go get something." The pegasus said, walking back to his armory. Walking past his armor stands, he opened a cupboard and found a small box of pearl white orbs. Taking one of the ball-sized orbs in his hooves, he began walking to the living room where the princesses were waiting. He sat in the chair across from the two.
"...And that is?" Celestia asked, referring to the orb.
"Oh, this? A little something called a Silent stone. Helps keep eavesdroppers from listening. He said, nodding his head towards the now closed door. The two princesses looked at the door.
"...We are confused, there is nopony there?" Luna looked back at him.
"Luna?" Skystrike asked.
"Yes?"
"Updog." Skystrike said plainly. A giggle was heard behind the door followed by several shushes. "And that's why I have the Silent stone." Skystrike said with a sigh as he twisted the stone. A pale white dome formed around the three, swirling around like a blizzard. "As you can see, it creates a small space around the center where no sound can enter, nor leave. Useful, isn't it?"
"And where did you get these Silent stones? It was to my knowledge that they're in limited supply, and you can only buy a certain few at a time?" Celestia asked.
"I have my ways." He chuckled. "So, what did you need to talk about, Luna?"
Luna sat silent for a moment, thinking of how to say what she needed to. She breathed in deeply. "We've noticed that thou hast not been sleeping soundly as of late. The times thou are awake, though have been plagued with nightmares that I cannot save thou from. We find it a blessing if thou sleep at all."
Skystrike blinked. He should've expected this talk to be about his nightmares. He sighed. "Well... I have my reasons." He said as he leaned forward, dropping his joking tone.. "My past hasn't been... the best one to have."
Luna gulped. "Yes, our sister has told us about thou's upbringing. We're sorry about what thou-"
"Not that." Skystrike sighed. "Celestia found me when I was around 10. My... nightmares... are from before we've met."
Luna looked at her sister, who returned a look to her. "He hasn't told me about his adolescence either. It's a topic he tended to avoid."
"Heh, it still is...." Skystrike gave a nervous laugh.
"Why is that?" Celestia asked.
"...Well, a couple of reasons. It was a time in my life where I was never in control... where I was treated as a tool, an item... instead of a sentient being. Just a means to an end." Skystrike looked at his hoof, clenching it. "I'm plagued by those nightmares nearly everyday. I've gotten used to it." He said sadly.
"...And it made you feel weak?"
"Why do you think I try to be so strong?" He asked rhetorically. "I want to be strong so I have the strength to overpower those that used me."
"And thou hasn't asked for help?" Luna asked.
"One, that would be showing weakness, two, innocents would get involved. It's something I prefer to handle myself."
"There's no shame in asking your friends for help, Skystrike. Even I ask for help sometimes." Celestia tried to console him.
"Celestia, you don't know how deep this rabbit hole goes. It's more than nightmares, than feeling weak. They are the reason I fight." He explained.
"They? Who's they?"
"They-" For a moment, he thought of admitting it. Everything. But something in him, as if instinct, told him not to trust them. At least not yet. "...They are not important yet. Given time, I will tell you. I can't yet. It would put you in too much danger."
The two sat in silence for a moment, trying to think of who this 'they' were. Luna then asked a question. "And can thou not handle them thouselves?"
Skystrike thought for a moment. "...Can and should are very different... I can go to them and attempt to defeat them, at the cost of my life, and many others. It wouldn't be worth the lives of the innocents lost. Right now, I'm gathering resources... buying time."
"It sounds to us like thou hast it planned out." Luna egged him on.
"Somewhat, but not fully. I have another few years before I assume they'll come for me. Until then, I'll keep building my strength." Skytstrike explained. "Even then, I'd estimate it could go either way."
"It'd be an even fight with how strong you are? How powerful are they?" Celestia asked.
"...I'm not sure. That's why I'm uncertain of my chances. I'll tell you more another time, but we're getting off topic, and the silent stone is almost out of time... Let me ask this, why do you worry about my dreams? Well, nightmares in this case."
"Ah, yes..." Luna said, clearing her throat. "We've noticed during your nightmares, we are not able to interrupt them, let alone enter them."
"Oh, yeah, that's because I've set up a mental barrier." Skystrike said plainly.
Luna stared at him, thinking. "wha- ... that means that thou art conscious enough to be lucid dreaming!"
"Yes."
"Thou could have stopped the nightmares themselves!"
"Yep. I have my reasons as to why I refuse to. Now, why do you want to enter my dreams in the first place?" Skystrike frowned.
"...Because it is our duty as the princess of the night to make sure everypony gets a good night's rest." Luna explained.
"Cool, cool, but hear me out. Excuse my harshness, but I didn't ask you to, nor did you ask me if you could enter my dreams." He said, a hint of coldness in his voice.
"...Will thou allow us into thine dreams?" Luna asked.
"I don't see why not." Skystrike shrugged as he leaned back in his chair.
"...Really? Just like that?" Luna asked, incredulously.
"I am a simple stallion. Ask something reasonable, and I'll probably say yes. I'll open up my dream when I want though, so stay vigilant on that. Anyhow, the Silence stone's effect will wear off soon, so I'm gonna say something silly to screw with the others, is that ok?" Skystrike asked, looking at the pale white dome around them slowly fading away.
"Go for it." Celestia waved a hoof.
The barrier fell, the silence stone turning a grey color, notifying it's been used. Skystrike smirked. "And that's why I'm wanted for grave robbery in 14 territories and 3 seperate countries." He said loudly.
The door burst open. "You W H A T!?" Everypony asked.
Skystrike laughed while the princesses giggled.
The next day came quickly once the princesses took off back to Canterlot. After his morning routine, Skystrike decided to take a walk through Ponyville. He figured that it'd be a good idea to get around town more, since he only came out for major events. Touring the town, he sat down at a park bench for a small break. Closing his eyes, and letting in the sounds around him, he felt calmed. The Gentle breeze against his fur, the sounds of the trees rustling as the wind went by. Even the sun was the perfect autumn warmth. Nothing could ruin this moment for him.
"Well howdy, Nebula!" A filly with a southern accent said. Well... it ended the moment, not ruin it.
Skystrike opened his eyes to see three filled. Applejack, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo all looked up at him. Skystrike leaned forward. "Oh hey, what're you three doing today?"
"Oh, nothing really. We were actually looking for something to do before we found you!" Applebloom said, jumping on the seat next to him.
"Yeah, we can't think of anything else." Scootaloo shrugged. "We've already played tag, hide and seek, red light green light, you name it.
"Oh, so you're bored... You know, when I was your age, I sat down and pretended to squish really far away ponies with my hooves." Skystrike said with a chuckle. "Look, try it with me. It's more fun if you make sounds while you do it."
Skystrike pointed to a mare walking by in the distance. He put his hooves in front of his eyes and made a squishing sound with his mouth. "Heh, still kinda fun."
The fillies next to him did the same, each trying to make a funnier squishing noise. "Hey, this is kinda fun!" Sweetie Belle giggled. The four sat together for a while, squishing ponies as they walked by.
"Oh, Nebula, there you are, darling!" Rarity said coming from behind them.
"WHOA JESUS! You came out of nowhere." Skystrike said as he got over his mild shot to turn around and see the mare. "What's poppin'?" He then looked behind Rarity to see Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. "And hello to you two, too."
"Nebula, I have a surprise for you at my boutique!" Rarity smiled.
"Oh cool, what is it?"
"I... I just said it was a surprise, dear."
"Oh, so a surprise surprise, then. Alright, I guess we're going then. I'll chill with you another time, kids." Skystrike said as he got up and gave each filly a pat on the head.
Skystrike walked in with Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, all three following Rarity with their eyes closed.
"That's it!" Rarity said in excitement as she led the group with her voice. "Keep them closed! Dont look~!"
Skystrike stood still, eyes closed, trying his best to not fall asleep. He really needed to get some sleep. He felt something furry brush against his hoof, but decided to ignore it for now.
"Ok, you can look now!" Rarity squealed. Skystrike opened his eyes, seeing all his pony friends, Stardust included, standing to his right. After looking at them, he looked in front of him to where Rarity was standing next to some clothes she's made for them. A green and brown cowgirl style dress with boots and crocheted apples placed periodically around it, which he assumed was for Applejack. A blue dress with a large collar and stars near edges and a star hair piece. Probably Twilight's. A grass green dress with flowers stitched in with a pair of greed vine-like shoes. Fluttershy's definitely. A rainbow dress that flowed like a waterfall with a headband and shoes of roman design. Rainbow Dash's. Wait, they got romans here? Ignoring that, he looked at the last three dresses.
A pink, white, and blue dress that looked as if it was made from cake, candy canes and candy corn, as well as cute bows in some places. Pinkie Pie's. There were two dresses left. A navy blue dress with white and sky blue glitter with a necklace in the shape of a star. That'd fit Stardust pretty well.
The last dress Skystrike looked at was raven black in color with white circles spread around in a chain-like pattern. It also had a blue under-dress as well as a black jeweled necklace in the shape of his four pointed star.
"What do you think of your old duds now, Applejack?" Rarity motioned towards her dress. "Pretty swanky are they not? And Twilight, I made this dress for you and designed each dress to match each ponies specific personality!" Skystrike stared at her. "Oh, it took forever to get to colors right on this one, Rainbow Dash." She continued as she walked by each dress. "And It turned out beautiful, don't you think? And I know you're going to LOVE yours, Fluttershy. It just sings spring!" Skystrike continued to stare at the mare. "And Pinkie Pie, look! Pink! Your favorite! Stardust! Yours came out almost on instinct! And Skystrike! The dark colors to contrast your fur, it came out just perfect! Aren't they amazing!?" She looked at the group with a waiting smile.
The group stood silent for a moment, staring at their dresses. THEIR dresses. Skystrike has a dress now. He took his eyes off the smiling mare and back to 'his' dress, processing the information he was given.
"Wow... they're...." Twilight started.
"Yeah, they're..." Rainbow tried to continue.
"They sure are... somethin'." Applejack gave an awkward smile
"Yes!" Twilight pointed to Applejack. "They're something!" She said as she gave the same smile.
"I love something! Something is my favorite!" Pinkie gave a wider awkward smile.
"It's... nice." Fluttershy pointed her ears down.
"I like mine." Stardust gave an actual smile.
"What's the matter? Don't you like them?" Rarity asked as Skystrike's brain crashed andwas currently rebooting.
"They're... very nice!" Twilight said, the awkward smile never leaving her face.
"And we're plum thankful you worked so hard on them!" Applejack smiled.
"Mine's just not as cool as I was imagining!" Rainbow said flatly. Applejack and Twilight glared at the pegasus. Rainbow looked pack at the two before putting up a hoof. "What? She asked."
Skystrike finished rebooting. "At least she's honest."
"Skystrike, darling, you haven't said anything yet. What's your take?" Rarity asked.
Skystrike sighed and removed the latch keeping his helmet on. He stared at her, letting her see his unamused expression.
"Skystrike... are you... are you alright?" Rarity took an awkward step back."
"Is there some inside joke I'm missing out on?" Skystrike asked with a tone of annoyance.
"Wh-... what do you mean?"
"What I mean is when I saw this dress, I thought you were going to tell me it was for Zecora or something, not for me. Why, pray tell, did you make ME a dress?" He said as he stared at Rarity.
"Well... I thought you'd like it? It goes with your style fairly well, wouldn't you say?" Rarity gave an awkward smile of her own.
"That doesn't answer my question. Why. A. Dress?" He asked, emphasizing each word.
"W-well... I... I..."
Skystrike's stare narrowed. "You what?" He said, egging her on.
"I... well... you... are into stallions... aren't you?" She asked hesitantly.
Skystrike stared. His brow furrowed. "Im not gay, Rarity."
"Skystrike, you know it's ok to be gay. We aren't going to judge you." Twilight tried to reassure him.
"The hell? You thought I was- HOW MANY OF YOU THINK IM GAY?" Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash all rose a hoof. Skystrike was about to yell again, but was able to calm himself down. "Elaborate." He said flatly.
"Well... when we're together, you act... marely?" Twilight said.
"...The fuck does marely even mean?"
"It means you act like a mare." Rainbow Dash said. "Like, when you fought Nightmare Moon, or Gilda, or that Ursa Minor. Normally mares are the ones who do the fighting."
"Or when something bad happens, you take charge of the situation." Twilight added.
"Or how you talk to the princess like you're on equal hoofing." Fluttershy added more.
"Or how you're good with kids, since I saw you with my sister and her friends earlier today." Rarity said.
Skystrike stared before he realized the mistake he made throughout his whole life in this world. He never considered gender roles. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. Nearly every being with power, political, magical, or otherwise, was female. Then the six to one ratio of mares to stallions. It would make sense that if a stallion did things that mares traditionally did, it would leave some implications.
"Wait, y'all're serious? I thought this was a joke or something." Applejack raised an eyebrow. "I thought it was obvious he was straight."
"Yeah, it's pretty obvious when you think about it." Pinkie added. She pulled a pair of reading glasses and a notepad out of her hair. Putting on the reading glasses, she read what was on the notepad. "Starting with you, Rainbow Dash. If you pay attention to how Skystrike acts, you will notice that he's the type of pony to do a job solely because nopony else will. At those times, the only one who'd stand up to them was Skystrike." She spawned a pixie stick and smoked it like a cigar. "Twilight, Skystrike takes charge as he normally plans things out before-hoof. I could tell when he came to Ponyville solely to prepare for Nightmare Moon when she came. Fluttershy, Skystrike knew Celestia since he was a kid, so it makes sense they're familiar. And Rarity, he was the older sibling at an orphanage. He has to be good with kids."
"Huh, so Pinkie is the smart one. Couldn't have explained it better myself." Skystrike nodded.
"Plus, he also looks at our plots sometimes."
"Aaaaand I instantly regret coming here."
"Well, it's only fair. We look at his." Applejack admitted.
"Oh, he knows we look at his." Pinkie laughed.
"He knows!?" Every girl in the room shouted.
Skystrike covered his ears. "Well, none of you are exactly discrete."
"...I regret this day a lot" Rainbow Dash said with a blank stare.
"Yeah, I think we all do." Skystrike said matter-of-factly. "So, to alleviate the awkwardness, I'mma dip. I'm also gonna act like none of this happened." He said as he made his way towards the door. "Call me when you need me."
"Wait!" Applejack stopped him. "So who's is best?"
Everypony stared, waiting for an answer. Skystrike frowned. "You know, every day, I wake up and ask myself "what am I willing to put up with today?" And you know what? Not fucking this!" He yelled as the mares laughed.
A few days passed as Skystrike prepared for his mission. Preparing some potions and solutions with Zecora, as well as sharpening his swords, as well as making some disposable weapons. He decided to take a break from that to check on the now suit that Rarity said she'd make for him. Skystrike just asked for a base, so he could tell her what he'd want on the suit. Currently, he's meeting with her about said suit. It was raven black in color, with a blue undershirt and a white bow-tie, with white chain pattern running horizontally around each hoof. It also had a pocket square to add a bit of extra fashion to it.
"So, it looks good overall. As I expected of somepony of your talent, Rarity." Skystrike said as he looked himself over, wearing his suit.
"Thank you, darling, but you don't seem to be... as ecstatic as I thought you'd be." Rarity rolled her hoof as she looked for a word. "What would you want to change about it?"
"Well..." Skystrike thought it over as he looked in the mirror at his outfit. "I'd like an evening tailcoat, same color, in black worsted barathea wool with matching pleated trousers. With my size, I'd probably need shoulder suspenders. Black silk lapel facings, with a boutonniere-hole on the left side with a stem holder behinds. Three ornamental blue buttons on each breast, four on each sleeve, in the same material. Blue lapel-less waistcoat, cut to line up with the tailcoat, while covering my trousers and waistband. White bowtie, same fabric, with prench cuffs. Patent leather shoes, whole cut, with inner quilting, since we'll be dancing. Two pairs of blue kidskin gloves, both having my 4-pronged star on the back of them. Keep the chain patterns, I love it. If you don't have the materials for some of that, go with the next best fitting thing, and if you need me to, I can try and draw a sketch."
Rarity stared at him with her jaw ajar. "...What?" Skystrike asked.
Rarity whipped some drool about to fall from her mouth. "Well... I must admit, I... like a stallion who knows his way around fashion."
Skystrike looked at Rarity, somewhat surprised. "Huh, well thanks then?" He responded, not exactly sure what to say in this situation. "Anyway, I trust you'll make me look good with the design. I need to go back to preparing for the mission."
"Alright! I'll call you back when I finish everypony's clothes!" Rarity nodded as Skystrike left through the door.
Another few days passed by until Skystrike and the rest of his friends were told that their outfits were done. The group entered Rarity's boutique to look at their outfits.
"Ok." Rarity started with a sigh. "I did exactly as everypony asked, now don't hold back! Let me know what you really think!" She said as she tried to look away from the clothes. Skystrike noticed this, raising an eyebrow, before looking back at the outfits. He first looked at his. He was impressed. It was exactly what he asked for, down to the T. He then decided to glance at the other mare's dresses. His eyes shrunk in horror at the utter abominations he looked at. Rarity's cat agreed with him, gagging and swiping at a dress with it's paws.
"It's exactly what I asked for!" Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and Pinkie Pie. said in unison. Skystrike looked at Stardust, whose dress was nearly the same as the last time he saw it. They both spoke with their eyes.
"They can't be serious." Skystrike stared.
"I hope not." Stardust stared back.
Rarity let out a sigh of relief as a lot of pressure was off her hooves.
"Thank you, Rarity." Twilight walked up to the mare.
Pinkie jumped up to the unicorn happily. "Are you as excited about them as we are? Huh? Huh?? Huh???"
"Well..." Rarity said hesitantly. "I'm... happy that you all are happy. I'm just relieved to finally be done."
"Rarity?" Skystrike raised a hoof as the group looked at him. "Are you gonna say what you actually think of this, or can I say it?"
Before Rarity could answer, Spike busted in, huffing as he just ran here. "You're never gonna believe this! You know Hoity Toity?"
"The big wig, fashion hot-shot in Canterlot?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah! He heard about your fashion show. Well, maybe I've mentioned it to him. He's coming here! All the way from Canterlot to see your work, Rarity!" Spike pointed at said mare.
"Whoa, Nelly!" Applejack said in surprise. "You could sell a whole load of dresses to this guy! Your business will be booming!" Rarity gave an awkward smile and an eye twitch as Applejack spoke. The rest of the mares, save for Stardust, congratulated her.
"No." Skystrike said plainly.
"...what do you mean no?" Spike asked.
"I mean I won't- I CAN'T let you all go out there wearing those...things." Skystrike seethed.
"Aw come on, Rarity worked hard on them. I bet they look-" Spike held his tongue as he looked at the outfits for them before also gagging.
"Spike, that's uncalled for! These outfits look great!" Twilight scolded the dragon.
"Yeah, for nightmare night." Skystrike scoffed. "You'll look ridiculous going on stage with that, in front of the whole town, tourists, AND Hoitty Toitty.
"Skystrike, our outfits don't look ridiculous! They look great!" Applejack said angrily.
"Applejack, I know you ain't talking when your dress looks like you're about to do electrical work while SIMULTANEOUSLY telling timmy turner that you own the Dimmsdale dimmadome." Skysteike pointed at the mare.
"Hey, lay off!" Rainbow Dash flew up to him.
"Rainbow, do not start. Your dress looks like you put on too much hair gel on your way to Rome." Skystrike stared her down. "The-... Wh-..." Skystrike tried to find the words to properly explain his frustration. "...You know what? I changed my mind. Go ahead and do the show. If me saying it doesn't make you see reason, maybe half the town will."
"We'll show you! We'll have all of Ponyville in awe of Rarity's outfits!"
Skystrike stared at her, nodded, then left.
The evening came as the show was about to start. Ponies gathered around a stage set up in the town center. A cushion was set down for a phthalo bluish grey pony with a light sapphire bluish grey mane with light grey stripes. He straightened his attire before sitting down on the cushion.
Skystrike sat next to him. "Oh, so I'm guessing you're Hoity Toity? Nice to meet you."
Hoity Toity looked to his side to see the stallion talking to him. "Ah, you must be Atlas Nebula." He nodded at him. "I know you. You caused quite an uproar in Canterlot with that stunt you pulled."
Skystrike chuckled. "Yeah, I bet that would have had my name come out of a few mouths huh? Wish I could say the same about you, but I don't know too much about fashion. I have visited your boutique in Canterlot though. I must say, you're pretty creative!"
"Why, thank you. I appreciate that! I must say, I'm surprised somepony like you is even interested in my work. No offense, but I expected you to be more... antagonistic."
"None taken. I get it. Kinda set myself up for that, huh?" Skystrike waved a hoof as they both chuckled. "You know, I'm surprised somepony like you cares about a fashion show like this. Figured you'd have other things to do then come to Ponyville."
"Oh, on the contrary. I like seeing up-and-coming designers try and put their hoof in the market. Few of the other ponies in my field would give these ponies a chance. I'd like to see the mare's work. What was her name? Rarity was it?"
"Yeah, her name's Rarity. And thanks for that. She does try and put her best into the outfits she makes. Under different circumstances, she'd be glad you were here." Skystrike sighed.
"...What do you mean, 'Under different circumstances?'" Hoity Toity raised an eyebrow as he pulled down his purple reflector shades to look at him.
"I don't mean to be ominous, but... I'll tell you after the show if you don't figure it out by then." Skystrike said as the stage lights dimmed, signaling the show was about to start. He heard some music play from the surround sound speakers as a voice began to speak.
"Since the beginning of time, the elites of Equestria have longed for pony fashion that captured the essence of their very soul." Spike said from the shadows.
"Oh dear fuck." Skystrike cringed.
"Patiently waiting decades... no, CENTURIES, for the perfect pony gown."
"Oh god damn it..."
"Today, at long last, Equestria. Your wait is over!"
"Damn it Spike, stop hyping it up."
"Let's hear it, for the breath-taking designs for Ponyville's very own... Rarity!"
As Spike finished, the stage curtains opened to reveal Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie wearing their outfits. The crowd gasped as they looked at their...
"Oh god I didn't even get a good look at them, what the HELL are those!?" Skystrike thought as he cringed even more.
As the five walked to center stage, the on looking ponies watched, and Skytrike got a better look at their design choices. Twilight had a robe of sorts that, to be honest, looked more like a rug, had multiple constellations on it, as well as the sun and moon. To be fair, everything was accurate on it. It did not help, however, that it would look better as a bedsheet.
Pinkie Pie... well her outfit definitely suits her. She had yellow ribbons on each hoof, as well as her chest. She also had a blue tu-tu on, and to top it all off, a giant cupcake on her head and balloons as a hair tie on her tail.
Applejack. Dear Lord, Applejack. Her dress was a patchwork of red, green, and brown that was held up with overalls. On her hooves were... Are those fucking rainboots? Is that a red 20 gallon hat with an apple buckle? Dear lord.
Rainbow Dash had... something on that Skystrike could barely describe, much less process. It was... Roman? In design. EVERYTHING had a rainbow. Rainbow socks, helmet, and chest piece. To add onto all that, there was a cape with a cloud and thunderbolt on it.
Fluttershy had... a whole ass nest on her head. Are those quail eggs? She had either a large orange flower or leaves around her neck. Her dress looked like a literal bush with flowers blooming on it. But the most atrocious thing is the damn moss slip-ons.
Everypony there had a look of disgust on their face, many gagging or making a face of disgust. Skystrike couldn't blame them. It was pretty horrific to look at. If he had to describe what he was seeing...
"Eugh, it looks like a piled on mish-mash of everything but the kitchen sink!" Hoity Toity said in disgust to the crowd around him, who laughed in return.
Yeah, Skystrike couldn't really blame him. He would've preferred the word 'pain' but that was pretty spot on too.
"It's a travesty, it's what it is! Those outfits are the ugliest things I've ever seen, oh for shame!" Hoity Toity ranted. "Who is responsible for subjecting our eyes to these horrors!?" He finished as he stomped a hoof. "Not to mention wasting my valuable time..."
Spike walked into the spotlight and was about to answer his question, before Stardust quickly pulled him back behind the curtain.
"All according to plan." Skystrike smirked under his mask. He flew up over the stage, getting the crowd's attention. "You thought it was Rarity who made those outfits, BUT IT WAS ME, NEBULA!"
The crowd and Hoity Toity gasped at his announcement. "That's right! I made those outfits! I replaced Rarity's with mine, mere MOMENTS before they were to get dressed!" He lied, hoping to get the crowd to believe him. "Y'all got P R A N K E D!" He let out a convincing evil laugh as a few ponies in the crowd began to boo him. Soon, others joined in, booing him for the outfits he supposedly made. He continued to antagonize the crowd as his friends watched on in shock. Skystrike made a motion with his hoof signaling them to go back behind the curtains.
The five quickly ran behind the curtains before the crowd thought about throwing things. "What's he doing out there!? Is he trying to get ponies to hate him!?" Rainbow Dash spoke first as she took off her helmet.
"Well, no, but he said that it'd be an unwelcome side effect." Stardust said, letting go of Spike.
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked. "He didn't even want to be involved in this show, and now he's... I'm not even sure what he's doing!"
After looking out from the curtains to see the chaos Skystrike caused, Fluttershy spoke. "He's... he's being the fall guy."
Rarity's ears perked up. "What do you mean?"
"From what he's told me, he knew he couldn't stop the show in time, and everypony knew Rarity was to make the outfits, so he planned to take the blame for the outfits so Rarity wouldn't potentially ruin her career." Stardust sighed. "He also said he didn't tell anypony else because you'd all be against it. I was against it too, but he was adamant on it."
"But... but he... He doesn't want ponies to hate him! He talks about how he wants to make friends, not lose them!" Twilight said in confusion and fustration.
"I said that to him, and he responded something along the lines of 'Even if I did make friends, the way I act will make me lose them anyway. It's no big deal.' And then chuckled."
"Does he not think about himself at all!?" Twilight asked angrily.
"Well, knowing Skystrike, he probably has a plan... Even though that doesn't change the problem with him...." Applejack rubbed her hoof.
"Indeed I do." Skystrike stated as he walked through the curtains.
"Skystrike, sooner or later, we're gonna have to talk about you and these stunts you pull." Applejack sighed indignantly.
"Later then. So... Here's the plan. You five..." Skystrike put his hooves together, referring to the ones that went on stage. "Are going to explain to Hoity Toity how those weren't Rarity's designs. If all goes well, we can do another show with outfits that Rarity is proud of. The last train left already, so he has to be staying somewhere in Ponyville at least for the night."
"And what about you?" Rarity asked.
"What about me? I'll be fine. Sooner or later, rumors will spread, and the ponies of this town will realize that I lied out my flank up there." Skystrike sighed. "Now, I'm sure you all have a lot to talk about amongst yourselves. I'm going home before anypony vandalizes my house..."
"Why do you always walk away from things like it isn't your problem!?" Rainbow Dash flew in his face. "You're the one that causes these things!"
Skystrike stared at her for a moment, growing impatient. "Because, Rainbow, it's not my problem, nor is it up to me to fix the problems that you all cause between each other. Whether it was between you and Applejack during that race, Applejack and her pride during Applebucking season, all of you going for Twilight's and my ticket, or now, as you held no regard for the original dresses Rarity made and put effort into for you all, the problem lies between yourselves." He spoke as he stared her down. "I can, however, as your friend, help you fix the problem. So, talk amongst yourselves, figure out how you can stop something like this from happening again, and listen to each other. Rarity did her best on the original dresses to suit each and every one of you the best she could. Just to make you all happy. Don't let her efforts go to waste. Now, before I come off as more passive aggressive, I'm. Going. Home." He stated flatly before walking off the stage.
After heading to bed for the night, Skystrike woke the next day to some rather interesting news. Good news is, Rainbow Dash flew over to tell him they were able to convince Hoity Toity to come watch the little private show they're going to have. Just him looking at the outfits Rarity has made. The interesting news...
"You want me to join in the show?" He asked the question like it was a joke.
"Well of course we do! Rarity made that suit for you to wear, you know." She answered, then bumped him with her elbow. "Besides, we all want to see you in that suit. Mostly Rarity. She said something about how you'd look 'absolutely dashing' in your outfit, and now we all kinda want to see it."
"Eh, that's fair. Let's go then." Skystrike sighed as he stepped outside his house.
"Last one there owes the winner 5 bits!" Rainbow Dash said quickly before flying off at a rather amazing speed. After a few seconds, Skystrike quickly caught up.
"Silly, silly Rainbow..." Skystrike said, flying backwards as he pulled up next to her. "You forget... I'm not wearing my armor!" He laughed before zooming ahead of her.
"So, I've never done one of these before. Anything special I do besides just... walking out there?" Skystrike said, looking over himself.
"Nebula, you've been standing back here for a while. All the others have already walked. Just get out there!" Rarity said as she pushed him out onto stage.
Skystrike staggered onto stage before quickly straightening himself and walking down the catwalk, not knowing what he was doing at all. However, he pretended to have the one thing he needed here. Confidence.
Walking to the end of the catwalk, he stood up straight, puffed his chest out and spread his wings, then turned around, walking back behind the curtains. Hoity Toity, who was gazing at his outfit, clapped his hooves together. "Oh ho ho! Now this is a fashion show! These are some of the most amazing dresses I've ever seen!" He said, complementing Rarity. "And that suit, it's on a whole different tier! I must see who's responsible, show yourself!" He stood up as he looked around.
Rarity illuminated her horn, opening the curtains to show all the outfits she made for her friends, as well as her own dress. Rarity's dress was a violet pink with golden stripes going horizontally down the dress. The dress also extended to her chest, the sleeves and collar ending with magenta frills. To top it all off, she even made herself a golden tiara with a purple gemstone in the center of it.
"I want a crown now." Skystrike thought to himself.
"Oh, Magnifico! Encore!" Hoity Toity clapped again as he cheered.
"Oh thank you, thank you! Thank you so much!" Rarity squealed with glee.
After the show ended, the group began to clean everything up. Turning on the lights, Twilight writing a letter to Celestia, most of the mares looking at Skystrike...
"You know, you REALLY clean up well." Applejack smirked.
"Yeah, I thought I'd laugh when I saw you, but I'll admit, you look nice." Rainbow Dash said, flying over him.
"You even used the right stitch." Fluttershy added.
"It was kinda hot." Twilight blurted without thinking.
Everyone stared at her. Twilight recoiled, realizing what she said. Skystrike was gripping his helmet trying not to laugh. "Imma ignore that." He said through stifled laughter before calming down and finishing his sentence. "I'm still surprised this all worked. Didn't expect him to stay... Also, Rainbow, just want to say, sorry that I came off as... aggressive yesterday."
"Oh, well, thanks. Don't worry too much about it. You were kinda right." Rainbow sighed. "She put all that effort into these dresses to make us happy... And we asked for more, which ended up making her unhappy... and almost ruining her career..." She said as she looked to the side.
"Well hey, at least we all learned something." Skystrike said as he loosened his bow-tie."
"Wait, what did you learn?" Applejack asked.
"Apparently I'm hotter than I thought, and Twilight is still socially awkward." |
A Broken Warrior | Tell me, how does one... "Party"? | "Happy Birthday, Naga!" Skystrike said, walking into the basalisk's cave. "It's the big day! Pinkie Pie said she's setting up the party, and Rarity is finishing your clothes!" He continued to call out to her as he walked deeper in. Turning a corner, he gazed upon Naga constricting a rather large Manticore in preperation for her meal.
"Oh, sorry. Didn't mean to interupt..." Skystrike said as he stopped in place. The Manticore fell lifeless from strangulation before Naga swallowed it whole. Once finished, she gave a friendly chirp to Skystrike before slithering onto her rather large nest. The pegasus flew over and layed beside the tamed beast. "So, I assume you had a good meal. I can't cook you anything with meat, since, you know, we'll have guest over. I do hope you'll like the clothes Rarity is finishing for you... Well, not really sure if it counts as clothes, since it's kinda a long sleeve." Skystrike scratched his chin.
Naga cooed and rubbed her head against him. Her scales were surprisingly smooth.
"Oh yeah, so any idea how many ponies are even coming?" Skystrike asked.
She clicked her tounge 3 times.
"Around thirty? Damn, you're more popular than I thought." He looked at her in surprise. "...I wonder what it'll take for you to be the town mascot..." He spoke to himself. "Anyhow, your clothes will be here in a few hours. Rarity said she'll be done around 3 p.m.
Naga nodded and wrapped the tip of her tail around Skystrike, picking him up and nuzzling him.
"Hey, careful! Static fric-... OW! Mother fucker!" he said as his hoof was shocked as he went to push himself off of her. "Damn... you lucky I like you." He said as he shook his hoof. "Anyway. I'll let you rest. I need to go check up on some stuff. I told Rarity the way here. She and Fluttershy will come by with your clothes." Skystrike said as Naga put him down. Naga nodded before curling up, ready to take a nap. "Alright, I'll see you later."
Skystrike walked out of Naga's cave and began making his way towards Zecora's hut, just to double check everything the two made in preperation for his trip. He was about to take off into the air before realizing that the Everfree Forest is nearly pitch black on the inside. There was no chance he would see her hut from above. Deciding to stay on the path, he walked deeper into the Everfree, following the path and making sure to not touch any poisin joke. Even armored, he didn't want to test his luck.
After a few minutes, he stopped in front of the Zebras house and knocked on her door. After a moment, Zecora swung open the door to greet Skystrike.
"Greetings, my friend. It is nice to see you again." Zecora smiled at him.
"...That barely rhymes... Anyway, just came to chat and check up on the stuff for the mission tomorrow. So, how's it going?" Skystrike asked as Zecora stepped to the side to let him in.
"I am doing well, my friend. Just writing some things down, I have a letter to send." She answered.
"Oh, cool. Where to? Your lover~?" He teased.
Zecora turned to look at him. "Skystrike, do you remember how we met?"
A younger Skystrike made his way towards Horseshoe Bay. He decided to take a break from his travels in Baltimare. He wore the same helmet, however he wore light armor compared to his current heavy armor. He wore silver boots on his hooves and a silver chest plate, allowing for greater mobility for a coming mission he had to do. But he didn't want to think about that. Right now, he wanted to relax, listen to the sound of the waves crashing agains the docks. Walking by the many crates and ponies running on the dock, something caught his eye. A zebra walked down the ramp of a docked ship, large saddlebags on each of her sides. She walked in Skystrike's direction, not paying attention to where she was going as she had a book in her hoof.
"Huh, first Zebra I've seen in this world. Neat." He thought to himself. He looked away towards the waves, deciding to take in the view of the ocean. He sat in silence for a moment before something bumped into his side. Out of the corner of his eye, something was about to fall into the water below. On instinct, he leaned out to, and thankfully did, catch it.
"Oh dear, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to run into you, twas an act of folly!" The zebra apologized.
Skystrike took a look at the object he caught. A book on magic. "Don't worry about it. So, what's a zebra like yourself doing in Equestria? And on top of that, studying magic?" He asked, handing the book back to the zebra.
She took the book back then looked at Skystrike. "Well, for both of those questions, the answer is the same. To study and harness magic is my game."
"Huh... interesting. Never figured anypony other than a unicorn would want to harness magic." He smiled. "Seems we have similar goals. I actually travel around from place to place, gathering magical artifacts myself."
The Zebras eyes lit up in interest. "Would it be too much to ask to come with you? In this new country, I've much to learn and do."
"Really? Figured you'd have somepony waiting for you here..." He said as he thought. "...You sure? It'll be pretty dangerous, and my group is quite diverse to say the least."
"I am sure." She answered as she put out a hoof. "I'm quite excited at the thought of adventure."
Skystrike took her hoof and shook it. "Well, welcome to All. You'll fit right in. What's your name?"
"Zecora."
"And then you screamed like a banshee as soon as you saw Tethys." He laughed.
Zecora giggled thinking back to that moment. "Well, I ask the question because I've been thinking. And to be honest, it's been giving me a feeling that's sinking."
Skystrike processed what he heard for a moment. "Oh... well, what's up?"
Zecora leaned over her cauldron. "When I met you as a youth, I didn't tell you the whole truth. I came to Equestria not only to study magic. There is more, quite sad, yet not quite tragic." She stared at the cooling liquid before continuing. "I came to Equestria to escape my past. Though, by leaving, the relationships I had did not last. My... friends, if I could call them that, did not support my goal. They thought of it as just the ramblings of a naive foal. When I came to this country, I expected hostility. But when you came and offered me an opportunity, I was happy that somepony gave me a chance. One who didn't find my dream silly." Zecora turned to face Skystrike. "For that, I must say thank you."
Skystrike looked at her for a moment before responding. "Well, you're welcome, Zecora. I don't feel like I did that much, but I see it was a huge impact on you." He smiled at her. "...But since we're admitting stuff, I need to come clean about something. Sorry to ruin the mood, but this mission gives me a bad feeling. It's like... it came at too convenient of a time. Like something planned for me to come."
"Are you sure you aren't being paranoid?"
"There have been very few times where a gut feeling of mine has been wrong. I don't mean to worry you, but... For this mission, I'm not 100% confident I'll come back alive." He sighed.
Zecora's eyes went wide. "Wha-"
"That being said, I have no intention of dying. So, if I come back, everything will be fine, I'll be able to get stronger, and it'll be the good ending of this chapter... But if I fall... if somehow I die there..." He pulled out a book from his saddle bag. The cover was raven black with a picture of his iconic four pointed star on it. To add to it, there was a lock keeping it from being openned. "I'll leave this to you. This is my diary. Every day I've been in this world, I've wrote down what happened. From the friends I made, to the friends I lost, to every emotion I've felt, everything is in here." He pushed the book into her chest. Zecora put a hoof over his as Skystrike continued talking. "Whether you decide to read it or not is up to you. That book will tell you who... no, what I really am. Zecora, over the years we've known each other, you are one of the few ponies... well Zebras... beings, I can say with certainty I trust. I'll trust whatever decision you make on that. If I die, I ask you to share what's in there with all my friends, as well as the princesses. If I come back, I ask you keep what's in there a secret for now. I know this is a fuck ton to take in, so ask any questions that come to mind."
Zecora stared at him for a moment before sitting on the floor and thinking of which question to ask first. Time went by in silence, nearly 10 minutes, before she started her questions. "...You said 'what you really are', so I suppose I have to ask, what is under that figurative mask?"
"I am..." He began, trying to say what he wanted. But something in him, compelled him... no, Ordered him to not answer it. At least not directly. "...While I do look like this, I am not a pony. I am also not a changeling. I'm sorry, I wish I can tell you more. I don't know why, but I just can't. I promise you, the answer to that question is in that book."
Zecora thought on the answer he gave. Something wouldn't let him answer fully, yet would let him give enough information to keep her guessing.
"So, direct questions would do me no good. This will not be as easy as it should." She spoke to herself. "Then let me ask this, when did you plan to tell anypony about this?"
"Originally? Never. I hoped to live my life in quiet. I've done a pretty good job so far, as you're one of the few to know about this hidden part of me. But after the last mission a few years ago, and this next one, there's no garuntee that we'll live to see the next day. I needed to tell someone before death... sticks." He admitted. "I'm sorry. While I haven't been entirely truthful with you, know that I've never lied out of malice. I have to admit that if Celestia never came to me for the mission last week, I'd probably wouldn't told you this."
"Is the trust you have in your friends so little?" Zecora asked, somewhat hurt.
"No. However, the fear I keep hidden is very large."
Zecora was about to ask him to elaborate, but figured it'd be best to ask another time. She decided to go with one of her original questions. "You said you weren't a pony or a changeling, yet you can change your appearance. Does this mean you are involved with the insect race?"
"I am... well was. They took me in as a child, noticed my combat prowess, and let me help around the hive. Once I was there long enough, I was sent to 'infiltrate'." He said making hoof quotation marks. "But in actuality, they wanted to give me an excuse to live for myself and not for the hive. After a while... something... happened." He said with a pained voice. "...Someone I loved was lost, and her death was blamed on me. While not all agreed with the decision, the princess, now queen of the changeling hive, banished me."
"And when was this?"
"I was 17... so almost three years before I met you." He answered.
Zecora thought for a moment before asking her next question. "So then, why did you fake your death?"
Skystrike stood silently for a moment, thinking of what words to use. "...I felt that I put too many ponies in danger, and the only way I saw was to take myself out of the equation. They, my enemies, went after my friends to get to me. So far, it's been working."
Zecora was about to ask another question, then realized the answer was probably in the book. She had just one question left. "Where is the key?"
"Remember what I'm about to say. It's not a physical key, it's a phrase you have to say." He said as Zecora nodded. "In darkest day, in brightest night, stow your fear, show your might. Beware your fears made into light. Do not falter, do what is right." He finished. The lock on the book shined a white light before seemingly disintegrating. "Sounds kinda silly I guess, but it helps keep me going. If you don't mind, I have a few more things to do before Naga's party and the mission tomorrow. I'm gonna go ahead and take the potions and vials for the trip. I'll see you at the party." Skystrike said before leaving rather quickly. He closed the door behind him, trying to think of this feeling he felt.
While he felt this was the right thing to do, he was still worried. About how Zecora will react. About how his life could... would change once he came back from the mission. Will Zecora still want to be his friend? Will any of the beings he's met want to? There's no plan for him to fall back on. Will he have to change his identity again? He felt...
"Your heightened heart rate and change in breathing patterns signals to me that you're nervous." Echo spoke suddenly, startling Skystrike.
"Dude you need a notification sound or something. But yeah, I guess I am nervous." He sighed.
"So, what do you plan to do?"
Skystrike thought hard about it hard as he walked through the Everfree. "I... don't know... about Zecora when I come back I mean. I need to learn some things about myself first."
"Elaborate."
"Well..." Skystrike started. "First, I need to figure out why I can't just say out right that I'm human... Actually, not that I think on it, I could only say I'm human to changelings. Well, maybe not just changelings... maybe just beings who's seen me as a human. Second, I need to figure out how to run some tests on myself. I've noticed some thing about the way I think and act that I don't quite like, and I'd rather not ignore it for much longer. Figured that it was just hormones as a teenager. It's like... my first instinct is to say something mean and nasty, so I have to think about what I'm going to say all the time."
"Your assumptions on your first statement is accurate. You have been..." The overlay in Skystrike's helmet flashed red before a word showed up, blocking his view.
REDACTED
"I am not able to clarify, I am sorry. As for your second statement, I will run some test to get the results you desire. I am not able to clarify." He repeated.
Skystrike, understandably, was seconds away from a panic attack. The only thing stopping him from doing so was the sheer amount of questions he had to think about. Not even all of them were questions, just... random thoughts, one on top of the other, each trying to overpower eachother. But one question came out on top. What does it mean by "redacted?" This was the first time Echo was cut off, and to top it off, while talking to Skystrike. It means that his access was updated in real time. This meant one of two things. They're blocking the data as they're trying to access it.
Or he's being watched.
Correction: He's been watched for quite some time, he's just now aware of it. "How long... no, it couldn't have been too long... I was able to ask about similar things before, so it had to have been recently... Echo they had to update you. They HAD to, we crossed dimensions. Can you trace the signal?"
"Affirmative." He said after a moment. "The origin is from the northern mountain range bordering the former Crystal Empire... This is a cause for concern. The signal originates-"
"From the same settlement that village is located." Skystrike finished. "So... this is a setup... I knew this came at too opportune of a time." He frowned. "Celestia better pray to whatever god she believes in, because if I find out she's involved, I will make Nightmare moon seem like a folk tale.
"While the probability is non-zero, I do not believe she is involved. This would imply two scenarios. She's trying to kill you, or she knows you're human. The second scenario is near impossible. The first scenario, is indeed probable." Echo stated flatly.
"...Well, the stakes have been raised even more... Echo, let's do a little more prep-work." Skystrike said through gritted teeth. He now has a new objective: Don't become the hunted.
Naga's party came fast. Too fast. Skystrike was still nervous over the new information he got. He decided to put on the suit that Rarity made him for the gala. He straightened his tie as he looked into the mirror. "You can do this, just stay calm... no need to go crazy... keep your composure." He spoke to himself. He tried to keep a steady breathing pattern. Emphasis on tried. He was failing.
"Skystrike?" Stardust knocked on the door to his room. "You've been acting strange since you came back from the Forest." She stated with mild worry. "Did something happen?"
While he didn't want to lie, he couldn't exactly tell her that yes, something in fact did happen. So, he went for the next best option. "Eeeeh, yeah, got some no info im not exactly over the moon for. Shit is gonna go down when I go up north to do my mission, so yeah." He ended with a sigh.
"Are... are you going to come back?" Stardust asked, somewhat worried.
"More than likely. I don't plan on dying. It's just... a lot of old wounds are going to open back up."
Stardust stood on the other side of the door in silence for a moment, trying to think of what to say. "...Skystrike... I don't know if this'll help any, but... somepony taught me a while ago that worrying now over something you can't control can only worsen the outcome. I know it doesn't mean much... but just... deal with the blows as they come for you. Thinking on it too much won't help much."
"I... huh... I guess some of that is true." He said. "No point in worrying over something I can't control... just try and make the best of what I got in the moment... Thanks, Stardust."
"Sir... can I ask you something kind of personal?" Stardust asked hesitantly.
"Sure, go for it."
"Why do you do so much for others, even if it hurts you in the end?"
Skystrike thought of what words to use before answering. "Because it is the duty of the strong to help those weaker. Those who are strong and who bully those who are weaker because they can are tyrants. I also do it to set an example. If you believe in your ideals enough, you should have the resolve to stand by them in times of danger. And finally, because I know that if I don't do it, few others, if any, will." He said as he finished brushing his hair and stepped outside his room. "Is that a sufficient answer?"
"Yes, thank you, Skystrike." She smiled at him. "You know, that suit fits your helmet surprisingly well."
"Ahaha thanks. Anyway, how many ponies are here for Naga's party so far?"
"Oh, uh... about forty ponies." Stardust answered.
"Forty!?" Skystrike yelled in surprise. "I new Naga was popular, but D A M N!"
"Yeah, I was surprised too after the tenth pony. Also, Pinkie went pretty crazy with the party, too. Don't ask me where she got the ice sculpture of Naga."
Skystrike stared in disbelief before walking over to the window, opening it, and looking at an admittedly well carved 20 foot sculpture of Naga. "How the hell... You know what? Fuck it. I should know not to question Pinkie Pie." He monochromed before closing the window. "Welp, imma head out."
"Alright, let me go look presentable." Stardust said before walking down the hall to her room.
"That was kinda a weird question." He thought to himself before going through his front door.
He was only able to get a few steps out the door before Pinkie Pie appeared from behind him. "HEYA!"
"WHOA JESUS!!" Skystrike shouted in suprise.
"No, it's Pinkie."
"How do you even do that? Just... appearing like that?" Skystrike asked genuienly.
"Silly Neby!" She pulled out a top hat from her mane. "A magician never reveals he secrets."
"I'm gonna get you to tell me one of these days..." He said under his breath. "Also, where'd you get a life sized ice sculpture of Naga?"
"From my freezer, silly!" She beamed.
"I-" He began before rubbing ridge of his nose. "Ok..." He said with a sigh. "So, magic mare, how's everything going?"
"Good so far! Naga is enjoying all her friends being here. I've just been mingling, and everypony is having a good time."
"Honestly, I'm still surprised that Naga got forty ponies to come." He said.
"Oh, it's 57 now." Pinkie said as Skystrike's eyes went wide. "I can name them all. I know everypony! There's-"
Skystrike put a hoof over her mouth. "The offer is appreciated, however, no need." He said before removing his hoof. "I wonder how she got so many ponies to come... Actually, I'll just ask some ponies. Hey Pinkie-" He was about to ask her something only to realize that she was no longer where she was next to him a litteral second ago, but was instead standing on top of the ice scuplture. "...Fuckin..." He sighed as he started walking towards the food and drinks layed out on the tables.
He was about to reach for the punch before he realized two things. One, he deserves to loosen up a little bit. Two, he ain't no weak ass. He poured himself a large glass from a bowl labled "Amaretto Sour". This might be a bad idea, but he's had worse before. He took a sip, then a few gulps. It tasted good. He decided to try and talk to some ponies.
Lucky for him, he was able to see a familiar face. "Hey Mayor Mare. Long time no see. How've you been?" He asked the mare. The mayor turned from her group to look at him.
"Ah, Mr. Nebula. I was wondering when you would show up. I've been well. And you?" Mayor Mare asked.
"Eh, pretty good so far. Was stressing a bit earlier, but trying to let loose a bit." He admitted.
"Will you be alright? If I can do anything as mayor, just ask."
"Heh, I appreciate the offer, but I should be fine." He said in a thankful tone. "So, I see you didn't come alone. Who are these two?" He motioned to the mare and stallion behind her. The stallion had a greyish amber coat and brown mane, while the shorter mare had a light grey coat and a brownish grey mane up in a bun.
"Ah, my apologies. The stallion here is Time Turner, our treasurer, and the mare is Raven Inkwell, my secretary." She introduced her colleagues.
"Good evening." Time Turner nodded.
"A pleasure." Raven waved.
"So, mind me asking how you all came to know Naga? I'm surprised she knew this many ponies, and how she made good relationships apparently." Skystrike asked.
"Oh, well, the first time she came to town hall, we didn't let her in, but then she started leaving these cool little geodes at our doorstep every once in a while." Time Turner smiled. "After that, she came by bidaily and we have a little routine. She comes by for tea and cookies, and we have a good 30 minute break time chatting."
"Yeah, it's really nice." Raven nodded. "I have a geode as a decoration on my desk, and she also helped me find my clipboard one time. She's a lot smarter than your average animal. She even knows how to communicate through pictures and body motions. It's quite funny to see her spell out words with her body." She ended with a giggle.
"...Huh, I never knew she did all that. I wonder how she gets by without me or anypony seeing her." Skystrike wondered alound.
"Well, from what I was able to gather from her charades, she made tunnels under Ponyville? I think thats what she meant... It seems kind of dangerous, so I wanted to ask you about it?" Mayor Mare pushed Skystrike for info.
"Oh, don't worry about that. Digging tunnels that dont colapse is second nature for her. I'll tell her not to dig anymore through town." He reasurred. "Hopefully they aren't too close to the surface."
"Uh, well I think they're pretty deep. We dont hear her comming until she's already there." Time Turner clarified.
"Oh, then it should be fine." He waved it off, then noticed that Naga was coming towards him with Pinkie and Rarity riding on her head.
Skystrike was going to say hi, but was taken back by Rarity's and Naga's matching outfits. "So... any reason why you're both wearing virgin killer sweaters?" He asked, motioning to Rarity's black sweater and Naga's white.
"Well, hear me out darling, it was her idea." Rarity pointed to Naga.
Skystrike flapped his wings to get eye level with Naga. "Ayo Naga?" Skystrike said, making Naga straighten in attention. "Dab me up!" He said as he drew his hoof back. Naga responded, making the same motion with her tail before the two swung their limbs forward, hoof meeting tail. "My girl!" He said, the two exchanging a nod and a laugh.
"Wh- you two planned this!?" Rarity asked in disbelief.
"Oh, no, we just have similar taste." Skystrike explained with a laugh. Naga nodded. "Besides, all guys like virgin killers."
Mayor Mare and Raven blinked before turning to Time Turner. Time Turner knew what their next question would be. "I won't answer that."
"My man!" Skystrike pointed at Time Turner and laughed. "Aaah, man, this party is already great."
Naga grabbed Skystrike with her mouth and picked him up to show him to her friends. Like a trophy. "Alright, we'll talk later I guess." He waved bye to the three. Naga happily carried him to her other friends, Rarity and Pinkie in tow. She was about to set Skystrike down before she paused. Something's wrong... he could feel it.
"...You're gonna throw me, huh?" He asked Naga. She responded with throwing him into the air. Skystrike spread his wings to stable himself so he wouldnt go completely flying. After doing a few front flips, Skystrike landed, still holding his drink. He sighed as he closed his eyes and chugged.
"Sweet Celestia, Nebula, slow down!" Pinkie took the glass from his hoof.
"Come on, I need to let loose a bit. Besides, it's my first glass." Skystrike waved a hoof.
"Nebula, you gotta drink responsibly!"
"Pinkie, I weigh almost 300 pounds. I can handle a bit more than the average pony. I limit myself to four drinks, max." He reasurred her, taking his glass back.
"Wow, you're huge! You're even heavier than Big Macintosh!" Pinkie grabbed the sides of his helmet. "How do you even FLY at that size?"
"I normally have to get a running or jumping start. It's much easier to go at a cruising speed, rather than keeping myself afloat. I don't really have the magic like other pegasi to fly easier, but thanks to my bigger size, I got stronger muscles and bigger wings, to put it simply." He explained to Pinkie. "So, who's Naga showing me next?"
"Howdy, Nebula!" Applejack waved him over. She was standing with Big Mac, Applebloom, Twilight, Spike, and the flower sisters, who all greeted him once they saw Nebula.
"Hey everypony. What's popping?" He greeted.
"Roseluck, Daisy, and Lily Valley were telling us about how much Naga helped them out with their flowers." Twilight said as she sipped her own drink.
"Oh cool. Tell me about it. I don't know much about flowers." Skystrike urged them to continue.
"Oh, Ok! So a while ago, we noticed that we didn't have nearly enough of a variety of pink flowers. We had a lot of blue hydrangeas, but didn't pay much mind to it." Roseluck began.
"After a little while of testing, Naga came and asked what happened... you know, through gestures. She cant talk." Daisy continued. "Anyway, we complained to Naga about it, since we just needed somepony else to just hear us gripe."
"After a few days, out blue hydrangeas turned purple and pink! Thanks to Naga, if you add Limestone to the soil, it'll raise the acidity in the soil, and make the flowers turn pink!" Lily Valley finished.
"...Naga is a lot smarter than I realized. Never thought she paid attention to me or Zecora doing chemistry. I actually did a research project for a science fair back when I was a colt about those flowers. Apparently, blue and pink hydrangeas are the only flowers who's colors change from soil conditions. It's a bit expensive, but if you infuse the water you use with some magic powder, the hydrangeas sparkle like stars once in full bloom from the abundance of magic in the soil. I can see if I still have my notes on it if you're interested."
"Really? We'll have to try it out!" Roseluck clapped her hooves. "I didn't take you for one to be into botany!"
"Honestly, I did the project because I had to work in a group, but it was much more interesting than I thought it'd be." Skystrike smiled.
"Say, you've been coming by our flower shop for quite while now. you never told us who's the lucky mare." Daisy took a step closer, pressuring him.
"You got a marefriend?" Applejack, Twilight, and Spike all looked at him and spoke in union.
"He has to by now! He comes by every saturday!" Lily Valley smirked. "Has to be somepony special if it's that often... You do spend a lot of time with Stardust, you know."
"Nah, I doubt she looks at me that way. And no, I don't have a marefriend." Skystrike said plainly.
The flower sisters looked at each other confused. "Wait... you don't have a marefriend?" Roseluck asked for clarification.
"Nope." Skystrike confirmed. Twilight begrudgingly handed Applejack a sack of bits. "...Fuck you both." He monotoned.
"...So then why do you buy flowers every weekend? Aren't you supposed to give them to somepony you fancy?" Roseluck asked.
"...Roseluck, what does one normally do once they recieve flowers?"
"Say thank you?"
Skystrike nodded. "Mmhmm, and then?"
Roseluck put a hoof to her chin and thought. "...Put it in water... or... wait... you can't be serious... you bought them for yourself and ATE them!?"
"I was hungry. Your flowers always go good on my sandwiches." Skystrike shrugged. "Also want to try those pink hydrangeas. The pink color from the low pH levels in the soil might make them taste different."
The three sisters sat down in sheer awe and astoundment of what he said. Everypony there looked at Skystrike like he was crazy.
Spike spoke up. "I feel like I'm missing something here..."
"Why are you all looking at me like I'm a psychopath?" He asked, putting his hoofs out. "Do you guys not eat flowers?"
"You're supposed to give our flowers to somepony you like!" Daisy slammed her hooves on the ground.
"I was fucking HUNGRY!" He countered. "Your flowers taste GOOD! DAMN!"
Skystrike and the three flower sisters were getting heated. To be fair to the sisters, their flowers that they've grow to spread love and happiness is being countered by "Bro, I was hungry." Understandibly, they were annoyed. Skystrike, however, made a valid point. They were going to be eaten anyway, and he was hungry. They argued for quite a bit over some flowers.
Twilight leaned over to Applejack and Big Mac. "...Should we stop them?"
"Nope." Big mac said plainly.
"Nah, this is funny. I wanna see where this goes." Applejack agreed. "This is funny."
"Eeyup" Big Mac agreed.
"Well I don't see why this is such a big deal! You had to have thought of this!" Skystrike said, growing annoyed.
"What do you mean, we had to think of this!?" Daisy asked, annoyed as well.
"You wan't ponies to give their flowers to the ones they like, right!?"
"Yes! That's why we grow our flowers in the first place!" Roseluck answered.
"Ok! Good! So, how many bouquets have you sold?" Skystrike asked, leading them on.
"A lot! We've made a lot of-"
"Couples? WHAT COUPLES???" Skystrike shouted. "There's like 20 stallions in Ponyville! Like 8 of them are married or old. How many couples have you seen in this village huh??" The sisters stayed silent. "NONE! No pony in this town gets any bitches!"
Applejack, Big Mac, and Twilight burst out laughing at the last remark. Spike, of course, was still lost. Before Skystrike could continue his rant, Naga grabbed him by the tail and picked him up, carrying him along to her next friends. "Alright, i'm going! I'll see you next saturday! Your flowers taste good!" Skystrike yelled as he got further away. "...Jeez... what was their problem?" He shook his head. "Alright, who's next?" Skystrike asked. Naga reeled her head back. "Please don't throw me again.
Naga set Skystrike down gently, then gave a playful pat on his back. "Alright, who's next?" Skystrike said, turning around. A few feet away stood Stardust, Rainbow, and Zecora, the former in her guard uniform. What was new was the two ponies that Stardust was standing next to. One was an off-white pink with a pink mane and tail with wings. The other was a greyish blue with a persian blue mane ant tail, having a horn of her own. Both were about the same size as Stardust. From the looks of things, Zecora and Rainbow were already introducing themselves to the new mares.
Skystrike, however, knew exactly who they were, and he was gonna mess with them. Skystrike looked at Stardust, who made eye contact. She gave him a look that said "Do not.", which made him reply with a look that said "Heh, nah."
"Hey girls! I see you made some new friends?" Skystrike said, walking up to the five mares.
They all turned to give their seperate greetings. The two new mares wispered to eachother. "Remember, just like we've practiced." The pink maned one said to the blue one. She cleared her throat before introducing herself. "Good evening. My name is..." She paused for a moment, as if trying to remember her name. "...Sunny Skies. Me and my sister... Starry Night. We were invited by Naga from out of town." She greeted, Starry Night showing their invitations with her magic.
"Well, Nice to meet you. I'm Atlas Nebula. It's a pleasure. I didn't take Naga as one to travel. So, where you two from?"
"Oh you know Canterlot? Well of course you'd know it, it's the capital!" Sunny Skies laughed.
"We went to that duel you had with Magnus. Who knew he was a criminal?" Starry Night added.
"You know... has anypony told you two that you kinda look like the princesses?" Skystrike asked. The two mares began to sweat. Stardust glared at him. Zecora was hiding a smirk with her hoof. Rainbow Dash looked confused. "...Nah, I'm probably just trippin'. Anyway, how'd you two meet Naga?"
The two sweated some more, realizing they haven't thought this far. They had to make up something believable. "Uh..." Sunny Skies started, but stopped, looking for something to say. "You know... places..."
"The last time we came to Ponyville, she was here and gave us some nice rocks!" Starry Night blurted out.
To Skystrike, it seems like they made it up on the spot. Of course, he knew they definitely did. "Oh cool. What type?"
"Uh..." Sunny Skies thought again. "I don't... know rocks that well. I think it's called a... Sun stone?"
"She gave me a Moon stone." Starry Night added.
"...That's odd. Kinda like the princesses, huh?" He hinted. The sisters looked at each other and sweated more. Stardust elbowed him, making him let out a chuckle. "Alright, alright, I know it's you two, Celestia and Luna."
"...How'd you know?" Celestia asked.
"Well, same speech patterns, same body motions, and you took your looks from when you were younger" Skystrike counted on his wing. "Also, I know it's been a while, but some ponies still remember your old looks. Overall though? Nice job. You could've fooled anypony else."
Rainbow Dash took a double take, realizing what Skystrike said, before quickly bowing. "I'm sorry princesses! I didn't realize!"
"Raise your head. That was supposed to be the point, but somepony here seems to be a bit of a historian." Celestia sighed, slightly annoyed that she and her sister was found out. "Raise your head, Rainbow Dash. We wished to come here to escape our status."
"Yeah, I get it. Don't worry, I won't tell anypony." Skystrike promised. "Actually..."
"...what are you thinking, Skystrike?" Celestia eyes narrowed.
"Nothing... I just imagine it will be quite humorous if somepony's student interacted with you without knowing it's you, only to be revealed weeks later?" He smiled.
"...You know, that is a great idea! I'll go do that!" Celestia grinned as she put some pep in her step towards her student.
"Watch Princess Luna for me." Stardust said before following behind her. Skystrike nodded.
He stood there with Zecora, Luna, and Rainbow Dash. "So... I'm about to make some stew for Naga. you three wanna help?"
Zecora clapped her hooves in excitement. "It has been a moment since you've last cooked for her. I'm happy to help, just don't fall in while I stir."
Skystrike looked at Zecora. "I never fell in the stew."
"I know you have not, I just know rhymes like these annoy you... Pot." She said as they both snickered.
"Ok, I guess I'm helping too. I'm not that good at cooking though." Rainbow Dash shrugged.
"I'd like to help if able." Luna put up her hoof. "What do we need to do?"
"Well..." Skystrike began, only to be cut off by Pinkie Pie pulling a panel behind them. "SCENE TRANSITION" She shouted.
Skystrike looked around him to see himself at the back of his house standing next to Zecora, Rainbow Dash, and Starry NIght. "Wh-... how'd we get here!? What happened!?"
"...We... walked here?" Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. "Skystrike, are you ok?"
Skystrike took a deep breath. "Yes... It's just... fucking Pinkie..." He exhaled. "Anyway, help me push this alarmingly large pot." He changed the subject as he patted the pot the size of a small building behind him.
"...That is an alarmingly large pot. How do you even cook in that?" Rainbow Dash asked as the got behind the pot.
Skystrike got behind the pot and started pushing alongside her. "Well, normally, Tethys would be here, but she has her own life to live now. But, Zecora and I do have a trick for being able to cook in this pot, plus, we have an Alicorn in disguise here in case we need... literal firepower."
"Well, I'm not as adept in fire magic as my sister, but I should be able to light a large fire." She smiled with a spark of her horn.
"Perfect." Skystrike said. "Zecora, can you get Naga and help get the ingredients? I left them in the floorboard under the pantry." Zecora nodded and turned to do what she was asked.
Twilight looked up to see a new mare approaching her. "Hello..." She stopped herself, remembering what made Skystrike realize it was her. "The name's Sunny Skies. Nice to meet you. I'm new here, and Nebula told me you're a good pony to make friends with."
Twilight smiled at her. "Well, nice to meet you too, I'm Twilight Sparkle. I'm currently learning friendship myself, but I'm more than happy to be your friend."
"Great! So, learning friendship, right? How many new ponies did you make friends with since moving here?"
Twilight nervously laughed. "Well... only six, but they're all nice ponies. Other than that, I read books!" She answered with a smile.
Sunny Skies took a double take. "You... read books. On friendship?"
"Yeah! They help a lot!" Twilight floated the book in front of her. "I'd be more than happy to let you borrow it if you'd like."
Sunny Skies blinked. "Did you ever think of... just going outside and meeting ponies?"
Twilight also blinked before rubbing her chin with a hoof. "That... is a good idea."
They were both interupted by Pinkie Pie shouting "AYO NEBULA HAS AN ALARMINGLY LARGE POT!"
Sunny Skies and Twilight both looked, along with everypony else, to Skystrike, putting an alarminglt large pot over a firepit. "That is an alarmingly large pot..." They both said.
Meanwhile, Skystrike, Zecora, Starry Night, and Rainbow Dash were standing at the base of the firepit. "So... how are you gonna light this?" Rainbow asked.
"Remember back when I blew the leaves off that tree with my voice back when Trixie was in town? I had Tethys teach me how to do a few of those dragon shouts years ago. I'm rusty on this one, but it should start a fire." Skystrike explained.
"Wait... dragon shouts?" Rainbow flew closer to him and squinted.
"Yeah, from my understanding, it's an old style of dragon magic. Before they could actually spit fire and stuff, they had to use their voice. Each word had power, and combining words in different orders gave different effects. For example, 'Yol' translates to fire. Weak on it's own. The next word 'Toor' means inferno. Finally, 'Shul' means sun. "
"That's... actually pretty cool!" Rainbow smiled. "You gotta teach me sometimes!"
"I'd probably not be a good teacher on the subject. Besides, it took years of meditation and practice, and I only learned two. Unrelenting force and Fire breath, which admittedly are only situationally useful. It also strains your voice a lot. I can only shout 5 times without destroying my vocal cords.
"That seems like a lot of downsides. Is it even worth it?"
Skystrike gave Rainbow his drink to hold. He got lower to the ground and widenned his stance. After a deep breath, he shouted. "Yol Torr Shul!" A blast of fire was sent from Skystrike, hurdling towards the logs in the firepit, lighting them on in a spectacular burst of flame. "...On ocasion." He grinned taking his drink back. "I will say it makes you feel fucking sick."
Starry Night looked confused. "I... I thought that dragon shouts required magic? And you don't have any?"
"It's confusing, yeah. Tethys told me that dragon magic is more dependent on the soul rather than thought like unicorns. Those with a strong will can do it given practice. That's also why there's the trope of angry dragons being more powerful. They're more powerful because their emotional state is heightened, thus their soul is more powerful. It's really confusing."
"Wait, so... all you have to have is a soul to use things on par with magic?"
"That's my understanding of it, yeah." Skystrike shrugged. "Wish I could tell you more."
"Well, how about you tell me how we plan on getting all the ingredients in there?" She pointed to the rim of the pot above her.
"See, that's the fun part! Quick question though, you two know how to throw well?" He asked Rainbow and Starry. They both nodded. "Perfect. Now you two get to help me and Zecora cook! Hop on the levers. We're gonna cook up a storm!"
"...I feel like im not being told enough here..." Starry night looked to her side at Rainbow.
"Yeah... Same here..." She looked back.
Skystrike picked up a large wooden platform on stilts that was lying beside him. He flew up and put the platform down in the pot, giving him enough room to stand on. "It's not much. Basically, one of us stands up here and cuts up the ingredients that the others throw in! After a few minutes, we switch places, and keep going until the stew is done!" He yelled from atop his perch. "Zecora! Throw me my sword!" He put his hoof out, ready to catch it.
Zecora did so, grabbing his sword and throwing it up at him. Skystrike caught it by the sheath and drew his sword. He tapped his hoof rhythmically, nodded his head to a beat in his head, then did a small spin. "Lets get cooking!" He shouted to no one in particular. A decent size crowd gathered around them as Zecora began emptying the barrels of cooking supplies by throwing them up at Skystrike, who in turn, began swinging his sword and finely cutting the ingredients, letting them land into the boiling water below him.
"First, the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic!" Zecora said as she began throwing more of the ingredients. "Starry, Rainbow, help me out! We'll get this soup done faster, no doubt!"
Starry used her magic to open a barrel and began throwing more ingredients up towards Skystrike. Rainbow, deciding to make it harder for him, grabbed some in her hooves before flying around and throwing the ingredients at him from various directions.
Skystrike laughed a bit, deciding to put on more of a show as the crowd around him grew larger. He did an upward slash cutting three vegetables, following with a backflip, landing on a forehoof and cutting another five with a spinning horizontal slash. He continued to cut the ingredients as he danced with his blade. For his grand finale, he flapped his wings and flew around at astounding speeds, finely cutting each vegetable before they fell in the pot. "Hoo-" He exhaled. "Zecora! Ready to switch?"
"Tired already? And it seemed your stamina was going steady!" She teased. Skystrike jumped down from his platform and stopped half-way to help Zecora up. She got a running start and jumped up to him, hooves out. Skystrike responded by grabbing her hooves and throwing her up the rest of the way onto the platform. "I'll get the salt and pepper, and seeds!" He said as he flew to grab some premeasured barrels of the ingredients, already mixed together. "Starry, mind helping me with this?"
Starry looked at the barrel, then up at the height of the pot. "I'm not sure... it's quite high. Not sure about the stability of the levitation spell when I can't see it." She admitted.
"...Just jump on his back?" Rainbow said.
"...That's a great fucking idea!" Skystrike smiled as he landed on the ground. "Hop on!" Starry hesitated. "I promise I'm stable."
Starry did so, laying on his back and wrapping her forehooves around his neck. "...You sure I'm not heavy?"
"Yeah. why would you be?"
"Well, while I may look smaller, my mass and weight stay the same." She explained. "I'm not sure if you can carry me on your back while flying."
"Don't worry, you aren't heavy at all. My armor is actually around the same weight as you, so this feels kinda normal for me." He said, trying to reassure her.
"...How much experience do you have with mares?" Starry Night squinted.
"...More than you think, less than I should." He stated.
"Well, for the future, do not compare a mare's weight to your armor." She monotoned.
Skystrike stood still for a minute. He thought. He thought some more. He realized and looked back at her. "...I just called you fat didn't I?"
"Albeit indirectly and accidentally, yes." She nodded.
"...ffffffffffffFFFFFUCK" He groaned. "My bad, as you can see, I'm kinda stupid." He face hoofed as he began to flap his wings.
"Don't fret over it." She giggled. She turned his head towards Sunny Skies with a hoof. "My sister however..." Starry Night looked back towards the two. Starry spoke just loud enough for her sister to hear. "You think you could carry her?"
He looked at Sunny and rubbed his chin. "I think I could." He took off into the air. "Size wise, she's about forty percent bigger than you, assuming mass would have the same factor of 1.4, taking into account how much cake she-... GOD DAMN IT I DID IT AGAIN!" He groaned as he grabbed his face. "Man I'm missing some brain cells!" Starry Night laughed at his outburst while Sunny Skies looked at the two with her cheeks puffed out, turning red. "Pick up the damn barrel please." He sighed. Starry did so as the two flew higher. Once high above the pot, she began to sprinkle the contents of the barrel into the soup.
"Mmm... it smells great!" Starry admitted as the smell wafted towards them. "Did you put anything special in there?"
"Oh you know, just the Nebula original secret ingredient" He put out a hoof as he glided down towards the ground, letting Starry hop off. "And no, I won't tell you. Maybe when I die so then the ponies of the future can have bomb food." He looked around for a moment before finding what he was looking for. A whip sword, silver in color with a golden edge. The hilt was a plain grey with black markings on it. He grabbed it by the hilt and threw it up at Zecora, who caught it in her hoof. "Ready?" Skystrike asked.
"Yes, my friend! Let these veggies meet their end!" She gave a practice swing of her sword, releasing the whip part of it.
"Jeez... ok, all that's left are the potatoes, apples and cabbage." He looked at the last few barrels of ingredients. "Let's get-"
"Did somepony say APPLES!?" Applejack ran over to Skystrike, Rainbow, and Starry.
"Well damn, AJ, I get it... would you like to throw some apples?" He offered, knowing exactly what she was going to ask.
"Would I!?" She grabbed a barrel and started chucking.
Skystrike chose to ignore her actions and began throwing cabbages at a steady rate. Zecora was putting on a show of her own up there. With a spin of the heel and a flick of the wrist, she was able to cut multiple vegetables with a single swing. She shot her forehoof forward, making the tip of the whip hit a falling cabbage. A grand crack was heard as said cabbage exploded. She did this a few more times, each exploding and falling into the the soup below. Continuing with a spin, she made a diagonal slash, cutting a few more. For her finish, she jumped into the air, spinning faster as her blade went out in many different directions, the fruits and vegetables seeming to stop in mid air as she cut through them. She even stuck the landing.
"That was actually really cool!" Rainbow flew up to Zecora as the crowd cheered. "Where'd you learn how to do that?"
Zecora retracted her sword. "My mother taught me when I was young, telling me we all have a song that must be sung."
"...I don't know what that means." Rainbow admitted.
"I believe it means... we all have our own purposes in life." Zecora explained. "I have decided to find my own, though it is still not yet known."
"Hey, jump down when you're ready! We gotta let it sit for a little!" Skystrike yelled up to them. He was about to walk away before he realized something. "...Actually, after it sits for about 10 minutes, start serving the ponies! I have somepony I need to find!" He said before walking off, said walk turning into a trot. Normally, he'd see her by now, normally with Twilight or Rarity. Now that he thought about it, it's even odder that she isn't with Naga. After a few minutes searching around, he found just the pony he was looking for.
Fluttershy was sitting by a tree, away from the crowd. She looked on at the ponies talking amongst themselves. Then, she looked to the side to see somepony approaching her. "Hey, is this seat taken?" Skystrike patted next to her. Fluttershy shook her head no, letting Skystrike take a seat.
"So... haven't seen you around much. I guess you just got here?" He leaned back against the tree.
Fluttershy shook her head. "No, I... was one of the first ponies here."
"Oh, well you could've came over and said hi you know." He said, waving his hoof towards himself. "We all would like to see you."
"I know, it's just... I didn't want to interupt you all having your fun. I'd just ruin the mood." She said, her glum feeling seeping out from her words.
Skystrike sighed. "Fluttershy, listen. you're my friend. You're OUR friend. It's because we like your company that we're your friend." He explained.
"I know... I know... but you and everypony else always have fun talking with each other. I'm always just in the back, having nothing to talk about or relate to you all with."
"And that's ok. You don't have to talk a lot. You're the type of pony that can spend quality time with somepony else by simply sitting in silence with them. Your simple presence richens our friendship. We like you being around."
She sniffed back some tears. "It's just, every time I want to have fun with you and the girls, it's like... something in the back of my mind just... tells me that I'll mess things up if I talk to any of you for too long. Like you'll all will stop talking to me once you realize how weird I am."
Skystrike shifted himself to look at Fluttershy. "Fluttershy, look at me." She turned her head, hiding part of her face with her mane. "It's exactly because of your quirks that we like you. That's what makes you special. Same goes for Spike, Stardust, Twilight, Rainbow, Applejack, Rarity, and especially Pinkie." She giggled a bit at the last part. "Now, I'm not one to make promises, since if I break it, that counts as lying, and I've never lied to any of you. That being said, you have my word that I will do my best to make sure you feel welcome. I won't stop talking to you, no matter how weird you are."
She wiped a tear. "Pinkie promise?"
"Trust, I know how it feels to be you right now. We're more alike than you'd think." He smiled.
"You have to say the verse."
"...what? There's a verse for pinkie promises? We don't even have pinkies?" He put up his hooves for emphasis.
"No, not like minotaurs. A PINKIE promise. As in, Pinkie Pie. It goes 'Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.'" She said while making gestures to match the words.
"...That both looks and sounds silly, but I'm all for it." He chuckled as he mimicked her motions. "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. Now, let's go. We got some friends waiting for us, and I think we both want to have fun tonight" He stood up and put out a hoof. "Plus, we don't want the soup to get cold."
Fluttershy took his hoof, pulling herself up. "...You're a good friend, you know that? I really missed you when you have to move from Cloudsdale. Then when me and Rainbow found out you... well we know you faked your death now, but we cried all night."
The two began walking. "Wait, really? I didn't realize you two cared that much."
"Well, you know you have more of an affect on ponies than you think. Like when you helped me and Rainbow Dash with some bullies, we were grateful. After you left, and I was still to scared to do anything, Rainbow took on that role. I like to think she got at least some of her loyalty from you." She pondered the last part.
"...Huh... I-... wow." He looked for words to say. "I just try to help ponies where I go. Didn't expect all that. I just expected to be that one pony that ponies will always have in the back of their mind, but won't remember their name."
"Skystrike, we will never forget you." She assured him. "With all you've done for others, no grateful pony will forget you. Besides, remember that time you were in the newspaper for challenging Celestia to a duel for wining that tournament for that school thing? No pony will forget that."
"In my defense, I wanted to test how truly strong I was back in that military academy. Plus, I held out pretty well for a 16 year old."
"You still need to tell me the whole story behind that. I want to know what happened. They never published the results."
"Tell you what, I'll tell you when I come back the week after next." He nudged her. The two stopped.
"...that is an alarmingly large pot." Fluttershy looked up at the rim of the pot, seeing Zecora, Starry, and Rainbow handing out bowls to the guest.
"Ah, Nebula, Fluttershy, we were just serving the last few ponies before Naga comes get the rest. As always, Nebula, your food is the best!" Zecora complimented, jumping down and giving the two wooden bowls of soup and spoons.
"It's what I do." He chuckled before he openned the jaw of his mask and had a spoon. "Aw yeah, this that good shit." He said as he took another spoonful of soup. He looked over to the others, hearing their hums in agreement when eating their bowls of soup.
"Ok, Nebula, you gotta give me some pointers. This is some of the best soup I've had in years. How do you make this so good? You could make a business out of this!" Rainbow Dash said, taking full sips of the soup.
"Well, glad you enjoy it so much. You've seen everything I put in it. I do have a secret ingredient, but aside from that, it's actually a chemistry thing. Many food ingredients come with 'taste enhancers' that add more molecules that generate additional taste or smell sensations. The effect changes depending on how the ingredients are prepared before hoof."
Rainbow Dash blinked. "I understood like half of that."
"You know how you can taste the difference from Sea salt and rock salt? Similar concept. They were made in different ways. That affects taste." He explained before taking another spoon of his soup.
Naga slithered up behind the group, letting Rarity and Pinkie off her head. She poked Skystrike with her tail. "Hey, Naga, what's up?" She bellowed in response and looked at the soup. "Only a spoonful!" She then proceeded to pull out a comically large spoon and scooped up the soup. "Man I fucking love that joke." He said to himself.
"So, Nebula, don't mean to rush you, but one of the main reasons I came was kinda so I could hear you sing." Rarity said. "And the soup was lovely, darling." She covered her mouth as she let out a slight burp. "Pardon me..."
"Oh yeah, you did say you would." Rainbow dash looked up from licking the now empty bowl. "I do wanna hear you sing. In fact, you're one of the few ponies I never heard sing."
Pinkie appeared next to him. "Oh! What are you gonna sing!?"
"A certified Skystrike origional." He chuckled. "Man, I say one thing and you guys don't forget it, huh?"
"Well, it's just... we don't expect it from somepony like you. You always keep to yourself, so when you finally express yourself, we have to see it." Fluttershy said, the others nodding.
"Alright, alright, I'll get ready." He slurped down the rest of his soup. "Give me a moment to talk to the DJ."
"Great! I'll go tell everypony!" Pinkie whizzed off towards the crowd. "Hey everypony! Nebula's singing soon for Naga's birthday!" The crowd cheered.
"Damn... Well now I got expectations to live up to." He gave a nervous chuckle. "I'll be up on stage in a moment."
His friends gave him some reassurance, telling him he'll do great up there. He thanked them as he headed towards the DJ. He began to wonder who Pinkie asked to DJ before he recognized the mare. "Ooooh, it's you! DJ-Pon3, right?"
The mare turned to him, looking through her iconic glasses. "Hey, glad you remembered me! Just call me Vynil by the way. Didn't expect my next show to be thrown for you and your pet though!" She smiled.
"Well, the world has it's way of sorting things out. How's the crowd treating you so far?"
"Pretty good! Some of these ponies know how to party! Especially Pinkie, she really livens up the place!." She pulled off her headphones.
"Yeah, sounds like her." He laughed. "So, the ponies want me to sing. Can you get things set up for me?" He asked, pulling out a vinyl record with a blue center. "I'm about to put out a Nebula origional." He said in a joking manner
She took the record with her magic and spun it around. "I can do that for ya, big guy!" She slapped the record down on her setup. "Give me a moment and we can get this place on their hind legs."
"Alright, let's put on a show." He smiled as the two hoof bumped. She floated him over a microphone. He tapped it a few times to make sure it was on. Skystrike looked out at the crowd of ponies and Basalisk cheering for him as he walked to center stage. He looked at his friends, all together in one large group.
He smiled as he tightened his grip on his microphone. "Alright, ponies, you already know what time it is. Just before we get started, happy birthday, Naga! Originally, this song was supposed to be a duo, but I can manage this bad boy myself. This one's just for you! I call this one, 'Calling'."
Vynil began to play the instrumental, Skystrike tapping his hoof in response. The beat was fast, though that wasn't a problem. He gave his mic a twirl before starting.
"So, as you can see, this ain't my first time, In my prime! Come on, let's make some noise and have some fun while we got time!
Life's a fickle thing, you know we gotta spend it wise! Break out, come out and show the world what we can do tonight!" Skystrike was admittingly getting into it more than he thought.
"Keeping the flow, We got our whole lives ahead of us, ya know. Reap what you sow, Only got one time to get it right, don't you know?
In my nature Bringing these bars to the streets all year-round! No time to waste Foster, Nurture your skills before your sundown." As he continued, Skystrike became more animated through his performance, doing a spin and spreading his wings.
"Some may call it reckless, Leaving life up only to fate. So carve your own path, Know there's no time to hesitate! Knowing you can change things, make things better before you act way too late! So, come on, while life is great, Why don't we appreciate it?" Vynil lowered the lights to a dim hue.
"Can you hear that? The voices calling? That melody. Your inner calling." The lights began to flicker to the tempo. "Telling you to carve your path. Keep your chin up, no need for wrath. Take a chance, no harm no fowl. Keep that smile, don't throw that towel." Skystrike used his hood to lossen his shirt and tie. More colors came as the music began to pick back up.
"Havin' fun in life can be hard to do! Always trying hard and failing at something new! But that's how it's gonna be, you know! Life's not patient, we can't take it slow. It favors those of us bold! So take that first step, good as gold!"
The lights flashed rainbow in rythm to the music, and Skystrike leaped onto his hind hooves. He was really getting into it. "It cant be only me, hearing it calling out for us! Silent voices growing louder, having dreams in the late hours! There's no need for others standards, set your sights then go and gander. Universe is on our side, so make some noise and have some pride!"
Skystrike jumped into the air, taking flight and doing a small show or loops and corkscrews as he sang. Lasers from the light show shot out into the sky in a rainbow pattern, waving back and forth. "Destiny, some higher power, leaving us to come devour ,as we bathe in Celestia's light! Bask under Luna's lit night! Don't need no rules to chain us! Lets have fun while friends are with us! We won't be here for that long, so don't go living it wrong!"
He landed back down on the ground as Vynil turned the lights down, having them flicker to the beat again. He took off his jacket and slung it over his shoulder, waving it around as he moved his arms. "They never believed in me! Mocked, terrorized for all to see! Negativity overwhelmed me! Was close to my breaking point! Didn't let them keep me down. Got a smile from their frowns. Took my path, no stopping me! The universe is singing to me!"
The lights grew brighter under Skystrike as he put his fore arms out wide. "Sure wish I could see their faces now! Seeing me do what they disallow! I'm on the top of my success! None of them's my match, but I digress. And we all got this world to see! So stand with pride and sing with me!"
A few ponies in the crowd join in with him on the first lines. "It cant be only me, hearing it calling out for us, Silent voices growing louder, having dreams in the late hours."
More joined in as they recognized the lyrics. "There's need for others standards, set your sights then go and gander. Universe is on our side, so make some noise and have some pride!"
Soon, almost the entirety of the crowd sang along with him. Skystrike flew into the air as the spotlight focused on him. Vynil even added in the extra effect of some fire works. "Destiny, some higher power, telling us to come devour as we bathe in Celestia's light! Bask under Luna's lit night! Destiny, some higher power, telling us to come devour as we bathe in Celestia's light! Bask under Luna's lit night!"
Skystrike said the final line. "Hear our calling!" before the crowd burst into cheers for him. Skystrike put all four hooves onto the ground and stood there, huffing.
"Hey!" Vynil called out to him. Skystrike looked in her direction, seeing a water bottle thrown at him. He caught it, openned it, and drank half of it.
"Damn, big guy, I can tell that song took some effort." She smiled as he walked over. "Nice voice by the way. Didn't expect your voice to be so... smooth and dulcet."
"...I've never heard that word in my life, but thanks. Honestly, I forgot I had it in me. I am glad I was able to pull that off without any mishaps." Skystrike sat on the floor of the stage.
"What do you mean?" Vynil took his record off the player with her magic and floated it over to him. Skystrike shook his head. "Keep it. You put on a great show. You definitely found your calling." The two chuckled. "And I mean that when I wrote that song, it was meant to be sang by two ponies. That was hard to sing solo." He finished the water bottle.
"Well that's even more impressive." Vynil smiled. "I can't wait to see what your cutie mark will be if you're already this good at something you don't have a mark for!" She put the record back on the player.
"Heh, thanks for that. Same here." He said as he got up.
"Hey, before you go..." She put out a hoof. Skystrike turned back to look at her. "I hope this won't be the one and only time we do something like this. We could have something going here. Well, if you want I mean."
Skystrike nodded at her. "I'd like that. No way we can let this be the one and only collab. I'll make sure to hit you up once I come back. Maybe we can record it and publish it!"
"Yo, that'd be radical! You better keep your promise!" Vynil ran up and hugged him quickly. "Ah... sorry about that. Got a bit excited." She pushed herself of him.
"No apology needed. Anyway, the birthday girl wants to see me, so I'll see you next time." Skystrike put out a hoof for a high hoof. Vynil give a high hoof before waving goodbye and switching to some mellow music, signaling the main event was done. Skystrike jumped off the stage, sighing with mild fatigue.
He wasn't even able to look up before he heard a thump from far away. Followed by a dirt pillar shooting up from under his hooves and launching him towards Naga. He put his wing out as he flew, slowing his fall as he landed in front of his friends with a loud thump. He sighed under his breath. "A warning would be nice, damn."
Before he could look up, he felt somepony jump on him. "WOWNEBULAYOUWEREGREATUPTHEREI-" Pinkie Pie began to ramble on from atop his back.
To be honest, he zoned out most of it once the words started to blend together. "Thanks, it's appreciated." He streched a bit as he talked. The next thing he felt was something scaly rubbing against his cheek and neck. "Hey, Naga. I see you liked the music. I'm glad."
"Wasn't just her, Skystrike. You were great up there." Twilight repeated what Pinkie Pie said as she walked up. "...I am curious though, where did you learn to sing like that?"
"Eh... I'll tell you next time." He said as he tapped Pinkie to get off his back.
"Damn, dude!" Rainbow Dash flew to a stop next to him. "Never told us you could sing like that! You got a great voice! Gotta use that more!"
"Seriously? At first I thought you guys were being nice, but am I really that good? Thought I was average."
"Dude, you got talent! Imagine how good you'd be if you had a cutie mark!" She said, hyping him up.
"Oh, thanks." He smiled. He looked around for a moment. "Wait, where's Starry and Sunny?" He asked as he continued looking.
"Oh, those two sisters? They said they had to catch the train to travel back home. It's a shame they left so quick. They were so fun to talk to." Twilight pondered.
"Oh really? You'll have to tell me about it when I get back." Skystrike smirked.
The group looked at him. "...What do you mean?" Fluttershy asked.
"I'm leaving tonight. Train will get me to my destination by morning, then it's a few days walk. Cant keep them waiting you know?" They all looked at him with various expressions. Twilight, Fluttershy seemed afraid. Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash were worried. Zecora and Stardust was indifferent. Pinkie Pie was- "Why are you crying so damn hard?" Skystrike broke his train of thought.
The pink one sniffed. "...Because... because you're leaving!" She bawled as she jump him with a hug. Skystrike was about to attempt to calm her down, but then he heard quiet sniffles to his side. He looked to see that it was Twilight.
"Skystrike... when... when we last heard of you before you came back, you died. It was all over the newspapers." She rubbed her nose. Skystrike thought back to what happened. Why he left.
"It's your fault that I did what I had to." A colt's voice was heard behind him. He turned to see who it was.
Skystrike stood still, his break in the castle garden being interupted by him of all ponies. "You... what did you do this time..." Skystrike snarled.
"Oh, nothing too important... Just figured while we were enjoying the gala, I'd have some fun of my own." The colt said with a sinister chuckle. "See, you bastard..." The colt's mocking tone changed to an angry one. "You've been a thorn in my side since Auntie adopted us. Always making yourself useful, acting like you're better than me. You're nothing but a filthy pegasus!" Skystrike stayed silent as his rage filled rant continued. "Because of you, Auntie always compares me to you. I finally got out of that shithole of an orphanage, and she brings you with us! But you couldn't just leave them behind, could you?"
As the colt continued, the rant became more about Skystrike's family. "Oh, Skystrike raised money for his old orphanage! Oh, Skystrike helped some brat find their talent!" He spit on the ground. "So... I know I can't get rid of you... but I can get rid of the source. What you deem important."
Skystrike finally turned to look at the colt. "...You... piss... stained... RAT" Skystrike's eyes flickered a pale white."
"When there's smoke..." The colt pointed to a pillar of smoke in the distance. Skystrike flew off before the colt could finish another sentence. He knew exactly where the smoke was coming from him. He didn't think his hatred for him was this much, and it was the one time he hoped he was wrong. He could've sworn somepony called out to him as he zoomed by, but he didn't pay attention. There were more important matters.
It was the fastest he ever flew at the time... he just wished he was faster.
He landed in front of the Church of the Two Sisters. He wished to whatever god there was that he wasn't seeing what he was seeing. Roaring flames engulfed the building, dancing behind the windows, as if mocking him.
"Skystrike!" He heard a voice call for him. He snapped his head to where the voice was coming from. A mare earth pony with a cream colored coat and dark magenta mane with a maroon highlight ran up next to him. She gave a worried look with her grey eyes.
"Sister Paprika!" He responded with a sigh of relief. "Glad you're ok."
"Aren't you supposed to be at the gala with your friends? Why are you here?" She huffed, slightly winded. Taking a closer look at her, the tips of some of her hair was burnt, and her hooves were blackened with soot.
"Nevermind that- is everypony ok!?" He asked, wiping some soot off her face.
"Aside from the scare and me hyperventilating a little, yeah, I think so." She coughed. "I don't know what happened! Everypony was just out playing in the courtyard while I was making dinner with Astral. I thought I saw somepony walk by... then I just hear a crash... like glass breaking, and then a fire started right in the hallway! I couldn't put it out..." She let a few tears fall from her eyes.
Skystrike looked around, seeing the other fillies and colts. Some hugging one another, others crying. They were all distraught about the home they just lost. He felt the same. But something caught his eye. A young unicorn and earth pony ran up to him.
The first one, Lucky Clover, was a seafoam green with an emerald, shamrock, and jade mane topped with a large green bow. The second, Blue clover, had a cyan coat with an off white mane and tail, donning the same large green bow in her mane. Lucky spoke first. "We're missing some ponies!" Blue nodded. "Yeah! Mystic and Dawnstone aren't anywhere!" Lucky blinked, remembering something. "Astral isn't here too! She ran when she told us to come tell you!"
Skystrike's heart sank. She didn't just run, she ran in to help. "Fuck! Paprika, make sure they stay safe!" Skystrike turned to head inside before Paprika grabbed his shoulder.
"I'm not letting you go in there! There's no telling what'll happen to you!" She tried pulling him back.
"The fire ponies wont get here nearly fast enough! I am not leaving my brother's and sisters in there to die!" Skystrike pushed her hoof off.
"And I don't want you to die either, you stubborn mule!" She insulted him out of worry and tried to grab him again, pulling on his clothes.
He grabbed her front hooves and held them together. "Sister, you know how much you all mean to me. Don't worry, I'll get them out. He took off a necklace he had under his shirt . It was something they all pitched in together to get him for his birthday. Nothing fancy or flashy, just a simple piece of bismuth that fit into a locket. He put it in her hoof, closing it. "But you know I hate making promises... so I want you to give this to Celestia in case anything happens. That locket means a lot to me. I'll be coming back for it when I get out of there."
Paprika let some more tears fall. "You better come out of there safe, you got that, mister!?" She was able to squeak out through the tears.
Skystrike nodded before turning to give the clover sisters a hug. "Stay here, I'll be back soon." He finished before flying into the maw of flames. He used his dress coat to cover his mouth and nose, trying not to inhale too much smoke. He thought about his options. The kitchen was at the back of the orphanage, below the bedrooms, but the stairs were near the entrance. Everypony would've evacuated the first floor along with sister Paprika. Meaning that Mystic Falls and Dawnstone had to be somewhere on the second floor. Astral Night must also be looking for them. He still did a quick check of the first floor in seconds, just incase. He ignored the pain of his wing tips searing, he had more important things to worry about.
Skystrike flew up through a hole in the floor, then through a few door ways, calling out their names as he flew. "Astral! Dawn! Mystic!?" He said, growing more worried as he flew deeper. He had to stop his thoughts of the worst on multiple occasions.
Then, Thankfully, he heard a voice call out to him. "Skystrike! Is that you?" Skystrike's ears perked up. "Over here!" He recognised the voise.
Skystrike flew in to see the three in various states. "Astral!" He called her name, seeing her on the other side of the room. . Astral Night was a unicorn who had a light lavender coat, and a mane and tail of peach, purple, and pink. On the floor next to her was Mystic Falls was a younger unicorn colt, having a blueish grey coat with an indigo mane and tail with a grey highlight, as well as Dawnstone, another unicorn filly with a cream coat with a curly white and sky blue mane and tail. Astral was fighting back tears in front of Mystic, crying over the unconscious body of Dawnstone. "Give me a rundown!" He demanded as he made his way across the room, stepping over and ducking under various supports.
Astral the older one, about 15, coughed up some smoke. "I- I came in to get them, since nopony else would do it, a-and... I found them, but a plank of wood fell earlier on my back leg... I had to limp my way to them." She said, showing that her right back leg had a large burn mark from the lower thigh to her hoof. "Mystic stayed with Dawnstone. He told me that they were getting some more toys when the fire started, and some shrapnel fell on Dawn's head."
"Shit... I can't carry you all..." He spoke to himself.
"Get the kids first! I can wait a half a minute!" She coughed some more. Skystrike wasn't sure, but he had no choice but to trust her. He grabbed Mystic and Dawn, put each under a hood, and began flying towards the exit.
"Sky! You can't leave her!" Mystic cried into his arm.
He made it to the entrance and dropped them in front of Paprika. "I don't intend to!" He said, flying back in. He had no time to catch his breath, landing back in front of Astral a few seconds later, huffing. He tried not to inhale more smoke than he already did. They stared into each others eyes. "You can cry now if you want. I won't tell." He tried to lighten the mood as he walked over.
Astral Night let out a small chuckle before to both Skystrike's and her surprise, she actually did. She tried wiping away her tears, only for more to fill their place. "I-...I... You were at the gala... I didn't think... you'd make it here..." She spoke through the tears.
Skystrike couched down. "Look. I won't ask you why you decided to run in here, and honestly, your reason's probably the same as mine... Can you walk?" He asked.
She was able to stand, but as soon as she put pressure on her back right hoof, she winced in pain, bringing it back up. "I... think I can manage."
Skystrike grabbed her and put her across his back. "No need to act strong. I got you." Skystrike couldn't fly. Her legs were stopping his wings from spreading out. He'd have to run. So, that's what he did.
Astral Night's crying lowered to light sobbing. "I'm sorry... you always have to help us out... I tried to do what you'd do..." She coughed some more. "I tried to save them, and I... ended up being somepony that had to be saved..."
Skystrike ran through, jumping over burnt beams and crawling under half-collapsed ceilings. He huffed. "Don't worry about it..." He stopped talking for a moment to focus. "Listen, if you're every gonna take anything I say to heart, it better be this." He was about to take another step forward before the floor collapsed below him. He cursed under his breath and jumped over it. When he landed, the burnt floor cracked below him. He took a few more steps forward, barely missing falling from where he once was. "...There are times when you have to help, and let others be helped." He continued running. The stairs were in eyesight. "No point helping somepony else when you put yourself at risk. But-..." He sidestepped some falling debris. "Sometimes, you have to ask how much you value a pony's life. You, Dawnstone, Mystic, and everypony else that lives here, I'd sacrifice myself for any of you in a heart beat. That is how much you all mean to me."
He finally made it to the stairs. He started making his way down. "You'll find somepony you love like that sooner or later, if you haven't already..." He had to skip a few stairs, as well as dig his hoof under some that collapsed under their weight. His adrenaline was still high, so while he couldn't feel the pain, he'd have to dig the shrapnel out before it wore off. "Help those who need it. Protect those you deem important." He began running towards the door at the end of the hallway. Skystrike could tell at the rate this building was coming down, it wasn't long before it ran out of oxygen and collapsed in on itself. Debris fell all around the two. He did his best to dodge the major pieces, but as more and more fell in front of his path, he knew he wasn't going to make it.
Skystrike grit his teeth, knowing what he'd have to do. He pulled off Astral Night from his back and hugged her. Tightly. "This is one of those times I have to make that sacrifice..." He sighed before letting her go. His adrenaline didn't last as long as he hoped. the pain got to him. His lungs burned from the soot and the increasing lack of oxygen. He was scared, but he had to get through it.
"...Sky... what are you-" She couldn't finish her scentence before Skystrike used the the last of his strength to throw her towards the exit and out the door.
"You got... a long life ahead!" He coughed as he shouted to her. "You, and everypony else... live it to the fullest!" He collapsed to the floor. He didn't think it would end like this, but surprisingly he didn't have any regrets... Well there was one... but that didn't matter anymore. He looked up at Astral Night, Paprika helping her to her hooves. The two mares looked at him for the last time before Skystrike spoke his last words. "I'm sorry." He smiled for the last time they'd see before the building collapsed in on itself. He felt pain all in his body, his skin searing, his lungs burning, his bones breaking. Then he felt cold. But the worst thing he felt was the pain behind the screams for his name as his consciousness faded.
He didn't know how long had passed when he came to. Just that it's been a long time. His memory was hazy, but that wasn't important right now. What was was where he currently is. His vision was blurry, his ears were ringing slightly, and his body was begging him for more rest. Despite it's pleads, he had to get up.
He pushed himself off the ground. Once he got up and rubbed his eyes, he looked around. He was inside a cave, lanterns hanging around the room, evenly spaced from each other. He looked down, seeing the makeshift bed of hay he woke up on. Skystrike winced, looking down at his hooves. His sleeve covering his metal forehoof was gone, and the rest of his body was covered in bandages. Someone tended to his wounds. Someone pulled him out of the rubble of that fire.
Skystrike looked around the room for more info. There was one chair next to the bed, a blanket folded on it. There was a table and one chair. On that table was a candle, some paper, and an ink and quill. Someone lived here. This didn't make sense to him. Considering they bought him out the fire, they had to know who he was and where he lived. No, they had to have been following him since the gala at least. But if that was the case, why live in this cave? Why not take him to some hospital?
He needed answers. He looked around the room once more, noticing a wooden archway declaring the doorway to the room he was in. He put his hoof on the wall to balance himself. Going through the doorway, he turned, coming face to face with something he definitely didn't expect. Skystrike stood face to face with a black unicorn. Well, not exactly. Upon further inspection, it had bug-like wings, and holes going through its legs. The pale blue eyes stared back. A changeling.
So this is the one that saved him. First changeling he's seen in a long while. He bowed his head. "Thank you for everything."
The changeling dropped the items in her magic and rushed under his arm. "Nevermind that! Why did you get up? Your wounds aren't fully healed yet!" She said as they walked back to the room he was in. She laid him back down, sighing. "I was just coming to replace your bandages, but you're already trying to walk. You're a lot more hardy than I thought."
"Heh, thanks I guess." He chuckled, only to wince in pain. "So, what all happened, and how'd you get me out of there?" He asked. "Especially without anyone seeing you?"
"Well, before that. Let me change your bandages. That fire did quite a number on you." She agreed as she helped him take off said bandages. It took longer than he thought it would. It covered many parts of his body. His back, ribs, legs, and neck were all covered, though the damage varied from place to place. The worst area was the large burn mark across his back from where a beam fell on him. "You got lucky. I got there quick enough where the worst injury you got was the 2nd degree burn on your back. Other than that, a few fractured bones and some first degree burns."
Once all the bandages were off, she opened a jar of some type of salve before Skystrike put up a hoof to stop her. "Hold on. Get me the towel first. I feel... naked." He stated as simply as he could. The changeling looked at him, blinked, then realized that his meat was out. She apologized with an embarrassed blush before getting the towel and levitating it over to him with her magic. Skystrike put the towel around his waist.
Skystrike breathed in deeply, preparing himself for what he was about to do. When he changed for the first time from a human to a pony, he realized that it wasn't a simple illusion like it is for changelings. He had to change nearly his entire biology. How his blood flowed, where his organs were, the whole nine yards. Upon further testing his transformations, he realized three things. One, he can't turn into something with less mass than he started with. Two, he couldn't channel his magic as well as he normally could when he wasn't in his original form. Third, his wounds transferred between transformations, and transforming while wounded was painful.
However, he needed to heal faster than he is right now. He's have to power through the pain. He sat up and breathed deeply. A green fire started from his chest and creeped out towards his extremeties. The burning sensation he felt as his white coat turned to dark skin was painful, but bearable. The most painful parts were when his snout turned into a familiar human nose, and where were once his hooves were hands and feet, the digits seemingly growing from the fire. His white hair flowed down his back and rested on the floor. He'd have to cut it later.
The changeling looked at him, in awe of the form he took. She saw him like that as a child, but didn't realize how much he's grown over the years. Skystrike thought the same as her. It's been a good few years since he transformed. He focused more on the injuries he had, deciding he needed to heal them.
Skystrike focused the magic around where he was injured. Of course, due to how many he had, he surrounded his whole body in a green aura. He felt bones move back into place and the skin regrow, only leaving scars where the burn marks once were. While he could heal, it wasn't the ideal way. There were two ways for him to heal. His first choice was to use the unused energy in his body, such as fats and carbs, to speed up his natural regeneration. His second choice was to shave off some of his lifespan to heal wounds. A last resort. He chose the former.
"Now... I have some questions." Skystrike sat up straight to look at the changeling.
She stood at attention. "Yes sir! Ask away!"
He sighed at that. 'Sir.' "Don't call me that... I stopped being your captain when I was banished... when I let her die." He gripped his knees.
She gulped. "Of course... Skystrike. Ask away."
Skystrike leaned forward, getting to her eye level. "First, I'll need to know your name. What is it?"
"Caddis." She said with a flare of her wings.
"Alright, Caddis. No need to be so tense. How long have I been out for?"
"...Almost a week." She answered. Skystrike sighed at hearing that.
"Alright... Where are we, and how'd you get me here? Don't mean to be rude, but you don't seem strong enough to carry me."
"We're in a cave on the underside of Canterlot. And I didn't carry you?" She said the second part confused. "When I went to check on you, you were already standing. You asked me to take you somewhere safe. Though your voice was different, thinking back on it."
Different voice? Already standing? He leaned forward. "Was I wearing a helmet?" Caddis nodded. He gripped the collar around his neck. That's new... Echo is able to control him when he's unconsious at the bare minimum. That's scary, to say the least. But... he did save him. If Echo didn't, he's still be in the rubble. Despite that, he'd still need to talk to him later. "One more question, Caddis..."
"Yes?" She tilted her head.
"How long were you watching me for, and who ordered it?" He narrowed his eyes.
If a changeling could sweat, Caddis would be doing so right now. "Uhm... well..." She started.
"Go on." He said, but came off as more a demand.
"...The queen... told me to start watching you since you came to Canterlot years ago. There was a different changeling watching you in Cloudsdale."
"...Since Cloudsdale, huh?" He growled. "So, I see Chrysalis never trusted me since the beginning..."
"Oh, no no no, I meant the past queen. She was worried about you. We were just a sort of failsafe." Caddis explained. She began to explain further. "To be honest, I don't... have any loyalty to Chrysalis anymore. She banished all who were vocal on siding with you. Most of us sent to look after you included. I just... don't like leaving a job half done I guess..."
Skystrike looked at her for a moment before pulling her into a long hug. "I'm sorry..." He said. The only thing he could do was apologize. "You shouldn't have had to give up your family... our family... for me."
"No need to apologize. It was my own choice to stay in Canterlot." She said, returning the hug. She did her best to not drool.
Skystrike chuckled. "If you're hungry, just say so." He said as he opened his arms, letting her go. Caddis took a few steps back. "I'm ready when you are."
Caddis cleared her throat before beginning. She openned her mouth in a way that could only be described as creepy. Her fangs showed and what would be called her pupils shrank as a pink mist came from Skystrike's form and condensed in her mouth. She bit down on it and smiled. "Ah... you have no idea how much I needed that..." She shuddered in satisfaction.
Skystrike's expression didn't change. In fact, his face got more serious. "...Caddis, I don't mean to lay it on you like this, but... I do need a second opinion." Caddis burped, then nodded. "Thinking back to you, the other changelings, the former queen... and now the orphanage... I've noticed that I am the common denominator... I think it's best if... if Skystrike stayed dead. You and others were banished because of me... Mom was killed trying to save me... and my other brothers and sisters were targeted to get at me... I-... if Skystrike must die for those I care for to be safe... then it should be done."
The two sat in silence for a moment. The howling wind from the outside air echoes throughout the cave. After minutes of thinking, she finally replied. "Well... if you think that's for the best... I won't argue with you. But the ones who think you are dead, the pain that you'll deal to them is irreparable." She said. Skystrike thought on the words she said, contemplating. "But, no matter the choice you make, I'll be by your side."
Skystrike looked up at her and smiled. It may not be the best choice, but it was one he had to make. "Thank you, Caddis."
It was not a pleasent memory to relive, but one he had to nonetheless. "Skystrike..." Twilight started. "When I thought you died, it broke not just me, it hurt everypony. When your memorial was finished, everyone was crying. We lost a friend. A brother. A son. You don't know how many ponies cared for you." She sniffed.
"And then you come to Ponyville, show us your face, actin' like nothin' happened." Applejack butted in. "On top of all that, the first thin' ya do is go fight Nightmare Moon? Rainbow nearly cried herself to sleep that night!" She raised her voice in anger.
Rainbow Dash gave Applejack an embarrassed look. "Hey, I was with Fluttershy. She actually did."
"Not important here, Rainbow!" Applejack snapped her head onto her in anger. Rainbow quietly backed down.
The waterworks were coming to Fluttershy too when her name was mentioned. "We... we finally get to see you again after all these years, and now you're going off again... We-... we don't want you to die!" Fluttershy began crying as much as Pinkie and hugged him too.
Rarity made eyecontact with the stallion. "Skystrike... I know I don't know you nearly as well as the rest of us but... you are my dear friend. I speak for all of us that we don't want to see you hurt, let alone you disappear from our lives again." Rarity put a hoof on his shoulder. "Just... make sure you come back safe, alright, darling?" She tried to smile, but tears came out of her eyes too. She quickly tried to wipe them away to not ruin her mascara.
Skystrike looked over to Zecora and Stardust standing next to eachother. "I know that this is something you must do, but know that for every mission you go on, my worry only grows for you." Zecora sighed. "Into your thoughts, I will not dive. I merely ask you come back alive."
Stardust took a step forward. "You always worry about others before you... Just... put yourself first sometimes, alright, sir?" She pleaded.
Spike didn't say anything. He simply walked up to him and hugged his leg. He could feel it begin to grow damp with his tears. Naga brushed him gently with her nose. She could be surprisingly careful when needed.
Skystrike looked down. He's be lying if he said that their words didn't get to them. He took in a deep breath, then exhaled. "My actions need no justification, as it wouldn't change the irreparable damage I've done to you all." He began. "I know my actions may not be forgivable, but rather than dwelling on the many mistakes I made in the past... I want to make a better future for all of us. I want an ending that we can be happy with. I normally don't make promises, as I'm afraid I can't keep them, but I'll do this for you all." He said as he took a step back. He put a hoof over his chest. "You have my word that I will come back. And when I do, we have a lot to catch up on over the years I was gone." They all smiled back at him. "Now the night isn't over yet. We got until the train station parts us. Thirty minute walk." He offered.
They took that offer, Pinkie jumping on his back, her normally happy self. The group began walking towards the train station. He remembered it's been a while since the last time he did something like this. Spending time with friends. Put simply, he enjoyed it. Telling jokes, sharing laughs, just having a good time. He'd make sure to do this more when he got back.
Of course, there'd be no good times if they lasted forever. Their time eventually came to an end. Skystrike put his helmet back on as they approached the station. The conductor looked up from his seat. "Finally here." He coughed as he put the cigar in his mouth out. "We've already packed your train car. Got a lot of stuff in there for just a simple trip to Manehatten." He raised an eyebrow and pointed to the train car at the far end of the train.
Skystrike ignored that last statement from the stallion, deciding to turn to his friends instead. "Well, this is it. My time to go" He said. "I'm bad with goodbyes, and I'd rather not set any flags." He chuckled to himself.
"Don't worry about it. Just make sure you come back safe." Applejack smiled at him.
"Hey! Maybe we can have a party when you do!" Pinkie offered.
"Eeh, I'll think on it. Thanks though." Skystrike shrugged. "But you all take care of yourselves while I'm gone. I'm going straight to sleep one I get on the train." He said as he jumped to the top of the train car.
Twilight looked up, stunned. "...How-"
"Alright, Conducter, ready when you are!" He yelled to the conductor, who pulled the wistle on the train. It made it's well known sound before the wheels started to rotate and take him away from Ponyville. He turned to wave at his friends one more time before they were soon out of eyesight. He climbed down and into the train, changed out of his suit, and made a make-shift bed. He stared out the window at the night sky for a few minutes before falling asleep.
"We see you've finally came." He heard a voice in his dream from behind him.
Skystrike turned around to see Luna floating amongst a background of stars. "Alright... I guess you got some questions. Shoot." |
A Broken Warrior | Open Mind | After falling asleep on the train, Skystrike's consciousness awoke in his dreams, the princess of the night waiting for him. They stood across from each other in a sea of stars. "Alright... I guess you got some questions. Shoot."
Luna walked a bit closer. "Well, we wish to start by asking why you've been blocking our enterance into your nightmares, as well as how."
He sighed. "Hard ones already? Damn..." He chuckled before rolling his neck. "For the how, I just wall off my mind, if that makes sense." He looked to Luna, who shook her head. "Think of it like... when a pony has mind reading magic. You'd think of many things at once so they can't get to your true thoughts. You could also just not think. I do both. The parts of my mind you try to enter are just thoughts of nothing."
"...and why does thou block me from saving you from your nightmares?" She layed down and crossed her forehooves.
"That... you won't like the answer... I've done many things I'm not proud of. I let my nightmares happen to serve as a punishment... By my own morals, I don't think I'm worthy of being saved." Skystrike admitted.
Luna stayed silent for a moment. "I... understand how you feel. I think the same for when I was Nightmare Moon."
"That's the thing Luna, you think you do, but you can't. Nopony can. In your case, you fell to temptation. You put your hilt on the sword and drew it. In the end, you sheathed it." Skystrike looked down at his hoof and clenched it. "I did the same, but that sword it still drawn. Now, I'm just fighting the urge to stab." He shook his hoof. "But you want more concrete answers. You want to see my nightmares. But if you want that, I'll need you to do something for me."
Luna thought about what he said. She was at least willing to hear him out. "What is it you wish for?"
Skystrike sighed as he sat down and leaned forward. "When we first met, you were NIghtmare Moon. I did make a sort of promise that night. I said I'd be her friend. That still applies now. I bring this up, because I have a bit of a theory." He started. Luna's eyes widened a bit. "When you gave in to that power a millenia ago, it made an alter ego, that being Nightmare Moon. Meaning you two are seperate minds, sharing one body. While here, I ask that you two split. So you both can experience what I'm about to show you."
Luna stood up. "...Thou are frightening sometimes." She said as her eyes turned a blinding white light. Skystrike covered his eyes with a hoof, opening them moments later to see two ponies like he prediccted. Both Luna and Nightmare Moon stood infront of him.
Nightmare aproached him, looking down at him in a mix of fustration and confusion. "...Why did you release me? Do you realize she keeps me locked away for a reason!?"
Skystrike stood up and turned around. "If you really wanted to, you'd have done something already, if not try to sway Luna again. You won't admit it, but you enjoy the life she's living. At least some what. Well... there's more to it than that. Let me show you..." Skystrike made a grabbing motion in front of him with his hoof. A door was made out of nothingness steming from the door knob he was holding. With a twist, the door opened. He motioned the two in, who looked at each other.
Luna began to speak. "Normally... we'd say not to interfere with his dream, but I don't believe either of us have the power."
"...For once, we agree." Nightmare growled before the two entered, Skystrike following behind and closing the door. Once through, Luna and Nightmare saw nothing but void. An endless expanse of black. Nightmare turned to ask Skystrike, who was no longer behind them.
Luna snapped her head to her alter ego. "What did you do!?"
"I haven't done anything!" Nightmare defended herself. She was about to say something else before the two were interupted by the sound of screaming behind them. They looked to see a burning building, a filly being thrown out and landing next to some mare. They called out Skystrike's name before the building collapsed in on itself. The space around them warped, pulling them into the rubble. The debris around them disappeared, the only thing they were able to see was Skystrike, lying unconsious under the remaining visible debris. Skystrike, Luna, and Nightmare all heard a mocking laugh of a colt. The princesses looked around, but couldn't find the source of the sound.
"This is one of the most recent ones." Skystrike said from under the debris. "I was sixteen, and it was the day of the gala. I don't regret saving them, and I don't necessarily regret faking my death. The outcome I wanted was acheived." He admitted.
"...What dost thou mean?" Luna asked.
"Well, I lived through this. But I stayed 'dead' because I thought it was safer for those around me. This was the second to last attack that happened, to my knowledge, on my friends and family." Skystrike explained. "I've... mostly gotten over this one, but I guess this still isnt satisfactory for you, is it?" He looked up at Luna. She stayed silent. "Alright, further back it is."
The reality around them warped once again, Skystrike dissapearing while Luna and Nightmare stayed in place. Luna stood back up when they arived at the next scene. They stopped in a desert, feeling the heat of the scorching sun above them. The two looked around again, stopping when they saw something stand out.
It was Skystrike. Battered, bloodied, and bruised. One of his wings was limp, and he was dragging a hind leg. But what caught them off guard was is face. "He... He's crying..." Nightmare said as she walked towards him. She stuck a hoof out to touch him, only for it to pass through him like a ghost
Skystrike kept walking. They looked at his destination to see the changeling hive. The pegasus limped inside, disappearing from their sight. The scene changed once again, this time, Skystrike being in what they assumed to be the throne room. Countless changelings surrounded him, with one sitting on the throne. The princesses couldn't make out the faces of the changelings, or their queen, but they could hear what they were saying.
In the few interactions Luna had with changelings, she could tell they were cunning, ruthless, and always put eachother first. One of the hardest enemies to face. But the scene she was witnessing was far from what she knew them from. They were...divided. Some spoke in support of Skystrike, while others were speaking of him in distain, snarling and hissing at him as he approached the throne. The pegasus looked up at the throne. The figure on it spoke in a feminine voice. "...You left her to die..." She said through anger and sadness.
Skystrike tried to defend himself. "No... I... She told me to run... there was no way we could've won that fight..."
The figure stood up and blasted him with magic, sending him back a few feet. "DON'T GIVE ME THAT!" She said through tears. "You are a SOLDIER! You should've died with her if the battle was lost!"
"You know her better than I do... Khrusallis wouldn't have wanted that..."
Tears fell from her eyes, dropping onto her throne. "Don't you say her name, traitor!" She bared her fangs. "I should've never brought you here!" A few of the changelings tried to speak in Skystrike's defense. "QUIET!" The figure shouted. The hive obeyed. "Skystrike, mother has passed. As next of kin, I am now the queen of the changeling hive. And as queen, I hereby banish you from the hive." Some of the changelings cheered at this, but many growled. "Any who have any problem are welcome to join him in exile. Unless he plans to challenge me to the right of inheritance."
Skystrike thought about it for a moment... His eyes burned white with rage. Embers rose from the ground below him as the area around him grew hotter. "You... We lose our queen, your MOTHER, and you want to split this family apart MORE!? You think Khrusallis wanted this!? She'd want us to band closer together! And you're over here, feeding your lust for power!" His eyes were blinding at this point. Flames roared around his body, growing with his rage. "And you want to stand there, calling yourself a queen!? Tarnishing her title!?" His voice boomed, echoing through the walls of the hive. A few changelings even took a few steps back. Gritting his teeth, Skystrike shook his head, controling his emotions and dousing the flames around him. "No... I will not be in a hive like this... I'll leave by sundown..." He said before turning around and making his way back towards the entrance. Some of the changeling tried to talk him out of what he was doing, but they fell on deaf ears. He gathered the little he could and left, a small squad of changelings following behind him out of the hive.
Once he made it a good distance away, they abrubtly stopped, frozen in time. Luna and Nightmare flew to his side. Skystrike began speaking. "I was fourteen during this. Visiting the hive from time to time when I could. This was the last visit where I was welcomed..." He remorsed. "My mother, gone, my family, divided, and my sister hated me. I only left because it was for the best. I could've caused a civil war in the hive..."
Luna and Nightmare stood in front of him, the latter spoke first. "I think I understood what happened here..."
"The previous queen died... and It was my fault... We were ambushed... they new exactly how to counter both of us. She told me to run while she held them off... I should've stayed... she may have still been alive now..." He sighed.
"This is... much deeper an issue than I originally thought." Luna admitted.
"Well... there's one more I want you to see...." Skystrike said. "This one, you will get confused, so you'll have questions after. More than you already do, and I'll answer them all the best I can. I promise." One last time, reality warped around them. Again, Luna and Nightmare stayed where they were, while everything around them, including Skystrike disappeared.
When the world came to, they were seeing something no equestrian had seen before. They were in a room, each wall being a lab white. Luna and Nightmare were on the glass side of a one way window. In the middle of the room they were observing, a fight was going on. What confused and sickened them was the ones participating in the battle were all children. Well, they assumed they were children. They weren't ponies. They were- "Humans." Luna said to herself. When she returned to Equestria, she remembered her sister saying something about them, and how one appeared almost twenty years ago. Her description was spot on.
"12! 27! 29! 34!" The mares heard a voice emit from a speaker above them. "Put some effort into it! Remember! Your lives are on the line!"
Their eyes went wide in response to this. The children, also hearing this, began emitting magic of various types. Too much was going on for them to process. It was too much to take in. However, despite this, one of the children stood out. The one with dark skin and white hair was letting out magic at an astounding rate, the rest of the kids making an unspoken alliance to defend against him. Once the three were cornered, the dark skinned boy planted his feet and threw a large fireball at the others, turning them all into a large pile of ash.
"Well done 34! You'll be transported back to your cell shortly!" The voice said all too happy. 34 looked at where the other numbers once were, then down to his hands. Time stopped again, and their surroundings once again faded to black.
34 spoke in Skystrike's voice, signaling to Luna and Nightmare Moon that they were one in the same. "Here... I think this is where it started. When I started thinking... I knew once the last of my brothers and sisters were gone, that what I did was wrong. You didn't hear them, but the last thing one of them said was 'monster'... fitting, isn't it?" He gave a sad chuckle. Skystrike, still in the body of 34, waved his hand, changing the space back into a sea of stars. His body also changed, growing into an adult male. He stood taller than Nightmare Moon, her eyes meeting his chest. His muscular body out for the world to see, save for a cloak covering his body from waist to shins. His hair, not being cut in years, fell over his shoulders and onto his back.
Skystrike sat down. "Well, you can ask your questions now."
Luna asked first. "You... you aren't a pony, or a changeling... who... what are you?"
"I'm a human. The name I go by now is Skystrike Nebula. What I used to be called was 34." Skystrike put out a hand and rolled his wrist.
"Didn't Celestia say something about a human when we came back?" Nightmare turned to Luna, who nodded.
"Not surprised." Skystrike interupted. "When I first got here, didn't make a good first impression. Had to escape the capital and fight your sister. I'm guessing she's still looking for me."
"And you've been under her nose all these years... impressive." Nightmare grinned. "Now, a question of my own. How are you related to the changelings? And what happened to those that followed you?"
"I was taken in by the previous queen after my escape from Canterlot. The one you saw take the throne, was the one who pushed to let me in the hive in the first place. As for the changelings that followed, I did my best to find them homes elsewhere, in various cities in Equestria... I... cut contact when I faked my death." He sighed.
"Are you still in contact with any of the changelings?" Luna asked, sitting down. "And you were only a colt during that memory... what was your purpose when you lived along ponies?"
"Very few. I have a couple spies in the hive, just to make sure I'm up to date. For the second question, that's... a bit more personal, but since we're this far in, might as let it all out." Skystrike looked into Luna's eyes. "I made a promise to the late queen, Khrusallis. She wanted a future where ponies and changelings could live together. In her mind, I was someone perfect to make that dream a reality. I lived as a spy of sorts. I've lived both as a pony and changeling, so I was in charge of facilitating relations between the two races." He paused before continuing. "...Her dream would've been a reality if not for my banishment."
"...I'd like to ask you more questions about this with my sister present-" Luna began before being cut off.
"I refuse." Skystrike stated before elaborating. "It was her royal guards who attacked me and the late queen. Ask now or hold your silence. I will tell her on my own terms." He said this, more as a demand. Luna took the hint, knowing there wouldn't be a way to talk him out of this.
"My turn... Skystrike, what do you plan to do about her? Celestia I mean..." Nightmare began to grin.
"I will deal with her when the time comes. While I have lived alongside her as a pony and nephew, and while I have grown to appreciate her, I cannot forgive her for what she's done. The memory, I will show you at another time. For now, we will continue as we were. She doesn't need to know who I am."
"Then why did you tell us?" Luna furrowed her brow.
"Well... when we faught each other when Nightmare was in control... I was thinking about that. I realized that in some capacity, you both can relate to me. Trying to grow from a past we regret." He let out a sigh. "I wont ask what you went through those centuries ago. I just ask that you keep quiet about this for now."
Luna nodded. "I cannot promise I won't speak of this, but I will try to respect your wishes... Back at the gala... we heard the laughing of a colt that wasn't your voice... Do you know who it was?"
Skystrike thought back on it. His eyes flickered white. "Yes..." He seethed. "We grew up together in that orphanage. Some of those ponies were his brothers and sisters... not biologically, but you know what I mean. And he hurt them to get to me... I... he deserves what I will do to him."
"What's his name?" Luna asked.
"What do you plan to do to him?" Nightmare asked. Fitting.
"I'm keeping that to myself, it's part of the plan. He was a prime suspect for the fire, but there was never evidence to prove it was him. If you really want to know who he is, that should tell you all you need to find out." Skystrike stood up. "...as for what I plan to do... I will break his stolen pride, and make him admit to his crime... If he doesnt... then... well..." He clenched his fist. "It is not my place to judge and punish him. I will not do the makers will. I will, however, be the one to send him to them."
Nightmare hummed. "Hmm... I'd love to see it..."
Luna put a hoof on his hand. "We do not fully understand your pain, but we are no stranger to betrayal... your revenge... it's self serving, as all vengance is... it will not bring you any peace."
Skystrike kneeled down to be eye height with the princess of the night. "Luna... I'm sure you're right, and part of me wants to listen, but this is something I can't let go... He hurt others to get to me... that is unforgivable. It may not bring me peace, but in that moment... his pain will bring me pleasure."
She stayed quiet at that. Nightmare looked at him and gave a wide grin. "We are alike... makes me think on why you declined my offer those months ago."
He stood up and walked over to Nightmare, stopping in front of the alicorn. "Listen well, Nightmare Moon..." He leaned forward to look inter her eyes. "I will not act like I know your situation, because I don't. But at the very least, I know that we each had different reasons for our actions. Do not confuse my wrath with jealousy, nor my kindness for mercy." Skystrike rolled his neck and crossed his arms. "I offered to be your friend, because of my morals, and that we should have the chance to be somebody better than we once were. You've been given that chance, and I don't want you to waste it."
Nightmare moon growled at this, baring her fangs. "Shut your mouth, human! I don't need your pity! Do not act like you know who I am!"
"I wont, because that wouldn't be fair to you. It's wrong to judge ones character off of one interaction. Thus, I will allow your future actions to show who you are." Skystrike turned around. "First, get on better terms with Luna, then we'll figure out where to go from there. Getting back on track..." Skystrike looked to Luna. "Any more questions?"
Luna shook her head. "Uh... just a few more..." She stood up. "At the fire, you said that it was one of the more recent ones. What do you mean?"
Skystrike looked at her, then looked up into the void of a sky. "...There was another incident. Where my mercenary group 'All' got attacked. We were betrayed by a client. Things went south, quickly, and well... my friends almost died, and... I'll just show you next time... I've shared enough today. When I want to talk about it, you'll know."
Luna stood up. "We understand. We just have one last question... more a request..." She put a hoof on his chest. "We believe the reason you are telling us is because of the coming mission you've accepted. We are able to enter ones dreams, and feel the dreamers emotions after all." She looked Skystrike in the eyes, who avoided eye contact. "Make sure that thou comes back alive."
Skystrike nodded. "I plan to." He gave a faint smile.
Luna gave one of her own. "Nightmare, it's time for us to depart." Nightmare side eyed Skystrike before walking to the princess, who waved a hand at her. She turned her head up at that. She'd come around eventually. Luna's eyes flashed a blinding light once again, their surroundings turning white. Skystrike covered his eyes again.
When he openned his eyes, he was awake. "Well that was fucking weird." He said to himself.
"Your brain signaled hightenned activity last night. I assume that Luna visited your dreams?" Echo spoke.
"Yeah, we talked a bit about my past. I need to face it sooner or later." Skystrike admitted.
Be careful who you share information too. We are not certain who we can trust. Echo warned.
"I know, I know... but I have to take the risk for now. If things work out, then I'll gain a great ally."
"And if it fails?"
Skystrike stayed silent for a moment before responding. "Then my original plan remains the same."
"Noted." Echo said in monotone. "We will arrive at the Vanhoover train station in thirty minutes. I suggest getting ready."
Skystrike hummed in agreement as he stood up. He looked around the train car, making sure everything was packed securely. Food rations, blankets, clothes, flasks of various potions, and some extra stuff that would come in later. He'd already rented a large wagon for transportation of his materials and the hostages. He hoped that they could hold out a bit longer.
The train whistled when he arrived, signalling it was his time to get off. He stretched once the train stopped and started moving his luggage out of his train car, getting on his hind legs and picking up a barrel under each of his arms, placing them on the train platform. On his second trip out, placing down a crate of blankets, Skystrike noticed a few ponies staring at him and muttering between themselves. He ignored them a bit, going back in his train car to grab another crate, being careful with this one due to the fragile contents inside. Each time he came back out the car, the crowd ponies eyeing him grew bigger.
It wasn't new to him, but it has been a while since his last mission. This was the norm for him. He assumed that one part of the stares was how massive he was for a pony, being about double the size he should be for a stallion. His heavy armor, making him look bigger added to it. He knew that a part of the stares was the name he made for himself.
A stallion walked up to him. "Uh... excuse me..." He said nervously.
Skystrike turned to look at him. "Hey, how can I help you?"
The stallion took a moment to form his words. "Well... We just want to know what's going to happen. Since you're here, well... you know..." Despite being known as 'Atlas Nebula' by the public, and being known for his combat ability and mission success rate, he was also known as the pony you call when you have no other options. Basically, shit was about to get real.
"Don't worry. I'm just in Vanhoover to take a quick pit stop. The train doesnt go to where I need, so I have to walk from here." Skystrike assured the stallion. "Actually, if you can point me in the right direction to get to the Great Luna Bay, that'd be great."
The stallion nodded. "Just follow main street and go north." He said as he pointed.
"Thanks." Skystrike said as he sat down next to his stuff. Now, he had to wait for the wagon he rented. Somepony would deliver it to him. He looked at the rising sun. About eight in the morning. They should be coming soon. Once the stallion went back into the crowd, some of them left to continue with their days. Others still stayed. He paid them no mind. After some time, a group of three ponies aproached him.
Once the mare leading them introduced herself as the owner of the wagon rental company, the two stallions behind her began moving Skystrike's items onto the wagon. After telling them to be careful, and finalizing the contract, specifying the cost per day, Skystrike hitched himself to the wagon and started pulling, making his way down the road. The stallion said head north on main street. After a few minutes of walking, he realized how heavy the wagon was. It was big enough to fit about eight ponies, as well as all his luggage on the underside. It'd be even heavier carrying more ponies on his way back.
He sighed, thinking about what he was going to have to deal with, but shook the worry away with a head shake. As he walked north on the city road, the road slowly turned to gravel as he got closer to the edge of the city. Once there, he grabbed his lunchbox and began to eat while he walked. Taking a sniff of his sandwich and about to bite into it, he was inturupted by somepony.
"Hey! Excuse me!" The voice said alongside the sounds of clopping hooves. Nothing out of the ordinary, but what caught him off guard was the voice itself. It sounded... familiar. But at the same time, not. Like when he first met up with his childhood friends in Ponyville. He could recognize the voice, it just sounded older. More mature. He held his breath as he turned around.
A unicorn mare. A few years younger than him by the looks. She had a light lavender coat, and a straight mane and tail of peach, purple, and pink. Her magenta eyes met the blue ones from his helmet. For clothing, she wore the the same armor that a royal guard wore, save for it being silver in color, and the lack of a helmet. He ignored the rest of her equipment for now, focusing on the mare. 'Astral...' he thought to himself. It was Astral Night. His younger sister of about two years. Last he saw her was when he faked his death. It's been eight years since he saw her.
Skystrike was feeling a lot of things. Most of what he was feeling was varying forms of happiness. Astral looked like she was doing well. She grew up well, and took care of herself. Most of all, he was glad to see her again. Of course, he was also feeling not so good things. The pain of missing out. The regret of leaving. The remorse of the pain he made her go through. But what hurt him most is that he couldn't reveal himself.
Sure he revealed his identity to his friends in Canterlot, but that's different. Minuette, Twinkle Shine, and Lemon Hearts might tell ponies, but nopony would really believe them. Astral Night would definitely tell somepony, and they would believe her. But that was the least of his worries. He's caused too much pain to her and the others at the orphanadge. Coming back now wouldn't ease their pain, only increase it.
Skystrike finished thinking to himself before responding to her, keeping calm to not give himself away. "Good morning. How can I help you?"
She stopped in front of him, catching her breath. "I'm... Astral Night. Nice to meet you!" She said between breaths, putting out her hoof. "Glad I caught you before you left."
Skystrike shook her hoof. "Atlas Nebula, but you probably new that." He greeted her. "So, what do you need?"
"Well, I just got here from Canterlot by train. I was asking around, and it turns out we both have to go to Great Luna bay! Was hoping we could travel together. It'd make the trip safer and much quicker."
Skystrike blinked. He needed to make sure. "...Exactly what business do you have to do up there?"
"A pony there sent a request for help. A few ponies went missing in a village starting up, scary stuff... I saw their notice and took the job." She explained.
Skystrike's heart fell into his stomach. He could just tell, she had no idea what she was getting into. He looked at Astral's gear. Standard armor, a short sword, some throwing daggers, and a large backpack of what he assumed essentials. She was prepared for what she assumed she needed to prepare for, not what she actually needed to prepare for. "I see... You know, I didn't think a young mare like yourself would take a job like this one."
She puffed out her chest. "Well... I'm a lot stronger than I look." She smiled before it fell a bit. "And... there's another reason that's a bit more personal... I had a brother who'd help out ponies when he could. Figured this was my chance to do the same."
Skystrike smiled a bit at that. Then sighed. Just from that, he knew he wouldn't be able to talk Astral out of going. "Fair enough. Going to the same place anyway. Hop inside, it's a three day trip, but I plan on doing it in two."
Astral smiled at him. "Thanks!" She hopped in his wagon before Skystrike started walking while eating. "Wow, you got a lot of stuff in here..." Astral looked around. "Seems like you bought a lot more stuff than you'd need to find missing ponies... what do you need these spears for?"
Skystrike finished chewing the bite of his sandwich he took. "I'm not sure how much research on the area you did, but there could be some dangerous things up there. I'd rather be over prepared."
"What do you mean? What should I know?"
Skystrike cleared his throat before speaking. "Knowledge is power, Astral. We have the chance to know what's going to happen before we get there. What you should know is that this isn't a simple missing pony case. Don't quote me on this, but there is a very high chance that this is a hostage situation. Something took those ponies hostage."
"Oh..." She said. "Shit..."
"Yeah, and sadly, it gets worse." Skystrike continued. "They put up a notice, which is how they got you to go up there. Different from my case. A pony from that settlement went to day court to tell Celestia privately, then she came to me. Preparing for the worst, that means the one who made the notice and the one who went to the princess are two different ponies. One of us is being set up."
"That's... very concerning if you're right. But at the same time, those are just hypotheticals, right?" Astral poked her head out the front of the wagon.
"Well, yes, it is a hypothetical, but I'll be proven right or wrong when we get there. Whoever is in charge there will only be expecting you. Not me as well." Skystrike explained as he pulled the wagon. he rolled his neck then looked back at Astral. "I'll think of a plan for either scenarios. For now, save your strength. I ask that you keep watch tonight."
Astral nodded. "I can do that no problem... though if I can ask you something, you're being pretty considerate of me. Don't get me wrong, I apreciate it, but the last groups I went with were nowhere near as nice. I guess I'm just... asking why?"
Skystrike looked down at the ground, then straight ahead. "Well... two reasons really. When you work a job like mine, and as long as I have... when you take away the lives of many, deserving or not, you realize how much life is worth living... how lucky you are to be able to breathe the next day. We have the gift of life. No telling if we'll make it back this time. You still have the chance to turn around right now."
Astral sat down, looking at the scenery around her. "...Admittedly, I didn't think of it like that. My brother... he was a big role model for me. Put others first before himself. Some of his last words to me was to help those that need it. I... I want to honor his memory, so I took this job. He'd do it." She said the last part with a waver is her voice. Little did she know.... "I also want to help my younger siblings. I took over some of what he did when he passed. Times are a bit hard right now, and I need the money... What was your second reason?"
"...Really noble of you... My second reason, well... I made a promise. Seeveral actually..." Skystrike looked back at Astral. "I promised two ponies as a colt that I'd use my power to help others. To protect others. And I promised myself that I would help others, like I wish I was helped when I was at my lowest."
"And you say I'm noble." She giggled. "...you remind me of him, my brother I mean. You're much different from the rumors that ponies say, you know."
"Ah... well, I'm honored... I wont ask about him, I know the pain of loss too well. And what's this about rumors?" He raised an eyebrow from under his helmet.
"Well, ponies say you're an asshole, to be honest. The few ponies you did missions with said you were controlling. Then the ones you denied working with obviously think the same." Astral leaned back in her seat. "Speaking with you now, I can see it was somewhat out of worry. Then, there are the rumors saying you're some blood thirsty killer, and a battle maniac, but those aren't as popular."
"You're mostly right on the first half. I get that I come off as an ass sometimes. Well, probably most times. The killer part is definitly warranted. There were times where I have had to kill, and ponies knew it was me, they just couldn't prove it, so I got away with few charges. I may be entirely wrong about this, but many ponies just don't understand that some beings have to die if others want to live. I do my best to make sure I only kill those deserving."
Her ears perked up at that. "...and what would make one deserving of death?"
"Well, I think my way of thinking is fair. When somepony does something wrong, most times, punishing them is rarely a deterent. In fact, most times, it just alerts them to be sneakier about it. So, if you're understanding me so far, and this is where many would disagree, instead of punishing them, you have to make them experience what they did wrong. This way, they know the pain they put somepony else through, and would most likely not do it again. Personally, just from what I've experienced, even that isnt enough. Sometimes I have to go farther...."
Astral thought about that to herself for a few minutes. "That... makes logical sense, but I'm not entirely sure I agree with all of it. So basically an eye for an eye?"
"More or less. Obviously, it changes from situation to situation, but that sums it up. As an example, I was given a bounty to hunt a bandit. He started out as a thief, then it turned to torture. Then... he was about to kill a stallion before I caught him. In that moment, no punishment would've made him stop, so I decided to kill him, so the bandit couldn't harm any others. I didn't want to take the chance on 'he might learn better'."
"Fair enough. I say that, but I haven't had to... take the life of another yet."
"Hope you never have to." Skystrike finished as he kept walking.
Sunrise quickly turned to sunset as Skystrike and Astral traveled north. His body was a bit tired from pulling his stuff all this way, so he was currently looking for a place to rest. The grassy plains grew colder as they ventured further nortth, Skystrike even seeing a snow storm further ahead.
Astral saw the same. "We should set up camp now. No telling if the storm will come to us. "
Skystrike nodded and slowed to a stop. "Was just thinking that. There's a crate in there marked 'camp'. Can you bring that out for me?"
Astral nodded. She looked around and found the labeled crate. She used her magic to try and pick it up, only being able to get it a few inches off the ground before releasing it, landing with a thump that shoot the whole wagon. "Jeez... what's all in here!?"
"Uh..." Skystrike picked his memory. "Pots and pans, silverware, some firewood, a perimeter alarm. You know, the basics. Need help?" Skystrike took himself out of the harness he had on.
"No... I got it... and what about a perimeter alarm?" The asked before holding her breath and flaring her magic, forcing the box out the wagon and onto the grass with a huff.
"The perimeter alarm is exactly how it sounds. I set the perimeter, and it makes a noise when anything crosses from the outside. Grab it for me. It looks like a grey rod." He gave a description as he stretched a bit. Astral found it, using her magic to float the rod over. Skystrike took it out of the air, stabbed it into the ground, and made a twisting motion. As he twisted, a thin white spherical barrier passed through him, Astral, and the wagon, stopping it once it was about ten meters in diameter. After that, he walked over to the box, stood on his hind legs, and picked up the crate to move it towards the center of their camp.
"...How did you get that strong?" Astral asked, walking beside him. "And why do you stand like that? It looks uncomfortable."
"For your first question, proper consistent training of the body and mind, as well as constant life or death situations. For your second, with how my armor was made, It's much easier to stand like this for long periods of time, so not too uncomfortable. As to the why, It keeps my front hooves free, and I don't have to carry a weapon in just one hoof, or in my mouth. With how many ponies fight anyway, they get on their hind legs. Mostly though, it's because I built my fighting style around it as a dual swordsman." Skystrike put down the crate. "Actually, I'll give you a quick demonstration. It's easier to show it rather than explain."
"I-... I'm not sparing with you... I don't wanna die." Astral shrunk down a little.
"Oh, no, I wouldn't ask you to do that." He walked to the wagon and got his swords. He got a good grip on them as he walked back to the mare. "So, these blades are custom made. Take a look at one." He put a hoof out, offering her a blade.
Astral took it, taking it out of the scabbard and looking at the blade. She could tell that it kept an edge well, but there were a few things that stuck out to her. "What's with the massive hole near the tip? Seems like a bad idea. And the hilt that looks like a dragon?"
"The hole, normally you'd be right, it would be a structural weakness for normal blades. These two swords were made specifically to have magic gemstones where the holes are, to increase the strength of the blades and give them magical effects. I just don't have the gemstones, so they've stayed empty." He explained, taking the scabbard off the sword in his hooves and giving it a few practice swings, it making a whistling sound. "It also makes a certain noise. If you swing the blade straight and hard, it makes a loud whistling sound, telling you that you swung right, and your foes get intimidated too sometimes."
"And the hilts?"
"The hilts are the heads of dragons because I see dragons as the embodiment of strength. It is in the nature of a dragon to be strong. And I need my blades to be strong enough to rely on. Symbolism basically. Now, let me show you what I meant earlier."
Skystrike, still on his hind hooves twisted his body to stretch a bit before twirling his sword and getting into a low stance. "So, my fighting style, as a pegasus and especially a swordsman, focuses on speed. To generate the maximum force I can, I use all of my upper body, and when I make contact, I transfer the force to my upper body, since as a stallion, my center of mass is in my chest." He flapped his wings, just enough where he was flying a few inches off the ground. "With my style, I fly towards foes..." He flew a few feet forward. "As I approach, I begin my swing. It differs depending on what direction I'm flying. In this case, I'm flying forward, so I do a horizontal, overhead, or underhoof swing. Let's go with a horizontal for now." He made a slow swing from side to side, then stopped mid swing. "The moment my sword should make contact, I plant my back hooves into the ground, so I can transfer all the force my sword takes through my body." He did so and finished the rest of his sword swing. "Now, here's what it looks like when put into motion..." He combined his explaination into one, fluid motion, flying forward, planting his hooves and swinging his sword in less than a second. His sword howled as it cut through the air.
"I think I get it." Astral grabbed the sword in her hooves, nearly dropping it at the weight. "Sheesh... you make it look easy... and that sound is intimidating." She gave a small laugh.
"I'd say learn some swordsmanship if you havent already." He put his sword back in his scabbard before walking to the crate he put down earlier. "I say that since you know... most unicorns focus too much on magic, and not so much on their body."
"Yeah, I get it. I will admit im not in the shape I wish to be, and while I don't know how to use a sword, I do know how to use knives pretty well." She turned to her side, showing the dagger on her side and the throwing knives in a harness around her back leg.
"...You know, I never did ask how you fight." Skystrike pulled out some cocking supplies from the crate and started a small fire.
"So... I guess by definition I'm a spell sword? I mostly use magic attacks, but my knives have special effects enchanted to them. Some channel my magic into what they stick to, some dispel magic, and some cast a spell when thrown. All of them can only be used a few times before I have to recharge their magic."
"And what type of magic can you use?" He began heating a pot
Astral walked towards Skystrike to give back his sword. "I specialize in alteration and enchanting. My weapons and armor were all enchanted by yours truly!" She boasted a bit.
"Is that so? Very impressive. I've tried making my own enchantments, so I know it's hard. And for alteration, any specific spells you know? Could come in handy later." Skystrike grabbed a large container of soup and poured it in the pot to heat it up.
"Um..." Astral thought for a moment. "Well, alteration spells rarely are meant to harm. It's more meant to be a supportive type of magic. Notable ones I can cast Candlelight, Strengthening, Swift, Detect Life, and Paralyze."
"Those can definitely come in handy. I'll make a mental note of that. I'll ask you to go into more detail tomorrow." Skystrike got two wooden bowls and poured soup into each of them. "For now, eat. We leave at sunrise. I plan on making it to our destination by noon."
She took the bowl and looked at it. "Oh, Fennel Carrot Soup! I love this..." She put a spoonful in her mouth and hummed. "...Reminds me of home a bit... You know, I told you a bit about my past, but I know nothing about yours. It's only fair."
Skystrike stopped mid bite. "...My past is not a happy one. It's full of wrath, abandonment, betrayal, and regret. If you want the short version, I ran from one life, found a new one, was betrayed by my sister, found a new one again, then was forced away from that one. I'd rather not talk about it..." Skystrike said.
Astral could tell from the scratch marks on his bowl from the metal claws that it was best to not bring the subject up. "Okay... I'll leave you be then..." She said awkwardly.
The two continued their meal in silence. Once done, Skystrike got up, and put his bowl next to the now empty cooking pot. "Are you still hungry?" Skystrike asked. Astral shook her head an response. "Alright. Leave the bowl and utensils next to the pot. I'll make something quick in the morning. We'll start moving a bit after your shift is over. I hope you don't mind sleeping in the wagon."
Astral shook her head. "I'll be fine. Will you be? That's only like six hours of sleep."
Skystrike nodded. "I need to get it now while I can. Things will get crazy when we get there." With that, he climbed inside the wagon and sat down, leaning his back on the wall and closing his eyes. After a few minutes, He fell asleep.
He awoke to the sound of light beeping. Openning his eyes, he saw that Echo set an alarm for him to about one in the morning. Looking through the overlay of his helmet, there was nothing out of the ordinary, besides the temperature dropping lower than it should've. He walked out to see Astral huddled under a light blanket, reading a book.
She looked back at him, yawning. "That time?" She stood up and made her way towards the wagon, but pausing next to Skystike. "Also... I want to say sorry about earlier, Nebula."
"Don't worry about it. Get some rest. I'll wake you when we get there." Skystrike walked by her and began cleaning up camp. Astral looked back at him before climbing in the wagon and going to sleep. He made himself and Astral a couple of sandwiches before finishing the cleaning and putting everything back in the crate. He moved the crate back into the wagon, then sat down to eat his sandwiches. Once finished, he did his daily excersizes, then hitched himself back to the wagon, and began walking again.
He checked the time in his overlay, nearly 2 a.m. He looked ahead, seeing that the storm from yesterday moved closer towards him. He estimated it was about two hours away, but couldn't estimate how thick the snow storm was. He kept a constant pace, saving his energy for the road ahead. Skystrike felt the air biting at him as it got colder, speeding up in response. The sooner he was out of the cold, the better.
As his trot turned into a gallop, he thought on why the weather was like this. No way that any pagasi would bring this many clouds out here for this long. There was also no way they just had this many clouds transported to their start up village. He'd need to find the source of the storm once he arrived. Thankfully, it only took about ninety minutes to get through the storm. He slowed down to a walk to catch his breath. Skystrike shook some snow of himself and out of the nooks and crannies of his armor. Cracking his neck, he sped up back to a trot.
Finally, after a few hours more of travel, they arrived. It was a small village, as expected. About a dozen log cabins of of various sizes. What was odd to him was that despite it being noon, and it being a bright, cool day, there were no ponies around. Taking a closer look at the houses, the curtains on the windows were closed, and the lights were off. He'd need to figure exactly what was going on here.
He parked the wagon to the side of the dirt path and went to wake Astral up, who was sprawled out on the floor, back on the ground. Some of her limbs stuck out from under the blanket. She was always a messy sleeper. Skystrike nudged her awake with a hoof. "Snrk... huh? What?" She pushed herself up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "We... we're there already?"
"I said I'd do it in two days." Skystrike helped her up. "I need you here. They're expecting you, not me. Plus, you look much more approachable than me."
She nodded and the two climbed out, Skystrike leading the way. After making a few turns, they stopped infront of a two story cabin with a large set of double doors. Skystrike put a hoof out to signal Astral to stop, then a hoof up to his helmet to be quiet. He noticed earlier that dozens of sets of hoof steps came from the other cabins and lead to this one and stopped. "Cast a detect life spell and tell me what you see." He whispered.
She closed her eyes, focusing magic and casting the spell. When Astral opened her eyes, they were a bright red. From her view, red auras were surrounded every living being, making a silhouette. She looked at Skystrike to make sure she casted it correctly, then inside the building. "There's a large mass of life in there. They're all huddled together, so I cant exactly tell what is in there.... or how many..."
Skystrike nodded. His best course of action as of now would be to sneak inside, and to be certain of who was in there. "I'll find a way inside. If it sounds like anything bad happens while I'm inside, break down the door." Astral nodded. Skystrike flew onto the roof and landed next to a skylight at the back of the cabin, pointing towards the forest. He found it odd that it was already unlocked, and rather large...
He ignored it for now, opening the skylight and climbing in. Being careful to watch his step, trying to make as little noise as possible, he opened the attic door and climbed down a ladder leading to the second floor. A long hallway beckoned him to go down it. He did so, being the only way for him to go. The stallion was about to round a corner leading to the indoor balcony, but stopped to hug the wall. He peeked the corner to see a few dozen ponies of various types and ages, huddled together, as it to protect one another. Some even had weapons.
Now the harder part. He went back behind the corner and back outside the cabin. If they really were defending themselves from dragons, his face... well helmet, probably wasn't the best for them to see under high stress. He made his way back outside and landed next to Astral. "Knock on the door, introduce yourself. Some of them have weapons, so back up a bit when they open the door."
Astral nodded and did so, knocking on the door. "Um... Hello? My name is Astral Night, I'm here for your request to look for some missing ponies? Is anypony there?"
Astral and Skystrike heard the sounds of hoof steps approaching the door, it creaking open slowly. A spear came out first, then a navy unicorn stallion with a black and white stripped mane and tail. The two were already far enough back where the spear couldn't reach. "...There's two of you... I only paid for one pony."
"You only need to pay for one. I'm here for my own reasons." Skystrike stepped forward. "I assume you're the village head here?"
The stallion pointed his spear at Skystrike's neck. "Who sent you here!?"
Skystrike furrowed his brow. "That information that I'm not willing to give out, especially to somepony who's pointing their weapon at me."
Astral stopped the situation from escalating any more, pushing the spear down with a hoof. "Lets calm down... Nebula is here with me. We met by chance on our way here. I promise he wont get in the way of my investigation."
The stallion looked at her, then glared at Skystrike. "Very well... I am Magelight. Now get inside, and quickly." He opened the door, signaling the two in. They followed, Magelight closing the door behind them. The three turned around to see the rest of the ponies inside.
"Jeez... do you have the whole village in here?" Astral asked rhetorically.
"Yes." Magelight answered. "Alright, everyone! All clear! They're ponies!" Magelight called out the the ponies inside. They could hear the wave of relief that washed over the residents. The residents left in groups to go back to their homes.
"What happened here? Why was everypony huddled together here?" Astral asked.
Magelight looked back to Astral and Skystrike. "I'll tell Astral... Nebula, I ask you to leave."
"Makes sense. I'll see you two later." Skystrike turned to leave before whispering something in Astral's ear. "Something is off about that stallion. Play it safe." He said, walking past and closing the door behind him. A few ponies were walking about and talking between eachother. He jumped up into the air and began flying. It'd be best to survey the area first. Seventeen houses in total. The head's house was closest to the forest. There were few trees within the confines of the village. Nothing really notable about the place. One thing he did notice was a pony waving him down. As Skystrike approached, the pony ducked behind a house, furthest from the head's.
Landing on the ground, Skystrike saw a vanilla colored hoof wave him in. "Quick, before anypony else sees!" A mare's voice said. Skystrike went inside and closed the door. The vanilla colored pony lit a lantern, lighting up the room and the six ponies inside. "Thank Celestia you're here... well literally!" She gave a nervous laugh.
Skystrike looked at the ponies around the room, then at her. "I assume you're the one that went to tell Celestia?"
"Yes! I have to say, when I asked for help, I didn't expect them to send you! This makes things so much better!" She hugged him, then let go of him. "Sorry... just-... you have no idea how happy we are for you to be here..."
"I'm flattered. So, who are you all? And why are we being so secretive?" Skystrike sat down, waiting for an answer.
"Sorry about that, we should introduce ourselves. I'm Opal!" The vanilla unicorn with an aqua and celeste mane and tail spoke.
The earth pony stallion next to her spoke next, who had a charcoal coat with a silver mane and tail, the tips of his hair ending in the colors of the rainbow. "Bismuth." He gave a nod.
Another earth pony stallion with an orange coat and white mane and tail spoke next. "I'm Emerald Green, but just call me Emerald.
A pegasus mare with a grey coat and silver mane and tail put up a hoof. "Hey, I'm Silverspeed."
A unicorn mare waved at Skystrike. "I'm Spelunk." She greeted. Spelunk had a brown coat and a deep grey mane and tail.
Lastly, a pegasus stallion jittered when it was his turn. He was clearly anxious. "I'm... I'm Stormfeather..." He said weakly. He had a bluish gray coat with a light yellow mane and tail.
Skystrike wanted to ask if he was ok, but was cut of by Opal answering his second question. "And we're the ones who hired you! Well... I say hired, but you I went to the princesses with a request for help. She said she'd find somepony, and that we didn't need to pay."
Skystrike nodded. "And that pony is me it seems. And no, I won't ask you to pay. I assume there's a reason that you and Magelight hired separate ponies?"
The mood fell a bit. Bismuth scoffed. "He was the one trying to stop us from asking for help ourselves... Something's off about that stallion."
Skystrike leaned forward. "Elaborate."
Bismuth straightened himself and nodded. "We wanted to call for help when the first pony went missing, my sister Agate disappeared from the mine almost two weeks ago. I saw... something take her... I ran after it, but it outran me..." He dug his hooves into the ground. "He wouldn't believe me... saying she just got lost. Nopony believed until the next ones disappeared."
Silverspeed spoke next. "My sister, Goldwork was next. Same way as Agate. Just... disappeared in the mines. She was part of the search party that went looking for Agate, but she got split up from the group." She looked down. "That was when Opal went to the princesses..."
"It worked... you're here. When I came back, I was told that mining operations would be on hold until somepony came to investigate what happened to the missing ponies. But while I was gone... two more ponies disappeared. Emerald and Spelunk's sisters."
Spelunk sniffed, thinking back to the day her sister disappeared. "Quarry and Ruby, both on the same day. Just went into the forest to have a picnic... We know something took them, but Magelight denies it... We heard their screams echoing through the trees." Her tears fell on the floor. Silverspeed moved to hug her.
Opal sighed and continued. "The night after I returned, my sister, Jasper, went to the mine to see what happened in the middle of the night... She didn't come back. That was three days ago. Then..." Opal looked to Stormfeather. "His sister was the most recent one..."
"...When was this?" Skystrike asked.
"Yesterday night..." Stormfeather answered. "We... we were flying above the forest, moving the clouds away, and... something... something... big took her... Just swooped in from under the clouds and took her. The storm was too thick to follow it, but it went toward the mine."
"I'm... sorry I didn't come sooner..." Skystrike lowered his head. "You have my word that I will do everything in my power to get your sisters back and protect this village. I know you all asked for me... but I do need your help with a few things for this investigation."
Bismuth sat up from the wall he was leaning on. "Ask."
"First, somepony needs to check the food stores. I want to know if there's anything off about the count. Second, ask around town, figure out who heard from who that Goldwork got split up from the group. Third, there has to be some night owls in this village. Ask them if they saw anything, especially the night Jasper disappeared. Fourth, I need a descriptive list of this village's residents. Name, race, colors, magic color, and cutie mark. Lastly, I need a map of the mines, where Agate and Goldwork disappeared in the mines, and any other known entrances." He listed off, writing down a note of what he spoke of and handed it to Opal standing next to him
She looked at it. "This is... a lot, but doable. when do you need these by?"
"That is a lot to ask for. Can you at least tell us why?" Spelunk asked him.
"I need the map in a few hours. Everything else, by tomorrow. I don't want to make any accusations, but once I get that info, I will tell you if my thoughts are right or not. So far... no, best if I don't say more for now. I promise I'll tell once everything's known. I still have to talk to Astral though. If all goes according to plan, I'll have your sisters back in two days."
Stormfeather looked at him. "T-... Two days? Are you serious?"
Skystrike nodded. "I plan on going into the cave and finding them, hence the map. Once they're back, they will more than likely need medical attention. In the worst case scenario, I'll take them back to Vanhoover." Skystrike stood up. "Now, Emerald, Bismuth, I need your help with getting something out of my wagon."
They both nodded. Bismuth looked back at the rest of the ponies staying inside. "We'll be back. You guys all get started on what Nebula asked for." The three stallions then left the house. After a short walk back to Skystrike's wagon, Bismuth spoke again. "So, what do you need us to move?"
Skystrike pushed a large box to the edge of the wagon. "Oh, nothing I need you guys to move, necessarily, but I have some... rather high grade weaponry that I need to teach somepony to use correctly while I'm gone."
Stormfeather nodded. "A-Alright... but why do you need such weapons? And why do you need to show us? Won't you be here?"
Skystrike shook his head. "Once I show you guys how to use these, I'm going to stake out the cave from dusk to dawn, as well as look for any traces of the kidnappers. I'm showing you how to use these since you guys and Astral will be protecting the village in the off chance attackers come while I'm away. Don't worry, I'll also give you flares just in case. These are a last resort."
The two nodded in understanding. Skystrike climbed down from inside the wagon, moving the box to the ground. It was almost as large as him. He pushed it to the village center, making sure it had a wide area with minimal obstructions. A few ponies aside from Bismuth and Stormfeather stopped their daily activities as they watched what the raven armored pony was doing. When he opened the box, he took out the contents and spread out various metal pieces on the ground around him.
As Skystrike built his machine, Bismuth and Stormfeather couldn't tell what it was supposed to be. It had three legs, digging the main body into the ground. The central structure had a shape of a box, but was on a swivel joint, able to rotate freely. In the box, Nebula put a hollow cylinder into the base, moving it up and down a few times, as if to check if it would come out. They couldn't even describe the other little things he was doing. Pressing buttons, tightening screws, and flicking a switch, Nebula stood back, satisfied with what he built.
"So... what is this supposed to be? I've never seen any weapon like this." Bismuth walked around the creation.
"This is... I actually didn't give it a name, so I'll just call it 'Stake Launcher'." Skystrike admitted. He picked up a small box and openned it, showing it was full of metal, barbed, stakes "Hence the name, it launches stakes at a speed of 80 meters per second, so pretty damn fast. Listen close, I'll only explain this once. This is not a toy. This can kill even the largest beast when used right. Do not aim it at anyone you don't want dead." The two stallions nodded. "Good, now, this is pretty simple to control." Skystrike gave them a controller. It reminded Stormfeather of a forehead thermometer. "You point this at something and pull the trigger. The Stake Launcher will lock onto it and fire at it. It marks whatever you point at with a magic tag, declaring it an enemy to the turret. Remember, this is a LAST RESORT. As in, whatever took your sisters came into this village directly."
"Ok, ok, we get it..." Bismuth groaned. "Just... what do you think we're up against where you need this?"
Skystrike hesitated on answering. "...You'll know by tomorrow morning. I should know for sure by then. I have a few more things to do before I go. Tell the others what I said. Make sure to take shifts to keep watch while I'm gone." And with that, he flew away, back to his wagon. As soon as Celestia gave him the mission, he had to put many of his projects on hold, focusing on the new one he just finished setting up. In the off chance it is dragons, he needed a weapon that could go through the scales of a fully grown one. So, he started making his stake launcher, with the help of Echo and his lab of course. Only problem was that he hasn't field tested it yet. He hoped that it worked in the off chance it was used.
He arrived at his wagon. The first thing he did was get one of his prepped meals and ate a rather large portion, when compared to the average pony. It tasted alright, but it was made to be filling and nutritional. Then Skystrike thought about how long he'd be away from the village. Best if he had two meals since he wont be here for dinner. He opened another container, eating another meal before wiping his mouth. Skystrike took off his cape and looked at the star on the back of it. He sighed, then smiled at it, remembering what it meant to him. The pegasus folded the cape and put it back inside his wagon. It'd get in the way of the forest. Wouldn't want it caught on anything.
He prepared a few more items, putting some consumables on his body. Smoke bombs, flash bangs, water, tear gas, and a green camouflage cloak, putting it on. About everything he needed for a stake out, as well as an escape. Lastly, he put his swords on his back this time, so they don't poke out while he's laying down. Looking to the setting sun, he had about two hours before it set. "Mr.Nebula!" He heard from above him. Skystrike looked in the direction of the voice, seeing Silverspeed fly to and land in front of him.
"Hey. Silverspeed if I remember right? What do you need?" Skystrike rolled his wrists and sat down.
"We found the maps! One of the village and forest, and one of the mine." She said, laying out a map of the village first and pointing to the mine. "The mine is about a twenty minute walk from here." Then she pointed to two circles drawn in red ink. "These are two entrances that we know of. This bigger circle is the main entrance we use. It has everything set up for mining. Tools, wagons, a furnace, the basics." She moved a grey hoof to the other red circle. "This is also an exit, but it's rarely used. It's a nearly vertical shaft that comes out the side of a mountain, so It's only used in emergencies by us pegasus."
"...How wide would you say this shaft is? And where does it lead?" Skystrike asked.
"Oh my~..." She smirked. Skystrike stared. Silverspeed awkwardly moved on. "Anyway... if I had to estimate... I'd say about ten feet?"
Skystrike nodded. "Alright, continue with the other map."
Silverspeed nodded in return, rolling back up the current map and rolling out the map of the mine. "So, this is the map of the mine." She pointed to the main entrance. "Starting here, there's two sub paths that we've dug so far, and those spilt off in many directions. We have markers inside so we don't get lost. The two tunnels we've dug are from the pre-existing cave that was here when we settled down." She drew her hoof down the main path. "This is the longest path, about a thirty minute walk from the entrance... if you dont get lost that is. Very windy, many dark crevices' that lead to other pathways. It's like a maze!"
"Thanks for the warning..." Skystrike rubbed his chin. He then pointed to the end of the main path. "What's this large opening at the end of the main path?"
"Remember the second exit? It's right below that, and it's about fifty feet wide if I remember right? We built platforms and everything we needed there, but once we realized we needed certain equipment to dig deeper, we stopped digging there, hence the other sub paths."
"Alright... Now, where did Agate and Goldwork disappear?" Skystrike leaned forward.
Silverspeed pointed to two x marks on the cave's map. "...Here, the ones further to the opening... this is where Agate disappeared. Again she was first one to go. Further up... here... this is where I think Goldwork disappeared. I say think because I asked the ponies who were in the search parties, save for Magelight. Said he was busy. Anyway, from what I was told, Magelight and Goldwork went down to where Agate disappeared, and only the head came back."
Skystrike tensed up and furrowed his brow. Rather suspicious... "Alright then... I can work with this. Last question, Quarry and Ruby, I assume that they had a picnic near the mine?"
Silverspeed nodded. "Yes, about ten minutes from it." She answered, before asking him a question of her own. "Ok, look, I get it's your job, and you're here to help us, but you not saying anything is having me on edge!"
Skystrike sighed. "I do it to not make you ponies worry anymore then you already are."
"You can't possibly make me worry anymore than I am now! My older sister disappeared! And you know something! Tell me!" She yelled. Skystrike knew that her outburst wasn't directed at him, and that it was out of worry more than anger. But she was more than likely right. She probably couldn't get more worried.
He sighed. "Fine, but It stays between us and your group, alright?" |
A Broken Warrior | Part of the Job | Skystrike was nearly three hours into his stake out. His first few hours were spent stealthily checking the past locations where the mares went missing. Well... the only one he could investigate safely: Quarry and Ruby's picnic. The village residents said they haven't gone in the forest since they've disappeared, so their items should still be there. When he actually arrived with daylight still shining, he found what remained of the picnic.
Flies swarmed around the rotting food, and the smell was repulsing. Of course, that was the least he had to worry about. Whatever took the mares obviously weren't trying to be sneaky. Claw marks were on the ground, along with hoof prints and skid marks in the mud. From the patterns of the marks, he got an idea of what happened.
The claw marks came from the direction of the cave, but started a few yards away from the picnic. Hoof steps also lead away from the picnic area, but only made it a few feet in either direction before two sets of claw marks followed each one of the hoof marks, before abruptly ending along with the hoof marks. Meaning that whatever took Quarry and Ruby came from the mine, one landed, then chased the mares, only for the two of them to get grabbed and carried off by whatever got them.
'Yeah, definitely dragons..." Skystrike thought to himself. He'd need to play this safe. Dragons vary widely in size. These dragons could be young, or fully grown but small dragons. What he was more worried about is what the dragons were doing to the mares. The longest one's been in there is ten days, max. They have to be getting them food somehow. He's only certain they're alive, because they have to have a reason to bring them back to the mine alive. No blood at all.
Now, Skystrike was camping out said cave. Night has fallen by now, meaning the dragons have either woken up, or going home to sleep. He knows there's at least two. He climbed further up the tree he was in, making as little noise as he could. The Pegasus scratched his neck a bit. Three hours in, and still nothing. No blurs flying by, no roars from local beasts, just an unnaturally quiet forest.
Another hour past. It was about 10 p.m. Skystrike was still on the tree, waiting for something to go in or come out of the cave with no luck. He was about to go into the cave, but heard foot steps coming, along with hardy laughter. "Echo, zoom in on the cave entrance for me." Skystrike said, repositioning himself to stand on a branch. Echo zoomed in, and they waited for the origin of the voices to show themselves.
Two dragons came out. Males. One had red scales and ivory horns curling to the sides of its head, its wings extending from its front claws and walking on all fours, said wings having a peach membrane. It's long neck stretched as it looked around the entrance on the mine. The large underbite it had was noted by Skystrike. The other was a green dragon with an orange underbelly and wing membrane. Shorter than the other dragon, but the wings were on it's back, and it stood upright. It was much more muscular than the red one, but had smaller wings. Was probably a slower flyer. Another thing that stood out on the green one was its large, demon like horns coming out of it's forehead. Most likely meant for ramming. Both were dangerous in their own right, but if approached right, would fall easily.
Skystrike listened in as they spoke to each other. Their names didn't matter... He'd refer to them as Green and Red... for now at least. "Euuugh..." Red groaned. "Now of all times for our turn to watch... of course we're the first ones."
"I get what you mean..." Green sighed a bit. "But look on the bright side, we'll get a new one tomorrow, and we're the ones getting her! Finally, I can be out of that cave for at least a bit!"
"Yeah, that is true..." Red thought as he perched on a nearby rock. "Honestly, I'm still surprised we got that pony to tell us where the mares were in the first place." Red laughed. "On top of that, he's so piss scared he'll send one to us!"
Green looked over to Red. "Ah, that reminds me, we need to take it from Vastilok's stash to pay him."
Skystrike frowned at what the two dragons were implying, but he thought as much from the little info he got. So far, he was spot on. He noted that these two dragons would be the same ones coming out tomorrow. He'd have a short amount of time to get the information he needed out of them, but it'd be enough.
Red continued to talk. "Can't believe our luck, leaving the dragon lands, finding a cave full of gems, and being able to have some fun! Hasn't even been two weeks yet!"
Green laughed. "Speak for yourself, I'm not into what you guys are doing... but we should be careful..."
"Why?" Red turned to look at Green. "What do we have to worry about?"
"Well... we are on the run from her..." He shivered a bit. "And I'm really hoping that blizzard was the ponies..."
So, he wasn't the only hunter. They were being hunted by one of their own. Hopefully, he could make a temporary ally if their paths align. Thanks to the dragons being talkative henchmen, he had more than enough information to go back to the village. He was about to do so, but them saying something about 'her' rang in his mind like a bell. He had hopes, but he doubted it was who he thought it was. But if this 'her' dragon was the source of the blizzard, then Skystrike would more than likely find her in the village. He waited a bit more for the dragons to lose focus before flying off between the trees. He went south, further south from where the village was, flying over it. Skystrike passed the blizzard on his way to, and he could still see it in the distance.
After about an hour flight, he landed inside the blizzard, shaking the snow building on his body off from time to time as he walked through. It was freezing, almost enough to make him want to use his powers to heat himself up. Despite the chill, he still kept walking. He tried not to let his mind wander, but he was failing. He does this every time. Every mission, he thinks back to his past, and wanting to right the wrongs that he's made. A guilty conscience. His friends back in Ponyville made him realize that he hurt a lot more than the few in the orphanage.
God, how many ponies... no, not just ponies... beings in general has he hurt unintentionally? The changelings, the orphanage, the ponies, his mercenary group 'All', all so he could 'protect them.' Not realizing he was the one hurting them most. A physical wound would heal much faster than an emotional one. He'd make a point to apologize to them. All of them. Every last one.
He'd make sure to apologize to Astral and everypony else once he made it back to the capital. Then once he went back to Ponyville, apologize to his friends. Given the chance, he'd want to apologize to the changelings, but that would be hard to do. And even though his relationship with Celestia is... odd to say the least, she deserved one too. In their short time together, they did grow a bond with each other. He'll apologize once he gets back... if he made it back. He still needs to find out where the signal is coming from.
But he'd worry about that once the mares are safe. Plus, he had a reason to go back. It would be his birthday soon. more specifically, the anniversary of the day he arrived on Eques. He wanted to celebrate it with friends again. Jeez... this was a bad habit of his, getting all emotional on a mission, rather than focusing. He knew that deep down, it was fear. Fear of what he'd lose, like he lost it all before. He shook the thought out of his mind. He won't lose anymore.
His thoughts were cut short when he heard a roar... well, more like a howl from the center of the storm. Skystrike understood it as a warning of sorts, but also understood that whatever roared was probably the source of the storm. Plus, even though he hadn't heard that roar in years, it was still familiar. It was defiantly her. Now... how mad would she be, given how the group split up?
He didn't have to wait for an answer. After taking a few steps forward, Skystrike was blinded by the blizzard growing harsher. Then in mere moments, the blizzard ended. He was in the eye of the storm, and within it, stood a dragon. Her silvery-white scales and light ice blue underbelly glistened in the sun as she turned to look at the stallion. She had a long line of thick ice blue hair, starting between her horns and ending at the tip of her tail.
The dragoness stared at the pony with her emerald green eyes, spreading and flapping her large wings, waving cold air in his direction. She stood on two legs, crossing her arms as Skystrike looked at her. The armor she wore was worn down from the continuous use and little maintenance. The steel covered her chest and extremities, almost barbarian like, with many scratches and dents from the many battles she's fought. The dragoness slapped her tail on the ground impatiently. "Hey Tethys..." Skystrike greeted awkwardly.
"Took you a while... gone for almost three years, and you finally come looking for me..." She sighed. Her voice was normally pleasing and soothing, but her tone conveyed disappointment and annoyance. "So... must mean you need something, right? Must be if you wanted to come to me directly. Well, the answer is no, I'm in the middle of something."
"Um... no actually... I just... wanted to see you..." Skystrike said hesitantly. "I was in the area, and I was hoping it was you..."
Tethys looked down at him. "Oh... well I'm sorry for assuming... Are you ok? You're talking... acting weird." She leaned over to get a closer look at him. "Normally, you don't act like this... Not... confident."
"No, no, nothing like that..." Skystrike took off his helmet to look at the dragoness. He took in another deep breath before continuing. "I've... been doing a lot of thinking. Even though it was by chance we were in the same area at the same time today, I want to talk with you... if you have time I mean..."
"...Well, not like you could've found me anyway, I move around way too much. Sure, I got time." She nodded. Tethys inhaled, then breathed a breath of ice, making a bench of ice for them to sit on. "Come on." She patted the spot next to where she was sitting. Skystrike did so and sat down. "So... what did you want to say?"
"I'll... be completely honest and just say the words as they come to mind. And I hope you know my intent isn't to guilt you." He looked at her, Tethys nodded in response as she leaned back. "I... took a mission to come up here to save some ponies, as well as to confront a part of my past... I've been doing... a lot of thinking and I... right before I left to come, all my friends got worried. Thinking I'd disappear from their lives again. I... I didn't realize how much I hurt them, and by extension how much I hurt you, and the rest of 'All'. You, Zecora, Casta, Maud, Elytra, Jeshan, Sky beak, Alder, and Celeano... in my attempt to try and protect you all, I put even more pain on your backs by leaving. I... I can never live down that mistake, but... I at least want apologize. You all deserve it..." Skystrike spoke through the regret he was feeling. "I don't expect you to forgive me, but I want you to know from the deepest pit in my heart, that I'm sorry."
Tethys was taken aback by that to say the least. He wasn't normally one for words from her memory. Anyway, she could tell that something was off with his actions. "Skystrike..." Tethys started. Skystrike looked up to her. "There's something you aren't telling me."
Skystrike sighed again. "There's... there's still a few things I have to hide, but I'll tell you as much as I can." Skystrike sat up from the ice bench. "There's more to this mission than some missing ponies... Something's up here relating to my past, before I faked my death, before I lived in pony society. I... have to confront some not so pleasant memories to say the least." He turned back to look at Tethys. "I'm not confident that I'll make it out alive. Like, I already wrote my will just in case. I wrote letters to you and many friends explaining questions they'd probably have. I guess that this is self serving, but... I'm glad I was able to see you in the flesh again before I confront them."
"Oh... shit..." She ran a hand down her neck. "You're serious..."
"...I'm sorry..."
She sat in silence for a few seconds. Tethys sighed. "I won't lie, I wont say I forgive you, nor do I understand your reasoning for leaving, but you're still someone I would consider... a friend..." She shuddered a bit at the last word. "But I'll make you a deal. I have something to do up here, and I don't want you to die. If you help me out, I'll help you out. On the condition that when you make it out alive, you're going to find as many beings you hurt as you can, and apologize to them like you did me. I also want to talk about this more once all this is over."
Skystrike smiled and nodded. "You have my word." He looked at her expectantly.
Tethys stared back. "What, were you expecting a hug or something?"
Skystrike chuckled. "Eh, now that you mentioned it, I kinda want one."
Tethys sighed and turned her head as she put out her arms. Skystrike got on his hind legs and hugged the dragoness, who reluctantly returned it. They stayed in contact for a few moments before Skystrike let go. "Feel better now?" Tethys asked.
"I do actually..." He gave a small smile. "So, what're you up here for?"
"Long or short version?" Tethys asked with a small sigh.
"Long, but lets walk while you talk." Skystrike gestured his head in the direction of the village. "I have a wagon and food back at the village. I can at least give you something to eat."
She nodded in thanks as she started explaining. "About a month ago, seven juvenile and one adult dragon were banished from the dragon lands for their... aggression towards the other races. It wasn't a big deal when it was a single dragon here or there, but when a group of dragons pillage some ponies or griffons, then we get some problems. Some random griffon called out to me during a flight over Griffonstone, told me they were attacked by the same dragons. I had to report them to the dragon lord, who then banished them. Then, I hear from another dragon, not one of the ones I'm hunting, that the banished are terrorizing ponies up here. I'm here to make sure they don't cause any more problems, no matter the cost."
"Well, that's convenient. I'm up here because some ponies went missing, and I'm trying to find out who kidnapped them. I've identified two dragons so far, one green, one red. I think they know you're after them though. Kept referring to a 'her'." Skystrike explained. "But if there's eight total, this'll be harder than expected... I need to think up another plan."
"If they're up here attacking ponies, then they've learned nothing..." Tethys seethed. "Damn it..."
"Well, look on the bright side, we get to see each other." Skystrike chuckled.
"Shut the fuck up." Tethys gave a playful slap on his back.
Skystrike laughed. "...It's good to see you again." Skystrike put back on his helmet. "Now... once we get there, I got to explain to the villagers to not attack you. So stay behind me when we approach. And about those dragons, don't get too bloodthirsty yet, I got a plan." Tethys nodded.
Bismuth, spear in his hoof, was currently patrolling the village. He told the others in his group that with Nebula trying tirelessly to get their sisters back, the least they could do was watch the village, giving the residents at least some sense of safety. He also felt... uneasy around that weapon that Nebula made. He checked the target designator that Skystrike gave him, being careful not to pull the trigger. It was kind of scary for him to have this. Well... not this, specifically, but what it would mean to use it. Bismuth would have to take the life of another if push came to shove. He tried to bury the thought.
Spelunk was walking beside him. She already got the memo of what was going on from Bismuth about the weapon, and they all heard from Silverspeed parts of what Nebula thinks is going on. Even if it was just a theory, if he's right... they hoped he wasn't. The thought made her blood boil. But she didn't want to make any accusations yet. Spelunk and Bismuth made some small talk between each other, trying to not let their dark thoughts get to them.
"You think he's ok? Nebula I mean." Spelunk asked. "It's almost midnight now, and the forest hasn't even made a sound."
Bismuth nodded. "He has to be. Nebula is one of the strongest ponies out there. Plus, the silence is a good thing. Means that nothing dangerous happened."
Spelunk sighed. "I hope you're right... I just can't believe all this... There may be dragons, they took our sisters, and-"
"Don't finish that sentence... don't know who's listening." Bismuth shushed her. "Lets change the subject... back when I lived in Canterlot as a gemstone appraiser intern a couple years ago, I remember this rumor that after the Church of the Two sisters burnt down, there was one pony that didn't make it out."
"It was... Sky something? I forget the colt's name, but it was sad. Went in to save others, but couldn't make it out. All on the night of the Gala. What about it?" Spelunk asked. "There was also something else about him that made him so well known..."
"Well, that something was probably that he had no magic, among other things. Kid was always being asked to do some experiment on his body. Anyway, back to the rumor, they say they never found his body. They sorted through all the rubble, but found nothing. No burnt remains, clothes, anything." Bismuth explained.
"Oh, wasn't he also the same kid that was adopted by the princess?" Spelunk had a jog in her memory. Bismuth nodded. "Yeah, that colt must've had it good. But why bring him up?"
"Well... his full name was Skystrike Nebula. The guy who came to help us is Atlas Nebula. Not too far off from the same name. Both these guys have blue manes and tails. And this Nebula guy only got his name out there about a year, give or take, after Skystrike died." Bismuth listed.
"...Is this just a big conspiracy you thought of? You really think that Skystrike faked his death and became a bounty hunter?" She looked at bismuth with a raised eyebrow.
"I mean... maybe... It would plug in some holes... but again, just a rumor that's been going around. It'd also explain why we never see his face." He shrugged.
"I mean... that is a valid point, but it's a very large stretch. Like, that just opens up more questions. Like, why fake his death? Why hide this long... and how has he hid this long?" Spelunk did some speculating of her own.
"If he is[ Skystrike, he probably has his reasons. I'm just saying, it'd be kinda neat if I was right." Bismuth shrugged.
Spelunk chuckled. "Tell you what, if you're right, I'll... I don't know what I'll do. Uh... I'll get back to you on that."
Bismuth laughed at that. "Alright... it's a bet!" He looked up before squinting off into the distance. "Hey, you see that over there?" He pointed south towards the outskirts of the village. Spelunk looked in the same direction, seeing what Bismuth was seeing. A large black figure with glowing blue eyes slowly approached. They could tell it was Nebula. What they weren't sure of was the figure behind him. A whitish body, taller than Nebula, was flying slowly behind him. They could tell from the shape of the wings it was "A dragon..." Bismuth whispered.
"Did he... tell you about that?" Spelunk asked, taking a few steps back.
Spelunk had his hoof on the trigger of the target designator. "No... Go stay behind buildings until I can say it's safe." Spelunk nodded, then ran off to do as told. Minutes passed as Nebula and the dragon grew closer, getting more and more unnerved with each passing second. Finally, they were in the village, standing in front of him.
"Back earlier than I figured I'd be. Anything happen while I was gone?" Skystrike asked the earth pony. Tethys landed next to Skystrike, putting a hand on his back and leaning on him.
Only now did Bismuth realize how tall Nebula was next to him. Nearly three times his size. A beast of a pony. But he paled in comparison to the dragon next to him. Bismuth only came up to her thigh. "uh... No, most of the ponies went to their homes when you left. Who.... who is this?" He motioned to Tethys.
She introduced herself. "Greetings, pony. I'm Tethys. A... friend of Nebula." She put out a hand to shake.
Bismuth hesitantly put out a hoof to shake. Tethys grabbed his hoof and did so. "Uh... hey... Sorry, the situation here in the village is a bit tense. It's not every day a pony sees a dragon."
"I understand. I am sorry for what my kin has done to yours." Tethys kneeled down and put a claw on her chest. "I promise that the threat will be extinguished.
Bismuth was confused at what Tethys' words implied. "Wait... so we are dealing with... you know..."
Skystrike nodded. "I'll explain, but not here. Once morning comes, we'll gather. We have a lot of stuff to go over. I'll make sure Astral comes." Skystrike let out a yawn. "I've been up going on nineteen hours. I want to get at least a few hours in before things get serious." Bismuth nodded, before quickly trotting away to resume his patrol.
Skystrike looked up at Tethys. "I don't have much, but I can at least offer a place to sleep and some food."
Tethys shrugged. "It beats a cave. Haven't had a good meal in a while. Can't find that many good gems out in the open, and I can't cook for shit." She sat down next to his wagon. "Well, I won't ask you to cook. Lets head to bed. Make me something in the morning."
Skystrike chuckled at that. "Alright then." He climbed inside his wagon and grabbed a few blankets. One for each of them. Climbing back out the wagon while balancing the blankets on his back, he handed one to Tethys, who wrapped it around herself. Skystrike began wrapping his own blanked around himself, stopping when Tethys pulled him into her own blanket, wrapping her body around him.
"I missed you, Skystrike." Tethys hugged him.
Skystrike hugged her back. "Same here."
Morning came quickly. Skystrike didn't like it, going off of six hours of sleep, but it would have to do. tried to move his forehooves, only to realize that the grip Tethys had on him was similar to Naga's: Deadly. Skystrike tried to worm his way out of her grip, barely able to make it out. He looked back to Tethys, still curled up in a ball, her tail slapping against the ground.
He assumed Astral was staying within the Chief's home, or another residents. Something he'd have to figure out. Opal would probably know. He would do his normal morning work out, made a quick breakfast for himself and Tethys, then would carefully wake up Tethys to eat. It was a simple meal of muffins and fruits, but it was filling for them. Skystrike asked Tethys to stay at his wagon for now while he went to find Opal.
After walking around for a bit, he did indeed find Opal. They exchanged greetings before getting down to business. Astral was staying in a spare room at Magelight's house. They both frowned a bit when that name came up. After a short talk they split up, Opal going to gather the rest of her group, and Skystrike to get Astral Night. Skystrike opened the door to the village head's home, entering the large room he saw the residents huddled in the day before. He rolled his neck and looked around, Magelight and Astral had to be in here somewhere. It was too early for them to be gone.
Skystrike decided to take a walk through the building. First, he'd find Magelight's office, as that would most likely be where he is at this time in the morning. Most likely on the second floor. He flew up, hopping over railing on the indoor balcony and landing on the walkway, making his way down the hall to his left. He came from the right hall yesterday when he snuck in, and didn't see any doors that stood out. this time though, he saw a set of double doors at the end of the left hallway. He decided to be polite, and knock on the door. "Come in." He heard Magelight say after some shuffling of documents and the closing of a drawer. Skystrike opened the door to see him sitting at his desk. "Oh... it's you. What do you want?"
He looked at the unicorn, then around the room, then back to the unicorn. "Where is Astral Night?"
He leaned forward. "And why should I tell you?"
"You really gonna be hard about this?" Skystrike asked with a sigh.
"Telling you could interfere with her work. I will not let that happen." Magelight furrowed his brow.
"We both know that isn't true, so cut the bullshit. Just tell me what room she's in." Skystrike put a hoof on his desk. "One would think you'd be more worried about your ponies going missing, rather than worrying about who talks to who..."
Magelight stood up from his seat. "Of course I worry for my ponies! I worry enough where I wont let you of all ponies get in her way!"
"Get in her way, or your way?" Skystrike leaned on the table.
Magelight flinched, then continued. "I will make sure the Royal guard knows what you're doing here." He threatened.
"Oh really? Cool! I can make sure you never get the chance to notify them." He threatened him back. "Now, will you tell me where Astral Night is, or will I have to force it out of you?" He threw his cape over his neck and put a hoof on the hilt of his sword. "Please... give me a reason."
Magelight became visibly nervous. "...Third room on the left from the stairs." He said with a grown
"See, that wasn't hard? Damn, all this work just to get breakfast together." Skystrike said as he turned his back to Magelight and walked out the room. He knew there was more to Magelight. Just proving his theory more and more as they interacted. He didn't want Skystrike meeting Astral, and probably doesn't want him to take her anywhere. It was suspicious. Skystrike decided to put him in the back of his mind for now as he went to finally get Astral.
Skystrike went to the door and knocked. "Just a moment!" He heard Astral say from inside her room, along with some stumbling and hooves on the floor. After a minute or so, the door opened, and she greeted him. "Good morning, Nebula." She put a hoof over her mouth to cover a yawn. "Sorry for the wait, I'm a... bit of a messy sleeper."
Skystrike waved a hoof. "No problem, I get it." He chuckled before getting serious and whispering. "I can't explain in here, get your armor and weapons. We need to go. We're about to get a lot of info on the missing mares."
Astral jumped a bit. "Great!" She said all too loudly. Skystrike motioned a hoof to signal her to lower her voice. She did so. "We should tell Magelight." She clapped her hooves.
He tried to ignore the cuteness. He succeeded. "We cannot. Again, I can't explain here. Get everything together. I'll wait out here." Astral nodded, then closed the door to get dressed. As she did so, Skystrike sat in silence, ignoring Magelight trying to peak out his office door. He wouldn't put it past him to be using magic to hear what they were saying. Skystrike would have to make sure he was distracted when he went to save the mares. A few minutes passed and Astral came out with her armor and weapons. "Dressing light, I see. Smart." Skystrike got up and the two ponies walked out of the house.
Skystrike led her to the house Opal led him to the day before and opened the door. Opal, Spelunk, Bismuth, Silverspeed, Stormfeather, Emerald Green, and Tethys were all inside, waiting for the two. Everypony, save for Skystrike was visibly uncomfortable from the presence of a dragon in the room. Tethys herself was uncomfortable, but more from having to slouch and tuck her legs and tail into herself to not invade the personal space of others.
Astral pointed out the elephant in the room. "Uh... why is there a dragon in here?" She put a hoof over her mouth, realizing how that could've came off.
"It's about time I introduce her. Everypony, this is Tethys, a friend of mine and a member of 'All', my mercenary group. We met by chance yesterday, and she's agreed to help me and Astral with getting your sisters back. Since she's assisting, she needs to be here for the meeting. We have a lot to go over." Skystrike sat down. Astral took a seat next him. "Astral, I know you didn't have time to prepare or anything, but I need you to tell us what Magelight spoke to you about, as well as what he wants you to do."
Astral blinked. "Oh, uh, alright." She paused for a moment to gather her words before answering. "After he sent you away yesterday, Nebula, he bought me inside and up to his office."
Magelight closed the office door behind him and Astral. The stallion motioned for the mare to have a seat, and she did so. Magelight spoke first. "Well, I hope your travel here went alright." He sighed before continuing. "I'd rather cut straight to the point, but first, I need to know, what is your relation with that Pegasus, Nebula?"
Astral remembered the conversation that she and Nebula had, as well as his parting words: Play it safe. "I... met him before we left Vanhoover. We travelled up here together, and he said he had his own thing going on up here."
Magelight gave a sigh of relief. "Alright, good." Astral found that choice of word suspicious. "Onto business, there have been ponies going missing, and I need your help finding why... That's what I wrote on the notice. There's... much more to it than that." Magelight opened up a drawer and grabbed a small metal canteen. He took a swig and continued talking. "At first, we thought somepony just got lost in the mines, but when we sent out a rescue party... another one went missing. This time, somepony saw something... take her. After that, whatever's been taking my ponies have grown more ballsy... getting closer and closer to the village."
"Dear Celestia... I'm sorry..." Astral breathed through clenched teeth. "...Do you know... what took them?"
Magelight shook his head. "No... only that something is taking residents." He sighed, then took another swig. "I... I was supposed to be in charge... I was supposed to keep them safe..." Astral stayed quiet at that. "...I want you to come with me to investigate the places the ponies disappeared. Today, we'll visit the places furthest from the mine. Tomorrow, we will go to the mine itself."
They all listened to Astral. Skystrike frowned, remembering what the dragons said the night before. "Shit..." He said under his breath. "Alright. Next, who has info on the food stores?" Skystrike looked around the room, seeing Emerald raise a hoof.
Emerald opened a notebook he had on him. "So, I was actually in charge of inventory of a few things before we were sidetracked by the abductions, the food stores being one of them. Magelight and I are the only ones allowed to take the food and hand it out to the residents. When he said I didn't have to do it anymore, and gave me time to grieve for my sister, I thought nothing of it. Thinking back on it, it was a day before Quarry and Ruby disappeared. I bring this up because I haven't been in the stores since, and there is some food missing, proportional to the amount lost if all residents were still accounted for..." The earth pony finished, giving Skystrike the notebook to skim through. "Also, in there were the residents descriptions, like you asked."
"...I see... That gives me some ideas of what's going on, but I just need to confirm a few more things before I can give a concrete answer of what's going on. Next, any information on how Goldwork disappeared? She was the second one to go, right?" Skystrike placed the notebook in the center of the circle they were sitting in.
"Yes." Silverspeed spoke up. "Though it was hard to get the info, being her younger sister, ponies were more sympathetic it seemed. Though this is just their words, I've heard it from three different ponies. My sister, Goldwork, was last seen with Magelight. They told me that Magelight said 'they got split up'..."
"Jeez..." Skystrike sighed. Nearly all but confirmed now. He just had one more piece of info to go over. "Last thing. Did anypony find anything about the night Jasper disappeared?"
Stormfeather perked his head up. "Uh, yeah... I was actually up with my sister, Rainbowshine that night. I just... couldn't get to sleep." He grabbed one hoof with another. Skystrike could tell he was still shaken up from his sister's disappearance. "...We like to sit on the roof and look at the night sky... anyway... I saw two lights that night going into the forest... one green, one orange. That's... all I saw. Nopony else knows anything..."
Skystrike picked back up the notebook he put down earlier, going to a certain pony's description. "Most likely an illumination spell, since it was pitch black in that forest... Opal, what magic color is your sisters?"
Opal shuddered. "Her... her magic color is orange."
"And in this book... Magelight's color is green." Skystrike closed the book with an unneeded amount of force, and unintentionally stomped his foot on the ground. "I'm so sorry. I'm pissed off just thinking about this guy... you all lost your sisters. I can't imagine how angry you all will be."
Silverspeed was seething, remembering what Skystrike told her the day prior. "I am... VIOLENTLY angry."
Skystrike took a deep breath, then exhaled. "Alright, so I know you all won't be able to stay calm, so I wont ask that... I will ask to not immediately run out the room and do what I already want to." Everypony in the room nodded, albeit slowly. "So, as per norm, everything said in here stays in here. I already have a plan on how to handle this, but I need to go over what I saw and heard last night, then everything I put together, and then we'll go into the plan. You all will have a part in this."
"Just get on with it..." Silverspeed seethed. Bismuth put a hoof on her back in an attempt to console her.
Skystrike nodded. "Last night, I have confirmed my suspicions. We are indeed dealing with dragons." The ponies in the room gasped at that. Skystrike tried to quell their worries. "Mostly juveniles, nothing I cannot handle. I can confirm at least three, but there are up to eight. From the two I eavesdropped on, I've learned that there is a pony in this village bringing residents to the dragons, and said dragons give them money. They are expecting another mare... today..." Skystrike said that last part with baited breath. The room fell silent at that, but there was still worse news to come. "Now, from everything I've heard in this room today, I'll piece it together my all but confirmed hypothesis for what's going on in this village."
Skystrike rolled his neck before starting. "The first mare to go, Agate, was abducted by the dragons, as a sad stroke of bad luck. After, this pony that's currently... selling mares to the dragons went searching in the mines for Agate, most likely with good intentions. They went in deeper with Goldwork, only to run into dragons there. No way the dragons didn't hear them coming with the echoing of the cave. Once the pony and Goldwork were cornered by the dragons, he was more than likely given a choice. Bring them more mares and leave Goldwork and get some gold, or die. He took the former option... and they didn't stay away long. I looked around the head's house, and found one of the large skylight windows unlocked, said window big enough for a juvenile dragon to fit through... The dragons were impatient, and wanted to make sure the pony didn't back out of their deal... They went for Ruby and Quarry during their picnic. The two had to tell this pony where they were going for safety purposes of course." Skystrike took a large sip of water from his canteen. His eyes were flickering white as he continued to speak. "The dragons still weren't satisfied. None of the ponies would go into the mines, let alone the forest, so the dragons came to the pony again. This time, demanding the pony bring a mare to them... And he did so, he convinced Jasper to go with him that night, and Stormfeather saw their magic going into the forest... Finally, the last one, Rainbowshine, was on weather duty with her brother, Stormfeather... the pony working with the dragons also had to know this, which is why the dragons went for the mare... I feel we all know who this pony is..."
As Skystrike spoke, he saw the ponies in the room's faces change. From confusion, to realization then to rage. Even Tethys was angry, cold breath coming out of the sides of her mouth. They didn't even need to say the name. All the evidence pointed back to him... "...He was supposed to protect us!" Silverspeed roared. Tears of anger were running down her face. "And he SOLD US FOR A QUICK BUCK!?"
Stormfeather was also angry crying. "What the BUCK is wrong with him!" The Pegasus stomped a hoof onto the floor. "We trusted him!"
Everyone, save for Skystrike, Tethys, and Astral, were all screaming in anger and sadness at what Skystrike revealed. Each had a similar outburst, but different. Opal cried more than anything. Spelunk's magic was flaring. Bismuth punched a wall. Stormfeather was stomping. Silverspeed's wings were twitching, trying not to fly out of the room. Bismuth was putting on a poker face, but was boiling inside. Emerald was stone faced, but one could tell he was furious.
Skystrike just had a few more things to go over. "Everybody, if you can listen for just a bit longer, I'll go over the plan going forward. This is going to sound unreasonable, but I need everyone to keep quiet about this for a little while."
Opal screamed at him with misplaced anger. "HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT!?"
"Because his comeuppance will be under your hooves." He answered.
They room fell silence at that. Bismuth spoke first. "...We're listening." He grit his teeth.
"Remember, the dragons said that another mare is being brought to them today. Guess Magelight's guilty conscience finally caught up to him... He bought a mare he wouldn't feel guilty about giving up, and nopony would ask where this mare disappeared to." Skystrike looked at Astral, and the rest of the room followed suit.
Astral's face turned to one of horror. "You don't mean..."
"You said it yourself, he wanted you to go with him to look for the mares today. He had a nearly foolproof plan. His only mistake was thinking the other ponies here wouldn't go for help themselves..." Skystrike motioned to the other ponies in the room.
"...I was that close to ending up another victim... thank you, Nebula." She said, trying to control her breathing. Everyone was handling the information differently. Astral seemed like she was on the verge of a panic attack.
"If you all need a minute, we can pause-" Skystrike began to offer.
"No." The whole room said in union. Emerald clenched the floor beneath his hoof. "So... what's the plan? How are you going to get him, the dragons, and our sisters? You said you'd do it in two days... It's day two."
"That's where I'll need everyone's help." Skystrike began writing in Emerald's notebook. "First, he thinks the deal is still going on... We'll let him think that. Astral, once this meeting ends, you'll go to him and give him some bait... Tell him that I said I'll be heading into the caves later this afternoon. You guys will have to leave early, and the dragons are on shifts of two. He'll probably stun you or something, both he and the dragons don't want you hurt. I promise no harm will come to you. I will be right behind you, along with Tethys. Tethys, I'll be quick to restrain Magelight, and I want you to freeze the dragons. we'll have two hours max before the other dragons get suspicious on why their friends have been gone so long. I'll be interrogating the both of them. We can interrogate Magelight once the mares are safe. When the dragons tell us where the mares are, I will go save them." Skystrike wrote on and tore out a few pages from the notebook and handed the pages around the room. The rest of you, you'll have a few things to do while all of that is going down... I want the unicorns restraining Magelight when he wakes. Nullify his magic if you can. Everypony else, check his office for anything useful. Figure out where he's hiding the money he's getting, as well as any evidence I can bring back to Celestia." They all nodded. "Great. Tethys, we're going to the forest to wait to follow Astral and Magelight. When we leave, everypony get to work. And like I said, you'll all be in charge of his comeuppance." Skystrike smiled a bit underneath his helmet.
It was about half past noon, and Astral was taking a few deep breaths as she walked towards Magelight's office. Nebula and Tethys already went into the forest to wait for them. Everypony else, save for Silverspeed, was waiting back in the meeting place to get started. Once Silverspeed saw Astral and Magelight leave, she'd give the signal and they'd all come to raid the place. The only part she was unsure about was being used as bait. Nebula said she'd have nothing to worry about, but she still was worrying. Her life was in danger to be fair. But she also knew that this was probably the best bet on getting everypony out safely.
Astral knocked on the door to Magelights office. "Come in." Magelight said from inside. Astral did so, opening the door and seeing the stallion behind his desk. His voice was disgusting, knowing what he did to the mares, and what he wanted to do to her. "Ah, Astral Night... Nebula came earlier, said something about breakfast. I was getting a bit worried about you, he was... forceful on wanting to see you to say the least. Are you alright?"
Astral tried to act through his disingenuous words. "Yeah, I'm doing fine. We ate, and we hat a bit of a talk about our missions up here." She laid the bait.
Magelight's ears perked up at that. "...What did you talk about? You didn't say anything about the mine, did you?"
Astral shook her head. "I didn't say anything about the mines to me, but he was telling me a bit about the mines himself."
Magelight grew a bit unnerved at that. "What do you mean? When did he get information about the mines?"
"Yesterday after you sent him away, from what he told me. Said he was up here to get a specific gemstone that's common in the northern regions. Anyway, from what he told and showed me, he has a map of the mine, and some of the village folk told him the thing he's looking for is in the mine. Said he'd go in at about 3 p.m." Astral said, before realizing what Nebula's going to do. "...I hope he doesn't run into whatever took the mares."
Magelight tried to keep his composure. If Nebula goes down there, he'll find out. He couldn't let that happen. "We have to leave right away... we need to get rid of whatever's in the cave before Nebula goes in there..." He said, getting his things ready. Astral gave him a look that asked why. Magelight, in turn, scrambled to find a reason that sounds believable. "...We'd have better chances with us two than just him alone. All the rumors about his fights have to be exaggerated. We need to leave right away."
Hook, line, and sinker. She wanted to talk about the duel Nebula had in Canterlot, but put the thought in the back of her mind. Astral nodded. "I'm ready now. Lead the way."
The two unicorns quickly left the house and went into the forest and towards the mine. Opal, who was 'conveniently' walking by, made eye contact with Astral, and shared a look, telling her it's time. After a few minutes, making sure Magelight wasn't coming back, Opal got the others. "They're gone. Time to get to work. Remember, Spelunk, you and I need to get ready to restrain him. Everypony else, search all the rooms for any sort of evidence that proves his guilt! I know we don't have much to go off of, but we can do this. Nebula is helping us out! We can't let him do everything!" The rest cheered in agreement before leaving to help with their part of the plan.
Back with Astral and Magelight. The two were making their way towards the mine, Magelight leading the way for now. Despite agreeing to the plan, she was still unsure what to think about Magelight. All that Nebula said was just theories. Sure, it was based on truth, but... was he that bad? He must have his reasons... "So... any idea what we're dealing with?" Astral asked.
Magelight shook his head. "No... not exactly, at least. Something that's big, with claws, and it can fly... But we should be safe. The cave should slow its movement." He answered as they walked.
"And how are we going to fight this... thing?"
Magelight stayed silent for a moment. "...I'm still trying to figure that out... I'll tell you before we enter the mine." Magelight didn't look back at her as they talked. Astral wanted to at least see his face. The guilt he may have in his eyes. They walked for a while more, stopping once they reached the mines. Magelight still hadn't looked at her since they started walking. "Stand here for a minute. Just going to check if the entrance is clear." He went into the darkness of the cave, coming out a few minutes later.
"You were gone for a bit. Anything happen?" Astral asked in fake curiosity. Finally be able to see his face, she didn't like it. His eyes were... empty. They showed many things. She saw regret in his eyes, but at the same time, none. Like this was something he didn't want to do, but he just had to do. Astral was just a nopony in his eyes. Somepony that he could sacrifice much easier than his residents. Astral had hope, however. Hope that he would do the right thing.
"Oh, uh... no, nothing at all. Just a few scratches on the walls. Whatever that thing is has to be nearby." Magelight said with a huff. Astral thought that was weird. She also noticed a few beads of sweat falling down his brow and horn. He used magic recently. "You're the one with the weapons, you need to go first."
Astral nodded, albeit nervously. She grabbed her dagger from her hip with her hoof and began walking. She passed Magelight, looking back at him once more, the stallion having the same eyes as before. As soon as she looked back towards the mine and got about half way to the entrance from the forest, she felt a blast of magic on her back, knocking her over. Astral tried to move, but she couldn't, feeling some sort of magical force keeping her joints in place. All she could do was look around, eyes full of fear.
"Alright, she's ready!" Magelight yelled in the direction of the mine. Two dragons came crawling out, one green, the other red. "I assume you all kept your part of the deal?" Magelight asked. 'Deal?' Astral thought to herself.
"Yeah, yeah, we remembered to bring the money." Red said, throwing him a large bag, presumably full of bits and gems. "Still can't believe he actually bought us a mare." He chuckled to the green dragon next to him.
"This is it, right!? This is the last one!?" Magelight asked, making sure to stay a ways away from the dragons. "You'll leave my village alone now, right!?"
Green stayed silent and started crawling towards Astral, who was twitching, trying to force her body to move. Red answered "Eeehh, maybe, I'll need to make sure with the others."
"But... you said you'd stop!" Magelight grew a bit angry. "I did all off this for nothing!?"
Red walked up to Green, both now looking over Astral. "Yes, and you'll keep doing this until we say so, unless you'd like to be our dinner here later..." Red threatened. Magelight backed up a bit at that. Red snickered in response. "Now... you look fun... can't wait to have my turn with you..."
Finally, they were far enough away from the mine entrance. Before the red dragon could put a claw on Astral, they all heard a roar. Tethys leaped out from the treetops and flew towards the dragons, charging up her magic in her mouth. She released it, chilling the air around her. A beam of ice breath flew towards the red dragon, freezing it almost instantly in place. The green dragon was a bit slow to react, only moving once Tethys landed in front of him. He flapped his wings, but wasn't fast enough to take off and fly away, falling back down when a ball of ice from the dragoness' breath hit him in the wing. Next, Tethys grabbed the dragon by the neck, pulling it up to her eye level and breathing ice into his face, freezing the green dragon from the head down.
Immediately when Tethys roared, Skystrike also sprang into action. He didn't need his swords for this, only his hooves. Magelight saw the massive stallion land in front of him with a heavy thump, standing on his hind legs and looking down at him. The sun behind the mountain blocked some of the light, the last of it reflecting off of Skystrike's armor. The fear Magelight felt inside when he looked into the glowing blue eyes of his helmet could be summed up simply: terrifying. He tried to run, turning around and booking it as fast as he could. Skystrike, in response, flew above him and landed on his back, the unicorn falling to the ground and sliding to a halt on the harsh forest floor. Magelight screamed in pain, looking back up at Skystrike. "You're too loud." Skystrike stated, pulling back a armored claw and chopping at his neck, knocking him out.
Skystrike picked up the now unconscious Magelight and slung him over his shoulder. "All done on my end!" He yelled to Tethys.
"Same on my end!" Tethys yelled back as she began dragging the frozen bodies of her kin behind her. Quick and efficient, just like they planned.
"Great." Skystrike lowered his voice as Tethys approached. We'll interrogate the dragons first. You handle one, I the other. For Magelight, I plan on doing his myself." Skystrike said as he walked towards Astral. "Thanks for helping with the plan, even though you'd be put in danger. Sorry they got so close, but we needed to make sure. I'll figure out how to make it up to you." He said as he picked her up and slung her limp body over his other shoulder. "I'm not sure how strong Magelight's magic is, but it should wear off... Eventually... However long the paralysis spell lasts, I'll make sure nothing happens to you."
It took about ten minutes of light jogging, bringing the still paralyzed Astral and the unconscious Magelight and dragons back, but they were pretty quick about it. Skystrike, having his hooves full, kicked down the door to the chiefs house. "Opal! Spelunk! This is your queue!" Skystrike yelled through the house. The two came jogging from upstairs. He gently set Astral down, and dropped Magelight with a loud thump.
"Jeez, that was quick. We haven't found much yet... Is Astral... alive?" Spelunk asked looking at the mare's limp body.
"She's fine. Magelight casted a paralysis spell point blank. Take Astral to her room for now. Second floor, third room on the left from the stairs. Once she's in her bed, bring Magelight, tie him up, and keep him in his office. I'll deal with him once I'm done with the dragons." Skystrike said as Opal used her magic to pick up Astral, going to do what they were told. "Tethys, they're your kin. Before we start interrogation, I'll let you decide how we do this."
"Thanks for the thought, but these dragons have already been a pain in my scales for a while now. This is the last straw. They will die once this is all over. In fact, you can kill them after this interrogation." Tethys growled a bit. Spelunk shivered a bit at that. Skystrike was about to say something. "And before you ask, yes, you can use their bodies for materials."
"...I was going to ask which dragon you wanted to deal with, but good to know I guess." Skystrike walked over to Tethys. "From the stake out, they're both quite talkative, but the green one seems more afraid of you, so it'll be easier for you."
Tethys hummed at that. "Makes sense... very well, I'll leave the red one to you. Remember, my ice is magical. As soon as you break the ice, they'll be conscious in seconds."
"Already got a plan. Take the green one to the left wing. I'll be back, and take the red one to the right wing." Skystrike stretched a bit as he opened the front door to go back outside. "Don't start until I get back." Tethys nodded, and with that, he left. He quickly made his way back towards his wagon, getting everything he'd need for an impromptu interrogation. The Pegasus got a few things he prepared: A few steel pikes, an enchanted dagger, a few health potions, and a small flask filled white looking rock. He still needed something to stop the dragon from breathing fire... well, there is that way. Yeah, he'll go with that. Thinking it over, the dragon will experience some pain anyway. No point it trying to make it painless. He quickly wrote down a list of questions.
He made his way back to the chief's house, going down the right wing and opening the door at the end of the hall. He passed by Tethys, giving her the go ahead to start, as well as the list he wrote earlier. From the items and layout inside the room, it seemed to be a storage room, the many crates and barrels covered in a thin layer of dust. In the center of the room was the still frozen body of the red dragon. Skystrike unloaded everything on him onto the floor and took a deep breath, preparing to release the dragon from its frozen prison.
There's a time window of a few seconds to break the ice, stop its ability to breathe fire, and restrain it. The hardest part would be the fire breath. There was a gland, similar to a snakes venom sack, that was magical in nature. It was rather small and sat between their upper jar and snout, generating phosphine that ignites on contact with oxygen. It's doable, but finnicky.
He released his breath and sprang into action, punching the ice with a closed hoof, shattering it. The red dragon fell over in pain and confusion, only to be snapped out of it by Skystrike driving a knife through the snout of the beast. The knife glowed, when it was inserted, canceling out the magic, not letting it combust. He stood back up with a roar, spreading his wings in an attempt to gain balance. In response, Skystrike grabbed two of the steel pikes, tackled the dragon into the wall, and stabbed a pike into each of the wings. The whole room shook from the deafening roar of the dragon. He tried to move, but soon stopped from the pain of his tearing elytra. The red dragon finally opened his eyes. "You... bastard..." He said between breaths as he opened his mouth to breathe fire. It was null.
"Wide awake, I see... Make this easy for me. I got questions. You have answers. And I feel we can both agree, the less pain the better." Skystrike sat down and twirled a pike in his metal claws. "I'll start with something easy. How many dragons are you here with exactly?" He asked calmly. The dragon, blood dripping from his mouth, spit some at him. Skystrike blinked, then met him with another pike, pinning his foot to the floor. The red dragon screamed in pain. "Need I repeat myself?"
The dragon panted before answering. "There's... there's four of us."
Skystrike sighed and got in the dragons face. "I already heard you and the green one's conversation last night. Plus, doesn't make sense. Four of you but you want seven mares? Tell me honestly." Skystrike demanded, crossing his fore hooves.
"...There's five."
Skystrike didn't respond, just turning to leave the room to the dragons confusion. He walked to the other side of the house to the left wing and checked on how Tethys was doing. The door creaked, and he felt a blast of cold air meet him. Once the stinging of his eyes were bearable, he saw how Tethys was doing. Both she and the green dragon, who's limbs were frozen to the wall, looked at him. "I asked the first question like the list said. He tells me there's only three."
"Interesting. I got told five..." Skystrike put his hoof under the green dragons chin. "You do know, the more you lie, the more pain you and your friend in the other room get? Be honest, would you? I know you heard the roar of the red one."
The green one didn't growl like the red one. Just nodded with eyes as wide as dinner plates. "There's eight of us... one full grown."
"See, wasn't too hard. Continue with the next question, Tethys." Skystrike said as he trotted back to the right wing. As soon as Skystrike opened the door, the red dragon looked up at him. The Pegasus realized that the red one was in the middle of trying to pull out one of the pikes with his free claws. Didn't matter. He had a reason to restrict them now. "So, guess what? The green one told me the actual number!" Skystrike smiled as he closed the door. As soon as the door clicked, he flew across the room to last a devastating punch, winding the dragon. Skystrike picked up another pike and drove it through one of the dragons hands. "Now it's your turn... tell me how many of you there are."
The red dragon coughed. "...Eight." He said weakly.
"Good..." Skystrike took one of the health potions and poured it down the dragons mouth. It was a low grade one, didn't close any major wounds, just forced his blood cells to speed up the multiplication rate. The dragon wont fall unconscious any time soon. "Next, I already know you're working with Magelight. What all did you offer him?"
"...We gave him gold from... each of our hordes." The red one was still breathing heavily. "I don't know how much..."
Skystrike didn't need to double check that one. "Good, you're learning. Now, where are the mares you took?" Skystrike asked as he pulled out the map of the mines. "Point to it on this." Skystrike made sure to keep it out of distance so he can't tear it up. The dragon used a free hand to point to the deepest part of the mine, where it ended in a large opening and the second entrance was open to the sky. Skystrike got up again to go meet Tethys.
"Wait!" The red dragon held out a hand, hoping the armored pony would stop. Skystrike turned his head to look at him. "There's... a room we dug out to the side of the one I pointed at... they're there."
Skystrike didn't respond, nor react. He went to Tethys to check. Tethys didn't even wait for her friend to ask. "He says there's a room they dug out in the deepest part of the mine where they keep them."
"Good, that's exactly what the red one said. I'll ask him this last question before we go." Skystrike came eye to eye with the green dragon. "What exactly are you doing to the mares?"
The green one hesitated to answer, but then saw the death glares that Skystrike and Tethys was giving him. "I... I didn't do anything to them! I just follow orders!" He pleaded.
Skystrike's eyebrow raised a bit at that. His tone showed a mix of fear and guilt. "Tell me what you meant last night, where you said 'I'm not into what you guys are doing' to the red one."
Tethys kneeled down. "This one was one of the more passive dragons I've known. Believe it or not, I haven't even had to hurt him yet."
The green one spoke after a gulp. "I... I was in charge of keeping watch... I never went into the room the ponies are kept in! This last one was supposed to be for me, but even then, I wasn't going to do anything!"
"...What do you mean by that?" Skystrike stared.
"I don't know what they do with the mares! That's all I know about it!" The still frozen dragon shivered a bit.
Tethys squinted, then sighed. "Call it a sixth sense, but I think he's telling the truth. Plus, he doesn't smell the same as the red one."
They heard the door open behind them. All three beings turned their heads to see Astral, leaning on the doorframe to stay up right. "I heard what he said... I believe him. When I was looking at Magelight and the dragons, he was the only one whos eyes I saw regret in... Of course, that doesn't dissolve him of what he did, but... just take my words into account."
Skystrike flicked his ears at that. "Alright, Astral. Now Tethys... What smell?" She winced. Tethys was having a hard time getting the word out. "Fine, I'll ask the red one. Do what you want with this one." He said with a sigh as he walked back to the red dragon. Upon entering the room, he noticed a small pool of blood forming below the body of the dragon. It didn't have long left, but it wouldn't matter soon. "Yo." Skystrike made the dragon aware of his presence. The red dragon looked up. "What did you do to the mares?" He asked with anger in his voice. Paying more attention now, he did indeed notice a distinct smell that was different from the green dragon. He hoped his senses were wrong for once.
The red dragon chuckled weakly. "Took you a while to ask..." He coughed. "You're one of the smarter ponies... what did you think we did?" He asked rhetorically with a smile. "Heh heh... It was fun."
Skystrike's eyes flashed white under his helmet. "What was fun?" He put a hoof on the grip of his sword.
The dragon laughed harder. "The mares... so weak and helpless... and ti-"
The dragon wasn't able to finish the word, let alone the sentence, due to a sword going through his throat. The red dragon let out one last scream of pain, shaking the whole house, before falling limp, lifeless. Skystrike pulled out his sword with a grunt, some blood spraying into his armored hoof. He flicked the blood of his sword and wiped his armor before the blood dried, then left the room. On the other side of the door, he saw Astral, Bismuth, Emerald, Silverspeed, and Stormfeather were all standing, waiting for him. "Everything ok?" Silverspeed asked, trying to look behind him.
"...Sorry, you guys are going to have a mess to clean up..." He apologized. "You'll need a lot of bleach. Leave the body outside, behind the house. Astral, see if you can collect any blood using your magic and put them in jars or something. I'm going to talk with Magelight..." Skystrike said, walking through him. The ponies didn't respond, hearing the anger leak out of his voice.
The Pegasus walked towards Magelight's office. Quickly opening the door, he was met with Opal and Spelunk meeting eyes with him. Magelight was still unconscious, and was currently tied to his chair. "I guess it's time. We haven't done anything to him besides keep watch. What should we do with him?"
"Well, two things. Cancel out any magic he casts if you can, and confirm whether he's lying or not. you two know him better than me." Skystrike stopped in front of the chair. It was time for him to wake up. With a sigh, he dealt a heavy slap to Magelight.
Magelight awoke almost instantly. His vision was blurry for the first waking moments, but when the first thing he saw was Skystrike, the unicorn's confusion swiftly turned to rage. "You... YOU!" Magelight screamed at Skystrike. "Everything was going fine until you showed up! You ruined everything!"
"Or, counter point, maybe you bought this upon yourself. Here's the deal I'm going to-" Skystrike cut himself off, seeing that Magelight was trying to charge a spell with his horn. "Opal, Spelunk." He said. The two mares didn't need him to say what they needed to do before they both used their own magic in tangent to stop the spell Magelight was charging. "I'm going to ask you some questions, and you're going to answer them."
"Or what!?" He struggled in his bindings.
Skystrike answered him by drawing his sword. "Then you'll die. We already know from circumstantial evidence strengthened by testimonies of the dragons that you have essentially sold the ponies you are meant to protect for a quick buck. First, I'll ask an easy one. I know Agate was just by chance. How many of the others were set up by you?"
"Buck you!" He screamed at Skystrike, then spit in his direction.
Skystrike sighed heavily. "The hard way, then..." Skystrike extended his metal claws and dug one of the fingers into one of Magelight's legs. He screamed from the pain. "I'll ask again, how many of the others were set up by you?" Magelight stayed silent, aside from a few huffs. "Fine, more pain it is." Skystrike dug another finger in and dragged it down the unicorn's leg, leaving a large gash as he screamed.
Magelight finally answered. "Stop, stop!" He begged. "I didn't with Agate!"
"You bucking shit stain!" Spelunk decided to have her turn at screaming. "You really did sell out sisters!? I was praying to Celestia that Nebula was lying!" Opal put a hoof on Spelunk's shoulder, holding her back. "Why are we even talking to this guy!? He doesn't deserve a chance to speak!
He turned to Spelunk. "Spelunk, there are times where even when our emotions are heightened, we must still talk. Trust me, I want nothing more to rip this guy apart. But if you dehumanize villains, you become unable to recognize the villain within. One of the reasons what we're doing can be seen as 'good' right now is because we have the moral justification. I simply want to see what his justification is. No more, no less." Skystrike continued with his questions. "Next, the red one threw you a bag of money before we stepped in. He also said that he payed you for the mares you bought him. Where is the money? I know you're hiding it."
"It's... there's a key in my desk, third drawer on the right side, under some papers. It opens a safe in the closet."
"Opal, check it and give me an estimate on how much money it is." Skystrike said, making sure to keep eye contact with Magelight.
Opal did so, getting the key, opening the closet and the large safe inside. "By the sun... It's just... four bags of bits and gems. I'd have to appraise these for an exact amount, but everything together, not including the bag you got, it has to be at least eighty thousand."
"Oh, we got a baller, huh?" Skystrike looked at Magelight. "A shame how it was earned through trafficking ponies." He grit his teeth. He wanted to ask another question, but a quick thought made him come to the answer on his own. He had enough money from the first... sale... to hire somepony to come help. And yet he didn't. "You're a greedy stallion, you know that?" Skystrike flexed his claws and inched closer to Magelight.
"No, wait! The money wasn't for me!" The coward said. "It was Count Caezar! We were making him lose money for the last few months! He told me if we didn't turn things around soon, he'd call us all back and make us abandon this place! I couldn't let him do that!"
"So you decided so sell our sisters, and sell a stranger just so you wouldn't feel guilty, all for a quick buck!?" Opal's magic flared a bit.
"We all know he didn't think this through. Don't worry, I'll bring it up to Celestia and Luna once I give my report. Upper Crust will be punished." Skystrike assured them.
Magelight's eyes widened. "The... the princess sent you here?"
"Yeah, but that's the least you have to worry about. Worry... about what we'll do to you. I'll give you a few minutes to say what you want before I decide your fate. I just want to know why." Skystrike leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.
Magelight looked at him. "Fine..." He sighed a sigh of fear. "I... When we lost Agate, we set up a search party right away. I was with Goldwork when we were cornered by a dragon. I ran away, leaving Goldwork to those beasts... the regret ate away at me. I wanted to go get a search party, and I sent out a letter to Upper Crust, but he... he got mad. He accused me of lying, saying there were dragons here, and he told me we haven't made enough money yet to break even on the bits he spent to get us out here... But when those dragons bought me some money, I was surprised... My first thought was to use it to get someone to come help. But before I could even take it, they told me that they'd bring me more if they got more mares... I denied at first, but then they threatened to burn down the village." His voice quivered more and more as he continued to speak. "Goldwork, Quarry, Ruby, Jasper, Rainbowshine... I gave them up to save us! What else was I supposed to do!? We needed to get enough money to get somepony here to help us!"
Skystrike set aside his judgement for now. "...Then what of Astral and I?" Skystrike got up from the wall. "You were combative towards me being here, not to mention you trying to sell Astral."
Magelight paused for a moment, then answered. "...I didn't want to worry you. I only hired Astral. I didn't want anypony else to get involved. I know I was wrong for trying to give away Astral, but... I couldn't give up any more of the ponies I'm in charge of..."
Skystrike stomped a hoof. "Cut the bullshit, Magelight. If there's anything in this world I hate, it's those that justify their actions for reasons after they've done said action. You knew if I found out like I did, you'd be deep in shit, like you are now." He stepped forward. "You knew you had enough money to pay a whole platoon of guards to come if you wanted. You just got too greedy with Astral. Even if we didn't meet along the way, I would've hunted. You. DOWN." Skystrike stomped a hoof again, cracking the floor a bit. "I'm sure you would've taken the money and ran if you didn't get too cocky. The only thing I have a chance of believing is what you said about Upper Crust. But you weren't even going to pay him. You were going to run away with the money I bet."
Magelight leaned back in the chair, trying to get as far away from the Pegasus as he could. "Wh-... what about the mares!? I made sure they were being fed! I made sure the dragons got the food!"
"Be that as it may, you still sacrificed them for your own selfish goals. That one act you perceive as 'kindness' is null here. Besides, how do you know the dragons didn't lie?" Skystrike grabbed him and threw him out of the chair onto the ground. "But if you really want to do some 'good', then you'll confess to your crimes in front of the ponies in this village, as well as hand over any evidence that will incriminate you and Upper Crust."
"...I... I can't do that!"
Skystrike kneeled over him. "Still clinging onto that pathetic life of yours, huh. Fine. Be that way. Opal, Spelunk. Gather the villagers. It's time." The two mares nodded before leaving the room. Skystrike then picked up Magelight again and began dragging him around the building, stopping by everyone inside and telling them to gather at the town center.
It hadn't even been ten minutes before the few dozen of the residents gathered in the center. All were confused, seeing the armored pony with Magelight tied up in front of him, along with a dragon and the six of Opal's group behind him. They murmured between each other before Skystrike flew above them, Magelight dangling from the rope with tears in his eyes.
Skystrike spoke to the crowd. "Good afternoon, ponies. Unfortunately, I do not come bearing good news. As most of you know, some of you have been going 'missing' in and near the mines. And as some of you may know, Both myself and Astral Night have come to find your missing friends, and find out why they're going missing." Skystrike looked down at Magelight. "Now, we have the answers we need. First, the ones who were taking the mares were dragons." The crowd gasped at that, a few eyeing Tethys. "Do not worry, the dragon behind me is of no threat to you, and is in fact helping me rescue the taken residents, as well as neutralize the dragons that mean you harm. However, know that the dragons were not working alone. Your leader here, Magelight was actively working with the dragons. Selling you ponies so he and Upper Crust could make some quick money. The ponies behind me, the ones who's sisters were sold, will vouch for my words, as they have been here for the interrogation, and will continue to search for written evidence within Magelight's house." Once the crowd processed this, they began screaming at the unicorn. Some profanities were shared, stones were thrown, and Magelight tried his best to cover his body from the rocks coming at him.
Skystrike put up a hoof, motioning them to stop. After a few moments, they did. "Now, Tethys, Astral and I will be going to get the ponies back from the dragons as soon as this meeting is over. I bring Magelight to you all because you all deserve to know the truth, and to not follow somepony as shameless as this." Skystrike dropped Magelight to the ground. "Now, as of what to do with him..." Skystrike turned to the ponies behind him. "Opal, Bismuth, Spelunk, Silverspeed, Stormfeather, Emerald Green. Magelight has affected you all second only to your sisters. I believe it's only fair you decide his fate."
Bismuth grit his teeth, trying to think of the words he wanted to say. Stormfeather stepped forward, rage in his eyes. It was almost impressive. "I want him dead! Why does he deserve life when he's made others suffer!? Kill him!"
Bismuth held him back. "Look, I... don't disagree. But we have to think this through. Remember, Nebula has to report this to the princesses..."
"No I don't."
Everyone turned silent and looked at Skystrike. Bismuth broke the silence. "...What do you mean by that?"
Skystrike rolled a hoof. "Well... I'll need to clarify. I do have to report what happens here to the princesses... but if that story gets... 'confused' when I relay it, then there wouldn't be any true consequence, right?" Many ears perked up at this.
"No..." Magelight whimpered.
Skystrike continued. "Say... He backed out of the deal with the dragons at the last moment with Astral at stake. In retaliation, the dragons, feeling duped, killed Magelight." Skystrike looked at the unicorn and pulled out a vial with a few white rocks in it. "At that point, we'd only need to make sure of two things. Making sure the body isn't available for an autopsy, and that everypony here has the same story in case anypony wants to dig a bit further. Nothing some white phosphorus can't handle."
"NO!" Magelight screamed up at him. "Who do you think you are!? You can't do this to me!"
Skystrike looked down at him. "...Well, to answer your question, I'm somepony who, within reason, lets the ponies affected take justice into their own hooves. You haven't done anything to me personally, thus, I am not deciding your punishment. I can't and wont do anything to you, they can and will." Skystrike landed in front of the six ponies he named earlier. "I will tell you this, as somepony who has taken a life, you will never come to a conclusion if they will truly deserve their life being taken. And it's a decision you can never make up for. There will always be that 'what if' in your mind." Skystrike sighed. "So, these will be your two options."
He set down the vial in front of them. "You can do what you wish with Magelight, and I will not tell a soul. If you decide to kill him, then use the vial to get rid of the body. It will turn flesh and bone to ash when in contact with oxygen, leaving no trace of a body. If he's alive by the time we return, he will come with me back to Canterlot, where he will be put on trial." Skystrike finished, leaving the ponies to stand with contorted faces in thought. He sighed again and spoke once more. "If you want my opinion on this, I do not know truly what you should do... You will have to live with the consequence of this for the rest of your lives, and it will not reverse the damage he has done, but it's your choice, I will not deny you vengeance. Instead, I recommend a vote with all the residents here. But make sure to think your choice through." Skystrike got on all fours and walked by Tethys and Astral. "It's time. Help me get a few things from my wagon."
The three left the residents to talk among themselves. Even thought they were walking farther away, the crowd was getting louder and louder in discussion. Hopefully they came to a decision they wouldn't regret. Skystrike hopped into his wagon and grabbed his box of metal pikes, setting them down outside the wagon. He'll need these for the big one. He checked over his swords, pulling them out their sheaths and putting them back in. Astral spoke up. "...Are we not going to talk about what you did back there?"
Skystrike put his swords on his waist. "I suppose we can, but I don't know what there is to talk about."
"Nebula, that was near villainous back there." Tethys added. "Are you ok? I know you do some morally questionable things, but damn... That takes the cake."
Skystrike sighed. "I've... been through a similar situation. Having to decide whether someone lived or died by my hooves, as well as the pain of vengeance never being fulfilled. As I said, they've suffered, so they should decide how Magelight will suffer."
"So what, it was because you saw yourself in them or something?" Astral asked.
Skystrike thought about it. "...Yeah... I guess so. They deserve closure. What type of closure is their choice. Either way, at least they have the chance to give their abuser to meet a fate they deserve." He thought back to his time in the lab... hopefully no one lived through that. "I'd... rather we drop this... Let's focus on getting the mares back."
Tethys and Astral looked at each other, then shared a sigh. "Fine." Tethys spoke, releasing the tension in her shoulders. "I've trusted your judgement so far, but we will talk about this later." Skystrike nodded. "Good. So, what's the plan?"
"We have about an hour before the dragons come out to look for the red and green ones. I'd prefer to get the jump on them, rather than them on us. There were eight total, meaning there should be five juveniles and one adult. Tethys, I'll leave the adult to you. Astral, you and I will be dealing with the juveniles. I'll be the vanguard, you be support. We'll be inside the cave when Tethys brings the big one out. This cave is too small for it, so it has to be in another nearby. Once we deal with them all, I'll go to help Tethys with the Adult. You'll be in charge of the mares. Best if they see a friendly face."
"And how am I going to get them back here? I doubt they're in any shape to walk back here." Astral asked.
Skystrike thought for a moment, then began moving some items outside of his wagon. "We'll take the wagon. That's one of the reasons I rented it. All you need to do is get the wagon in the mine, load up the mares, and bring them back."
"I'll provoke the big one, though I can only really distract him for a while, It'll be hard to kill him." Tethys spoke.
Skystrike looked up at Tethys. "Why's that?"
"The adult dragon is a stone dragon. Known for their very hard and durable scales. It'll be hard to break the scales, so It will be a long fight, and I don't have my axe... It broke a while ago."
"Alright..." Skystrike thought about what to do for a moment. "...I got an Idea. It's a bit risky, but It will work. Let's head out." He finished, hitching himself to the wagon.
It was showtime. Skystrike took a look up the mountain, seeing the sun laying right above the peak. He'd love to take the sight in more, but he was here on mission. He pat himself down, making sure he had everything on him. "Tethys, it'll take us a bit to get to the deeper part of the mine. Sound will echo well through the cave. When you hear a battle, that'll be a good time to go for the big one." Skystrike unhitched the wagon from himself. "Stay between the trees or above the clouds. Don't want any strays to see you. And stay safe."
"Same to you, Nebula." The dragoness said before flying off.
Skystrike then turned to look at Astral. "Well, I know I told you a few days ago, but you still have the chance to turn back now. Nopony would blame you. You are putting your life at risk, after all."
Astral shook her head no as soon as he finished. "And I told you, that it's my turn to return the favor that my brother gave to me and others." She gave a small smiled and held a hoof over her heart. "I know he wouldn't want me to put myself in danger, but this is something I must do... He's watching over me from somewhere."
Skystrike winced a bit at that. She was technically right, he is watching over her. What he winced at was how it feels like... well, he is lying to her by not showing her his real identity. He'd have to address this one they were back in Canterlot. The stallion said the only thing he really could. "I'm... I'm sure he'd be proud of you. Just make sure you keep the life you have. Ready?" Astral answered with a nod. "Alright, lets go."
The two went through the entrance of the mine. Skystrike made sure to remember the map that Silverspeed showed him. Navigating the caves was easy. As Astral followed behind him, she made sure to avoid pools of water that dripped from hanging stalactites. She was also in awe of all the gemstones that stuck out of the walls, dazzling from the few bits of light that were reflected from torches on the walls. The smell of stagnant water was getting to her a bit, but she tried to ignore it. The wind howled through the cave behind them as they entered deep in the mine. "We need to pick up the pace. The wind is behind us, so they could pick up our scent."
Astral hummed in agreement, speeding up a bit. They continued in silence for a few more minutes, the only sound being the dripping water and shuffling of hooves. As they walked, they noticed something. Astral asked about it. "Hey... the gems on the wall are getting more sparse. Does that mean anything?"
"Two things. The gems are of higher quality down here, so they're mined more. Also, the dragons find them more tasty." Skystrike answered. "The richer the gems are in magic, the better they taste according... to the dragons I know." Astral was about to ask another question, but was stopped by a hoof going in front of her. They stayed silent fore a moment before they could hear faint echoes coming from deeper in the cave. They were here, and had to be much more careful. If they can hear the dragons, the dragons can most definitely hear them if they aren't careful. "We'll lure them. Hide in one of the branching paths. A dark one." He said as he put an armored hoof around a nearby torch, snuffing it out. Astral did so, as well.
She looked at the Pegasus, as if asking 'what now?' Skystrike answer by grabbing a large rock and throwing it at the spot where they were just standing, making a loud crack. They heard a moment of silence from the dragons, before one called out. "Ashen!? Askook!? That you?" The voice of a dragon called out. Skytstrike motioned for her to be quiet. The yelling of the dragon returned. "You back with the new one!?" They didn't respond. The scraping of claws grew closer. "...Who's there!? Hey, Lockhead, go check it out!"
"No, I did it last time. It's probably a rat."
"Look, you know I'm bad with tight areas! My wings clamp up!"
"Pussy."
A groan was heard, the scraping continued. Only a few dozen paces away. Skystrike drew his sword, and Astral her dagger. "I swear I'll get you one day for the shit you pull here... You got 5 seconds to get out this cave, before you become my next meal! Five!" The dragon said, as if it had some sort of authority. Eight paces away. "Four!" Beasts like these deserve no mercy, just like the rest of them. "Three!" Six paces away. Something inside Skystrike reached out to him. It felt familiar. He knew what it was. He'd have to hold back his bloodlust.. "Two!" Three paces away. He'd make it quick. That will be their final mercy. "One!" A dragon's foot stomped into Skystrike's view. The dragon didn't get to finish. Skystrike jumped out the crevasse and flew forward, blade first. In a split second, his sword went through the dragons throat. Lucky that the underside of a dragon has weaker scales. The dragon, Skystrike realizing it's orange in color with rather large wings, reached out to Skystrike at it coughed up blood. He twisted his blade and pulled it out, decapitating the dragon. Four left.
Astral looked down at the body of the lifeless dragon. It was the first time she had something sentient die in front of her. She... wasn't sure how to feel... On one hoof, it was a life, taken before their time. On the other, they deserved it. She stared at the body for a while, seeing the pool of blood grow as the lifeless eyes stared back at her. "Astral." Skystrike shook her out of her trance.
Astral blinked. "I'm... I'm sorry... It's just..."
"First time? I was the same, believe me. But this is just part of the job. Try to keep it together." Skystrike let go of her. "Now, there's at least one dragon in the next room. You said you could use a candlelight spell right?" Skystrike spoke rather quickly. It was only a matter of time before the dragons smelled the blood.
"Uh, yeah, but that's only for lighting up rooms and the like, not for combat..."
"Normally, but remember, your greatest weapon is your mind. Follow right behind me, and on my signal, pour in as much magic as you can into the spell."
"But... if you overload a spell, it has the chance of explo-... I get it now, alright. Let's do it." Astral nodded. With that, the two slowly made their way to the dragons lair. They stopped around the corner, making sure they weren't seen. Skystrike put out a hoof, signaling for her to stop. He spread out the digits of his claw, counting down to zero by clenching his hoof. The two rushed out, Skystrike taking flight and flying into the room. There were three dragons in the room of various colors, and they all looked at him. Perfect.
He flew straight up, letting Astral's magic take full effect. Astral, making sure to close her eyes, quickly overcharged her magic, and with a loud boom, the spell overloaded, exploding in a blinding white light. The dragons roared, covering their eyes in pain. Skystrike dove down, arms crossed, blades pointed out towards his side. He went for the largest one first, a yellow quadruped dragon writhing on the ground, back up. As soon as he was on top of the yellow dragon, he made a quick cross slash to the nape, killing it near instantly. Three left.
He looked to the direction another dragon was. This one was bipedal, similar to the green one they captured, but more spikes and a brown color. They were beginning to gain their sight back. Skystrike picked up the pace, jumping towards the brown dragon and going for a slash at their chest. Unexpectedly, it was able to regain their sight rather quickly, jumping back to dodge. It breathed a wave of fire at the stallion, Skystrike making sure to side step it with a spin, and using the momentum to throw his sword at the brown dragon, it going through the dragon and it falling to the ground. Two left.
The last dragon, another bipedal with grey scales tried to fly out of the cave from the opening in the ceiling. Skystrike prepared to take off after it, but the dragon didn't get far. Astral threw one of her enchanted throwing knives at the dragon. It landed in the dragons thigh, doing little damage. The dragon was about to let out a laugh before it was interrupted by its own screams of pain. The enchant on the knife Astral threw was inscribed to explode a few moments after contact. And that it did. The dragon fell to the ground from the pain, holding what was left of its leg.
Skystrike looked at Astral, about to tell her she did good, stopping himself when he saw the look on her face. Her eyes were wide, and she was still in the same stance when she threw the knife, arm out. She shivered a bit as she turned her hoof to look at it. "I... just did it on instinct..." She spoke to herself. "I feel... I don't know how I feel..."
Skystrike made quick work finishing off the grey dragon, stabbing the sword through the heart of the beast. One left. "My guess is that you're feeling a mix of regret and relief. At least that's what is was like for my first kill." Skystrike remembered back to the lab he grew up in. He decided to specify. "The first kill that was by choice, that is... Regret that a life had to be taken, but relieved that they cant hurt anypony else. No true way to describe it, but know you did the right thing." He tried to comfort her a bit as he retrieved his swords.
He had to admit, she was taking it better than he thought she would. At least outwardly. "Does... do you feel this every time?" She asked, trying to stop her shaking hoof with the other.
Skystrike nodded. "Yes, but you must make sure not to get desensitized to it. The less you regret it, the more you justify it. But that's besides the point." Skystrike segwayed, making them get back on track. "There's one more, and only one room left. And said room has the mares we need to save. Think you can handle it, or do you need a minute?"
Astral took a couple deep breaths, trying to calm herself down. "Yeah... I think I can do it. Besides, what I'm going through can't be worse than the mares..." She tightened her grip on her dagger. "Alright, you can do this Astral..." She said to herself as she went towards the room where the captives were. Skystrike followed behind her, surprised she decided to go in first.
Once Skystrike entered, he saw the mares, behind bars made of scrap wood. Where did the dragons get it? They aren't stupid. They know how to build, but where did they get nails? Nails are expensive, so no way they'd just leave them laying around in the mine. He thought to himself some more, before realizing he already knew the answer. Focusing back on the main objective, the mares were behind bars, and after looking around a bit, he didn't see the dragon.
He blinked when he realized what he thought. He didn't see the dragon. "Shit!"
Astral jumped in surprised. "What!?"
"There's one dragon not accounted for! It must have gone to warn the adult! I leave the mares to you, I can't leave Tethys alone! Check their health, and get them back to the village with the wagon!" Skystrike said, running out the room and flying towards where Tethys would be.
Meanwhile, just after she heard several roars from within the cave, Tethys, who was flying above the skylight, took that as her queue. She roared herself, though much louder. It was a challenge to the stone dragon. A rumbling returned in response, followed by a loud roar. She could feel the sound hit her. She prepared to fly in the direction of the response, but was stopped when she felt a fireball hit her back.
Once she restabilized herself in the air, she turned to see the dragon that attacked her. It was bat-like in structure, with deep purple scales and a sleek build. "Damn it, Sky..." Tethys grunted, opening her mouth and shooting a ball of ice at it. The purple dragon flew to the side, dodging it easily. It laughed as it shot Tethys again, the dragoness making sure to dodge it this time. After a few exchanges, with neither not able to hit the other, Tethys looked towards the direction of the earlier roar. Smoke was coming from a nearby mountain, and the rumbling grew closer.
The townsfolk saw the beams of fire and ice in the sky. The roars and the rumbling put them all in a panic. They all talked between each other, some beginning to doubt Nebula's ability. Opal tried to calm everypony down. "Don't worry, everypony! I'm sure they have this under control!" She knew her words weren't really getting through to them, but she at least tried. While the rest still talked between each other on what to do with Magelight, Bismuth looked down at the marker that Nebula gave him.
Bismuth looked towards the forest, seeing the smoke. "Uh... I think we might have a problem." He motioned toward what he saw, seeing that it was getting closer little by little. They looked between each other in mild worry.
"I tried! I tried to stop this!" Magelight yelled at them. "And this is what I get!? For protecting us!? Now that Pegasus is dooming us all!"
Stormfeather kicked the unicorn in the side, causing him to cough, "Shut your bucking mouth before I send you to Tartarus myself! Every word you've just spoken has pissed me off even more! Why are we even leaving him alive!?"
Spelunk grit her teeth. "Sacrificing us to stop something that will come was the worst move he could make. Lying to us on top of all of this... I know my vote. I want Magelight dead."
Opal cleared her throat. "Let's vote once we're out of potential danger, alright?" Opal was about to continue talking before a loud boom was heard from the forest. Everypony turned in the direction of the forest, seeing a blue streak in the sky go by at an astounding speed. "...What was that?"
Skystrike was flying, looking for the last juvenile. His eyes darted between the trees as he flew above them. No luck. He did notice how some of the treetops were either frozen or on fire. They had to be above them. Skystrike looked above, and sure enough, Tethys was in a dogfight with a purple dragon. He could tell from the anger in Tethys' eyes, as well as her missing many of her shots that she was struggling a bit. Wasn't her fault, just a bad match for her, being rather slow compared to other dragon.
Skystrike flew up, trying to slash at dragon. It noticed pretty quickly, barrel-rolling out of the way. The Pegasus did a quick spin, trying for another slash and getting a nick on their wing. The purple dragon stabilized itself, hissing at him. "Sorry about that, Tethys... Seems this one it rather quick."
She flew beside him and grunted, rubbing her shoulder. "I've noticed... The smoke's getting closer, so some help me out once you're done here."
"Will do." Skystrike said, crossing his blades, flying between her and the purple dragon. "Now tell me dragon, and make it quick, how many souls have you hurt?"
"...What?"
Skystrike sighed. "Know what? I don't even want to know. I'll make it quick." He flew towards the dragon prepared to cut him down. The dragon swiftly dodged with another roll, but wasn't expecting a kick to the gut from the stallion. Despite being winded, it was at least able to dive to avoid the blades going for his wings. The dragon grit it's teeth as it dove, turning around and shooting the biggest fireball it could muster. It was a direct hit.
What the dragon didn't know, is that Skystrike's armor, let alone his body, was fully able to tank the hit and shrug it off. As the smoke was subsiding, he made sure to get into the proper stance, tightening his grips on the blades and diving straight down. The smoke trailed behind him as he lunged towards the dragon. It wasn't able to react fast enough before the iron pierced the lungs of the beast as they crashed into the forest floor.
He made a note on where it landed for later, and decided to rush to Tethys. The dragoness was having her own problems. "...Today is just not my day..." Tethys groaned, analyzing the approaching stone dragon. Word of mouth did nothing to describe how massive the dragon in question was. It was easily the size of a train, having to walk on all fours due to it's weight and lack of wings. She could hear the tree trunks snap as it approached.
The dragon had scales like stone, almost like it was made of rock itself with the moss growing off its back. The large jaws of the beast roared, looking to the sky and seeing Tethys. "You dare challenge me on my territory!? Do you know who I am!?" Tethys responded with silence to the dragons annoyance. "I am Vastilok! The strongest dragon only second to the dragon lord!"
Tethys raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Why don't you back it up with a source?"
"My source is that I made it the fuck up!" The dragon growled. "But it's not like you'll live to go rat about that. By now, my underlings would've heard my roar and they'll be here any minute!"
Skystrike flew up next to Tethys. "They're dead, so tough shit I guess." He chuckled, wiping some blood off of him. "Lucky for them, it was quick. I'll try to make it quick for you too, as I'm on a schedule."
"You..." Vastilok growled, taking a tree in its claws and tearing it from its roots. "I will admit, it takes a bit of strength to kill a dragon..." He threw the severed tree at Skystrike who swiftly dodged it, landing with a boom behind him. "But It'll take more than that to take me down!"
Skystrike and Tethys flew to opposite sides of the dragon, starting the battle. Tethys tried to slow Vastilok down the best she could, firing continuous beams of ice at his joints. Skystrike darted around, trying to cut at the neck any chance he could get. Both did nothing to stop him. Realizing his blades were doing nothing, Skystrike sheathed them and jest began being annoying, flying around Vastilok like a fly.
Tethys wasn't joking, the scales were hard like stone. Punching the beast would, and was currently doing more than his blades, solely because he cant chip his hooves. He grunted as he was slowly getting pushed back. "Nnngh..."
Tethys called out to the Pegasus as she fired more beams of ice. "Sky!... You got a plan or...!?"
Skystrike yelled back. "Yeah! Just keep this up, follow my lead!" Vastilok, growing annoyed at the Pegasus, continued to follow him.
Astral had just finished bringing the wagon to the mares and loading them on. They were not in good shape, but could be worse, all things considered. The abuse they've taken, both physically and mentally, required medical attention. Some of them screamed as soon as Astral touched them. Thankfully, most of the mares didn't give into despair. They'd have a hard road through recovery.
As she pulled them out of the cave and through the forest, which was much harder than Nebula made it look, they spoke to each other. Astral was able to get their names. Rainbowshine, Stormfeather's sister, was a pegasus with a pale indigo coat with a light fuchsia gray mane. Jasper, Opal's sister, was a unicorn with a orange coat and beige mane. Those two were the only ones awake and in the mood to talk, as little talk as it was. Each had a blanket around themselves. The two made sure to name the other mares, making sure they had everypony.
Agate, Bismuth's sister, was an earth pony with a grey coat and a cream mane with rainbow highlights going through it. She was huddled in a corner of the wagon, her head barely sticking out of her blanket.
Goldwork, Silverspeed's sister, was a unicorn with a pale yellow coat and a golden mane. She was sleeping... Well, as best she could, lying on her side, forcing her eyes close.
Quarry, Spelunk's sister, was an earth pony with a salt white coat and bronze mane. She was trying her best to comfort those around her.
Ruby, Emerald's sister, had the same orange coat as her brother, but had a ruby red mane. She just curled herself into a ball as the wagon moved.
But at least they were alive. They'd be able to see the next day. The road would be hard, but they have hope for a better future now. Astral gave a long exhale, thinking about what they'd have to go through. She hoped to herself that no more harm would come to them. That hope was immediately put into question when she saw the tree tops, some frozen and some lit aflame. She looked to the sky just in time to see Nebula fly off somewhere behind her, then a few minutes later, an entire tree land a few yards in front of her to the side of the path. She made sure to pick up the pace, turning her trot to a full on gallop now.
With luck, Astral was able to tow the rest of the mares back without much of a problem. As soon as they approached the center of town, the townsfolk turned to see her. The siblings of the mares ran over, making sure their sisters were alright. Hugs were shared, tears were had, apologies were made, but their families were back together. It was a sweet moment.
Skystrike, able to see that Astral was back safely, quickly flew over to her. "Sorry to interrupt the reunion, but we got a situation. Astral, Bismuth, Opal, Spelunk, I need you three! Everypony else, get clear! Get the injured mares inside!" He quickly ordered. The villagers quickly did so, some picking up the mares and taking them into the town hall, others taking themselves and their kids back into their own homes.
"What's happening!? What's with the smoke!?" Bismuth asked.
"You'll know soon! I've left Tethys to hold off the adult, but there's only so much she could do! The scales are too thick, and there's only one piece of equipment that can get through." Skystrike said through tired breaths.
Spelunk looked at him. "You don't mean..."
"Bismuth, on my queue, fire it at the dragon, I'll make an opening! Spelunk, Opal, you're gonna pour as much magic into Astral as you can when you see the dragon come over! Astral, max force paralyze spell onto the rod that Bismuth shoots! All of you, when Bismuth fires, cover your ears!"
They all looked between each other and nodded. "Got it!" Bismuth said, running to the Stake launcher, pointing the marker towards the forest, ready to fire. Opal and Spelunk flared their horns, the magic seeping out of their bodies and going into Astral's horn.
Skystrike quickly flew to where he left his stuff, getting his black chains and connecting one end to the hilts of his swords, and the other to an apparatus on his back, reeling in the chains. He quickly flew back to Tethys, who was still leading the dragon back to the village. "Are they ready!?" Tethys asked as she dodged a few thrown boulders, even freezing some in the air.
"Yeah! Let's go!" Skystrike answered. Tethys near instantly turned around and followed behind Skystrike. Vastilok sped up himself to follow the two.
"Where are you going!?" Vastilok chuckled as he chased them. "You will not leave here alive! And these ponies are next!"
Astral saw the dragon approaching, beginning to charge her spell. She wasn't used to all the magic flowing through her, but she had to control it. They were counting on her. Bismuth waited for Skystrike's queue, who was leading Vastilok into the weapon's range. In a moment, Bismuth had a clear shot on the beast. But it wasn't time yet. Skystrike flew straight up, above the dragon, using gravity to speed him up as he dove. A trail of vapor followed behind him as he dove between the clouds, right above the head of Vastilok. "Tethys, Ice me!"
Tethys didn't hesitate, sending a ball of ice where Skystrike would be as he dove. right before the ice hit him, Skystrike rolled into a fetal position, his armor folding into a ball. The ice wrapped around his armor, increasing his mass when he hit Vastilok. "Comet Smash!" That mass and that speed was bound to hurt, and hurt it did, hitting the dragon point blank on the forehead, ice splintering as Vastilok went to grab his head in pain.
He reeled back, but Skystrike wasnt done, uncurling from his armor and loosening some of the chains on his back. As Vastilok opened his mouth to roar in pain, Skystrike went for the weak points. With the mouth wide open, it was easy to swoop in and stab his swords into the roof of the dragons mouth, blood spurting onto him. Quickly flying out as Vastilok tried to breathe fire, Skystrike used his chains to wrap his jaws shut before landing on the beast's back and pulling with all he had.
Vastilok was forced onto his back legs, taking his underbelly off the ground for the world to see. "Bismuth!!!"
With his queue heard, Bismuth covered his ears, aimed the target marker at the dragons chest and pulled the trigger. The stake launcher quickly turned to its target and fired. Fire came from the sides of the machine as it released the energy used to fire the metal stake directly into Vastilok with a large BOOM! Even with his mouth closed, the roar of pain was still deafening.
This time, it was Astral's queue, releasing the charged spell directly into the stake. Vastilok began spazzing as volts upon volts of magical electricity surged through him. His body was smoking once the spell ended, the heat making his eyes boil out of his sockets. Skystrike huffed as he loosened his grip on the chains, dropping them of the side of the dragon.
"Hah... Nice job, everybody..." Skystrike said as he walked towards Bismuth.
Tethys gave a few huffs of her own. "Yeah... Thanks..." She landed next to the body of Vastilok. "Just one more thing..."
"Still breathing, I know..." Skystrike picked up the Stake launcher of the tripod and carried it on his shoulder, finger on the manual trigger. "Open his mouth, Tethys..."
The dragoness did so, squatting down to dead lift the Vastilok's jaw open. She eyed Skystrike as he walked on his tounge and aimed where the brain would be. "Tethys... cover your ears..." She did so right before Skystrike fired, blowing the brains out the beast, the stake coming out the top side of the head. And with that, Skystrike walked out. "Mission complete..." He rolled his wrist as he dropped his retrieved swords and the Stake launcher.
"Yeah..." She said as she sat down, finally able to relax. "By the way... why do you... call out your attacks?"
Skystrike processed the question, then chuckled for a bit before answering. "Because... If I call out a move and you don't dodge it... that's their fault..." He said. The two shared a tired laugh. |
A Broken Warrior | Confrontation | Everyone present let out a long sigh, formed from a mix of relief and exhaustion. Skystrike was sitting down, leaning on his Stake Launcher. He and Tethys just finished sharing a laugh after killing Vastilok. They began moving back towards the rest of the ponies when the smell of burnt flesh became too much to bare. After catching his breath, Skystrike stood up, putting the safety on on the Launcher and turning towards the ponies.
Tethys got up with him. "Where are we going?"
Skystrike huffed. "We have two things left to do. The second is that personal thing I need to do. The first..." The Pegasus stopped in front of Opal. "Have you made a decision?"
Opal looked at him. "You know... you said something about the weight of another's life or something like that before you went to the mine... I... I don't think somepony like him deserves a trial. It's open and shut... But I don't think I can carry the weight of his death on my heart. But if it guarantees that my sister, and other ponies wont be hurt by his actions again, then I must try."
Skystrike returned the look. "I'll.... I'll take that as a yes. And you don't have to ask the victims. They've been through enough." He put a hoof on the mares shoulder. "I have a few more things to check once I finish talking to the residents here. After, Tethys and I are going to do one last scout of the mountain. Just to make sure all danger is gone."
Opal nodded, then wrapped her forehooves around Skystrikes neck to hug him. "Thank you... thank you so much, Nebula." She said, holding back a few tears.
Skystrike shook his head. "It's nothing. I simply do what needs to be done." Opal released him from the hug. "We're going to check on everypony else. If anything comes up, send word." The unicorn nodded, then went back to her sister.
Skystrike and Tethys walked over to the rest of Opal's friend group. Bismuth, Emerald Green, Silverspeed, Spelunk, Stormfeather, and Astral were all still staring at the body of the earth dragon. In both fear and in awe. Bismuth spoke first. "It's... hard to believe it's finally over."
"Buck that it's over, Nebula is the real deal!" Spelunk pointed a hoof to the body. "I thought ponies were just overhyping him, but he nearly took down this giant bastard alone! I don't know how many guards it'd take to do that, but it's definitely more than one. And he's a Pegasus!"
Silverspeed nodded. "Then he was able to figure out who did it within a day. And he was mostly... right." She shuddered at the thought. "If he weren't here..."
Astral agreed. "I don't know what I'd do if he wasn't. The whole plan to lure out Magelight and the dragons. The juvenile dragons were mostly him though. I only got one. He handled the rest himself. All we did was some magic tricks."
"Don't sell yourselves short." Skystrike spoke from behind the group. "Each one of you played a role in this. It would've been much harder without you all. Be proud of yourselves." He stopped in front of the ponies. "Astral, how are the mares?"
Astral rubbed her horn a bit. All that magic made it sore. She winced when she touched it. "Ssss... The mares should be fine, given time. I'd still urge that we take them to a hospital or something. Their bodies are... could be in better shape, but I'm more focused on the trauma that they could have."
Skystrike nodded. She made a good point. "I have a few things to finish up here. We will leave for Vanhoover at sundown. I'd appreciate if you could pack everything by then, Astral. It'd put too much stress on the mares to move them to the city. I will have some doctors sent here." She nodded in response. "Now, for the rest of you, I will need one of you to come with us back to Canterlot. Someone has to testify in front of the princesses."
The ponies looked between each other. "Uh, can we get back to you on that?" Bismuth asked. "Oh, and here." He said, giving Skystrike back the marker.
"Of course. There's just one more thing I need to ask of all of you." Skystrike leaned forward. "Seeing as Magelight isn't dead... well, at least not yet... I assume everypony voted?"
They all looked to each other. Moments of awkward silence went by as the air grew tense. Spelunk broke the silence. "...When you, Astral, and Tethys left, all of the ponies in the village spoke about it for a while. They decided that it was best to leave it to us, the ponies whos sisters were affected, and Astral who was set up. I-..."
She was interrupted by Skystrike putting up a hoof. "Before you answer, just know, I hope you've tried not to let my actions affect your judgement, nor will I or any of you look at anypony different based on their answer."
Spelunk took in a deep breath. "...Alright... I... a part of me feels so wrong when I say this, but... A pony like him does not deserve the life he has... He betrayed out trust. Put all of us at risk... I don't even want to know who else he did this to...could've done this to in the future. I... I vote for him to die." Spelunk covered her mouth with regret at that last sentence. She never thought she'd have to make this decision in her life.
Emerald dug at the dirt beneath him before answering. "Magelight... at one point I called him friend. The affects his actions have had on the ponies around him is unforgivable. He could spend a life time trying to make right by them, and it'd never be enough. But even with all that... I can't say I think he deserves death."
Two in favor, one against his death so far. Silverspeed spoke next. "He sold us so he could save his own ass. You've shown that getting help was an option that could and did work. Trying to protect us my ass... He had more than enough money to hire a platoon. He dies." She said with notably more anger than the previous two.
Three in favor, one against. Bismuth put in his decision. "He waited so long to finally get help, then tries to sell Astral to the dragons. On top of that, he was actively working against you. Magelight's complete disregard for any life other than his own is inhumane. He should not have the mercy that our sisters and Astral should've gotten."
Four in favor. There are seven total. Only two more ponies left to go. Even though the majority already won, their opinions still mattered. Astral stepped forward. "I would've died if not for you. I'm not sure if I'm qualified to have an opinion on this, but... I think... a part of me thinks he should atone for his sins, but another part of me knows that he wont... If he gets away with this with no consequence, then he'll do it again. However, I personally don't think that the death sentence is the right one."
Four and two. "Stormfeather, you're the last one... What say you?"
"He dies." Stormfeather said quickly and angrily. "Everypony else said their reasoning, but are we just gonna forget that he only admitted all this stuff out of self preservation and not out of guilt? If worse came, he'd just have taken the money and ran. He would've lived a lavish life style for a few months minimum. He's crying over there because he got caught. He. Dies." Bismuth finished, stomping his hoof before sighing. "I'm going to check on Rainbowshine."
Skystrike sighed as Rainbowshine flew away. He looked at Tethys, then back to the ponies. "So, five to two... death's favor. I will carry it out myself. Is that vial of white phosphorus still with Magelight?" They all looked between each other to check, then answered with a yes.
The ponies watched as Skystrike went to Magelight. The unicorn tried his best to crawl away, but it was futile with his hooves tied. They, along with other villagers and Tethys, stared as Skystrike dragged Magelight into the forest as he was kicking and screaming.
As the two stallions went deeper into the forest, Magelight cries echoed between the trees. "You can't do this to me you bastard! You won't get away with this! I did what I had to do! For all of us!"
Skystrike decided to finally speak after that last sentence. He'd already come deep enough into the forest anyway. "Magelight... tell me, do you have anything to live for?"
The unicorn stopped his streaming. "...What?"
"What makes you keep on living?"
"...I don't know..."
"Think!" Skystrike demanded as he stabbed one of his swords' into the dirt.
Magelight grunted as he was thrown in the middle of a meadow. He looked up at the armored pony in fear. The blue eyes of the helmet stared into his soul. The unicorn felt as he was looking at death's embodiment in the face. Minutes passed as Skystrike stood still, staring at him. Waiting for his answer. It was ironic in a sense. He was so fearful of the dragons, but now his life is in the hooves of a pony mimicking their appearance. With his strength and brutality, he might as well be a demon.
The unicorn finally spoke. "...You... you think you can get away with this!?" Magelight yelled at him. His response was a heavy slap from Skystrike. He held his cheak as he grunted from the pain. "...You ba-" Magelight was interrupted by the same hoof. Skystrike slapped him again and again, switching between open palm and a back hoof. First blood came from Magelight's broken nose. Then some from a bruised lip. Then a tooth fell out. Skystrike paused momentarily. He was surprised that Magelight could even see him from the black eyes he had. "S... Sdob it!" Magelight cried as he tried to back away.
"Is this wrong?" Skystrike asked.
"Ob course id is! Who do you hink I ab!?"
"A mere fool." Skystrike answered simply, yet full of vitriol. "For god's sake. Look at what you did to the other ponies."
Magelight, still backing away, bared the pain and used his magic to cut his restraints. His adrenaline rushed through him as he shot as much magic he could muster at the Pegasus. It was almost impressive. Almost... When the cloud of smoke dispersed, Skystrike was still standing where he was. Magelight was overwhelmed with fear when he realized there was no visible damage on Skystrike. With the last of his strength used, Magelight fell to the ground. He wasn't the embodiment of death... no, he was death itself. And he feared the reaper. "Domepony! Id anybody dere!?" He screamed out at the top of his lungs.
"There is none that will come to save you." Skystrike looked down at Magelight. "They voted. The ponies who's sisters you sold, and Astral all voted for your fate. Five and Two, death's favor. But don't get them wrong, they simply didn't think death was the right punishment... In a court of law, you'd be banished. Not exactly better, and depending on where you'd have been banished to, it's have been much worse... In a sense, this is a mercy." Skystrike walked close enough and crouched down to get in Magelight's face. "Now... I feel no need to spare your life... You already hurt my sister, Astral Night... you sealed your fate. You will die here..."
"W-w-waid! Why!? I-I-I can gibe you boney, jusd don'd kill be! Dad's whad you cabe here for, righb!?" Magelight pleaded with death.
It was to no avail. "I see..." Skystrike closed his eyes. Magelight had a look of relief for a moment. Skystrike felt his anger well up inside him. Is that all that Magelight sees life as? A fucking transaction? Life is something that you can't put a price on. His rage felt... primal. Instinctual... Magelight's look of relief turned to horror when Skystrike opened his now burning white eyes. "So this is what it means to be unworthy of life!"
And with that, Skystrike kicked Magelight into a tree. Several sounds could be heard. First, the shattering of Magelight's sternum. Second, the crack of the tree he was shot into as well as the cracking of his spine simultaneously. Third, a grotesque sound of bursting flesh as Magelights chest and abdomen exploding. He didn't even have the air in his lungs to scream in pain from his protruding bones and burst organs laying on the ground. Skystrike kicked him in such a way where he could cause the most pain, but the pain was enough where he wouldn't fall unconscious from it. Magelight groaned.
Skystrike stared at him for a moment, thinking to himself as he calmed down. A part of him... enjoyed the pain he wrought on Magelight, but he knew it was bad. He knew well how to fight that instinct by now. It was almost like an addiction. Every being that he hurts, something in his mind tells him to keep going. As if it was a negative feedback loop. He'd have some questions for himself and Echo later.
Skystrike took out the flask of white powder in front of the groaning Magelight. To be specific on the contents of the flask, it was white phosphorus. Sure, it broke the Geneva Convention but... The world of Eques doesn't have a Geneva Convention. That makes it ok. Legally. But there was one last thing he needed from the unicorn. He'd at least have some use...
The Pegasus picked up his sword and walked to the broken and bloody mess that was Magelight and with a swift cut of his sword, lobbed off the horn of Magelight. One of the worst and most disrespectful things that could happen to a unicorn. And with that, Skystrike flew into the sky and threw the flask at his body. The fun thing about white phosphorus is that it ignites when in contact with oxygen, as well as has a higher burning temperature than the melting point of flesh and bone. Magelight couldn't scream through his collapsed lungs. All he could do was weakly look up at Skystrike as he burned. Blood ran down his face from where his horn used to be as his body began to melt. Skystrike made sure to stare at him until Magelight finally left this world. Then, he waited until the body of the unworthy burned to ash, as well as the tree he was kicked into. He flew back down and flapped his wings, letting the ash spread in the wind once the fire died down.
"It's better than he deserves..." Skystrike walked back to the village. He was met in the forest by his dragoness friend.
Tethys looked down at him with crossed arms. "Is it done?"
Skystrike nodded. "Yes."
Tethys sighed. "I know this is ironic coming from a dragon, but that was kinda fucked." She put a hand on her forehead. "You've... changed, Skystrike..."
He stood still at that. "I know... some times I look at what I've become, and I wish I didn't. But... after what happened... I couldn't just keep.. hoping that beings will change for the better. Sure, there are some that can change, but... he would've come back wanting revenge... I won't risk that again."
Tethys rubbed the ridge of her snout. "Holy... I didn't think it affected you this much..." She sighed. It needed to be addressed. The two thought back to why All split up. What the turning point was.
A younger Skystrike stood with a sword in hoof, staring down his foes with all the malice he could muster. He was staring down the remaining platoon of Royal guards, clad in golden armor. The once 40 of the ponies were down to a dozen and a half. All wasn't doing much better either. And to think, it all started from an escort request. He should've known... It was too good a deal to be true.
An envoy was sent to All to give them a letter, saying it was important. Skystrike checked the letters, reading it's contents. A request for all the members of his group to escort a yet to be named noble for a show of strength. He was about to laugh at it before reading the offer. Half a million bits. Fifty thousand when split all ways equally. Celeano would be able to get that airship upgrade she wanted. Sky Beak could use it to settle down like he dreamed. Casta could fund her research. He went to tell everyone that they got a job.
Now, they're half way in the grave. Tethys was the first injured. Stabbed in the back by that Bastard noble. Even now, he's found a way to mess with him. Zecora and Casta were using any potion or spell that could get her back up. By the time Skystrike turned back to see the source of Tethys' scream, Celeano was shot with a blast of magic, and Sky Beak was shot out of the air. A whole platoon came out from hiding between the trees of the forest. This was pre planned. Taking out the dragon, Avian, and Hippogriff simultaneously. Elytra changed from a piece of luggage inter her normal form, charging her magic as she went to protect Zecora and Casta. Celeano and Sky Beak had recovered from their minor injuries, the former pulling out a flintlock and saber while the latter a crossbow. Jeshan dug up from underground and made a wall of dirt, making his team mates cover from a few sides. Maud was in front with Skystrike, who quickly pulled her back. Alder came back and began firing arrows from above the forest.
Skystrike was about to dive at the noble, but he quickly teleported away. Skystrike set down Maud next to Elytra. "You two! Protect them while they help Tethys!" He drew his swords and flew towards the Diamond Dog. "Jeshan! Fall back for a bit, hold out with Celeano and Sky Beak! I'm taking out the anti-air!" Skystrike flew into the forest, finding where the guards were from where their shots of magic came from. Alder and and Sky Beak were doing their best to dodge, but they couldn't dodge them all. From the rate of fire, there were about sixteen unicorns. He dealt with them swiftly, flying to each one between the trees and cutting through them like butter. Limbs were cut off, blood was spilt, and heads rolled. The forty strong quickly fell to twenty four, left of earth ponies and pegasi.
Skystrike wasn't unharmed though. The ponies protecting the unicorns got some hits on him. While he could still move it, he couldn't feel his left arm. The leather armor allowed him to be faster, but he couldn't take many more hits. Some of his bones were fractured in his wings, but the adrenaline made him numb to the pain. Making his way back to the ambush site, his friends weren't doing any better than him. Tethys was at least back up, fighting alongside Maud and Elytra, but all three took pretty heavy damage. The Pegasus decided to fly towards Sky Beak and Jeshan, who was currently defending a downed Celeano, who was clutching her left talon, or where it once was.
Jeshan put up his staff to block an incoming overhead swing from a guard. Sky Beak was currently fighting two ponies himself, and couldn't help him out. Fatigue had gotten to the diamond dog, and the guard cut through his staff, leaving a large gash down his chest. He soon fell unconscious, only after seeing Skystrike quickly cut off his attackers forehooves, then quickly being layed on his back. "Sky Beak! I got-" He looked to the hippogriff, only to see him falling on his back after a hit from a mace hitting his head hard. Celeano fired her flintlock at the mace wielding pony, blasting a hole through the guard. Skystrike grit his teeth. "TETHYS!" He shouted, fending off some attacks from several sides. "Celeano, Sky Beak, and Jeshan are down! Bring them back to Zecora and Casta! I'll hold these fuckers off somehow!"
Tethys did so. Though tired, she flew towards her downed allies and picked up the three bodies. "Take this, you shit heads!" Celeano said, still firing her flintlock, and Skybeak's crossbow. "Sky Beak and Jeshan deserved better! I'll find all your graves and shit on them!" She said angrily. Finally at Zecora and Casta, they each began healing the three injured. Casta worked on closing Jeshan's wound, while Zecora used a salve to stop the blood flow to Celeano's leg. Skystrike jumped into the sky, hoping to have a quick break from the fight to check on his friends. Maud was still standing, swinging her Warhammer in her hooves at her attackers. She did her best as she stood above Elytra, whose carapace was cracked, but was still firing her magic the best she could.
But it didn't matter. Though through their combined efforts, they took the 40 strong down to 12, the damage was done. Casta and Elytra had ran out of magic, falling from over exhaustion. Maud was on her last leg, huffing hard and she rested the head of her Warhammer on the ground. Tethys took another fatal hit, using her ice breath to freeze close a wound from a spear in her stomach. Zecora was running out of energy, having minor cuts all over her body, but also tired from the medical attention she had to give to everyone present.
In a matter of moments, they were forced into a corner. Though battered and bruised, Skystrike was the only one in good enough shape to fight. One of his swords broke, leaving him with only one blade left to fight. The last of the 12 guards surrounded the remains of the group. It was a miracle that none of them died... Skystrike looked back to his allies... his friends... all looking back at him.
Maud spoke first. "Well, I guess we're between a rock and a hard place." She said in a monotone voice, trying to crack a joke in this situation.
Tethys coughed up some blood as Zecora began stitching her back up. "Gotta say... figured this was too good to be true." She was right.
Zecora looked up at him. "We'll make it out of this, Nebula, my friend! This is no day for us to meet our end!"
Skystrike gripped his sword. Their words might as well have fallen on deaf ears. It was his fault. He shouldn't have taken this deal. He was blinded by riches. No... He was blinded by a happy future. He knew from the moment he left the hive that there was no happy future for him. It was not his fate. Fate... Fate... Fate... FATE... FATE...
The word continued to ring in his head. He couldn't escape it. Everyone he meets, he bonds with... fate demands something different. He won't stand for this! He will change his future! He wont let the beings around him suffer anymore! Something in him spoke to him... telling him to fight... to kill! To spill blood! For those not spoken for! For those who suffer in silence! For those who want destruction! It's what he was made to do! To kill all who stand in his way!
Skystrike seemingly grew in size as his wrath overtook him. His muscles popped. His eyes emitted a blinding white light. And with one final declaration: "MY FATE WILL BE FORGED IN MY OWN HANDS!", he dashed forward with a loud boom, a blue streak tailed behind him as he went towards a guard in front of him. He didn't slow down as he cut through the body with one slice, taking the guard's head and shoulder clean off. Before the surrounding guards could react, he dashed into the air, stabbing a Pegasus from under them, their organs coming out the other side.
The rest of the guards quickly ran by his allies and towards him. They weren't nearly fast enough, Skystrike ripping the blade off a guard's corpse and throwing it into the neck of a charging earth pony. They choked on the blade and their own blood before falling over. Skystrike spun to dodge a javelin flying towards him, catching it in the air and throwing it at another Pegasus guard. Once he landed on the ground, he slashed at an approaching guard, his sword shattering on impact with his shield. Turning on his front hooves, he bucked the shield, shattering it to splinters, then grabbing the guard's body and using them as a meat shield, making a flanking guard stab his ally.
The face of horror on the pony's face as he killed his own friend didn't last long when he saw a hoof coming his way. The sheer impact cracked the neck of the guard as it twisted half way around. A guard took their eyes of Skystrike for a mere moment, looking at his comrades fall one by one, only to be snapped back to reality by a hoof going through mouth and out the back of his neck. Each kill, Skystrike got more violent as his instinct told him to show no mercy.
The remaining five ponies didn't last long. Two Pegasus and three earth ponies were soon to feel death's embrace. "Speedy! Redline! Get out of here! Report back to the princess! We'll buy you time!" The princess? Celestia!? His rage grew even more. Before they could react to their orders, Skystrike flew to grab one by the leg and slammed them into the ground, breaking many bones on impact. He stomped on their head, busting their skull open, killing them near instantly. The helmet might as well have been for show.
The last Pegasus didn't decide to wait around as they flew off as fast and high as their wings could take them. It wasn't far enough. Another boom and Skystrike caught up to them in mere moments. The Pegasus guard pleaded, but it fell on deaf ears. Skystrike grabbed onto their wings with his front hooves and kicked the pony down to the earth below with his back hooves. Their wings came off with pops, almost like taking grapes off the vine. They screamed in pain and fear as they fell, ending with a loud splat.
Skystrike flew back to the last three ponies, dropping the wings of their friend in front of them. "You fucked around... And now... you'll find out why Celestia wanted me gone so badly..." He said, preparing to prove it. A dash forward closed the distance between Skystrike and the guards, punching one guard and shattering his ribcage, making the guard cough up blood and fall to the floor. Turning to the next guard, he tore off a leg, leaving them screaming as they bled out. He stared down the last guard, dropping the severed limb and walking towards the pony frozen in fear.
He thought about letting him go. But that damn excuse of a noble got them all into this. Don't deal with them right, and they want revenge next chance they get. Skystrike would take no risk. He grabbed their throat with his metal arm and pulled it out.
Skystrike, covered in a mix of his and the enemy's blood, let out a roar in victory, his anger finally subsiding as the threat was over. For now at least. His adrenaline finally stopped, and fatigue caught up to him. The last thing he saw before falling unconscious was the faces of fear from his conscious friends.
Tethys grit her teeth, thinking back to the incident. She put a claw on her stomach, where the wound was those years ago. Casta and Zecora did well, there was barely even a scar left. "Zecora and Casta fixed me up pretty well. I saw some of the scars you still have. They could probably fix you up quick if you asked."
Skystrike shook his head. "I keep them on me... as a promise to do better by you all, and all those I failed to protect."
"Skystrike..." Tethys began walking, signaling Skystrike to walk next to her towards the forest. "When we first met, I had my... worries on following you. You were naïve, reckless, and you didn't think things through. Despite all that, you kept to yourself and planned things out, with very little room for mistake. You were at times... a huge asshole, but after you left, I realized that you were doing it to protect us... Then when you disbanded All, I realized that you blamed yourself for what happened." Skystrike grit his teeth at that,. Tethys continued talking. "Now that we're back together, I can tell that you've changed majorly. You're much more thorough in planning. You try and listen to others. You focus on the beings, not just the job now. But that guilt is still being carried on your shoulders. It was a mistake, Skystrike. It wasn't your fault."
"But it was my fault." Skystrike spoke up. "You all almost died! All because I just... got sloppy! It was my fault!"
Tethys shook her head. "It wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known there was an ambush."
"I could've checked! Scouted ahead! Anything that could've increased our chances! Celeano wouldn't have lost her foot! Jeshan wouldn't have lost his eye!" Skystrike began raising his voice.
Tethys was getting annoyed, showing her teeth. "We all knew the risks, and we don't blame you for it. We still have our lives! It wasn't your fault!"
"I had to disband the group! Everyone in my life, I just keep putting in danger!" Skystrike was full on yelling at this point. "So each of you could go back to the lives you had before! BETTER lives! I hurt you all too much for helping me with something I should've done myself from the start!"
Skystrike felt a punch to his face, falling on his side before looking at where it came from. Tethys was angry to say the least, having tears in her eyes on the verge of falling. "Do you have ANY idea how much you hurt us by leaving!? We blamed each other! We didn't feel like we were somebodies you could RELY on! You sacrificed EVERYTHING for us! We didn't even want your money, but you vanished before we could say something! You think just leaving in the night is the best option!?" Tethys punched him again. Skystrike took the hit. "We wanted to protect you too! Our travels! Our journeys! We enjoyed every moment spent with you! Good and bad! And you just leave!? Thinking you're protecting us!?" Tethys roared as she loomed over the Pegasus. Skystrike looked up at her, taking in her words. Tethys calmed down, albeit slightly. "You... you hurt us the most, Skystrike. We all know you blame yourself. It's not your fault. We don't blame you."
Skystrike looked down at the ground. He thought about it. He couldn't shake the guilt, but he knew. Skystrike got back up and kept walking. Motioning for Tethys to follow him. She sighed and did so. "You're right... A part of me already knew that... but I think I just needed someone to tell me. So, thanks Tethys." Skystrike and Tethys walked for a couple minutes in silence before Skystrike decided to speak up. He made up his mind. He had to tell her. "I have something to confess."
Tethys raised an eyebrow. "Okay...?"
"Before I do, I just want to ask you something..." Skystrike stopped and turned to look her in the eyes. "...Do you believe even the worst person can change? That a cycle of suffering can be broken if someone just tries hard enough?"
Tethys chuckled. "Asking that right after dealing with Magelight? I've always agreed with what you told me all those years ago. Everyone can change. Whether they deserve the chance to is a different story."
Skystrike let out a deep sigh, before standing on his hind hooves and taking off his armor. A neon green fire surrounded him for a moment. Joints popped, muscled stretched, and bones cracked. It a moment, where a pony once stood before Tethys, was a human, his eyes reaching her chest. His dark skin glistened as the white snow melted on his body. The white hair flowing down his back flowed with the wind. All that covered him was a piece of cloth that hung around his waist.
Tethys' green eyes stared into his light blue. "...What are you? Are you Skystrike? I've never seen something like you."
Skystrike nodded. "I... was originally called P.R.O.W-0034. Skystrike Nebula was the name I gave myself when I came to this world. I'm... I am human."
Tethys leaned over and walked around him, getting a good look at him. "...I'm confused. This isn't some prank and you're a changeling? I've seen Elytra transform like that..."
Skystrike shook his head as he put back on his armor, the once heavy armor for a pony was placed on his chest, shoulders, arms, and legs, only being able to cover the important parts. "I was taken in by the Changelings, so I picked up a few things from them. But lets keep walking. I'll explain along the way." Skystrike said, walking towards the mountains. He told her everything. How he grew up as a human. What he was trained to do. How he got out. To Equestria. How he was chased out. Went with the changelings. Came back to the ponies. How and why he was banished from the hive. Why he faked his death. How he met her. Why he couldn't say anything about his identity. And how all of that lead to where he was now. It took over an hour, but he got his point across. "...Now, there's a signal up here in these mountains. No way it's a coincidence. There are humans up here doing something. And I think they're here for me. I can't put anyone else at risk."
Tethys paused for a minute. "That's... a lot to take in. I'll... any questions I have will just bring up more. But for now... was... was all of this just an act? I'm still skeptical that you are Skystrike. A lot could've happened in the two and a bit years you were gone."
Skystrike laughed a bit. "It takes much more than what I've dealt with to kill me." Skystrike said, making a ball of fire in his hand and looking at it. "...I need to cut my nails." He said to himself. "But no, nothing was fake. I am still Skystrike. My body may have been, but the experiences we all shared weren't an illusion."
Tethys smiled a bit at that. "That's good to hear. So about that signal?"
"Right. I, well Echo detected it when he was researching the area. All of a sudden he detected a signal. This world doesn't have the technology to send radio waves. Magic stunted the development of technology, so most things here are made to detect a magical current, not an electrical current. Echo is the only thing in Equestria, maybe this whole world, to detect the signals this place is sending. And it's also receiving a signal, meaning they're in communication with someone on their end."
"I understood none of that."
"Basically, someone in this world is talking with someone from my original world, and can't be detected by the residents of this world besides me." Skystrike simplified. He put up a hand. "We're here. And before we go in, my gut is telling me we wont be alone. I know you aren't great with tight spaces, so stay behind me and watch our backs."
"Got it. Lead the way."
They stood in front of a stone wall. Looked normal, but Echo and Skystrike could feel it calling to them. "This the spot."
"Yes. Short circuit the surroundings and we'll get inside. Find a terminal. Plug me in. I can do everything else from there." Echo spoke from within the helmet.
Skystrike charged some lightning in his hand before sending a pulse towards the wall. Not enough voltage, but he could figure out where he needed to hit. He lowered his arm to adjust his aim and shot a more powerful pulse. After a few tries of increasing strength, the stone wall moved, revealing a white door. Just like the lab he came from all those years ago. The door opened, an elevator inviting them in.
Skystrike stepped inside, Tethys following him. There was only one floor he could go to, so he pressed the button and began heading down. He rolled his neck, stretching a bit before the elevator slowed to a stop. Skystrike charged a ball of magic in his hands, preparing to release it as soon as the door opened.
But when it did, there was nothing. Skystrike and Tethys shared a look of surprise at the lack of enemies. No way they didn't see them coming. Unless... Skystrike looked around. In front of him was a long hallway, sharing the white walls of the lab from all of those years ago. Several colors ran parallel along the wall, but Skystrike decided to focus on the most important one. A red line labeled 'Terminal' went down to the end of the hallway. "We may already be too late, but it's worth a try! Let's speed up!"
The two began running. Though Tethys didn't know where he was going, she followed behind, matching his pace. It was no use. By the time they made it to their destination, they were already too late. Tethys grunted at the state of the bodies of the fallen humans. Skystrike quickly got past it, walking to one of the bodies and touching it. There were seven human bodies on the floor, all missing their heads. Blood and brain matter splattered the walls. And each body was still warm. Some still gripping their weapons, ranging from pistols, to rifles, to blades. Though few, they were all prepared to fight for their lives.
Yet they didn't get the chance to. Skystrike looked to the dead end they cornered themselves in. Well, to be exact, it wasn't a dead end. A halo like object, about three meters in diameter, was laying on the floor. He felt something familiar... Skystrike remembered the lab. While this looked much different, it was the same mana he felt when he was in the lab. It was a portal. Back to his original world. He grit his teeth. There's no way that this is their only one. They've had a way to get here, for a while, to Equestria. He doubted they'd put their only one in the middle of nowhere. He'd need to check for other portals.
Skystrike saw a terminal next to the halo. He took off his helmet, plugging it in with a cord. "Echo, I need everything in the terminal. What happened here, where exactly this portal leads to, and where the other portals are. Also, what this facility is for." Skystrike stood up and looked at Tethys. He put up his hands. "...Welcome to the human race I guess... Well, more like what's left of it."
Skystrike, Tethys, and Echo stood in silence for a moment. Tethys looked at the bodies, then back to Skystrike. "Hey, so, are you like... Why are they... why are you brown?"
Skystrike looked at her, then laughed the hardest he has in a while. He was about to stop, then began howling again. "Jesus Christ, you can't just ask why someone is brown!" Skystrike regained his composure.
"What's so funny?" Tethys growled.
Skystrike laughed a bit more. "Tethys, a question like that has some racial indications behind it. I'm laughing because you don't know better, so it's an innocent question. It's be equivalent if I asked you why you were a dragon."
"Oh.... Oh shit, sorry! I didn't mean it like that! I meant like, are there different types of humans? Kinda like ponies and dragons? Do you get something that the pale ones can't do?"
Skystrike laughed even harder. "Holy shit this is great! Oh my god..." He laughed. "No, I mean besides being able to say the n-word." He laughed some more. "For real though, there aren't different 'types' but we have different ethnic groups. We come from different parts of the world and galaxy, but we're all the same species. Think of it like the different types of dragons. Sure you all look different, and are capable of different things, but you're all still dragons."
"That makes sense I guess. What's the n-word?" Tethys tilted her head.
Skystrike paused for a moment. "Look, I said that as a joke. There's a lot of racial injustices and history behind it that would take me a long time to explain as properly as I'd like for someone with no knowledge on it to understand. I'll tell you about it another time once we're done here and we have the time."
"Analysis complete. As requested, I will answer what you've asked earlier. Echo spoke in their monochrome voice. "The bodies here are former employees of this facility. Security, faculty, and Researchers. They saw you and Tethys coming through the cameras. The head researcher reported to a superior about what to do. In response, a signal was sent back, activating a micro-bomb implanted within the brain of all staff here. It was most likely an attempt to stop you from getting information from them. It didn't matter, I am within their systems."
Echo moved his holographic eyes, motioning toward the halo. "The portal has no set destination. Rather this is the destination. Several different locations link at this portal. What those locations are, I do not know, but from reports, one can assume warehouses, due to a consistent supply of food and resources. Notably a large amount of electronic and mana devices. The eyes moved back onto Skystrike. "These portals do not lead to anywhere in this world. It leads back to our dimension of origin. I'd recommend destroying the portal."
Skystrike walked over to the halo to pick it up. It was heavy. Looking at it closer, he realized it was mage of tungsten and gold, in very dense quantities. He'd have to use this for later. Skystrike focused fire in his hands, molding the metal and compressing it into a sphere just able to fit in the palm of his hand. He put it into his saddlebag. He looked around more, seeing the weapons on the ground. No way he could let these get out in Equestria. The damage these could cause is immeasurable. He grabbed each and put them into his bag as well. "And the facility? What's it for?"
"Begin walking to the laboratory of the facility. I will explain on the way." Echo spoke, shutting of his eyes before Skystrike put him back on. He motioned for Tethys to follow. The group walked out of the room and began following the green line labeled 'Facility'. As they walked, Skystrike noticed the tire marks on the floor. They had to have been moving some heavy items to their destination. "This facility had three roles." Echo finally decided to speak. "Spying on, studying, and making weaponry in hopes of stopping you."
They turned the corner to a towering metal door. Skystrike couldn't tell what type, but it was for sure some type of steel. "Uh.. Skystrike? A question." Tethys looked at the human. Skystrike turned to her. "What do you expect to be behind this if they were making things to kill you?"
Skystrike clenched his fists. "Not sure... More than likely will be nothing active, since they neutralized the people here at the sight of me approaching. But on the slight chance that it's something that will give me a run for my money... No, that wouldn't make sense. They wouldn't make a weapon that strong and keep it on standby... Lets just see for ourselves." He pulled back his fist while engulfing it in a thick layer of water. With a straight jab, the water around his hand focused itself onto the door, the pressure of the water cutting through the door like butter and making a hole big enough to fit through.
"...I did not know water could be so dangerous... How did you do that?" Tethys examined the hole Skystrike cut through.
"Water pressure. Focus a lot water into a small enough area, and the pressure can cut through nearly anything." He said, moving through the hole he made. Finally seeing the main part of the facility, he would be lying if he said he wasn't intrigued. On the wall furthest from him was a top down map of the country of Equestria. Not too detailed, being a simple military map. What stood out to him was a bright red dot to the north of Vanhoover. exactly where he is now.
"There is no tracker on you, luckily. They have been detecting your mana, more specifically, the amount of mana that you've been absorbing." Echo began speaking again.
"Elaborate." Skystrike said, keeping his eyes on the map.
"You are able to focus your mana into magic. The procedures done on you as a child allowed for you to absorb mana at a rate 40 times the rate of a normal awakened human. To put further into perspective, the ponies absorb mana at 4 times the rate. On top of that, the beings of this world have organs that convert mana into magic automatically."
"That explains a few things, namely why ponies think I have no magic." Skystrike said to himself. "So basically, all the humans have to do is search for a large concentration of mana?"
"Put simply, yes." Echo said before changing his audio source for only Skystrike to hear. I will also say for safety purposes, it seems that changing between forms is a magic spell, changing you on a physical level. In response, keeping the form does not cost mana. It also stops you from expelling mana naturally. Thankfully, you have been releasing mana by converting it to magic, needing to power your arm. You need to be able to constantly release mana. You already know what happens when a catalyst overflows."
Skystrike thought back to when he escaped. Mana poisoning. Too much mana will kill him from the inside. "I'll be careful."
"You done standing there? If so, there's another one of those things you plugged your helmet into. And this seems important..." Tethys spoke up from an adjacent wall of the room.
Skystrike walked over and plugged echo in. After, he went to see what Tethys was looking at. "...What the fuck..." In front of him. It was a small hanger, robotic arms stood still with various tools on them, awaiting orders. In the middle of them was a pony, or a copy of one. It mimicked a unicorn specifically. With bones of steel, muscles of polymer, and nerves of circuitry, the machine stood lifeless.
As of current, Skystrike could tell it was a prototype. The head of the machine was nearly finished, having holographic eyes similar to Echo's, and a layer of white plastic to give it a semblance of a face. The chest and one of the forelegs were fitted with polymer muscles, as well as the waist. The one of the back legs were simple steel swivel joints that hung limp due to the lack of muscles.
What stood out even among the machine was the parts added onto it. Like an upgrade. The other back leg was complete, fitted with a piston in the cannon, a major part of it visible sticking out from the back of the hock joint. Within the back of the machine seemed to be some type of motor attached to a set of propellers, all within a tube... Is this a fucking jet turbine? There's two! "Holy shit..."
"What is it?" Tethys grabbed a leg and lifted it. "Some, metal pony? Looks a bit silly..."
"They were trying to make a robot to kill me! They just took a pony model and added what each race had, but better! A unicorn horn, jet turbines, piston legs!" Skystrike took a step back. "If this just had a few more years of work, this would've been a huge problem!" He huffed before thinking some more. "Wait... if they were making a fighting automaton, then there has to be some to gather information... Echo! How many!?"
"My records show that 20 were built, and all were taken out of commission." Echo answered as he finished collecting data. "Do not ask by who. I do not know. They were made into scrap oddly soon after you came to this world."
"So they were hunted... Only Celestia and her guard would know about that aside from humans... makes sense why she was so wary of me when I first crashed down..." Skystrike stood in thought for a few minutes.
Tethys broke the silence. "What are you thinking about?"
Skystrike grit his teeth as he punched a wall. "There's only one explanation for all of this... coming to this world was part of their plan... First's plan..."
"...What?"
"He let me come here, let me stay away from humanity so there would be no outside influence on my actions!" He threw another fist into the wall. "It's all just a game for them! Hoping they get good results with enough time!"
"Skystrike?" Tethys began to grow uneasy.
"I was meant to! This is my damn fate! All of this was useless!" The next punch made a dent in the wall. "All my suffering! All the pain I went through! That everyone went through! It was his fucking plan!"
"Skystrike!" Tethys called out to him.
"It was all worth NOTHING!" His knuckles began to bleed. "He just keeps deciding what my fate should be! That signal was his plan too! I can never make my own destiny! Not like this! It wasn't fucking worth it!"
"SKYSTRIKE!" Tethys grabbed his reeled back fist. He turned back to look at her, his eyes full of hatred meeting hers full of worry. "I wont pretend I know how you feel, but it wasn't worth nothing! You said it yourself! The experiences we've shared mean something to you! You meeting me! The others! Your path in life! The places you'll go! No one has, or will decide that for you! All of those you've done by yourself, for yourself!"
He was able to calm down at least slightly. "Be that as it may... no, you're right. It was all worth something... but I don't like how coming here was their plan... I should've known... that fight was too easy... my arrival was too destructive, like they wanted me to make enemies... I was meant to be Equestria's enemy from day one..."
"But even with all of that known... what does it change? You're still you, Skystrike." Tethys reassured him as she slowly let go of his arm.
Skystrike took a few more moments to calm down before taking Echo and putting him back on. "Tethys, pick up the mech-pony and take the elevator. It's coming with us."
"And you?"
Skystrike put up his bleeding knuckles and focused his mana into them, healing them in moments. "I'm going to make sure that no one can find this place..."
Tethys stepped outside the elevator, glad she could feel the dirt and grass between her claws again. The flooring felt... unnatural. She held the 'mech-pony' in her arms, looking at it with both fear and curiosity. This thing was something being made to kill him. Her friend. She would destroy it without a second thought. But Skystrike wants to keep it. To use it probably.
She thought back to their travels. He was... a lot less vocal compared to now. Barely speaking besides when he thought it was necessary. Always keeping to himself, despite being part of a team. Carrying everyone's problems on his shoulders. He was always working on something for the others whenever he had the time. Don't get her wrong, she did appreciate it. She still had the armor he made her after all.
But despite how reserved he was, he still made it clear he cared for them. Routine check ups, making food to their likings, listening to their problems. Bringing the whole group together. Not even mentioning how he met them. More specifically her. And now, Skystrike finally opened up to her. Tethys had to admit, it was a lot to take in, but with his story in mind, it all made sense.
Tethys was still looking at the machine. This thing, its creators, were trying to take him away. She can't let it happen. Not again. She wouldn't let Skystrike save her again. It's her turn to do a favor.
She jumped a bit when she suddenly heard a huge explosion behind her. Nearly dropping the machine, Tethys turned around to see the mountain rumbling. The rock wall quickly cracked and crumbled, falling into where the laboratory once was. When she looked down into it, she saw Skystrike climbing his way out, gripping on the rocks as his hands steamed from the large fire spell that he casted.
Finally, he reached the surface. Pulling himself up and dusting himself off. He gave out a heavy sigh before surrounding himself in green fire, turning back into his pony form. "Man... I needed to let off some steam. Thanks by the way... I know after what happened that helping me was a lot...."
"Don't worry about it. But remember, we're still talking about everything on the train though." Tethys threw the machine back to Skystrike.
Skystrike caught it and put it on his back. "I know... I at least owe you that much." Skystrike said as he began walking back towards the village, motioning Tethys to follow him. "At least it went quick. It's about 6 p.m. and it's Wednesday. I should have time to get back, make the walk back to Vanhoover, and then take a train ride to Canterlot to finish up everything there by Friday night..."
"What're you in a rush for?" Tethys raised a brow.
"My birthday is this Saturday, and I said I'd be back by then because my friends want to celebrate it." Skystrike let out a yawn. "Hopefully nothing major comes up."
Tethys blinked, then scratched at one of her horns. "Ah, sorry... I forgot when your birthday was... I'm not that good with dates, since time flies by so fast at my age."
"Fair enough. I don't blame you." Skystrike chuckled. "...By the way, I don't think you ever told me when your birthday was... or how old you are."
"Well, to be honest, I stopped remembering the date when I stopped having dragons to remember it... and we dragons don't really do parties anyway..." She admitted.
Skystrike was a bit surprised. "Well that's no way to do it. It's still important! Tell you what, once we get to Ponyville, I'll do something special for your... how old are you turning?"
Tethys counted on her fingers for a little bit, then scratched her horn again. "Uhm... Over 250, lower than 300... closer to 250 though."
"...I don't know how I'll get that many candles." Skystrike laughed a bit. Tethys smiled in turn.
They walked for a couple more minutes before returning back to the village, stealthily putting the mech-pony in a wooden box in his wagon. He nailed it shut before beginning to finish what he had to do in the village. He grit his teeth. He'd need somepony to come back to testify, but it's very likely that none of the ones mainly involved would want to come in their state, or leave their sisters behind. He'd hate that he has to do this, but he'd have to ask.
Luckily, the most optimal pony was there for him. "Hey..."
Opal turned to look at him. "Ah, Nebula, I suppose it is that time, huh?" She gave a tired smile.
He nodded. "...Is your sister ok?"
"...As well as she can be. At least she's sleeping." Opal sighed. "What about you? You've had one busy day."
"...Admittedly I'm going off of six hours of sleep... But I cant sleep anyway. Not after what happened here. Besides, I still have to make the trip back to Vanhoover." Skystrike scratched the back of his head. "...Have you all talked about who's coming?"
Opal nodded. "I was the one who went to the princesses. It'd only makes sense that I go again... Just... give me a bit more time with my sister."
Skystrike understood. "Of course. We'll wait for you at the wagon." Opal thanked him again before walking to her cabin. Skystrike sighed. "Tethys, go get the green dragon. He'll testify as well. After, his fate will be in your hands."
"You're the boss." Tethys said, flapping her wings and flying toward the town hall.
The stallion made his way back to his wagon, taking the swords off his sides and leaning them and himself against the side of the wagon. He let out a loud, long groan, the full impact of the mission setting in. Holy shit... Magelight was one of the worst ponies he's met, doing that to everypony else. At least he was dealt with...
What he's worried about now were the humans. They've been watching him this whole time. How closely, Skystrike didn't know, but they at least knew his location at all times. It got him thinking. Were they... no, it's all but confirmed now that they've been affecting his life here, but he needs to find out how. Thinking back on it, some things seems to... line up too well. After he got banished from the hive, it seemed planned... Thinking back on it, he never did see Khrusalis' body, nor was it announced. Then, when the orphanage burned down, he woke up fine with Elytra. No way that was a coincidence. He didn't know where Elytra was hiding, but Echo did... Even with Magnus, it felt almost like a test, seeing if he would reveal his own abilities. Something was definitely fishy... Skystrike had a lot of work to do when he got back to the capital.
"You ok? Sounded like you just broke something." Astral Night walked around to Skystrike's side of the wagon.
"...Yeah, just... been doing some thinking." Skystrike stood up and stretched a bit. "Everything ready on your end?"
Astral nodded. "All there was to get was some documents and Magelight's journal. Loaded those up for when you get back to Canterlot and see the princesses."
Skystrike found it odd the way she said that. "...You know you're coming with me right? You're a victim in this as well of both Magelight and Upper Crust."
"Oh... crap... I need time to prepare! I don't have a nice dress... I need to take a bath..."
Skystrike waved a hoof. "Calm down, it's not that serious. They don't care that much about dress clothes. Besides, we'll be given a few hours before we're summoned if we're lucky. They won't expect us to be back so early."
Astral blinked. "You... You didn't tell the princesses, the ones who commissioned you, when you'll be back!?"
"They didn't give me a time limit."
"How are you so lax about this!?"
"Pretty simple really. They both know the severity of what happened here. When we come, they're going to drop everything to prepare, if they haven't prepared already, for us. And I made it clear through my reputation that I get things done, whether it takes a day, a week, or a month." Skystrike rolled his neck.
Astral was about to say something, but jumped when a loud crash was heard behind the two. The two ponies turned to see Tethys loading the frozen green dragon in to the back of the wagon. Skystrike was SO glad he bought the extra large. "All ready on my end... just wish I had something to eat."
"Second box from the front on the right. Grab me and Astral something too." Skystrike began stretching, preparing for the long walk.
"Me too please." Opal spoke, walking up to the group with a few supplies in her saddlebag. "If you don't mind, I mean..."
Tethys responded with throwing her a plastic wrapped sandwich, along with everyone else. Skystrike quickly finished his sandwich before hitching himself to the wagon. "Alright, everyone on. We got a long ride. Opal, Tethys, Astral, tell me if you need anything." Opal and Astral climbed inside while Tethys climbed on top of the wagon and sat down. "I plan on making this ride short. We should be at Vanhoover in the morning. Anyone forgetting anything?" Everyone responded with their respective no's. "Alright, let's go." Skystrike said, beginning to walk, turning the wagon around and walking out the village.
"By the way, Nebula?" Opal spoke up.
"Yeah?"
"Everypony in the village wanted to say thank you. To everypony- er, everyone here. We really appreciate everything you've done here."
"Don't worry about it. I'm happy to help. That's why I chose this line of work."
After a few hours, night fell. Everyone fell asleep, but Skystrike kept walking. There was something that still felt... wrong, but he couldn't label it. Just something in him that made him feel uneasy. He tried to ignore it. With a sigh, Skystrike looked up at the stars. It was... different, but welcome. A few weeks after Luna came back, he noticed that the stars have changed. No longer were they the same glimmers here and there, but each twinkled differed from the other. Luna put in a lot of effort into each night she had. He'd have to tell her so when they next met.
After a bit more walking, he still couldn't get the thoughts out of his head. His past required a confrontation. Hind sight is 20/20, he should not have just disappeared like that... twice... He grit his teeth at that. He fucked up big time. With another sigh, he looked back at Tethys, Opal, and Astral, making sure they were sleep. He turned his head forward to see Vanhoover in the distance. About five hours away... Skystrike stared at the night sky once again before humming to himself.
It was a simple, but nostalgic tune. He remembered sister Saffron singing it to him whenever he had some problem. Sometimes he fell asleep to it... It bought back memories... he'd have to thank her when he saw her again. Before, he just enjoyed how it sounded. Now, he realizes how much the lyrics speak to him.
"I couldn't wait for you to come clear the cupboards...
But now you're going to leave with nothing but a sign.
Another evening I'll be sitting reading in between your li-i-ines~
Because I miss you all the time...
So, get away!
Another way to feel what you didn't want yourself to know,
And let yourself go!
You know you didn't lose your self-control!
Let's start at the rainbow!
Turn away!
Another way to be where you didn't want yourself to go~,
Let yourself go!
Is that a compromise?
So what do you wanna do, what's your point-of-view?
There's a party soon, do you wanna go?
A handshake with you, what's your point-of-view?
I'm on top of you, I don't wanna go!
'Cause I really wanna stay at your house.
And I hopе this works out.
But you know how much you broke me apart.
I'm done with you, I'm ignoring you.
I don't wanna know!
And I'm awarе that you were lying in the gutter...
'Cause I did everything to be there by your side-ide~
So when you tell me I'm the reason I just can't believe the lies~
And why do I so want to call you...Call you, call you, call you
So what do you wanna do, what's your point-of-view?
There's a party soon, do you wanna go?
A handshake with you, what's your point-of-view?
I'm on top of you, I don't wanna go
'Cause I really wanna stay at your house.
And I hope this works out!
But you know how much you broke me apart
I'm done with you, I'm ignoring you,
I don't wanna know You
Oh-oh oh-oh-oh
I don't know why I'm no-one
So, get away!
Another way to feel what you didn't want yourself to know,
And let yourself go!
You know you didn't lose your self-control!
Let's start at the rainbow!
Turn away!
Another way to be where you didn't want yourself to go.
Let yourself go!
Is that a compromise?
So what do you wanna do, what's your point-of-view?
There's a party soon, do you wanna go?
A handshake with you, what's your point-of-view?
I'm on top of you, I don't wanna go!
'Cause I really wanna stay at your house...
And I hope this works out.
But you know how much you broke me apart.
I'm done with you, I'm ignoring you!
I don't wanna know!"
Like back then, he began feeling better, albeit a little bit. He smiled to himself. He looked back at the girls, still sleeping. Hopefully they didn't hear him. He didn't think he was too loud. He tried to shake off the sleep as he got closer to Vanhoover. Skystrike's been longer without sleep, but this time feels different. His body wasn't tired, but his mind was. He didn't like it. He rolled his neck and picked up the pace, hoping it'd take his mind off of things.
In a few hours, they made it to Vanhoover. It was about 3 a.m. so there was barely anypony out. The few that were walking the streets eyed him, wondering what he was pulling in the carriage behind him. A simple look from the armored pony made the onlookers quicken their pace in the opposite direction of Skystrike. It only took a few minutes to get to the train station. Back just in time to get on the train, seeing it about 10 minutes away in the distance.
Thankfully, it was the same pony he saw about a few days ago working the same shift. Never talked, but they shared a glance the days prior. They shared a greeting before getting onto business. "One ticket I assume? Where to?" The mare asked as she began to take off a ticket.
"Ah, three actually. The other three I'm traveling with are in the wagon sleeping. To Canterlot. I already have a round trip ticket for myself, and a train car for all of my belongings." He pulled out his ticket for her to check, as well as a bag of bits to pay for the three tickets."
The mare smiled. "Alright, that makes my job a lot easier!" She counted out the bits and put it in her register before handing him his tickets. "And here you go, your change is 40 bits."
Skystrike took the tickets and pushed back the bag of bits. "Keep it as a tip for yourself. I know the graveyard shift sucks."
She smiled back and thanked him when the train blared its horn, notifying that it arrived. Skystrike nodded as he turned around and began pulling the wagon to his train car. After sorting out everything with the conductor, he parked his wagon and began unloading. They only had 30 minutes before the train left, so they had to be quick about unpacking. Skystrike woke up Tethys, Astral, and Opal, giving them all their tickets and the two mares going to their rooms. Thankfully, the overnight train car he ordered came with beds. Tethys yawned as she began helping Skystrike move his stuff into their train car.
"What day is it?" Tethys asked as she began hauling the dragon off the wagon.
"Early Thursday morning. My clock says... 3:17." Skystrike helped her lift the still frozen greed dragon off the wagon and into the train car.
Tethys blinked. "...We left that village at dusk! I thought you said the walk was a two day trip?!" He could easily hear the surprise in her voice.
"Didn't feel like sleeping. Plus, the sooner we get to Canterlot the better." Skystrike and Tethys put down the dragon and began moving the comparably smaller items. "Plus, just needed time to think."
"Nebula, how long have you been awake for?" Tethys raised a brow.
Skystrike put down another box. "...Two and a a half days... last I slept was when you came to the village."
Tethys put down her box. "...I'll handle the rest of your luggage, you need sleep."
Skystrike shook his head. "Thanks for worrying, but I'm sure I'll be fine. I have to much on my mind anyway. Plus, I promised that we'd talk."
Tethys sighed. "Fine... last thing is your cannon thing anyway." She went to pick up the box. It was surprisingly light. "Where did you learn to make things like this anyway?"
"Well, I did go to college, but didn't finish graduation due to... you know... but my major was Magical Engineering. This world doesn't rely much on electricity, being centuries behind humanity, so I learned electrical engineering from Echo as well. From that, I can make my own blueprints for weapons. Then I just need to get the materials and put it together."
The two walked into the train car after Skystrike parked the wagon for pick up. "I'm confused." Tethys admitted. "So you're using future technology right now?"
"Basically." He shrugged as Tethys put down the crate and sat on top of it, crossing her legs. Skystrike took of his helmet and locked the door. "But enough of that for now, I owe you answers. Ask whatever you want, and I will answer it to the best of my ability.
Tethys stayed silent for a moment. "Alright... just give me time to think." Skystrike nodded in wait. The train's horn whistled as they began moving. The room fell still, the rhythmic bumping of the train was the only thing notifying that time was passing by. Finally, she spoke. "Why did you kill Magelight like that?"
It was Skystrike's turn this time to stay silent, thinking of what words to use. "I... a part of me saw First in him...." He answered before realizing he needed to clarify. "First was... the one who started me off down this path... raised me to only fight and kill, seeing me and my brothers and sisters as nothing but expendable pawns. First only saw use in others, not caring for any repercussions, since he was the only one to keep himself in check. It takes someone with more power to deliver that justice to those deserving. I decided that should be me, just like I did with First... Every word Magelight spoke made me more and more violent, as if I was becoming what First wanted me to be..." Skystrike clenched a hoof as his eyes flickered. "The way he spoke, like he had any right to power over the ponies around him, using whatever reason he could to justify himself, it was like I was looking at First once more... I killed him before I came to this world... Well, I thought I did, but there's a very likely chance that he's still alive, and me coming here was his plan." Skystrike's eyes flashed white before controlling his breathing and calming down.
Tethys thought on it. "I... can understand your actions. I've known you long enough to realize you have your reasons. But you must realize that even though he may have deserved death, you used your own feelings and past as justification for killing Magelight?"
"I do realize, and I hate myself for it... I wanted to move on from my past, but... everything just happened, didn't go according to plan... I planned on killing him anyway since I knew he was selling those who trusted him, but... those words he said will forever remind me of First." Skystrike let out a long sigh.
"I assume from the whole expendable pawns part that... your human family is no longer with us?"
Skystrike shook his head. "Sadly... no... First had me... end them... to prove that I was his perfect warrior. But after everything that happened... I guess I'm a broken one now..."
Tethys decided to move on from that topic. "Well, getting into more personal questions, Why did you have us disband?"
And there it is. The hard questions are starting. Skystrike leaned forward. "I at least owe you an answer for that." Once again, he stayed in silence to think of how to best say it. "We were targeted by assassins. We became too big of a target, got on a certain noble's bad side. After thinking for days on end, I decided the best way to stop it from happening again was disbanding. I wanted to make sure none of you would be hurt by my actions anymore. I left all the money we had to you all, trying to make up for my mistake by making sure you all could live happy lives. You went back with a hoard you could be proud of. Zecora got to travel and gather rare ingredients. Casta was able to fund her research. Maud was able to go to university. Elytra found a place she could fit in. Jeshan was able to open up a shop. Sky Beak was able to settle down with his family. Alder was able to retire and travel. Celeano got her airship. Everyone got their happy ending..."
Tethys grew a bit angry at that. She growled. "...And what about your happy ending? Do you think we've lived lives we could enjoy so far, knowing that you suffered for us? You just left us money and plans then disappeared!" Her voice grew louder with each passing sentence. "Did we mean so little to you that you just left with saying so little!?"
Skystrike furrowed his brow. "Don't say that in front of me knowing damn well otherwise. I did all of that for you all! It's because you all mean so much to me that I left like that! The more you knew about me, the more my enemies would go after you! He'd use you all to get to me! Just like back then!"
She knew he was referencing the orphanage. Again, she could see his logic. She sighed again. "We wanted you to be there with us, Skystrike. It wasn't fair to you. My hoard means nothing knowing it came from your suffering." She sat in silence again before asking her next question. "When will you start looking for the others? You just found me, and you said Zecora moved to where you were living by chance. But you wont get so lucky with the others."
"I already know where most of the others live. Celeano, Alder, and Jeshan will be hard to pinpoint, while Skybeak will just be hard to get to. Casta is definitely in Canterlot, and so should Maud be since she's in University. I would've seen her last time I was in Canterlot, but she was out of town. Elytra I know where she is. In Ponyville, same as Zecora, so I'll talk to them both once I'm back home...I'll speak to Casta and Maud once I'm in Canterlot."
"And your orphaned siblings?" She put out a hand. "You left them for the same reason and the same pony. Do you plan on reaching out to them?"
"Of course. I plan on doing it when I get to Canterlot as well. Honestly, I was thinking about it before we met on this mission anyway." Skystrike admitted as he leaned back. "You know Astral?" Tethys nodded. "That's my sister. The scar she has is from when the orphanage burned down. Had to drag her out."
"...Holy shit, Skystrike." Tethys grabbed her horns, astounded.
"Yeah, I know, I fucked up bad. I waited to say anything to her in case I died up there... I didn't want to come back just to die again. Told you because I... couldn't really avoid not telling you."
"...Can't you transform?" Tethys asked.
"I lied to you since I met you already. Doubling down wouldn't have made it better..."
Once again. Silence. Moments passed before Tethys asked her next question. "...Is- is running away your way of making things better? Just removing yourself from the situation. We still hurt even after you leave.
Skystrike frowned. Then sighed. "...Call it running if you wish. You and everyone else was in danger because of me. Logic demands I be taken out of the equation." He then put his hooves out, motioning to Tethys. "And though I regret it, it admittedly worked. Even if though you all feel the pain you do, at least you're still alive..."
"And what about you? The pain you go through?"
Skystrike thought about it. He didn't want to answer it. But he made a promise. He owes it to her. "...My pain... I don't think my pain matters. The ones around me matter more than anything I will go through. Sure, even with you, me, and everyone in All, we all started, agreeing that it was simply for mutual benefit. But we all grew to care for each other. It doesn't matter what happens to me. I'd die for each and every one of you, and almost everyone else that I call friend."
"And everyone's feelings about what happens to you doesn't matter? The grief we go through when you die doesn't matter?"
"Of course it matters, but eventually, for both you and the orphanage, the danger of me still being there outweighed the grief you all would go and have went through. The choice I made was the best decision I could've at the time." Skystrike turned his head as he spoke that last sentence. He hated how he had to say it.
"Why was that the best one!?" The room grew colder as Tethys released cold air from her mouth and nostrils, standing as she looked down on Skystrike.
Skystrike's eyes burned white in response. "Because I wasn't strong enough!" He raised his voice as he stood up. "Every enemy I made, they went after those I loved! They put their lives in danger! Your life in danger! All because I wasn't strong enough! I could've been better! I could've protected you!"
Tethys pulled him into a hug, wrapping her arms and tails around. "We want to protect you too, Skystrike. You don't realize how much you mean to everyone... Look, I said this before, but I don't think I can forgive you for that, but... just don't leave again, alright?"
Skystrike moved his hoof. He hesitated. But he returned her hug. Even if her body was cold, the hug felt... warm. He smiled. "You have my word" |
A Broken Warrior | Right a Wrong | Sleep did not come to Skystrike that train ride. Tethys never let go of her hug, and soon fell asleep behind Skystrike. He said he'd fall asleep, just to give her peace of mind. He didn't like lying. He tries his best not to. He shook his head. Skystrike had way too many things still on his mind. Each thump in the train tried to shake the thoughts out of his mind. The humans, how their hands are still in this world, but mostly, himself.
In the hours of silence he had to himself, he's been trying to figure out a few things. When he last went to Canterlot, that Magnus guy... seemed to have it out for him. On top of that, their criminal organization, Hydra, seemed to have it out for them. Magnus wasn't his first tussle with them. Before, he didn't give it much thought, but now it's a bit weird how everything happened.
Their first encounter, he'd have forgotten if not for the others. It was soon after his 'death' and he started working solo. A simple search and rescue mission. Some colt of some rich noble went missing in the Crystal Caverns under Canterlot. How he got there? No idea, but he was given a job. When he eventually found the boy, it turns out it was a lure. One of Hydra's numbers were there, and specifically to kill Skystrike. Didn't work, of course. Only one pony with ambush tactics wouldn't do much against him. But in hindsight, they had no reason to target him. It was almost like a test.
Second one was after their, at time, newest member Casta Spell the unicorn, joined their party. Skystrike, Tethys, Zecora, and Casta were exploring some ruins to the south of the Crystal Mountains. Ruins of the once grand Crystal Empire. Their hope was to find some lost magic, whether it be spells, or items. What they actually found was indeed of the Empire, but was an abandoned crypt, repurposed as a base to research dark magic once used by some being called 'Sombra'. Back to the main topic, the ponies using that base was Hydra. He thought finding them there was by chance back then, but once again, in hindsight, that doesn't make sense. They were basically lead there. They were ambushed from behind when they reached the deepest part of the crypt. Fighting their way out was hard, but they managed. Plus, it wasn't a complete loss. The magic they learned and the items they got were useful, albeit some illegal. But once again, they targeted specifically him.
Third time was when he went alone back to the Hive. Just before Elytra joined, she requested his help. She was called back after her job of watching Skystrike was no longer needed. She was then told to bring Skystrike back to the Hive. In the midst of their hike across the badlands, they were attacked. This time, it was just annoying. Elytra quickly admitted that she didn't have any involvement with it. Thinking back on it made him realize she knew more than she let on. Questions for later. And this was weird because on his travel to the hive, he was human. And Hydra shouldn't have known what he looked like back then. But all of that was overshadowed by what happened as he got back to the hive.
From the short walk through the hive, ignoring the glares from the changelings who loathed him, and the smiles of the ones who forgave him, he noticed that many things changed. From the layout, to the newer changelings and what they were learning, let alone how many nymphs there were. His thoughts were confirmed when Chrysalis gave them an audience. They were preparing for war. And his only chance to be allowed back in the hive was to lead the initial charge. He couldn't help but laugh at that. She was just like them. Only wanting him for his power. He turned the forearm of his right arm into a rifle and fired just to the side of her head.
Skystrike focused his rifle onto her head. "If you go through with this, my promise with mother is off. You will be my enemy." He made certain that his intentions were clear. In response, he was once again kicked out of the hive. But Elytra went with him, not agreeing with the war. Skystrike blamed himself for that. But it seemed like Hydra was trying to stop him from getting to the hive, like they'd knew what would happen. And then, years later, Hydra once again went after him in the form of Magnus. Magnus is the only one he left alive out of his foes in the organization. He'll ask him questions. When the time comes of course.
And then, the questions about himself came. Assuming that First did let him into Eques, then for what purpose? Another test, knowing him. But what type? To see if he'll break under all the pressure this world is giving him? If he'll give into his human nature? And that was the scariest part to him... he's only human by title. He wasn't even sure if he could even consider himself human anymore. His only comparison was the humans from his childhood anyway.
...What did it mean to be human anyway? He searched through the maze of emotions, thoughts, and experiences that shaped his very existence. Was he defined solely by his physical form, or is it the dance of consciousness, empathy, and self-awareness that distinguishes him? The more he thought, the more he got lost in the maze. Existence and essence blurred. Was humanity a state of being, or an eternal quest to understanding?
Skystrike shook his head. He was thinking too hard. He was human. He looked into his helmet to see his reflection. Even though the flesh was an illusion, he was human.
The sun finally peaked through the window. No point in trying to fall asleep now. He only had about an hour left until they arrived in Canterlot. It was about eight in the morning. It was Thursday if he counted the days right. Skystrike decided to let Tethys sleep a bit longer before putting on his helmet and waking her, Astral, and Opal up before they arrived at Canterlot. He stretched a bit once out of Tethys's grip on him and yawned. Two and a half days with no sleep. He'll have to manage.
It was a little while longer before they made it to Canterlot. Skystrike opened the window to climb out and onto the top of the train. The countryside scenery slowly yet gradually transformed as the Castle town grew closer. The town unfurled like a vibrant tapestry. Lush, emerald-green meadows stretch out on either side, adorned with colorful wildflowers that seem to wave a welcome to passersby.
He enjoyed the scenery a bit more before the train eventually came to a stop at the train station. A bustling town square came into focus, framed by centuries old buildings that bore the marks of time's passage. The distant chimes of a clock tower marked the passage of hours.
But it is the castle that reigns over all. Time stood still here, as if the very essence of the past is woven into the castle's fabric. The train blew its horn, signaling that they've arrived. He climbed back into the train, making sure he had everything on him before leaving it. The conductor said that the train would be docked at Canterlot until 10 p.m. for maintenance. They, more specifically he, had plenty of time to get everything done.
Everyone was off the train, waiting on the platform for him as he walked out, carrying everything he needed once he was granted an audience. He also noticed Tethys getting glares from the ponies around him. Different from the glares he'd get of get from the ponies. He was mostly looked down upon because of both his job and his race, being a Pegasus. But they openly scoffed at Tethys. He made eyes with one of the ponies scoffing at her, only for the mare to quickly turn tail when they made eye contact.
Skystrike sighed. "Let's get to the castle. I always get reminded how much I hate some of the things here in Canterlot. The ponies here annoy me..."
Astral gave a nervous chuckle. "Yeah, It's always been a problem... I just try and ignore it."
Opal looked around. "I hope I get some time to explore this time around."
"This shouldn't take long. An hour, three max." Skystrike said as he looked through the streets. At least it felt familiar. "Alright, it's go time. Everyone ready?" They responded with their respective yesses before they began walking towards the castle.
It was around this time that morning court was going on. Getting into the castle was a bit annoying, convincing the castle guards that Tethys was indeed part of their group and she wasn't going to, nor was capable of burning down the castle. He'll bring it up to Celestia and Luna. Then they had to wait in line for a good twenty minutes. Thankfully, he stuck out like a sore thumb with the heavy armor he was wearing, as well as the dragon behind him. Their wait quickly came to an end when his part of the line rounded the corner and he made eye contact with the princesses.
Celestia quickly waved over a guard and whispered something in the stallions ear. The guard spoke to the others within the room relatively quickly before one of the guards stepped forward and made an announcement. "We apologize, something urgent has just come up that the princesses must attend to. Please exit the premises in a timely fashion. Those who've made an appearance today will be given priority tonight in Night Court, or tomorrows Morning court." There were a couple groans heard throughout the line as the ponies turned around to leave. Skystrike and company waited in place for a few of the guards to begin escorting them into the throne room.
Astral and Opal quickly bowed as they were addressed by Celestia. "Nebula, I apologize for that. I realized that I never gave you a way to contact us after your mission was done."
Skystrike waved a hoof. "I don't mind, I never gave a deadline... By the way, just something I noticed when we tried to enter. I was given some strange reasons as to why Tethys wasn't able to enter, one of them being 'no pets allowed.' I don't know your policy on foreigners, but that seems kinda fucked up. I don't want anything out of it other than it not happening again."
The princesses looked at each other, then to Tethys. "I apologize for the way my ponies have treated you. After we speak about my request, I promise we will do our best that you're treated like the rest of my ponies."
Luna nodded. "Speaking of... how did your mission go?"
"Yeah, uh excuse my language, shit went down." Skystrike sighed. The two princesses sucked air through their teeth as he continued. "I know you kept Upper Crust in Canterlot because of this, so I'd say send somepony to make sure he gets here. By the time he does, I should be done explaining what happened."
And with that, he began telling the tale of his mission, starting with how he met Astral on his way, theorizing why they called for her, a newbie, and not somepony stronger. Then, meeting Opal and her group, learning exactly what happened to the mares. After, he investigated where the dragons took shelter, he then had to figure out a way to actually combat them effectively. Not going into the personal parts, Skystrike explained how he found Tethys by chance, as well as the two sharing the same problem. Recruiting her help, Skystrike and Tethys went back to the village, then the group met with Opal's group: the relatives of the victims. They shared their stories about where their sisters 'disappeared'. With their help, Opal, her group, and Astral gathered information needed for Skystrike's investigation. With the information, their main suspect became Magelight, the village head. Using Astral as bait, with her consent of course, Skystrike, Tethys, and Astral were able to catch Magelight attempting to sell her to the dragons, as well as capture the two dragons for interrogation.
He did not hide how he gathered the information from the dragons, yet made sure not to mention what he did to Magelight. With the information gained from the dragons and Magelight, They were able to know the reason Magelight acted irrationally, and where exactly the victims were. All dragons, save for one under the watch of Tethys, were killed. Tethys took on the adult dragon with Skystrike's help while Astral made sure the mares got back safely. With one final plan, and with the combined efforts of everyone there, they were able to defeat the dragon.
Both Opal and Astral voiced their concerns with the whole situation. Opal speaking on how Magelight was denied money to find help by Upper Crust. How that lead to more ponies being hurt. She also went into detail about how only the first mare went missing due to her bad luck. All others were sold by Magelight, totaling 80 thousand bits minimum. Astral spoke about how the price for finding the missing ponies was very high, and actually mentioned the request sent by Magelight specifying mares. He planned on selling her from the beginning.
Finally, it ended with Tethys bringing in the green dragon, still frozen in the prison of ice. She apologized on behalf of her race, taking full responsability for the actions of her kin. Upper Crust entered right at the end of her apology.
Celestia and Luna tried to hide their anger, but the latter didn't do well to hide her glare at Upper Crust. But it still left some unanswered questions. "And... what of Magelight? Surely you've turned him in to the proper authorities?"
Everyone in the room looked to Skystrike. He made sure to practice his answer. "When the fight with the dragons happened, one slipped past the flash of light and flew towards the village. There was a lone tree in a clearing that Magelight went to hide from the townsfolk after I revealed what he'd done. Looking for vengeance of the assumed betrayal, the dragon went to Magelight and reduced him to cinders. I was able to kill the dragon before he killed anyone actually worth saving."
He didn't mean for that last part to come out, but payed it no mind. Celestia raised a brow, not entirely believing him. "I see... I wasn't aware that dragons could burn flesh and bone to ash..."
"That's because most times we breathe fire at other races, we hold back. It doesn't take nearly as much heat to burn through a pony or griffon compared to a dragon." Skystrike nudged Tethys's leg. "What? We bathe in lava!"
Skystrike cleared his throat. "Anyway... Magelight is no longer of this world. Onto the important things, It'd be best to send medical professionals up to them, and on top of that, somepony to clean up the bodies. I can pay for the corpses of the dragons to be transferred to Ponyville. It'd be a waste to let materials like that rot."
The princesses looked at each other. That's what he was thinking about right now? They shook their heads. "Very well, we shall do so immediately." Luna nodded and wrote something on a scroll before handing it to a guard next to her throne. "Now... Upper Crust..."
A unicorn with a grey coat and dark grey mane straightened his top hat and monocle. "Y-yes?"
Luna spread her wings. "What does thou have to say for the actions of thy subordinates? The wrongs they've committed were in response to your neglect."
Upper Crust shuffled a bit. "W-well... I was... trying to cut costs... That village wasn't making their quota and I couldn't afford to send more money their way..."
"And so Magelight began sex trafficking ponies in response." Skystrike frowned. "You didn't even send anyone to check up on them! I had to check on them! You twiddled your hooves while ponies suffered and now you're making excuses!"
Celestia exhaled through her nose. "Nebula while you aren't wrong, please refrain from more outbursts."
Skystrike groaned as Luna continued. "As Nebula said, thou hath held no regard for the ponies under you. Upper Crust, thy lack of concern shows even now, making excuses for thyself instead of worrying for thou own ponies. You will be punished, and thy's responsibility of the village will be given to another more worthy. We will discuss your punishment another day."
Upper Crust was about to reply, but simply hung his head in shame before leaving the throne room and side eyeing Skystrike. As soon as he left, the princesses let out small sighs. Celestia straightened her posture. "Now, onto your rewards. I believe you wanted access to the Royal Library, Royal archives, a meeting with the Court Magician..." She took a sheet of paper that Skystrike gave to her a week ago. "As well as two items of your choosing from the Royal treasury, several of each type of elemental stone, or a large magic stone. And I have the option to chose three of these, minimum? Along with your bits of course."
Skystrike nodded. "Yes. But as for my bits, take a quarter of it and give it to Astral Night, as she was basically robbed by Magelight, who never intended on paying her in the first place. Take another quarter and make sure it goes to Tethys."
Celestia nodded. "Given the circumstances, Astral Night will be paid, but it will come out of Upper Crust's finances, not your reward. We will do so for Tethys. If you could step out for a moment so my sister and I may decide on your reward? Guards, please escort Opal to an available room. All parties present are to be treated with the utmost respect. I apologize Opal, you will have to stay within Canterlot for the next few days while Upper Crust is under investigation. I will tell my guards to gather the frozen dragon for interrogation. Astral Night, you're free to leave if you wish."
Everyone, save for Skystrike bowed before leaving. As soon as the doors closed behind them, Tethys spoke first. "You swindled them."
"Maaaaaybe." He smiled.
"I am a bit confused though... the things you asked for. I don't see how they relate? Library access doesn't make sense alongside magic stones." Astral took a seat next to the door.
"It all depends on how you think about it. With access to the library, archives, and the court magician, I can gain a lot of knowledge that most ponies wont have access too. At the same time, I know that a few wont go through. I heavily doubt they'd give me access to all sections of the Royal Library and Archives, there's too much sensitive information that they wouldn't want me to have." Skystrike sat down next to her. "But at the same time, if they gave me items from the Treasury, or the magic stones, it simply adds to my power. And they've already realized that a pony with too much power is a potential threat. They're between a rock and a hard place."
"...I'm not sure how I should react to this." Tethys narrowed her eyes.
"Well, it should be a good thing for everyone involved. I get some power, they get more security, knowing that I'm more capable of protecting ponies. It's not like I'm going to be the next big bad."
"I-... I guess?" Tethys blinked. "What do you plan on doing with the stuff?"
He rolled his neck. "Lots and lots of research if I get access to the library and archives. Given the magic stones and access to the treasury, I am making new weapons and armor for myself. And Spike and Stardust and Zecora. And you if you want to come to Ponyville."
"I have nothing else to do. I should catch up with that Zebra too." Tethys hummed. "She makes good tea."
"Well once we're done here, I have a few things to do. I have a couple ponies I have to meet up with. Plus, I have a memorial to go to... Tomorrow was my brother's birthday. We're going to visit his memorial tonight. Glad I was able to make it back before it passed by."
Tethys side eyed Skystrike. He nodded. Now or never... "Well, you spoke quite highly of him when you told me about him. Would you mind if I showed up?"
Astral nodded. "You can come. He always spoke about how relationships are the most important part of life. We haven't decided on the place, but we do plan on eating out. Do you know where the Church of the Two Sisters are? We're meeting there about 3 p.m."
He nodded. "I do. I'll meet you there once I'm finished here."
And with that, Astral left. Once she was out of earshot, he let out a sigh. "Today's the day..."
"You planned on doing it eventually. No point in fearing the inevitable." Tethys patted his back.
Almost on queue, a guard came out of the throne room. "The princesses are ready for you. Please make your way inside."
Skystrike and Tethys made their way back into the throne room. As soon as they stopped, the princesses began addressing them. Celestia an Luna spread their wings. The former spoke first. "Nebula, my sister and I have come to an agreement. For your reward, you will be given access to the Royal Library, access to the Royal Treasury, and the elemental stones you requested."
"However, because thou hath dealt with the threat so effectively and quickly, we shall additionally grant you a meeting with the Court Magician. She is available after her lunch break. We shall send her a message that you will be meeting with her at 1 p.m." On queue, a few guards came in. Their horns lit up with magic as the items were floated in front of Skystrike. he counted to make everything was in order.
"Perfect. Thank you, princesses. I hope to work with you two again in the future." Skystrike secured everything in his saddle bags and looked at his Library ticket. "Though, can I say one more thing?" Luna nodded. "From what Opal has said to me, she went to Vanhoover, Count Caesar's territory, before coming to you. She received no help from the guards their either. I'd recommend extending your investigation to him as well."
Celestia nodded. "We... appreciate that information and will keep that in mind. Guards, please escort him to the treasury for his reward. Hope to see you again, Nebula. And it was a pleasure meeting you, Tethys"
And with that, they were escorted out of the throne room and began making their way to the treasury. 'These walls all look the same...' Skystrike thought to himself. After a couple minutes of walking, they finally approached a large door with a comically large golden lock on it. The dozen guards stepped to the sides of the door and floated over a key. Once unlocked, the doors slowly slid open.
Skystrike and Tethys stepped inside. Skystrike skimmed the room with his eyes for a few moments. It was pretty impressive. Enchanted swords, shields, armor, scrolls, nearly everything he could want. Some even had descriptions. Not to mention how so much of it was plated in gold. Skystrike looked to Tethys. He noticed how the dragoness was trying to hide how giddy she was. "You alright?"
Tethys shuddered a bit before answering. "Yeah... just... my hoarding instinct is acting up."
"Well is this a bad time that you getting 50k bits from that mission?" Skystrike chuckled, then he blinked when she bit her lip and let out a quiet moan. "What the fuck was that?"
"You will not speak of word of this." She monotoned. "Anyway, what are you looking for in here exactly?"
"Really, it just depends on if something catches my eye. But not in this section. There has to be a secret room... My treasure hunting instinct tells me to pull on one of these wall mounted lanterns. But that would be too obvious..." Skystrike rubbed his chin and looked at a few of said lanterns.
Tethys looked at one on the far end of the room. "...That one looks more worn than the others."
"Well damn you got good eye sight. Pull it."
She did so, and the statue it was next to moved forward, revealing a staircase. "...I don't think I'll fit in there. Tell me what you find."
He nodded as he walked down the dark staircase. There was no light at all aside from the light reflecting off the walls behind him. Making it to the bottom, he found another collection of items. What made it different this time around was instead of the several dozen items in the room before, there were only ten items, each on their own pedestal, and none were labeled. Looking a bit closer at them, each had some magic cast on it. Most likely to alert the casters if their spell is broken. The hard part is that to take the items, you have to break the spell.
Skystrike looked at a rather thick book. The hard cover was made of a dark red leather, laced with golden thread. He poked the book, and in response, several magic circles expanded from the center of the book and floated around it. He was about to open the book before noticing the lock on it that was shining an arcane blue light. The Pegasus hummed to himself as he thought of a way around it. He'd have to break the spell without alerting the caster.
He breathed in a bit as he released some of his magic. From the arcane runes in the circle, it was a password of sorts. No chance he'd have luck choosing at random. Skystrike put his hooves out and casted several spells with his magic. First, one that doesn't let sound out of the room, in case it makes a spell. Second, a copy of the spell the caster made. Was a bit hard to do, having to find out where the signal was sent to, then copying that as well, but it was doable. Each spell has a specific magic signature and wavelength specific to the caster. No other being could copy it. Unless you were able to convert your mana into magic at will. He was a bit lucky, he had to admit. Third, another barrier to make sure no other magic signature could get in or out. If all went according to plan, the caster would recognize his casted spell as their own. When their actual spell breaks, the signal wont go out, leaving only the copy. They'll be none the wiser.
But it all put a very heavy strain on him. Skystrike was beginning to sweat, wishing he worked on casting magic like he did his body. He wouldn't be able to do this many more times. He quickly took the book, breaking the spell that made a loud shattering sound. He sighed in relief that he put up that barrier. Looking at the book, he smiled as he opened the pages. He struck gold. It was a book on enchanting. More specifically, lost enchanting methods used in past wars. Even better, how to add multiple enchants on one item. He understood why this was under lock and key, this was dangerous.
The next thing that caught his eye was a black metal ingot. Looking closer at it, he realized it had the same color as his metal arm. Is this what he thought it was? He broke the spell and picked it up. Indeed, it was Lunarite. He nearly jumped out of his armor before he realized the implications. Where did these ponies get it? Questions he'd ask later. He secured everything in his saddle bags and made his way towards the exit. "Alright, I've done it. No one suspects a thing." Skystrike said as he cracked his knuckles. Then he looked at his forehooves. Do ponies have knuckles?
Tethys tapped his helmet. "So, anything good in there?"
Skystrike nodded. "I will tell you once we're at Ponyville. Don't want to get caught just yet..." He pulled up the visor within his helmet to check the time. 9:46 a.m. "Hey Tethys, we got some time to kill... wanna fly around a bit? Scare some bitch nobles?"
She grinned. "You know me well, Nebula, but I'm actually a bit hungry. You know any places that sell meat?" The two friends began walking towards the guards who started leading the two towards the exit.
"I do, but they don't open until like 2 p.m. if they're even still around. I do know a good donut place. You like donuts?"
"What's a donut?"
"By the dragon king this is amazing!" Tethys gobbled down another donut, licking the frosting of her lips.
Donut Joe let out a hardy laugh. "Well thank you, ma'am! Must say, I'm glad my donuts can even satisfy a dragon's taste buds!"
"Glad we got here early. I love fresh donuts. You always make my day, my guy." Skystrike took a bite of his own and leaned on the counter. "Wait until she hears about jelly filled donuts."
"JELLY FIELD!!??" She roared, flapping her wings in excitement.
"Jesus Christ, Tethys, damn!" Skystrike laughed.
Donut Joe let out an even harder laugh. "HA! I've met you less than 20 minutes ago and you're already one of my favorite customers!" He grabbed a jelly donut for the dragoness and hoofed it to her. "Here, on the house!"
She carefully took in in her claws and slowly bit into it, then hummed as the jelly filled her mouth. "This is one of the best things I've tasted."
Nebula took another bite of his donut. "I didn't realize you had such a big sweet tooth."
"We don't really have much of a variety to eat in the dragon lands. If it's not raw meat, it's gems. And it's hard to find sweet gemstones." Tethys took another bite and tapped her tail on the floor. "That's why I like your cooking so much. There's so much flavor in the meals!"
"Well, I'll try and do it a bit more for you." Skystrike finished his donut. He was about to say something before noticing something in the corner of his eye. An azure pony with a medium purple wizard hat and cloak adorned with stars of gold and light blue. Skystrike took out a bag of bits. "Hey, real sorry, I have to go. If I'm not back by noon, meet me at the castle entrance."
"Oh, uh, alright. I'm gonna enjoy my donuts!" Tethys sucked the jelly out of hers.
The bell rang as Skystrike swung the door open and ran out. Yep, it was definitely her. He had second thoughts about calling out to her, but he steeled his mind. He won't run, and she deserves it. "Trixie!" He called out to her.
The clacking of hooves against the stone sidewalk stopped. Her dark violet eyes met the blues of his own. She grit her teeth and stomped her hoof. "Nebula... what do YOU want!? It's been months, and you still want to mock Trixie!? These ponies have already mocked me enough!" She stomped closer to him. Skystrike looked down at her as she continue. "After you and Twilight showed me up, I've become a laughing stock! I can't go one performance without being laughed at! I'm out of a job! I don't have a wagon to sleep in! I'm running out of bits!" The mare pointed a hoof at his chest. "This is your fault! You and that princess' pet! Fix it!"
Skystrike lowered his head a bit. "You're right... what I did, showing off like that, and what my friends have done, we took it too far. Back then, I just wanted to... take you down a peg, for lack of a better phrase. The way you acted, I took it personally, rather than realizing it was just part of your show. And on top of all of that, your home was destroyed, and you've been ostracized. Though you could've acted better, you did not deserve even a fraction of what happened to you." Skystrike lowered his head more. "I do not come asking for forgiveness. Only you decide if I'm worthy of that. I just ask you to let me right my wrong."
Trixie was taken aback by that. She wasn't expecting an apology from him, thought he was too arrogant for it. She rubbed her eyes to see if she was dreaming. But Trixie wasn't sure yet. She frowned once more, preparing for this to be some sort of trap. "W-well how do you plan on making this right, then!? A simple apology to Trixie means nothing!"
Skystrike stood back up. "I don't truly know how to fix your reputation, but I can at least get you a new wagon and supplies. Good quality ones. Just name the place and we'll go."
Trixie was surprised. He was serious about this. She huffed slightly. "Very well. I know of a place. Same place Trixie got her first wagon. Let's make it quick, Trixie has places to be." She started walking, and Skystrike followed. It was a short walk through the city as the two trotted in silence. It was a long while before Trixie broke it. "So, what is your goal? Are you serious about 'righting your wrong?'"
"That's the main reason." Skystrike admitted. "To be quite honest, and this will sound cheesy, I hope to call you friend at some point."
Trixie was about to laugh. But then she thought about it. When was the last time she had one? Back in magic university?
It's been a long time. She wouldn't really mind it. "Maybe if you try hard enough, Trixie will grace you with her friendship."
The two walked in silence for a while more, but the time of silence wasn't nearly as long this time. Skystrike thought of a question. "If you don't mind me asking, what got you into being an illusionist?"
She thought back on that. "Back when I was is magic kindergarten, there was... a colt that Trixie liked. He liked the magic tricks Trixie did, despite it being so simple. Nothing but some card tricks and flashy spells were all Trixie needed to make him smile. It was nice, seeing his cheers for Trixie. Trixie liked that feeling, and began pursuing it."
"Huh... that's actually really nice. Glad you didn't stop trying. I actually like your tricks too." Skystrike smiled under his helmet. "I hope you get to see him again."
She was about to say something, but shook her head. "...I'd rather we'd stop talking about this... We're here."
Skystrike noticed her use of first person. She was serious. He nodded as the two walked inside. A yellow stallion with a white mane and tail greeted them as they entered. "Hello there! What can I do for you-" Once the stallion made eye contact with Skystrike, a shiver went down his spine. "Ah... Mr. Nebula... What do I have the pleasure of doing for you today?"
"Calm down, just here to buy a wagon for this one. Can you show her what you have? It's her choice."
The stallion quickly nodded and went under the counter to find booklets on the wagons they had. Trixie turned to him. "...If you're really sure about this, and this isn't some messed up joke, how much money can I spend? I don't want to rob you of every bit you have. "
Skystrike chuckled, then shook his head. "Don't worry, I owe it to you. Get something that will last you a while."
Trixie gave him a thankful look as the stallion came back up and began talking to him. It took quite a while. Trixie listened intently to the sales pony as he listed everything he could about each wagon. He even offered some bundles for her, living supplies at a premium for her presumed travels. After about an hour, she decided on one. A rather charming wagon, big enough to house two ponies easily, yet light enough to be pulled by one pony.
The yellow stallion smiled. "And with everything, your total comes to about 16 thousand bits. Would you like me to help you set up a payment plan?"
Trixie winced a bit, then looked back to Skystrike. He got up from his spot against the wall and dropped a heavy bag of bits. "The payment will be upfront."
The stallion blinked, then dollar signs appeared in his eyes. "Alright!" He picked up the bag in his hooves. "We'll get everything ready for you! We can have your wagon ready by tomorrow!"
Trixie turned to Skystrike. "I... Trixie thanks you, Nebula."
"No problem. But hey, I have something I have to go do. I have a meeting I need to go to. Hope everything turns out well for you, Trixie. And on the off chance you come to Ponyville again, know that you have at least one pony that will welcome you."
Before he could leave, Trixie quickly gave him a hug. "I mean it. Thank you... And... I'll make sure to visit sometime." And with that, Skystrike made his way back to Tethys. He felt... good. Feeling like heat least righted one wrong. He hoped to right some more today.
Finally meeting back with Tethys, the two made their way back through to the castle. They decided to take the scenic route, Tethys saying she needed to spread her wings, taking to the sky and slowly flying around, holding a large bag of donuts. "Mmmm... these are so good."
"How many did you end up getting actually?" Skystrike started doing corkscrews in air as he talked. "I left you quite a sizable bag of bits"
She stopped mid bite, thinking of how many. "Well... I ate about 20 so far... And it looks like I have... two dozen left."
"Damn, where the hell does that all go?!"
She blinked. "Wait, I never told you?"
"Told me what?"
She bit her finger, trying to think. "I'll... tell you another time. Not here. When we get back to... Pony Town was it?"
"Ponyville, but close enough. Alright, I wont force the subject." Skystrike started flying upside down, then looked back at the castle. "We'll get there in about 20 minutes at this rate, and it's about... 11:30 a.m."
Tethys looked up from her donut and squinted her eyes in the direction of the castle. "Hey, where does the Court Magician work?"
Skystrike raised a brow, beginning to fly backwards in front of the dragoness. "A large tower, normally furthest from the castle in case of accidents. Pointed roof in case of smoke so it can be filtered out. Various symbols of magic on it."
"Well if I'm looking at the right place, I see two ponies talking to each other through a window. Cant tell their colors, the glass is tinted. One a unicorn, one an earth pony."
Skystrike twisted his body to look where Tethys was looking. He was amazed she could see that far away. At least half a mile away. "Damn, you got good eyesight... Lets speed up. If my predictions are correct, then we should get there sooner."
Tethys shrugged. "Alright." The two sped up their flight. Suddenly, a question came to Tethys' mind. "Hey, completely unrelated, but you know that dragon you had to deal with a couple months back? That snorer?"
"Oh, Kyne! What about him? Is he doing alright?"
"Oh he's fine. He actually wanted to know how you were doing too. You're one of the few ponies he's met and liked. Kyne wants to see you again. I'd tell him about you, but you know..."
"Alright. I'll make my way to the dragon lands then sooner or later. Been meaning to go anyway." Skystrike. "Since we're talking about him, do you know?"
"That he has a crush on me? Yeah." She sighed as she crossed her arms. "Half the dragon males I interact with do. It's annoying. At least Kyne knows I'm not interested."
"Huh, didn't realize you were that much of a catch. I don't know what dragons find attractive. Think you could explain it to me a bit?"
Tethys thought about the best way to approach it. "Well... first, we dragons look at strength first and foremost. The stronger the dragon, the more attractive that dragon is seen by their piers. That's why most dragons love the current dragon lord, and why the head dragon can have several spouses, whether the head is male or female. When having several spouses, it also means you're able to control that many at once."
"So, the stronger you are, the more relationships are acceptable? And on top of that, the more spouses a dragon has, the stronger they get?"
She nodded. "That's right. But that's also only a quarter of the reason." She sighed. "The second, and most common reason that dragons find others attractive is because I'm fully dragon. Most dragon lineages involve the other species. Ponies, Griffons, Hippogriffs, and sometimes Kirins, Diamond Dogs and Changelings. Our blood is so pure that the offspring is nearly a full dragon. But, since the females lay the eggs, in most cases, only females can make hybrids. A male dragon can't have a hybrid kid without the help of magic, or the dragon being mammalian."
"That's really interesting... so which are you? I assume mammalian, since you have hair going down your back and tail."
"Yes, I'm a mammal, and that's another reason. Mammalian dragons aren't really rare, but they are uncommon. While I don't know the exact number, my guess is that we're less than 20%, but more than 10%. Like you realized, the main way to tell is that reptilian dragons have frills, feathers, or spines. We're seen as more... 'meaty' than the reptilian ones."
Skystrike chuckled. "Well you definitely are stronger than most other dragons I've met-"
"That wasn't what I meant." She cut him off and sighed.
Skystrike thought about what she said, and the implications. "OH! My bad. So it's a fetish?"
"That's a pretty good word for it, but I'm not sure if it's exactly the right word for it. For the pony equivalent I guess it's more like... having a preference for Kirins?" Tethys shrugged. "I'm not really sure of a good comparison."
"I think I get what you mean. Thanks for telling me all this. It's really interesting to learn about the little parts of culture like this. But you started off saying 'quarter' and gave me three reasons. What about the fourth?"
"The last one is a fetish, sadly. The former dragon lords strongest wife was a frost mammalian dragon that looks like me."
"Oh... well I don't know what to say besides sorry. I hate you have to go through it. And sorry if I ever made you uncomfortable about it in the past. I didn't realize."
"It's fine... just... still a bit insecure about it to be honest. But to clarify, I'm not a frost dragon, I just like how versatile the ice is. I'm actually a storm dragon." Tethys scratched the back of her horn. "Not many know, we're a rare variant of dragons, and we're somewhat hunted, due to our natural talent in magic. I would've told you before, but by the time I trusted you with that info, it just never came up."
"You dont have anything to be sorry about. I kept my secret away from you and All for too long." Skystrike rolled his shoulder. "So, since you're a storm dragon, that means you can also control lightning?"
"Yes, actually. I can control pretty much anything involved with storms, in theory. I remember because you told me the difference between a hurricane and tornado one time because I was trying to create wind torrents. Thanks for that by the way. I'd never had got into studying and literature if not for you and Casta."
"No problem." Skystrike slowed his pace as they approached the tower. "Speaking of, we're here." Skystrike and Tethys landed on the wide platform in front of the Mage's tower. Skystrike was about to ring the door bell before pausing in place. Tethys nudged him with her wing. "I know... I have to do it. But there's... just that part in the back of my mind telling me I'm not worthy."
"Look, Sky, I've already said it to you. We don't blame you. We're your friends." Tethys put a hand on his back.
Skystrike took in a deep breath and rang the doorbell. The simple ring sounded like it lasted forever, the silence after felt even longer as he waited for a response. The automated message made him jump. "Sorry, the Court Magician is currently unavailable. If you have an appointment, please come at your allocated time slot." Skystrike recognized that voice. Soft spoken, a bit mellow, and had that Canterlot accent.
He saw them inside on his way here. For a split second, he thought about turning around. But she deserves better than that. He rung the doorbell again. "Casta. It's me." The automated response didn't speak this time, and the silence came back. He let out a remorseful sigh. "I... can't blame you for not wanting to see me. I just owe you an apology for all I did, and you deserve it face to face, rather than a letter like I left." He clenched his hoof. "I've wronged you in a way that I can never make up for. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't try."
Before he could continue, he heard the sound of hooves falling over each other, getting louder as they approached the door. It swung open, and Skystrike was tackled to the ground. Looking to see Casta on top of him crying. The one who tackled him was a rather tall unicorn mare with a dark purple coat and midnight purple mane and tail with highlights of mauve. She wore a frost blue cloak and matching hat with platinum trims, riddles with sea green stars. Her cactus green eyes hid behind a pair of reading glasses. Casta Spell squeezed tighter. "It's been so long! I'm glad you're ok! I heard what happened from the princesses!" Even though she had a weak voice, she was speaking rather loud out of sheer happiness.
He hugged her back. "Casta, it's great seeing you to, but you're strangling me." Then he felt something when on his neck.
She began full on crying. "You don't get it! I thought you were dead after you left! I only learned after Magnus that you were alive! I spiraled. You felt so guilty after what happened... I thought you..."
"I figured you'd show up one day." A monotone mare said from inside the tower. "Hopefully it's to stay this time." Skystrike looked to where the voice came from. Standing there was a earth pony with a grey coat and a greyish blue violet mane an tail, also sporting some eye shadow of the same color.
Skystrike smiled through his helmet. "Maud, good to see you. I owe you an apology too..." He coughed. "Casta, you're choking me." Casta quickly jumped off. "And... sorry I made you think I offed myself. There's a lot I need to say to both of you."
"Come in, come in! I just made some tea for Maud." She said excitedly. "I've been deep in my research... I hope you don't mind the mess..." As Tethys and Skystrike entered, Casta used her magic to close the door and made a path through the books laying on the floor.
Casta levitated two chairs over for her new guests and they all sat down. Skystrike leaned on the table. "So, Court Magician. I knew you had it in you, magic mare."
Casta giggled at the nickname. "Heheheh, well I have to thank you for part of my success. I got the funding for my research when we disbanded, and a lot of experiences and ideas from our travels!"
Skystrike smiled. "That's good. If I remember, you research had to do with finding the source of pony magic, and how Starswirl the bearded was able to formulate all the spells that we use?"
She nodded. "That's right. It went well! When we went spelunking those times, I was able to realize that as we went deeper towards the center of Eques, the denser the 'magic' in the air was." She made quotations with her hooves. "To the point it was sickening to some of the beings not able to harness their magic within them. I realized from that that what was actually in the air wasn't magic, but something that every creature absorbs into themselves and their bodies naturally and subconsciously turn into magic." She floated over a chalkboard and began drawing. From what he could make out, it was a sketch of a pony, a griffon, hippogriff, and dragon. "For example, the dragon lands are in an active volcano, which is releasing an abundant amount of what we turn into magic. It works in reverse too, the higher you go, the more of what we turn into magic is there. We ponies are at an average elevation where it's healthy for it. Griffons often live much higher, at the peak of mountains, and there's much more there. Hippogriffs are deep in the ocean, and it explains why they're able to transform easily. Each race is built to take in and generate a set amount of this... substance."
"Interesting..." Skystrike already knew this to be honest, but he wanted Casta to figure it out. It's revolutionary, given the time for the theory to catch on. Besides, she'd be disheartened if he told her those years ago. "And what will you call this substance?"
"I... haven't thought that far. I showed my research to the princesses, and I'm still researching now. I was thinking of calling it... mana."
"Hmm... and how does this relate to Starswirl's spells?"
Her eyes lit up a bit. With another smile, she began explaining. "Well, the best to think of it a bit like... a math equation?" She put a hoof to her cheek as she thought. "To first even make an equation, you need to figure out the numbers, then variables. From there, the outcome you want depends on what you put in. Magic is the numbers, while the formula is the variable. The part I'm still trying to figure out is how Starswirl made the formulas"
Tethys snapped her fingers. "Here's an idea. Maybe the formulas are words? With magic for us dragons, for example. When I breathe my frost breath, it's actually me casting a spell using dragon tongue, and that activates an organ within my head. Thinking about it like that... it's kinda like you unicorns and your horns. Maybe Starswirl bound words to those runes you use, like how we bound our power to our voice?"
Casta quickly levitated over a notebook and began writing. "That's such an interesting idea! I can't forget this! If it's like that, then I can maybe make my own spell! We'll go down in history!"
Skystrike let her finish writing before talking again. She was always enraptured on whatever she was interested in. "I do hope it goes well, and I'd be happy to help. But before we get too deep into it, I figure you two had some questions. I'll answer any and all you throw at me to the best of my ability."
Maud was first to ask, as Casta realized it was a good time to pour that tea. "When did you plan on coming to see us? Casta told me that she had a meeting at one, and you just came back from a mission with Tethys. Putting two and two together, then this was a reward right?"
Skystrike nodded. "Yes, I asked for this meeting to be one of the rewards when Celestia and Luna came to me for the mission. I planned on finding you all at least a month before the gala. Planned on revealing myself to Equestria, coming out of hiding and getting revenge on the one who tried to kill us two years ago."
"And why did you leave in the first place?" Maud leaned on her hoof.
Skystrike sighed a bit at that. "When Tethys asked the same question, the best answer I could give was to protect all of you, since it was the second time something like that happened. Now, I realized that it's because I also had a quest for power. Even now, I was rewarded with quite the items from Celestia and Luna when we completed out mission. I plan on using everything I can to make sure I'm not weak enough to let the same thing happen a third time."
Maud looked at Tethys, who closed her eyes and shook her head slightly. Maud, still speaking in her monotone voice continued. "I'll have to think of some more questions for you another time. Anything I ask, Tethys probably did already." The mare picked up her cup of tea and took a long sip.
"Actually, I have one." Casta put her hoof up. "I understand why you left. I know you didn't mean to hurt us. But what did you actually do by yourself? I know you aren't really a pony person."
"I was researching a lot of things." Skystrike began counting the things he did. "First, I realized that the stars that haven't moved much back then were suspiciously changing their positions. Then I wondered, which I honestly should've thought of long ago, 'If there's one that controls the sun, what about the moon?' And my home was named church of the two sisters. After looking and finding some really old books. I realized that there used to be two princesses, and an old castle that was in the Everfree forest they used to live in, and mentions of the Elements of Harmony. After that, I started traveling from place to place in Equestria, figuring out what it all meant." He took a sip of the tea. "From there, I wasn't really able to get anything concrete. All I was able to deduce was that someone used the Elements in the old castle around the time Luna disappeared, and from drawings, the mare in the moon wasn't there before. Then I figured 'hey, if she's in charge of the sun, she's probably in charge of the moon, meaning she could release whatever was in there at whatever time she wanted, and she seems to be playing around with those stars a bit too much.' Then I moved to Ponyville, thinking that my best bet would be hoping the place whatever was sealed would show up when it was yeeted to the moon. Luckily it turned out ok."
"Huh..." Casta rubbed her chin. "Didn't realize you were that smart. I always saw you more... what's the word?"
"Short sighted?" Tethys offered.
"Hard headed?" Maud offered.
"The word I was looking for was rash."
"You know what, fuck you guys, but all of those are fair." Skystrike laughed. "Man, I missed this..."
"Oh wait, you said you lived in Ponyville, right? My sister lives there. Hope she didn't cause you too much trouble so far." Maud finished her tea.
"Its... interesting. Annoying isn't the right word. She's actually pretty nice to be around. She's just... very active. And sometimes I want to chill out."
"Trust me, I get it. The first time she got her cutie mark, it was fun being around her. Everything was boring in the rock farm before. But after a bit, it was... too much." She put down her teacup. "I'll make sure to visit sometime. I'd come for your birthday, but I'm here in Canterlot to work on and deliver my thesis."
"Oh, it's almost that time, huh?" Skystrike thought back. "You really came far. I'm glad you were able to make it this far. When do you deliver?"
"Sunday, and then I have to wait a week to get the answer. I'm nervous about it."
"I could not tell at all." Tethys laughed at her flat tone of voice. "I can never get a read on you. What are you studying again? Rocks?"
Maud nodded. "With luck, by next week, I'll have a masters in Rocktoligy. Then I can apply to start my Rocktorate."
"You don't need luck." Skystrike leaned back in his chair. "You're one of the smartest ponies I know. It'll be a breeze."
"Thanks. I'll make sure to invite you all to my graduation. Maybe I'll see if Pinkie can set up a party back at the rock farm."
"That's be nice." Skystrike said. He finally took off his helmet. "Speaking of a party, there's a memorial that I... well I'm not obligated to go to it, but I really should."
"Your memorial?" Maud asked.
He didn't even have to guess in what tone she meant to say it in. He sucked in air through his teeth. "Yeah... And on top of that, it's also my family from the orphanage."
"Wait, you never told them?" Casta stopped raising her tea with her magic.
"Of course not. They were in danger for just being related to me. No way would I put them in more danger when I was weaker back then." Skystrike put a hoof on the table. "I plan on making at least part of this right. Reveal it early."
"They're going to be upset. I was and you were only gone for two years. For them, it's eight..." Tethys spoke up.
"And I don't blame them. But they still deserve an apology."
Their talk continued for an hour more, Skystrike thinking of the best way to bring it up with his family with the input of Maud, Tethys, and Casta. It took some hyping, but Skystrike is at least somewhat confident about what to do. He made sure to tell the girls to meet him at the memorial, saying he had something to do. He finished making a reservation for the ponies, expecting around 10 ponies to show. With that, he made his was back to the orphanage.
The Church of the Two Sisters. It was nice to see, and extremely nostalgic. He's been subconsciously avoiding this part of Canterlot. The memories were too painful. For what he did, and what the ponies around him had to go through. He took in a few deep breaths, trying to control his breathing. He looked up at the orphanage. It wasn't much different compared to before the fire. The large building of brick and stone looked... newer. Still the same shape and design actually, just much, much bigger. The left wing that extended into the garden was massive. The rightwing had a playground in the front. He would've enjoyed that back then. Some of the walls were even painted, some by professionals and others by the kids. His favorite part, they kept. The center spire holding up a large stained glass window, the vibrant colors working together to form the shape of a sun and moon.
But what surprised him the most was that instead of building right on top of the last building, they built a few yards next to it. Where the last one once stood was a marble statue of... him. It was him as a colt, standing tall, wings spread as a show of heroism. There wasn't a smile on his face, yet he had a look of purpose. On the stand of the statue was a golden plaque with engraving on it. Skystrike Nebula - A brother. a friend. a hero. "Help those who need it. Protect those you deem important."
Those words rang through his head. Words he skirts the line of living by. He hates to admit he hurt those important to him more than he protected them. He hoped they would find it in his heart to forgive him. Looking at the statue a bit more, he noticed that around the base of the statue were a lot of flowers. Some in bouquets, and some picked from the orphanage garden.
"Looking at his statue?" Astral walked up to him from his right. "This is my brother. The one I told you about."
"Seems like he was loved." Skystrike kept looking at his statue.
"He was, and still is. He saved me and my other siblings, Mystic Dawn and Dawnstone..." She sniffed a bit. "I was the last to get out. He risked his life saving me because I just wanted to be like him... I still do... Sometimes I still blame myself for his death. If I wasn't so reckless... I don't know why I'm telling you this..."
"He loved you, Astral." Skystrike said through baited breath. "He wouldn't want you to blame him for his sacrifice. He did it because he wanted you to live."
"How would you know?" While she didn't mean it. Astral's tone came off as aggressive. She realized after it came out. "Sorry, it's just... I know you're right, but I get tired of hearing it every year... Hard to believe it's been eight years since he left us."
"I don't blame you. Had to go through something similar." Astral looked up to him and tilted her head. "Someone I saw as a mother figure did the same for me, long ago. I still blame myself to this day. even though I know it's not my fault, and she wouldn't want that."
"Is that why you fight? To make up for something you never can? Hoping to help ponies and make her proud?" Astral wiped a tear. Skystrike nodded. It tore him up inside seeing her like this. "We're alike in that sense... I do thee same for him... helping ponies who need it, protecting the family we shared."
So badly, he wanted to take off his helmet then and there. But now wasn't the time. "He'd be proud."
She wiped her tears with a hoof. "Thank you... your friends came by a bit earlier than you. Let me introduce you to everypony else." Astral walked him over to the others. Tethys, Maud, and Casta were already deep in a conversation with the other ponies. Despite the eight years that passed, Skystrike recognized each one.
Mystic Falls, who should be almost 19 now, grew up well. A bit taller than the average stallion, but slimmer at the same time. He let his mane grow out, the purple and grey locks of hair going around his horn and falling on his shoulders, while he cut his tail short, just below his thigh. He even sported a goatee and a ear piercing. His eyes seemed redder than when he remembered, a start contrast to his blueish grey coat. Not that he was sick or tired, but his eyes were just a bright red. Mystic also wore a black leather jacket with a light blue undershirt. The guy got his cutie mark too, two chain links connected to each other, one blue while the other white.
The next one he recognized was Lucky Clover, one of the twins. Should be 17 now. Was slightly shorter than the average mare, petite is a better descriptive word. Her mane and tail was a seafoam green, emerald, shamrock, and jade, the former topped with a large green bow. The same bow she had all those years ago. He could tell from the upkeep that was well hidden in the bow. She wore a purple sweatshirt matching her light lavender eyes. Surprisingly, she had freckles dotted on her face. Her cutie mark was a deep green four leaf clover.
Next to her was the other twin, Blue clover, who had a cyan coat with an off white mane and tail, donning the same large green bow in her mane as her sister. She wore a green sundress and a ring of black pearls around her neck. She had some freckles herself. Her eyes were a bright blue. They always reminded him of the sea. Same stature as her sister, but didn't have a horn like her. Instead, she was noticeably more toned than her sister. She hid her cutie mark under her dress.
His last sibling that was in his age group was Dawnstone. Around 20 years old. And Skystrike had to admit, she looked lovely. Her cream coat with a curly white and sky blue mane and tail complemented each other perfectly. Her hair was long, stopping at her chest and curling back and into itself. She was no stranger to make up, complementing her features with cyan mascara and sky blue eye shadow. Her horn was rather long to, having a small ring on it. And lastly, she wore a white blouse with bishop sleeves with light blue cuffs and a light blue dress that went down to her hooves, held together with golden lacings. Even if he couldn't see her mark, Skystrike was sure she was a model of some type.
And last but not least, there she was. Sister Paprika. A mare earth pony with a cream colored coat and dark magenta mane with a maroon highlight stood in the middle of all his siblings, each having a happy face. He could notice the wrinkles under her eyes. Despite that, age has treated her well. She should be in her mid 50s, but doesn't look over 30 at all. She bore a cutie mark in the shape of a dried pepper.
Skystrike was drawn out of his train of thought by Astral nudging him. "You alright?"
Skystrike was about to respond, but noticed his eyes were a bit watery. He blinked to get the tears out of his way. "Y-yeah... sorry, I just forgot to blink." He pushed back on his front hooves to stretch, his armor creaking a bit.
"So... does your armor get heavy?" Astral asked as they kept approaching.
"Used to be. Every time I make new armor, I make it heavier than the last as a form of weight training." Skystrike tapped his armor. "Right now, I it's about sixty pounds, with most of the weight being in the chest and back."
"Wow, how do you fly with all that on?" Astral had to admit it was impressive. "Actually, nevermind that, do you ever take your armor off?"
"Sometimes. Most times, no. It's kinda like clothes at this point. Sometimes I forget it's there."
"Astral!" Paprika called out to her. The two hugged each other. "I'm so glad your ok! What happened? Was it dangerous?"
"Hey, Sister! I am too. I'll tell you about it another day, I don't want to worry you right now... It was dangerous, but I turned out fine, thanks to Nebula."
Paprika looked behind Astral to see him standing there. She didn't even realize the stallion towering over her until he was pointed out. But surprisingly she wasn't afraid at all. "Thank you for helping Astral, Mr. Nebula. I hope she wasn't too much of a bother."
"It was no problem. And please, just call me Nebula. And Astral can handle herself quite well. Pretty strong, she just needs more experience." Skystrike put out a hoof to shake.
"Well still, thank you for looking after her." Paprika shook his hoof. "It means a lot. Are you hear for the memorial?"
Skystrike nodded. "Yes, actually. I just got back from reserving a spot at a restaurant for us."
Paprika blinked. "All of us? You didn't have to do that, especially since we've just met! I can't let you do that for us."
"Please, pay it no mind. Think of it as a way to apologize for Astral getting into this mess." Skystrike waved a hoof.
"Wait... 'into this mess'? What happened up there?" Paprika's face turned to one of mild worry.
Skystrike looked at Astral, who sighed and nodded. "To sum it up so we aren't standing here for half an hour, we were sent up there to find missing ponies, only to find out that the one who sent Astral the request for help was actually trafficking the missing ponies to dragons. Thankfully, Astral was mostly in the investigation portion of it, rather than the fighting."
Paprika was stunned at what he said. It was a lot to process. "Is that why there's a dragon here? First I saw in my life."
"Yeah, that's Tethys. She's with me. And she help out up north too."
Paprika held her head. "I'll have to thank her later. Astral, we will talk about this later. Now come, we have to introduce Nebula here to everypony else." She said that last part with a stern voice.
"My bad." Skystrike shrugged.
"It's... fine... Looks like I'll have to get another type of job." Astral huffed. "Thankfully, I got enough bits where it should pay the bills. Don't move to Canterlot. I have to room with my sister Dawnstone and sometimes it's a bit of a struggle."
Skystrike tilted his head in thought as the two walked towards the group. "You specialize in Destruction and Enchanting magic right? I might be able to help you out."
"How so?"
"See the purple pony? She's the court magician, and a good friend of mine. And the state of her tower makes it seem like she needs help. Plus, she's also working on some research where she'll probably have to go on some expeditions. Make a good impression, I'll vouch for you, and hope things go well."
"You'd do that for me?"
"I have no reason not to. I will say, she likes talking a lot, so you may have to listen to her rant." Skystrike chuckled at that last part.
Dawnstone, Mystic Falls, Lucky Clover, and Blue Clover all walked over to Astral and Skystrike, getting into a group hug with the former. Dawnstone spoke first. "Welcome back, Astral. How'd it turn out?"
Astral smiled. "It went alright. I got to meet the princesses, so I'm in much deeper than I thought I'd be. I might have to visit the castle in the next few days, but everything's fine!"
"Anything cool happen?" Lucky asked.
"You met a dragon?" Blue jumped in front of her sister.
"Yeah, that's Tethys. She's really nice despite her looks. Nothing cool happened, it was more of a job, rather than an adventure..."
"Any landscapes that stood out? I'd love to paint some!" Mystic put an arm around her neck.
"There were some great ones, large mountains, vast fields, if you can handle the cold." She pushed Mystic off of her. "Anyway, you all probably heard from Tethys, Maud, and Casta, but this is Nebula. We met up north during the job!"
They all looked to Skystrike then near instantly seemingly shrunk at the sight of him, their ears pointing back. Couldn't blame them. He did make his armor with the intent of intimidating. He put up a hoof. He tried to make himself as approachable as possible. "Hello there. How are you all?"
"...you do not sound like how I expected." Mystic was the first to speak. "Damn, what do you eat to get that big?"
"I'm not this big because of what I eat, I eat because I'm this big. But it you simply want to gain some muscle, I could give some pointers..." Skystrike acted like he didn't know his name.
"I'm Mystic falls. This is Dawnstone, Lucky Clover, and Blue Clover. Hey, I know this is out of nowhere, but can I paint you?"
Dawnstone smacked his head. "Dude, you cant just ask to draw him."
"If you think you got the talent I'll support it. I'll be leaving Canterlot late tonight, but next time I'm here, I'll see if I can find you." Skystrike nodded.
"...You're lucky that worked. Sorry about my brother, he's really into his art." Dawnstone gave a small bow.
"Pay it no mind. I love those who are passionate about their craft. You must be the same. I assume from the way you dress and carry yourself, you're a model?"
She nodded then smiled. "That's right. I even make my own clothes. I don't get to star in too many photoshoots, but I have to start somewhere, right?"
"Yeah, starting is always the hard part. But you got the looks, so just keep trying and you can make it. I actually have a friend in Ponyville who has her own boutique and makes her clothes. She's still trying to get her name out there. Maybe if you two met you'd get along."
"I have been meaning to do a bit of traveling. What did you have to do that was so hard to start? You seem proficient at everything I hear about."
Skystrike thought back. "Well... It took a while to get the right tempo for my armor. This armor is after years of practice. My first armor could barely block a spear without denting."
This time, Lucky spoke. "So, question I always wanted to ask if I met you, is it true you can take on a dragon by yourself? Because the stories about you are unbelievable."
Skystrike didn't even have to answer, since Astral did so for him. "He beat five dragons by himself, and seven with some help. I was there."
"FIVE???" Blue blurted out. "Dear Celestia, there's no way!"
Skystrike shrugged. "It is what it is. But to be fair, my swords are made to cut through their scales and bones. It makes things much easier. But what else was said about me that's unbelievable? Now I'm curious."
Lucky began counting. "That you knocked out an Ursa minor in one punch, you can fly as fast as a Wonderbolt, you can punch a hole through a tree, and you can do pushups with a boulder five times your size on your back."
"True, maybe because I haven't raced one, true, and true." He chuckled. "I'm surprised that other stories haven't spread around... maybe it's because I'm sneaky about what I do. Confidentiality is important after all."
Another question was about to be asked before there was a loud stomach growl from Mystic Falls. "Damn, sorry. I haven't eaten anything yet today."
"I am a bit hungry too." Skystrike rolled his neck and yelled over to his other friends. "Tethys, Maud, Casta, ready to eat?"
"Yeah!" The three yelled back.
"Speaking of, where are we eating?" Paprika spoke up.
La rose bleue was a fairly upper class restaurant, hosting a large variety of dishes from different cultures. One of the most well known restaurants in Canterlot. Getting a reservation there was a nightmare for the average pony. And yet, not only was Skystrike able to get a reservation, but they were also in the VIP room.
"How did you manage to get a reservation here? On such short notice??" Paprika was surprised. "And this chair is so soft!?"
To be honest, Skystrike worked here as a chef when he was younger. Nothing like child labor. Luckily, he could just change his appearance with his magic to look like an adult. All he had to do was talk to the owner to get it. Luckily, the owner was the same stallion. "I have my ways." Skystrike said as the waiters and waitresses came in with their food, along with a couple glasses of wine for the group. It was a nice spread of fruits, vegetables, breads, grains, nuts, the full course.
They all made their plates before stopping and putting their hooves together. Astral began explaining. "On this day each year, we like to speak to Skystrike in the beyond. Telling him of what we've done so far in our lives. Its become a bit of a tradition, and our way of remembering him."
Skystrike looked at Tethys, who nodded. Then to Maud, who nodded. Then to Casta, who nodded. "I... have a confession to make. The real reason I bought you all here..." Skystrike sighed. Everyone looked at him with baited breath. He took in a deep breath before taking the lock off his helmet and sliding it off. He shoot his hair out and moved it out the way of his face.
He was instantly met with Mystic Falls jumping across the table and a hoof to his face. Tethys and Maud nearly got out of their seat before Skystrike put up a hoof, stopping them. "That's fair. Honestly one of the reactions I expected..." Skystrike cracked his neck and looked at Mystic.
"Do you know much we've mourned for you!?" Mystic yelled at him. His body was tense, his horn flaring with magic. "How hard we've worked to make up for what we lost!? How close things were to falling apart!?"
"Stop, Mystic!" Dawnstone used her magic to pull him back. "Lets... at least hear him out..."
Skystrike sighed and put his hooves on the table. "I guess you want to know how and why this all happened. This is why I got the VIP area... Would you rather I start explaining and get questions, or just ask questions now?"
"How are you still alive!? There wasn't a body! We thought you were ash!" Blue Clover stood up from her chair, the shock finally setting in.
"We saw you get crushed under the ruble!" Astral spoke up.
"To be honest, I don't truly know myself how I got out of there... I just know I wasn't there when I came to. I was out for a couple days and did have some things broken, but I was alive."
"And you didn't come back when you woke up!? Mystic prepared to punch him again.
"Look, I get it but please stop trying to punch me. To answer, no, I didn't. I felt it was too dangerous for you all. The fire happened because I got on the bad side of a pony..." Skystrike said as he caught Mystic's hoof. "The day of the gala, I was approached by Blueblood-"
"That mother bucker!" Dawnstone slammed her hooves on the table.
"Did something happen?" Skystrike raised an eyebrow.
"Every year, he comes by to gloat, giving fake sympathy to us over your death! He just stands there mocking us for sometimes hours, and we can't do anything because he's a prince!" Dawnstone fixed her dress and sat back down. "Ignoring how much he hits on me..."
Astral thought for a moment. "Wait, so you're saying that Blueblood is the reason you faked your death?"
"Yes. The day of the gala, he approached me, and heavily implied what he did. The fire at the orphanage was already in the later phases when he told me. Blueblood definitely planned it. I just don't have proof. And even if I did, he had enough political power to just cover everything up." Skystrike sighed. "My hope was by leaving, he wouldn't target you all anymore. He went after our home to hurt me... With me gone, I wasn't there to hurt..."
Lucky Clover bent a spoon in frustration. "But he still got away! What was it all for!?"
"I didn't just do nothing as you can see. I've at least gotten enough strength to protect you all, but now isn't the time to reveal myself just yet..." Skystrike took a bite of his house salad as everyone slightly leaned in. "I realized years ago, a couple months after my fake death, that I could just kill him, then and there. Take the sentence, but no one would be hurt anymore from him... Part of me still wished I did, but that'd be too lax for him." He clenched his hooves. "I will end it where it all started, at the Gala. I will go as my current identity, and lure him into a duel with me, one that he will challenge me to. It will be a duel where one can only forfeit or die. I will let him do neither. When he is within an inch of his life, when tries to get the words out of his mouth, I will not let him. He will have to decide whether he admits to what he did to us, or deaths embrace. In front of every. Pony. His guards. His lackeys. The princesses. And me. Once his social life is over, once the court judges him guilty, his pain will not be over. I won't let him die. He will live in suffering, no matter how many times he hurts us."
"And what makes you think it'll work?" Mystic finally sat back down.
"Because I know him. You know him. Say the right things, and no way he'll let things go." He scratched at the scar on his left eye. Still stung a bit.
Their conversation was interrupted when they noticed the quiet sniffles at the other end of the table. "I knew it... I knew you were still alive... You promised after all..." Paprika walked over to hug him. The water works started. "You've grown so much over the years... but you didn't have to sacrifice everything for us. You had a life to live for yourself..."
"My life isn't worth living to me if any of you are suffering. Especially because of me. I just couldn't have you all hurt anymore."
Paprika took in a deep breath. "I've... you were in the orphanage for six years before the fire... I've seen you grow into a wonderful young stallion. I know you well enough to know that while the execution wasn't good, your reasoning was justified. But we don't want you to suffer for our sake. You already did enough."
"It really doesn't feel like it. At least not yet. I just need to deal with Blueblood. Then I'll be back out in the open. For now, I stay hidden. I'm even taking a big risk being here with all of you. Anypony that's smart enough to realize how many ponies know all of you, then the secret's out." Skystrike chuckled a bit. "Honestly, I'm surprised it lasted this long. Haven't really been sneaky about it. I just keep on a helmet and change the first part of my name and everypony thinks I'm a new guy."
"...you know, in hindsight, I feel stupid that I didn't realize sooner." Paprika shared a small laugh. "But now that we have the chance, for the first time in a long time, lets enjoy a meal together. All of us."
Astral began eating. "Now that I think of it, even before the fire, we didn't eat together often. You were always tired around dinner time, but you still made time to help out everypony in the orphanage even after you helped me with my homework for example, you always seemed busy."
Mystic, Dawnstone, and the Clover sisters all hummed in agreement. Skystrike blinked. "I never did tell you all huh? If I wasn't at class, or the orphanage, I was doing something that would make us money. Money was tight back then, had to help out somehow."
"...Wait, so all that money we got weren't anonymous donations? That was you?" Paprika paused raising her fork to her mouth.
"You think that anypony with enough money to donate would do it anonymously? Here in Canterlot?"
"...But we still get those donations?" Paprika put a hoof to her chin. "Well, now that I think on it, they aren't anonymous anymore... The main ones are from the princess and Fancy Pants.
"That's to keep up public relations, makes them look good." Skystrike took another bite of his salad.
"Wait, so, you've been working that whole time? What did you even do? You must have not gotten much sleep." Dawnstone began eating at her own food.
Skystrike leaned back in his chair and started counting on his hoof. "Mostly prep cooking, some delivery, preparing for tournaments, and if we really needed the money, theft."
"Wait, you stole!? From who!?" Paprika asked, slightly shocked.
"Mostly nobles. Ones I knew had money or items I could pawn that they wouldn't miss." He admitted. "Only had to do it like, 18 times, thankfully.
"How did you break into these places? I heard that most nobles have pretty good security." Blue Clover took a bite of her bread. "No way you were that good."
"Believe it or not, easier to break in than you think." Skystrike thought back. "Most of the time, you can just fly in from above if you're quiet. No one looks up for some reason. After that, find an open window and take a vase or necklace. The only hard ones were when I went into the castle."
The room fell silent. Casta broke it. "You... you what? How can you say that so nonchalantly?!"
Skystrike shrugged and laughed. "Relax, only Celestia knows. We met one time when I got sloppy. In hindsight, it probably what got me in her good graces..."
"Wait, so what happened?" Lucky Clover drank some of her soup.
It was the dead of night, It'd be a simple job, he told himself. Climbing the side of a stone wall to an open castle window to let himself inside, he opened his bag to begin taking a few things. He made sure to take steps carefully, as to not alert any guards. The princess wouldn't miss a few goblets or necklaces from their display cases. At least none she couldn't afford.
But as he continued and checked his corners, he noticed the distinct lack of any guards. Or anypony in the castle. Skystrike looked out the window, seeing some guards patrolling the outsides of the wall, but not in the castle. Something seemed... off. And then he heard sniffling. Then muffled crying. Something told him to leave right then and there, something instinctual, but his morals told him otherwise. He turned to his right, seeing a rather large double door wide open. The sobbing was getting louder. The doors had two halves of the sun on it. There was no way...
When he rounded the corner, he saw her, Princess Celestia crying. Her back faced the colt as she stared out her window and up at the mare in the moon. She wept for a bit longer before speaking to herself through the tears. "I miss you... I miss you so much, Luna... I should've never sent you up there... I want you here. With me." She sniffled.
Skystrike should've left then and there, but his morals told him not to. He didn't know who Luna was, but she didn't deserve to cry alone. He'd regret this later... Skystrike dropped his bag and walked into Celestia's bedroom. Celestia, who let her guard down, snapped her head around to see Skystrike walking towards her. She didn't even get a chance to ask how he was there before he hugged her foreleg. "I don't know what you're going through... but you don't have to suffer alone. My sister tells me that keeping everything to yourself doesn't help. Talk to somepony about it."
Celestia tried her best to force a smile as she wiped her tears. "...Thank you, my little pony, but you mustn't worry yourself over my issues." She sniffed a bit more. "I... assure you I am fine."
"Look, I know you're trying to act strong. I do it to in front of those I care about. From what I can tell, you cleared out the castle to be able to express your feelings. Don't let me stop you." Skystrike sat down next to Celestia. "I've lost... many that were close to me. I should've talked about it with somepony, but I made myself believe that I had nopony to hear me out. It didn't help. If this Luna you cry for is as important to you as my family was to me, then you need to talk to somepony about it..." Skystrike sighed. "I don't know why I'm giving you advice, you've probably heard it before.
Celestia smiled a bit at that, then looked at the colt. "You look quite young... I cant imagine what hardships you had to go through to be giving advice like that... Can you believe it's been nearly a thousand years since she went?" She asked that last part to herself.
"It's only been four or so for me... But I still blame myself, even if I had no other choice..." Skystrike huffed. "At least with you, since you said 'went', she may come back. You still have hope."
Those words felt different. This time, Celestia hugged the colt. "I'm sorry..."
"Don't be. I've made some peace with my demons. But the pain never goes away, it only drives me to be stronger."
"What's your name, my little pony? And how did you get in here? And why are you in here?"
"Skystrike Nebula, there was a window left open, and my family needs the money." Skystrike admitted.
"Well that was... rather forward."
"You have the power to smite me, I am not going to risk that." He put up his hooves in defense.
For the first time in a while, she laughed. It took a few moments Celestia to regain her composure. "I'm not going to smite you, but thank you for being truthful. But you shouldn't steal, your parents would be upset if they knew."
"Orphan."
Well that was blunt. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't know."
"It's alright. I just want to make sure my siblings can eat, where we don't have to go hungry every other day."
"Wait, if you live in an orphanage, you should be getting government funding proportionate to the number of ponies living there. Which one do you live in?" Celestia grabbed her notepad in her magic and prepared to write.
"Church of the two sisters."
She quickly wrote it down. "Thank you, Skystrike. Go home for tonight. Don't worry, I'll make sure your family has enough to eat."
Paprika stopped drinking her glass of wine. "...So that's why Celestia stopped by. Well... if I say thank you, I feel like it would encourage you to steal more but..."
Mystic ate a hoof full of berries. "And what about the tournaments and stuff?"
"First place had cash prizes. Chess tournaments, flight tournaments, I did pretty much all of it up until I went to that military school. Thankfully, their valedictorian got monthly stipends." Skystrike started working on his 3rd plate of food. "Honestly, probably wouldn't have went if not for that."
"So you didn't want to be a guard? I thought that was why you went." Astral finished her plate and hummed.
"Not really. I would've wanted to if not for all the red tape they have to deal with. Can't really help ponies if laws actively stop me from doing so."
This time, Maud spoke. "I get it. We fought for the ponies when the guards wouldn't. A shame that so much good gets stopped because of some money."
From the window, the group could see the sun dip below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow across the table. A group of friends reunited after years apart. Laughter and excitement filled the air as they spoke, faces beaming with joy. Life had taken them on different paths, splitting them apart, but now, in this moment, they were together again. The clinking of glasses and the aroma of fine wine signaled the beginning of a long-awaited catch-up session.
As they settled into their familiar roles, stories flowed like a river, each one eager to share their adventures and experiences. Some had embarked on globetrotting adventures, while others had embraced the world with ambition and goals of success. With every tale, they rediscovered the shared memories and inside jokes that had forged their unbreakable bond. Time had aged them, but their connection remained as strong as ever.
Amidst the laughter and reminiscing, there was a sense of gratitude for this moment. They've realized that life's twists and turns had shaped them into the individuals they were today, and while they had grown in different ways, the core of their bond remained unchanged. In that restaurant, with the warmth of friendship enveloping them, they understood the value of their relationships had stood the test of time, and they vowed to make these reunions a regular occurrence, cherishing the bonds that had brought them together once more.
Alas, the night had to come to an end. Tears fell from all parties, but they made a vow. He would see them again. Hugs were exchanged, and promises to stay in touch were made with sincerity. Distance and time might separate them momentarily, but their bonds were unbreakable. With a shared commitment to their friendship, they whispered assurances that this farewell was merely a 'see you later.' As they watched the waves crash against the shore, they felt a profound sense of gratitude for the moments they had shared and the ones that awaited them in the future. With a final wave and smiles that concealed the sadness of goodbye, Skystrike and Tethys departed, the former carrying the hope of reuniting once more, knowing that their next meeting would be just as joyous as this one.
Skystrike settled next to his luggage as the train carried them toward Ponyville. He'd be back home soon, with his new friends. Ones he made a promise to come back to. He didn't know why, but he felt a weight come off his heart. With a long exhale, he looked out the window and at the stars. They seemed... brighter than usual. He smiled a bit as he closed blinked.
Sleep finally hit him as he fell onto the floor. Three days without sleep was finally coming back to haunt him. But he deserved a rest. He closed his eyes, falling to the abyss of his mind. For once, there wasn't a nightmare. He had something to look forward to. |
A Broken Warrior | Rest for the Wicked | Tethys woke up as the train slowed to a stop. Skystrike didn't speak too much on this 'Ponyville,' but Skystrike lived there. He must think highly of it. She let go of her grip on the stallion, and made her way out of the train car to stretch. She didn't even notice the stares she was getting, nor the ponies running away from her as she did so. The dragoness decided to let her friend sleep some more as she moved all the luggage from the train onto the platform. She didn't realize how prepared Skystrike was for that mission. Much more than her, she had to admit.
The last trip to the train car was getting Skystrike himself. She nudged him with her tail, who responded by flipping over to his other side. She nudged him again. He growled as he curled into a ball. Tethys sighed, albeit with a small smile on her face. At least he was sleeping. She picked him up in her arms, and damn, was he heavy. Much heavier than he looked, and that armor wasn't helping at all, nor that he slept like a corpse. That made Tethys think for a moment. She couldn't even remember the last time he slept this deeply, not even having his guard up. He must have always been stressed out. She wished he'd rely on her a bit more.
But her new problem now was figuring out how she'd move all this stuff, as well as where to move it to. She looked around, seeing how there were virtually no ponies nearby. She sighed at that. Taking a length of rope and tying all of the luggage together, she carried the nearly 100 pounds on her back, and Skystrike's body on top of it all, and began walking. She had no idea where, just figured she'd go until somepony would give her directions.
It was only 10 minutes of walking before she decided to give up. Sure, it was early, the sun had been up for about three hours, but she'd have seen somepony by now. Tethys growled in annoyance as she sat next to the still sleeping Skystrike and waited for anypony to walk into her line of sight.
Spike thought this scene was oddly familiar. Twilight and her friends were camped up in Carousel Boutique, along with Stardust and Zecora. The lights were off, and the window blinds were closed. Twilight and Rarity told him and Sweetie Belle to not open them, no matter what. But like kids, the two were getting bored. Twilight said they'd all meet at Rarity's before seeing if Skystrike would come to the train station today. Rainbow Dash, coming last, warned them all that a dragon got off the train.
Initially, Spike was excited, thinking he'd be able to meet one of his own, but began to have second thoughts as he saw the faces of Twilight and her friends turn to ones of fear. Almost immediately, he was told to stay hidden with Sweetie Belle and not to go towards the windows. A part of him understands, with the dragon a couple months ago that was a smokey sleeper, but this feels... different. This other dragon hasn't done anything yet, and it felt familiar. He just couldn't put his finger on it yet.
Sweetie Belle decided to break the silence between them. "So... your name is Spike, right? I see you in school, but we haven't talked, I don't think."
Spike blinked, then nodded. "Oh yeah, I guess we haven't. Sweetie Belle, right? I've talked to your friend Applebloom a couple times. I am surprised we haven't really met since I moved here to Ponyville. Sorry."
"It's ok. So, can you breathe fire?"
Spike smirked before lighting his finger alit with his breath. "I can, but it's not much... I'm getting better though! Sooner or later, I'll be able to light a big one!"
"Cool! I wish I was good at magic like you are with fire." She sheepishly rubbed her arm. "I can't even use levitation magic..."
"Rarity doesn't teach you?"
Sweetie Belle winced at that a little. "We... don't spend that much time together. I know she's busy, but I wish she'd make some time for me. She's always busy with work or her friends, and when we're done with school, she's just tired."
Spike understood a bit. "Well, we live close to each other. If you want, I can stop by sometimes. We can play together!"
Sweetie Belle smiled at that. "Ok! that sounds like fun!" She clapped her hooves. "Lets play when we can go outside!" She stopped and thought for a moment. "What are we waiting here for, actually?"
Spike looked over to the mane six. Twilight was leaning on Applejack's back as the two peeked out the window. "...It's... huge... not as big as that red one, but still..." Twilight gasped at her.
"Whad'ya think it's here for?" Applejack looked up at her.
"She's gonna eat us! Chop us into teeny weenie bite sized pieces and stir fry us!" Pinkie made a stirring motion with her hooves.
"Really, Pinkie?" Twilight raised an eyebrow.
"Well, it isn't off the table yet, darling..." Rarity looked out the window with them.
"What's it wearing? It looks like... rusted armor on its chest?" Rainbow Dash flew above Twilight and Applejack.
"It looked like it, but I've never seen a dragon wear armor..." Fluttershy said sitting behind them all.
Finally, it hit Spike. Why this felt familiar. And he didn't like it. They did the same to Zecora, and he got to know her. Probably better than any of them. She wasn't the pony, er, Zebra that they thought she was. And now, they're doing the same to this new dragon. He felt something burn inside him. Spike couldn't tell if he was angry, disappointed, or both. He calmed down very slightly before asking himself: 'What would Skystrike do?'
They wouldn't let him walk through the front door. "Sweetie Belle, I'll be right back. I need to... go to the bathroom."
"Alright!" She waved him off.
Spike had been to the Carousel Boutique enough to know where the back door was. He unlocked it and began making his way towards the white and blue dragon. He had to admit, he was getting second thoughts on approaching, especially since it was dangerous if it was hostile. But he was doing what he thought was right.
And it was right after he steeled his will that Twilight noticed him outside. Her eyes went wide.
Tethys saw the baby dragon approach her hesitantly . "Aw... I didn't know there'd be another dragon here..." She crouched down and folded her wings in in an attempt to look less intimidating. "Hey there, little guy, aw you're so cute!"
Spike stopped a few safe feet away from her. "Uh... hello! My name is Spike. What's yours?"
"My name is Tethys. Nice to meet you, Spike!" She sat down and crossed her legs. "This is my first time in Ponyville, and I'm a bit lost. You're the first being that I've seen here besides the ponies working at the train station."
"Oh, I'm... sorry about that. The ponies here are... very weird about anypony, sorry, anybody new here that isn't a Pony. We had a Zebra named Zecora come by and have the same thing happen to her. Since you're new, I can lead you around town though!"
"Aw, you're so kind, I could just eat you up." She pinched his chubby cheeks. "But you said you know a Zebra named Zecora?"
Spike nodded. "Yeah! You know her? She's really-"
"SPIKE!" The two dragons heads turned to the source of the yell. Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash all rushed out, Twilight using her magic to float Spike over to her.
Before Tethys could even introduce herself, or before Spike could explain, Rainbow came in with a flying kick on Tethys, who blocked it with her arm. "Pick on somepony your own size!" Rainbow said as she flew back to gain some distance.
"Not trying to-" Tethys was cut off with a lasso around her, locking her arms to her side by Applejack. She sighed as she used her breath to make a layer of ice around the lasso. With a small flex of her arms, she shattered it. "Can we calm do-"
She stopped herself and ducked when a flower pot was thrown at her head by the Rainbow pegasus, who was coming in for another kick. She was getting annoyed. This time, she caught the kick and threw her into the air. Luckily, Rainbow Dash was skilled enough to stop herself in the air before she began descending.
Applejack tried to land a kick of her own, only for Tethys to side step and smack her in the side with her tail, winding her. She began coughing. A scowl was growing on Tethys' face. "If you damn ponies would listen for-"
She was once again interrupted by the purple unicorn in front of her reeling her head back and shooting a blast of magic at her. Tethys didn't have time to dodge. She inhaled and shot a ball of ice to clash it. A small explosion of magic and snow was where the two attacks met. Tethys roared in anger, making everyone in the area cower for a moment. Twilight prepared another blast before Spike ran in front of Tethys and put his hands out.
Twilight was still charging her magic. "Spike, what are you doing!? Move out the way before-"
"ARE YOU ALL SERIOUS!?" Spike shouted at the top of his lungs. Everyone stopped in their tracks. "First Nebula, then Zecora, and now Tethys! You ponies haven't learned anything! You even ATTACKED her!"
"Spike, we thought you were in danger-" Twilight tried to defend herself.
"I wasn't! She pinched my cheek! RARITY does that! FLUTTERSHY did it before. But you don't say anything!" He then turned to the pegasus. "And you, RAINBOW! This is the second time you just go in swinging! ASK QUESTIONS FIRST!" Rainbow Dash winced and shrunk a bit at that. "Applejack, I can say the SAME thing!" She lowered her hat. Spike looked around to the townsfolk, beginning to poke their heads out the window. "And THE REST OF YOU AREN'T ANY BETTER! Hiding in your homes because you all are too scared to learn anything new, only believing the little you were told about whatever new being that comes to town! BE BETTER!"
Spike began panting, out of breath from his rant. Everyone looked at Spike for a bit, Tethys being the first to speak. "...Well, that happened... Thanks, Spike. Anyway, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted..." She glared at the ponies and crossed her arms. "You know Nebula and Zecora?"
"Yeah, they moved in a couple months ago. You know them? We were actually waiting for Nebula to come back from his mission." Spike nodded.
She snapped her fingers. "I thought your names sounded familiar. So you're his friends? Honestly, I was expecting... better..."
"Yeah, I'm sorry about them. They're really nice once you get to know them. I hope you all can be friends at some point. Is Skystrike with you?" Tethys flapped her wings and flew up to the top of the luggage to grab the stallion. She landed with him in her arms. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Twilight quickly ran over to his side. Even Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy came out the Boutique to see him as well. Their hearts dropped.
Fluttershy was surprisingly put together enough to ask what they were all fearing. "Is... is he... gone?"
Tethys paused for a moment, then began laughing. "Oh, no, no... he's sleeping!" She slapped her tail on the ground.
They all let out a long sigh of relief. "Thank Celestia... I'm so glad he's alive..." Fluttershy wiped a tear away.
"No way he'd die." Tethys shook his head. "He worries too much to kick the bucket."
"So, are you the dragon that's part of his group like Zecora?" Applejack asked the dragoness.
"Yeah, I met him during his mission by chance. He said I should check out this town. So far, I will admit, it wasn't the worst welcome I've had." Tethys shrugged. "And, that wasn't a slight at you ponies specifically."
"...Do you get attacked every time you go somewhere?" Rarity asked, kind of astounded.
"Almost all dragons do. We don't exactly get warm welcomes. Kyne Lok actually slept in a nearby mountain here, and some ponies tried to force him out. One even kicked him." They winced at that. "At least you ponies weren't trying to kill me."
"That's a... rather low bar..." Applejack said with some worry in her voice.
"It's what we have to deal with. That's why I'm loyal to Nebula. He didn't try to kill me, and even helped me. But that's a story for later. Tethys dropped him on the ground from a not small height. He landed with a heavy thump, but was still sleeping. "I have to carry these boxes. Can you all carry him and lead me to his house?"
"Sure!" Pinkie Pie jumped down to Skystrike and poked his head a few times, seeing if he'd wake up.
"Pinkie, stop playing around." Rainbow Dash said. The pegasus attempted to lift him onto his back, but only then did she realize how much bigger Skystrike was than her. She collapsed, stuck under the weight of his upper body. "Helphelphelphelphelp!"
Applejack was able to roll Skystrike over onto his back. "You alright, sugar cube?"
"Yeah, just..." She huffed and rubbed her back. "I just never realized. I knew he was big, but gosh..."
"He's only a bit bigger than Big Mac. Let me try." Applejack lifted the stallion, trying to put him on her back. Like the mare before, she collapsed under his weight. "Celestia, he is heavy! Get him off me!" Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie pulled him of the earth pony. "Thanks, girls... How is he still asleep!?"
"I think we're going to have to drag him..." Pinkie rubbed her chin with her hoof, thinking aloud. Applejack used her rope and made a loop around Skystrike's waist. Tying it off with a know, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie all began pulling him. Even with that, it was slow.
Tethys, who already had the many crates on her back, was getting impatient. She looked at Fluttershy, Rarity, Spike, and Twilight. "You all should help them out."
They did so, Fluttershy grabbing on with her mouth, and the two unicorns using their magic. "Jeez, how heavy is this guy!?" Twilight groaned as she was beginning to strain her magic. "It's like we're pulling a boulder!"
Fluttershy flapped her wings to get a bit more force behind her pulling. "We have seen him lift boulders..."
The group walked, and dragged Skystrike, for about twenty minutes, stopping at Skystrike's house. They all put down the luggage, catching their breath. They needed a break. After a few minutes, Tethys decided to break the silence. "So, how long have you ponies known Nebula for?"
"Oh, most of us knew him since he was a colt, but met him at different times." Applejack fanned herself with her hat. "I met him at a summer camp one time, but that was it 'fore he moved to Ponyville."
"My family owns a rock farm, and he did a mission there a few years ago, but I first met him when he moved here." Pinkie spread out on the floor. "Jeez, and I thought I was in shape..."
"You're telling me..." Rainbow Dash was using her wings to fan of Rarity. "Fluttershy and I went to flight school with him before he moved to Canterlot."
"And that was after I met him in magic school. He moved to Cloudsdale, then back." Twilight wiped some sweat from her forehead. "And apparently Rarity met him, but didn't remember."
"Great, so I don't have to keep calling him Nebula." Tethys breathed some cold air into the group. "That should cool you all off. You said he went to magic school? But he's a pegasus?"
"Actually, I've been meaning to ask that too." Rainbow stopped flapping her wings. "What'd he need to be there for?"
"Well, he was the only pony, maybe even only being in existence with no magic. He was made to do a lot of tests by some ponies under princess Celestia. He didn't talk about it much. Other than that, he took classes like the rest of us. I bet he'd be pretty good at magic if he was a unicorn."
"How long have you known Skystrike?" Spike took a seat next to the dragoness.
"Not too long, only six years. Though I guess that is a while for you ponies and your lifespans. I was actually the first of his group. I think he was about twenty when we met." Tethys walked over to Skystrike and slapped him. "He's out like a light..."
"How'd you meet?"
Tethys sat back down. "Not too long, or interesting of a story. There was a large group of ponies that tried to kill me a couple years ago. Were after me for a few months before they finally cornered me in a cave. Too many wounds to run anymore, so I had to fight them off. The mage teleported them all away before I could finish them off, but they were in worse shape than I." She chuckled a bit at that. "After that, Skystrike was told he was given a mission to hunt something, but not what. When he found me on the ground, barely holding onto life, instead of killing me, he stayed with me for a while. Nursed me back to health. The rest is history."
"That's a bit surprising. He didn't talk much when we were kids. It didn't seem like he cared about most things, let alone another being." Twilight chuckled. "But he did show he cared in his own way."
"You can say that again." Tethys laughed a bit. "When he saw me, I could barely move. Didn't even say anything, just put down his sword and started patching me up. Only said something when he asked me to come with him."
"Didn't say much to me for a while either. He was in my class for... almost two months before he said anything to me. First I even heard him talk was asking me if I was ok after he completely rocked one of my bullies."
"Oh, he did that for you too?" Fluttershy spoke this time.
"Skystrike... also fought one of your bullies?" Twilight asked.
Rainbow laughed. "Three of them, actually. Two of ours were actual kids."
They all paused at that. "He... fought a teacher? What did the teacher do for Skystrike to do that!?" Rarity was trying not to laugh.
Rainbow looked at Fluttershy, who sighed a bit. "One of my animal friends passed the day before, and I wasn't over it yet. When the teacher asked what was wrong, I told her and she started laughing, and told me to get over it."
"Then, Skystrike told me to take Fluttershy to the bathroom, saying she had to go, and don't pay attention to what the teacher says." Rainbow covered her mouth and snickered, thinking back to what happened.
"As soon as we got out of the room, we turned just at the right moment where we saw it. Me, Skystrike, and Rainbow sat in the middle of the class, but he made that punch collide with her face so fast, I blinked and missed it. It was... kind of impressive if I'm being honest."
"...Damn." The rest of the ponies and dragons said in unison.
Rainbow finished the story. "And then, he moved back to Canterlot." She sighed. "You know, I never put together that that's why he moved back. Wish we got along better back then."
"What, did you two not get along?" Applejack put back on her hat.
"Oh, we got along fine. We were actually his foster family for the two years he was in Cloudsdale, and we all hung out a lot. He just always seemed... what's the phrase for it?"
"Out there? Like his mind was always somewhere else?" Tethys offered, which Rainbow responded with a nod. "He worries too much. I only found out recently why he does. And before you ask, not my place to say."
"...What did happen up there?" Rarity asked. "We don't know much, just that there were maybe dragons, and maybe hostages. But, Skystrike turned up fine, just tired. He doesn't even look like he got into any battles."
"Oh, he fought alright, but best not to go into detail. Spike's still a baby." Tethys pointed at the young dragon.
"Hey, does he normally sleep this long?" Spike poked at Skystrike. "If I remember right, he says he sleeps from midnight to six in the morning."
"Well, he's been asleep for... he went to sleep at ten, so about 12 hours now?" Tethys tried to shake him awake. "Oh yeah, What about Zecora? How's that Zebra doing? Still speaking in rhymes?"
"Oh, she lives in the Everfree Forest. I think Stardust said she was going to hang out there and wait until Skystrike came home." Twilight answered.
"Alright, I'll call her." Tethys said as she took a deep breath.
A couple hours earlier, Zecora and Stardust sat across the table from each other within Zecora's hut. In the middle of the two was a raven black book with a four pointed star on it and a lock. It was Skystrike's book. It took nearly a week for Zecora to finish the diary, and there was a lot to go over. Too much. She put small sticky notes in each page she deemed important. That being said, it was still more than she expected. As soon as Zecora thought she was halfway through, pages kept appearing, materializing as she continued, and disappearing when she went back. It was a magic journal. Makes sense if he had to write in this, thousands of times over his life.
Skystrike asked her to keep it a secret if he came back, but something in the book caught her eye. He'd given her his diary specifically because he could trust her. Her, and the group they were once part of. Only fair that the others knew. She already explained to Stardust what Skystrike told Zecora before he left. "Stardust, confess I must, you hid so well, no fuss. Underneath our noses, you did play, but Skystrike saw through your display."
The mare shifted uncomfortably. "...What do you mean? Hiding?"
"When bathing in the cure for poison joke, not only was it dispelled, but magic broke. That is how Skystrike found out, your horn sticking through the water, no doubt."
Stardust stared at Zecora for a moment. She wasn't joking. She was slightly embarrassed, and somewhat upset. Neon fire surrounded her for a split second before dropping. Where the off white mare once stood, was a pony-like figure, with skin of black chitin and arctic blue bug like eyes. "And I thought I was doing well... Good to see you again, Zecora."
"It worked quite well, I couldn't tell. Good to see you too, Elytra. Let's chat for a spell."
"What did you want to talk about? Skystrike's book? He was given that by the former queen. I always wondered what he wrote in it."
"He penned each day in that diary. Gave it to me, said, 'Keep it, just in case,' you see. He holds faith in me, and you, it's plain to see. Fair you know its contents, a gesture so lovely." Zecora sighed slightly, before unlocking the book. "In darkest day, in brightest night, stow your fear, show your might. Beware your fears made into light. Do not falter, do what is right." Skystrike's diary unlocked, Zecora flipping through a few dozen pages and stopping. "His origins, he concealed, a secret within his chest. What I've learned, it is wild, beyond any test. You've witnessed the start, can you explain the rest?"
Elytra took a seat, putting her elbows on the table and her forehooves together. "While we lived in the hive, the late queen Khrusalis... informally adopted him. I was one of the many caretakers, similar to a nanny, if that makes sense. Khrusalis put me in charge of making sure Skystrike would be properly taken care of. I was there for his upbringing... and for his banishment..."
"What caused his exile, what's the lore, the reason he was banished, please implore."
"I was stationed in Canterlot at the time, where he lived at the orphanage for a time. It was after he moved back to Canterlot, being about fourteen at the time. It's best you ask him... if he comes back." Elytra said that last part with a bit of worry in her voice. "From what I was told, by both him after it happened, and by the current Queen, Chrysalis, when the former queen went to visit him, someone found out about her travel to Canterlot. Skystrike and Khrusalis met in the far outskirts, beyond the Canterlot wall. But someone knew of their meeting, and they were ambushed." She sighed, resting her forehead on her hooves. "She... I was told she sacrificed her life to save Skystrike. But Chrysalis blamed him for her- their mother's death."
Zecora's heart dropped. She was hoping that this whole time, Skystrike's book was just a sick prank. Even if that wasn't like him, it'd be easier to handle then the stuff that she learned he had to go through. "I..."
"The worst part in my opinion was that... He saw us all as family... the only family he had. Blamed for the death of someone he saw as his mother by someone he saw as his sister, then for most of his brothers and sisters around him to ostracize him. He never was really the same sense. Never truly opened his heart to others since. Even when I asked him about it, he didn't go into detail, saying 'it was fine. It's in the past.'"
"...If Skystrike's path was smooth, without each slip, I wonder what pony he'd be, without hardship's grip." Zecora sighed.
"You and me both. All we can do now is try and make him happy... if that's even possible."
"...And what of before? Before changeling kin he joined, a tale bemusing. Though he makes brief mentions, his past is quite confusing." Zecora flipped forward to some pages, noticing some lines hinting at something more. Sometimes, there's a part of me that believes that coming here, to Eques, was a mistake. That I should've stayed back in that lab. At least then, I wouldn't know the pain of betrayal. Then, Zecora flipped back towards the begining. Transforming for the first time was weird, especially walking on four legs, not to even mention the wings.
"Skystrike... wasn't always a pony. He called himself human... The only reason that he came to us was because his welcome wasn't a warm one." Elytra sat back up straight. "I assume since he's still a pony, that they're still after him. The princesses I mean."
Zecora would have to ask Skystrike about that. "Our questions, we'll save for when he's back. With hope, he'll return, our dear friend, safe on track."
A roar could be heard, even from deep in the forest where Zecora and Elytra were. It sounded familiar. The two looked at each other, as if making sure they both heard the same thing. Once they realized who it was, Elytra made sure to put up her disguise as Stardust before she and Zecora rushed towards the roar.
It only took a few minutes for the two to come out and join the group. Zecora jumped in the air to hug the dragoness, who caught her. "Tethys! It's a joy to meet you again, my friend! What brings you here, to journey's end?" Tethys pulled the zebra into a hug, who continued in a whisper. "The mare behind me is Elytra, but keep it discreet. A secret we must keep, do not let it leak."
Tethys approached Stardust and put out a hand for her to shake, her hand nearly taking up her entire forehoof. "Nice to meet you, Stardust."
"The pleasure is mine, Tethys." They gave each other a mock greeting, but their eyes shared the excitement of seeing each other again. "So... where's Skystrike?"
"AAAUUUUUUUUUUUGH!" He snored. Loudly.
"You roared pretty loud, how is he not awake?"
"No idea."
"AAAAAAAAUUUUUGHHHH!"
Spike was trying not to laugh. "Stardust, you have keys to his house right? Can you open is so we can get inside?" Stardust nodded, getting her keys and unlocking the door.
Tethys picked up the luggage and moved it inside, the ponies dragging Skystrike inside with them. The dragoness looked around. "I didn't even realize how massive his house was. Where'd he get the... no, I know where he got the money, but still."
Zecora rolled her neck after helping drag Skystrike. "I recall his words so bright, he built this house for our reunions light."
"HAAAAUUUUUUUUUGH! mimimimimimimi."
Pinkie snorted at his snoring. "What was that!? Dear Celestia!" She wiped a tear. "We should probably wake him up..."
"Honestly, I don't know what'll wake him up at this point..." Applejack poked him a bit more. "It's a bit impressive."
"Oh! I have an idea!" Pinkie said before zipping away, only come back moments later with a small jar of smelling salts. She opened the jar and held it up to Skystrike's nose.
Skystrike inhaled, then jumped awake. "Jesus!" He coughed from the strong smell. It felt like his nose was burning.
"Hey, Neby!" Pinkie Pie greeted him with a hug. "Welcome back! And don't worry, I'm setting up that party I said I would! And happy birthday!"
Fluttershy was next to hug him. "I-... we're glad you're back."
One after another, each of his friends joined in on the hug. They enjoyed the moment for a bit before Skystrike broke the silence. "Oh, right, have you guys met Tethys?" The mane six all cringed at that. "...Ok, what did I miss?"
They all looked at each other, their eyes telling one another for them to explain. Tethys actually did. "The baby, Spike, said that the same thing happened to Zecora, if that gives you an idea."
Skystrike sighed. "It does. I'd say something, but I'll let you deal with it. For now, I'm hungry." Skystrike walked into the kitchen of his house and opened the refrigerator, looking for something quick to eat. He grabbed a few tomatoes and began eating.
They judged him with their eyes. "Are you... just eating tomatoes like... an apple?" Applejack stared.
"Yes. They're fruits right?" He continued to eat. "I'm hungry."
"That's weird, Skystrike." Applejack cringed. He finished the tomato in his hoof, then smiled. Then pulled out a lemon and bit into the skin of the fruit. "What the buck is wrong with you? How do you do that with a straight face!?"
"Please respect my privacy." He said before the two shared a laugh. He finished his food before stretching a bit. He reached for his chest before stopping. "No."
"No what?" Twilight poked her head into view.
"I was about to take off my armor, but you ponies would've been weird about it."
"I... I don't know what you mean by that." Twilight avoided eye contact.
"What I mean is I see the way you all look at Big Mac. And I get it, part of it is because he's like, one of a dozen single guys in town that's an option, but still. It get's weird. And most of you aren't even sneaky about it."
"...I don't know what you're talking about."
"Twilight, you have the lying skills of a child who just got told not to tell a secret." He checked the time on the microwave, it being 10:34. "Anyway, thanks for dragging me here, I can tell by the dirt in my armor. Girls, do you mind coming back at about two o'clock? I have something I need to talk about with Tethys, Zecora, and Stardust. We'll have that party that Pinkie was talking about."
"Alrighty! Girls, you know the plan!"
"Right!" They all said in response to Pinkie before leaving.
"...I feel I should be worried." He said with a small chuckle before walking to his front door and locking it. "Help me close all the blinds. I got something important to tell you all." He said as he started to do so. Tethys, Stardust, and Zecora all did so, going around the house to do so. Once done, Skystrike went to get the Silence stone and activated it, making sure what he was about to say stayed between them. Skystrike took off his armor and put it on his armor stand in his bedroom and put on a sweatshirt and sweatpants before walking downstairs, and into the living room, the three of his friends waiting for him. "Oh, I see you dropped the disguise, Elytra."
The changeling nodded. "Yeah, Zecora told me you knew. Wish you'd said something about it. It's tiring to keep up the transformation all the time."
"I thought you trained enough where you can keep it up indefinitely?"
"That's not the point, Skystrike." She rubbed her horn. "I don't know about you, but I like being in my own chitin. Only so much of Stardust is the real me. I don't want a persona and the real me to blend. As Stardust, I'm your guard first. As Elytra, I'm your sister first."
Skystrike rolled his shoulder and sat down on the arm chair across from the three sitting on the couch. "Either way, you're my sister first. But if we're talking about this, I assume Zecora told you a lot?"
Zecora nodded. "Indeed, I've covered key details, no doubt. Mostly what occurred within the hive's devout. And a bit of your journey when we did part ways, we recounted those memorable days."
"Perfect... then if that's the case..." Skystrike focused on his transformation, the neon green flames surrounding him for a moment before revealing his human form. "...I do get what you mean, Elytra, about being in your own skin."
"...Is this what you really are? A... hooman from a land afar?"
"Yes, this is my real form. I am human, and I'm sorry I couldn't tell you sooner." Skystrike leaned back in his chair and exhaled. "Think I figured out the reason why. Something mentally was stopping me. Elytra knew, because she saw me as a human first. I wasn't even able to tell Tethys until just before we found the lab. She had a hint that I wasn't a pony when I told her, same as you with my diary. It seems there's... a condition that one has to meet before I can reveal my human form. It being that they have to have some idea that I'm not a pony."
"I see..." Tethys rubbed her chin. "Any idea why it's put there?"
"Honestly, my first thought is that it's... some trial that they set up for me. At this point, it's all but confirmed that they planned for me to come here. To this world I mean. I heavily doubt they planned for me to get here the way I did though."
"I'm puzzled, you see, your words are a haze. By 'they,' you imply humans, in many ways. Yet scarcely, I've penned their deeds from your words, so unclear, how they schemed for your coming, can you make it clear?"
Skystrike nodded. He leaned back and looked at the ceiling, not liking to touch his past as a human. "Pretty sure that even Elytra doesn't know this, so I'll just start from the very beginning. Skystrike was the name I gave to myself once I began living in this world. The pony me." He put a hand to his chest. "The form you see me in, my human form, does not have a name. I am designated as P.R.O.W-0034, or 34 for short. From the moment I gained consciousness, I was told to fight. Every day, I, along with my brothers and sisters, were forced to fight each other and undergo... let's say special training and tests... to strengthen our physical and mana based abilities."
He paused for a moment before putting his hand in front of his face, staring at the back of it. "Eventually, we were told to fight each other. To kill each other. I did so without question. I was seen as a prodigy to those scientist, completing every event near flawlessly. They molded me into someone who would only know violence." Skystrike let out a long sigh, pausing for a moment before continuing. "Until one day, someone new came, to teach me morality. I realized that everything I've done before was wrong. When I was told to finish off my last sibling, I didn't. And... I payed the price for it. That was when I decided to rebel. I didn't know I could escape at the time, so my only goal was to take out everyone with me. That was when I first took a life by my own choice. Unexpectedly, I found a portal to this world, and the book picks up from there."
"That's... a lot to take in..." Elytra broke the long silence that followed his story. Then her eyes went wide. "Wait... you joined the hive at eight!"
"Yes."
She held her head. "By the pantheon..."
"...I get why you don't speak of your past. The sheer amount of trauma you went through is vast." Zecora winced, finally taking in the whole story.
"Fuck, Skystrike, I'm impressed you're still sane after all that. Not to mention what you had to go through after. I'm sorry." Tethys sighed.
"I've had, well today makes seventeen years, to deal with all of this. I thought I would've been over it by now, but some more things came up. During the mission in the north, Tethys and I found a lab. Made by humans for the intent to spy on me, and if they felt it needed, neutralize me." He leaned forward making sure to look at each of his friends. "The coming months could be the most dangerous that we will ever see. There was only one portal that led that lab. I have no idea if there are any more, but I plan on going to look. I will do everything in my power to make sure no harm comes to you all, or anyone I care about."
"And we'll do it together, right?" Tethys raised a brow.
Skystrike hesitated to answer through baited breath. "...I made a promise. I intend to keep it, no matter how much I want to keep you all safe. But we have a lot to do if you all plan on coming along."
"Didn't even have to ask, my friend. What is the plan, to bring the humans influence to an end?" Zecora, Elytra, and Tethys, all gave him a supporting smile.
He smiled back. "Thank you... I'm glad I met you all..." He said before beginning to list off what they were to do. "First, in the next few months, I plan on doing a complete overhaul of all of our armor and weaponry. Thanks to the rewards I got from that mission, we can get great enchantments to make us stronger. Just need to buy the materials. After, I plan on seeing everyone from All one more time. Right the wrongs that I've done, if not getting them back in the group. Transportation will only be hard for Hippogriffia to see Skybeak, Caninia to get to Jeshan, and Ornithia to figure out where Celeano is flying. Finally, I'll be hunting down any trace of my race and neutralize them."
"You haven't really thought this through, have you?" Zecora chuckled.
"Only the armor and weapons parts. But I do have some ideas to get to our friends. Just have to get the money for it. I have to buy an airship, and upgrade it to get to Ornithia and Hippogriffia."
"You know, I still have my hoard. I can give it to you if we need it to find our friends. Plus, I plan on moving in anyway. Need some time away from the dragon lands and seas." Tethys offered. "I've been keeping it in that magic bag you gave me those years ago. Same place we got yours." She reached under the armor covering her chest and pulled out said bag.
Skystrike shook his head. "The offer is appreciated, but hold onto it for now, I have some money saved up." Tethys put her bag back. "My idea to get the materials is to buy them cheap. In theory, with Zecora's brews and witchery, and with my magic, we can transmute the cheap stuff into higher quality items, if not new elements entirely. Just need to make the transmutation equations."
"And the power source?" Elytra asked. "I saw you make that weapon you bought to your mission. No way that airship and submarine will run on just batteries."
"Well... the plan is to charge them with my own magic. A backup energy source will be a machine that mimics the bodily functions of this worlds inhabitants. Basically, it will absorb the latent mana within the atmosphere and convert it into magic as a fuel source."
"...That... sounds like infinite energy!"
"And that's what makes your world so lucky, and what made my race so interested in it. Still need to make the blueprints, then the prototypes. Give me a few months to get everything ready." Skystrike leaned forward, then used his magic to turn back to his pony form.
"You know, you've grown a lot. I didn't expect... well I thought your muscles and stuff were an illusion. You were a thin kid." Elytra admitted.
"Yeah, well when I became a pony, started relying more on my body than my magic." He quickly got used to his form again. "I do miss having hands. That's one of the reasons I wear my armor a lot. You all might as well stay here, since Pinkie wants to have a party here. Tethys, chose one of the empty rooms to be yours for now. I'm going to take a long, long, bath."
He indeed took a long, long, bath. Nearly an hour actually. It was amazing. A week in the dirt, mud, and blood would make you pretty dirty. Luckily, he didn't get any stains in his coat. Making sure to brush his mane, tail, and coat of any lose hairs, he walked downstairs. Some bright colors were caught in the corner his eye, so he decided to look at what it was. "Oh, you guys are all here. I wasn't keeping track of time."
"Howdy, Sky! Hey girls! Sky's done!" Applejack yelled to the others.
"...You made me realize I need more guy friends." Skystrike reached the living room and sat in his arm chair. "Maybe I'll go talk to Noteworthy. Or Time Turner. Meadow Song seems cool. And of course, Spike is that guy."
"There's Big Mac."
"Applejack, not gonna lie, he's cool and all, but he kinda has something against me." Skystrike shrugged.
"What did you do, sugar cube?" She asked.
"Oh, nothing. He's protective of you. Has that older brother love. I get it." He chuckled as he got comfortable.
Applejack saw what Skystrike was implying. "I'll talk to him about it. It'd be great to have you at the farm more!"
"Oh, sweet summer child." Skystrike put a hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "I don't avoid your farm because of your brother. It's because the few times I went there, Granny Smith hit on me every time I went there."
Rarity and Zecora, who just rounded the corner, burst out laughing. Applejack however, was mortified. "I'm... I'll definitely talk to her."
"Imagine friend zoning your friends grand mother! Ahahahaha!" Rarity laughed some more.
"It wouldn't be so weird if she didnt keep saying 'if only I was a few years younger.' And like, age isn't a factor in this scenario, I'm not gonna hit on your grandma." Skystrike put his hooves out, motioning to no one in particular.
"I actually have a picture of her." Applejack reached in her hat and pulled out a picture. She was quite younger, about his age now, if not a bit older. From the aging on the photograph though, it had to have been at least been taken 30 years ago. But that was besides the point.
"...Age may be a factor..." He laughed, then quickly ducked a jab at his head from Applejack. "You know what, that's fair."
Applejack grabbed his sweatshirt angrily. "Skystrike you-"
"I'm not going to do anything to your grandma. It's still weird, bro."
She let go. "Good..."
"What type of mare do you like anyway?" Rarity sat down on the couch next to them.
"I am nowhere drunk enough to admit that to you. Ask me later." Skystrike leaned on his hoof before sniffing the air. "I smell food. And I realize I haven't eaten since I got home."
"Well, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie are baking, with Tethys being the taste tester." Rarity got comfortable, then looked to Applejack. "Didn't you bring some apples or something?"
"Oh, right. Be right back, Sky!" Applejack ran to the kitchen, leaving Rarity, Zecora, and Skystrike alone.
"So, darling, this being one of the few times where we can sit and talk, I must ask, are you... interested in anypony?"
The house suddenly got quieter as Rarity waited for Skystrike to answer. "That's a silly question. Most beings have friends they are interested in. For example, you're interesting because of your eye for fashion, and you have a dream you actively follow. One of the most upstanding ponies I know."
Rarity smiled at the flattery. "Well, thank you for that, but that wasn't what I meant."
"...I'm confused."
Rarity narrowed her eyes. "Skystrike, do you like anypony?"
"I like a lot of ponies. It's easier to name the ones I don't like." Skystrike thought about it for a moment. "Actually, there's like three I can think of. Most of the ponies, actually, most of the beings I've met have been at the very least decent."
Rarity's eye twitched and sighed. "Skystrike, you're dense."
"No, I'm hungry." Skystrike's stomach rumbled.
As if on queue, Applejack and Rainbow Dash walked into view. "I got apples!" The former said. "What type do you perfer?
"The uh..." He squinted his eyes. "...The red one."
"Baldwin, McIntosh, or Gala?"
"...The... the first one." He put out a hoof to catch the apple that Applejack threw to him. "Thank you." He said before quickly finishing the apple in three bites. "Man, I needed that. Give me another." He was thrown another, then ate it in the same fashion. "More..." He was thrown a third, then a fourth for good measure. Skystrike scarfed them down. "God, that hit the spot."
"Damn, Sky, you're going to give AJ a run for her money!" Rainbow said, flying over and leaning on the back of Skystrike's chair. "How do you eat like that?"
"I have a big mouth." He chuckled. "Still a bit hungry. I need to do meal prep tomorrow."
"Speaking of food, remember when the princesses were over for that meeting and you made us all food? That really helped with my afternoon workout. Anything special you put in your food?"
"Oh, yeah. Special seasoning I made. Not only does it taste good, but it increases the speed of your digestive system, and how much energy you get from the food you digest. Took a while to get the right balance. Only downside is you have to work it off, or those extra calories sit in your body."
"That was your fault!?" Rarity stomped a hoof. "I thought I gained a few pounds!"
Skystrike poked his hooves together shyly. "...Sowwy..."
Applejack and Rainbow Dash snickered. Rarity sighed, "It's... fine... I do need to get back in shape. A figure like this has to be kept at peak perfection." Skystrike looked closely at the unicorn for a moment. "What?"
"Oh, nothing. Just never paid much attention to... actually, now that I think of it, anyone's figure." He shrugged.
"A part of me appreciates that, but another feels like you don't see us as mares." Rarity sighed
"I mean, I just try not to look at anyone that way, else it gets weird." He leaned back in his chair. "Plus, you're all girls. It's ok for you all to do it to each other."
"I know Fluttershy appreciates it at least. You know like, at least half the guys in Ponyville have hit on her." Rainbow flew over from her spot next to Rarity. "And we all get it, she's a pretty mare, but most ponies barely take the time to get to know her. That's the downside of the dating market. Guys just think they can get anypony since there's so few of them. Er, no offense, Skystrike."
"None taken. And I agree, Fluttershy is one of the nicest ponies I know. But- Well I guess I'm missing something. Why are stallions hitting on Fluttershy while barely knowing anything about her?"
They all looked at each other, then Applejack sighed. "Celestia, you're dense." A moment passed as Applejack thought. "I don't know how else to say it, so I'll be honest. She has... assets that most mares would be jealous of. Apparently there's an... argument between her and Pinkie that some of the stallions keep arguing on."
"What?" Skystrike blinked. "I'm confused."
The mares looked at each other. "You... really haven't noticed?"
"Noticed what?"
It was Rainbow Dash this time. "Celestia, you are dense. Skystrike, they have fat flanks and big teats."
"Oh." Skystrike sat up at that. "Wait, so what's the argument?"
"The normal boobs versus butt thing."
"...Well that's fucked. I'm sorry they have to go through that." He sighed. "Not a fan of objectifying."
Applejack bit into an apple she bought. "I'm surprised you didn't say you relate. Mares in town talk about you and Big Mac the same way."
"...They what?"
"Well, after that whole competition we did, quite a few mares started getting interested in you. Especially after you took off your shirt. And I'm not going to lie... you have a good build. It's just... gets uncomfortable when other mares talk about my brother like that."
"Thanks? I guess? I'm confused on how to feel on all of this."
"Just be careful on who's actually into you, and who's into your body." Rarity used her magic to float over an apple.
As if on queue, Twilight , Pinkie, Fluttershy, Stardust, and Tethys walked out of the kitchen. The pegasus, holding two trays of brownies, and Pinkie pie hopping next to her balancing a tray of Deli sandwiches on her back before they both laid them on the table. "Food! God, I'm hungry!" Skystrike said as he reached for the sandwiches.
"Wait!" Pinkie said for the stallion to stop mid reach. "You almost forgot the flag, silly!" She pulled one out of her hair and stuck it in his sandwich. "There you go!"
"Thank you!" He said before chowing down. "God, I needed that... I'd never thing to put avocados and apples together with swiss cheese."
"We also made salads, grilled cheese, and egg rolls! And for dessert, We have cupcakes!" Pinkie listed, pulling out each from her mane, then put it back in.
"Oh, so that's why Tethys has frosting on her scales." Skystrike chuckled as he took another bite. "Damn, this is good."
Tethys got the frosting off her scales with a finger and ate it. "Oh yeah, since it's your birthday, should we play that game?" She gave a sinister smirk.
"...I don't like that look you're giving me, but I do." Skystrike bit into his sandwich again.
"What're we going to play?" Pinkie forced Skystrike to scoot over and sat next to him.
"It's like Jenga, spin the bottle, and truth or dare, all at the same time." Skystrike finished his sandwich. "Rules are easy. We sit in a circle and spin the bottle. The one the top of the bottle lands on takes the Jenga piece and plays like normal. The fun part is, we all write our names on the wooden blocks. If you pull someone's name, they choose the truth or dare the player does. The player doesn't get to decide whether it's truth or dare. If you knock over the tower, everyone takes a shot of Vodka. And you can have your dares involve others, we're good enough friends to not do anything crazy."
"That actually sounds really interesting." Twilight floated over her sandwich and began eating. "I'm in." The rest nodded in agreement.
"Alright." Skystrike got up from his seat and flew into his workshop, coming back with a small crate of wooden blocks and some markers. "There's ten of us, so 6 blocks per." He put down the crate and threw everyone their markers, then passed everyone their blocks.
Once everyone returned their blocks, they all took their seats. Clockwise, it went Skystrike, Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow, Twilight, Tethys, Zecora, then Stardust. Skystrike got a grilled cheese and ate it in three bites. Wiping his hooves, he picked up the crate, shook it to shuffle it, then quickly built the tower. Before he could even ask, Tethys decided. "Birthday boy goes first."
"Alright." He said hesitantly before spinning the bottle. It landed on Applejack. She chose the safe option, going for a middle piece near the bottom. She looked at the name on the block. "Alright, Twilight, it's yours."
"What is something you'd do if there were no consequence?" Twilight took a sip of her glass of water.
Applejack thought about it for a moment. "I don't know actually... Punch some ponies I guess." Then something clicked in her mind. "I'd punch Filthy Rich! Keeps trying to buy my apples to upsell them."
"...Well that's boring." Twilight huffed. "I was expecting like... theft at least."
"Why would I steal? What would I steal?"
"A fashion sense." Rarity smirked.
"My turn!" Pinkie smiled as she spun the bottle. It landed on Skystrike. "Oh, this might be hard, having your big hooves."
"I'll be fine." Skystrike chuckled. He bent his wing to use one of his primary feathers to poke one of the side blocks near the bottom out, then reading the name before placing it. "Rainbow... you know, I feel like I'm about to regret this."
Rainbow Dash snickered, getting her words out while laughing. "I dare you to eat the entire tray of brownies Fluttershy made on the right! In under two minutes."
"Seems easy enough..." Skystrike said as he started scarfing down the brownies. A look of pure dread went over Fluttershy's face as Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Tethys's laughs were rising as he got closer and closer to finishing the brownies. Popping the final one in his mouth, Skystrike looked down at his chocolate covered hooves. Then began to lick them clean before wiping them off with a napkin. "I gotta say, Fluttershy, you make good brownies-... are you ok? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Skystrike, you're going to want to hold onto something..." Fluttershy warned him.
"...What the fuck did I just eat, Fluttershy?" He sighed in annoyance. "What, you put something weird in it?"
"W-well... it's not weird but..." She tried to figure out how to get the next words out. She walked up to him and put her hooves on his shoulders. "Skystrike... those... those were weed brownies..." They all began trying to stifle their laughters as it set in. "And you just ate enough to get all of us baked. And you're about to be... burnt."
Skystrike looked at his hooves. "Oh... ooooh no." He said, fear leaking from his voice.
Everyone else burst out laughing. "Oh this is going to be great!" Rainbow fell on her back, laughing. "Oh my Celestia, I'm so lucky!"
"I'm going to get you back for this one day..." Skystrike pointed. "This is a declaration of war."
"Sky, is this your first high?" Fluttershy asked, full of worry.
"Yeah..."
"I'm... I'm so sorry."
"Rarity, spin the bottle please." Skystrike said, but it came out more as a beg.
Rarity did so, the bottle spinning around a few times before landing on Zecora. Zecora pushed out a side block and read out the name and put it on top, finishing a layer. "Tethys, this block belongs to you. What would you have me do?"
"I always wanted to ask, is this rhyming thing you do on purpose? Like, cultural? Or is it a gimmick?"
Zecora shuffled embarrassingly. "I'm... the only one from my land who rhymes. While it is on purpose, it's hard thinking of some at times."
"I KNEW IT!" Tethys and Stardust said at the same time.
"You know, you can just drop the bit if it gets tiring." Tethys giggled.
"I aspire to test how far I can flow, to maintain this momentum and let it grow."
"Respect." Skystrike chuckled... longer that he normally would. "You know, I'm kinda hungry."
"You can have the rest of my sandwich." Fluttershy offered as she spun the bottle, it landing on Twilight. "Half of it was filling enough."
"You're the kindest pony I've ever met." He laughed and hugged the pegasus before taking the sandwich and biting into it, humming happily.
Everyone laughed as Twilight used her magic to take out a middle block to start a new layer. "Skystrike, this one's yours."
"Uuuuuuuuuuuh..." Skystrike thought for a moment. "...Go the rest of the day... without using magic... nerd."
"...Buck..."
"Yeah, you rely on your magic too much, don't ya? You... grape pony." Skystrike narrowed his eyes and took a look at the sandwich. "Oh my god, I can taste everything... What the hell was in those edibles?"
Applejack spun the bottle, it landing on Skystrike, who slowly and carefully pushed a side peice out, slanting the tower a bit. He carefully placed it on top. "Pinkie... give me the thing Pinkie."
The candy mare giggled a bit before speaking. "What's the biiiiiiigest secret you've kept that nopony knows about?"
Stardust, Tethys, and Zecora looked at him with mild worry, wondering what he'd do. Skystrike smiled though. "Oh, this is going to be great. Tethys, right next to you is my saddlebag. Reach in and throw me my torque wrench." Tethys raised a brow and did so, Skystrike catching it in his left hoof, then reaching under his sweatshirt and using it, a couple clicks being heard. "OW! God, I can feel so much! It's so weird!"
"...What was that?" Twilight asked.
"Come find out." He lifted his right arm with his left. "Pull my hoof, REALLY hard!"
Twilight hessitantly walked over and grabbed his right arm with her hooves, pulling and falling backwards with the arm still in hand. She looked at the ceiling, then at his arm to realize what she did. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.
And then Pinkie screamed. Fluttershy went pale. Stardust gagged. Rainbow pulled on her face. Applejack rubbed her eyes to see if she was seeing right. Rarity screamed and nearly fainted. Zecora's eyes went wide and her jaw dropped. And Tethys grabbed on her horns as she screamed. "By the dragon lord, his arm fell off!" Skystrike was laughing his ass off and slapping the floor with his other arm.
"Skystrike, are you ok!?" Applejack ran over to put pressure on the supposed wound.
Skystrike couldn't breathe from how hard he was laughing. "AAHAHA! Check... check the shoulder... AAHAHAHAA"
Twilight looked down at the arm in her hooves and flipped it over. She looked at where the arm disconnected. Then she blinked. And she got even more confused. She took off the skin sleeve that covered it. "Wait a minute... it's... it's METAL!!?"
They all stopped in their tracks, save for Skystrike of course, then looked at the arm. Tethys stomped over and took of Skystrike's shirt and looking at his right shoulder, picking him up and eyeing the metal socket where his arm would go in. She dropped him and sighed. "Skystrike... when did you lose your arm?"
"Oh, don't worry, it was way before I met any of you." His laughter began to dying down. "I got it when I was eight. Had to keep upgrading it and the shoulder." Skystrike inhaled to catch his breath.
"How did... What the..." Twilight's processing speed reached the breaking point. "You've had a metal arm this whole time!? How'd you even make this!?"
"Pretty big secret, right?" He chuckled as he took a bit of of his sandwich. "...I can feel my teeth... I can FEEL my GUMS."
Zecora took the arm from Twilight's hooves and looked at it from all angles. "Such a twist, quite unanticipated, I reckon, How in the world did this occurrence beget, second?"
Skystrike's smile fell a bit. "That's a bit personal." Skysktrike walked to Zecora and took his arm back, putting it in place. "YYYYYAAAAAAARGH.... God DAMN! Does weed make you hypersensitive or something!?"
"To some, yes." Fluttershy answered. "But back on topic, is it... directly connected to your nerves?"
"Yeah, and it hurts like Tartarus to reattach them." He flexed his metal arm and tightened a few bolts with his torque wrench.
Stardust put his arm in her hooves. "Can you... feel this?"
"Yes, I made it so it works like my other arm. Same strength, flexibility, feel anything you can think of." Skystrike flexed it, rolling each joint to make sure it felt right. "More questions later. Tethys, spin the bottle!"
Tethys sighed, and it landed on Skystrike. "Fuckin..." He chuckled and did the routine. "Applejack! Your name's on it!" He laughed before pausing. "...Why's it taking so long for you to speak?"
"It's been like, two seconds." She smiled. "What, does time slow down when you're high?"
"It... feels like it... Why are you taking so long to respond!?" He bit into his sandwich and finished it. "Why am I so hungry!?"
"By the princesses, he's losing it!" Rainbow laughed.
"I've always wanted to ask, but I never knew how to bring it up. Do you ever... think about looking for your parents?"
Skystrike narrowed his eyes. "No point. I know where they are, six feet under."
"O-oh... well, I'm sorry sugar cube. I didn't mean to bring up any bad memories. I get it too, my parents being gone and all..." Applejack lowered her hat to cover her eyes.
"Don't be. I killed them." He smacked his lips. "I'm... I'm hungry again..."
Silence filled the room for a bit. Stardust rubbed her head. "Bombshell after bombshell tonight, huh? I'm just gonna ask what everyone wants to know. How'd you lose it?"
"I was bought up to be a child soldier by my 'parents' and lost my arm when I didn't want to kill. Then I killed them after." He said way too nonchalantly for it to be even close to comfortable.
"...Excuse my language, but what the buck, Skystrike." Rarity put out her hooves. "And you didn't think to tell us any of this before!?"
"You didn't ask... and I didn't want to bring up my life before I came to Equestria... Life's been shit enough as is, don't want to dwell on the past." He grabbed a couple egg rolls and downed them like it was nothing. "I'd... rather we move on. Zecora, it's your turn to spin it."
Zecora did so, spinning the bottle and it landing on Stardust. "Finally." She smiled and pulled out a middle piece and placed it on top, the tower shaking a bit. "Zecora, this one's yours."
The zebra hummed. "Tell me, what's the wildest as a guard you've seen, In the line of duty, in a situation quite keen?"
Stardust laughed, remembering what she had to write. "One time, I had to carry a mare stealthily to the emergency room from her apartment in Canterlot because she stuck an object in her... mare area. The object was the same as her cutie mark... it was a traffic cone."
"Ew." They all said, save for Skystrike, who was zoned the fuck out.
Skystrike had his own, special reaction. "Hoooooolyyyy Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit" He held the note for a solid ten seconds. "Wow..." His eyes were red and droopy.
Rainbow Dash snickered. "You- you enjoying it?"
"Oh no, it's kicked in fully. You ok, Skystrike?" Fluttershy tilted her head.
Skystrike processed the words coming out of her mouth, seemingly in slow motion. "...What planet am I on? What's today? ...MY WIG IS GONE!"
Stardust snorted. "It's- its your turn big guy..."
Skystrike reached for the bottle and spun it, landing on himself. Then he reached for the Jenga tower. But his depth perception was fucked. Instead of pushing out a block, he knocked over the entire tower. "Yatzee!" He said to himself before giggling like a school girl.
Rarity coughed out her drink. Then used wiped her face with a napkin. "Skystrike, darling... will you be ok to have a shot of vodka?"
"Sheeeeeeeesh, marshmallow I'll be... fiiiine... Paprika ain't raise no bitch." He chuckled and blinked. "...How late is it? I'm... sleepy."
Rarity went to grab the alcohol and shot glasses at Skystrike used his wings to get up, but overshot the strength of his flap and hit the ceiling. Then fell down onto the floor. "...You ok, Skystrike?" Tethys tried to pick him up.
Skystrike took Fluttershy's advice into account and held onto the floor. "My senses are heightened, I can feel my teeth... my eyes... my hair... and I don't remember what I... what I... what was I going to say?"
"Rarity, I have an idea. You should make one of the shots water, and whoever gets it will be the lucky one." Tethys winked.
Rarity came back with the Vodka and shots in her hooves. She set them down and quickly poured them, and some water for Skystrike, before floating one to each of them "Bottoms up, darlings!"
Everyone threw back the shot glass. Then Skystrike rebuilt the Jenga tower and sprawled out on the floor. "...You guys ever think about... how if you stack lasagna on top of lasagna, you get... one lasagna?"
Pinkie Pie started this time, taking a block and placing it on top. "Tethys! Hit me!"
"After Skystrike and I split up, and I went back to the dragon lands, some of the dragons who've been talking to you ponies, and some ponies themselves, have asked me 'do it clap?' What does that mean?"
"So basically..." Pinkie clapped without her hooves. "It's fun sometimes, but you don't look like you have the rear for it. No offense."
Skystrike turned to look at Pinkie. "How did you... how did you clap without your hooves???"
"Silly Neby, I just use my flank!" She slapped it.
Skystrike stared at her and took a few seconds to process that before saying "GYATT! Applejack was right!" Skystrike began wheezing and laughing, sounding like a kettle on a hot stove.
"Actually-... well we're all girls, and Skystrike's a good guy, so no harm in sharing. "I'm... a bit insecure about my body, so I use my ice to shrink the fat on my body. Makes me feel better, and less dragons hit on me. And it keeps the girls in check."
"Trust me, I get it..." Pinkie sighed. "Sure, I'm a party girl and all, but that doesn't mean I sleep with every guy I meet." She laid on the floor and leaned her head on a hoof. "Then there's those stallions that think I'm an easy lay. Like, sure, I like sex. Who doesn't? Doesn't mean I open my legs to every stallion with a working dick."
"...I'm sorry you all have to go through that." Skystrike sat up. "I don't fully get it, but I've had some similar things happen. Next time it happens, I'll punch them really hard."
"What have you had to go through?" Tethys asked.
"...when I was in Canterlot, between like, 13 and 15, I hit a massive growth spurt. At that point, I went from the size of like... Rainbow Dash about, to the size of your average stallion. And I was hit on a lot, didn't matter where. The weird ones are the ones that think I like them because I'm nice to them."
"Yeesh. Sorry, dude. I'll admit I was like that when I was younger. Seems like both genders have our own problems." Applejack said after biting into her sandwich. "Mmm, these are good."
"Wait... Tethys... you said 'the girls in check.' What, is someone bullying you? Who else I gotta punch??" He clenched his hooves. "Give me NAMES!"
"...You know, I feel like if I did, you'd actually go find them, but that's besides the point. Remember how I said I'm a mammal?" Tethys then took off her chestplate by loosening the metal buckles behind the shoulder, the chestplate dropping on the carpet and exhaled, releasing the ice magic she kept in her body. The well toned muscles on her body were soon hidden by the layers of fat as she grew wider. She looked over her body. "Huh, haven't seen myself like this in a while. Legs are thicker... so is my tail... and I have some pudge. And the girls got bigger..."
"Damn, they're as big as me!" Stardust couldn't help but stare.
"I see why you're insecure. I cant imagine what you've had to go through. But that ability of yours is pretty convenient..." Rarity laid on her side and rested her head on her hoof.
"We should not be judged by the vessel we inhabit, but what we do with the gift of life. While it's surprising, I don't plan on treating you any differently because of your body. That's what friends are for..." Skystrike spoke. "That being said, my eyes are blurry. What are we al looking at?" He laughed.
"Basically it's Tethys, except she's got huge boobs. I mean some serious honkers. A real set of badonkers. Packin some dobonhonkeros. Massive dohoonkabhankoloos. Big old tonhongerekoogers!" Pinkie said, making grabbing motions with her hooves.
"...Whuh?" Skystrike couldn't even say the word correctly.
"Bonkhonagahoogs, Skystrike! humungous hungolomgohnonoloughongous!" Pinkie grabbed his face and faced it towards Tethys.
"...Dude are we... are we talking horses?" Skystrike rubbed his eyes. "...why are my eyes closed but I can see? Are we... still playing the Jenga remix?"
"Oh, right." Rarity realized that it was her turn, then spun the bottle. It landed on Skystrike. He stood up and walked over, not being able to see that well, and pushed the block out with his snout. "Rares...ty..."
She thanked her lucky stars. Rarity sat up and leaned forward. "Skystrike, well... you're high as a kite, not drunk, but I'll still ask. What type of mare do you like?"
Skystrike felt this was a trap. Or a leading question. But he said he'd answer. He put up a hoof before running out of the room and pushing in a white board on wheels. He popped the cap of the marker and began speaking as he wrote. "Let's start things off simple..." He wrote a single word on the board. "Women. Not mares. Women. I'm not racist." He slapped the board. "Getting into specifics... I'm not picky. You nice to me? You probably got a chance if you ask me out." He wrote the word nice on the board. "Are you nice to others, and not specifically me? Great... your chances have gone up." And he drew an arrow pointing upward. They all stared with varying levels of interest. "Lets get the... the touchy part out of the way... your body type... doesn't matter that much. Skinny bitches, thick bitches, fat bitches, whatever bitches, come my way!" He laughed to himself as he wrote 'all types' under 'Women'. "Your colors don't matter too much... as long as you aren't some absolute degenerate clash of color. Like... if you made an OC as a child and had no idea of color pallets Like black with bright red stripes... Fuckin... edge lords..." Skystrike then wrote 'bad colors' on the white board. "Any questions so far?" He slapped the board a few times for no apparent reason. Then giggled.
"Uh, yeah, do any of us have bad colors?" Twilight asked.
"I feel like that's a leading question, but no. All of your colors work well. It doesn't hurt the eyes. Which says something for most of you, being bright as fuck..." Skystrike squinted.
"Alright then, keep going." Twilight crossed her front hooves and bit into her sandwich.
"Cool... now, my second favorite part." He drew a giant plus symbol on the board, then made space to write. "All women... well most women start off with a five. Why do you think that is?"
The girls looked around at each other before Rainbow raised a hoof. "...Because you don't know them yet?"
"Good job!" Skystrike gave a wide smile. "You get a prize!" He went to his armory and got a decorative dagger and handed it to Rainbow, who took it, confused as hell. "If I just met you, I only know how you look, and since I don't judge on looks mostly, you are in the middle of the road. Solid. Five... You muhfukers know how that score gets raised??"
This time, Rarity raised her hoof. "Um... you said body type didn't matter that much, so... what they do?"
"Meh, close enough." Skystrike went to his armory again and came back with a silver engraved tiara and put it on her head, then ruffled her mane. "Their habits is the game changer." He wrote 'habits' on the white board. "If you do something productive, fuck yeah, that's nice as hell. Brings you from 5 to like... a 7 max, depending on the habit... You like, I don't know... learning a new skill? Solid 7. Reading a new book? A very nice 6. Getting different perspectives? Very good 7. You get even more points if I'm into those habits too! And the best part? I'll try almost anything!"
Applejack raised a hoof. "What wont you try?"
Skystrike had to think on it for a moment. "Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh... I don't know... I'll get back to you on that if there's something that throws me off... Anyway... onto my FAVORITE part of what I like in women... and Rarity you'll like this one... how they dress..." He wrote 'How they dress' on the white board. "Clothes! Hot as hell! Hair styles! Hot as hell!" He slapped the board at the end of each sentence, getting a couple laughs. "Fuck, let's not be specific to ponies! The curves on their horns! The stripe patterns! The shape of their fins and frills! HOW FLUFFY THEY ARE!" He slammed the floor. "But, if you want my personal opinions... well, it differs per being, but I'll tell you what you can't go wrong with..." He began writing on the board. "Dresses, bows, stockings, glasses, scarfs, sweaters, skirts, fish nets, rings, necklaces, bracelets, hats, pantyhose's, anything that complements your natural attributes. And this doesn't apply to just clothes, like I said! bangs, Shag cut, Lob cut, Bob cut, Wedge cut, Undercut, Curls, Frizzy, Long, short, Mohawk, they're all hot as hell!"
Each of them took a moment to look at their own hair, and thinking. Then Rarity had an idea. "And... what would you recommend to each of us?" The girls all looked to her. "What? I don't know about you all, but at least I'd like a guys opinion. Plus, it seams like Skystrike here knows something about fashion, unlike most of you..."
"Well excuse me, miss 'I must look perfect for every occasion.'" Applejack quipped.
"And that's why a lady like me models my own clothes." She closed her eyes and smirked, acting all high and mighty. As soon as she opened her eyed, she met Skystrike staring her in the face, their noses touching. "...S-Skystrike, what are you."
"Beatnik... Beatnik Rarity... Red barrett, black sweater." He said before going around the circle to the next one. "Fluttershy..." He rubbed his chin. "...You would most definitely rock the goth style... like, the Victorian goth... But I don't know the names for those clothes..." He stepped over to see Applejack, and circled around her. "...You don't like anything too flashy... Sun dress and... round braid..." His head snapped towards Rainbow Dash. "Ponytail, sports wear... like a track suit... and a necklace." Skytrike then looked up at Tethys. "...High slit, open back dress, silver, and... rings on your horns." Zecora waited somewhat hesitantly. "An undercut would work well, but to be honest, the neck rings, bracelet, and ear rings are already peak... an Ankara dress would suit you..." Stardust waited patiently. "Bob cut with uh... wrap dress... a red one..." Finally Pinkie shuffled in her spot in anticipation. "Honestly, you're a hard one... bouffant dress, straight hair... if you can... I know your hair is like, a monster in and of itself."
"Those are actually all good ideas. I might use those... How... how do you know all of these types of styles darling? Just curious." Rarity took out a note pad and jotted some things down.
"You have a sister, and I bet she already doesn't want to match styles with you, right? Now imagine that with four girls. Those were my sisters..." He sighed, thinking back on it, then laughing. "I was about to say something that wasn't even funny, then I forgot what in Tartarus I was going to say. Oh god, I'm fucking losing it."
"It sounds like you just don't have a preference..." Rainbow chuckled. "We need to get you a marefriend. Then you'll know what you actually like."
"...I think that aliens are trying to talk to me with my mind... And while I... appreciate the offer, I don't need help from somepony who I'm the only stallion who they talk to besides their father."
Rarity and Applejack snickered as Skystrike. "Well excuse you! I can get a coltfriend if I tried!" She said flustered. "Besides, you can't even get on if you tried!"
"ExCUUUUSE you! I have a Ph.D in Rizzics. I get all the ladies!" He bit into another eggroll.
"Oh yeah?" She narrowed her eyes. "Prove it."
Skystrike stared at her then laughed so hard that he fell on his back, snorting. After composing himself, the strutted up to Rainbow Dash, shaking his hair out. "Hey, real quick, there's something on your chest." He pointed a hoof at a smear that wasn't there. Like a fool, a goofy head, Rainbow Dash looked down confused, only for Skystrike's hoof to pull her up by the chin for their eyes to meet. "Hopefully me soon~." Rainbow's jaw dropped as her face turned red and her wings spread out. Skystrike snorted and he fell to the ground laughing, along with everyone else.
"AHAHA! She got a wing boner!" Pinkie laughed and pointed.
"That was the stupidest line I've ever done!" Skystrike kicked his legs in the air. "How did that work!?"
Once the laughter died down, Fluttershy spun the bottle. Then it landed on Zecora. "Twilight, this one belongs to you. What would you have me do?"
Twilight thought for a moment. "You've known Skystrike for a while. What's the funniest thing you know about him?"
"Zecora, don't rat me out!" Skystrike laughed.
Zecora giggled, thinking about what she was about to say. "Skystrike's clueless about societal forms, and I question if he's learned any norms."
"Yeah..." Skystrike admitted.
"That explains a lot actually." Twilight rubber her chin in thought. "Maybe it's because of where Skytrike's from."
"We did have many different norms where I'm from. And I assumed it was the same until I was told... otherwise. I almost said underwear for some reason..."
"Give us some examples..." Twilight leaned forward.
"Uuuhhhhhh fuckin... The whole dating market here is reversed. Where I'm from, the guy is supposed to ask out the girl. Aaaand uuuuhhh... now that I think of it, mostly the opposite of here." He rolled his joints. "Like uuuh... poligamy is actually looked down upon. I don't even know how it works. I only found out like, 5 months ago that I found out that it's the norm here." He laughed. "Where I'm from, there's also a patriarchy, instead of matriarchies. Next, you're going to tell me that it's the guys who stay at home and do house work."
"...Well, they do traditionally. Not so much anymore... What else do you not know?"
"...How would I know what to tell you I don't know???" Skystrike put his hooves out. "Like, bruh."
"You must at least know the common stuff, like, how herds work, or expectations of a stallion, right?" Rarity asked.
"...Girl talk is weird. No, I don't know any of that, and I don't think I really care. I don't expect certain things from others because of their gender." Skystrike sat and thought for a moment. "But that does remind me of that time you called me 'marely', and in hindsight, I didn't see many guys in my line of work."
"Well, if you want an example, it's Mrs. Cake that's actually in charge of the bakery. Mr. Cake helps out, obviously, but he's expected to take care of the kids when they have some." Pinkie explained.
"Wait... is that why you all thought I was gay? Because the norms where I'm from is what the opposite gender does here?"
Tethys snickered. "They thought you were gay?"
"It's also because well... most guys talk about their sex life, and Skystrike is a virgin." Applejack bit into another apple.
"Holup, you think I'm a virgin?" Skystrike raised an eyebrow. "I'm insulted." He mock scoffed.
"Sky, we know you don't have sex. It's ok to be a virgin at your age." Rarity tried to make him feel better.
But now, he was actually a bit insulted. "Motherfucker, I already showed I got dat dawg in me. I get bitches."
"Prove it. I know you can't." Rarity snickered.
"He's not a virgin." Tethys and Zecora said in unison. The room when dead silent, then Skystrike laughed again.
"Called it!" Rainbow Dash pumped her hoof in the air. Then Applejack and Rarity gave her some bits
"Fuck you guys!" He said getting really loud. "I'm tired of yo asses bruh, Now I'm really 'bout to get to the packin' the packin' the flippin' the flappin' the clappin' the slappin' upside your head, bruh! Your name is Rainbow Dash, your hairline crashed, you fell into a farm and said 'I like my potatoes mashed'! Girl if you don't get yo 'watch me whip watch me nae nae' ass outa here! You messed up a flight, and started yelling mayday! Your grandma gave Bling Bling Boy a lap dance for a payday! Wait hold up a second-" He grabbed a pillow from the couch as the laughter around him grew and began beating it. "GIVE ME THE MONEY GRANDMA 'aHhH! pleAse StOp!'" He spoke in an old lady's voice. "Shut yo dumbass up! And I ain't done yet! Applejack if you don't get yo jenga playin' doodoo fart sprayin, ugly face displayin' Body build like a mutant naked mole rat, got all the bad genes, you were born in the wrong format, 3'2 you look like the Lorax! You dumb ass hell shut yo' ugly ass up!" He inhaled deeply as his friends were rolling on the floor losing it. "And Rarity, I didn't for get you! You better get your shopping cart, crippled fart, Got an A mom I'm smart, Bubble bass, wax your ass, you mow the lawn by eating grass! Tell me how in the flippity wippity dippity FUCK your grandpa lost a seven hour staring contest to a wall of paint!"
Pinkie couldn't breathe and her stomach was hurting as she kept laughing. "No more! No more!" She wheezed.
"nO MoRE! No MorE! SHUT YO FAT ASS UP PINKIE! Oh you thought I was done!? Now I'm really 'bout to get to the packin' the rappin' the dibi duh daba duh flippity flobbidy doppity de dippity de de de de flibbitty wibbity doo doo slumpin slappin do be do do derongeribby dobiddigidy!? I'm about to hit a combo move on yo ass now! UP UP DOW DOWN LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT, YOUR CURRENT ROOM MATE IS A TAPDANCING TERMITE! You got baptized in a fishbowl at Petco, you dirty as hell! You poured hot wheels cars in your ass and called it THE THUNDERDOME You nasty as hell!" He finally finished and inhaled deeply, before roaring at the top of his lungs.
Finally being able to speak after catching her breath from her fit of laughter, Pinkie spoke. "Dear Celestia, I don't even know what that was but that was one of the best things I've ever experienced. We have to do this again."
"My throat burns, My eyes hurt, and I'm sleepy." Skystrike said and he fell on the floor.
Fluttershy giggled a bit. "Your eyes are still as red as a beet."
"Oh, I haven't blinked for a while. I feel like if I do, I'll fall asleep..." He yawned. "But my eyes do burn. Let me just..." And just like that, Skystrike fell asleep.
"...Today was a day." Applejack sighed, then laughed a bit.
"So, are we just going to ignore that Skystrike scored Zecora AND Tethys?" Rainbow smirked and looked at the two. "We can't just drop that!"
"I mean, what's there to say?" Tethys stood up and grabbed the vodka, pouring herself another shot and drinking it. "I'm kinda with Skystrike on this, it's weird to talk about sex. But if you must know, I assume it's the same for you ponies."
Zecora, being a bit tipsy, was much more willing to answer. "Tethys, dragons and ponies, quite the song,
But compared to dragons, ponies don't last long."
"...Wait, how long to ponies last?" Tethys raised a brow.
"...We're lucky if we get a two minutes." Rarity admitted.
"That's gotta stink, at least ten with Skystrike you'd find, A deal so sweet, it'd blow your mind." Zecora smirked. "I spy some of your gazes, cast at him with grace. Yet he's a dense one, slow in life's race. His stance on herds, a mystery we face, so act right now, don't let your chances go to waste."
"Wait, why are you giving them advice? I could've sworn you were into him yourself." Tethys whispered into the Zebra's ear.
"I thought you felt the same, it's true. Why fear competition in our crew? With luck, together, we'll all break through. In unity, our goals we'll pursue." She whispered back.
Stardust, who was listening in had an uncomfortable look on her face and joined in on the whispering. "You two, I'm fine with. Known you girls long enough to trust you with him, and while they aren't bad ponies... I still can't help but worry, you know?"
Tethys locked her arms around the two, pulling them into a hug and smiling. "It's been a while since we've all been together. I'm glad I got to meet you two." Then Tethys let go. "Now, getting back to the game..." All eyes turned on her. "Skystrike may be out of the game, but I plan on playing some more. It's just us girls now... and there's so much I want to learn about you all..." They were all excited, but they could see a sinister grin grow on Tethy's face. The night's still young, after all... |
A Broken Warrior | The time we have left. | It was six in the morning. Skystrike's body was back with it's internal clock. The first thing he asked himself is 'What am I willing to deal with today?' The second was 'What the fuck happened last night?' All he remembered was the weed he had. He looked at his surroundings, realizing he was still in the living room. Then tried to not lose his shit when he saw the state of his friends.
Tethys was holding Fluttershy and Pinkie in her arms as they slept with the dragonesses wings around them. Rainbow was sprawled out on the couch, Zecora was using Stardust's side as a pillow. Applejack fell asleep on-... was that one of his barrels of cider? She probably tried to outdrink Tethys while they were playing. Rarity was upside down on the couch opposite to Rainbow Dash. But the funniest was Twilight. She was yamcha'd, lines of ash around her as she laid on the ground with a burnt horn. She used the 'explode everything including yourself' spell. And it was very hard to stifle his laugh.
He decided to do his morning workout of a run through the Everfree and lifting his boulder, it was only 7:30 when he finished and came back. And they were all still asleep. He chuckled and went to the kitchen. It's Sunday, so they can afford to sleep in a bit. Deciding to be nice, Skystrike got everything together to make a whole breakfast. Pancakes, eggs, haybacon, and fruits. Well, Tethys was here too. He'd go fishing later for her diet. It took a little while, preparing all the ingredients and cooking enough for 10 beings, but he knew they'd appreciate it.
Rainbow Dash was the first to wake up to the smell. She groaned as she rolled over. "Uuuhg... Last night was... a night of all time. What time is it?"
"Quarter past eight." He said, flipping a pancake in the air. "And the bathroom is down the left hall to the right."
As if on queue, the pegasus mare went to the bathroom, coming out a few minutes later. "Thanks... I didn't realized how hammered I got... Are you ok, by the way?"
"I'm super drowsy, and I had the weirdest dream." He chuckled. "I was... I can't even remember it besides it was being weird."
"What're you making? Smells good."
"Pancakes, eggs, haybacon, and various fruits. Hopefully it'll help you all get over your hangovers... How much did you all drink?"
"Well not including you, I was the second out after Twilight. She lasted through two shots, and I lasted through 3. But by then, the only ones who weren't at least tipsy were Applejack, Tethys, and Zecora."
"Still going to get you back for those edibles." He chuckled. "When you least expect it. And it won't be small. Breakfast is almost done, so go wake everyone up for me while I set the table."
She smirked. "You know, for someone who barely knows social norms, you really know how to be a stallion." She said as she went to wake everyone.
After about twenty minutes for Skystrike to wait for them all to finish using the bathroom. Everyone had bags under their eyes as they drowsily began eating. They thanked him for the food before the small talk began.
"So, what's the plan today, Skystrike?" Tethys asked.
"I told Spike I'd hang out with him in the afternoon. He was a bit bummed he couldn't hang out with us on my birthday. I plan on flying a good hour out to Ghastly Gorge and hope to find some ores. I'm going to do an overhaul on the armors I make."
"Thinking of a new look for your armor?" Pinkie asked. "Oh! You should add glitter!"
He chuckled, taking a bite of his food. "Heh, actually, I plan on my new set looking the exact same. Comes with my line of work."
"...I don't get it."
"Well, two things mainly. First, my armor is like a brand. When you see it, you know it's me. And if I have my swords on my side, you know what I'm there for. Second, on the strategic side, say we get into a fight, and you did your homework on me, so you know what my armor could be weak to and its weak points. Now, what if I have a completely visually identical set that counters what you studied for?"
"Makes sense." Pinkie said before chomping down on a whole Pancake.
"I also plan on going to the mayor, as I have some paperwork I need to do, as well as get Tethys marked as a resident." Skystrike took another.
"The taxes on that must suck, huh? Taxes kick me in the flank from my business I can tell you that." Rarity sighed.
"Actually, I can file most of my business expenses under public service, since I help ponies, and sometimes the government. And that sounds good on paper, but I don't get paid much compared to the risk I take each mission. Dont get me wrong, I got money. I can do like, two to six missions a year depending on what the payout is, but many times it isn't worth it. I'm called for the most dangerous or the most suspicious missions, so the risk most often out weighs the rewards. Then I have to pay for the materials I used, the prep work, and the upkeep on my equipment. As a group, most times we spent 40-60% of the reward money. Even alone, it's about half of that. If they took out taxes, I'd be broke most of the time."
"Jeez. Then how do you make a profit?" Applejack asked.
"I can charge almost anything I want with the given information as you saw with the princesses a couple weeks ago. On top of that, anything that wasn't disclosed before the mission that I find out about during the mission, I can charge extra."
"Well... I get why you can do that, but what's stoppin' somepony from just lying?"
"Well, if you're naïve and have money to waste, nothing. Most times, it requires proof. For example, since I couldn't transport dragons back to Canterlot as proof, I had to bring one of the ponies from the village who was a witness to what we did. Bought in a pretty good haul."
"Wait, you had to kill dragons? As in several?" Twilight was making sure she heard things right.
"Yeah, six juveniles, one adult. Tethys helped me out with the adult. Just waiting for the bodies to be transported here so I have some materials to work with with what I also got from the princesses. Luckily, I got better over the years. Costs this time is less than 10%." He smiled and pumped his arm.
"Well, congrats on that. I'm just glad you came back alive!" Applejack bit into one of her apples. Damn, she likes apples. Where did she get those apples?
"Any... any idea when your next mission is?" Fluttershy spoke this time.
Skystrike leaned back in his chair and thought. "Depends. The next one is more personal, so it's more on how much I want to prepare. It'll take me at least six months. I'll tell you more about it once the plan is finished. But enough about me. What about you all?"
"I have some prep work for the animals. I left Harry in charge of everything last night." Fluttershy rubbed her eyes. "And maybe try to shake off this hang over.
"Just real quick, how much did you all drink? I saw you got into my cider." Skystrike chuckled.
Tethys laughed as Applejack groaned. "Well, Pinkie, Applejack, Fluttershy, and myself were the last ones awake, and we decided to have a drinking contest. Not knowing that dragons can hold their liquor quite well. I was more surprised the quiet one is the better drinker than the one who makes the alcohol."
"Damn, that is surprising." Skystrike chuckled.
"Yeah. Anyway, Rarity said she'd make me some outfits and underwear so I won't be going commando all the time. Maybe get those rings you spoke about yesterday." Tethys ditched the fork and knife and used her claws to eat.
"Make sure you get a copy of the measurements. Gotta make you new armor. And while I couldn't really see last night, I remember something about... bonkhonagahoogs? If you want me to make your armor fit your actual body, It's no problem."
She shook her head. "Thanks, but not that confident yet. I'll stick to this form for now. Zecora, Stardust, mind coming with me? I don't exactly know what clothes would work on me."
"Count me in, my dragon friend. I have nothing to do until days end." Zecora nodded.
"Yeah, I can write my reports later." Stardust nodded as well.
"I got some work on the farm. Then I gotta make sure Applebloom does her homework." Applejack finished her food.
"The cakes and I have to prepare for the week. But I'll be free tomorrow!" Pinkie squirted syrup in her mouth.
"I don't have much to do. I'll find something."
"Same here... Maybe I'll reorganize all the books in the library by title instead of author." Twilight was still using her hooves to pick up the utensils instead of her magic.
Everyone finished their meals as Skystrike put everything in the sink to deal with later. "Welp, thanks for last night. It was fun. I'm about to start flying."
"Actually, Skystrike..." Tethys stood up and put a hand on the table. "We haven't sparred in a while. And I want to see how strong you've gotten over the years apart. What do you say we go a round?"
He smirked. "At least ask me out to dinner first. But sure, why not? Zecora, you wanna help her out?"
"My touch has waned, it's true, no rush, Can you handle both of us without a hush?"
Skystrike stretched and shrugged. "Probably not, but it's all in good sportsmanship. Like always!"
"Wait, you've been... playing during our sparring sessions each time?" Tethys clenched a fist.
"...Were... were you not?"
That slightly pissed Tethys off. "Skystrike, we dragons take pride in our strength. It's in our nature. And you're telling me you weren't even fighting against me seriously!?"
"I fought you seriously. It's just easier on my mind if I act like it's a game and not a fight I actually have to win." Skystrike got a bottle of water and began drinking.
"So you've been holding back!?" Tethys asked angrily.
Skystrike stayed silent for a moment. "Of course I have. I prefer you alive. But if it pisses you off so much, I'll... let lose a little." He said with some hesitation in his voice.
They stared out eachother in silence before Tethys pushed herself off the table. "Get your gear, and meet me outside. I will be able to tell if you're holding back. Zecora, you'll have to spar another time. This is between me and him."
Skystrike and Tethys stood across from each other in Naga's arena. His friends, and Naga who slithered out of her cave decided to watch too. Skystrike sighed. His smirk fell, his facial features showing that this was serious. He looked down at his armor and stood on his hind legs. "You sure about this, Tethys? I'm telling you now you don't know what you're really asking for."
"Cut the worrying and bring it, Skystrike." Tethys spread her wings, ready to fight.
Skystrike dropped his armor's metal tail as a counter balance. He looked in her eyes one last time before his collar folded out into his iconic helmet. "Don't say I didn't warn you..." Skystrike knew he was going to regret this eventually.
Tethys wasn't even able to process his tone before her eyes went wide from his rapid approach. He wasn't even that fast, but he just ran straight at her. She planted her feet and shot a ball of ice at him. A loud boom was heard, but not from the ball of frost, but from Skystrike moving so fast, a small blue circle of fragmented light radiating behind him. Faster than she could blink, Skystrike was behind her and landed a kick to her back.
Tethys flew forward a few feet before flipping and maneuvering her body to face Skystrike with a growl. She was barely able to stop the next attack. Another boom came from Skystrike's burst of speed, going for a left jab at her head. Tethys just barely caught the hoof with her left claw, but couldn't stop the hook from his right hoof. Tethys was staggered, but still holding on to his hoof. Realizing she wasn't letting go, Skystrike twisted his body to get Tethys into a lever arm grapple.
The first hit Tethys got on the stallion was her frost breath to get him to release her arm. The two stood up, back to their starting positions. Tethys rubbed her face. "...Got anymore in you?"
"More than you know... Normally, this is where I'd give you pointers, but you don't care about that, huh?" Skystrike said with a hint of annoyance. "You just have something to prove."
"Damn right I do." Tethys spread her wings and inhaled sharply, before shooting a ball of ice at him once more. Skystrike punched through it and stared up at her. The dragon was right behind it, and bared her jaws as she grappled him. He pushed against her with his arm in her jaws. Even with the armor guarding him from the teeth, the pressure still hurt. She used her weight to push him into the ground and onto his back. Skystrike sent her back by using his back legs to buck her in the stomach and into the air. Tethys spread out her wings to catch herself in the air. "All this time, I thought we were equal in strength. I was fine with my leader being my equal. But seeing you having that power and not using it pisses me off..."
Tethys inhaled, then shot out a blast of ice nearly twice Skystrike's size. Again, Skystrike punched through it. "It's exactly because I have all this power that I don't use it." Boom. Skystrike grabbed Tethys by the feet before spinning around and throwing her into the ground, then landing heavily next to her. "You couldn't know the pain of having your power go beyond your mortal form... Let alone what it can do to others if you let loose a little." Tethys got up and tried to land a roundhouse kick on Skystrike, only for him to sidestep and grab her leg, flipping her and slamming her into the ground once more. "So, let me get once thing clear with you, Tethys..." Skystrike drew one of his swords and stabbed it into the ground next to Tethys's neck. For the first time in a while, she felt fear. "...I hate this. The taste of blood in my mouth. The vibrations in my hooves when I clash with another. The look of fear on my opponents as they think back over every action they took to meet me in the eyes... I hate it." He crouched down, his armored hoof still on the grip of his blade. "I wish each day that I could leave this life of battle behind me. To rid myself of the reminders of my past. But if I do, there won't be others to take up my mantle..." He stood up and sheathed his sword. "Did you ever stop to wonder why I disassociate during fights? Let alone notice? Wonder why I always try to think of it as a game when I spar? Because from my very first battle, I had to kill those I care about. And I don't want to imagine you in that situation. Now, are you satisfied?" He seethed at the dragoness.
Tethys didn't say anything. Her look of anger from earlier changed to a look of regret. She stood up, brushed herself off, and looked down at the stallion, trying to say something. But she couldn't get the words out.
"Great." Skystrike said in a monotone voice. "I'm going to Ghastly Gorge. Potions are in the cupboard next to the entryway." Skystrike let out a sigh before beginning to walk towards his destination.
Zecora was the first to break the minutes of awkward silence. "Tethys, while I am not putting the blame on you, after everything he told us, I thought you knew."
Tethys limped over and stopped, realizing what she'd done. "O-oh..." Tethys rubbed her horns. "I messed up, didn't I?"
Applejack nodded. "From what he said and how quick he left, I'd say so. But nothing a good talk can't fix. But what I'm worried about is what he said about... killin' those he cared about? I was hoping he was jokin' about the child soldier thing."
"You and me both..." Twilight sighed. "Everything new I learn about him, he just... makes more sense."
"Wish he'd tell us about it..." Pinkie huffed. "It sucks to keep things in all the time. By the way, Tethys, are you ok?"
The dragoness nodded. "Yeah, just... gonna be sore fore a bit... And he was still holding back..." She sat down to catch her breath. "Man, he has a hook..."
"What do you think he meant by 'power going beyond his form?'" Rarity jumped down from Naga's back.
Twilight thought for a moment. "Well, this is all hypothetical, but it might be down to his biology. Nearly all of our biological functions as ponies depend in part on magic. Sure, we can live for a while without it, but by then, our body would generate the magic we'd need to be back to normal. Somepony like him, who was born without any magic would already have a stunted growth."
"...He was quite thin as a colt..." Fluttershy remembered back.
"We can assume that he has to work a lot harder than others to keep his physique. Despite being twice our size, I noticed from what he said that he's had to constantly push himself to be at his current strength. I'd be willing to bet that without the training, he wouldn't even be as strong as a normal pony... His body is straining itself just to keep up with everybody around him, and yet he's making himself surpass his piers... That means that his body is destroying itself from the inside... Hypothetically... Lets hope I'm wrong..."
"No... no way..." Tethys shook her head. "Skystrike always thinks two steps ahead. No way he doesn't know about what's going on in his body. He would've told us!"
"Like he told us about the metal hoof? Or his parents? Or why he faked his death?" Applejack raised an eyebrow. They all cringed at that. "Well, like he said, we didn't ask... Might just have to to get it out of him..." At that, Rainbow Dash's brow furrowed and she flew off into the air in Skystrike's direction. "...Wonder what that's about?"
Skystrike walked for a few minutes by himself in silence. He really didn't want to say that to her, nor did he mean for it to come out like that. But... it had to come out eventually. Just not like that. He sighed to himself thinking on it. He knows he messed up, and he hates himself for it. But what he hated more was the voices in the back of his head telling him 'good job'. Like he should've done it a long time ago. He'd have to apologize once he got back. But for now, he needed time to cool off.
Echo spoke for the first time in a while. "Skystrike, is this a bad time?"
"I'll be fine. What is it?" Skystrike tried his best to compose himself as he walked.
"I recommend you sit down for this. I've run some simulations on how your body works, like you requested a few days ago... I've checked the simulations several hundred times. I've allocated most of my processing power to make sure that every variable was correct and accounted for... The information I have is not favorable. Knowing you, you'd rather know as soon as possible, rather than putting it off."
Even through the monotone of the robotic voice, he could tell Echo was serious. Skystrike sat down. "Alright... tell me the news."
"Bad news first, or worst news?"
"Well fuck..." He leaned back. "Bad? I guess?"
"The data processed at the laboratory in the north has all but verified our past theories. Under no uncertain circumstances, you've been groomed to be the perfect warrior. Specifically to counter any possible threats to humanity in this world. You, along with the other projects, were originally created to fight a threat in your original world, but that is both unknown and does not matter as of now. Sometime during your captivity at the laboratory, funding was cut, and a new project was given. They couldn't afford to keep you all around, so they made sure to keep the strongest. You are the product of that decision. Your mind has been tampered with due to the humans experiments on you. You've felt it too for a while, haven't you?" Skystrike nodded as Echo continued. "Your distain for every being in this world. It wasn't until you met Tethys and Zecora that we realized it wasn't just ponies. Changelings were the exception... for a time. But it seemed that was part of their plan too. Breaking any and all pillars of support. So you'd have a justification for hating this world. Luckily, you're able to ignore that feeling.
"Whoaaa whoa whoa whoa, hold on." Skystrike stopped Echo and clenched his head. "The whole part about hating all the beings in this world, I kinda figured, but... you're telling me that the whole thing with the changelings was planned? How much-"
"I do not know the extent to what was planned, only that something was planned... Remember, any information that was left was left on purpose for you to find out. But, given what you've been through, the chances are not negligible."
"But... then that means that... That Khrusalis's death could have been faked!?"
"It is a possibility. But I would recommend you not focus on that for now. What you should focus on is your mental state. They know that they cannot beat you physically, so they've been chipping away at your psyche. I would recommend a therapist, as well as coming out to everyone. You hiding yourself is not a benefit to yourself. Even if you think otherwise."
Skystrike grit his teeth. "Just give me the worst news..."
Surprisingly, Echo seemed to hesitate before doing so. "You're dying, Skystrike. There are many factors as to why, but I will explain the main factors. First: Your body was made to stay in it's prime for as long as humanly possible. Because of this, whatever experiments that were ran on you could completely ignore long lasting effects. You can not only build strength and magic that surpass human limits, you can surpass the strength and magic of the beings your physique was modeled after. This puts a strain on your human body, and it compounds with the second factor: Your mimicry of changeling magic is on the physical level, not illusionary, changing your biology. It puts another strain, not only on your body, but your mind as well. Changelings transformations are more of a physical illusion, but yours goes down to your very cells. But your brain is still human. It has to account for any added organs and hormones that humans don't have. And you've been in this form for years on end..."
"Meaning?"
"Your brain is overloaded, put simply. With what is had to do subconsciously, as well with the mental strain you put on yourself, whether from your actions or your trauma, it won't last long, relatively speaking. Third: As I've stated during your venture into the lab. You intake 20 times the mana the average human does... That was during your captivity. In this world, where the source of your mana is, it's heightened. Essentially, in the lab, you absorbed all the mana in the lab because that's all there is to get, and you were constantly expelling your mana reserves. In Eques, there is no known limit to how much mana you can store. Your right arm is able to fend off the ticking time bomb of mana that you are right now. If this limit is ever met, you will undergo extreme symptoms of mana poisoning. The best ways to slow down these problems are to either stay in your human form, deal with your mental health, and begin converting your mana into magic. There is no way to reverse the damage done."
Skystrike tried to control his breathing. "Echo, be honest with me... How long do I have?"
"As of now... your projected to live until 40. If you are lucky. Delaying the problem will increase your chances you reach that age."
Skystrike's breathing got heavier. "...and if I am unlucky?" His voice was wavering.
"The time you will live spans between 30 and 35. But that is if your situation gets worse... I am sorry, Skystrike."
Skystrike couldn't even force out any words of fake affirmation. He just... kept breathing. Hard. He collapsed to the floor and just... laid there for a few minutes. It was one hell of a bullet to take, and it hurt. His heart beat faster and faster... Time seemed to move slower and slower... His vision blurred as he tried to force himself off the ground, only to fall on his side.
He heard Echo call out his name, but it was muffled. He couldn't feel his hooves. Skystrike tried his best to control his breathing, but could barely even get the air into his lungs.
His life was on a time limit now, put simply. Why him? He just opened up. Just began to start fixing the mistaks he made. And now he had to rush. Just to make sure that he could complete everything before his inevitable death. Was this another one of their experiments? Maybe-... no, he hoped that Echo is wrong. Having 5 years left was too short to live. His mind jumped from thought to thought as he spiraled downward into his darkest thoughts as they clouded his mind. He laid there for what felt like hours.
In actuality, only a few minutes passed. And he felt something shaking him. He couldn't see, or even move. He just... laid there as the unknown body shook him. The shaking became more frantic, and he heard muffled yelling... worried yelling. He tried to give some sort of response, but only quickened breathing came out. Someone flipped him over on his back. He could barely see the pony who flipped him over, only making out the shape of a mare and their cerulean hooves grabbing his helmet.
Rainbow Dash took of his helmet in a hope to get him to breathe better. Getting a better look at Skystrike, her worry only grew. His eyes were wide, his mouth was dry, and he was twitching from some muscle spasms in his hooves. But what surprised her most was that... tears were running down his face. "Celestia, Skystrike, are you ok!?" Skystrike wasn't able to respond, his attempt at speaking was only met with his breathing getting heavier. He began coughing up a little blood. "Buck, Sky, breathe! Deep breaths! In and out!"
He tried his best to do so. In... Out... In... Out... In... Out... In... Out... It took a long, long while, but he was able to slow his breathing. And once he was able to, he finally let it out... Every emotion he bottled up for the last 15 years... he let out in a sea of tears. Skystrike eyes burned white as he screamed into the wilderness in contempt, anger, and regret. "IT WASN'T FUCKING WORTH IT! EVERYTHING I FOUGHT FOR! EVERYTHING I SACRIFICED! WORTHLESS!!!"
Rainbow Dash let him scream to the world for a few more moments. "...Are... you ok? I don't think I've ever seen you cry, let alone hyperventilate..."
Skystrike wiped his tears with a hoof, then slowly turned to look to Rainbow Dash. "I-... honestly? I'm... not. I've always... put others before me to make sure they don't have to worry but... I've been keeping things in too long. All it took was some bad news and I just... broke down." He sat down and looked to the horizon. "Rainbow... I'm sorry."
She tilted he head. "Sorry for what?"
"I've been harder on you compared to the others." He gave a sorry chuckle. "To be honest, I think it's because I see a part of you in me... I didn't really realize the affect of the words I just say in passing had on ponies around me, and how I treated ponies. I thought it would turn out fine, but... it just sowed distrust in those around me. I shouldn't hold you to the expectations I have for myself... I'm sorry. I just wanted to say this while I still can..."
"...Well thanks? It's no big deal to me, you had your points when it happened. But where is this all coming from?"
Skystrike patted the grass next to him motioning for Rainbow to sit. She did so. "I've-... I don't know how to say it. Or if I want to say it. I don't I don't want to see my friends sad anymore."
"...I assume something bad happened since I found you on the ground like that. But I'm not no crybaby." She smirked, trying to make him smile a bit. "Go ahead and tell me."
It didn't work. He let out a sigh. "I just recieved the... worst news I could've probably gotten... Man, I'm a shit friend..." He laughed sadly to himself. "You know how I'm bigger than most ponies? I guess I should start by explaining why."
"Twilight gave us her hypothesis. I wasn't paying attention too much, but she said something about your body destroying yourself from the inside or something?" Rainbow looked at him.
"As smart as ever, that mare... She's right. Not going deep into the details but... my body doesn't use magic, so all the functions that would need it are running without, and overworking itself. My body can't keep up with the constant demand... Among other things."
Her heart sank. "...You... you're dying?" Skystrike nodded. "...Do you know how long you have?"
"At best, 15 years... at worst, 5."
"Oh... shit! That isn't that long!"
"Yeah... And now I need to... close up a lot of loose ends..." He crossed his hooves.
"What do you mean? Like, write your will and stuff?" Rainbow Dash asked, trying her best not to cry.
Skystrike looked at her. "I'm... not the pony you think I am, Rainbow." He gripped his metal arm. "I'm... I try to live my life the best I can, but problem after problem just piles on my back... Wouldn't be an issue if I didn't get others caught up in them. And I always think that... removing myself and my problem from the situation would save others the hassle." He sighed, then leaned back. "But that doesn't solve anything... only creates more problems... Problems that I just... keep running from. Keep going around something, you end up walking in a circle. But even if I wanted to, I can't anymore. I'm out of breath and... there's no more road for me to run on. And I'm just so... angry. At myself... at my situation... at the world. And I don't know how to stop it."
Rainbow hugged him. "Skystrike, it'll be ok. I... don't know what else to say besides that it'll be ok..." She wiped some tears out of her eye. "If you need help with anything, you have us... you have me."
Skystrike hugged her back, his anger fading as his eyes dimmed. "Thank you Rainbow. I appreciate it." The two held each other for a few more moments before the two pulled away. "Well, since you're already here, it's about 30 minutes to Ghastly Gorge. We can make it in ten if you wanna ride my tailwind."
Rainbow blushed. "Dude! That's the first thing you ask after you pour your heart out!?"
"...I feel like I'm missing context." Skystrike raised a brow and he put back on his helmet.
"You don't know?"
"Know what?"
Rainbow Dash laughed a bit. "Sky, 'Ride my tailwind' is a sexual innuendo. It's an invite for somepony to look at your flank."
He blinked. "That... makes sense I guess? But now you know what I actually meant."
She chuckled. "Heh, yeah." She stretched her wings and gave a few flaps.
"If you need me to slow down, just say so. I don't want to overwork you." Skystrike stretched, flapping his wings and taking into the sky. Rainbow Dash joined him shortly after. Soon the two began flying. Starting off at a slow speed, then slowly accelerating. Rainbow was going about half her max speed, but it was still comfortable.
"Hey, so... you said something about you not being the pony I think you are. Sure, you explained it, but it felt like there was more to it than that." Rainbow hinted for him to explain more.
"That's... something that's very hard to explain. Well, not hard... but more like I cant. Outright at least..."
"Have you tried... this is going to sound cringe, but I already saw you cry your heart out, singing it?"
Skystrike turned to look at the mare, then chuckled. "Fine, but only if you do it with me."
Rainbow chuckled back. "Sure."
Like magic, the instrumental to what he was about to sing came in slowly. Magic Bullshit... Skystrike chuckled to himself in thought before starting.
"So you just want my story? Tell my tale, share my glory?
Don't know what your asking for, you sure you can handle what's in store?"
Rainbow Dash quickly picked up on the rhythm and sang along. "Bet I can, This will be nothing! Pour your heart out, make it something!
You can tell me if you choose, just wanna walk in your shoes!"
"That's a dangerous game, filled with heart break and pain."
"I'll listen if you talk, spill the tea, why'd you up chalk?"
"Wasn't my choice, I admit. Those bastards forced me, so I did it."
"Who do you mean? Was it those guys?
Playing with your life like a game of dice?"
"Was like magic, like a curse!
They used me and that hurt a lot worse!"
"So, how did that all happen, your life 'fore it got rotten?"
"Made my escape, stardom or bust! Made it out with no one left to trust!"
"You had a will of iron. What changed for that thought to turn?"
"When They found me, I was nobody..."
"You weren't winning in the beginning."
"Took me in under their wing, inspired me to live and sing with them!"
"Sounds like they were really nice!
So what did they do give you bad advice?"
"Put me in charge, said my strenght'd put me at large!"
"So your big break was just a giant mistake?"
"They both pressured me into it, gave my best but then I blew it!"
"Tried to pull your weight but it was baited,
so what happened? Did they hate it?"
"That's the part that shocked me, everyone was cheering for me!
Mom said I had style, my sis said none could stand before me
"...............Ooh, go on!................What else?" Rainbow sang at the same time.
Musta covered up the awful end I gave em,
Then before I knew it, I fell in, I couldn't live without em!"
"................No way!.......................By yourself?"
R "So let me get this straight, they gave you everything you had?"
Gave you a platform, and helped you out when things went bad?
"...................That's right............................That part too..."
Gave you a second chance at life, made you a new home, what a deal!
After all of that, they stabbed you in the back- are you for real??"
"..........................Careful!......................Or they'll trick you!"
"Suddenly the deal went south. I should have trusted my own doubt.
Mother came to see me, and the plan I planned didnt work out!"
"Oh no... but what happened... To make that good story end?
If you three were close mend. What made your bonds end in rend?"
"Had to save mom, but failed to do it..."
"Can tell where this goes, your sis had to know..."
"Barely got a chance to speak, was met with hurting eyes of doom blazin'!"
"They made you take on the job, but it went wrong? Wow that's so brazen!"
"She started yellin' at me! Put me in a state of fury!
Muscles started tensing up, vision getting really blurry!
".....................Oh no.................................How could she!"
Screamed and SCREAMED 'til screamin' finally reached it's end!
Eyes a burning white, knew our feelings could never be mend!"
"..........................That's rough....................What an end..."
"Must've been a heart break, to see your fam betray ya!
Blinded by grief, lost a mother, sister blamed ya."
"Now I blame my self, I should be able to save those close to me! Tried to be bigger, so no one could take them from me!"
"Now you blame yourself, should be able to save those close to you! Tried to be bigger, so no one could take them from you!"
"So, did you?"
Skystrike laughed a bit, enjoying the little duet they had. "I'd like to think so."
"Well... you know that all wasn't your fault, right?"
Skystrike slowed his speed as their destination was in sight. "I've said that to myself more times than I can count, but it doesnt make the pain any different... We're here." The two landed in the middle of the chasm, large quarries dotting the sides of the cliffs. "Stay close... If you see anything odd from the quarries, say it." Skystrike drew one of his swords and pulled Rainbow Dash to his side.
"Why? And what are you here for anyway?"
"The quarries are home to Quarray Eels. Fairly aggressive, and very territorial." Skystrike inched towards one of the quarries. "What I'm here for are the ores that the Eels guard... on second thought, I shouldn't have bought you here... My bad."
"Don't worry about it. I know you need the company... Hey, back when we were singing, all of that happened before you went to your orphanage right? How old were you?"
"Actually, it was during my stay at the orphanage. About a month and a half after I moved back from Cloudsdale. I was 14."
The two kept inching forward, taking the long way around the holes. "Wait, so... how were you living at an orphanage when you had a family that took you in while there?"
Surprisingly, Skystrike was able to get his words out. "My mom wanted me to live among ponies so I wouldn't be bias against them. It worked, apparently."
"...Your mom wasn't a pony?"
Skystrike picked up a rock as he heard a rumbling from one of the walls. "No, she was a changeling if you even know what those are." He threw a rock in front of one of the holes, but there was no response.
Rainbow nodded. "Yeah, I know what they are. Actually one of the few parts I enjoyed during history class... Wait, so are you saying that... you're a changeling?"
He shook his head as they continued walking. "Not quite. Remember, I said they took me in."
"...Ok now im confused. What do you mean 'not quite'? Are you not a pony?"
"Getting closer..." Skystrike smiled. He could feel the mental block in his mind on the verge of being broken. Maybe... just maybe, he'd be able to tell her. But that'd have to wait. The two stopped in their tracks. "Hold. This one should do. Take to the skies, Rainbow. Above the gorge. Don't want you to get caught up in this."
Rainbow did so, flying straight up to get a view from above the gorge. Once Skystrike made sure she was a safe distance, he drew his other sword and walked in front of one of the quarries. A rumbling was heard as two orange eyes stared back at him. A crimson eel lunged out in an attempt to eat Skystrike alive in one bite. The stallion jumped and flew above the snapping jaws, then dove down to land a punch right on the forehead of the beast. It fell unconscious. "Alright, Rainbow, it's clear!"
Rainbow flew down, landing next to the body of the Quarray Eel. "Wow... you made that look so easy... Going back to what you said earlier, are you like... an alien? From space or something?"
Rainbow followed Skystrike down the body of the Eel into the cave. "Close, but not quite." And just like that, the lock broke. He'd have to make a note of this later. "I'd perfer you don't tell the others yet, but yes, in the simplest terms, I am an alien. Not from another world, but a different dimension." They stopped further in, seeing a large pile of various ores. "Perfect!" He pumped a hoof before piling the ores in his bag.
"Real quick, where did these metals come from?" Rainbow looked to see the ores he was grabbing at.
"Oh, Quarray Eels eat the stones, and anything that's dumb enough to fly through this place. All the metals and stuff they eat, they spit out. Real easy to grab if the cave is empty, but there are barely any if the caves are abandoned."
"Huh, neat. Back to the alien thing... I have a hard time believing you but... it would explain a lot. Like your arm, your lack of understanding of social norms, how where you're from stallions do what mares do... Actually, wow, that explains everything."
He finished gathering the materials. "You're taking this better than I thought you would be."
"I could say the same about your terminal sickness."
"That's fair." Skystrike said as they both laughed. "Man, I am not gonna sleep well tonight..." He said under his breath.
"So... what are you exactly?"
Skystrike turned to her, then took off his armor. Neon flames surrounded him, and as they fell, revealing his human form. Skystrike didn't realize how big he's gotten. The mare only came up to his thigh. He sat down to be at eye level and took off his helmet. Rainbow Dash stepped back a bit. "I'm a human. Like I said, I'm not he pony you think I am."
"...This is... a lot to take in right now... So let me get this straight." Rainbow sat down and grabbed her head with her hooves. "You're... an alien from a different dimension, and was raised to be a child soldier... but escaped and came here. Then the changelings took you in, your mom died, and you were blamed for it... all before you turned 15... then you faked your death at 16, was a mercenary from then on... then you came to Ponyville about a year ago?"
"When you say it like that, it sounds like a lot... and kinda stupid." Skystrike leaned back.
"It is a lot, you buckin-..." She contained herself. "I have questions, and you're going to answer. First off, how old were you when you came here? To this world I mean."
"Eight."
"How in Tartarus are you still sane!?"
"No fucking idea."
"Moving on... how do I know you aren't just some changeling? For all I know, this... form you have is just magic... and I thought you couldn't use magic!?" Rainbow slammed a hoof on the stone floor.
"I can use magic, but the way your race detects it makes it seem like I can't. They detect magic itself, not the energy that your bodies use to make magic. You all make it naturally..." Skystrike conjured a snowflake on the tip of his finger. "I make it consciously. And to answer that first part, the memories I have from our childhood should speak for itself."
"Then... how do I know that you haven't been one since we were kids!?"
"Well... you don't. But even if I was, it wouldn't matter, since the Skystrike you know has either been a changeling pretending to be a pony this whole time, or a human pretending to be a pony this whole time. Either way, from the moment you and Fluttershy met me, I wasn't a pony."
She made a look, then thought about it. "...Yeah, I guess you're right... So... why didn't you go to the princess when you came to Eques? I'm sure she would've helped."
Skystrike's small smile fell a bit. "I don't know if you heard about 'the attack on Canterlot'? Probably not, you were like, six at the time."
"...If you mean the meteor that landed in Canterlot, yeah... You're saying that's how you got here?"
Skystrike nodded. "Turned myself in, then was held in their dungeon for a few days. I just gained my freedom, but Celestia wanted me under lock and key. So, I escaped."
Rainbow tilted her head. "...Then... why did you end up being adopted by her?"
"It'd be the last place she'd look." He shrugged. "And it's been working."
"Well... thanks for telling me. Honestly I got the feeling you didn't like me, but you trust me this much to be the first out of the girls to open up about it." Rainbow moved herself to sit next to Skystrike.
Skystrike smiled, then began petting her. "Well, sorry if I came off like that. But know my dislike isn't specific to you. We all have our flaws, but despite them, you, and the other girls, are still my friends. Even if we annoy each other."
"Well now I'm a bit curious..."
"Oh, it's nothing major. Ironically, if you all fixed your flaws, you'd all be able to reach your dreams."
"Really? Then what's mine?" Rainbow leaned into his petting. "Man, your claws hit the spot..."
"Hands. And Rainbow, you aren't a team player. You like having the attention on yourself, and only yourself. Not a bad thing, you'd be great if you were a one pony show, but you want to be in the Wonderbolts. It's the main thing they want you to be."
"...That makes sense, I guess... Just wish I had someone to fly with. Nopony can really keep up with me." She laughed. "Suffering from success."
"If you want, I can fly with you. Can't do tricks or anything fancy, but I'd be willing to learn to help you out."
Rainbow looked up at him. "You'd do that? Really?"
Skystrike nodded. "Of course. What are friends for?"
Skystrike and Rainbow Dash talked bit more before making their way back to Ponyville and parted ways. He stopped at his house to change out of his armor. Now in his pony form, he made his rounds around town, getting some greetings from a few ponies as he walked. Vynil Scratch gave him a hoof bump, asking when they're going to do that collab. The two set up time for two weeks out. Then he stopped at the flower sisters, Roseluck slightly annoyed but laughing at his order of flowers. He ate them on his way to his next stop, Town hall.
He entered just in time to see Mayor Mare. "Oh, Nebula! Good to see you again! What can I help you with today?"
"You probably saw the dragon that came in yesterday. Her name is Tethys, and she just moved in with me. I just need to know what she has to do become a resident and eventually a citizen."
The mayor gave a tired smile, and she put down the boxes she was carrying with a thud. "I'd be more than happy to help... It's just my schedule is... very busy right now..."
Skystrike walked over and picked up the boxes the mare was carrying. "Seems like you need a break."
"Thank you for the help, I'm just moving files to my office. And admittedly, I do need help. Time Turner is out sick for a few days. Happened right when Raven went on vacation." Mayor Mare sighed and straightened her glasses. "Just gotta get through the week."
The two entered her office. "Well, in that case, I'll save what I came for today for next week." Skystrike said as he sat the files down next to her desk. "If you want, I can come help you out with anything you need. I did a lot of paperwork during my time as a merc."
"Well... I would appreciate the help, but I cant have you help out an old mare like me."
Skystrike leaned on her desk and gave her a confused look. "We went-... Well I know I hide my actual identity, but you aren't even old. You're like... twenty eight. I know this because we went to school together. Same year as Shining Armor, Cadenza, and Cheerilee."
"...Wait, we went to the same highschool?" She sat down at her desk. "Wow, that takes me back... but I feel like I'd probably remember someone like you." She smiled.
"You probably do, but I hide my identity for a reason. You'll find out if you look hard enough, or if you have a year book. I wasn't able to stick around to get mine." He shrugged.
Mayor Mare chuckled a bit. "I remember prom like it was yesterday. Remember when Poindexter walked in with a dress and make up? It was so hard to stop myself from laughing!" The two shared a laugh. "And that jock, Buck Withers... Gosh, he- wasn't a good pony, just flaunting around how his dad was a congress pony. I will say, it was very satisfying when everypony stood up to him being crowned prom king."
"Honestly, I wasn't expecting everypony to stand up to him like that. But it was a welcome surprise. I love seeing ponies get their comeuppance."
"I don't know about you, but the part I wasnt expecting was that pegasus knocking him on his flank after he tried to go for Shining Armor." Mayor Mare sat in thought for a moment. "I can't remember his name for the life of me... or his colors. He was a pretty quiet kid. Do you know who I'm talking about?"
Skystrike feigned ignorance. "I think so. Sounds familiar. Can you try and remember other things about him?"
"Sure. He... always wore long sleeves. He, Shining Armor, and Cadenza were all close friends... Oh! This should jog your memory! You know how our Highschool focused in military and political science?" Skystrike nodded. "The pegasus was part of the Royal Guard course, and won the tournament against all the other students. When the princess asked what he wanted as a prize, he wanted to spar with her!"
Skystrike chuckled. "Oh, yeah, I know who you're talking about. Skystrike Nebula."
"That was his name! I remember now! White coat, blue and black mane and tail... And he was a few years younger than us. The few times I talked to him... he spoke about wanting to fight for the ponies around him..." Mayor Mare began putting the pieces together. "Nebula... how old are you?"
"Twenty five." He smirked under his helmet.
Mayor Mare stuttered as she realized who he was. "Y-y-you're... I thought you..."
"Died? Yeah, had my reason to make it seem so." He quickly took off his helmet to show her his face, then put it back on. "I'm... trying to be more trusting on who knows who I am. Just hoping I'm trusting the right ponies. But just in case you do tell anyone..." Skystrike got closer to Mayor Mare, her leaning back in mild panic. "I'll tell everypony you dye your hair."
The two stared at each other in silence before laughing. Mayor Mare wiped a tear. "Ah... it is good to see you again, even with how little we talked... I'm surprised you still remember me."
"Heh, good to see you too. But if you do need help, you can just say I volunteered."
"I might take you up on that offer... You know, if you want, we can talk about it more later tonight. Cherilee and I are meeting up at the bar. It'd be nice to catch up more. Maybe... tell two old mares about your adventures?"
"Hey, you two aren't old." Skystrike nodded. "But sure, I'll be there. And for real, don't tell anypony about my identity."
"Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."
"What?"
"It's a Pinkie promise. I won't tell a soul."
Skystrike entered the tree library, seeing Twilight using her magic to do what she said earlier: Rearrange the entire library by author. Progress seemed to be going well for her. But then he noticed she got too into it, and while not paying attention, she picked up Spike in her magic and put him in one of the book shelves.
Skystrike saved Spike by flying over and pulling him out. "Hey Spike, how's it going?"
Spike shrugged. "Twilight's in the zone. Not much I'm doing here."
"...Wanna go to the spa?"
"Yeah!" Spike pumped his fist.
"Twilight, we're going to the spa!" Skystrike yelled to her, but she didnt even respond from how focused she was. "Have you been before?"
"Yeah, Twilight and I go every once in a while. Have you?"
"Only time I went was when the poison joke thing happened. Always wanted to check it out, but wasn't until relatively recently that my reputation was good enough where I could walk around town without getting stared at." Skystrike put Spike on his back as they left the library. "Speaking of, Tethys told me about what happened. Thanks for sticking up for her, and being the only one to talk sense."
"I just did what I thought you'd do."
Skystrike felt his heart tingle at that. "Never change, Spike."
"Hey, what did you mean by your reputation wasn't good? Everypony around town likes you!"
He shook his head. "Maybe now, but it wasn't until that fight with the Ursa Minor that the ponies here realized I was 'on their side' and not some monster slayer that lived at the edge of the Everfree. Plus, adding to my line of work and my unknown past, I'm still surprised that many ponies even came to my... well Naga's party."
"What do you mean, your line of work? And speaking of the Ursa Minor, how's the scars?" Spike pulled at his right wing, seeing the edges of the scars left by the claws of the bear.
Skystrike flapped his wing and put it back in place. "Still aches sometimes, but I heal faster than the average pony. Just waiting for the scars to fade. As to your first question, I guess I didn't tell you exactly what I do. But you're still a kid, so I can't tell you everything... Just don't tell Twilight?"
"Is it really so bad?" Spike turned and laid on his back. "I mean, you teach me how to fight, and you go and fight bad guys! Twilight's fine with it!"
"Twilight isn't fine with it. In fact, she doesn't like it. I was just able to convince her that this would be helpful for your growth."
"What do you mean?"
"Spike, you're a dragon. Eventually, your instincts will challenge your beliefs. My hope is that through discipline, you're better able to fight those instincts. And I'm not teaching you to fight so you can fight bad guys, I'm teaching you to fight so you can protect those you care about. Me, Stardust, Zecora, Tethys, and you, all have our own reasons to fight. I just hope the reason you find is the right one."
"Oh, uh... ok. I didn't think of it like that... well, can you tell me why you all fight so I know what I should fight for?" Spike flipped over again and sat up straight.
Skystrike hummed in confirmation. "Well, Stardust is a guard. She fights for her country, and the ponies living in it. Zecora, she's from a foreign land, but despite that, she fights for those she holds close. Tethys, in a way to quell her instincts, and for her own pride and culture, fights because she believes that her strength should be used, not hidden." Skystrike then paused before deciding how to say it. "I have two reasons. I fight to inspire. I came from a place where I was expected to just serve, to be used. It was only because I fought back that I am here now. I just wish I did it sooner. Point is, I fight because it gives hope to others that things can change for the better. My hope is that they stand up and fight for themselves. The other reason is a bit more personal. Not going into details, an old friend of mine was... wronged and... no one stood up for him. Only I did, but it was too late for it to make any difference to him."
"What was his name? Do you still talk?" Spike asked all too innocently.
"Steel Ace... and I wish we did. He... passed away about 7 years ago."
"I... I'm sorry. I think I get it though. Well, you all have good reasons. I guess that... I don't know what I fight for yet."
"And that's ok. I didn't either until after Steel Ace passed. There will be a moment where you realize. Most times, it's the middle of a fight. But again, I taught you to protect yourself and others, not to look for them." Skystrike looked back at Spike.
Spike nodded. "Ok! I'll only fight to protect others!"
Skystrike pushed open the door to the Ponyville Day Spa. "Sounds good." He said, but he couldn't help but think that he was going to regret this later.
Aloe Vera and Lotus Blossom, the twin owners of the establishment, greeted them in a Swedish accent... does... does Sweden exist? What's the pony equivalent? "Good afternoon, gentlecolts! What can we help you with today?"
"Spike, you chose. I don't know what I'm doing."
The baby dragon jumped off of the stallion's back. "We'd like to use the sauna, then get facials and massages, and finally hooficures."
Skystrike nodded at the two sisters as they bought up the price. A bit hefty, but it wouldn't hurt his pockets. He paid the fine. "Right this way!" Aloe began. The three walked down one of the hall ways before stopping at their destination. Aloe opened the door while Spike and Skystrike took of their clothes and put on the robes they were given and stepped inside. "The bucket of water is right next to the coals. Pour it on to increase the heat to your liking. Call if you need anything!"
And with that, the boys were left in the sauna. Skystrike could already feel the heat trickle into his body. The two sat down on opposite sides of the coals. Luckily they had it all to themselves.
"You know, we don't have many chances to hang out, just us guys." Spike leaned back.
"Yeah, with my work and now you going to school, there isn't too much time for us to hang out. Well, besides training." Skystrike leaned over. "I do hope you kept up with the routine while I was gone."
"I have, just a bit hard to find the time for it. From helping out Twilight, doing homework, and making friends, I can't put in as much time as I want." Spike sighed.
"That's life, dude. I know exactly how you feel... How about we cut back on the training a bit? I prefer you didn't miss out on your childhood. Besides, you got the basics down of combat anyway. Now, all you need is to keep up the routine, spar a few times. Think you can set aside about... an hour or two in the afternoon a few days a week? I'll even make you dinner. With fish and meat!"
Spike's eyes glittered with excitement. "Really!? You're the best!"
Skystrike poured some water onto the coals, the hot steam rising, increasing the temperature a few degrees. "Heh, I try to be. But how's school going for you? Part of me was hoping while Twilight enrolled you that you'd make some friends. Friends of your own, not Twilight's that you more see out of convenience... Not that we aren't your friends... just... kids your age."
"I know what you mean, and yeah! Yesterday, I actually made friends with Sweetie Belle. I'll probably hang out more with her in and afterschool." Spike poured some water onto the coals himself. "I think school is going well. Thanks to all the books I read when I get bored, Miss Cherilee says I'm ahead in the class, and is making me take some higher level stuff."
Skystrike smiled as he raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? Like what?"
"Umm... Algebra and Equestrian History. She actually gave us all a project to do a presentation on things we do in our life, says she wants us to be creative."
"Any ideas so far?"
"Well... I can't write about how boring it is to help out at the library... Wow, I don't really do much here in Ponyville... I guess I can write about the training with you and Stardust..." Spike thought aloud.
Skystrike poured water. "Well, if you want help, just ask us. I got plenty of stories to share."
The two sat in a comfortable silence as they let the heat into their bodies. Skystrike could feel it do wonders on his body. The pain in his scars were fading as he felt his blood flow better. Then Spike spoke up. "Hey, Skystrike... can I ask you a serious question?"
"Sure. Go for it, lil man."
"...Do... do you... like Rarity?"
Skystrike paused before answering. "Spike... first, my answer to that is that I don't know. I'm barely honest to those around me, let alone myself. I don't know what I feel. Second, and try not to let my own thoughts influence you, but... I don't think... well, put bluntly, its puppy love. It seems like you like her because she's pretty."
"That's... that's not true! I-I mean... I don't like her."
"Spike, I know you like her, and I wont tell anypony. And I'm not accusing you of anything. just saying my perspective on this. But let me ask you this, and you don't have to answer, but how much do you actually know about Rarity? Her hobbies, her interest?" Skystrike leaned forward. "I'm not saying these things to discourage your feelings for her. I just want to make sure you're sure of any feelings you have for her." Skystrike leaned back after he poured on some more water on the coals. "Besides... even if you are sure of your feelings for her, and who she is as a pony... you're already way behind anypony that's into her."
"...What do you mean?" Spike asked.
"You're a child, Spike. Over a 10 year age gap. Even if she liked you back, she couldn't reciprocate those until you turn sixteen. Then she would also have to deal with the judging eyes on her... And this is all assuming she doesn't find somepony until then... You're playing a game that others have been playing for a while. You'll need luck, and commitment."
"...Are you saying that I shouldn't try?"
Skystrike wanted to say yes, for the obvious reason of the huge age gap, but didn't want to discourage him. "Not exactly... I'm a realist. I'm saying you shouldn't be surprised it doesn't work out." He finished, as he poured a bit more water on the coals. Skystrike began sweating.
This whole conversation made him think on the whole relationship between Rarity and Spike. A part of him wants to see them happy, but he just knows it wont work out in the end. It's something that Spike will grow out of. But Rarity's actions toward Spike is something that wont change until it's pointed out. He'll speak to her about it one of these days. "Honestly, Spike, I am sorry."
"...It's... fine. Honestly, I felt like that for a while. Just needed somepony to say it to me. But I'm not giving up!" Spike stood up and pumped a fist. "I'll learn more about her, and then I'll confess!"
Skystrike chuckled and gave a fake smile under his helmet. "You do you. I'll be here for you until the end either way... How long did you want to stay in here for anyway?"
"We've only been in here about 30 minutes, and it isn't even that hot. How about another half hour? With more heat."
Damn dragons and their temperature resistance. Skystrike chuckled some more as he picked up the bucket and poured a fourth of the water left onto the coals. The room instantly filled with steam, and went up in temperature a lot. Skystrike was sweating even more now. "Hot enough for you?"
"Aaaahh, that's nice..." Spike leaned back. "We should do this more often." The comfortable silence returned before Spike asked another question. "You know, you never told me what your job is."
Skystrike gave a small sigh. "I'm... a bounty hunter mixed with a detective? Mostly a bounty hunter. Mostly, I get paid to deal with some monster that's terrorizing some ponies. More times than I prefer, I end up a detective. Often because I wasn't given enough info, and the rabbit hole goes deeper."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, one of the first missions I ever took, some Noble's filly was foalnapped by somepony, and I was told it was because the filly was the successor. What actually happened, after I figured out who did it, was that the filly ran away from home, and she was being hunted down by her parents, since she was an illegitimate child. Once I learned that, I turned that information into the proper authorities, because if I sent her back to the Nobles, she would've died."
"Wow... that's like one of those thriller stories. Do you remember her name? Is she doing alright?"
Skystrike nodded. "Yeah... her name is Casta Spell. And she's doing quite well for herself." The two talked a bit more, Skystrike sharing his stories to the young dragon filled with excitement. But soon, their time in the sauna was up, and they decided to go get their facials. It felt... weird having to put some type of ointment on his face, then the cucumbers on his eyes... He did not like having his eyes closed. Luckily, they let him put everything on himself, so he didn't have to show his face. He focused on everything he could hear. The ponies walking by, the doors opening, the voices of the few other ponies in the room with them. It cooled his nerves a bit.
The two boys moved on to the full body massages. Skystrike was told to just relax, let loose of the tension in his body, but it took a little for him to do so. But once that massage started, he had to admit, it felt heavenly. Skilled hooves glided across his coat, feeling any tension he had left loosen as his muscles relaxed. The pressure was firm, yet soothing, and he felt the stress release with the knots. It was calming. His breathing slowed, becoming more aware of the sensation of relaxation spreading through his body. It ended, and he felt like was a new man.
Finally, hooficures. Well, claw-icures for Spike. Face masks washed off, he put back on his helmet. He was lucky how easy the ponies fall for disguises. He was laid on his side, and his hooves put in line as Aloe began filing his hooves. Then he heard the door open, turning his head to see Twilight and Fluttershy enter in robes. "Yo."
"Oh, hey Nebula. Didn't expect to see you here." Twilight greeted.
"I didn't think a spa was one of your interest." Fluttershy chuckled a bit.
"Well, I wasn't before, but Spike got me into it." Skystrike shrugged. "Spike, how's it going on your end?" Spike gave a thumbs up. "We coolin'."
"You know, you take better care of your hooves than I thought." Fluttershy laid on her side as she began getting a hooficure of her own.
"Hoof work is super important in my work. Gotta make sure they stay even."
"Besides... can the fellas not feel pretty?" Spike picked the cucumbers off his eyes and ate them. The three ponies laughed.
"Oh yeah, Twilight and I stopped by Rarity's to see how Tethys's clothes were going. Rarity got... really inspired from Tethys." Fluttershy sighed in relief from her spa treatments. "Tethys's was surprisingly into it, albeit a little self conscious about her body."
"I mean, I still haven't seen what she's self conscious about. I'll try to make her feel better either way. Might stop by when I drop of Spike back at the library..." He said as he looked over to Spike. "We coolin'?"
"We coolin'." Spike responded.
"We coolin'." Skystrike confirmed.
"I also heard Mayor Mare chatting about you with Cherilee... You get around, huh?" Twilight smirked.
"...I mean, they're good ponies. What are you implying?" Skystrike tilted his head.
Twilight chuckled. "You know they are interested in you, right?"
"...What? Why would they be?"
"Well, I didnt hear all the details, but they invited you to go drinking with them... and you know mares and herds."
"I don't. What? How did you pick up on this and not the tickets that Celestia gave you? How did I pick up on the tickets and not the mares hitting on me??" Skystrike asked her, then himself. He felt stupid.
"I- wh-... WHAT?" Twilight blurted out.
"Not going to lie, Nebula, I'm confused too..." Fluttershy looked at him.
Skystrike began laughing. "Well, why do you think Celestia gave me three tickets, and Twilight two?"
Fluttershy and Twilight thought about it for a few moments, then Fluttershy began giggling at the clueless Twilight. "...Because she wanted you to give one to Zecora?" The unicorn guessed.
"You poor soul." Skystrike continued laughing. "I thought so at first too, until Zecora was sent one of her own, same time as mine. Stardust too. Another hint then, I'm a stallion. You're a mare." Twilight thought some more, then tilted her head. "God, you're dense. She wants... well, wanted you to get a coltfriend. She wants me to get a herd."
Twilight's face turned bright red. "O-oh..." Then Skystrike laughed his ass off, Aloe having to stop her filing and giggling a bit as well.
"Yeah, it's real awkward. I still don't know who I'll bring... Well, Tethys definitely, now that she's here..." Skystrike sat in thought. "Well, I still got time. I need to get extra tickets anyway..."
"Preparing for a herd?" Twilight teased.
"Oh, well, during my stay in Canterlot, I met up with some old friends and family. Some of them want to go... Actually, Casta probably got tickets for herself and Maud. Then I just need some for the family... I don't know who I'll bring."
Twilight's ears perked up. "Casta? Casta Spell? As in the court magician? You know her personally?"
"Yeah, was part of my group before we disbanded. She's a bit like you two. A total nerd, rambles on in an amusing way that keeps you interested in what she says. But she's also really shy, pretty quiet, but you can tell she tries her best. You two would like her. Maybe I'll see if she can visit."
"Does she like tea?" Fluttershy asked.
"Yeah, but I dont know much about it. She does enjoy her tea time like you." When Skystrike finished, as if on queue, Spike were finished, standing up and stretching a bit. "Oh my god, I feel so... nice. Aloe, Lotus, you two have the hooves of an angel."
"Thank you, sir." Aloe and Lotus said, opening the doors for the boys. "We hope to see you again!"
"See you later, Fluttershy, Twilight."
Skystrike took the fast way to Spike's home, deciding to take into the skies and fly there. Only about five minutes of flight was all it took to drop off Spike at the library before he took the short walk to Rarity's Carousel Boutique. He heard quite a lot of chatter going on inside. Girl talk probably between Rarity, Tethys, Zecora, and Stardust... Wouldn't hurt to eavesdrop a little...
He heard Tethys' voice first. "So I'm sitting there, barbeque sauce on my titties..." And then laughter erupted from within the building. And Skystrike decided he heard enough.
Skystrike waited a comfortable amount of time where he wouldn't raise suspicion to knock on the door. Then, right as he was about to knock, he hesitated. He remembered what he did earlier. What he said to Tethys, and in front of all of his friends. He stood there for a little longer, thinking of what to do next. Then he heard the doorknob jiggle. His ears went up, taking him out of his train of thought as he looked at the dragoness who opened the door. "...Hey."
"...Hey..." Skystrike awkwardly returned the greeting. "Just wanted to say sorry for this morning. Even if I was upset, I shouldn't have blown up on you like that."
"Oh... well you don't need to be sorry. I should've noticed sooner that you don't like fighting."
"No big deal. Don't worry about it too much." Skystrike shook his head.
Tethys grabbed him. "Sweet, because I need a guys opinion." And like that, Skystrike was dragged inside and put on a chair, next to Zecora and Stardust.
"...Wait, Rarity made clothes this fast?" Skystrike asked the two next to him.
"That, among other things." Stardust took a sip from her cup of water. "Came at the perfect time. We just finished looking through her underwear."
"Speaking of, Skystrike!" Rarity called from behind the dressing screen with Tethys. "You've seen her... personally, so you'd know what would work better. I have the design down for her Lingerie, but none of us can deside on the color."
Skystrike thought. "Just because you asked, I'll answer. Black and white are the easy choices. Maybe a turqoise to bring out the different shades of blue, or rose red for contrast. Now my question is how much did you all talk about my sex life? Because I don't like the way that first sentence came out..."
Stardust coughed as Zecora laughed. "When you fell asleep, the night was still young. And we had to admit, you knew how to work that tongue."
Skystrike groaned and covered his face with his hooves. "You know, your rhyming makes it so much worse."
With a thud, Tethys from behind the dressing screen took off her chestplate and put on the tan undergarments that Rarity quickly yet fashionably made for her. She had to admit though, it was a bit hard making a bra further up, and having to make space for wings. Rarity had to strain herself to even get the piece on. "Rrgh... remind me to make these a couple sizes bigger..."
"Are they that big? For real?" Skystrike was confused. Last he saw them they were what he assumed a normal size for a dragon.
"You have no idea..." Stardust sighed. "A part of me is jealous."
"Of?" Tethys asked as she began putting on her outfit.
"The attention you'd get from them. I barely get noticed by any stallions..." Stardust sighed again. "I'm kinda nearing the age where I don't have many options on partners. Need to settle down sooner rather than later."
Skystrike turned to Stardust. "You're like thirty. There's no way stallions are that picky, right?"
"Sky, from what you told me, and given where you're from, the way the stallions treat mares there is like heaven. It's why you're one of the good ones. You take everypony that approaches you at face value. The average stallion, over-inflating their worth, gets to decide on every aspect they want in a mare, just because there's that much choice for them." She said before laughing a bit. "Once I was rejected because he already had 'too many earth ponies in his herd'."
Zecora spoke next. "In my homeland, the issue's the same. My stripe patter led to a let down, a shame."
Rarity spoke as she helped Tethys into her outfit. "I was thrown away by an ex because I didn't fit the color pallete of his herd... Asshole..."
"...What the fuck, all of those are such shallow reasons!" Skystrike threw out his hooves. "Like... holy shit! There's no way! I just thought the way I acted was the norm!"
"Pssh, I wish! Darling, if you were the norm, then you wouldn't have so many eyes on you."
"What, basic respect gets me girls??" They all nodded at him. "What the hell! There's no way! They haven't even seen my face!"
"I don't know why you're so surprised. And your face only adds to your mystery." Rarity giggled. "You're good with kids, you have most of your stuff together, you're strong, you actually see us mares as ponies rather than trophies, you dress well, you have a nice build... Honestly, there's a lot of reasons. But you're dense."
"Thanks? I guess? I'm... still just... in shock of your side of the dating market. I'm sorry."
"Eh, it's fine. Most stallions grow out of it after the first few mares leave them." Stardust finished her drink. "But enough about that, let's see the outfits!"
Tethys hesitated to step out. "I'm... not sure, now that I have this on."
Rarity huffed, then got on her hind legs to push Tethys into view by her butt. The first outfit was simple, being jeans and a green v-neck t-shirt with a black sleeveless vest. Skystrike was honestly more surprised she was able to make a vest for wings like that. "Come on, give us a spin!" Rarity clapped her hooves. Tethys did so, letting skystrike see two things. One was how the holes for her arms were much wider and went towards the back, allowing her wings and arms to go through on one hole each side. That makes sense. The second was the side view of her rack. They were already kinda big, but if they were apparently bigger... he shook the thought out of his mind.
"Looks pretty good on you. Kinda reminds me of some of my clothes." Skystrike said.
"Thanks... We actually went through your wardrobe to get ideas. And Stardust's too..." Tethys admitted. "And I was hoping for more than a 'pretty good' to be honest..."
"Well, my honest opinion is that you look hot as hell, but I didn't want to be weird." Skystrike admitted, making Zecora and Stardust laugh. "But if you want actual pointers, you're putting a lot of attention on your upper body. Mostly your chest because of the v-neck, but you don't have much of a choice since your horns are in the way. Because you're self conscious about the area, the best option I can think of is to put more focus on other parts of your body, like your legs, horns, or wings."
Stardust nodded. "Going off of what Sky said, it is a good idea. Maybe a tail band, or jewelry?"
Then Zecora spoke up. "Maybe neck rings or bracelets, similar to mine. It'd be worth trying on for a time."
Skystrike nodded. "I could make some for you. Silver or platinum would be good... Maybe onyx or jade too."
Rarity quickly wrote down all the input. "Alright, next outfit!"
Tethys was pulled behind the dressing screen, then pushed out a few moments later in a grey, off-shoulder ribbed knit jumper dress with long, loose sleeves, and the dress ending just before the knees. She did a quick spin, showing an opening for her wings and tail, but making sure to cover her butt. "This one feels a bit... embarrassing"
Skystrike made the 'ok' sign with his metal arm. "Very nice. Good color. Not so much attention to the chest, but still gives a good view of your figure. The grey really brings out the shades of blue in your hair and scales, and the smoothness of the dress also puts emphasis on your muscles and horns. A jade necklace would bring out your eyes more."
"Darling, how is your eye for fashion so good?" Rarity blinked. "That was so much detail!"
"Like I said, I had four sisters who didn't want to wear the same thing. Comes with the territory."
"Then why didn't you help me when the girls had me make those revolting dresses!?"
"You didn't ask." Skystrike shrugged.
Rarity sighed, then turned to Stardust and Zecora. "Well, moving on, thoughts?"
"Well, Skystrike already said most of it." Stardust sat up. "Maybe try a few different colors? Just stay away from orange or a deep blue."
"It puts a lot of focus on your chest. maybe try an open back turtle neck dress?"
The routine continued, Tethys being pulled back and thrown out in a new outfit. "Can't I just try one of those sweat shirts? Like Skystrike?"
"Oh fine, but if you do, I'm making you wear that outfit." Rarity responded.
"...Know what, fuck it, fine! I'll wear that damn dress!" Tethys threw up her hands. "Look, now you're making me sound like him!"
"Oh hush, just get out there! Don't know what type of critique you'll get wearing that though." Once again, Tethys was pushed out, this time wearing a simple set of grey sweat shirt and sweat pants.
"You know, kinda fits you. Definitely hides everything. But yeah, it is rather plain."
"You're one to talk." Tethys quipped. "I've only seen you wear your armor and your sweats."
"Well ONE, my armor looks sick! TWO, looking plain is my intention. And THREE, womens fashion is much more complex than mens. Most ponies don't wear clothes in the first place. I just wear mine because I don't like having my balls out."
Stardust chuckled. "You're insecure about your balls?"
"I'm insecure about ponies staring at my balls. Completely different. But moving on, I guess you can get a pattern for your sweats? Stripes?"
Stardust was about to say something, but was cut off by Rarity. "Enough of that, now, dress time!"
Tethys let out a long groan as she went back behind the screen and started undressing, then putting on the item known as 'that'. In a few minutes, she came out. It was a glistening silver, crossover backless dress with a slit that started at her thigh, the full length of the dress stopping right at the floor. Tethys was obviously embarraased by what she was wearing. Skystrike however, pogged.
Zecora spoke first. "Tethys, in that outfit, you're a sight. Any guy would swoon, fall down in pure delight."
"I see you took Skystrike's advice. You look great! Maybe you can wear that to the gala?" Stardust affirmed.
Tethys turned to the earth pony. "Gala? That dance you ponies have? I don't have a ticket."
"Skystrike will probably give you one of his extras." Stardust turned, then almost choked when she saw Skystrike pogging. "Sky?" She asked between stifled laughter. "Your thoughts?"
Skystrike stood up slowly and put on a pair of sunglasses. He put out an open hoof. "Sex... NOW!" Everyone bust out laughing, Stardust falling out of her chair and onto the floor. Zecora even brayed a few times, making them all laugh harder. "I am so happy that landed..."
"Holy bucking shit..." Stardust picked herself off the floor. "I think that's the funniest thing you've said..."
"I didn't think that my thoughts while high were gonna be taken seriously." Skystrike shrugged.
"Well, admittedly, they were good ideas. Might have to use them sometimes." Rarity finished laughing. "Maybe we should get you high again. Get more ideas out of you."
"We should mix it with poison joke! See what spells of the mind we can invoke!" Zecora laughed.
"THAT IS A BAD IDEA!" Skystrike instantly denied causing them to all laugh again. "You could not handle the shit I would say! Everything in my mind should stay inside of the skull prison!"
"I think I'm with Skystrike on this one Darlings..." Rarity wiped her tears. "We all, well except Tethys, saw what poison joke does... he just does not stop talking..."
"I have seen him on poison joke before, and while it was funny the first tie, after an hour or two, it was... annoying to say the least."
"You froze my mouth closed."
"Like I said, annoying to say the least." Tethys leaned on her back leg. Skystrike pogged again as she showed off. "What, you into legs?"
"Yes." Skystrike said matter of factly.
"...Why in Tartarus are you so forward about it? Like, thanks I guess??" Tethys threw up her arms. "Good to know I have nice legs???"
"No problem. That's what friends are for!" Skystrike gave a thumbs up.
"Skystrike, I want to hit you SO bad right now!" Tethys laughed some more.
Skystrike was sitting at Ponyville's local bar, having a drink prepared by the owner. A plum coated mare with a raspberry pink mane and tail, hosting a cutie mark of a bunch of grapes and a strawberry. Her name was Berryshine, better known as Berry Punch, and she knew how to brew. In a few moments, she served him his drink, a simple Margarita. She even gave him the lime.
"Thanks, Berry." Skystrike raised the drink to her before taking a few sips, feeling the slight burn as it went down.
"No problem, colt." She said before going back to cleaning her glasses. It was the evening, around seven to be exact. The ponies of the town started to roll in, having a bit more fun before the weekend ended. The bar was rather small, only having about a dozen and a half booths, but it made sense for the size of Ponyville, barely breaking 100 ponies at the moment, but the village was steadily growing. Skystrike looked around the bar to see all that was going on. Some ponies throwing darts at a dart board, another few groups sitting at the booths, chatting between each other, and some even looking through the vinyl's at the jukebox.
Skystrike, however, was taking the time to think about what he learned and did earlier that day. He was having doubts about telling Rainbow Dash. Well, not truly doubts. He felt that he'd come to regret it later, but couldn't tell if that was his instinct or his predisposition against the ponies. It was the same with Tethys, Zecora, Elytra. Well, Elytra already knew, but still. He was at least glad he had one of his sisters back.
But back to the topic at hand. Maybe he could trust Rainbow... actually most definitely. But he should not have told Mayor Mare... or Minuette, Lemon Drop, or Twinkleshine... Man he fucked it up. But maybe those three were ok? They haven't seemed to reveal his identity. Or maybe nopony believed them. Moon Dancer knew for a while. Skystrike knew that she needed somepony to talk to, even through letters. Some ponies need that connection, but life doesn't let them make them. He'd make sure to read her letter first thing tomorrow morning... better yet, he'd visit when he goes to Maud's graduation.
He got lost in his thought again. His very being was telling him not to trust these ponies, or any being in this world. But at least he knew why, and he wouldn't let it control him. What he worried about now was the time they have left. The time Skystrike had left with all of his friends. Everything he planned on doing either will never happen, or will have to be sped up. At worst, five years left... The obvious thing is to write his will, who'd he leave his belongings too. What he actually wanted to think about was... how to tell his friends.
Rainbow, he told because she helped him out, stayed with him, listened to him, even if she wasn't obligated to. She deserved to know the truth about him. But the others, he wasn't sure what to do. He could keep it a secret, and they'd live with the pain of his sudden death. He could tell them all, but then they'd know that the time they have with him is limited. There's no happy ending for his story... He could only lessen the pain on those he cared for, and do some good before he'd go.
He always wanted to be a singer, ever since he went to a concert back in grade school. Vynil is offering to make music with him, so he could at least release some tracks. Always wanted to get a girlfriend too, but two things about that. He'd have to find one first, and one that would be ok with his inevitable death. The realistic option would be to cross that off. There are a few races he hasn't even met yet that he'd want to meet. Kirins, Deer, the beings down south, the beings in Zecora's home country, there's so much he wants to see. Five years should be enough time, but he'll most likely stay in Equestria. He should leave something behind to protect his friends and their world. Echo could help with that... if he stays active after his passing. Maybe he should reveal himself to Celestia... No, not yet. Out of the question. But the main thing he'd have to work towards is seeing his friends again. The members of 'All' that disbanded. He'd have to speed up the plans.
He sighed, downing the rest of the drink in one go. It's been a hard day, he deserves to get soft. He asked Berry to make him another, her doing so. Skystrike was about to down it before a hoof touched his shoulder. "Starting without us?"
Skystrike turned to see two familiar, and a new face. A mare with a white coat and light pink mane and tail, the former being in a bun. Her cutie mark was that of a medical cross with a heart at each corner. After looking at her a little longer, he recognized her. "Ah, perfect timing. Mayor Mare, Cherilee, and Redheart right? I remember you. Patched me up good."
Redheart nodded. "Yes, and I couldn't forget you. Stitching you up when you had claw marks that big on you wasn't easy." She sighed. "To be honest, I wasn't expecting you of all ponies to be the 'new friend' that Ivory was saying was going to join us."
Mayor Mare quickly covered Redheart's mouth, but it was too late. Skystrike fully turned to face the three. "So that's your real name? Ivory, huh? Knew Mayor Mare had to be a title." He chuckled.
"The whole thing is Ivory Scroll, now that you know, but... I perfer to keep it on the hush hush. Only close friends call me that." Mayor Mare shuffled in place, removing her hoof from Redheart's mouth.
"Trust me, I get it. I'll keep calling you Mayor." Skystrike got up and grabbed his glass. "Let's move to a booth. You ladies eat yet, or you just here for the drinks?"
"If you're offering to pay, we didn't eat yet." Cherilee smirked.
"Alright, I can do that. Just don't make a habit of it." Skystrike laughed as they moved to a booth.
They all took their seats as Cherilee continued the conversation. "You dont have to, I was joking. We can pay for ourselves."
"Please, don't worry. It's really no problem."
"Dang colt, how much do you make where a sudden outing is no problem for you to pay?" Redheart put an elbow on the table.
"Uh..." Skystrike looked up in thought. "Depends on the year, to be honest. When I first started out, I had to do simple fetch quests weekly just to get by. Wasn't until I was able to get my first real mission that I started making good money. Lowest I made in a year, after splitting rewards between everyone, was 40k. Highest year was the year before I moved here, made 430k."
"Damn, what did you have to do to get that much in one year?"
"Well, further context was that 430k was before expenses. After, it was 380k. I planned on settling down, so I took a lot of quests from the average pony, to nobles, to government officials. Ranged from missing ponies, to monster hunts, and even some things I signed some NDAs for." Skystrike looked into his drink and took a sip. "Word of advice for all of you, if you think somepony has it out for you, write it down and hide it somewhere. The guards aren't trained to look too hard, and close the case without doing much work. Your friends and family end up calling ponies like me to do the looking."
"Yeah, I had a stalker back and highschool. Still have the notes I wrote." Mayor Mare admitted.
"Oh shit, you had a stalker? Why didn't I know about it? What happened to them?" Cherilee turned to look at her friend.
"I didn't take him too seriously until it came to a peak. Normally, he just showed up at places where I went. The library, my job, things like that. It wasnt until he followed me home that I got worriedd about it. But soon after he just stopped. Completely stopped approaching me, in fact, began running away if he ever saw me in class. What was his name? Stone Journer or something?"
"Stone Journer was your stalker?" Cherilee's eyes went wide.
"What, you knew him?" Mayor Mare tilted her head, putting up a hoof to call over a waiter.
"Well... not knew knew, but we had a lot of similar classes. Some colt asked me about him during out junior year. That Skystrike kid, was the same year as us, but a few years younger. When I asked why he wanted to know so much about him, he said 'the less you know the better' then walked away." Mayor Mare turned to Skystrike. Though she couldn't tell by his face, she could tell by the eyes that he was smirking.
"Isn't that Skystrike pony the one with no magic?" Redheart joined in. "I had to do my bachelor's research project on the effects of magic on a pony, and how it differs on species. He was a big part of my research, since the average medical practices didn't work on him. Most of our medicine reacts with the magic in ponies in after all." Redheart turned to Skystrike again. "But your job sounds pretty interesting. Exciting too."
"You'd think so, and at times it is, but most completely forget about the part of the job where the ponies judge you. All four of us help ponies here. Tending to their wounds, educating the youth, serving the residents, your achievements are looked on with grace. Not many see me or anypony in my line of work as anything more than a thug for hire. It's pretty isolating."
"Eesh... Never thought of it like that... I will say, I did think of you like that for a while until you took out that Ursa Minor... and I had to stitch you up. Sorry."
He shook his head. "No big deal. The town's got... marginally more accepting so I'm over it by now. But enough about me. I barely know anything about you three." The waiter came to take their orders as the conversation paused. They quickly placed their orders. The warm glow of the bar lights reflected off the polished wooden tables, casting a nice ambience over the room. As their food and drinks came, Skystrike on his third, they clinked their glasses together, and the murmurs of conversation began.
It was interesting to him how quick the excitement and comraderie settled in between the group. Despite appearances, Redheart was a natural conversationalist, who's witty remarks effortlessly kept the banter going. As she showed more of who she was as a pony, her animated gestures and infectious smile drew in everypony. Cherilee was more of a listener, and did so to every part of the conversation, but made sure to add her opinions in as the night went on. Mayor Mare was more rowdy that he was expecting, but he couldn't tell if it was just who she was, or because of the alcohol. The ponies could handle less than him. Honestly their alcohol wasn't even strong. She was laughing pretty loud, but he didn't blame her. Doing three ponies jobs at once couldn't be easy. She just wanted to let loose a bit. Same with Cherilee. Redheart wasn't much of a drinker, but mostly due to her job. Had to be on call just in case. Didn't stop her from having a drink or two, but she had to wake up in the morning without a hangover.
Time seemed to slip away unnoticed as the group bonded over their shared experiences, discovering some common ground and appreciating their differences. As the evening progressed, the initial hesitation of talking to these ponies transformed into a genuine connection. They each bought something unique to the table, forging the beginnings of what promised to be a lasting friendship. They promised to do this again.
Alas, the night was coming to an end. Skystrike was surprised he felt better, despite how the day started out. While he, Redheart, Mayor Mare, and Cherilee weren't drunk, each one of them were tipsy. Redheart was the first to part ways, her house a few minutes walk from the bar, but they continued the conversation until the last second. Skystrike, even though he doubted he needed to, walked them home. Cherilee's place was in the opposite direction of Mayor Mare's home, so the two decided the former would sleep at the mayors home.
They walked into the mayors home, the three still laughing as he helped them inside. Skystrike didn't realize how much they drank. The mares were leaning on him in a... way that was giving signals. He was probably thinking too hard. "The... bedroom is the doorway on the right." Mayor Mare pointed. Skystrike lead them to the bedroom, Cherilee and Mayor Mare giving each other a look, unnoticed by Skystrike. "Could you help me... undo this collar?" She took of her glasses and gave him 'the look'. There was a growing blush on both her and Cherilee's face as the latter waited on the bed. Mayor Mare took of her glasses as she laid back on the bed as well.
Skystrike, the dense idiot he was, took of her collar and put it on the night stand next to the bed before tucking them both in. "You two comfortable? I can get you some water before I go. Help you work of the hangover we're going to have in the morning."
The two earth ponies looked at each other before laughing. Cherilee was the one to clarify. "Quite a gentlecolt, but I didn't take you for one to be so dense. So let me be less subtle... we'd like to have a good time, and hopefully for a long time~." Cherilee stood up and flicked his chin with her tail.
It still took a moment for it to click in Skystrike's brain. "Aight." |
A Broken Warrior | Picking up the shattered pieces | Skystrike woke up, looking at Mayor Mare to his left, and Cheerilee to his right. He looked at the clock, seeing it was six in the morning. Internal clock was nice. He sat up, then slowed when he realized his mild hangover. And then he remembered what they did last night... Needless to say, the three were not tipsy. He got up, making sure not to wake the two next to him, and the first thing he did was use the bathroom. Second thing he did was drink water, and a lot of it.
He was about to figure out what to do next, but then he smelled something. The smell that's been following him for a while. He reeked of sweat, among other things. He took a shower. Mayor Mare used nice shampoo. After about twenty minutes, he dried himself off, walked out, and put back on all his clothes. It just turned seven, so he still has time. It's a Monday... Mayor Mare and Cheerilee had work soon. Might as well help them get ready for the day.
Skystrike checked the fridge. Milk, eggs, bread, haybacon, various fruits, and some cheese. He could work with it. Breakfast sandwich time. In a few minutes they were done. Toasted bread, with eggs, cheese, tomato's, and haybacon. He had to admit, it slapped. Skystrike walked back into the bedroom and looked at the sleeping mares. They looked very satisfied. He nudged them awake. "Yo, it's 7:20. You two gotta get ready for the day."
Mayor Mare and Cheerilee groggily got out of bed. They joined him at the table and began eating. "I needed this..." Cheerilee said between bites. "Thank you for cooking, Skystrike... and for last night... best time I've ever had." She smirked.
"No problem, but if there's a next time, let's be sober." He chuckled as he began eating too.
"I'm up for it again, definitely. Just wasn't expecting you to last that long... I also cant feel my legs... and my flank hurts just from sitting in this chair."
"You too, huh?" The two mares laughed.
"You two were pretty good yourself. And really loud... God I hope nopony is outside this house when we all leave... rumors spread too quick in this town..."
"In my defense, you're really good at foreplay. A lot of stallions don't know how to do it, or only focus on themselves." Mayor Mare took a sip of water. "And I don't even remember the last time I came from just a tongue. You were no rookie... How many bodies do you have under that belt, stud?"
Skystrike looked to the ceiling as he counted in his head. "You two make the total... five."
"You know, I was expecting more than that." Cheerilee bit into her food again. "Most stallions are in the double digits, but we could tell from last night, you aren't most stallions. Well, moving on then, I don't know if you know, but every few weeks or so, I invite a pony to come into the schoolhouse and talk about their profession, and give a demonstration to the kids, and make it a bit interactive. I haven't found anypony for next month if you think you'd be up for it? Obviously not your main job, but Pinkie talks about all the contraptions you make. Something related to that?"
"I do have a bachelors in Physics, and a masters in magical engineering. I make all my weapons and armor myself. I guess you want something simple for the kids?" Skystrike asked. Cheerilee answered with a nod. "Alright, I'll do it. We'll stick with projectile motion... How crazy can I get with making it interactive?"
"I feel like this is a trap, but what do you mean?"
"On a scale of air cannons to catapults, what can I have the kids make?"
"...Lets stick with the air cannons."
Skystrike nodded and laughed. "Alright. I can bring the materials myself. By the way, Mayor Mare, you still need help with your paperwork and all that?"
"Skystrike, you blew my guts out and made me breakfast the morning after. You can call me Ivory." Skystrike nearly choked from laughing too hard for a solid 2 minutes. "And today shouldn't be a busy day, and Raven should be back tomorrow, so I don't think I'll need your help after all."
"If that's the case, works out great for us. I have a lot of work to do."
"Preparing for another mission?" Ivory Scroll got up and began brewing some coffee for the three.
"Somewhat. I have some loose ends to tie up, but the beings I need to do it with are in other countries. I plan on making blueprints to upgrade an airship I plan on buying." Skystrike finished his food and water.
"Jeez, where do you have to go where you need an airship?" Cheerilee raised a brow.
"Out of this country, and over Celestia Sea. Just need to get the license for it, and the know how to pilot it." Skystrike stopped for a moment, putting some sugar and milk in his freshly brewed coffee. "Thank you. But hey, I got a busy day. I need to prepare for an overnight trip to Canterlot tonight. A friend of mine is getting her masters."
"Alright. Tell her we said congratulations!" Ivory smiled and began drinking her coffee.
"I'm going to finish this with Ivory before heading to the school house. I'm definitely going to need this coffee." Cheerilee sighed.
"Alright then. I'll see you two later." And with that Skystrike got up and waved the two mares goodbye. As soon as he stepped outside, he realized his fatal mistake. Where Ivory's house is. Rarity's boutique was within eyesight... and thus earshot. And they were loud last night. Oh god oh fuck. If Rarity sees him he wont hear the fucking end of it.
And like the world ramming a cactus up his ass, Rarity, and for some reason, Rainbow Dash, both walked out of Carousel Boutique. The three made eye contact. Rainbow and Rarity gave a smile. That smile... that damn smile. "Oh darling~..." Rarity cooed. "It was so noisy last night... I wonder what all the noise was?"
Skystrike stared.
Rainbow flew up and elbowed him in the side. "Well, studinator, how'd it go? I heard it during a midnight flight, and you were going at it!" She laughed.
Skystrike stared.
"You absolutely must give me all the details." Rarity snickered.
"...I swear to god, if you two say anything to anypony, I'm going to make your pronouns was/were." Skystrike groaned.
"You don't have to worry about that." Skystrike gave a sigh of relief at Rainbows words. "Half the town already knows."
His eyes shrunk to pin pricks, and Rarity and Rainbow Dash laughed their asses off. "IT'S NOT EVEN NINE YET!"
It soon became the afternoon, and word spread much, much faster than he thought. Elytra knew, Zecora knew, Tethys knew, even the introverted Fluttershy knew. Like, what the fuck? And now he's getting some lecture from Elytra about safe sex and STDs. He tried to explain what happened, but the older sister part kicked in and Elytra wouldn't listen. Damn... how long is she going to talk for? Sure, he's a bit naïve, but he knows how to have safe sex. And he had protection. Skystrike was zoning out from her rant.
"Ehnyehnyeh?" Elytra spoke, but the words fell on deaf ears. But Skystrike did hear the inflection of her voice change. Shit, it went up. Fuck, that was a question.
Skystrike hesitantly gave a half assed answer. "...Well, you know... it's all in the past now so... I'll promise to do better?"
Her iridescent eyes grew annoyed. "Buck you mean, 'promise to do better'!? You realize that a good portion of the town wants a go at you!?"
"They WHAT!?" Skystrike blurted. Tethys, who was watching the show go on, was laughing her ass off.
"We've been telling you, 'studinator', that you're a catch! And now ponies think you're an easy lay! I had three mares stop by earlier asking if I could put in a good word!" Elytra stomped her hoof.
"...Well did you-"
Skystrike was stopped mid sentence by a hoof in his mouth. "Skystrike, by the pantheon, this isn't a joke. If I find out you end up being some whorse and end up with some girl pregnant, I'm going to kill you, then follow you to Tartarus MYSELF TO KILL YOU AGAIN!"
"Jeez, ok, I get your point. Plus, you know how I can literally change my biology. I can effectively make myself infertile in theory."
"Let's NOT take any chances!" She grabbed her head. "By the pantheon! I don't want mares, or DRAGONS..." Elytra shot a look at Tethys. "to talk about my brother and how good he apparently is."
"...Yeah, I guess that would suck. I'll keep it on the down low." Skystrike sighed. "I'm surprised it got this far anyway... Well there is only about two dozen or so single stallions in this town. Anyway, we got..." He checked the time in his visor. "An hour before we gotta go to the train station. We ready?"
"I am. Don't have much to bring with me." Tethys stood up.
"Haaah, we're only going to be there for a day... Not looking forward to being back in the capital." Stardust sat on the couch next to Tethys.
"Why's that?" Tethys patted her friend on her back.
"Just some assholes I'm glad I don't have to deal with anymore. I was never too good at sparing, so I was looked down upon in my squadron. Then even more when I got the job to be your guard. Well, spy, but guard is the official name."
"Wait... I thought Bonbon was the spy?" Skystrike sat down in his recliner.
"...You knew!? For how long!?" Stardust nearly fell out of her seat.
"Since she hit on me when I first moved here. Figured it out because she was the first to do so, and made it hella obvious. Did some looking into her when I first went to Canterlot. Since, I've been giving her false info, just to see if Celestia noticed."
"...Skystrike, you're making my life so much harder... I have to report to her and the princesses. We've been reporting different things to the princesses!"
"...That's a good thing though. Well, for me at least. If it makes your job easier, I could just give you some info that can be easily proven."
"Like?"
"I made a Stake Launcher that can take down dragons. That'd probably get her attention. Left one of the rounds there too... I should bring it. Celestia and Luna'll probably want to see it." Skystrike quickly got it out of the crates he still needs to unpack, and slung it over his side.
"I've never seen you use it... or work on it." Stardust got up and rubbed the side of the metal weapon. "What does it do?"
Skystrike grabbed one of the stakes and juggled it in a hoof. "Shoots a 10 pound lump of metal at the speed of sound at anything I point it at."
"Shit dude, what did you build this for???"
"In case some huge dragon tried to kill us. Came in handy. It worked." Tethys got up and brushed herself off. "Let me go get my clothes."
Skystrike nodded as he made sure that his weapon was calibrated correctly. "God, I hope I don't have to fight when we get there tomorrow... First time was Magnus, second was almost with that noble. 50% chance is not chances I like."
"I'm sure it'll be fine. Just don't say anything stupid." Stardust sighed as she put on her guard armor and saddle bags. "Also, if we're invited to the castle, try not to talk to any of the guards. I think they're still upset about that Magnus pony."
Skystrike, Stardust, and Tethys left his house, meeting Zecora along the way to the train station. The four talked between each other as they waited for the train to arrive. Tethys was currently the one speaking. "So, what do you guys think?" Tethys was wearing some blue jeans and a green turtle neck sweater. "I don't know how Rarity got a turtle neck to get around these horns, but it's great! And I get to keep my wings out!" She gave an excited flap.
"It looks pretty good on you. You rock it." Stardust circled her to get a better look. Zecora nodded in agreement.
"I'm surprised you got Rarity to get you that shade of green. She said and I quote. 'It's such a horrid color!'"
"Well, I said that because it is a horrid color. On me." Rarity said from behind the group. "And I'm glad you're enjoying your clothes."
The four turned to see the mane six walking up to them, Pinkie Pie hoping along with some saddle bags on. Skystrike waved. "Yo, how's it going? What brings you all here?"
"I could say the same, studinator." Applejack smirked.
Skystrike stared at her for a minute surrounded by stifled laughter. "Give me a minute." Skystrike set down his items and flew off just to the horizon line. Then, he screamed at the top of his lungs. Finally he flew back and landed on the train platform. "Three... two... one..." The sound of his scream traveled to them, and though it wasn't loud, they could still hear the pain from it. "WWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!" Skystrike let them laugh it out before continuing. "I see that some ponies spread the word." He shot a look at Rarity and Rainbow Dash. They were the only two that saw him leave Ivory's house.
"Well, it wasn't just them, sugarcube. Mayor Mare and Cheerilee weren't exactly quiet." Applejack pat his shoulder. "I ain't judging, though I will say I wasn't expectin ya ta like older mares." Tethys shot her a look that said 'the fuck?'
"The judging part isn't the issue, also, they're like, 30. I just like keeping my private life private... How much did they speak about?"
Applejack avoiding his gaze said it all, along with her reddening face, but she still spoke. "Well, a time like that is rare, so when it happens, every mare wants to know... Tethys and Zecora weren't kidding about the tongue."
"...FUCK!" Skystrike slammed his head against the ground.
"Don't worry, Neby! Who cares if you ate them out like a jar of peanut butter? We're still your friends!" Pinkie tried to make him feel better, jumping to his side and patting him on the back.
Tethys and Zecora pointed at Skystrike and laughed, who curled up into a ball. "I want to die. Throw me on the tracks when the train comes."
"Don't say that." Rainbow Dash frowned. "Besides, that the worst of it. Mayor Mare and Cheerilee said some pretty good things about you."
Rarity gave elbowed him. "Maybe now you'll see what I mean when I say you're a catch... Half the town want's a swing at you. Eh? Eeeeh?"
Skystrike got up, took in a deep breath, then released it. "I need more guy friends. Moving on, what are you guys doing here? I'm on my way to Canterlot, personally. I'm going up to see some family and friends!"
"You too!?" Pinkie leaped three feet into the air. "I'm going to see some family too! We're meeting in Canterlot! One of my older sisters got her masters! We're meeting to celebrate!"
"Wait, ya got a sister? Multiple?" Twilight turned to Pinkie.
"Oh yeah, I guess I only mentioned it in passing." Pinkie knocked on her head and stuck out her tongue. "Three actually. My twin, Marble and I are the youngest, then Maud is older than me, then Limestone is the oldest! Maud is the one graduating."
"Dear Celestia, Pinkie has a twin?" Rainbow Dash grabbed her eyes and pulled down, stretching her face. "One is enough."
"Mood." Skystrike nodded.
"Wait, isn't Maud-" Tethys began to speak, only for Skystrike to nudge her side. "Oh right, secret."
"Actually, she's a lot like Fluttershy. Super quiet, you won't get a peep out of her! But she's super sweet when you get to know her!"
"Well, good thing we wont ever have to deal with two of you." Rainbow gave a sigh of relief.
"Speaking of Fluttershy, how's it going? Don't wanna act like we forgot about you." Skystrike put back on all his items.
"Oh, well... I'm doing fine... Was very confused what I woke up and heard around town, but I... I'm still processing it actually." Fluttershy gave him a forced smile. "But I'm glad you got a herd."
"...Who in this green hell of a planet said I had a herd?"
"...Do, do you not?"
"NO! I was drunk! We were all drunk!" Skystrike threw out his hooves. They all gave out a sigh of relief, but it was drowned out by the blaring of the train's whistle. "Train time, fuck you all, I'm going to shit myself!" Skystrike stepped on the train and went to his train car.
"Alright, everypony, see you when I get back!" Pinkie, without a care in the world, hopped onto the train. "I wonder who my bed mate will be?"
Morning couldn't come quick enough. The endless teasing from Tethys, Stardust, Zecora and even Pinkie joining in from time to time, continued until they tired themselves out. Soon, the train stopped at Canterlot at 8:30 in the morning. Skystrike and co stretched as they got up from the long ride.
Two unicorn guards ponies approached the group. One spoke. "Atlas Nebula, Stardust, you two have been called upon by her royal highnesses. We are to escort you two to them immediately."
Skystrike looked at them, then to Tethys, Stardust, and Pinkie. "Welp, you heard the guards. I'll try and make sure we're there, so tell her not to worry."
Tethys nodded. "Sure thing. I guess you'll just find us."
And with that, Skystrike and Stardust were being let to the castle. "...Were you expecting this, Stardust?"
Stardust shook her head. "Honestly, no. I sent the report on the train here. They were really fast about it... I think this is about something else."
His thoughts first went to the worsts. Did Luna rat him out? While he wouldn't be surprised, he did expect her to keep his secret... No, Luna couldn't have. Only way to reveal his secret was to also reveal her own. Celestia wouldn't want that either. That was the implied deal... Now he really had no idea what was going on. It was probably about his Stake Launcher. He did leave two rounds in that beast of a dragon... But even if it was, no way Celestia and Luna would call him and Stardust over. Only thing she was involved in was the report.
Something was up, and he didn't like it. But Skystrike didn't have to wait much longer, as they were finally inside the Castle thrown room. He was very surprised by who he saw. While Celestia and Luna sat in their respective thrones, to the left of Celestia was some very old faces. An alicorn with a pink coat, with a long mane and tail of violet, rose, and gold, and a cutie mark or a light blue crystal surrounded by gold laces. Next to her was a rather large unicorn stallion with a white coat, and blue, sapphire, and cerulean mane and tail. The stallion was not giving him a good look. The alicorn was indifferent.
And Skystrike wasn't sure he wanted to deal with this today.
Celestia spoke first as the guards left the room. "Good morning, Nebula, Stardust. I hope you weren't too inconvenienced by the sudden escort here."
Stardust bowed, then shook her head. "Good morning, princesses. And it's no problem, though we are surprised on the sudden call."
"I understand. It was rather sudden. See, Shining Armor and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza were able to come to the capital. Shining Armor spoke about having something to speak about with Nebula here. As my sister and I have some matters to talk about with him ourselves, I believe it'd be best if we just set aside a day to speak on the matters." Celestia motioned to the to ponies to her right. Cadenza gave a polite wave, while Shining nodded.
"A pleasure to meet you, Princess mi Amore Cadenza! A pleasure to see you again, Captain!" Stardust saluted. Then she elbowed Skystrike. "Psst... introduce yourself."
Skystrike gave Celestia a look. She returned it. Then he looked at Luna, who gave a small shrug. He sighed, and decided to act like he didn't know them. "Well, good to see my reputation even got to your ears. I'm Atlas Nebula. But I am sort of confused why you two wanted to talk to me specifically. I do hope this doesn't take all day as Celestia said, as I do have some things to do."
Cadenza furrowed her brow. "...And what exactly could be more important than meeting with all three princesses?"
"Well, my personal life is my business, but if you must know, a friend of mine is getting her masters. I said I'd be there. Sorry if you were expecting some selfish reason. You think the average pony comes to Canterlot for no reason?"
Luna looked to Celestia, and Celestia back to Luna. Cadenza had a face of surprise at the audacity. And Shining was fuming, but was able to contain himself. "Well, if you want to cut to the chase of why I want to speak with you... almost three years ago, a squadron of Royal Guards went missing in a forest on the way to Canterlot. Would you happen to know anything about that?"
Stardust gave a worried look at Skystrike. Nearly everypony's hair stood on edge in the room, waiting for his response. "About as much as Blueblood." Skystrike shrugged. "Considering you came to me about the conflict, that means you asked him first, and from that, I can already assume what he told you. But I'll hear your side before I decide how to best go about this."
Shining scoffed. "What, so you can weasel around what I say so you can make your story sound believable?"
Skystrike sighed. "So, I have to deal with THIS today... Sorry Stardust, but I'm going in. Shining, you're a damn captain of the royal guard, so I'm going to ignore what you just said, and try not to treat you as a naïve child." Skystrike said, making everypony's eyes go wide. Shining was about to shoot back, but Skystrike put up a hoof. "Tell me, what do you think Blueblood, a pony who's Celestia's niece, and has the political power to hide anything and silence anypony, would do with a squadron of royal guards that were supposed to escort him through that forest when he hired me and my group to also escort him, even though he had no reason for us? On top of that, why do you think he went by wagon, on land, and not a royal chariot by air, through a forest in the middle of fucking nowhere?"
Shining Armor thought about it for a moment, but shook his head. "...Even if that was suspicious, you and your mercenary friends still killed twenty four of my stallions and mares. You understand that that many charges of murder can't go away."
"Ok. Prove that I murdered them." Skystrike offered.
"...What?"
"You come to me, accusing me and my friends of murder of whatever degree, but that's all that you have, accusations. So prove it. But I wish you luck, getting all you need to bring me in. As you've said, twenty four of your guards were killed. The only ones who are there to tell you what actually went down is me, my group, and Blueblood. Blueblood, from your perspective, is the only one who is even remotely trustworthy, but that has some issues. He has his own bias, he'd have to admit he hired us, because I still have the contract, that I am not legally required to show you unless I'm convicted, and he'd also have to show the guards he illegally hired for an outside job. You cant get my or my groups testimony because we haven't been convicted, and you'd have to go through the laws of every country each of them are from, and you can easily write away our inputs because, from your perspective, we'd have an interest to lie to cover for ourselves. If you had any other evidence tying me to that forest those years ago, I'd be in hoof cuffs and labeled as a terrorist already. Basically, you try and take me down, Blueblood will have to admit to his years of corruption. I don't think a scandal will be good for Canterlot, let alone the royalty."
They all continued to look at him, Stardust's mouth dropping as he ended his rant. Shining responded after a moment. "...You bucker... even if you're right, you still killed innocent ponies! They've done no wrong! They had families! Friends!"
"And the members of 'All' don't? That's the thing about situations like these, the less you know, the easier it is to judge. I completely understand your grief at the loss of your allies, some even being friends. But just as you wish to protect those you swore to, so do I. But I guess you wouldn't care if my friends and I died, huh?" Skystrike crossed his hooves. "You came to me, fully convinced I was a murderer. Now you see me as somepony with a mind alike yours. And hopefully you see Blueblood as the manipulative snake he is. And personally, I don't consider anyone who's willing to take a life, whether it be to protect someone or not, as innocent. Ponies like you and me, we hurt others. Sure, we do it to protect the ones we love, but in doing so, we're taking someone away from those they love. There's no good guys here, bro. Figured you'd know this by now."
Cadenza finally stepped in. "I don't know what your problem is, Nebula, but you should remember well who you're talking to."
"Oh I'm sorry, PRINCESS Mi Amore Cadenza, but when somepony is implying me to be a heartless murderer, it would kinda piss me off." Skystrike said sarcastically. "Ponies aren't just able to shut off their emotions just because they're in the presence of royalty. You should know a lot about emotions, given your title as the princess of love."
Luna, and partially Celestia, couldn't help but smile in amusement at the show they were getting. "Now, now..." Celestia started. "Nebula, despite the... bluntness of his words, is mostly right about this. But I will talk about this with Blueblood at the first chance I get."
"Hold on, you're just letting him go?" Shining started to protest.
"Don't tell him how I've been living in Ponyville, or how you reached out to me for a mission two weeks ago. Maybe he'll realize that I'm not Sombra part 2."
"Nebula, please stop antagonizing him..." Celestia put a hoof to her head.
"Isn't that where Twilight lives?" Cadenza turned to Shining.
"She's doing fine by the way. So is Spike. Just celebrated my birthday with her this past Saturday. She's chill. You should really write to her."
Shining turned back to Skystrike. "That's it! Let's rumble!"
Luna's ears perked up at that. "What a marvelous idea!" She said clapping her hooves. "It's been so long since we've seen a battle!"
"I'm all for it... that squadron deserves at least some sense of justice." Shining agreed.
"Then lets make this more fun..." Luna rubbed her hooves together. "It will be a double battle. Shining Armor and Princess Cadenza against Atlas Nebula and Stardust. Both opponents must forfeit or fall in battle for the winner to be announced. If Shining and Cadenza win... Nebula must admit to what happened in that forest."
Skystrike groaned. "Of course, nearly every time I come here, some pony with an ego too big just wants to run these hooves. Luna you're lucky you're a real one. What do I get if I win?"
"You get to walk away scot free." Cadenza put a hoof forward.
"Literally nothing is stopping me from walking out the door behind me besides the mild curiosity to see where this goes."
"We must admit, Nebula, we... haven't thought of that. Your reward from a few days ago was already more than generous. we don't see what more thou'd want."
Then, Skystrike remembered what he spoke about with his friends... And how he was going to get to other countries. "I want an airship."
"...Nebula, you're asking for a lot here..." Celestia leaned forward.
"Yo, if I'm going to basically solo the captain of the royal guard and a whole ass alicorn, I want something good." Skystrike put up his hooves in defense. "No offense, Stardust."
"None taken, excuse my language, but the buck am I going to do against them?"
"You can at least hold your own. Make those colleagues of yours see that you got dat dawg in you."
"Ooohohooh no, you got yourself into this! This is your fight!" Stardust backed up.
Celestia couldn't help but laugh at the sibling-like bickering. "Well, I'll humor you, Nebula, but how about we change the conditions?"
Skystrike raised an eyebrow. "Go on..."
"If you beat Shining and Cadenza simultaneously, Luna and I will take the money out of our personal treasury to get you that airship." Celestia offered.
"...You serious?"
"By my name as princess. And admittedly, I would enjoy remembrance of the olden days. However, when you lose, you also have to tell them about that."
She meant his identity. Skystrike already knew. It was a fair request. "Fine by me, but fuck you mean 'when'? This fight may give me a run for my money, but I ain't gonna lose."
"You sure about that, bastard?" Shining walked in front of him and stared him down. "We've the best teamwork since childhood."
"And I was there when it was taught to you." Skystrike stretched his neck down to be at his eye level. "You'll understand what I mean when I tell you about that thang. But just so it makes more sense after I land a twenty hit combo on you two, good to see you two again, and I'm glad you two actually got together." Then walked past Shining, who had a look of confusion in his face, to Celestia and Luna. "I know you two had some stuff you want to talk about, but can it wait until after the fight? It's nearly noon, and my friends graduation starts at noon."
Celestia nodded. "Actually, Casta Spell already told me about your friend Maud. Coincidentally, I'm giving a speech at her university. We should be making our way there. Luna, can I leave you in charge of setting up the battle?"
"Thou can!" Luna said excitedly before teleporting away.
Then, Celestia turned to Shining armor and Cadenza. "I'll see you two at the colosseum. I'd invite you two, but you two need your heads in the game. I know you haven't really spared since you two were in highschool, but it's best not to underestimate Nebula here. And I do not want to buy an airship."
"Fighting was... more fun back then. Well, not the fighting itself, but more the training and effort that showed in the team work we had." Cadenza reminisced on the past. "Plus, it was always really cool all those contraptions he made... Honestly I'm surprised he knew how. He was strong enough with a sword, but then he started making some crazy things."
Shining gave a little laugh as the two began to walk out. "Heh, yeah... a shame we couldn't get here a few days earlier. We should go visit his statue. Hope his family is doing ok."
"Yeah... Maybe we should bring him something." Cadenza used her horn to open the door.
"You remember what he liked? You knew him best, after all."
"He always liked when we sang together, though he wasn't very good at it... let's visit before we get in some practice. Sing another song." Cadenza finished before the two left the throne room.
Celestia, Stardust, and Skystrike were left, an awkward silence lingering in before Celestia broke it. "...You know, when my sister came back, and you revealed yourself, I was overjoyed." She sat down next to Skystrike. "It broke my heart to send my sister away, and again when I lost you... Honestly, at the summer sun celebration, I took a gamble. I dread to think what would've happened if Twilight didn't find the magic of friendship... I'm glad that I got my sister back, but when I learned you too were alive, and you helped my sister and my student, I was... I barely know how to describe it. Thankful that I was given another chance to make a relationship with you, but pained knowing that you were alive this whole time, not feeling as if you could trust me. But you've changed over the years. I just didn't get to see it." Celestia fought back tears as she got the next words out. "Skystrike, I-... I don't know what I've done to wrong you, but I want the relationship we once had. Would it be too much to ask for you to talk to me?"
Skystrike wasn't expecting that at all. He checked the time, it being a bit past ten. No, he wouldn't look for an excuse to avoid this conversation. Even after what she did, he still respected her enough to warrant a talk. Skystrike sighed. "Fine, I'll talk. You raised me for six years. I owe you that much." He sat down, motioning Stardust to do so too. "You adopted me when I was 10, along with Blueblood, and Cadenza a few years before us. I did enjoy the family, and the change of pace from my old one."
Celestia tilted her head. "Old one?"
Skystrike nodded. "Hear me out before you say anything. The circle I've told this to is few. Before I came to Canterlot as a child..." Skystrike hesitated on speaking, but it'd need to come out sooner or later. And he respected her enough as a person to not lie to her. "I was raised by the Changelings." Celestia's eyes went wide. "The former queen, rest her soul, Khrusalis, took care of me as one of her own. I was able to integrate into the hive, call them my family. She was like a mother to me. And like any mother would want for their child, she wanted me to grow. Due to the conflict between our races, she wasn't able to get me anywhere better than the Church of the two Sisters. It was by pure luck that mere months after, you adopted me. Know that I have no contact with the main hive, or any outposts, only with those who're banished like myself. As for the why I was banished, that is another story. Khrusalis came to visit me here in Canterlot for my 14th birthday. I was to meet her in the outskirts, then help her inside so we could have fun, just the two of us. But, she was intercepted by your Royal Guards. I was beyond careful, the only one who could've known my location at that time was you... She died that day, along with any dream of peace we had between our races..."
Celestia was hurt by the implication. "And... you've blamed me, all this time?"
Skystrike nodded slowly. "Yes, I did... But... I came along some new information two days ago, and now I'm questioning everything. I don't have the time anymore to hold on to past hatred. So, I'll ask you this, and I don't want you to lie to me..." Skystrike took off his helmet, looking into Celestia's eyes of hurt with his of anger on the brink of tears. "Did you do it? Did you call those guards after her?"
The aura Skystrike was giving off was dangerous, Celestia could tell. As if it almost ordered her to not lie. But she didn't plan to in the first place. "Skystrike I-... I never even knew she was in Equestria, let alone on your birthday."
Skystrike could feel a part of his world shatter around him. All this time, all the hatred he had for her, gone in an instant, because he never had anything to hate her for. Tears fell as he rushed to wipe the tears away. "...I see..." Skystrike sat in silence for a minute. "All this time... I blamed you for something you didn't even do... 11 fucking years..." Skystrike clenched his hoof. "And from the sounds of it... it doesn't seem you knew about Blueblood either."
Celestia shook her head. "No. While I don't know about what happened, I didn't know he tried to assassinate you and your friends... I'll try to do something about it."
Skystrike shook his head. "No need. Being honest, if we went about it your or Shining's way, there's still a chance for Blueblood to get away. I can guarantee that with my method, he'll admit to everything. Of course, I don't plan on getting out of this scot free. I just want to make sure he gets what he deserves... And it'll be where this whole hell hole started..."
"What do you mean, where it started?"
"...You didn't know?"
"...Know what?"
"FUCK! Oh my god! I-... I thought you knew this whole time and didn't do anything!" He grabbed his head in pain. These last few days have been hell... Skystrike sat in silence as he thought over everything. His reasons for hating Celestia for all these years weren't even her fault. She didn't send the hit on Khrusalis, and she didn't seem to know about what Blueblood did to his home. He blamed her, he loathed her. For everything he thought she did, that she allowed to happen. And now he felt sick to his stomach.
Celestia looked at him, sitting there for the past few minutes in his own mind. She turned to Stardust, who's been quiet this whole time. "I... can't help but feel there's context I'm missing here..."
Stardust blinked. "Princess, I thought you knew too, since you still see him... From what Skystrike has told me, the night of the gala, Blueblood burned down the orphanage that Skystrike grew up at those years ago. Skystrike went in to save some of his siblings stuck inside, and fell in the rubble... But you probably knew that last part."
"...I need you to say that again, just to make sure I didn't mishear it..." Celestia tried to hold back her anger.
Stardust inched back slightly as she was about to speak. Then Skystrike cleared his throat. "Blueblood set fire to the orphanage to get back at me for... whatever he thinks I did to him." He turned to Celestia. "I wish that it didn't have to be like this, losing the relationships of those close to you. I... I abandoned you for something you weren't at fault for..." Skystrike took in a deep breath and bowed his head. "For the pain I put you through, for the relationship that I've broken, and for the one we could've had, I'm sorry... Our relationship was shattered, all by my hooves, but if you'd let me, I'd... like to at least attempt to put those pieces back together."
Tears welled up in Celestia's eyes before she pulled Skystrike into a hug. "I can't fully grasp what you're going through, but I'll ask about that another time... but for now, I'm just glad I have you back."
"...I don't deserve ponies like you."
Skystrike and Stardust split up from Celestia so she could get ready for her speech, making Skystrike promise to talk about it more later. The time he spent in the throne went on longer than he thought, having Stardust latch onto his back as they flew to their destination. Why the hell was Canterlot University on the complete opposite side of Canterlot!? He wished Celestia could teleport them.
They flew in, Skystrike and Stardust writing their names on their sign in sheet, then finding their seats next to his friends he arrived with earlier and Casta Spell. They just made it with 10 minutes to spare. Skystrike sat down on his chair and leaned back. He looked around, curious of who all would be there, but there was nopony he knew. What he did notice was that his group was getting a lot of stares. It was expected of course, with him being his size, a Zebra next to him, and a dragon as well, a few were even avoiding them.
He tried to get the thoughts of doubt out of his head, just trying to focus on being here for his friend. Skystrike looked at the graduates at the front, all sitting and talking to each other before the ceremony started. Though it was a bit hard to find her, he found Maud Pie by the back of her head, who was currently talking with her classmates, her facial features not moving at all. He laughed a bit at that, turning to his friends. "You know, when I first met Maud before she joined the group, I thought her monotone thing was a running joke she had."
Casta giggled as she spoke in her quiet voice. "You know, I thought so too, but then she didn't stop for a month straight. And then two, and three, then seven years." Then she straightened her wizard hat to block the sun from going into her eyes. "Wow, I just realized, I've known you all for seven years."
Tethys nodded. "Eight for me. It's a bit weird, having such a long life. Eight years isn't a lot to me, but you ponies and Zebras, that's a meaningful amount of time."
"Well, actually, lesser known knowledge, but the life span of us ponies at least scales with how much magic we have. The princesses have been around long before even you were born Tethys. No pony- er body knows how old they are. From how refined my magic is, my life expectancy is about 200 years."
"Oh, cool. Good to know I won't have to part with you anytime soon." Tethys poked Casta's side with her tail.
"We've known each other for quite some time. I recall your post-high school prime, Casta, Sublime." Zecora smiled at her.
"Well thanks, Zecora. You, Tethys and Skystrike were actually some really good older role models for me. Helped me get through a lot when I first joined... I don't think I'd be here without you guys."
Skystrike turned his head. "Well, I appreciate the sentiment, but what do you mean 'older role models'?"
"Yeah, I'm confused too." Stardust joined in. "Nebula is the youngest out of all of us."
Casta stammered. "But- but, I-... you're so much bigger than any other stallion! And you were so mature! How old were you when we met?!"
"Seventeen."
"You're twenty five?? I thought you were thirty! Er- no offense." Casta covered her mouth.
"All good. Not too big of a deal."
The five of them talked for a bit more before the ceremony commenced. Celestia walked on stage and began her speech. "Ladies and gentlecolts, esteemed faculty, proud parents, friends, and the distinguished graduating class of Canterlot University. Today marks a significant milestone in your lives. As we gather here, surrounded by a palpable sense of achievement and anticipation, we celebrate not just the completion of a rigorous academic journey but the beginning of a new chapter filled with endless possibilities."
The princess looked through the crowd and at the graduates. "Each one of you sitting here has traversed a unique path to reach this moment. You've overcome challenges, embraced knowledge, and expanded your horizons in ways that will shape your future endeavors. Today, we recognize and honor your dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to excellence. The education you've received here extends beyond textbooks and classrooms. It's about nurturing curiosity, fostering critical thinking, and instilling values that will guide you through life's complexities. Remember that learning is a lifelong pursuit, and the skills you've acquired here will serve as the foundation upon which you build your aspirations. As you step forth into the world beyond these walls, equipped with the knowledge and experiences gained during your time at Canterlot University, I encourage you to embrace change fearlessly. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, and let your passion be the compass that guides you toward success. But remember, success isn't merely defined by individual accomplishments. It's about making meaningful contributions to society, fostering empathy, and being a force for positive change in the world. Carry with you the values of integrity, perseverance, and empathy. Let them be the guiding light in your professional and personal endeavors. Stay true to yourselves, but also remain open to new perspectives and ideas."
Signaling the last part of her speech, Celestia used her magic, raising the sun further above her into the sky. "As you embark on this new journey, know that the entire Canterlot University community stands proudly behind you. Cherish the memories you've created here, and use them as fuel to propel you toward your dreams. Congratulations, graduates, on this remarkable achievement. The future is yours to shape, and I have no doubt that each and every one of you will leave an indelible mark on the world. Go forth and make us proud!"
Everyone gave the obligatory hoof stomps before the dean of students came out, and began reading the names of the graduates. Of course, it went by alphabetical order, and they sat there for a while. Finally, the name they were waiting for was called. "Maudileena Daisy Pie with her masters in Rocktoligy."
On the complete opposite side of the place they were sitting in, he heard a familiar voice. "WOOO GO MAUD!" Fucking Pinkie.
Tethys snickered. "Her full name is Maudileena Daisy Pie?"
Zecora snickered too. "I am not going to lie, I'm more surprised she's related to Pinkie Pie."
"You should be more surprised that Pinkie is related to her. Cotton candy is the outlier in her family." Skystrike laughed as he stood up. "Did you all talk to Pinkie or Maud about what they're going to do?"
Casta nodded. "Maud's having a Picnic with her family, since it's the first time she's seen them in a while. She invited all of us too."
"Would be nice to see some old faces." Skystrike stretched, picking up his items, then the group began to walk towards Maud, standing with her family. "Just so you all are aware, her parents are like, the old style ponies. Be a bit careful of what we say. Casta, I know you aren't too big on meeting new ponies, but you'd get along pretty well with Marble. Limestone is a bit hot headed, and Pinkie is... Pinkie."
"...I feel like I should be worried about this Pinkie mare." Casta said as she straightened her cloak, trying to look presentable.
Soon, the group walked up to the pie family, Pinkie was the first to greet them. "Hey! You were able to make it!" Pinkie noclipped over to them, stopping in front of Casta. "Hi, my name's Pinkie Pie! Neby doesn't talk much about his old friends, but you seem nice! I like your outfit" She took Casta's hoof and shook it rapidly.
Casta pulled her hoof back, nodded with an "Mmhm..." and hid her eyes under her hat.
Pinkie was about to say something else, but Skystrike put a hoof on her chest. "Pinkie, she's happy to meet you, but she's not too great with new ponies. It's going to take some time for her to warm up to you."
"Oh, ok! I get it" She jumped up and down before grabbing his hoof and pulling him towards her family. "She'd get along with Marble then! But come on! My family can't wait to see you again!"
Tethys smirked. "Getting an early start, knowing her family, 'studinator'."
"Tethys I will make you into a coat."
"...What does she mean by 'studinator'?" Casta raised a brow.
"I don't wanna talk about it." He said all too quickly.
They all laughed as Pinkie stopped pulling, then b-hopping around her family, introducing them. "These are my parents, my sisters, Limestone and Marble Pie, and the mare of honor... Maud!" She did jazz hooves at her.
Maud, in her monotone voice, greeted them. "Hey, everyone. Glad you all made it." She took off her cap. "...Aren't I supposed to throw this?"
Skystrike tried to stifle a laugh. "Glad I could make it too. Sorry that I was late, I was called to the castle."
Maud shook her head. "It's alright." Then she turned to her family. "You all already know Nebula from that job those years ago. The dragon is Tethys, The Zebra is Zecora, and the unicorn is Casta Spell. I've wrote about them in my letters."
"Greetings. I am known as Igneous Rock Pie, son of Feldspar Granite Pie. This lady by my side is Cloudy Quartz. Whilst one countenance among you bears the warmth of familiarity, it is equally gratifying to extend cordiality to the acquaintances of my eldest daughter." He put out a hoof to shake.
Skystrike took his hoof and shook it. "Good to see you again, Igneous. Good to see you doing well too. I hope that the infestation of Graveworms haven't popped back up." Then he turned to Cloudy Quartz, putting a hoof on his chest and giving a courteous bow. "And a pleasure to see you too, Cloudy. You two must be proud parents."
Cloudy nodded. "Verily so. Our daughter hath brought us much pride. We must express our gratitude once more for the aid rendered those years hence. Maudileena hath apprised us of thy residence in proximity to Pinkie. Pray, trust she hath not been a source of undue vexation unto thee."
"Oh, she's been fine. Comes with the territory of knowing her." Then he turned to Maud. "So, how's it going. Feel any different now that you finished your masters?"
"About the same. How've you been? Pinkie speaks pretty highly of you." Maud walked up to him. "...Now are you going to do the thing? You didn't last time."
Skystrike laughed as he pulled out a bit. "A normal bit." Showing each side, one having Celestia's cutie mark, and the other being Luna's. He threw it in the air a few times, catching it in his hoof, before clapping his hooves together with the coin in the middle. When he showed his hooves, the coin was gone.
Pinkie, looked at, and under his hooves. "What? Where'd it go?"
Skystrike smirked. "Igneous, check under your hat."
The stallion did so, pulling off his hat and seeing a coin it it. "...Amazing. How accomplished thee such a feat?"
"A magician never tells his secret."
Maud picked up the coin and looked at it. "You should've seen the other times. One time, he 'lost' it, and it showed up where Boulder was. Speaking of..." She took boulder out of her pocket. "Boulder missed you."
Skystrike looked at the pebble named boulder. "Good to see you too, bro."
Boulder stared. There was an aura around it, one of... malice. Then it spoke words that only Skystrike could seem to hear. "EVERY SECOND YOU AREN'T RUNNING, I AM ONLY GETTING CLOSER. EACH MOMENT YOU LET MY WRATH FESTER, IT IS ANOTHER ATROCITY I PROMISE TO COMMIT. WHILE I MAY HAVE THIS BODY OF STONE, SOON... I WILL RETURN TO MY PRIME. AND WHEN I DO, EVERY LIGHT IN THIS GALAXY WILL BE SNUFFED OUT."
Skystrike looked at the pebble named boulder. "Good to see you too, bro." Skystrike then turned back to the actual living beings. "So, what we doing?"
"Well, I planned us just hanging out the rest of the day. I'm going to move back home for the break before I go back for the Ph.D. I just don't want to think about school for a little while." Maud said with monotone once more. It's a bit hard to pick up, but Skystrike learned that she was saying that with a hint of tiredness.
"Well, I have a fun day planned for us!" Pinkie pulled out a booklet from her mane. "We'll have a picnic, food made by yours truly, and then we can walk through the Canterlot Gardens! But if you all are interested..." Pinkie leaned in and put a hoof to the side of her mouth, as if trying to be secretive. "I hear the Captain of the Royal Guard and the Princess of love is fighting against some masked warrior in a few hours. And they're allowing bets!"
Stardust looked at Skystrike. Then Zecora. Then Tethys. Then Maud. Then everypony else. Skystrike shrugged. "Well, I won't lose, so... free money for you all."
Tethys nodded. "You make a fantastic point. I'm gonna put down 10k."
"I'm not sure..." Stardust spoke. "We're talking about the most powerful unicorn alive and an alicorn trained by Celestia."
Maud shook her head. "Stardust, while you're right, Nebula has surprised us too many times."
Limestone stepped forward. "I'm willing to place a bet for him. I saw him wrestle a grave worm because a sword couldn't pierce the stone like scales. Also, we just got a new princess. There's a third one now?"
"Well, there's been a third for a while. She's just... not as popular." Casta flipped up her hat. "But she is pretty nice. I've had her help me with some magic spells. She shouldn't be underestimated."
"Casta, Nebula spilled many secrets in Ponyville. Would you be surprised if he was holding back still?" Zecora spoke.
"...Enough to take down two of the strongest ponies currently alive?"
"I wouldn't have accepted the duel if I didn't think I could win." Skystrike stretched. "But hey, I'm trying to eat."
"Oh, right." Maud pulled out her map. "There's a spot I like in the Canterlot garden that I sit at. Pretty nice, and normally not many ponies this time of day."
Pinkie grabbed the edge of the screen, pulling it, and revealing everyone sitting in the middle of the Canterlot gardens having a picnic. Well, save for Skystrike, who was in the same spot during the scene transition. "Wh-... what the fuck!? We were just at the ceremony!" He looked around in shock. "How the hell!?"
Maud looked at him- well her expression didn't change, but if it could, she'd look at him like he was stupid. "Nebula, we spent twenty minutes walking here. Stop being silly and come eat the food."
Skystrike was losing his shit. "...Fucking Pinkie Pie..." He turned and took his seat next to Maud. "So, what are we talking about, since I apparently zoned out the last twenty minutes."
"Nothing much. Mom is going on about when my sisters and I are getting coltfriends... Mostly me and Pinkie."
Cloudy Quartz nodded. "Indeed, 'tis veracious. Ye twain are the sole absentees from the homestead. I shan't endure indefinitely, and my yearning is to embrace the role of a grandmother." She sipped some tea from her teacup.
Skystrike felt that he shouldn't be here. He made a motion to get up, but then Maud grabbed his sleeve with her hoof. He took the hint, and stayed with her and Pie sisters. Pinkie was rocking her body back and forth, Marble was hiding behind her mane, Limestone was grumbling. Of course, Maud was just being Maud. "Mom, I get it, but I want to focus on my education right now. The whole reason I wanted to go into rocktoligy was to help out on the farm, and maybe start one of my own."
"Such is no justification to eschew a suitor. Grant this aged mare a glimmer of optimism, I beseech thee." Cloudy put down her cup.
"But mooooooom..." Pinkie whined. "You have no idea how much harder it is to find stallions compared to when you were younger!"
Skystrike took a sip of his tea, hoping he wouldn't be bought up in this conversation. Maud elbowed him. He took the hint. "Cloudy, while I can at least partially understand your want of grandkids, it's best not to put so much pressure on your girls. Each one of them has their own dream they want to follow. Let them go chase it for a while. Maybe they'll catch it."
"I doth aspire for my daughters to attain their aspirations. Above all, my desire is for my daughters' felicity."
"I get it. You want what's best for them. I had some brothers and sisters I helped raise and I wanted the same. But often, they don't want what we think is best. We just gotta let them live their lives. The only one who truly knows them is themselves. All we can do past a certain point is hope they believe in themselves."
Maud nodded. "What he said. I'd like to have kids in the future, but for now, I just want to get my Ph.D. I actually want to start a Geology museum if given the chance."
Pinkie nodded as well. "I want to start a bakery of my own! And then I'll have foals!"
Limestone finished her sandwich. "If I can find a colt to get with a mare like me on a rock farm, I'll go for it."
Marble did her "Mmhm!" as she raised her teacup.
Cloudy Quartz paused for a moment before sighing. "Thou speaks the truth. Nebula, thou art a fine young colt. I pray thee may one day join our lineage. I bestow upon thee my solemn blessing."
"...Thanks? I guess??" Skystrike was flabbergasted. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do with that information."
"My daughter Pinkie Pie lauds thee greatly, as doth Maud Pie. And if such be they inclination, they speak of my ample maternal attributes." Cloudy Quartz leaned in and gave him a smirk.
Pinkie's face turn bright red. "Wha- MOM!" She covered her face in embarrassment.
Maud still had her forever poker face, but even she was a bit flustered, her face turning a shade of red. "Mom, please stop talking. He's never going to let me live this down."
Skystrike smirked. "Well, if these two age as well as you, then I'd be a lucky stallion."
This time it was Cloudy's turn to blush. "Quite the charmer..."
"Nebula, by the princesses, do not hit on my mother." Maud turned to him.
"Oh come on. It's like looking into the future. It's a return on investment!" Skystrike was barely able to finish before Maud bonked him on the head. "That's fair."
Pinkie was on the ground snorting "Ooohohoh my gosh!"
Maud leaned on Skystrike. "You're lucky you're endearing. Honestly, I'm surprised you're still single."
"To be honest, I found out two days ago that I'm even seen as an option." Skystrike shrugged. "Maybe I'll find a marefriend..."
"Well, herds are a thing... Ever... ever thought about one of those?" Pinkie hinted.
But Skystrike was stupid. "I mean... maybe? That wasn't the norm where I'm from, so that'd be a whole thing I'd need to learn. I also don't want to come off as greedy..."
"What do you mean?" Maud looked up at him.
"I don't know. It's like... the funny part of me wants to see how many wives I can have before the government stops me. On a more serious note, I don't see how one guy can manage more than one mare at a time. Or how one even starts."
"Well, normally the one who asks the stallion first is the lead mare, and they're in charge of any other mares the stallion brings in. In a herd, the stallion is the one who keeps the peace or stops any conflict in the herd. If a stallion wanted to spend time with the mares, traditionally, the weekends are when they all come together, and the weekdays is when each gets some one on one time. Normally a heard has between 4 and 6 mares." Pinkie explained.
Skystrike thought about that for a moment. "That... makes sense. But then what about the kids?"
"Well, the stallion is expected to be a stay at home dad if there ends up being foals. The mares would be the ones bringing in the bits for the family. The kids would see the other mares in the herd as aunts."
"...That... also makes sense... Then why don't we see that many herds? Like, the cakes are monogamous. Your parents are monogamous, and so are the Riches."
Cloudy answered this time. "That matter encompasses myriad considerations. The Cakes is a conscious election. Igneous Rock Pie espoused into my lineage, and owing to our affluence, a menagerie was not within my purview. I surmise akin circumstances transpire with the Riches."
"...Look, Cloudy, I'm gonna be honest, I'm slow to respond to you because I have to process what you say each time." Skystrike chuckled.
Cloudy Quartz looked around, seeing her husband in the distance talking to Zecora, Stardust, Casta, and Tethys. Out of earshot. She let out a sigh and took off her glasses and wiped them with a cloth. "Same, to be honest. Speaking like I'm from the Victorian era gets tiring for real. For real though, it's nice talking like a normal pony every once in a while. My husband just likes the other way of talking."
The sisters all stared at their mother. Limestone broke the silence between them while Skystrike was laughing. "This is... the first time I've heard you speak like that."
"What, you think I spoke like that when I crawled out the womb? Your grandmother told me to speak like that if I wanted your father's attention. It worked, and I got that hunk of stallion." She smiled at the memories in her mind. "But I wish I could talk normally every once in a while.
Skystrike was laughing harder as Maud tried to ignore him. "I feel like I'm experiencing whiplash. This is so much to take in."
"Back on topic, I am serious about my blessing, stud." Cloudy nudged him with her elbow. "If I were just a few years younger and not happily married, I'd shoot my own shot. I just gotta play wingmare since someponies aren't honest with their feelings. Just keep these two as an option~"
"Mom, please stop talking." Maud and Pinkie said in union, but with varying tones.
Skystrike sat there. "I'm not sure how to respond to that. Therefore, I will give the most average response and say ok."
Cloudy chuckled. "Aight, homegirl can live with that for now." She straightened her glasses. "But hey, it's almost time for your... well was gonna say duel, but it's a 1v2. I'll put some money on you, so I'll beat your ass if you get your ass beat."
Skystrike laughed harder. "Oh my god, you're awesome. Don't worry, I've got some tricks up my sleeve."
He sat in the waiting room in the colosseum. He only had a few minutes before he would be announced as the fighter. Stardust, Zecora, Casta, Maud, and Tethys waited with him, helping him make sure he had everything ready. The Zecora, Maud and Stardust were double checking that his armor was on right. Tethys was looking over his blades, using her claws to sharpen them. Skystrike was making sure the chains on his back were all ok with Casta. Last he used these was against Magnus. It was pretty easy, blitzing through him. But he underestimated him, and that cost his downfall. Shining and Cadenza wouldn't make that same mistake.
Most of the chains within the links were in top notch condition, Casta using her magic to mend any cracks. "You sure you got this? I can give you some enchantments at least. Or some buffs."
Skystrike shook his head. "This fight is a bit personal. Gotta do this with my own strength, but if you want to help... remember that song we all used to sing together?"
Casta's ears perked up. "You want us to sing again? While you're in the middle of battle?"
"I'd appreciate it... It'd help take part of my mind off the fight itself." Skystrike took the four swords handed to him by Tethys and attached each one to the chains, then the chains to the chain locker attachment just between his shoulder blades. Stardust and Zecora helped him stand up. He drew in the chains on his back, the four swords hanging down on each side.
"That expression, I've witnessed it plain. They were your companions, were they not, in their domain?" Zecora asked.
He nodded. "Yes. I grew up with them. They just don't know it's me yet. Just wish this wasn't the way they found out." Skystrike rolled all his joints into place and gave a quick hop, getting used to the weight of his new attachments. Finally, he got his stake launcher and attached it to his lower back, calibrating it. It aimed where his head pointed. Could come in handy. "Thanks for being here for me girls."
Tethys gave a light punch in his shoulder. "It's what we're best at. Now go kick some ass. You can count on us to sing our hearts out."
"I can't really sing or it may blow my cover, but I'll be there in spirit!" Stardust saluted.
"I'm tone deaf." Maud added.
Skystrike snickered and he put a round in the stake launcher. "I don't deserve you girls."
And with that, they heard the announcements. "Contestants, please get ready to enter the arena!" A stallions voice was heard through amplified sound magic.
"Welp... that's the bell. I'd recommend going to your seats. Shit is as about to go down." And with that, his friends nodded and went to the spectators booth.
Skystrike made sure they were out of earshot and took in a deep breath. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! I can win! I feel great! I! CAN! DO! THIS! RAAAAAAAAAAAA-"
"What are you doing?" Echo asked.
"I uh... nothing?"
"Really? Because it sounded like you were chanting to yourself."
"...Maybe..."
"Cringe."
"Well fuck you, robobitch!" Skystrike smiled as he put on his helmet and began walking. Make a cool entrance.
"Ladies and gentlecolts, prepare for an extraordinary spectacle! In a unique and daring turn of events, we have not one, but two formidable combatants uniting their strengths to face a single challenger! Entering the arena first, a force of unparalleled strategy and precision! Shining armor~! Known for his unparalleled skill in swordplay and defensive ability! And with him, Princess Mi Amore~ Cadenza! Known for her magical prowess and cunning intellect! Lets make some noise!" Shining and Cadenza entered getting cheers from the crowd.
Shining Armor wore armor that was indeed shiny. It was a set of purple armor with gold engravings. It looked light on him, only covering the front of his lower legs, chest, neck, and back. The chestplate had his cutie mark on it, being a blue shield with a six pronged purple star, similar to Twilights.
Cadenza was wearing a set of platinum armor with gold engravings as well. It covered her chest, back, neck, hooves and stomach. She even had a helmet with a decorative tiara on it. It looked heavier than Shining's, and probably was. Alicorns were more hardy, and could hold more weight. Her chestplate also had her cutie mark on it. Of course, he couldn't ignore the blade on her horn.
"And now, the defender! Fueled by unyielding determination and sheer willpower, stands the lone warrior. Even now, he stands against the odds! Known for his impressive feats, from knocking down an Ursa Minor in one blow, to slaying five dragons singlehoofedly, make some noise for the raven cladded slayer, the devil of the wind... Atlas~ Nebula~!"
Entrance initiated. Skystrike took a running start, coming out of the darkness of the corridor and jumping into the air. He threw out one of his swords, the chains clanking against each other as it followed the blade that landed in the sunny arena in front of him. He pulled himself out from the darkness by the chains and landed heavily next to his sword, slowly standing up and staring across the arena at Shining and Cadenza.
"BY THE PRINCESSES, HE'S SO FUCKING COOL!!!" He heard somepony in the colosseum shout at the top of his lungs.
Skystrike looked to where the voice came from, pointed at the stallion and gave a wink before pulling his sword and arm back under his cape. Gave off that mysterious vibe. He looked around the arena, seeing Celestia, Luna, and his friends sitting in the royal section of the spectators seats. Why the hell was Pinkie holding a boombox above her head? He also noticed that behind him was all the normal citizens and nobles, while behind Cadenza and Shining were a staggering amount of royal guards. He wouldn't be surprised if every royal guard came to support their captain. And they were all staring daggers at him.
"You know, not too late for you too back out now, it'd save you the embarrassment." Shining taunted, loud enough for the audience to hear.
Skystrike chuckled. "Oh man, I always wanted to do prefight trash talk. I barely have battles where one side leaves alive!" Skystrike shot back. "But yeah, I guess it would be easier for you all if I just gave up here. Tell me, how shat were your pants when you realized one of your generals, that I won flawlessly against in less than a minute, was the head of a criminal organization?"
Shining growled at that and stepped forward. "I'm going to enjoy seeing you grovel on the ground at my hooves."
"You know, I can't say the same when I do the same to you. The PR nightmare is going to suck for you two when the Captain and a princess are gonna get planted in the ground like some dumbass trees." Skystrike smirked and gave the signature look of superiority. So superior that they could tell through the mask.
The crowd cheered, growing a bit restless. The announcer took that as her queue. "Get ready for battle!" Skystrike stood on his hind hooves and threw off his cape, revealing his armaments and drew two of his blades. Cadenza flew backwards, as far as she could get from Skystrike. Shining Armor teleported a sword and shield in front of him. "Begin!"
"Showtime!" Skystrike smiled and immediately rushed forward and slashing with the blade ins each forehoof. Pinkie pressed a button on her boombox... damn they got her into this too. All good, it'd make things more fun. "Let~ your hopes be blown~ away! All my foes~ will fall, the demon~ has come to play! Skystrike flipped over and threw one of his swords at Shining, who was barely able to parry it with his own weapon. "Inside this heart of mine I feel the fire beckoning! You deal with a power far beyond your reckoning! Then Skystrike threw the other blade at amazing speed towards Cadenza, forcing her to roll to the side to dodge. She immediately stood up and fired a blast of magic at Skystrike, only for him to cut through it and pulling himself towards her. "Drown... in your fear black~ as tar! Paralyzing fright~! You think you're~ up to par? Skystrike and Cadenza clashed blades, then Skystrike back flipped over Shining approaching from behind. When he was in the air, Cadenza shot another stronger blast his direction that he flew under, landing on the ground. He spread his arms wide as the two regained their stances. "I~ will rise! And my foes will fall~! All who dare to stand~... Shall be made to crawl~!" Skystrike pulled back all his blades, then flew at the two, going for a cross slash. Shining and Cadenza used their magic to make a combined barrier around themselves. It stood up well, Skystrike's blades stopping as it clashed with the magic. "And in your final hour of fading light~, Your dreams of peace cast aside... Scattered light dust in the night~! And in the final hour our star will shine~!" Shining dropped the shield as soon as he could to get a shield bash in, but Skystrike jumped on it and flipped backwards. "Starlight and powers align... in the final fight~!" Skystrike figured the testing of the waters were out of the way and decided to get a bit more serious. "Inside this heart of mine I feel the fire beckoning! You deal with a power far beyond your reckoning!"
Then he heard Tethys's voice as she continued the song, her voice amplified by Casta's magic. "But best prepare yourself, 'cause this isn't a solo act! Think you can handle us, you don't realize this was a trap!" They really kept their promise. Shining and Cadenza looked at him with mild annoyance. Skystrike threw two of his swords at the unicorn, the chains wrapping around his weapons. While he was stuck, Skystrike threw one more that wrapped around his body. He pulled on all the chains in a way that threw the unicorn into the air. "Took~ the challenge, I'm~ impressed! I guess I must admit, you're a cut above the rest! Cadenza quickly flew in to get a cut on Skystrike. He saw this coming and used his fourth sword to parry hers, then landed a spinning kick on her side, knocking Cadenza back. "But I have no patience so it's best that you leave us alone! Got better things to do, You step to us I break your bones!" Shining took the chance he had and shot his own magic at Skystrike while he couldn't dodge.
A beam of magic dug him a few inches into the ground before Shining teleported out of the chains and next to Cadenza. "You alright?"
Cadenza shook it off. "Yeah, just a little sore, nothing to worry about." She said as Skystrike bought back in his swords. "Auntie wasn't kidding, but this song... it has some changes, but it's the same as the one we sang with him... You think...?"
She wasn't even able to finish her sentence before a loud boom was heard, and Skystrike stopped between the two of them, forcing the two to split up again. "We~ are making history! And I can guarantee~... you will bow~ before~ me! Skystrike sent two blades at each of them, each parrying the blades to the ground before he tightened the chains, making a whirlwind of danger. The two had to back up even more. Skystrike burst out of the dusk kicked up by his tornado in front of Shining, who couldn't see and took an uppercut to the chin. He grunted as he blocked the next punch with his shield, his magic taking most of the force. He bought down the sword over Skystrike's head, who narrowly dodged it by closing the distance and grappling Shining before throwing him into the colosseum wall. "We~ of 'All~'... will strike you down~! We'll put you back in the ground... Learn why we wear~ the crown~! Skystrike flew towards the unicorn and elbowed him in the stomach where he was least protected, then picked up his shield to block his teammate's magic blast. She was getting angry. Skystrike smirked, then threw the shield at Cadenza's head to block her vision. She teleported through it before landing a slash on Skystrike's chest, who was hoping to use her blocked vision against her. Skystrike rolled back a few feet before catching himself and using his blades to slide to a stop. His armor was dented. She was DEFINETLY angry. "And in your final hour of fading~ light~! No one can challenge our might... Not while the fire burns bright~! And in your final hour, our star will shine~! Starlight and powers align... in the final fight~! What's wrong there, ponies? Are you just all bark and there's no bite? You'd think that that bravado wouldn't go fly out of sight!
Then Casta and Zecora joined in. "Zecora you and me!" "I'm here Casta, you already know!" Then they sang a duet."We gotta do some clean up! Ready, girl? Time for a show!" Skystrike rolled his neck. He was impressed. He let Cadenza help Shining off the wall before grabbing two of his blades, letting his opponents make the move first. They decided to try something different this time, staying together as they charged forward. Seemed they wanted to get up close and personal. The two lovers were like opposites, each attacking where the other didn't, while also defending where the other was open. Skystrike tried an overhead cross slash, but each blade was bounced back by his opponents. Each time he tried to get an attack in on one, the other would defend for them and counter. He was glad he used dual blades as he switched to defense as he was slowly getting pushed back, the guard side of the stadium cheering. In~ the journey, we've~ come far! And now here~ we are! Now you'll see~ super stars!" "If you're standing before us, know that you made one mistake!" "Thinking that we can never find a way to challenge fate!" Skystrike stabbed two of his blades into the ground below him and flew with all his might, The ground rumbled as he pulled a large chunk of earth out before spinning and throwing it at the two, who jumped out of the way. While Shining stayed on the ground, Cadenza made the mistake of flying into the air. Skystrike flew up to her, who put up a barrier around herself. Bad move. Two of his sword chains wrapped around the ball and slammed her into the ground, the barrier not being able to stop her change in motion. She quickly teleported away again, behind Skystrike and kicking him in the back. He wasn't able to stop himself in the air fast enough before Shining used his magic to make an aura around his blade, hitting Skystrike with it and sending him to the other side of the arena. "We~ will hold our weapons high! Watch the sun set~! As we're soaring through the skies!We will rise~! Comrades hoof in hand~! We will never crawl... and here we stand~!" Skystrike got up, flew into the air, and dove down towards Shining armor, who put up his shield to block it. Skystrike, however, was faster, a loud boom coming from his speed as he stopped at his side and did another spin kick in Shining's face. He flew towards Cadenza, who quickly used her magic to catch him and heal any wounds he had. "And in your final hour of fading~ light~! Dreams of peace taking flight~! Bringing forth the light~! And in the final hour our star will shine~! Starlight and powers align... In the final~ fight~!
"Inside this heart of mine I feel the fire beckoning!"
"You are a fool to try and stand before us, you weaklings!
"To save the future, fight for everyone and everything!"
"The finale approaches now a victory we'll sing!" They all sang together as Skystrike tightened his grip.
Shining and Cadenza took the queue as well, charging up as much magic as they could squeeze out of their bodies to end this fight. Cadenza looked to Shining. "Honey... are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"What the plan is, or who we think he is."
"We both know what the plan is. But you think that he's really...?"
"I know... we thought he died but... there never was a body... Let's ask once we get him to confess." Shining said before he and Cadenza crossed horns.
In~ the journey, we've~ come far! And now here~ we are! Now you'll see~ super stars!" Skystrike waited as the two were casting their magic. He recognized the color and intensity of each one by the soft glow of magic surrounding the two on each cast. Body strengthening, magic amplification, speed, greater dexterity, stone skin, full potential, limit breaker... He'd have to put in way more effort than he thought. He was already huffing a bit from the fight. They're really trying to end it. They've gotten so far without him. He was proud of how strong they got. "Inside this heart of mine I feel the fire beckoning! You deal with a power far beyond your reckoning!"
"Dreams... in darkness crash~ and burn! Now it's time~ you learn!""Now it's our~ turn~!"
"We will rise~! And your stars will fall~!""We will bring the light~... back to 'All~'!" Cadenza put Skystrike's attention on her, using her now buffed abilities to shoot a barrage of magic blasts at Skystrike while Shining Armor charged up a spell. He could feel the magic expelling from the unicorn's body as he charged, closing his eyes and putting all his focus towards it. Skystrike cut down each blast with his swords, barely being able to keep up with the magic Cadenza was outputting. The audience was on the edge of their seats cheering for Cadenza to keep up the gattling barrage, and for Skystrike to cut down each one. But only few noticed the magic being absorbed by his swords. Just like back with Magnus.
It was the final part of the song... perfect timing. He and his friends continued to sing together. And in your final hour of fading~ light~! Stand tall against our might~... while our hopes~ burn BRIGHT~!" Cadenza stopped her barrage of magic blasts before jumping back to Shining armor, and giving him that final push, adding in her own magic, making the growing ball of magic on their horns grow several times bigger. It was as if he was looking at a star being born... He always wanted to do this! An energy clash! He released all the stored magic in his blades, each glowing a pale blue, the same color as Cadenza's magic. He'd return the favor in full. "AND IN OUR FINAL HOUR OUR STAR~ WILL SHINE~! STARLIGHT AND POWERS ALIGN~... IN THE FINAL~ FIGHT~~!!" Cadenza and Shining released their magic, the beam of pure energy hurdling towards him. Skystrike drew each of his blades with such expertise, in less than a second, he made a vertical, horizontal, and a diagonal cross slash with his blades, looking to the untrained eye as if they all over lapped. With each swing, he released the stored magic within as they slowly pushed back against the swirling beam of pale blue and rose. Then, Skystrike pulled back his swords, grabbed one in his mouth, and pushed against the blast to help, using his fourth and final sword as an anchor. The final note was held between his friends as Shining's and Cadenza's magic was sent back towards them. At the last second, they combined their magic once again, blocking the magic coming their way. They struggled under the weight of their own magic, but they knew they could hold out.
Until they couldn't.
Skystrike got on all four hooves and prepared himself for the recoil. He aimed his stake launcher at their barrier, inhaled deeply, held his breath, then fired. A loud BANG was heard at nearly the same moment of shattering magic, their barrier breaking like glass as they closed their eyes from getting hit by the returning arcane energy. A large cloud of dust envelopped the whole arena as the crowd waited in anticipation. Skystrike stood back up, huffing as they all waited for the dust to clear. Moments passed as he stood in a defensive stance just in case. When the dust finally settled, Cadenza and Shining were both groaning on the ground.
"Aaaaand it's over! Ladies and gentlecolts, in a staggering display of resilience and unwavering determination, we bear witness to an astonishing triumph! Against all odds, the Lone Vanguard has emerged victorious in this monumental battle!" The announcer spoke as the crowd cheered. Well, most cheered, being those who won bets and ones who just enjoyed the show. Everyone else gave audible groans... mostly the Royal Guard. "With unyielding courage and a spirit that knows no bounds, the raven cladded slayer showed unmatched skill, fortitude, and tactical brilliance! Stand tall, Atlas Nebula! For today, history has been written by your own valor!!"
Skystrike huffed as he retracted the chains and sheathed his swords. He could feel the heat from the stake launcher radiate from it on through his armor. He picked back up his cloak, flapped it, and put it back on. He slowly walked over to the two under the guards seating area, who unsurprisingly began throwing items at him, complaining how 'he makes them look bad' or 'I lost so much money' or 'are you single?'. Wait, what the fuck was that last one. "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that." Skystrike said to himself as he stopped in front of the two. Shining armor and Cadenza tried to shake off their fatigue and concussion as Skystrike picked up the dented metal rod in between them. He noticed the caved in shield that Shining used. Skystrike put the lump of metal in his saddlebag before looking down at the two. "...I must admit, you two were pretty good. Definitely a lot more than I was expecting from you two." Skystrike offered a hoof to each.
Cadenza was the first to take it. "Ugh... Thanks... honestly, I wasn't expecting that part at the end, or that you'd offer to help... came off as a bit of an asshole earlier today."
Skystrike chuckled as he dusted her off. "Heh, yeah, I guess I was. Sorry."
Cadenza chuckled with him. "Eh, don't worry about it... We've just... been on edge lately. Thought we could get a small vacation coming here, but then Blueblood came in and told us about what you... allegedly did." She took off her helmet and horn blade, holding them at her side. "...You got a kick to be jealous of. Shining, how long do you plan on laying there?"
Shining got up by himself. "Ugh... that healing magic felt like it did nothing. He tried to walk a bit, but felt a sharp pain in his back. "GAH!"
Skystrike picked up Shining armor and took off his stake launcher and chain locker so Shining could lie on his back. "The adrenaline wore off. Try not to move too much. We'll bring you to some medics... Nice teamwork by the way. You got me good a few times."
Cadenza smiled as he picked up everypony's items. "Thanks... speaking of, I feel like I hit you quite hard. Most ponies can't even take one hit from an alicorn... how are you ok?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, I'm not. My back hurts, my arms burn, my chest hurts. You two did a lot of damage." He said as the two walked.
Shining was about to say something, then groaned. "Yeah... you took a lot more damage than me. Try not to talk too, save your energy." Cadenza said. Shining responded with a groan. "...That was quite a song you and your friends sang... You love them, don't you? Platonically I mean. I can tell. It's what I'm best at."
Skystrike nodded. "Yeah... they mean the world to me... I'm just glad the finale part landed. It would've been real awkward if that last clash didn't end it." The two shared a laugh as Shining fell unconscious.
Skystrike left for the bathroom after dropping off Shining Armor with Celestia, who said she'd take care of his health personally. He let out a long ass stream of piss. A minute passed, then two... then he realized. "Oh shit I didn't pee since yesterday... holy shit my bladder is huge." He finally finished before washing his hooves and walking out. Currently, he was in the castle, walking down the hallway to the meeting room. When he entered, Stardust, Casta, Tethys, Zecora, Pinkie, and Maud sat on the right side of the table, while Celestia, Luna, Cadenza, and Shining sat on the left side. Tethys was drooling over the mound of bits in front of her, while Shining was in a number of casts. "Jesus christ, Tethys, how much did you win!?"
Stardust laughed. "Oh, the odds were not in your favor. I put in 500 bits and got back five thousand."
"There was a ten times return on my win!? No wonder ponies were mad!"
"Better question, were you frying something down there? Because you piss loud." Maud said.
Everyone in the room laughed at that. Then Tethys snapped out of her greed. "Oh, right, I took some of your money and placed a bet on you on top of my own. About 20k."
Skystrike blinked. "...You have 300 thousand in bits in front of you?"
Tethys giggled like an idiot and hugger the bags. "About 240k. Taxes suck."
"You know, I'd say something, but we do need the money. Thanks to Cadenza, the new armor needs to be made sooner, rather than be on the back burner." Skystrike rubbed at the spot he was hit on his chest through his sweatshirt. "Thank god It's plated armor."
Cadenza looked at him. "Speaking of... You're massive for a stallion, I wasn't even sure how much of that is armor until I kicked you. You reminded me of an old friend I used to fight with, but even if he was alive, no way he'd be your size."
Skystrike felt the eyes on him. "Fiiiiiiine." Skystrike sighed and sat down at his seat, then he took off his helmet and rolled his neck. "Hopefully you two got all your anger out."
Shining and Cadenza looked at him, their eyes going wide in realization. "Skyyyyyyystriiiiiiiiike!" Cadenza jumped across the table and pulled him into a death hug. "I knew it! I felt it in my heart for all these years that you didn't die that day!"
Shining wished he could walk over without pain to greet his old friend. "Damn dude. You've really gotten big. Hard to think you're three years younger than me. But did you really have to beat me like that?"
"Good to see you two again, Cadenza, Shining."
"Oh come on, to old to call me 'big sis' like you used to? And just call me Cadence. We're family!" Cadence kept holding him in the hug. "But where have you been? What have you been doing all this time? Why... why did you leave us?"
Skystrike sighed as he pushed Cadenced off of him. "Yeah, you two do deserve an explanation. Sit down, it'll take a while..." Skystrike then explained everything he went through that led him to that point. Growing up in the orphanage, getting adopted by Celestia, eventually meeting Cadence and Blueblood... then the day of the gala. "...He burned down my home to get to me. I didn't want to take the chance that he might go after those I care for again. I took the only viable option I saw."
Shining sighed. "That... explains a lot, actually... buck... I get why you were so angry earlier today."
"And it... also explains Bluebloods complete 180." Cadence nodded. Skystrike raised an eyebrow. "Oh, right, you wouldn't know. After you died, he made a show about how you two were always close, and how he was 'so sad' to see you go. I knew you two didn't really like each other, but... I thought it was sibling rivalry... It's so hard to believe he'd do that."
"Quite honestly, I think the same. It would explain everything, but... it's hard to believe a pony I saw as a son would do this... let alone to a brother." Celestia closed her eyes in sadness.
"We've went through his dreams. Skystrike Nebula speakeths the truth." Luna put her hooves on the table. "We have no relation to Blueblood, positive or not. We will not allow our bias to cloud our judgement when justice comes to him."
Wait, you went into his dreams? When?" She turned to her sister.
Skystrike answered for her. "The day I left for that mission. She wanted answers, and I wanted some too. Call it a trade. But let me clarify, I'm in this more so for revenge. If justice is served during my journey, then cool."
Cadence raised a brow. "And how exactly do you plan on doing that?"
"Ironically, the same way Shining wanted me to admit to those guards dying, also because of Blueblood by the way, by challenging him to a duel. Difference is, I'm not planning on winning. He won't be able to admit defeat until he confesses to everything. Then, just so the legal case goes through, I'm going to turn myself in, along with all the evidence I have."
"And... how do you plan on getting him to do a duel?"
"Simple. I'd make a fool of him at the Gala. His ego won't let it slide. I know this because he put my family's and friends lives at risk twice because of it." Skystrike rubbed the scar over his eye.
Tethys stuck her head out of the mountain of goal. "You know, I'm not sure you ever actually told us the guy who tried to kill you twice was your adoptive brother."
Pinkie held her head. "Skystrike never spoke about what he did before his death... This is a lot to take in..."
Casta cleared her throat. "We... are we going to ignore that Skystrike is a prince?"
Skystrike looked at her. "...Oh yeah, I guess I am, huh? I never thought about it. And Pinkie, don't take it personally. I don't really like talking about it. It's... personal... even more personal then the current subject."
"Like the child soldier thing or how you killed your first parents?"
Maud and Celestia blinked. "Child soldier?"
Then Cadence and Casta blinked. "Killed your first parents?"
Skystrike shot Pinkie a look. The mare covered her mouth with her hooves. "God damn it Pinkie... I guess I gotta go into this topic now!" He threw his hooves up.
Celestia put her elbows on the table and held her head. "...This is a lot to take in..." She mimicked Pinkie. Then her ears perked up. "Wait, Luna, you went into his dreams... did he tell you?"
Luna looked to Skystrike. He sighed. "Yes, I told her, but less so because I wanted. More so because I asked her to tell you and everypony else if I ended up dying up in that village to the north." Skystrike then began to explain his origins. Obviously, he couldn't just say he was human, so he just replaced some of the info, saying he came from the unexplored west. He also explained how he got help before he came to Canterlot, but again, left out that the help was changelings, and how he was banished.
Celestia knew, but decided not to reveal it, considering he didn't do so himself. Her face sunk into her hands as she gave a muffled. "Oh my me."
"What the Buck, Skystrike!" Cadence slammed her hooves on the table as Pinkie cartoonishly cried her eyes out as she jumped to hug him while everyone else groaned. "Why didn't you tell us about this before!?"
"I didn't think it was important."
"The BUCK you mean 'didn't think it was important?!"
"Please explain to me how you would've helped besides trying to make me feel better." The room fell silent. "My point exactly. Literally nothing would have changed. You all are holding onto some type of guilt, thinking you could've helped me, but you really couldn't. You all already gave me more than I could've hoped for. Don't hold yourselves to some impossible standard for yourselves."
"I mean, yeah, but now I feel bad." Casta sighed. "We all banded together because most of us were abandoned in one way or another. We all complained about our circumstances but ours is... is like a bad dream compared to the nightmare that's your origin."
"I mean, I guess..." Skystrike shrugged. "It really isn't a big deal to me. Can we talk about this another time?"
Celestia sighed. "Fine... oh my me, what the buck" Her face was still in her hooves. She lifted her head. "What I wanted to talk to you about earlier was the weapon that you used to take down the Earth Dragon that Opal told me about. We also found what we assume was the ammo used for it. She said you called it a... 'Stake Launcher'?"
Skystrike picked up the weapon in question and put it on a table with a loud thud. "Here it is. What do you want to know about it?"
"Isn't that what you used against us in the battle?" Shining poked the weapon. "...You shot us with something that could kill a dragon!?"
"Well, it did kill a dragon. But I switched out the ammo to be anti-magical, rather than anti-material." Skystrike put the round he shot the two with on the table, showing magical engravings on it.
"...How does it work? I've never seen something like this..." Celestia picked up the Stake Launcher in her magic.
"Well, it gathers the latent magic in the air, storing it within itself before converting all of the magic into arcanomagical energy. From there, it then converts the arcanomagical energy to electromagnetic energy, and accelerates it down the barrel. The magnetic field releases the metal stake at 400 meters per second, then releases any excess energy."
Celestia looked at him. "And... how did you convert arcanomagical energy to electromagnetic energy?"
"I'm with the princess, even I don't know how to do that... and you made it fit within that thing?" Casta used her magic to look over it.
"That's patented, and hidden under lock and keep. It'd rather not rather not release the blueprints, because if anyone were able to mass produce what I have, it'd be, and I quote, 'Like giving cavemen a shotgun.'"
Everyone but Celestia looked around confused. "...Where did you hear that phrase from?"
"It was when I was working solo. I stumbled upon some weird creature. Kinda like a monkey but... sentient. Dark skin, white hair, metal arm, light blue eyes. He looked cool as hell, I'm not gonna lie. Anyway, he gave me some tips on how to make my armor, and came around recently to give me those blueprints. Told me not to share it under any circumstances. Then he said that phrase."
"...Everyone, could you leave Skystrike, my sister, and I? We need to be in private." Celestia said in a rather serious tone. They all quickly walked out the room, Celestia closing the doors behind them. "Skystrike, you have no idea what you just stepped into... You just met a human..."
"Alright, and that means?"
"You're lucky to be alive." She said flatly. "My sister and I met those humans over a thousand years ago... we thought we drove them out..." Celestia sat in thought for a moment. Skystrike gave Luna a look, is saying 'you know?' Luna nodded. Celestia released her breath. "Skystrike, what I'm about to tell you will not be allowed to leave this room, alright?"
Skystrike nodded. "Alright. Spill the tea."
"This is not the time to joke, Skystrike..." She held her head. "I made sure to wipe them from the history books. Long ago, even before my sister's banishment, we were approached by a new race. They came from the north, first showing themselves in the frozen wastelands outside the Crystal empire. Humans, like the one you just met. At first, they were peaceful, wishing to do trade with us. But of course we were wary. They... appeared seemingly out of thin air, a portal they protected at the edge of our border with the empire. Years went by, and the trades went well. New innovations, new foods, new experiences... but then everything changed."
Luna decided to continue for her sister. "We were asked for an audience with their leader at the time. They made their intentions clear. Their planets were dying, and they wished for a new home. When we declined, they spoke that they'd take it by force... My sister and I used our magic to push the hostiles back. Of course, it wasn't so one sided. Many of our ponies died by their hands, but the attackers were forced to retreat back to their world. A few of the humans were passive, wishing not to fight. Some left peacefully. Few were allowed to spend their last days on Equestrian soil. But once they went to their next life, we made sure they weren't remembered." Luna looked down when she said that last part. "None can remember the atrocities that the humans committed against us. They fought us with ruthlessness and brutality, caring not for our lives or their own. They only wanted to conquer..."
"Every trace of humanity, we destroyed, and made sure they had no way to come back to our world... or so we thought... 17 years ago, a human colt fell from the sky and into Canterlot. I saw it as an attack at first, thinking another great war was going to start. But this one was different. He spoke that it was a mistake the way he landed, that he just wanted to escape. But I couldn't take that chance. I held him in captivity until he decided he had enough and escaped... At first, I thought it'd be as easy as the humans a millennia ago... but it was more than I could've prepared for. He didn't rely on ballistic weaponry like their past generations... he could use magic. Our magic, while being resistant to ours. On top of that, the child could easily overpower the average pony at his age... couldn't be any older than ten. I knew it had to be a sleeper agent, and was just... lying to guarantee his safety." Then she stared directly into Skystrikes eyes. "He escaped the capital, and we haven't heard anything from him since. No rumors, no beast sightings, nothing... And now you're telling me he's been in contact with you for the past three years?"
Skystrike was not aware of all of that. He nodded as he continued to think over all that was revealed to him. "Yes... that's... a lot... So I think I get why you're worried. But I don't think he wants to take over your country. Apparently, he's been here this whole time and didn't do anything."
"He didn't do anything yet. He was able to escape me as a child. Imagine what he'd be able to do now!"
Skystrike looked at Luna, then back to Celestia. "I'm not going to act like I fully grasp your paranoia. But... maybe holding him captive and making him what's essentially a wanted fugitive isn't going to get him as an ally? Don't get me wrong, I get why you did it, but there is the chance for you two chat it out."
Celestia's ears perked up at that. "Tell you what, if you can convince the human to have a conversation with us in a private setting, I'll... hear him out."
Skystrike nodded. Right now would not be a good time to bring up how he and Tethys found a lab tracking him during his recent mission. He'll have to tell her as a human. But yeah, he completely understood why Celestia, did that to him with that added context. Basically, humanity tried to colonize them, and they were able to stop them. You know... he never was told what he was training for in that lab. It would completely make sense if he was supposed to take out alicorns like Celestia and Luna... Hell, he dealt with Cadence fairly easily without magic. Then again, neither were going for the kill. Skystrike finally decided to speak. "I'll see what I can do. I'll definitely ask him about what you told me. Pretty sure he hates humanity as much as you."
Then Luna cleared her throat. "Well, now that that matter has been dealt with, we have a more immediate matter that concerns you, Skystrike. We also feel it's best for you to know, dear sister." Skystrike couldn't help but notice the nervousness she said when she said that.
"Aight, what's the issue?" Skystrike asked as he looked at Luna, along with Celestia.
Luna shuffled in her seat. "We... when we entered your dreams to have our chat long ago... it made a... bridge between our minds. We're still not aware why the bridge was made, but thy problem that it is there..."
Skystrike tilted his head. "I don't see- oooooooh..."
Celestia looked between the two. "I... cant help but tell I'm missing some context here."
Skystrike looked at the princess of the night. "Well, since we're just revealing everything, you wanna tell her, or should I pull a Pinkie Pie? Fuckin... ass..." He said the last part under his breath.
Luna looked at the two in growing nervousness. "Dear sister... don't be too mad, but... when Nightmare Moon was defeated, her... grasp on our body was released. However, her influence on our mind has not completely disappeared."
Celestia processed that for a second, then grew angry. "Luna, are you trying to say that Nightmare Moon is not only alive, but can now get into his mind?"
"...Yes."
Celestia teleported next to Skystrike and took his face in her hooves. "Are you ok!? Are you feeling any different!? Any bad thought!? Voices in your head!?"
"Jesus Christ, Celestia, I'm fine!" Skystrike pushed her off. "Besides, Nightmare Moon is chill."
"...Sorry, I'm still not used to the modern slang... what is 'chill'?" Celestia tilted her head.
"We are also confused by that term." Luna nodded.
"Man, we need to get you two out more. I guess if I had to explain it, it means that she's... relaxed and cool at the same time."
"Skystrike, we believe you are being too generous towards her."
He shook his head. "I think you aren't giving her enough credit to be honest. I get that you two can't really trust her, but we should at least try. She has come by from time to time and stopped my nightmares."
"...This is news to us." Luna sat up. "And... thou art sure that she isn't playing you? Gaining thou's trust to break it later?"
Skystrike shrugged. "Being honest, I don't know. I just want to give her a chance to do better." Skystrike then looked at Luna. "Luna, when I first fought you in the Everfree... well Nightmare Moon, I promised I'd give you, and therefore her a chance. She hesitated when I said I'd be her friend. Call me naïve, but I feel that she has the potential to do better. A lot of the times, most ponies want to be better, but are never given a chance. Back then, I didn't even know you and Nightmare were separate beings. It'd go against my morals to deny someone who wants to do better. You two might not give her a chance, but I will."
"Then thou art a better pony than me." Luna admitted as the room turned to silence.
Once finished with his talk with the princesses, everyone waiting outside and immediately started hounding him with question. Skystrike answered most of their questions, but there were just so damn many. They talked about the battle he had with his two friends from highschool. Shining and Cadence felt a bit embarrassed, realizing that they were using tactics against Skystrike that Skystrike himself helped come up with. But Skystrike admitted they made it much better, only needing two ponies to do what they needed three to do back then. Then they admitted with a laugh that he was probably right about the PR they're going to have to go through because of that battle. They asked how his life has been so far, where Skystrike properly introduced him to his new friends, and what he'd been doing over the years he was presumed dead. The sun began to set as they all walked and talked, not having any destination.
Then Skystrike noticed the time. The bell rang through the city, signaling the new hour. Six p.m. "Hey, I'll meet you all at the train station before it leaves at eight. There's just one more thing I need to do."
Cadence raised a brow. "It's going to take you a few hours? Is it a mare~?."
"Cadence, you did this when we were kids." Skystrike stared at her. "For last time, I don't have a marefriend. If you keep doing this, I'm going to clap back."
"Aw~! He has a marefriend!"
"Tell me, what ever happened to that body pillow you had of Shining armor that you practiced kissing on? Is it still with that shrine you have of him, or did you finally realize how creepy it was and burn it all?"
She fell silent as she blushed from embarrassment. Shining looked at her, waiting for her response. "...It wasn't a shrine!"
"That's the only thing you correct?" Skystrike smirked as he flipped her off with his wings. "Yeah, idiot, I have SO much dirt on you! Shit yourself."
She covered her face, then gave a smirk of her own at what she was about to do. "You aren't the only one who has dirt... You know, you always did visit the red light district as you grew older. I wonder how much money you blew on the mares there?"
His friends all laughed at the spectacle in front of them Skystrike scoffed. "You have a vast misunderstanding of what I was doing. I wasn't spending money, I was making money. And I'm not embarrassed about it." They all stared at him. "Yeah, real awkward now, ain't it? As I said, shit yourself." Skystrike finished before flying off.
Assuming he remembered right, the pony he was going to visit lived near the stadium. It took about ten minutes of flying to get to his destination: a rundown house. Moss grew on parts of the walls and roofs, planks of wood were beginning to rot and fall off, and the stone fence he walked past was crumbling from the little weight he put on it. Skystrike knocked on the door, his hoof going through it. Damn, he made sure to hold back too.
A mare opened the door. She had a light yellowish gray coat, red mane and tail with purple highlights, purple eyes, and a cutie mark of a crescent moon and three stars. Her large pair of glasses was held together in the center with tape. Skystrike put up a hoof to wave. "Moondancer! Been a while since I've seen you in the flesh. How've you been?"
Moondancer looked up at him. "What do you want? I'm trying to study!" She asked, rather annoyed.
"Oh come on. I know it's been a couple years, but I should be able to visit an old friend. I hope you ended up getting my letters over these years." Moondancer sighed and turned back into her house. He took her not closing the door on his face as an invitation inside. Skystrike closed the door behind him. The first thing that he noticed was how many books were in her home. They filled every bookshelf, and the overflow was on nearly every surface from the floor to her couch to the tables.
The second thing he noticed was the stacks of mail on her coffee table. They fell in front of him as he walked by. They looked familiar. He picked one up with a hoof and flipped it over. It was one of his letters that he sent to her. He checked the date. Four years ago... He looked through the rest of the stack. They were all his letters. From the first one he sent to the one last month. At least the first few dozen were opened. He checked the date of the oldest unopened one. If he remembered right... it was her birthday. Almost two years ago, right before the summer sun celebration. Skystrike took of his helmet. "...Moondancer, I know I don't really have the right to ask you what happened after I just left like I did, but... you're going through something. I'd like to... at least try and help."
Moondancer sighed, using her magic to start a pot of tea in her kitchen as she moved the books of the couch and sitting down. "What do you think you'd be able to do to help me? Send me more letters, acting like you care?"
Skystrike tried not to take that jab personally. "I do care, and while I don't know exactly how to help you, I want to try anything I can. I found out quite recently that just... bottling up my issues and pushing it under the rug will only hurt me more in the long run. I just recently found the roots of my problems and I'm starting to work towards making it better."
"And what, you think you can just walk in and help?" She grit her teeth. "You were 'dead' for years. You were my friend! You didn't even tell me why you died! And now you think you can just pop back into my life!? You've gotta be kidding me!"
Skystrike stayed silent at that. He had to admit, that was the reaction he was expecting from most ponies when he faked his death. He tried to find the best words for what he was about to say. "Your anger was- is completely justified. I've been a terrible friend to you. But I'd still like to help you. Even if it's just being somepony you can rant at for a while."
Her tea was done. She first levitated herself over some tea, pouring it into her teacup. Then she looked at Skystrike. "Buck it..." She got him a teacup too and put it on the table in front of him. "I'll tell you what's wrong..." She finished her tea in one sip before slamming her hoof on the table. "You were my best friend. We always had fun together, whether it was just studying, going to the park, everything we did together was fun. Then you went and pretended to kick the bucket. I thought I'd never see you again... All those who were left around me was Minuette, Lemon Drops, Lyra, Twinkleshine... and Twilight." She sighed as she took off her glasses and looked at the ceiling. "I closed myself off after you left. My best friend left me behind for whatever reason, only sending a few letters a month. But those girls didn't give up on me. They went out of their way to spend time with me, and I will admit, that along with your, it letters made me feel better. But then, my birthday came around. The first time I actually decided to have a party, threw it myself. Finally opened myself up to having friends again... and Twilight didn't show up. Just like you, you both just skipped town without even saying goodbye! We were supposed to be friends!" Moondancer tensed up. "She made me feel like I didn't matter! You made me feel like I didn't matter! I refuse to be hurt like that again!" Tears began to well up in her eyes, falling down her cheeks from the build up. "Minuette, Lemon Drops, Twinkleshine! They finally made me feel like somepony wanted to be my friend! And she didn't show up! And now you just want to walk back in like everything's bucking hunky dory!? Buck you! I'm done with friends!"
Skystrike stared at her huffing. Damn, he really fucked up this time. "...Moondancer, to be honest, I don't really know what to say besides how sorry I am... I've... recently come to realize how much I hurt those around me. I always doubted my self worth, and... I didn't think anypony would miss me. Over this past week, I've been trying to mend the mistakes of my past. My brothers, my sisters, my family..." Then he looked at Moondancer. "Old friends... I don't want to leave any of you again. It wouldn't be fair to them, or you. I don't expect your forgiveness, your understanding, or anything... I... just want you to be happy." He felt a pain in his chest. "I-... I noticed you stopped reading my letters since back at your birthday party... If the pain I put you through is so great, I... I understand if you don't want to see me ever again. I just wish to help you."
"Then help me understand, why did you fake your death?" She wiped her tears with her hooves.
Skystrike nodded. "When I was at Canterlot highschool, a pony named Blueblood, my adoptive brother, had it out for me. Still don't know why exactly he did it, but he burned down the orphanage I used to live at to get to me. He said it to my face at the Gala. At the time, I-... I thought the best course of action was to take myself out of the equation. I didn't want to put anypony else in danger because of me. I don't say this to make you feel guilty, but just so you can see my perspective."
Moondancer's tears started flowing again. She was still angry. "Well... at least I know why now." She stood up and walked over to the stallion before hugging him, crying into his sweatshirt. "I've missed you... so much! The book readings we had, the play dates, the games we played... why'd it take you this long to come visit you bucking asshole!?" She said between the tears. "I thought you didn't care... I thought it was just some prank, somepony sending me messages pretending to be you!"
"I'm sorry, Moondancer." Skystrike hugged her back.
"I don't want you to leave again... I don't know if I'm ready for friends again, but... I want you to stay."
"I promise, I wont disappear like that again. I'm so sorry."
"I know that... that we're different ponies now. It's been eight years... but I miss what we had..." She pulled her face out of his chest, looking up at him. "I know you have to go, but... will you stay with me until you do? Just hang out like the old times?"
Skystrike wiped her tears with a hoof. "I'll do you one better... My life seems to be getting busier, and I'll be in Canterlot more often. I'll make sure to visit you. I'll even introduce you to my family. Hell, if you want, we can bring over our other school friends."
"I'd like that, but... I'd like it even more if it was just us two for a while. I'm... still not sure about them. I know they mean well, but... I can't bring myself to see them again." Moondancer began to push herself off of him.
Skystrike pulled her into a deeper hug. "I get it... went through the same thing when thinking about how to approach my friends. I'm... I'm glad to have met you, Moondancer."
"...Can we stay like this? Just a little longer?"
"Of course. It's the least I could do." |
A Broken Warrior | Time passes by | A month has passed since Skystrike's visit to the capital again, but he didn't regret it. A few bridges have at least begun to be rebuilt. Celestia smiled at the memory as she looked at the letter she got from him. He began sending letters to her and her sister. Partially as a way to get closer, and to check in on Nightmare moon. She shuddered at the thought of that name. Celestia still hated her for what Nightmare did to her sister. She didn't want the same to happen to Skystrike... Then she shuddered at the thought of how terrifying a Nightmare Skystrike would be. He already handle Shining Armor and Princess Cadence... easier than she thought. All he came out of that fight with was some sore muscles.
Speaking of, Celestia had to admit he was right about the PR that they all had to go through. In hindsight, it was not a good idea to have him take them both on. But in her defense, who'd expect one pegasus to take on a Captain of the royal guard and an alicorn. Morale within the ranks has dipped a little, the guards feeling as if their efforts in training hasn't been worth it. Took a bit of persuasion to raise their spirits back up. Needless to say, her guard did not have a good impression of Skystrike.
That reminded her, the airship came in. One larger than she expected him to need. A private one normally fit about a dozen or so ponies, but the one Skystrike asked for could easily fit thirty. When asked why he needed such a big one, Celestia was given an answer that made sense. It wasn't just for fun, he planned on travelling, and he'd need a lot of storage. Plus, bigger ones would be more comfortable for Tethys and him, given their sizes. Each of them took up the space of three ponies easily.
"Sister! I'm about to read Nebula's letter!" Celestia called for Luna. Luna teleported into the throne room and sat next to her. They finally opened the letter Skystrike sent her and Luna, reading through it.
Dear Princess Celestia and Luna
Because I have to send these through Spike, your faithful student Grape Juice, is giving me tips on how to write.
Of course, I sent a dummy one within this just so she'd get off my ass, so that's why this one is much less formal.
Celestia checked the other sheet of paper in the letter, and indeed, saw that it was written more like Twilight's style.
Just so you know, I'm gonna call you silly little names in here. I'll think of some next time. Onto the more boring stuff.
Sorry again about Bonbon. Kinda knew for a while, but in my defense, I don't like being spied on.
Things are going fine here. I told the local school teacher here that I'd teach the foals about physics, so that's happening. Still waiting for that guy to find me so I can set him up to meet you.
I'm gonna rat on Twilight real quick. She, Rarity, and Stardust got drunk at my house. It was really fucking funny because your ever faithful student is a really honest drunk. Said something about 'laying off the hayburgers, or my flank will look like Celestia's. And I'm not gonna lie, I see you eat sweets like it's nothing. I don't know how alicorn metabolisms work, but maybe slow down the intake? You look like a wedge from the top view. Like, it's kinda impressive how it only goes back there.
Celestia blanked at that part while Luna caught up to where she was and giggled. "Luna, not a word."
"You must admit, he's right."
Celestia sighed and hid a chuckle as they continued reading.
Luna, if you're reading this with your sister, you aren't much better. Your money does NOT fold. Actually, I'm not sure if you know what I mean by that, but you can figure it out given the context. Ponies only think it's small because you're always with Celestia.
This time, it was Celestia's turn to laugh, seeing Luna's face and making herself laugh even harder.
Anyway, mild rant out of the way, I realized we need to get you two out more. I want to make so many jokes, but they go over your heads because Celestia works too much, and Luna needs to know how to interact with ponies. Interacting with ponies through your jobs don't count. I could tell from last month and how much you two wanted to see a fight that you two are overworked. I already know a way for you two to get away for a day or two. Just meet me in Ponyville, I know you two can teleport.
Nightmare Moon is doing fine. Hasn't been a problem. Wish I could get more out of her than annoyed grunts. She did hint at wanting to talk a bit about a week ago. I'm going to keep trying. I'll tell you two how it goes.
Oh yeah, another reason I wrote this letter. I sent something to Shining a couple weeks ago, as well as to a record company. You two should go check on him.
I can already imagine your faces.
Nebula
Celestia and Luna looked at the letter, then to each other. They were suspicious of that last line. "Sister, do you... have a bad feeling?"
Luna nodded. As if on queue, a guard burst into the room. "Princesses!"
Celestia nearly jumped out of her seat at the entrance. "What is it, Shining Armor?"
He started huffing, as if he ran for a long time. "It's... It's Nebula!... hah..." Shining said as he put down a speaker. "He... one of the guards under me... I found him listening to this... I don't... I don't even know how to explain it!"
"We'd hardly think that the simple listening of music would cause such an... outrage." Luna straightened her posture and tiara.
"Just... just listen!" Shining Armor pulled out a vinyl titled "Menace - Sun and Moon" and put it into the player.
An aggressive beat started playing as Skystrike began announcing himself. "AAAAAAAAAYOOOOOOOOOO! MENACE ON THE MIC! DJ PON3 ON THE BEAT!! WOOOOOOOOO!"
Celestia looked at the guard, hiding a laugh behind her hoof. "Is this- is this Nebula? What is..."
"Just listen, princess..." Shining coughed as Skystrike began rapping.
"HA! HA!
Do you wanna die? Cause Imma take your soul back! Baby I'm the reaper!
HA! HA!
Keep it to the side, I got my bitch actin priest, way she touchin on my wiener!
HI! HI!
I'm a really nice guy, Imma shake your hoof first, Like it's really nice to meet ya!
HA! HA!
They call me that guy, way I act like a menace, and your future looks bleaker!"
"Up first!" The beat stopped for a moment as he spoke with autotune.
"And without further delay~!
Luna!
It's time for your D-day!
Heh! Heh!
She in the dark, silhouette! Neck long as a clarinet, and no hoes try'na play!
The deep dream browsin, age in the thousands,
Old talkin pone, Royal Canterlot mouthin,
The real time yammer, oh my, foul cur!
I call her big moonpie, she built like a graham crackerrrrraaaaaaaaaaah!" He roared as it continued into the chorus.
"HA! HA!
Do you wanna die? Cause Imma take your soul back! Baby I'm the reaper!
HA! HA
Keep it to the side, I got my bitch actin priest, way she touchin on my wiener!
HI! HI!
I'm a really nice guy, Imma shake your hoof first, Like it's really nice to meet ya!
HA! HA!
They call me that guy, way I act like a menace, and your future looks bleaker!
Celestia like Edison, her forehead like a lightbulb!
I am not brazilian but ja ja when her eyes close!
Buckin up these lyrics, just like her wrinkles we hide those!
Booty way to big, so she probably need some lipo!
Yeah! Whoa! This a light show!
Yeah Whoa! I hit a nice pose!
Put em up, run them hooves, knock them down,
They ran fade like its a mugshot, but I put them in the ground like!
HA! HA!
Do you wanna die? Cause Imma take your soul back! Baby I'm the reaper!
HA! HA!
Keep it to the side, I got my bitch actin priest, way she touchin on my wiener!
HI! HI!
I'm a really nice guy, Imma shake your hoof first, Like it's really nice to meet ya!
HA! HA!
They call me that guy, way I act like a menace, and your future looks bleaker~!"
The throne room went silent as the rap ended. It was... indeed one of the music's of all time. Celestia turned to her sister. Luna looked back. "Guards, could you... leave us for a time? We must speak about this in private." Celestia said with a cold face before each guard quickly left the room. The two sisters looked at each other before bursting out laughing. Celestia was stomping her hoof on the ground while Luna nearly fell out of her throne, both using the royal Canterlot voice accidently. "He made a diss track???" Celestia said between laughs.
"We are not sure what a 'diss track' is, but that was amazing! One of the best things we've experienced since we've returned!" Luna cleared her throat and sat up. "Did you hear what he spoke? Forehead like a lightbulb? HA!"
"He got you too, 'Moon pie'! Ahaha! Oh my gosh, that was great!" Celestia giggled as the laughter began to die down. "Well, putting the humor aside, we should probably do something about this... Honestly, I'm surprised it took this long for a pony to do this."
"Indeed. It only takes one pony to influence a nation. While Skystrike did it in good fun, we would not like the common pony speaking about us that way." Luna nodded. "Should we make a public statement?"
Celestia shook her head. "No, at least not yet. We shouldn't bring more attention to it."
"Sister, one of our guards already listens to it. And we must admit, as the ponies of these times say, it goes hard. We do not doubt that it has spread throughout the ponies."
"Do not worry, we shall speak to him when we deliver his airship today, along with the dragon bodies from the north."
Meanwhile, Skystrike was pulling a small wagon of wooden stakes, plastic buckets, shower lining, packaging tape, plastic bolts and screws, small funnels, and some bungie cords. Enough for 30 colts and fillies. There were only 18 kids right now, but you know, kids break things. He spent a week practicing the presentation, making it engaging while also having the kids learn things. Projectile motion should be fairly easy.
Skystrike knocked on the schoolhouse door, straightening the suit and tie he was wearing. Cheerilee answered the door. "Perfect timing! We've just finished lunch." She welcomed him in. "Kids, lets give a warm welcome to our speaker for this month, Mr. Nebula! He'll be giving us a talk on introductory physics!"
The kids clapped for him as he put down the wagon and flipped the chalkboard to the black side. "Thanks for having me, kids. Now, I'm not gonna talk to you all for an hour on end, we're gonna make things a bit fun. So, let's start with the basics. You all will be able to pick up on this quick. Who knows about Newton's laws of motion?" The kids looked at each other in confusion. "Don't worry, it's ok to not know. That's the process of learning! So there are three laws of motion, and they affect everything in life, and I mean everything."
Skystrike began writing on the board. "Newton's first law: The law of inertia, states that a body at rest stays at rest, and a body in motion stays in motion, unless acted upon by an outside force." He finished and then took out a rubber ball. "Allow me to show you a demonstration. This ball has been enchanted with levitation magic." Skystrike carefully let go of the ball, the item floating in air. "Can anypony tell me why this body isn't moving?"
A colt named Pipsqueak raised his hoof. Skystrike pointed to him. "Because there's... no forces acting upon it?"
Skystrike nodded, "Nice job!" and threw a piece of candy. "Now, who can tell me what a force is? Give me an example." Many, many more kids raised their hooves. "Archer!"
"A force is something that can move something! Like gravity!"
Skystrike threw him a piece of candy. "Very good! Force is a magnitude with a direction. Gravity is a perfect example, and something that we all experience! For example..." He bought out a different ball and dropped it, the ball bouncing a few times before stopping. "As you see, the only force acting on this ball in gravity, which is why it slows to a stop. Now, I push this levitating ball to the side, what will happen?" He pointed to filly. "Sweetie Belle?"
"It will keep moving until something stops it!"
Candy was thrown. "Right!" He pushed the ball, it slowly moving to the back of the classroom, it bouncing back for Skystrike to catch it in his hoof. "Vertical and Horizontal forces are different from each other, and act independently. That sums up the first law of motion. Now, Newton's second law of motion is pretty simple, F=ma, where F is the force in newtons, m is the mass of an object in kilograms, and a is the acceleration in meters per seconds squared." He wrote the equation and terms on the board. "Write this down, you'll need it later. So, anypony know what mass is?" He pointed to a hoof. "Featherweight?"
"Miss Cheerilee said mass is how much matter something has!"
"Nice job." Skystrike threw another piece of candy. "A perfect example! Now, who knows what acceleration is? Scootaloo!"
"How fast something changes speed?"
Yeet. "Very good. So from that, we can infer that if something moves at a constant speed then there is no force generated by the object. Now..." He began writing on the board again. "That brings us to Newton's third law: Action and Reaction. For every force, there is an equal and opposite force. Equal in the magnitude of the force, opposite in the direction. So, back to the levitating ball. If I throw it at the wall again, and it bounces back..." He did so. "Why does it bounce back to me? Twist?"
"Because there is an equal reaction from the wall!"
"Great job!" Skystrike threw her a piece. "The wall exerts a force on the ball, sending it back with nearly the same amount of force. The wall doesn't move because it's mass is much larger than the ball. This sums up nearly everything we need to know to have fun today. Any questions so far?" He looked around the room, seeing a few fillies and colts raise their hooves. "Applebloom, what's up?"
"How did the ball bounce back? I don't get the physics behind it."
Skystrike nodded. "Alright, think of it like this." He made a drawing of a ball on the chalk board, the ball having an arrow in it pointing towards a drawn wall. "While the ball is moving towards, it has a constant velocity. While the ball is moving away from the wall, it has the same velocity, but in the opposite direction. That means when it hits the wall, the velocity is getting smaller, and at a certain point, the velocity is zero. But, the force from the wall comes in, and the velocity of the ball increases in the opposite direction, towards where the ball came from. Remember, acceleration is a change in velocity. Does that make sense?" Applebloom nodded. "Any more questions?" He looked around the room, and no more hooves were raised.
Then Skystrike began writing some equations on the board. "So, for today, we're just going to stick with projectile motion in two dimensions. We'll need a few equations. First, velocity, in meters per second, is the distance the projectile went in meters, divided by how long the projectile travels in seconds. Velocity is v, distance is s, and time is t. Next, it's starting to get a bit complicated, but you all are smart. s=vit+at2/2, vf=vi+at, vf2=vi2+2ax, and finally, x=t(vi+vf)/2." He finished writing on the board. "vf is the final velocity, and vi is initial velocity. So, I'll have you all do a quick problem, and you all can work together! When everypony is finished, then we'll make air vortex cannons!" He wrote his question on the board as he spoke. "If a ball is thrown on flat ground with a horizontal velocity of 20 meters per second and a vertical velocity of 20 meters per second, at what time will the ball be at it's highest, how high can the ball get, and how far does the ball travel before it lands? Think it through, I'll give you all about ten minutes. Ask questions if you have any."
Skystrike chugged a bottle of water as the kids got into their groups and began trying to work out the problem. Should be pretty easy, the answers being 20.39 meters, 81.57 meters, and 2.04 seconds respectively. He sat next to the chalkboard as he waited, looking around the school house, seeing the ponies go into their groups. Spike seemed to make pretty good friends with Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. Spike quickly got down the answers, no doubt from always being with Twilight. He was actually explaining how to do all the problems pretty well.
Meanwhile, he noticed another group consisting of Diamond Tiara and Silverspoon. He had to admit, Silverspoon had a good head on her shoulders, but she was a follower, while Diamond Tiara was a leader. The grey filly was doing all of the work while trying to explain to Tiara why she was right... She'll have to learn to go her own path sooner or later.
Soon the ten minutes passed, and after answering some questions he clapped his hooves to get everypony's attention. "Alright, so how does everypony think you did? I'll work these out quickly on the board. First, how high can the ball get? We'll need to know how long the ball was in motion for. If its initial velocity was 20 meters per second vertically, and when it lands, the final velocity is zero, and the only force acting on it is gravity, we'd use the equation vf=vi+at. We can rearrange the equation to solve for time, t=(vf-vi)/a. Plugging in everything, the ball has a total flight time of 4.08 seconds." He wrote on the board. "Since the ball was thrown from flat ground and landed on flat ground, that means at half the time of 4.08 seconds, the ball is at the highest point. This is because the only force acting on the ball is gravity. This also means that at this point, the vertical velocity is zero. With the time of 2.04 seconds, where the ball is at the highest, we can use the equation s=vit+at2/2 and solve for the distance s. Plugging in everything..." He wrote out the math on the board. "We get a height of 20.39 meters. Everything make sense so far?" The fillies and colts nodded. "Great! Now, a show of hooves on who can explain how far the ball travels?" Only one raised a claw. "Spike?"
"Using the equation you just used at the end. There's no other force acting on the ball, so acceleration is zero. Now the equation is just s=vit. We were given initial velocity and we just found time. So the distance it travels before it lands is 81.57 meters."
He threw the dragon a piece of candy. "Very good! Now, I get this may have been a little boring, so here comes the fun part." Skystrike went to his wagon to retrieve a large trashcan with a hole cut in the bottom. "This... is an air vortex cannon. It's best if I show you, then explain how it works after. I'm going to put a piece of dry ice inside this just so you can see the air flow." He did so and pulled back on the plastic covering the top of the vortex cannon. When he released his grip, a ring of air flew out in front of the chalk board, some chalk dust being flung away when it hit. The kids oo'd and ah'd in amazement. "Pretty cool, right? So why did that just happen, the vortex? It's because of something called Bernoulli's principle. It basically means when fluid is moving fast, it is forced to have low pressure. When slow, the fluid has high pressure. When the air is pushed out of these air vortex cannons, it creates fast moving air. Low pressure air. But because the moving air is around slow, high pressure air, if forces the vortex to stay together and stay going straight." Skystrike then aimed his air vortex cannon at Cheerilee, making her squint as the vortex blasted her and the kids laugh. "Now, who wants to make their own?" The kids cheered as Skystrike began passing around the items they would need.
The kids were all outside. It took about an hour of explaining how to build them, cutting the wood for the handles for the kids, and drilling everything that needed drilling, but they were done. Each filly and colt had their own DIY air vortex cannon. Skystrike used some colored smoke so the kids can better see the vortexes. But it was all done. Now, Skystrike was sitting with Cheerilee, the two having a rather late lunch. Skystrike broke the silence as they ate. "So, hope I did a good job?"
Cheerilee nodded. "Oh, you did great! Much better than most of the ponies who volunteered. Honestly, I wasn't expecting anything more than a talk and a few problems. Also, if you don't mind me saying, you clean up well." She pointed at his suit and tie.
"Thanks for the compliment. Figured I'd try to make others enjoy something as much as I do. But the way you said that got me curious... who all was before me?" Skystrike stopped mid bite.
"Well, there was Rarity, Bon bon, Redheart, Ivory Scroll, Junebug, Roseluck, and Twilight was the most recent one."
He chuckled. "You know, I don't think I've met Junebug. Anyway, I guess Twilight just talked at the kids for like an hour?"
"Two actually." Cheerilee chuckled with him. "Magic studies is important, but it wasn't very interactive. You really went all out for yours. I might have to ask you again a couple months down the line."
"Maybe. I'm planning on going on a long trip. But if I'm here and you need a pony, then I'm for it." Skystrike agrreed as he looked at the kids playing with each other. "Hey... has Diamond Tiara... always been a problem? I'd say Silverspoon too, but Tiara doesnt seem to treat her too well either. It's kinda like Silverspoon is just stuck in the ditch she dug with Tiara."
Cheerilee cringed. "Yeah... honestly they'd both be good kids if it wasnt for Diamond Tiara, and for her mother, Spoiled Rich."
"...Real quick, was was her maiden name?"
"Spoiled Rich? Milk."
Skystrike stared. "Her full name is Spoiled Milk? Damn, now I feel bad for her... Anyway, give me a heads up if something happens. If the Richs try to strongarm you with money or funding, make sure I'm the first to know."
"I appreciate the sentiment, but I'd rather you not hurt anypony."
"I never said I would. I have my own connections with Filthy Rich from years ago. He owes me a debt. But that's a story for another time. Maybe at the bar later this week?"
"Sure. By the way, Ivory wont be able to come, but Redheart is bringing some of her nurse friends. That all good with you?"
Skystrike nodded. "Fine by me. Let's just not get drunk this time." He said as he bit into his food. Skystrike looked at the kids out in the distance, blasting each other with their new toys. "Hey, can I ask you a weird question?"
"Sure, go for it."
"I didn't grow up interacting with many ponies, so I don't really know too much about our society. After word spread around town about what you, me, and Ivory did, I wasn't really sure, so I figured I'd ask somepony I did it with, how... open are ponies about intercourse? Because that spread too fast."
Cheerilee chuckled. "You say that like you aren't a pony yourself. Mares are pretty open about it, but only the ones who can get it. You were my first stallion, admittedly. Why do you ask?"
"Well, I could be wrong, but it feels like a lot of mares are trying to hit on me. I'm dense as hell apparently, so I don't know. I just ask you because you're one of two ponies I've actually laid here. And... sorry your first was under the influence." He sighed.
"Don't worry about it. And there are some I know who have an eye for you, but probably most are just going for you since you seem like an easy lay... There's only a dozen or so stallions. Stallions can be picky, so when something like that happens, everypony shoots their shot."
"That makes-... wait, so mares think I'm a whorse then?" Skystrike looked at her.
"That isn't the right word for it... you aren't getting paid. Well, slut doesn't exactly fit either... you're not really open for sex, but you aren't super picky with your partner, and up for something casual."
"Yeah, I guess there isn't a word for that." He chuckled a bit. "Honestly, I'm kinda asking because I'm still thinking about getting into a relationship. Ignoring what I want to work on myself for, I also need to get used to societal standards with it. Most of the years where I could've learned that were when I was alone."
"Oh... well... if that's the case you should... probably know about this." Skystrike looked at the mare with a tilted head. "Some griffons I've met weren't fond of the idea. Well, you... might not have to deal with this, given your... stamina, but it's a bit of an unspoken rule that if a mare in a relationship isn't satisfied, she finds other partners."
"...I'm going to try not to judge. Is that normal? Like, each partner allows it?"
"Well, sometimes? It depends. Few are exclusive. Most mares respect their partners to get help from the herd. Some go for other stallions, often with their coltfriend or husbands permission like Mrs. Cake, or you know... cheating."
Skystrike blinked. "...Ignoring that Mr. Cake is a cuck, Things are starting to make a lot more sense. Thanks for telling me without making it awkward. I appreciate it."
Cheerilee nodded. "No problem." Then she shuffled in place. "...Can I ask you something?"
"Go for it."
"If you do decide to start a herd, could you keep me in mind?"
Skystrike thought about a lot of things when he was asked that. "You know... gotta respect you for shooting your shot. I'll keep you in mind, you are pretty cute, but it's a really big if. I'm... going through a lot right now. I... don't want to make any long term commitments at the moment. That being said, if you want me as a coltfriend, you gotta make me want you, else it'll seem like I'm with you out of pity"
Cheerilee gave an awkward chuckle. "You say that like you're going to die." Skystrike looked at her. "...Wait are you kidding? Oh my gosh, Nebula, I'm so sorry!"
"...My automated response is 'don't worry about it', but that's an insane thing to say." He sighed. "Please try not to tell anypony, I've only told one so far. There's a lot I still need to sort out. Before you ask, the only thing you can really do is treat me like you normally do. I want my last years here to be good ones."
"Oh... a-alright. I'll try my best."
"That's all I ask." Skystrike stood up and straightened his suit and tie. "I promised their sisters that I'd take Spike, Sweetie Belle, and Applebloom home. I'll make sure Scootaloo gets home safe too, I got a few things to do in town."
"Alright, but if there's anything you want to talk about, I'm willing to listen." Cheerilee offered as Skystrike began to walk away.
"I might take you up on that offer. I'll see you friday, Cheerilee." Skystrike cleaned up his trash and threw it in the trashcan as he walked to the kids playing together. "Hey, I promised everypony I'd get you all home at a reasonable time. You all got everything ready?" Each of them blasted him with their air vortex cannons. Skystrike couldn't keep a straight face. "Glad you're all enjoying those things."
Spike jumped on Skystrike's back with his tail wrapped around his cannon. "Yeah we are! These are great!"
Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo all ran around him. Sweetie Belle pouted. "Aw, how come only Spike gets to ride on your back?"
"You all can hop on, I'm not stopping you." Skystrike lowered his body for the rest of Spike's friends to jump on. "So, Applebloom, I'll be dropping you off first, then we'll turn back around and drop everyone else off." Skystrike said as he began walking towards the orchard. "I hope you all learned something today."
"Yeah! It was really fun too! I can't wait to blast granny with this!" Applebloom aimed her cannon to nothing in particular and released.
"...Oh yeah, I do have to deal with your granny... hopefully she's inside." Skystrike said under his breath. Then he noticed something.
Scootaloo was humming a tune to herself. "Hey, Mr. Nebula, what was that song you sang back when you were at Canterlot a month ago? I read about it in the newspapers, and Pinkie Pie played a recording of it. Where's it from?"
"Bruh, she recorded that?" Skystrike sighed. "Well, to answer your question, back when I was in highschool, my friends wanted to do a musical for a talent show. I wanted a choreographed sword battle. So, we decided to do both. I was in charge of the lyrics, they were in charge of the script. I played the villain, and my friends the heroes. The version Pinkie recorded was a version with newer lyrics to better show the beings in my group."
"Cool! I read the whole article about your fight too! Well... tried to. Rarity didn't let me finish. You're really strong! How'd you make that thing to break their shield?"
"Well, Physics, actually. It's a lot to learn, and different paths of study you'd have to go down, but it's similar to what I taught you all. It's actually a really interesting field to study." Skystrike could see the Barn in the distance as he reached the peak of a hill.
"Hey, what's Ms. Tethys like? I see her around town sometimes, but I never get to say hi." Scootaloo asked. "I see her flying with Rainbow Dash sometimes! Is she a good flyer?"
"Tethys is pretty chill. Heh, pun not intended. I didn't know she spent that much time with Rainbow. I've been holed up in my own studies for the past few weeks. Tell you what, we might see her on our way through town. I'll let you see for yourself." Skystrike stopped right in front of the barn. "Oh, what timing, hey Applejack."
The mare in question was walking out of the barn balancing a barrel of apples on her back. "Howdy, Nebula, howdy kids! Thanks for droppin' off Applebloom for me. Big Mac ain't feelin' to well."
"Well no prob, and hope he feels better. If it's medicine, I can see if Zecora can whip up something?" Skystrike let Applebloom down, the filly running inside.
Applejack was about to answer, but a voice was heard from inside. "Applejack, is that that young whipper snapper yer' always talkin' about?"
"Applejack, I am not dealing with her today."
"Granny, leave Nebula alone!" Applejack turned to look at the barn's door.
"Oh don't be like that! A stallion like him just needs a mare to get 'em in line! Show him who's boss!"
Skystrike blinked. "Oh god, she is old. Applejack, we're leaving now." He turned on his heels and started walking at a faster than normal pace.
Applejack hat to trot to keep up with him. "Sorry 'bout her. I'll try talking to her about it again. Thanks again for visiting the farm, despite that. Ya have no idea how lonely it gets sometimes."
"Hey, don't mention it. I know how it feels." Skystrike shook his head. "So, what's got you out and about?"
"Well, Tethys really liked my apples, and she wanted some more. Just out to deliver 'em. I'm flattered, honestly. No pony- er, body has liked my apples this much in years!"
"The sweet ones?" Applejack nodded at Skystrike's question. "Makes sense. She has a massive sweet tooth. Apparently the only sweets they have in the dragon lands are gems."
Spike jumped in at that. "What are the dragon lands like? What are other dragons like? So far, Tethys is the only other one I've met."
Skystrike paused at that. "I'm... not sure how to best answer that. Most dragons don't even leave their lands or seas. The ones that have, like Tethys or Kyne Lok from those months ago on the mountain, are outliers. I haven't been to the lands myself. Just... don't expect other dragons to be like Tethys. She's grown a lot since I've met her."
"Oh... alright." Spike said a bit disappointed.
"Hey, don't sound too sad. I'm sure Tethys can tell you a lot about dragons. They have a rich history if you're willing to listen to her for a while. She's been around for over 300 years, after all."
"Three hundred?" Scootaloo's jaw dropped. "Dragons live that long?"
"Actually, Tethys is considered young for a dragon. The dragon me and Applejack saw that was spewing out smoke was in his eight thousands. I don't know how their life expectancy varies, but from what some texts imply, there's a few dragons who are older than even the princesses, and we don't know their ages."
"That's... weird to think about, how I'll live so long." Spike rubbed his chin in though. "One week already goes by so slow..."
"Well, something you, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo should know: time goes by faster and faster as you get older." Applejack laughed.
"Wonder how the princess's feel." Skystrike thought aloud.
"Hey, Nebula, mind slowin' down? It's a bit hard to keep up with yer stride." Applejack huffed.
Skystrike did so. "My bad, didn't realize I was walking so fast... At least we're in town. Scootaloo, we're here." Skystrike let her down.
Scootaloo jumped down before running inside with her new toy. "Thank you, Mr. Nebula!"
"Alright, Spike, Sweetie Belle, I'm gonna say this to you two specifically, Twilight and Rarity will *probably* get mad at the cannons, so... you can use them less around them and keep it for a while longer, or use it more and it'll be funnier." He got up and started walking again.
Spike and Sweetie Belle looked at each other, then smiled mischievously. Applejack couldn't help but laugh. "Nebula, you're a bad influence."
"Well... probably, yeah. By the way, Sweetie Belle, you know if Rarity is hanging out with Tethys? I haven't seen her all day."
"Uh, I think they went looking for gems? Rarity had her wagon this morning. But she should be back by now!"
Skystrike stopped in front of Carousel Boutique. He could hear voices inside. Skystrike let Sweetie Belle off. "Well, they're definitely here..." His voice trailed off as he saw something in the distance coming from Canterlot. It was a dot in the distance, but a quick zoom of his visor made out what it was. Skystrike knocked on the door. "Tethys! Meet me at home in... twenty minutes! It's coming!" Skystrike jumped with excitement, startling Spike. "Sorry, Spike... hey, Applejack, I'm gonna drop off Spike really quick. I'll see you later!" Skystrike began running.
Spike was holding on to his neck. "Nebula! Why are we going so fast!? What's happening!?"
"I made a bet and won! They're finally delivering it!" Skystrike stopped in front of Twilight's library. "I'll see you next time Spike!" Skystrike let the dragon off his back before jumping into the air and flying towards his house.
Naga, his pet Earth Basilisk, was a bit grumpy having to wake up so quickly just to make a landing area for his coming reward, but all it took was a promise of some of Pinkie Pie's cookies to get her to help out. Naga really liked her cookies. Skystrike, Stardust, Zecora, and Tethys who just landed from her flight over watched as the airship, his airship landed.
The air blew their hair back as the giant fan like wings folded inwards as it landed. He was glad he did all the paperwork over the last month so he could fully take in the glory of his ship. It was a sister model of the Lavender Spirit, though was much bigger in size. The rudders were a beautiful silver color, complementing the mainly raven black hull with patterns of wind painted on with sky blue and violet, the wind starting at the bow of the ship and reaching to the back in swirls. And of course, Skystrike couldn't ignore the massive balloon holding it up. Same colors as his ship, in the shape of a flying whale. On both the forehead of the whale and the front of the ship was the four pronged star they were known for.
It was even bigger than he expected. Nearly the size of his house. Skystrike could barely contain his excitement." Heheheheheheheheheh"
Tethys and Zecora's jaws dropped. Tethys decided to ask the obvious. "You got an AIRSHIP for winning that???"
"Heheheheheheheh"
Zecora rubbed her eyes to make sure she saw things right. "When you spoke of an airship, a notion so slick, I did not imagine it'd be like this, or so quick."
Stardust couldn't help but agree. "To be honest, him winning that fight is still setting in."
"I'm just that guy!" He laughed to himself. The four watched as a dozen ponies walked off the airship, then making way and bowing as Celestia and Luna walked off. The two stopped in front of Skystrike and looked at him with small smiles on their faces. Skystrike looked back. He already knew what this was about. "...HA! HA! Do you wanna die? Cause-"
The princesses couldn't help but snort. Celestia tried to speak, but covered her mouth with a hoof as she turned away to laugh some more. Luna spoke first this time. "We must admit, it was a catchy song. Also... we are not sure if it's a good or bad thing that your... 'diss track' was one of the first songs we've heard upon our return."
Celestia cleared her throat. "Excuse me. It was amusing, but we ask you not to do one like that again. We have reason to believe it's influencing others."
Skystrike waved a hoof. "Oh, it was a one time thing. The plan was just to get our names out there with something insane but catchy. And it worked! You know... I actually plan on making some more. If you two decide to come by anytime soon, we could collab... actually, do you two even know how to sing?"
"Nebula, I used to sing Cadence lullabies. And while it would be amusing, it'd depend on what we'd sing... preferably not my 'forehead like a lightbulb' or how 'my booty need lipo'." Skystrike tried to keep a straight face while Stardust and Tethys looked at him, wondering what he sang.
"We believe we can sing quite well. But we've always wanted to try this... rap music you do." Luna hummed.
"Zecora helped with the rhymes. She's great."
"Well, before we get too off topic, going back to the contents of your letter this morning, you spoke about us needing a break. While I admit, I haven't had one in decades, but it's very hard to find the time. What do you mean by getting us away for a day or two?" Celestia waved a hoof to dismiss the ponies behind her.
Skystrike took the hint and motioned for his friends to go inside the house. Once out of earshot, he spoke. "So, Celestia you two know how you feel like you baby your ponies too much?"
Celestia nodded. "...Yeah?"
"Luna, you know how you feel like the guard today is lacking discipline and is weaker than 1000 years ago?"
Luna nodded as well. "While it is a time of peace, we do feel that our divisions have gotten a bit... lax."
Skystrike sat down and started making various hoof motions. "So, and hear me out until the end for this, we stage a foalnapping?" Their eyebrows raised slowly. "I infiltrate the castle to show how easy I can get past the guard, and I 'foalnap' you two, and you two can hang out for... however long the guard takes to either find you, or the public gets restless. You'd still raise the sun and moon, but whatever logistics division will have to put off day and night court, so the ponies can think for themselves for a bit, instead of running to their mommies."
Celestia opened her mouth to protest, then put a hoof on her chin in thought. "Well, that is bare bones but... it could work."
"It'll only work if I can sneak past and into... well, what's the most guarded place in the castle?"
"Our bed chambers... surely you aren't suggesting you'd sneak into our chambers~?" Luna teased.
"I've done it before. And why you gotta say it like that?" Skystrike put his hooves on his hips in fake sass.
"He has done it before as a colt... I upped the security soon after too. It did show the gaps." Celestia admitted and kept thinking. "Very well, if you can sneak within our chambers within the next month, we will go along with your idea. Preferably not in the next week, as I have to talk to some trusted staff... as well as plan for anypony foolish enough to try and fill that vacuum of power."
Skystrike nodded. "Alright. And you know if anypony becomes too much of a problem, you can call on me. It's what I do." Celestia raised a brow again. "No, I wont kill, just threaten... Oh, speaking of ponies being a problem, are you allowed to tell me about what happened to Upper Crust, Caesar, and all the ponies up in that village?"
Luna smiled at that. "Well, Opal went back home the week after your spar with Cadence and Shining. Everypony is safe for now. While we weren't sure what to do with that dragon, Opal suggested that he goes back to the village with her for him to attempt to atone for his actions, and those of his brethren. They told us to give you their thanks once more. They actually sent a letter to us recently, wishing to name their village after you. We allowed it of course, dubbing it the Atlas Nebula mining town."
Skystrike smiled at that. "Huh... Well, I'm flattered."
Luna continued. "They've also sent back the materials from the dragon corpses, as well as some gemstones as a gift, all on your airship. We must admit, when we saw the pelts of the dragons, we were impressed by the amount you took down, as well as the size. We hope you do not mind that a sizeable amount was taken to pay the processors and transportation of the materials."
"As for Upper Crust, while I can't tell you too much, as the investigation is still ongoing, he has been stripped from his management of Atlas town. Count Caesar is also being looked into for his guards negligence." Celestia paused for a moment in thought. "...Because of this new opening in government, there is a chance for you to further protect those ponies if you wish?"
Skystrike blinked. "You... you're saying I should become a noble?"
Luna nodded. "To be quite honest, you already are in title. Just like Cadence and... Blueblood, you are part of royalty. As a prince, you can lay claim to a territory."
Celestia cleared her throat. "And to be honest, it would make our jobs easier if you did so. Until you reveal your identity, you'd have the title of a viscount. If you do decide to reveal yourself, your official title and power will be prince. Needless to say, you won't have as much political power as Cadence. You will have to serve in the guard for a time, however. Are you interested?"
Skystrike thought about it for a moment. "I'm... not against it. The politics part sounds like it'll be a pain though, especially since my gut is telling me Upper Crust and Caesar are working together, and I'm right next to the former..."
Celestia put up a hoof. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions, but I assure you it's much easier than you think. The hardest parts for you would probably be negotiations with other nobles, but you can get around that easily. And while Vanhoover might be hard to do trade with, once you get a train station running, it's smooth sailing. You'd also be the closest railway wise to Griffonstone. After a little while, you can simply put somepony in charge to do all the paperwork for you. You'd just need to sign deeds and the like."
"Doesn't sound... too bad, but I'll need some time to think about it. If it wasn't obvious with the airship, I planned on doing some traveling. Got some loose ends I need to tie up. I'd leave in about... two months, then be gone for a month, back a few weeks before the gala." Skystrike explained.
"Well, if that's the case, we believe it's best to wait for the gala, then for your coronation." Celestia looked at the sun, seeing it be about half past three. "We won't take too much more of your time, as some ponies are inside waiting to see you. We bid you farewell, Skystrike." Celestia smiled at him before changing to her Sunny Skies persona and walking towards Ponyville. Luna followed behind her, doing the same and turning into Starry Night.
Skystrike wondered who'd he'd see. He climbed up the ladder to his ship and walked from the main deck and opened the double doors. On the other side was two hallways to his left and right that lead to the lower decks of the ship. Directly in front of him was the captain's quarters, the door to it being half open. Well, if anypony was inside, they'd be there.
The pegasus pushed open the door to see some familiar, yet unexpected faces. "Huh, didn't expect to see you three here."
His friend Casta, and his sisters Dawnstone and Astral Night, turned to hug him. "Skystrike! How've you been?" Astral asked.
Dawnstone nuzzled his neck, but made sure to be careful to not ruin her makeup. "Hey, big brother! It's been a while!"
Casta used her magic to straighten her glasses. "Good to see you. How's the past month been treating you?"
Skystrike hugged them all back. "Good to see you all! I've been fine, just been busy. You wouldn't believe the month I had. But what brings you girls here?"
They all backed up from the hug as Casta spoke first. "Well, when the princesses notified me of you getting an airship, I thought I'd come visit. Astral, who began working as my assistant a few weeks ago wanted to come, and Dawnstone was free. But what I actually wanted to test was a long range teleportation magic circle. I've set up a test one within my tower, and it worked flawlessly, thanks to Astral's help! Now, we set up a bigger one in my tower, and I figured I could set one up here!"
"Oh, alright! Sounds good! Can you set it up within the airship? I plan on doing some traveling in a few months, and it'd be convenient."
Casta thought for a moment at the thought. "Well, it's... maybe? It would already take quite a bit of magic to teleport us from Canterlot to Ponyville... Teleporting while moving is also difficult, since normally a unicorn would teleport to a set location... I suppose if we had a magic anchor within this ship it would work in theory but... that would require magic equivalent to three unicorns specializing in magic."
Skystrike's ears perked up. "Actually, you know how I have no magic? And your theory of mana?"
"Yeah?"
"Turns out that I technically do have magic, but my 'mana' doesnt get turned into magic naturally like you all. If you can figure out a way to take out my mana and use it, it should be more that enough to power whatever." Skystrike explained.
Casta's eyes glistened. "Interesting! I've already been working on a mana extractor! We'll send you a letter once it's done! Could you go into more detail?"
"A bit later. I want to show you three around town. I think you'll like the place. You three plan on spending the night?" Skystrike rolled his wing joints.
Dawnstone nodded. "The plan was to find a hotel for a day or two. I took the next few days off. If you have room and you're offering, I'll stay." Astral and Casta nodded in agreement.
"Alright. I'll prepare the guest rooms later tonight." Skystrike stretched a bit. "But just try and remember to call me Nebula in public. Few ponies know who I am here."
Casta, Astral, and Dawnstone followed Skystrike around town as they talked. Their first stop was a late lunch... well another late lunch for Skystrike. Honestly at this point it was an early dinner, it being around three in the afternoon. They stopped by his house first before packing up the food and deciding to have a picnic in town.
Dawnstone began unwrapping her sandwich with her magic. "You know, I wasn't expecting to see Tethys again... You know, I never asked, what did you get all dressed up for? Had a date?"
Skystrike shook his head. "I did some volunteer work for the Schoolhouse. I was teaching introductory physics. That being said, in hindsight, I really didn't need to get dressed up."
"Damn... big brother doesn't get any mares..." She pouted, then laughed at the look Skystrike gave her. "Most stallions your age at least have some experience."
Skystrike side eyed her. "Dawnstone, I've literally haven't had the time."
Astral hummed. "That makes sense, but you should at least start looking. You're 25 and haven't had a marefriend yet. Most colts have had like three at least."
"Why the hell does every conversation I have with a mare end up being about me getting a marefriend?" Skystrike put down his food. "But if you two *must* know, I want to work on myself before I get into a relationship."
"Well, you've already got a few friends. What about them? And you've already grown a lot. Are you being realistic about the expectations you have for yourself?" Dawnstone said as she and Astral turned to face him.
"There's no way any of my friends are interested in me." He shook his head at the thought. "We're friends for a reason."
Dawnstone sighed and put her face in her hooves. "Dear Celestia, you're dense... Actually, let me ask this first: How many girls here do you actually know personally? Like, you've spoken to them personally, and not out of convenience?"
Skystrike thought about it, then began listing ponies. "Well... Twilight, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie, Rarity, Zecora, Tethys, Mayor Mare, Cheerilee, Vynil, Casta..." He felt like he was forgetting one. "Oh, and Derpy."
"...And you don't think any of them are interested?" Dawnstone pushed her hair back with a hoof.
"Well... I found out today that one of them is, but I told her I need to work on myself first... I'm... not the pony I come off as. I'll tell you about it another time. I'd rather move on from this."
Dawnstone huffed. "Fine, I'll leave you alone for now."
Skystrike was about to bite into his food again when a thunder cloud was kicked right above him, causing him and the mares around him to jump. The four looked up at the cloud, seeing a rainbow pegasus stick her head out laughing. "You should've seen the look on your faces! Bwaaahahahaha!"
Skystrike sighed and bit into his food. "Everypony, this is Rainbow Dash."
The mare in question landed in front of Skystrike. "Coolest and fastest pegasus in Ponyville!" Rainbow smirked as she struck a pose. "I see studinator finally got himself a herd!"
Skystrike groaned at the nickname. Astral and Dawnstone, who were cuddling at each of Skystrike's sides, looked at each other and began laughing. Skystrike scratched his head. "Rainbow, let me introduce you to my sisters Astral Night and Dawnstone. My friend sitting across from me is Casta Spell."
Rainbow's wings froze in place, slightly embarrassed. "Oh, uh... my bad?" Astral and Dawnstone laughed harder. "In my defense, I just heard around town that you came in with three hot babes."
"I hate this place sometimes. I just want to eat my fuckin food..."
"What do you mean by 'studinator'?" Casta tilted up her hat to look at Rainbow. "Nopony has explained it to me."
Skystrike stared at Rainbow Dash. "Rainbow... I don't want to talk about that.
Rainbow smirked. "Nebula here bagged a threesome a month ago." Skystrike sighed in frustration.
Dawnstone chuckled. "And here I thought you had no game."
Skystrike looked at them, then stood up. "I'm... going for a walk. Don't follow me." He quickly stuffed the rest of his sandwich in his mouth before turning and walking off.
Their ears went back. Rainbow tried to call out to him. "Hey, w-wait!" She flew up behind him.
Skystrike turned and stomped his hoof and stared daggers at her, causing Rainbow to freeze and land on the ground. He growled slightly and began walking again. He'd like to keep his private life private, but of course, skittles thinks the whole thing is a big joke. Guess she wanted an audience too... He shook his head to try and get the thought out of his head. Skystrike walked aimlessly for a few minutes before he saw a familiar face. "Hey Pinkie, how's things?"
The pink mare with an umbrella hat on looked at him, then her tail twitched. "Oh no! Twitchy tail!"
"...What?"
"My tail is twitching! You know what that means..."
Skystrike tilted his head. "That... your tail is itchy? What else does it-" Skystrike didn't get to finish his sentence as his hoof went into a hole in the ground, causing him to trip and fall. "...Haaaaah..." He was tired of today.
Pinkie gave a sigh of relief. "At least it wasn't a bad fall." Pinkie helped Skystrike up. "I guess you haven't had to deal with things yet, so I'll explain it really quick. I have a Pinkie sense!"
Skystrike brushed some dirt off himself. "I see... so what does that entail? Your 'Pinkie sense'?"
"Well, if my tail twitches, that means something is going to fall! There's a lot... I'll tell you about it as it happens!" She smiled. Then her tail twitched again. "Neby! Be careful!" Pinkie dove under somepony's porch. Skystrike was about to say something, but narrowly dodged a falling flowerpot by jumping backwards.
"Sorry!" The two looked up to see where the voice came from. Roseluck gave a nervous smile. "Are you ok?"
"Uh, yeah, just be a bit more careful." Skystrike nodded, then turned back to Pinkie Pie. "You know, I'd normally say correlation does not equal causation, but I can't predict you... let's say I believe this sense of yours. What else can it predict?"
Pinkie rubbed her chin in thought and tapped her hoof. "Well... If my back hair stands up, that means watch out for pointy things. Or if my nose itches, it means watch out for bees!"
"All of these are... oddly specific. Is that normal?" Skystrike hid under the porch with Pinkie, as he noticed her tail was twitching again.
"Yeah, or at least I think so. I don't know anypony else who has these senses." Pinkie checked her surroundings as she dashed under a wagon. Skystrike decided to follow, looking slightly up to check for anything that could fall. The two traveled for a while, Pinkie hiding under and behind various different things. How she flattened herself to hide under a rock like flat Stanley, he had no idea. "Oh, by the way, word around town is you were seen with some mares?"
"Sisters and Casta. You met Casta." He said flatly.
"Yeesh... touchy subject?"
"I don't like when ponies keep 'teasing' me about relationships. Or my sex life. If I'm not fucking laughing about it, then I don't want to keep being teased about it. I'm lax about most things, but I have boundaries. Apparently, I just haven't shown where those boundaries are well enough." He sighed. "But it's my own fault... I'm not that good at sharing how I feel, and I end up pushing others away. I thought I was getting better but... I feel like I'm relapsing. And I don't want to go back..."
"Well... if it makes you feel better, you've gotten a lot better since you first moved here. I... still regret how I-... how this whole town avoided you for a while. Thank you for being my friend despite that." She got out from under a wagon and hugged him. "I know that my antics annoy you sometimes, but you still put up with me. I really appreciate it. You're... a much better pony than you think of yourself."
Skystrike return the hug. "It... it does help. Thank you, Pinkie. And also, it's not that you annoy me. It's actually pretty amusing most times. Sometimes, it's just a bit... much. Like that time you gave me a giant cupcake because the order I put in was written in capital l letters, and I will admit, in hindsight, It was pretty funny.
She let go of the hug and snorted before laughing. "What was funnier was that you committed to the bit and ate the whole thing there."
Pinkie's tail twitched as she went to grab it and hold it in her hooves. "Hmmm... Twitchy twitcha twitcha twitch..."
Twilight and Spike walked up to the two. The former spoke first. "Pinkie, Nebula, what in the wide, wide world of equestria are you two up to?"
"Oh, it's my tail, it's my tail! It's-a twitcha twitchin!" Pinkie shoved her tail in the unicorns face. "And you know what that means!"
"Actually, I don't have the slightest idea."
"It means my Pinkie sense is telling me that stuff is gonna start falling! You should better duck for cover!"
Twilight and Spike looked at each other. Twilight was amused, but Spike was a bit worried. "Oh Pinkie, it's not gonna rain! There's barely even a cloud in the-" Twilight was interrupted by a frog coming from the sky and slapping her in the face. Then it croaked. Skystrike could barely contain his laugh.
The three four looked up to where the frog fell from to see Fluttershy flying in the air with a wagon and saddlebags full of frogs. "Oh, I'm so so sorry! You ok, Twilight Sparkle? I just couldn't stand to see the pond getting so overpopulated, what with the frogs all hopping into each other and all, so I decided to fly as many as I can over to Froggy Bottom Bog."
Twilight got more and more annoyed as the frog crawled on her face. "Of course you did."
Skystrike processed what the pegasus mare said as he grabbed the frog on Twilight's cheek. "Hold on, you're telling me your going to that bog alone?" He flew up and put the frog in the wagon. "I'm coming with you. You wouldn't believe the shit that goes on there. Pinkie, Twilight, Spike, we'll catch up later."
Fluttershy smiled. "I'm sure I'd be fine, but I do appreciate the help!" Fluttershy said as the two began flying towards the bog. "I haven't seen you in a few days. How've you been?"
"Things have been... going." Skystrike admitted. "I was pretty busy with some stuff. Making armor, weapons, budgeting, new inventions... It's real tedious, but a bit fun. Admittedly, I was in my workshop for so long that I didn't realize how many days passed."
Fluttershy turned her head to look at him. "How long were you working for?"
"Uh... four days. In my defense, I got my work done."
Fluttershy gave a hesitant chuckle. "Try not to do it again... I worry for you sometimes."
Skystrike flew up to her side to keep with her pace. "Really? While I appreciate it, you really don't have to. I'm fine."
"Skystrike, I have a brother. Although he's... nothing like you, I know from him that when you say 'you're fine', that you actually aren't. What you actually mean is that 'you'll be fine', and none of us like seeing you hurt yourself."
"Damn... just pick me apart, why don't you? You're right though." He sighed.
"Do you... want to talk about it?" Fluttershy offered.
"...You know what... I do, but it's a lot to throw at a pony." He flipped on his back and began flying backwards as he stared into the sky. "The relationship I have with you and everypony else, I... don't want to ruin it... To be honest, I feel like I unconsciously push everyone I know away, because I feel like if I get to close, I'll end up hurting them... My friends, my family, they already got hurt because of what I did, and what I didn't do."
Fluttershy nodded. "I understand what you mean... about getting too close to others at least. It took me a while to open up to ponies besides Rainbow Dash... I still feel like my friends are just around me for convenience, but I know you all care. I just need to remind myself of that."
Skystrike sighed. "I've been doing that too, and it does help. I just... I cant really keep telling myself that when I feel like I'm lying to you all. I want something more than the friendship we're stuck with, because I'm too scared to break out of this... faux normality. But if I reveal to you what I really am, then our friendship could be bought into question."
The two landed in the middle of Froggy Bottom Bog. Skystrike rolled up his sleeves as he helped Fluttershy unload the frogs. The two pegasi did so in silence for a little before Fluttershy thought of the best way to answer. "Skystrike, I doubt there's anything that can ruin our friendship... You can tell me. I wont tell anypony."
Skystrike took in a deep breath, then released it as he sat down. "You may be surprised... this is going to sound stupid, but I can't exactly tell you my secret unless you have some idea of what I am. Some type of mental block I have."
"Is... this related to what you said about being a child soldier back at your party? You were serious about that?"
"I mean, where else would I get my arm?" He tapped his metal arm as he took off his helmet. "Honestly, all I can do is give you hints."
Fluttershy thought for a moment. "...You said 'what I really am'... so are you... not a pony?" Skystrike nodded. "Well that... is a lot to take in... wait, so you haven't been a pony since we met?" Skystrike shook his head. "So... that's... I'm confused... are you a shapeshifter? An illusionist?"
Skystrike nodded. "Something like that... do you know what a changeling is?" This time, Fluttershy shook her head. "Basically, they're like bug ponies that are naturally gifted in illusion. They're able to completely change their look into almost anything. Like ponies for example."
"So then... you're a Changeling? I don't see why you were so hesitant to tell me about that, especially since you introduced us to Tethys." Fluttershy tilted her head.
"Well, I do appreciate that, but you're a bit off the mark... I was raised by Changelings. I learned their magic, but to an... arguably better but more dangerous degree. They can make their illusions have a physical form. I change my biology through magic, if that makes sense..."
"A bit, yes... I'm just... trying to think it through... So you can use magic?"
"Not in the traditional sense... You for example, make magic subconsciously. I have to make it consciously."
"Like a unicorn?"
"I mean... kinda? Lets just say for simplicity, yes."
Fluttershy sat down in front of him. "I'm... I have no idea what you could be... some kind of alien?"
"Yes actually. Excuse me for a minute..." Skystrike took off his suit and tie, then used his magic to turn back into his original body. "This is what I am... I'm human." He shook his long grey hair out of his light blue eyes. "I wish I could've told you earlier but... I'm kinda on the run... Honestly, me admitting this to you is putting you in danger if the princesses find out."
Fluttershy, although a little scared of the sudden change in appearace, she hot a bit closer. "I've... never seen, or even heard of a creature like you. Are you... humans normally so big and muscular?"
"No, most humans are about six inches shorter than me. As for my muscles, they're all natural. I'm not able to transform into something smaller than me, and it takes a lot of mana to generate mass." He explained.
Fluttershy couldn't help but chuckle. "That explains why you were so hard to drag to your house a month ago..." Skystrike smiled at that. "But I do have... a lot of questions..."
Skystrike nodded as he crossed his legs. "Ask away."
"How many have you told besides me? And... why tell me now of all times?"
"That... I've revealed my secret to Tethys, Zecora, and Rainbow Dash in that order. I plan on telling each of our friends, but it's... hard finding the time. Answering the second part, it's because I'm running out of time... Back when I had that spar with Tethys, and Twilight had some theory or whatever, after I left, I found out that I... don't have much longer to live. I fear that if I don't share this soon, I wont have the chance to." He clenched a fist. "Rainbow was the only one I told the specifics to so far... At best, I have 15 years... at worst, five."
Fluttershy's eyes went wide. It took a while for her to process what her friend said before she started crying. At first, it was a few tears falling one after another, then it turned into a river of tears. Skystrike walked up to her and crouched down to hug her. She couldn't help but return the hug, burying her face in his chest, muffling her wails. The sat like this for minutes on end before Fluttershy forced out some words through sobs. "I'm... I'm so... sorry..."
Skystrike brushed her mane with a hand. "There's... nothing I can really say to make you feel better. I'm still coming to terms with it myself but know this. I want to spend my last years in this world to with you, and everyone else. I want to keep the relationships we have. I'm tired of running away."
"Sky we... we just got you back!" She cried, pushing herself out of his chest to look at him. "And now... we have to lose you again... it's... it's not fair!"
"I know, Fluttershy... I want to live, just as much as you want me to. But the deck of life just gave me a bad hand. I got to play it the best of my ability." Skystrike sighed. "I want to stay friends with you, but if this is too much for you, I completely understand, but-"
"I want to be your friend! I want to have good times together!" Fluttershy yelled through the tears.
"Thank you, Fluttershy... you got no idea how much that means to me." Skystrike pulled her into a hug again.
The two held each other for a while longer before Fluttershy wiped her tears away. "I know this is a bit late to be asking but... you were human this whole time? Was... was everything we went through just an act to you?"
"You know, Rainbow asked the same question. I'll give you the same answer... The flesh may be an illusion, but the experiences are real. I've never lied about who I am."
"Then... why hide about who you were in the first place?"
"...When I first came to this world, it was... not good. Ever heard about that meteor that hit Canterlot?"
Fluttershy looked up at him. "That was you? Then... why are you so close to the princesses!?"
Skystrike chuckled. "It's the last place they'd look."
"Then... what happens if they catch you?"
"Well... best case scenario, they see that I've been Skystrike this while time, and I can go about a mostly normal life. Worst case... lets not fret over hypotheticals..." Skystrike dread the thought. The two stayed like that for a while more before Skystrike heard something. Hoof steps, and flapping wings. Two distinct wing flaps, and about... six ponies running. They were getting closer. "Fluttershy, ponies are coming, so I gotta change back. Please don't tell anyone about this."
Fluttershy nodded and backed up, letting Skystrike turn back into a pony and put back on his clothes and helmet. The two shied away from each other awkwardly as the beings in question came out of the forest and into view. Twilight, Casta, Pinkie, Applejack, Spike, Tethys, Rainbow Dash, Astral, and Dawnstone all ran to them. Dawnstone ran up and hugged her brother. "Thank goodness you're ok!"
Skytrike put a hoof around her. "Uh yeah? Why wouldn't I be?"
"I'm so glad everypony is alright!" Pinkie smiled.
Spike jumped to hug Fluttershy as Twilight cleared her throat. "I don't mean to say I told you so buy... AHA!" They all jumped. "I told you there was nothing to worry about, Pinkie, and I was right!" Twilight began gloating as a low rumble was heard. A thick fog surrounded them all as Twilight began coughing. Everyone else backed away from Twilight as she continued through the coughs. "Pinkie Pie said whatever she was shuddering about was a doozie, and the only doozie here is about how right I am!"
Applejack gulped. "Uh, Twilight..."
"Pinkie's made a lot of predictions today but..." She coughed once more. "What is that smell?" Twilight looked around. Skystrike, Tethys, and Casta all got ready to fight, while everyone else was a hair away from running. "But what we've shown here is that there-"
Skystrike interrupted her. "Twilight, shut the fuck up and get out of the way!" Skystrike jumped towards her to grab her, throwing her back to the group. "Astral! Snap out of it, catch Twilight!" Skystrike ordered. Astral did so almost instantly and put Twilight down. "Tethys, Casta, with me! Astral, Get everyone else our of the danger zone!" He said before the four heads of the Hyrda each let out a deafening roar.
Tethys flew into the air while Casta prepped her magic and Skystrike made sure everyone was a safe distance away. Everyone was there. "Tethys, fly high! Take aggro on two of the heads. I'll take another two! Casta, use some fire spells! The moment we get a chance to run, we're taking it!"
"Right!" Casta and Tethys said as they got ready. Skystrike flew into the air and dove at one of the heads, spinning and bucking at the jaw of the beast. The head recoiled in pain while another opened their wide jaws to clamp down on him. He narrowly dodged it. Tethys shot a beam of ice at the two other heads, them growling and pulling the rest of it's body out of the bog, to face them. Casta launched a large fireball at the chest of the monster, making it recoil. Of course, because of that, the four heads focused on the unicorn mage, each head diving at her.
Casta realized, and in a split second, teleported out of the way and into the air. "Skystrike!" Casta called out. He already knew what to do, grabbing her hoof and throwing her onto flat ground, Casta slowing her fall with a spell while simultaneously charging another flame blast. Skystrike flew full force into the spot Casta fired, making the Hydra move back a few feet and lurch backwards. "Tethys!"
"On it!" The dragoness took the small window of free time she had to uproot a tree with her claws. She made a thick block of ice around it with her breath before swinging it at the torso of the Hydra. Each of the heads roared in pain as the frozen tree broke from the force, making the entire creature fall backwards. Unfortunately, it fell towards the bystanders. They were barely able to run out of the way.
Skystrike and Tethys landed next to the group, while Casta teleported over, catching her breath a bit. "Dang... it's been a while since... I've had to do that... Adrenaline is still going..."
Skystrike trotted over to one of the heads. It was still breathing, but unconscious. It almost felt too easy. Rainbow pumped a hoof. "That was so awesome!"
"Why are you all here? Do you know-... well you know now how dangerous this place is... Why did you all come here?" Skystrike huffed a bit.
Twilight shook off her fear response and began explaining. "Well, after you went to help Fluttershy, I began following Pinkie Pie around to study her Pinkie Sense. Then I met Casta, Astral, and Dawnstone, who were walking around with Rainbow Dash looking for you. When I told them where you were and what I was doing, Casta and Astral decided to help me out. We didn't get good results..."
Dawnstone picked up where Twilight left off. "Anyway, when we were walking around, I saw Tethys and decided to catch up. Then Pinkie started doing some full body jitters saying a... doozie was going to happen? And then Tethys said that there were some dangerous creatures here, so we all got worried and came to see for ourselves."
Skystrike blinked at that. "While I appreciate the worry... don't run into dangerous areas knowing the area is dangerous. It would've been a lot easier to just take Fluttershy and run than fight this thing..."
Rainbow Dash leaned an elbow on one of the heads of the Hydra. "Well, it all turned out well. Glad you're ok. Was worried there for a bit..."
"...Hold on, just processed that first part. You all came here because of a Pinkie sense?"
Pinkie nodded and smiled. "Yeah! A doozie happened! Like my full body jitters told me!" Then she vibrated in place. "...Nevermind, that wasn't it."
Applejack straightened her hat. "Buck you mean, that wasn't it?"
"That wasn't the doozie! I'm still getting the shutters! Whatever doozie that's here, it still hasn't happened!"
Twilight twitched. "Huh? But I... What!? The Hydra wasn't the doozie? How could it not be the doozie!? What's more doozier than that!?" She stomped.
Skystrike looked at her. "Twilight. It's Pinkie we're talking about. I don't know why you keep trying to predict her."
Twilight's face strained in anger as she looked at the pink mare. Skystrike could've swore she erupted into flames from her rage. Hehe... cracatowa... he thought to himself. Then she fell on the floor. "I give up." She sighed.
"Give what up, Twi?" Spike crouched down to her.
"The fight... I can't fight it anymore. I don't understand how, why or what..." Twilight admitted to both Spike and herself. "Pinkie Sense somehow... makes sense! I don't see how it does, but it... just does. Just because I don't understand doesn't mean it's not true!"
Pinkie's jittering intensified. "Y-y-you mean y-y-ou... b-b-b-eli-i-i-i-eve?"
"Yes, Pinkie... I guess I do."
Then Pinkie... he couldn't even describe what she was doing. Looney tuning? Is that a verb? It is now. How else does one describe expanding like a balloon, lengthening your limbs like rubber, then deflating as some odd sound effects played. Skystrike looked at Casta, who looked back, then at Tethys, who looked back, then Astral, then Dawnstone, both giving back the same look that said 'what the fuck?'. Then, abruptly, Pinkie stopped. "...That was it! That was the doozie!"
Twilight tilted her head. "What... what is?"
"You believing me! I never expected that to happen!" Pinkie jumped up and down. "Oh what a doozie it was!"
Skystrike groaned. "Today was... certainly a day of all time. Nice job though, you two. Good to see our teamwork hasn't gotten rusty." He gave a hoof bump to each of them.
Rainbow jumped on the head of the Hyrda. "You know... I had no idea something like this was living so close to Ponyville... What are we going to do with it?"
"Well, can't disrupt the ecosystem. this hydra is one of the reasons that the Ursa Major doesn't get too ballsy. We'll leave it here to wake up later." Skystrike explained. "I want to take a nap..."
Rainbow was about to ask Skystrike something as the rest began to walk back towards Ponyville. Unexpectedly however, the head that Rainbow Dash was leaning on snapped awake, throwing her spinning into the air as it jumped up. The head turned and opened its jaws to swallow Rainbow whole. Her eyes shrunk as time seemed to slow. Everyone's jaws dropped as they saw it happen. Only Skystrike was able to react fast enough, flying and pushing her out of the way as the jaws clamped down on his torso. Several crunches echoed through the bog as Skystrike screamed, before gritting his teeth.
Tethys dug her talons into the neck of the only conscious head, hitting an artery and killing the head. Skystrike coughed out some blood as he dragged himself out of the jaws. Tethys was about to gut the Hydra before Skystrike put a hoof on her leg to stop her. "Skystrike! Are you ok!?" Tethys called out as she crouched down to him.
"Tethys... my ribs are fucking broken..."
"Right, dumb question, sorry!" Tethys went to pick him up in her arms, but stopped when he grunted. "Sorry, sorry... I'll try and be more careful!"
Casta looked around. "We need a stretcher! It'll hurt less and be easier to carry him. Shit... Rainbow! You're fast, right! Go to the hospital and tell them to prepare for him!" Rainbow Dash began flying as fast as she could. Casta used her magic to gather some tree branches and fiber to make a make shift stretcher.
Skystrike wiped some blood off his chin as he rolled on his side. "Sorry you... had to see me like this... this was supposed to be... a good day."
"Shut up and focus on breathing! And try not to move!" Casta doubled up on the fiber to make sure it could hold his weight. Tethys! I'm riding on your back! I'll use my magic to keep him steady!" Tethys nodded, picking up her friend an putting her between her wings. "Let's go!"
Skystrike felt himself getting lifted into the air as his consciousness waned. He tried to focus on breathing. "I'm... still not... strong enough..." He said to himself as he tried to keep his eyes open.
Everyone waited in the waiting room with baited breath. It was about to turn eight. Fluttershy, Twilight, and Pinkie went to tell their other friends as Skystrike was being transported, while Casta went to tell Zecora once she calmed down. The silence hadn't been broken in over an hour, aside from Rarity and Zecora getting caught up to speed. Casta saw Rainbow sitting alone with a guilty look on her face.
Casta teleported to the seat next to her. Rainbow didn't even look at her. "...What do you want..."
Casta took off her hat and sighed. "I know what you're thinking. It's not your fault." Rainbow Dash looked up at her. "More ponies, and dragons here have thought what you're thinking."
Rainbow Dash frowned a little. "I doubt that... he could've died because of me."
Casta got a bit angry at that, rubbing her head in frustration. "Look, mare, I'm going to ignore that first part. Let me tell you something... Nebula has almost died for each of us in all." She pointed a hoof at the beings in question. "I used to be a noble in Canterlot, but because I specialized in Enchanting and Destruction in a family that specialized in Conjuration. My own family tried to kill me because I was an 'embarrassment'. He saved me from them, and almost died in the process."
Tethys nodded. "I was being hunted down by ponies. He nursed me back to health and fought against my hunters."
Zecora agreed as well. "Once poisoned, I was left in disarray. He returned battered and bloodied, but with the cure in display."
Astral looked up from hugging Dawnstone. "He saved me, Dawnstone, and the rest of our siblings from a fire. The one we thought he died in."
"And let's not even get into why we split up in the first place." Casta took of her glasses to clean them. "We all blame ourselves, as if analyzing every mistake we made that lead up to what we went through will 'fix' things. I can't even begin to relate to Astral, thinking that she was the reason her brother died... but he helped each of us because he wanted to. He cares for us. He makes sure to put those he cares about first, even before himself. That's why he saved you. And I'll tell you this: for me at least, he was more upset that I blamed myself then I was in danger in the first place." Astral, Tethys, and Zecora all hummed in agreement.
Rainbow Dash sighed. "I'm... sorry... I didn't mean it like that... I was just... an ass to him earlier, and... I don't want this to be the way it ends."
Nurse Redheart and Snowheart opened the door, taking off their masks. The former spoke first. "Don't worry, he'll be fine. Doctor Horse is finishing up now."
Rainbow asked "How is he?"
"Well... could be better." Redheart admitted. "There was just... so much that threw us off."
Tethys turned to look at her. "...And what does that mean?"
Snowheart waved a hoof. "Oh no no no, nothing dangerous... mostly... First we tried to do an X-ray on him, but he couldn't fit in the MRI, or take of his helmet in the first place, so Dr. Horse tried to use his magic to see what was broken. Then we find out that his entire right arm is metal, so we had to avoid that, since we also didn't know how to detach it."
Redheart continued as Snowheart trailed off. "The hard part was the surgery. He did have two broken ribs and a punctured lung, but he's fine. He's much stronger than I thought. A normal pony's bones would be shattered. Anyway, the surgery was hard because of his size... we weren't allowed to give him enough of the sedative to keep him under, or rather, go under in the first place. But other than that, he'll be ok. Just needs about 6 weeks to heal."
Twilight slowly craned her neck forward at that. "He's been conscious? For the entire surgery?"
RedHeart nodded. "You have to understand. We literally gave him the max amount of morphine and anesthesia that we could give him for his own safety. We'd need to test his blood if we wanted to sedate him properly. Even though we recommended he get some rest, He wishes to go home, insisting he'll be fine. Just need to wait a few more minutes."
Meanwhile, Skystrike was talking to his doctor as he wrote on a clip board. Skystrike tried to ignore the itchy stitches, as well as the pain. He want's to get home as fast as he can. That way, he can heal in private. Dr. Horse hummed. "Your biology is amazing. Your blood clotted much quicker than the average pony's, not to mention how strong your bones are... Sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself. Are you... quite sure you're alright? You were conscious that whole time."
Skystrike laughed, then winced. "Ow... hurts to laugh. To be honest, I know I'm high on morphine right now, and just coming off of anesthesia that did nothing, but I'm fine... It was a bit weird though, seeing my own lungs, but hey, you three stitched me up well!"
Dr. Horse sighed as he wrote on his clipboard some more. "I still urge you to stay until morning at least, just to make sure that your stitches don't get undone."
"Promise doc, I'll be careful..." Skystrike rubbed his bandages, a tiny bit of blood visible on his left side. "Damn... it hurts to breathe too... promise, I'll be fine. I promise I'll come back if anything happens."
"Fine..." The unicorn stallion used his magic to roll over a wheelchair for Skystrike to get into. "I've prescribed you some pain medications if it gets to bad. Remember, you fractures three ribs, broke two, and broke your left wing. Needless to say, try not to move much. Stay in a wheelchair for a week or two before even attempting to walk. And don't think about flying."
"Alright..." Skystrike took the small bottle of pills as he winced and got into the wheelchair. "Huh... I'm surprised you got one for me to fit in."
"Well, after the Ursa Minor, we thought we'd get one, just in case."
"Aw... you do care..." Skystrike laughed. "Ow..." He began rolling himself to the doorway, pushing the door open to see his friends talking to the two nurses. "The whole gang's here... Anyone got something to eat?"
A few relieved sighs were heard as Redheart cleared her throat. "You just finished. Don't eat anything until tomorrow noon."
"Fiiiiine... but can I drink when we meet on Friday?" Redheart couldn't help but giggle and nod. "Sweet... Anyway, what we doing?" Dawnstone and Astral nearly tackled him in a hug. "Ow! Fuck!"
Dawnstone wiped her tears, making sure not to ruin her make up. "Sorry, I'm just... glad we didn't lose you again..."
Then Astral looked at his right arm, lifting it to see the skin-like sleeve torn by the teeth of the Hydra. "The nurse wasn't kidding... It is metal... When did you lose it? While you were away?"
Skystrike shook his head. "Before I even met any of you. I'll tell you about it another time... for now, I want to take a nap... I've had a hell of a day. Thanks for coming, everyone. I'll do my rounds tomorrow... Actually, Rainbow." The mare in question's ears perked up. "Walk with me. Tethys, Stardust, show those three their rooms and I'll meet you all at the house." Skystrike began pumping his forehooves to roll himself out the hospital. It took a moment for Rainbow to gather her thoughts before deciding to follow him.
The two traveled in silence for a few minutes before stopping at the lake. Rainbow Dash rubbed her arm with a hoof. "...Why'd you bring me here?"
Skystrike looked at the lake, seeing where the river started, water flowing down hill. "Remember when we were kids back in Cloudsdale, and the shit we'd get into? One time we thought it'd be a good idea to gather some clouds and make a really big one."
Rainbow nodded. "Yeah... mom and dad didn't let us off lightly with that stunt. The lightning from it fried half the garden."
"Heh, ow, yeah... Or when you were practicing your tricks and we decided to turn the neighborhood into your obstacle course? We scared the shit out of Zephyr Breeze..."
Rainbow began to form a smile. "Heheh, yeah... You know, we did get into a lot..." The two laughed a bit more as Rainbow sat next to him. "...I'm sorry, Skystrike."
He shook his head. "Don't think too much about it. Just don't cross boundaries like that again. Ain't funny."
Rainbow blinked. "Oh, not that- well yes, that too... I mean sorry for you ending up like that."
"...Are you-... are you stupid? Why are you sorry for that? That was my fault. I shouldn't have let my guard down."
"Why'd you have to say it like that? And that was obviously my fault! I shouldn't have been on that Hydra!" She frowned.
"Rainbow, if I dealt with that Hydra properly, I wouldn't be in these bandages, and you wouldn't be blaming yourself. Under the same circumstances, I'd save your life again."
"Bucker, I already have to live knowing you have 5 years left at worst. I don't want you to die over my own mistakes!"
"WHAT!?" The two heard the outburst and turned to see a moving bush. Then they heard Pinkie's voice. "Shhh... I don't think they heard us..."
Skystrike looked at Rainbow, then sighed. "Well, since we have a peanut gallery, I can't really make this as... personal as I wish." Skystrike turned his wheelchair to look at her. "So, I'll say this: It was not your fault. If anypony is at fault, it's me for being sloppy. You blaming yourself makes me feel worse. The wounds are no big deal."
"The buck you mean, 'no big deal'!?"
Skystrikke pulled her close to him so he could whisper. "Remember what I revealed a month ago? I can literally heal myself in moments. I just need privacy."
"Oh..." Rainbow realized that he could just use his magic. "Well... I still messed up..."
"We all do sooner or later. Like EVERYPONY ELSE THAT WANTS TO LISTEN IN ON PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS!" He turned to the bush. The silence was deafening. "Look, mother fuckers, I let my guard down around you all for a reason, because I trust you... But apparently I cant if eavesdropping is going to become the norm. I've dealt with way too much today to deal with this too."
Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Applejack all came out of said bush. "Sorry, darling... But now that we're out in the open, anypony else expected something romantic? It was the perfect time to admit the growing love for your savior." Rarity looked around at her friends. They all looked back like she was crazy.
Skystrike blinked, then stared into Rarity's soul. "Rarity, I had you as a Damsel in Distress fetishist from day one. Get a fucking coltfriend. The only reason I'm not going to get into you further because I feel bad about the clothes you made me being ruined... at least I still got pants."
Applejack snickered at that. "I told ya this was a bad idea."
"Applejack, I don't want to hear that either, you could've stopped them any time. You're like, the one voice of reason." Skystrike pointed and Applejack grumbled.
Twilight moved her hair out of the way. "Is... what Rainbow said true? About you having... 5 years at worst?"
Skystrike nodded and groaned. "Yes, I do. I found out a month ago. No, I didn't hide it from you all because I didn't think we were good enough friends. Yes, I planned on telling you eventually. I planned to talk about this with each of you one on one but now you know." He took a few of the pain meds he was given. "Sorry, just... frustrated... I'd prefer if we talk about this another day... When I don't feel like a pin cushion."
Applejack began pushing his wheelchair. "Well, I'll push ya half way. We're going in the same direction for the most part. C'mon Fluttershy."
"What, you think you can just... drop that doozie and not talk about it? The reason we followed you is because I was getting the full body jitters again!" Pinkie stomped.
"Pinkie, I know you all care, and it probably sucks to hear that my time in this world is cut short, so I don't blame you, any of you. But I'm going to say this as nice as I can right now." Skystrike took in a deep breath. "It literally hurts to breathe right now. I can't even get into a comfortable position because if I don't stay perfectly still, I feel like I'm getting stabbed from all angles. Take into account that I'm frustrated in myself for what happened, and I still have a lot to think about, I want to sleep on it. We will talk about it. Another day."
Pinkie Pie and the rest took the hint as an awkward silence came in before Applejack began pushing Skystrike toward his house, Fluttershy following behind. Skystrike tried his best to focus on his breathing and calming down. It hurt... a lot... It was weird how he could feel some of the stitches in his lung. Made him realize that he wasn't invincible in this world. If that hydra just crunched down a bit harder, hell, if his ribs punctured his heart, it would've been over. All it takes is one mistake...
His train of thought was broken by Applejack speaking. "Y'know... I know you don't want to talk about it, but... I've seen you like this before, back with Nightmare Moon. You keep... pushing us away whenever something dangerous happens. You don't have to carry all your problems by yourself. You got so many friends... you can rely on us."
Fluttershy nodded. "We're here for you whenever you need us. You're there for us when we need you. We want to return the favor."
Skystrike kept looking forward and furrowed his brow. "...I never told you all the reason I hide my identity, did I?" He sighed. "The reason I died was because somepony was out to get me, and bought my family into this to get to me. Then, he somehow did it again, finding out who I was and luring me, Tethys, Zecora, Casta, and everyone else to an early grave we narrowly escaped. I... put distance between those I care for because I don't want you all to die because somepony is out to get me. There's too much risk at keeping you all close... The only reason I can think of for him not coming after you all yet is because you're the Elements of Harmony, and because after I died, a good number of ponies were under Celestia's protection... In a sense, you all just got lucky."
"Oh... I get it now- or at least somewhat..." Applejack said. "You... blame yourself for what happened."
"Before you say it wasn't my fault, he deadass specified he burned down my orphanage to get to me."
"Well, I don't want to encourage ya, but do you have a plan to deal with him?"
"Yes... at the Gala."
Fluttershy was a bit surprised at that. "The Grand Galloping Gala? This stallion must be pretty high up in society to get invited there... What's his name?"
Skystrike growled a bit as his eyes flickered. "Blueblood."
Applejack felt like she heard that name before. "Ain't that Celestia's nephew?" Then her eyes went wide. "Ain't that the colt that Rarity was going on about when Twilight had those tickets for the gala??"
Then Fluttershy realized. "Wait... doesn't that make him your adoptive brother? Doesn't that make you a prince?"
Skystrike answered their questions in order. "Yes, Yes, I don't consider him my brother, and yes. Don't tell Rarity. I know she's also a knight in shining armor fetishist too." He couldn't help but laugh at that. "Heheheha... Ow..."
"You know... This all explains a lot. Especially how dense you are." Applejack laughed.
"...What do you mean by that?"
"I mean that it makes sense that you dont know what you want in a relationship, let alone what type of relationship you want because you always push away ponies that get too close."
Fluttershy nodded again. "It took you a bit of time to even call us friends in hindsight."
"Yeah... sorry about that... I'll be better. I just... need to get stronger." Skystrike held his side. "...Thanks for putting up with me, you two. I never really get to say how much you all mean to me. I'm glad I have you all as my friends..." Applejack stopped pushing Skystrike, as they were at his front door. He smelled something burnt. "...Applejack, Fluttershy, I need one of you to knock on the door."
The two mares looked at each other before Fluttershy knocked. The three heard a "FUCK!" From Tethys inside and then the clattering of pots, pans, silverware, and plates. Then an explosion. "SHIT!" They heard from Casta.
"Can't believe you both lack the cookery knack... Burn water? It's a skill you both seem to pack!" Zecora was yelling at the two.
"Why was there water in the first place!? We're making tacos!" Astral laughed.
"I thought we were making soup...?" They heard Dawnstone say.
Skystrike put his face in his hooves. Tethys opened the door, her green sweater covered in a black ash. "Heeeeey Sky! How's it going?" She leaned on the door in an attempt to act cool. Her face of worry betrayed her.
"Tethys... you and Casta tried to cook again, didn't you?"
"...Maaaaaaybe?"
Skystrike sighed as he rolled into his house. "Fluttershy, Applejack, thanks for bringing me home, I'll see you two tomorrow." He then rolled into the kitchen, seeing an exploded bag of flour, a burnt pan of water, pots and pans everywhere, and... "Casta, why are you lying on the floor?"
"Taste test... went bad." She groaned.
"And what did you eat?" Casta pointed to the plate on the kitchen island. "Is that... is that burnt soup with a taco shell? What the fuck? How the fuck? You know what, fuck it, I'm going to bed." Skystrike was about to go to his room, then realized it was up stairs... he did not make his home wheelchair accessible He grit his teeth as he got out of his wheelchair and onto the couch lying on his back. He was very annoyed right now... but at least he has ponies he cares about to be annoyed at. Makes him realize how much he cares. Skystrike ignored the chaos, setting it aside for another day as he fell asleep. He'd leave it for morning Skystrike. |
A Broken Warrior | Paranoia | Skystrike grunted, waking up with the sun in his eyes. Man, he felt so refreshed from that. His torso and wing were still sore, but it wasn't a piercing pain anymore. More felt like he had an open scab. He went to grab his helmet on his nightstand, but when his arm fell and the pain hit him, Skystrike remembered he fell asleep on the couch. The pegasus checked the time, it being 10 a.m.
He looked to the side, seeing Tethys lying against the couch, with Casta and an open book on her lap, both sleeping. Thinking of the time, Astral Night and Dawnstone were probably still asleep or out doing something. Skystrike tried to push himself up, grunting as he got in. Rolling into the kitchen, he was surprised the girls cleaned it. He thanked the heavens that he was only marginally shorter in a wheelchair, as he could still reach the ingredients on the upper shelf. Man, he was hungry as fuck... He could eat a... eat a... eat a... He felt as if that phrase was either problematic or an innuendo.
Tethys and Casta snapped awake at the clicking of the stove, looking at each other before running and teleporting to the kitchen respectively. Skystrike looked over his shoulder as he cracked a few eggs. "Good morning. I'm making breakfast. Pancakes sound great right now."
"Oh thank Celestia!" Casta released a deep breath. "I couldn't help but think the worst!"
Skystrike flipped the eggs with a pan flip. "What? You saw I was alive. I was just tired. Thanks for cleaning the kitchen by the way."
Tethys walked over and put a hand on her hip. "Skystrike, you must have been really tired..." She patted his head. "Glad you're still breathing though."
"...I feel like I'm missing some context here."
Tethys smiled. "It's Friday, Skystrike. You were out for a whole day."
Skystrike turned to look at the two. Their faces said they weren't kidding. "...Mother fucker... It... well that does explain how you got this kitchen clean so fast... What happened while I was out?"
The day before, Casta woke up in the guest room, immediately coming down the stairs to check on her friend. Skystrike was still asleep as Tethys watched over him. Neither realized how late they slept, it being noon. Tethys bit on her claws. "...He doesn't normally sleep this long. Should we... I don't know what to do here..."
Casta put on her glasses and put a hoof over his mouth. "Well, he's still breathing, quite steadily too, but no, he doesn't normally sleep this long... should we get a doctor?"
"Let's try Zecora first. I'll get her if you can change his bandages. I'm afraid I'll hurt him." Tethys kept biting her nails as she left to get her zebra friend, almost running out of the door.
Casta made sure to be careful with replacing the bandages. It wasn't until she took them off that she realized how bad the bite was. He was bruised to Tartarus and back, there still being teeth marks in him. Not to even mention the stitches. She could see where they cut him open. They couldn't use magic on him to speed up the healing, so it was just left out for the world to see. That being said... he was healing really fast... unnaturally fast... Questions for later. She made sure to be as careful as possible as she un and rewrapped him, but that didn't stop his grunts of pain.
Eventually, Zecora and Tethys came back to see Skystrike, but was surprised to see the mane 6 at the door with Astral and Dawnstone. Applejack saw the two out of the corner of her eye, motioning to the group of their arrival. "Howdy, you two!" She said with a tip of her hat. "Just 'ere to check on Sky, and have that talk he promised."
"I'm hoping to get some actual answers on some things." Twilight hummed. "I know he's getting a bit more trusting of us, but... even with all the time he's spent there, I still feel like I barely know him." The rest of the girls nodded.
Dawnstone put a hoof to her chin. "Now that you mention it, honestly I don't know much either. I know now that he was always out working, but even when he visited us in Canterlot, he mostly asked about us... I don't even know something like what his favorite color is."
Tethys sighed. "I can relate. It took almost a year for me to learn the little things like that about him... His favorite color is green by the way. Threw me off when he said he liked my eyes." Skystrike pushed open the door. "Anyway, you all can come in, but at the rate things are going, that talk will have to wait for another day."
"AUUUUUUUUUGH!!!"
Rarity cursed under her breath. "There's no bucking way."
Casta turned her head. "Oh, familiar faces. Hello again. Sorry, I don't remember all of your names yet." Casta teleported away the bloodied rags. "Zecora, anything you can do?"
Zecora walked over and stuck a thermometer in his mouth, then put a hoof on his to feel his heart beat. "Resting deeply, in slumber's embrace, yet deeper than usual, a worrying space. Blood loss perhaps has led to this fate, though my concern arises for his heart's rate."
Fluttershy pitched in. "Can't that be because of blood loss? His heart and lungs need to work more to make up for the surgery, right?"
Casta nodded. "More than likely. I also replaced his bandages but he's healing unnaturally fast. The wounds have already mostly closed..."
Applejack sighed. "Well I bought these apples for 'im to eat, but he can't really do that now..." She left a basket of apples on the coffee table. Then Fluttershy left some tea, then Rarity left some incense.
"So uh, what now?" Stardust asked.
"And then everyone went home, seeing that you weren't waking up anytime soon." Casta finished.
"God damn it..." Skystrike finished cooking and set the table. "I'm really hungry... lets eat, then bring everyone over. Oh right, Elytra, I haven't seen her in a bit. Where is she?"
Casta and Tethys looked at him. "She didn't tell you?"
"...Casta if I ask a question, that means I don't know. Tell me what?"
Casta shuffled in her chair. "She's been in Zecora's place the last several days. It's... that time of the year."
Skystrike was about to open his mouth to ask before Tethys slapped the table. "Sky, there's no fucking way you don't know what a heat cycle is."
"..."
"You're fucking STUPID!" Tethys banged on the table. "Literally every fucking species in the entire planet has one! Have you never noticed!?"
"Jesus Christ, Tethys! I never knew ok!?"
"We've FUCKED, Skystrike! WHILE I WAS IN MY CYCLE!!"
"I thought you were just horny???" Skystrike put out his hooves.
Casta was laughing. "There's no way you're real! Ahahahaha!"
"Skystrike, I was saying I was because I, like any other girl, was too embarrassed to fucking admit it." She grabbed her horns and sighed, the items on the table jumping as she hit her head on it. "I thought you fucking knew... By the dragon king, you're so damn dumb sometimes."
Skystrike put his hooves up in defense. "Look, I've never asked. Who'd think to ask?"
Casta kept laughing. "You went twenty five years not knowing we have heat cycles!? I'm never letting you live this down!"
Skystrike couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it admittedly. He finally took a bite of his food, suddenly realizing how hungry he was and scarfing down all of his food. It took him minutes to finish his rather large portion of four thick pancakes, six eggs, and some apples. But he was still hungry. Casta offered him the rest of her food, pushing it over to him. "You're an angel." He said as he continued eating.
Tethys was just glad he was in better spirits. "Hey, Sky, just so you know, we haven't told Casta about that yet. Your sisters are out, so... I think it's' best to tell her about it before everyone else comes back."
Skystrike thought about it, then nodded. Thankfully, he didn't have to go through the whole song and dance again, since Tethys already knew. "Casta, let me preface this by saying this is going to be a lot to take in..." Skystrike pushed himself away from the table. He sighed as he took off his bandages. Casta was about to protest before Tethys put a hand on her back, making her sit back down. Skystrike clenched his fist as he grunted, forcing his mana into a magic barrier around his body. Casta's eyes went wide as she saw his wounds close and his bones move back into place. Before Casta could even ask what he just did, a neon fire surrounded him as he turned into his human form.
Skystrike stood up and stretched. "You know, I really need to stop going shirtless. But yeah, this is what I am. I trust you enough to be able to tell you."
Casta rubbed her glasses, thinking she was seeing things. When she put back on her glasses, she realized she wasn't. "Y-you're... a human?"
Skystrike waived a brow. "You... know what I am? And why do you sound... afraid?"
"...Tell me something about me only Skystrike would know..." Casta demanded.
"What?"
"I need to KNOW you're him, and not some monster that took his form! I haven't seen him for two years!" She backed away a bit.
Skystrike was a bit hurt at that, but couldn't blame her. "I assume Celestia told you about my race. I'll answer however many questions you need to make you feel comfortable. You first left your parents as soon as you turned 18, and you were being hunted down by an assassin hired by your parents. I found you during a round for supplies, as Tethys and Zecora weren't welcome in Canterlot, hiding in an alleyway near the northern castle gates." He put up both of his hands. "You're my friend, Casta."
She wasn't convinced yet. "Who did I look up to as role models in the group?"
"From my memory, you said Zecora, and being able to adapt so well after leaving her old life behind, and Jeshan the Diamond Dog because of his philosophy."
"What happened to Skybeak? As in why didn't he stay in Equestria?"
"He had a wife and daughter back in Hippogriffia, and was the last member to join 'All'. His membership was temporary, since he was a family man at heart."
The two stared at each other for a bit. She asked her last question... Skystrike would have to know this. "What was my biggest secret I told you?"
"You have a little sister called Avada Kedava ten years younger than you that you want to go back for, but you need to wait until she's of age, since your parent's haven't let her out of the mansion."
Casta let out a sigh of relief. "Thank Celestia, you are him- er you're you... I'm really sorry about all that. Princess Celestia gave me a wildly different idea of who and what you were."
Skystrike sat back down. "Don't blame her. From what my kind apparently did to yours, I think the same sometimes... that I'm a monster. But... she told me not to speak on it to anypony. How much do you know."
Casta sat back down in her chair. "Apparently as much as you do. I haven't been into the forbidden section of the Royal Library to check if she and princess Luna actually destroyed all traces." Then she hesitated. "I'm... not supposed to tell you this, but-"
Skystrike put up a hand to stop her. "I don't want you to do anything that'd put your job or loyalty at risk. I already have some semblance of what Celestia want's you to do. Let me ask you this, and it will confirm my theory; did you know about humanity before or after I was in the capital for Maud's graduation?"
"After... She gave me an... 'assignment' after I concluded my research of mana." Casta made air quotes with her hooves.
Skystrike grabbed his head and put his elbows on the table, bouncing his leg with a strained look. "Haaaaah... I'm sorry, Casta. I hate that you're in this situation."
Casta tipped her hat as Tethys looked confused. "...Can one of you nerds here explain what I'm supposed to be upset about?"
Skystrike and Casta looked at each other. Casta fought back tears, trying to avoid eye contact. "The reason I'm so much more dangerous compared to the humans that came before me, is because compared to this world, our magic was rudimentary, basic. Only spells we were able to use were those in the time before Starswirl the Bearded, the pony who made nearly every spell ponies use now. Sure, we understood it, but humans couldn't use anything beyond elemental spells. I was made to surpass anything a normal human could do... and I know now, with me as a prime example. On a side note, the way magic works in this world is that if a spell hits a pony for example, the magic within a pony absorbs some of that damage. Still hurts, but doesn't damage the physical body. That makes me dangerous, as I not only have no magic within my body, I'm resistant to the magic used on me... And right when I stupidly told Celestia that I was still here, Celestia told Casta about the threat I could be."
"That does sound bad... but why are we upset?"
"Tethys... Casta, by Celestia's order, started making a mana extractor. By nature, this world's races turn mana into magic. Only my race does it consciously. It's what let me live so long in this world... hell, the reason I'm alive. She knows that without my mana, It'd be a piece of cake to kill me."
Tethys tried to piece it together, her worry growing as she did so. "She's-... making Casta make a weapon to kill you...?" Tethys looked to Casta. Her face said it all. "Shit..."
The three sat there for minutes. No one knew what to do. Silence hung heavy, fractured only by the terse breaths of the three. Tension crackled like electricity between them, each one wearing expressions etched with a blend of anxiety, frustration, and apprehension. Words previously spoken lingered in the air like the morning fog. Skystrike's voice stabbed through it. "I... can't put you in danger... Not again."
"Skystrike..." Tethys growled. "You are not running again, you promised."
"I know Tethys... I just got too comfortable... too trusting... you're all in danger again. I'm not strong enough." He said angrily.
Tethys reached across the table, using her hands to make him look in the eyes. "Then stop holding back. This is one of those times where you must fight for yourself, not for others. I won't let you leave again."
Skystrike thought of a lot at that moment. Should he do like he did before and run? They'd be safe, but starting over would suck. He'd need a new identity... Or maybe just fight... for all this world took from him, the pain will be returned in full... The family lost, the abandonment, their hatred. He grit his teeth as he shook those thoughts out of his head.
"I won't tell Celestia." Casta nearly yelled it. "I won't tell Celestia... there might be a way out of this... I can't delay it long... maybe you can figure out a way to get on Celestia's good side?"
He thought about it. "I assume it's still only in the design phase... I have time." Skystrike scratched his head. He'd need to do it eventually. It's now or never. He got up and grabbed a roll of paper and began writing, finishing quickly and rolling it back up. "Casta, send it to Celestia. I've wrote in here that the human will meet her at the abandoned castle in the Everfree as sundown. I'll be going alone. There's a chance for me to solve this without bringing anyone else into this."
Tethys protested. "That's way too dangerous! If she saw you as a danger when you first came to this world, It'd be on sight if you gave her the chance."
"Rather that, than having Casta and whoever else come after me in the first place. But I don't have much of a choice. I need to at least attempt to stop this if I want to eventually come out as a human. I want to live without hiding what I am." Skystrike clenched his fists, trying to figure out what to do next as Casta sent the letter. "No matter what happens, you two are my friends. If I have to end up leaving again-"
"You're not!" Casta and Tethys both said. Casta wasn't done though. "I've just got you back. It hasn't even been two months yet!"
"You're right..." He covered is face. "I don't... know what to do here."
It dawned on Tethys. "I get it now. You're hesitating." Skystrike looked up at her as she chuckled a bit. "Didn't think you'd be doing that. Skystrike, you have to protect yourself if it comes to that. I'll do something to help you at least. I owe you that."
Casta nodded. "I don't know all I can do yet, but I can at least think of something..."
Skystrike shook his head. "You're in the most danger here. You work directly under Celestia. If even a trace of your magic shows up on anything I do, Celestia is coming for you." Skystrike thought for a moment. "...You and my sisters are going back tomorrow morning. I'm going to be busy for a little while. Keep working on the extractor. I'm... not going to hold back anymore. I don't have a choice anymore.' Skystrike stood up. "Can... you two go get everybody? I just need a moment to myself."
The two nodded as Skystrike went to his room, looking in the mirror with his helmet still in his hands. His grip tightened on it. This was going to happen eventually. He knew Celestia wouldn't give up on finding him. Why was he surprised? Why was he angry? He won't let this life he made for himself be taken away from him. He stared at his reflection for a long, long while, thinking of what he could do. There were only a few options that could work. One was to threaten the destruction of Equestria. He's capable of it, and she knows it... it'd just be a matter of making Celestia believe him. He could also just plead for his life, say he doesn't want to hurt anyone, but... that'd be much harder for Celestia to believe. Still worth a shot. His last option was to... run again. Start a new identity... No one would ever think to look for him outside of Equestria. That's the worst case scenario, though... but it'd still be safe to keep it in mind.
But something within him burned... urging him to fight. As if it was what he was meant to do, in his nature. But was it his nature as a human, or his nature as a lab rat... He already knew what he was meant to do, he just didn't want to admit it. Skystrike stared into the hollow eyes of his helmet, pondering. How... different would his life had been if he just stayed at that laboratory? He knew he wouldn't enjoy it, but... it'd be simpler than what he has to deal with now. Just follow orders and live. No... that's not living. Maybe if he decided to not escape the capital those years ago? Sure, Celestia couldn't trust him then, but maybe he... could've gained her trust? No, that wouldn't have worked... even with 17 years of laying low, she was still after him, distrusting, thinking he's biding his time. He let out a long, pained groan. He should've never came back to Equestria... should've went to Griffonstone or Hippogriffia... hell, living off the land, something...
But as he thought it through, he realized that no matter the choice, he'd end up here, his friends in danger because of him. His life he worked hard to build, crumbling around him. Skystrike gave a sad chuckle. Even with everything that happened, sure, he wished it went differently, but he didn't regret the life he lived, the friends he made, nor the time spent with everyone around him. "Echo... you've been with me since before this life. Even if we're stuck with each other despite what we want, even if you were made by the ones who put us in this mess, you're the only one who knows the true me, the only one I can trust... I want your opinion on what to do."
"My core programing demands that I put your survival first and foremost, no matter the cost. Reason with Celestia. Luna knows of your humanity, so there is a chance that she may help us somewhat." The blue eyes of the helmet flashed to stare back at Skystrike. "If reason does not work, then we must fight. We can always rebuild later. But that must happen if we have no other choice."
Skystrike grunted and took that into account. He looked in the mirror to take in a view of himself. He's grown so much over the years. He saw the person he was when he first came to Eques. Scared of what he could do, coarse in who he was, but full of hope that this would be a world he could live in. Then, himself after Khrusalis died. No longer scared, but... reluctant about making any new connections, angry at what was taken from him, and hateful of of himself and his lack of power.
But now, he saw who he was. Skystrike. Not truly a pony, but not truly human either. Even after everything he went through, he doesn't regret the lives he lived. He made a family, made friends, a life worth living. Skystrike would do anything to keep it. But to do that, he needs to give everyone the decision to let him be a part of their lives. He'd need to tell them the truth. But the human part will have to be put on hold for a while. For now, he would at least tell them all about the time he has left.
Skystrike turned back into a pony and put on his helmet. He also changed pants after he realized he wore them for three days straight. He was about to go for his black sweats, but then he remembered how Tethys said it was basic. Fine, black and white sweats. He looked himself over as he brushed his mane and tail, then realized he hasn't cut either in a long time. His tail was touching the floor and is mane was down to his shoulders. Then he smiled. At least he had the luxury to think about these things.
Skystrike folded his helmet into a collar as he walked downstairs, looking over the railing and seeing everypony. He didn't even realize how many he knew. Tethys, Casta, Zecora, Stardust, Astral, Dawnstone, Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow, Pinkie, and Applejack. He was a bit glad Spike wasn't here to hear all that was going to be said.
Applejack immediately stood up to help him down the stairs. "Skystrike, what're ya doin' without yer wheelchair!? You broke your ribs!"
Skystrike laughed a bit. "I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm fine. I heal really fast." Applejack didn't believe it for a second, pushing him on his hind legs and lifting his shirt. "Bro???"
Applejack stared in awe of the lack of wounds. "I... I don't get it! You could barely move two days ago!"
"I'm a really good sleeper." Skystrike pulled his shirt down. "But that part of my weird biology isn't what you're all here for." The two walked down the stairs and took their seats. "I don't really know how to say this, so I'll start from the beginning. I have 'magic' in my body, but not in the sense a normal pony would. Thanks to Casta and her research, she was able to discover mana, which is what you ponies use to make magic. Difference is, every living being it this world makes magic unconsciously, as if they were breathing." Skystrike sighed. "That leads into what I learned last month. Due to 25 continuous years of absorbing mana, as well as the strain put on my body to keep up with the average pony with no magic, among other factors, it's had irreversible effects on my body. Because I can build my strength to impossible levels for my body, as well as store near impossible levels of mana and other factors, it's... affected my life expectancy. I've ran tests and quadruple checked the results, changing any factors that would gave me a wrong result. If I'm lucky, I will live until 40. If my condition gets worse, 30. If it stays the same, between 30 and 35."
Several gasps came from the group as that last part set in. Twilight was the first to ask a question. "...What do you mean, store near impossible levels of mana? Everypony has a mana capacity that grows as one gets older, and would stop gathering mana once it's full! This doesn't make any sense! This shouldn't happen in the first place!"
Skystrike thought for a moment. "Let me think of the best way to explain it... Imagine you have... a cup you want to fill with water. Water is the allegory for mana, and fills a cup at a set pace. But you're blind folded. You don't know how big your cup is, and you can only feel it get heavier. You have a way to let it out, but it's dangerous, and not fast enough to spill all that water you let sit."
"Then... how do you let it out?"
Skystrike rolled up his right sleeve, showing his metal hoof. "This is the hole in the cup, letting out some water constantly, but only slowing the build up. I could increase the size of the hole, but as I said, It's... dangerous."
Applejack huffed. "You know, somethin' about that arm of yours has always thrown me off... Where'd you get it?"
Astral asked a question of her own. "How did you get it?"
Skystrike looked at Astral, then at his arm. "That's... something you all should know as well, we just have to go further back. I did not come from these lands, I came from far, far away. It was... not a nice place..." Skystrike clenched his hoof. This was still so hard for him to talk about. "I wasn't treated as a living being. I was an object. A means to an end. A weapon..." Skystrike took of his sweatshirt, showing how far his metal arm went up. His entire arm up to his shoulder was replaced with metal, burn scars around where it connected to his torso. "I was taught morality, and showed mercy to one of the ones I was supposed to kill. As punishment, they took my arm from me. They gave me a new one, with some... upgrades. But those upgrades aren't just in my arm. You all can probably guess them, given my size, strength, and how I healed so fast. Those... also affected my life expectancy. Since I was a prototype, they could ignore the long term effects. I was eight when I executed my plan, taking as many of my captors with me before I decided I didn't want to live in that world anymore. It was by pure luck that I was able to find an escape."
"There's... there's no way you're telling the truth right now." Casta shook her head.
Skystrike looked at her, then sighed. "Casta, my very existence isn't natural. What I've said should make sense. But if I have to prove it to all of you..." Skystrike took off his arm and passed it to Casta. "It connects to my nervous system, and takes in my mana to power itself. By putting in a strong enough electric current, you should be able to make it move. In theory, at least. I've never tested it. There should still be enough mana in it for you to move it. You ponies focus more on magic, rather than electricity, so there's no way you will be able to understand how that's been made. If fact, electricity is how my most of the items I make work."
Casta looked over the arm. "So that's why this house felt so... empty. It felt like there was no magic, but there actually barely is any." She kept looking at it, figuring out a way to take it apart.
Meanwhile, Rarity bought the conversation back on topic. "I don't know about all of that electricity stuff, but backing up a bit, what all did they do to you?"
Skystrike sat back down, a bit uneven lacking his arm. "Well, the mana thing is the most important. It should be impossible to have an infinite mana capacity, so I would assume I was given a mana capacity that just hasn't reached its limit yet. The long term affects that I can predict is that... if I have too much in my body, mana poisoning, which has similar symptoms to a unicorn going through a magic fever. Difference is, I can't get better unless I can expel this mana. There's... too many to remember."
"You said 30 at worst. How do ya slow it down?" Applejack asked.
"Well... I suppose... The obvious answer is just release more mana, but that comes with some problems."
"...Go on."
Skystrike sighed. "There's not so much a good way to do it, just... less dangerous ways. The least dangerous way would be to increase the amount of mana I use. Casta, can I get my arm back?" She wasn't able to figure out how to take it apart and passed it back to him. He put it back into place with a grunt as he rolled his shoulder. "Think of my arm a bit like... a unicorn's horn. I can turn my mana into magic just by having it attached. If I wanted to use more mana, I can use spells-"
"You can use spells!?" Twilight nearly jumped. "Wait, then why haven't you been doing it this whole time!? Why hide it!?"
"Because, that comes with its own set of problems. Ignoring the amount of trouble that a pegasus with unicorn like magic will bring me, I'm... still being hunted by the ones I thought I escaped all those years ago. Using spells out in the open is a no go. On top of that, in all of my studies on magic, the only spells able to make a dent in my mana are... high cost destruction spells. I was made to have an affinity with destruction magic after all."
Dawnstone was a bit confused. "Well... now I know why you never talked about your past... You keep saying you were made for these things. Can you be more specific?"
Skystrike nodded. "I... was nurtured to... kill. I thought it was obvious, I just have a really hard time saying it."
Tethys raised a brow. "Not to get off topic, but don't you kill beings?"
"Only when I deem it necessary. I've taken enough innocent lives."
"Your parents?" Fluttershy asked.
"Oh, no. I don't regret killing them. I don't even see them as my parents, it's just that I've never changed the title. My 'father' forced me to do unspeakable things like kill my 'siblings'. Originally, I didn't hate my 'mother' but she was complacent with our treatment, and was just in it for the pay check. My 'father' killed her because of me though so, whatever that's worth."
Zecora put a hoof on her forehead. "Skystrike, heavy words in such a casual spree is not the way to speak, that should be plain to see."
Skystrike shrugged. "Look, at this point, I've come to terms with most of that. I had one of my guards commit suicide in front of me because he didn't want to kill me, knew he couldn't stop me even if he did, and he would die if he went back to father empty handed."
"...Holy shit Skystrike, what in Tartarus!?" Stardust's eyes went wide. He hasn't told her about that before.
"I'm... still having a hard time believing all of this." Fluttershy admitted. "It's hard to believe there's beings out there that'd do something so awful."
"You can say that again." Tethys growled. "I want to find whoever did all of that to you, but you already got to them."
"So... what now?" Astral asked the question on everyone's minds. "I thought I'd have more time with you... It's weird knowing how much time we have left with you."
"I'm... sorry, everyone." Skystrike said before thinking about what to say for a minute. "I... had a friend years ago named Steel Ace. He left this world too early... But one of the last things he said to me was to focus on the time we have left, rather than what could've been... I want to follow in his word, and just enjoy the time I have left with you all. Wish I could give a more satisfactory answer."
"We'll take what we can get." Astral hugged him.
The group talked over the next few hours, making plans between each other for the next month or so, as Skystrike said he planned on doing some traveling out of country. He had a fun couple of days coming up. But now, it was soon to be sunset. It was time to meet them. Everyone else, save for the ones staying with him, left by then. Skystrike finished cooking dinner, serving fried rice to Tethys, Casta, Stardust, Astra, Dawnstone, and- hol up. "Since when were you here, Zecora? I thought you went home?" Skystrike served her a plate anyway. "Let me guess, forgot to get groceries?"
"That's a piece of it, my potions, not many bought, This month's been slow, sales taking a drought." She sighed as she took a bite of food. "Mmm... so good."
"Damn, good enough to make you not rhyme? All I added was a pinch of lime." Skystrike took off his apron, then realized. "...Zecora how the fuck do you do that!? Stop making me rhyme, you're fucking with my head!"
"Well maybe you shouldn't be so predictable, open like a book to be read."
"Don't rhyme off me! That shouldn't count!" Skystrike laughed as he sat at the table and began eating. "Oh, right, Tethys, you going ok, diet wise?"
"You calling me fat?"
"Tethys-"
"I'm messing with you. Why do you ask about my diet?" She asked as she shoveled food into her jaws.
"I haven't seen you eat meat in a while. I know you need proteins and vitamins that you can't get from an a vegetarian diet." Skystrike twirl his fork in his hoof.
"...Admittedly, I haven't eaten any meat since I've started living here. I didn't want to scare off any ponies."
Skystrike thought about it. "You don't have to worry about that. The girls already know that I give Spike fish from time to time. I'm sorry, I thought you were going hunting or something before I found out you were hanging out with Rarity. I'll make sure to prepare a manticore first thing tomorrow morning. That should last us a few months. I can also go catch some fish. Alligator also tastes good."
Everyone, save for Stardust looked at him when he said that last part. "You eat meat?" They all asked.
"It's kinda the only reason I'm this size. Remember how I was thinner as a colt?" Skystrike shrugged. "Turns out, because my body doesn't partially run on magic, I need my nutrients from other sources."
"Well... if you know what tastes good, go for it. I'm just... surprised you eat it raw..." Tethys scratched at her horns.
"Oh, hell no, I cook my food." He wiped his mouth. "Again, I'll be hunting first thing tomorrow, and I'll be back in time to see you three off." He motioned to the unicorns. "For now, I have some ponies to meet."
Skystrike got up, went up to his room, and got some clothes to cover himself. He couldn't choose anything that would make it seem like he was living with the ponies, or Celestia would up the search for him. Something hand made would work well... He remembered the Manticore skin he got from Naga as a sort of gift. The pegasus got the yellow pelt from his closet and made a quick sarong out of it. He'd change clothes in the forest. He put it in his saddlebag before leaving his room and heading towards the front door.
Skystrike was stopped by Tethys and Casta, each hugging him before he left. "Stay safe, Skystrike." Tethys said.
"Don't do anything reckless." Casta sighed. "And come back safe."
"I'll do my best." Skystrike said as he opened the door. His friends watched him walk away and into the forest. He went in deep enough and off the path where no light would breach the roof of leaves. He knew from his chat with his friends earlier that the princesses returned back to Canterlot, so they would have to arrive by teleportation. But he still had to make sure he was completely alone before he transformed. With a tap of his hoof, a thin layer of magic expanded from him and into the forest. It was simple detection magic, letting him know that nothing in the forest that was even aware of him. But he did notice a presence that was approaching the forest. Maybe it was Zecora... but he still needed to be careful. He took off his clothes, transformed, then put on his sarong.
Skystrike hid the rest of his stuff by throwing it up in a tree, then marked it by leaving a cross in it by digging in the index finger of his metal arm. With that, he walked for a few more minutes, seeing the abandoned Castle of the Two Sisters. He had to admit, it took more force than he thought for it to open the door to the castle, even with it being covered in rust and moss. It took him a while to walk down the main hallway. Then he thought to himself: where would be the most fitting place to meet? The throne room would be too obvious... the top of a tower would make a cool scene, but also kinda predictable... Then it hit him. He walked for a bit more, remembering the path he took to get to the room almost a year ago.
The chamber of Elements, where those six found their elements while he held off Nightmare Moon. He stood on top of the large ball of marble with his back facing the entrance and his arms crossed. He always wanted to do this... now he just needed to wait.
The crackling and bursting of two sets of magic notified the arrival of the second party. Celestia and Luna looked to the center of the room, seeing Skystrike standing on the marble sculpture looking to nowhere in particular, his silver hair flowing in the wind. He knew he looked so cool right now. All he had to do was stick the line. He made sure to change his voice first though, making it deeper and more coarse to not sound like his pony counterpart. "Ah... so this day has finally come..." He slowly turned to face the two princesses, uncrossing his arms and throwing his hair out of his face. "It's been 17 years. I'd say good to see you again, Celestia, but I know that isn't really true for either of us. And Luna, I believe this is the first time we've met. I'm sure you already know a lot about me. Hope big sis put in a good word."
Celestia spread out her wings as she took a few steps forward. "Seventeen years too long, 34... I still don't see how you managed to escape, but it is far too late to worry about that. She stopped a couple yards away from him. "How do you know about this room?"
He chuckled. "Let's answer that question... with another question... Why are you worried that I know about the Elements of Harmony? Is your rainbow laser trump card something I shouldn't know about?" The human sat down and crossed his legs. Celestia looked to her sister as 34 continued. "Flattered you remember my number by the way, but before we continue any further, let's get rid of the third party. Can't exactly have a private conversation otherwise."
"What are you talking about?" Celestia tried to play dumb.
"Let's say... Skystrike and I talk about our personal lives between each other. Apparently he was being spied on, and said spy is here now." Skystrike pointed to the hole in the ceiling. "I come here alone, with no intention to harm, because I wanted to see what you have to say. the least you could do is return the good will and let us have this in private."
"What to you mean by 'good will'?"
"Would you have preferred I came into the capital on purpose?" 34 rested his head on his hand. "If not, then I don't believe we have anything left to say to each other, and you can go back to searching for a person who can only be found when he wants to."
Celestia and 34 stared at each other. Luna put a hoof on her sister's shoulder. "...Benefit of the doubt, sister... we believe we should at least hear him out."
Celestia grit her teeth. "Agent Sweetie Drops, you're dismissed."
After a few moments, the sound of hoof steps were heard on the roof, getting further and further away with each step. "Thank you. Now, to answer the first question about how I know about the Elements and their bearers, that's pretty easy. I've frequented this place over the years. I got curious and started reading some books." He laughed. Then he calmed himself. "But that's not a satisfactory answer for you, is it?"
Celestia then asked her next question. "Well... since you're so willing to answer our questions, how did you escape Canterlot?"
34 smiled at the memory. "I was given a chance to do better by two of your guards. Made a promise to leave some good in this world, and I intend to keep it. Hope those two are alright. And no, I'm not gonna rat them out. I literally owe them my life." The human sat up and put his hands on his knees. "My turn for a question. I figured you'd have gave up by now. Why are you so hell bent on capturing me?"
"Because, human, you're a danger to this entire world." Celestia stomped. "I've seen what you've done as a child! As if I'd let you walk free!"
"Well... ignoring how that probably was racially motivated, I feel like I've already said that that entrance was not on purpose. Though I will admit, being older now, I understand why you wanted to keep me contained." 34 admitted. Celestia's posture didn't change, but her ears did perk up at that. "That being said, I still stand by my actions. I will not be caged again. I simply wish to live. That leads into my next question. You seem to have a stigma against humans, seemingly more than me... what do you have against my kin?"
"Don't play dumb with me." Celestia growled. "Your kin bought terror to this country over a thousand years ago, starting in this very castle!"
34's eyes widened. "...Well damn, that's news to me. I... know it doesn't mean much, but I'm sorry."
"Why would you be?"
"Because, Celestia, even though I'm human, I can recognize the mistakes of my race." He sighed and said the next part to himself. "You'd think a technologically advanced race would use it to better themselves, rather than conquer."
Luna whispered to her sister. "Celestia, we think he is telling the truth."
"Luna, you know the humans. You would do well to remember their deception."
34 interrupted the two. "So I'm confused. You come in and automatically assume I am here to deceive you, what point is there in talking?"
Celestia thought for a moment. "Very well, let's say we do believe you... Have you had any contact with humans since your arrival?"
34 shook his head. "No. At least, not exactly." Celestia's magic flared. "Calm down. I was going to say I'm not a fan of them like you, given how I escaped them to get to your world. There were a few labs that I've destroyed and one I kept intact, though the most recent one I found was the only one that connected to the home universe. Made sure they wouldn't be able to use that place again."
Luna spoke this one, surprised. "There were hidden labs? How many? Where?"
34 counted on his fingers. "The badlands, the northern mountain range near some village, and here on the edge of the Everfree, so that makes three."
Luna stuttered. "You- wh- You left one intact!?"
The human nodded. "Of course. I need some place to repair my arm, and in case the humans come back, you need better weapons." 34 pointed to himself. "If a prototype like me is enough to put you on edge just by existing, I imagine you're going to shit yourself if they come back with a better version of me, one not so chatty."
Celestia and Luna looked at each other, then back to the human. Celestia shakily forced her words out. "They... They're coming back?"
34 nodded. "Most likely. The lab I found in the north was made to track me, and they were making weapons to neutralize me at the very least. I don't know when, I just know they have a way of getting here. And if that happens, I cannot say with full confidence that I can handle them alone." He let the weight of his words hang in the air for a time. Celestia and Luna shuddered. How many ponies would die if 34 is right? How much blood will be shed for their lust for conquest? It can't happen again. "So, let's make a deal." Celestia and Luna's ears perked up at that. "We continue to keep to ourselves for a bit. I'll live away from the eyes of the ponies you love so much, and you will stop hunting for me as I search for any traces of humanity. If the humans never come, it's a win for both of us. If they do, then we work together until the threat is dealt with."
"...A decent offer on paper, but your kind is less than trustworthy. How do I know you will keep up your end of the deal." Celestia finally folded in her wings.
"Well, if you remember how I came to this world, your kind wasn't too good either. The only reason I even began to interact with you ponies was because of those two guards. I can't really trust you either, but neither of us have a choice here." 34 stood up and jumped down in front of the princesses. Celestia glared at him as she prepared her magic. He leaned over a bit to be at her eye level. "So, I'll say it this way. If you want to have your country, this world, continue to be independent from humanity, then we must work together if they ever come..." 34 put out a hand to shake her and Luna's hooves
Celestia still hesitated. "...And if I refuse?"
"Then we are both fighting a war on two fronts. But you'll have it a lot worse than me. You could barely handle me as a child, but to be fair to you, you weren't trying to kill." 34 smirked a bit,. "And while I don't wish to fight you two, as I've seen how well you take care of your subjects, and Skystrike, I will do what I must to survive." He made sure to say that last part with determination. "So, do we have a deal?"
Celestia and Luna knew it wasn't even a fair deal. It wasn't even a trade. They could not take the chance of 34 running wild in Equestria. And if they do come, they would need all the help they could get. Luna surprised her sister by taking his hand and shaking it. Then the two looked to Celestia, who begrudgingly did the same. "Very well, but know this, if you do anything to harm my little ponies, the Elements of Harmony will surely stop you."
34 crossed his arms. "If it comes to that, then that is on me, and I wish you luck... I'll make sure to tell Skystrike that everything went fine." 34 turned his back. "Though I must say, glad this didn't end badly."
Luna put out a hoof. "Wait, human..." 34 turned his head to look at her. "You said that there was a lab kept intact. Where is it?"
"Oh, right. Ask Skystrike. He told me your sister asked about his launcher thing. How do you think he made it? But I've said enough." 34 jumped through the hole in the roof and looked down at them. "I'm gonna dip. I need to go get dinner."
He returned to his bag, making sure he wasn't followed and changing back to his pony form. Skystrike put back on his sweats and sighed. His heart was racing that entire time. He sat down for a minute to catch his breath. Then he realized, there's no real out for him, is there? Celestia will never stop going after him, and humanity won't leave him alone either. He'd have to stay hidden, or at least be very careful who he tells. Then he realized another thing, it's over if Luna tells her sister. He'd need to do his best to keep his distance... or earn their trust.
"Thoughts for later." Skystrike said to himself as he exited the forest. For now, he had some ponies to see.
Skystrike pushed open the door to the bar, greeting the bar tender and owner. "Hey, Berry! How's it hanging?"
Berry didn't look up from the glass she was cleaning. "Hey, Nebula... Didn't expect you to come in. I heard what happened on Wednesday, good to see you're still in one piece. Your friends are in the booth at the corner."
"Thanks Berry. Get us the house special, and one for yourself." Skystrike left a bag of bits on the counter, then went to the booth. "Mayor Mare, Cheerilee, Redheart, and Snowheart! Decided to join us today, I see."
The four turned to greet him, then almost spit out their drinks. Redheart wiped her mouth with a hoof. "By Celestia, Nebula, what in Eques are you doing without your wheelchair!?" She got up in an attempt to help him sit down. "Oh dear I hope that your stitches haven't come undone..."
Skystrike chuckled. "I'm fine, Redheart. Look." Skystrike pulled up his sweatshirt to show his ribs.
"Oh my god, you can grind grain on those- I mean-... What? How??" She stuttered.
"I'm a really good sleeper." Skystrike laughed. "Also, I ordered us some drinks..."
Mayor Mare held her head. "Thanks, I need one. After I heard what happened on Wednesday, I'm just glad you're ok."
Skystrike sat down. "Pssh, I don't die. But thanks for worrying. So, how've you all been?"
"Well, you know, same routine." Cheerilee said, looking into her half full glass. "You coming in on Wednesday was great, don't get me wrong... It's just been... slightly annoying when one of those air cannon things launches all the papers off my desk."
Skystrike snickered. "My bad. Honestly, I didn't think of that aspect."
Mayor Mare did the same. "The princesses gave a surprise visit Wednesday as well. I wish somepony told me beforehoof that I'd have to file an entire airship..."
He snickered again. "My bad."
Snowheart downed the rest of her drink. "Well, Redheart and I actually had to do surgery on Wednesday. It was weird... Personally, I normally want a stallion in me, not the other way around."
The group laughed as their drinks came. They each thanked Berry before clinking their glasses together. Skystrike took a sip. "Mmm... damn, this is really good!"
Berry smiled. "Family recipe. Glad you enjoy it... You know, I'll let you have that one for free if you can guess what's in it, colt."
"Challenge accepted..." Skystrike took another sip. "Taste's a bit like Brandy, but not what's normally in it... there's a hint of citrus, but more tangy than an orange, so I assume lemon or lime juice. It's almost drowned out by the orange juice and strawberry juice. I don't know what type of bitters you use though..." He took a longer sip after a sniff. "There's... one more thing in here that I can't put my hoof on... Something sweet, but savory, and a little salty. Caramel?"
"How the buck..." Berry smiled as Skystrike threw up his hooves. "I'm impressed. I didn't take you as a sommelier. How often you drink to know what's in it?"
"Honestly? Not much. But if you ever hang out with a dragon, you pick up on a lot. But for real though, this is really good." Skystrike downed the glass. "Can I get another? Also whatever you'd think this would go well with for the five of us. I'm hungry as hell." Berry nodded, taking the empty glasses and going to do so. "So, girls, what do you all wanna talk about?"
Snowheart took a sip of her brandy. "Mmm, you were right, this is good. Anyway, I always wanted to ask, how do you always walk around in that armor? And how come you haven't been wearing it?"
Skystrike though about it. "Well, as to the how, my original armor when I first started my job was the civilian grade armor you could get from any blacksmith shop. As I got older and more refined in my craft, I realized I needed sturdier armor, and it ended up getting heavier as I made new sets. The reason I haven't wore it recently is because after my fight in the capital, it got dented. I've been working on new armor since."
"Really now? I haven't heard of any spar, but I haven't been reading the newspapers recently... How long does it take to even make armor? I assume longer than normal, given your size." Snowheart put and elbow on the table.
"Well, to put it into perspective, one of my swords takes a week, minimum. That set of armor I wore used took me... two months. There were a lot of parts needed to complete it, but I don't want to bore you with my rambling."
"Fair enough... Did you hear about that diss track on the princesses?" Redheart changed the subject. "I haven't listened to it yet, but apparently it's really funny."
"Oh yeah, I've heard it..." Cheerilee giggled. "Well, not personally. The kids have been singing it for the past week."
"I haven't heard of it, and I'm pretty into music. Are they new?"
Skystrike tried to hide his laugh... failing miserably. "Haahahaha! Yeah, that was great! First release, and we were so glad it was a hit, not a miss."
"That was you? You made a diss track on the princesses??" Cheerilee put her hooves on the table to stand up. Then blinked and sat back down. "You know, I'm not really surprised actually."
Redheart raised a brow and sipped her brandy. "Hmm, wanna give us a live show?"
"You know, I would, but this isn't really the setting for it. Plus, rapping without a beat just doesn't hit the same." Skystrike said as Berry came back with their food and his drink. "Thank you, Berry." He bit into the hay burger. "Oh my god I needed that."
"Damn, you can eat." Snowheart took a bite of her own food. "Oh, here's a fun one, what were your nicknames in school? Mine was beach, since I apparently look like one."
"That's actually really cute." Mayor mare wiped her mouth. "Better than mine at least. Mine was just Mare. I wasn't too talkative, and never really shared my name, so it just stuck."
"So that's why you're called Mayor Mare..." Redheart took a few gulps. "During medical school when I was bisecting a frog and I got blood everywhere, I mean my hooves and face were covered in it. They called me crimson heart for a while."
Cheerilee went next. "I... actually I don't remember if I had a nickname."
"You know, I don't think you did... huh, that's so weird." Mayor Mare said before taking a bite of her food. "What about you, Nebula? If I remember right, you had a few."
He nodded. "Yeah, I had a couple, though some I were more fond for than others. By some, I was called 'scrap heap'. I wasn't exactly wealthy back then. Sure, I had money, but I spent it on my sibllings first. I'd go by the blacksmiths in Canterlot to get any scrap I could to make weapons and armor. As the name implied, I ended up looking like a scrap heap." Skystrike thought for some time. "One I was a bit self concious of was 'leech', since some ponies were jealous of the ponies I was around. But a more light hearted and funny one I had was 'Ass beater'."
Cheerilee and Mayor Mare laughed as the former spoke. "Oh, I remember that! That was great!"
"What's the story behind that one?" Snowheart asked.
Skystrike laughed, remembering back. "It was at prom. Some guy who's name eludes me right now was talking a lot of shit to my friend and the girl he was going for. He was all around just an unpleasant stallion, so when I stepped in to back up my friend, he started saying all sorts of shit. In the end, I said 'I'm going to beat your ass.' And then, I indeed beat his ass."
They all laughed at his story, continuing to talk as the night went on. They had a few more drinks, since no one had work in the morning. They all made sure not to get drunk like last time. They paid their tab before leaving. Skystrike decided to continue their small talk. "Hey, Snowheart, you said you have a cat? Also, unrelated, we're leaving the bar earlier than last week."
"Oh, every once in a while, we hang out at each other's houses and we gossip. Redheart and I have cats. They're pretty nice if you want to stop by."
"Sure, I love cats!" Skystrike followed the four for a bit to Redheart's and Snowhearts house. They all entered, the two nurse ponies being last. Skystrike was a bit confused as he looked around the living room. "Where are the cats? Are they shy?"
Redheart and Snowheart both whispered into his ears. "Meow~"
"...You know what, that's a new one."
About two weeks passed since Friday, and not much happened. Of course, there were heart felt goodbyes from his sisters and Casta as they returned to Canterlot. At least they could come visit him often if they wished. Casta, Astral, and Skystrike were able to make a teleporter from his living room to Casta's Mage tower. They'd work on making one in his airship another time. He spent the last while working on his armor first and foremost. Like he planned, it looked exactly like his old set of armor, though slightly bulkier. He didn't realize until sizing himself that his old armor was tight.
Anyway, there were just a few more things to add to his armor, and it would be the longest process. Now that he has access to that book of enchanting from the royal treasury, he need to figure out how to enchant things. Before that, he needs to properly test the magic stones he got from the mission reward a while ago. He didn't really need it, but it's more to test if he can use electrodynamics to activate magic. But that was a thought for later.
Right now though, Skystrike was helping Twilight rearrange her library with the help of their friends, save for Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. Twilight put a book from the stack in a shelf with her magic. A question came to mind. "Hey, Sky, you said you could use magic. You said Destruction magic was what you were best at. Can you use any other types?"
Skystrike nodded as he balanced a stack of books in his arms. "Well, yes, I can. I can use Alteration, Restoration, Conjuration, Enchanting, and Illusion magic, though to a lesser degree. I've tried to get better, but I can't really use anything past the intermediate level of those branches of study."
Twilight was interested in that. "Really? And what level of magic can you use for Destruction? Most unicorns have affinities for one study, rarely two like your friend Casta. I specialize in Alteration and Conjuration, but thanks to my cutie mark, I can use advanced level magic in the other trees." Then she thought some more, shifting some of the books around. "It makes sense now that I think about it. I was hoping you could use levitation magic to speed this up a bit, but no hope if you aren't good at Alteration."
Skystrike put up the book as he jumped down the ladder, landing on his hooves with a thud. "Actually, that's the fun thing about magic, you can recreate spells with other spells."
"...What do you mean?"
"Well, take levitation magic for example. It's an Alteration spell and makes things levitate." He put out his right arm, pointing his hoof at a book on the floor. "But I can replicate it in different ways using destruction magic. For example..." A ball of wind surrounded the book. "By using a wind spell and combining that with a barrier spell to contain that wind, I can move the barrier, and thus the book." He moved his palm up and made a pushing motion with his arm, moving it into a shelf before dispelling his magic.
"...Interesting..." Twilight made a mental note of that. "But that's really not magically efficient... then again, you don't really have to worry about that."
"I'unno much 'bout magic, but that was mighty impressive. I haven't seen unicorns use magic like that in my life!" Applejack turned to him and took a stack of books out of his hooves. "What other types of fancy magic can you do?"
"I am a bit interested myself, since we're on the topic, darling." Rarity gave her horn a rest.
"Ooh! Ooh!" Pinkie jumped. "Show us a party trick!"
Skystrike thought of something. He put the tip of his hoof to his temple. "Pinkie, pull my tail." She did so and his eyes lit up like a flashlight. Pinkie laughed, pulling it a few more times and watching his eyes flash on and off. The other three laughed as well. Pinkie turned him off, and Skystrike blinked a couple times to regain his sight.
Twilight pushed in the last book. "Alright, everypony! We're finally done. Thank you sooo much for helping me clean up all these books, guys. It was a crazy weekend of studying!" She rolled her eyes like pin balls.
"How the actual fuck did you do that?" Skystrike wondered.
Twilight was about to answer, but a worried and disoriented yell was coming closer and closer. They all looked to the window. It sounded like... "Whooaoaoaoa! GAH!" Rainbow Dash flew head first into Skystrike's chest.
"AAEGH!" He screamed as he got launched backwards. The sheer force of their crash launched a cloud of smoke as well as a shockwave that knocked every book off the shelves. Now everyone was disoriented. Skystrike held his head as he pulled himself out of the mountain of books. He inhaled deeply. "Everypony ok?" He said with a groan.
He heard several "Yeah..."s as heads poked out of the books.
Fluttershy landed on the window frame that Rainbow dove in from. "Rainbow Dash, you did great! Woohoo!" She said with the loudest voice she could. But it was a whisper. It was pretty cute. Then she looked at the chaos in the room. "...Did my cheering do that?"
"Two fucking hours, Rainbow Dash!" Skystrike shook off the pain.
She gave a nervous chuckle. "Heheh... sorry about that, guys." She shook her hair out of her face, then had a look of annoyance. "That was a truly feeble performance..."
Fluttershy jumped down. "Actually, it wasn't all bad. I particularly liked it when you made the clouds spin!" She made a spinning motion with her hoof.
Rainbow Dash scoffed. "I'm not talking about my performance, I'm talking about yours! That feeble cheering!"
"What are you two arguing about?" Twilight asked.
"Were we arguing? I'm sorry..." Fluttershy shrunk a bit.
"Ugh... I wish you guys could come to Cloudsdale to see me compete in the Best Young flier competition!" Rainbow sighed.
Twilight asked for clarification. "What's that!?"
Pinkie leaned forward excitedly. "It's when the best fliers get together and show off their flying styles! Some are fast!" Pinkie began running around the room as fast as she could making plane sounds. "And some are graceful." Then she began spinning around like a ballerina and fell into the books below her.
"Golly... I'd love to see you strut your stuff in that competition." Applejack straightened her hat.
"I wish you guys could be there. Fluttershy is a great support, but her cheering isn't exactly inspirational." Rainbow said as Fluttershy looked away a bit defeated.
"Rainbow, I get you're nervous, but please think about what you say, how you say it, and how it could come off." Skystrike pulled Pinkie out of the books like a carrot. "Fluttershy is already willing to go to Cloudsdale with you to cheer. That should be enough, knowing you have her support."
Rainbow winced a bit. "...You're right... I'm sorry, Fluttershy."
"Ooh! I'd love to see you make a sonic rainboom!" Pinkie got back on topic. "It'd be like the coolest thing ever! Even though I've never actually seen it, but I mean come on, it's a sonic rainboom!" She hopped up and down. "How not cool could it possibly not be!?"
"What's a sonic rainboom?" Twilight was confused agian.
Fluttershy gave her an answer. "Remember when Skystrike had that ring around him back when he showed Spike he wasn't ready? That."
"You really need to get out more." Pinkie touched noses with the unicorn. "Basically, it happens when a pegasus goes really fast, and BOOM!" She jumped into a pile of books. "A sonic boom and a Rainbow happen all at the same time! It's legendary!"
"And Rainbow Dash is the only pony to ever pull it off! Well, besides Skystrike, but Rainbow did is as a filly." Applejack said.
"You did it as a kid!?" Skystrike asked. "Damn, that's impressive! I couldn't do it until I was like, 22! Nice job!"
"Yeah, it was a long time ago. Like she said, I was just a filly..."
"Yeah but you're gonna do it again, right!?" Pinkie asked.
Rainbow Dash wasn't sure... "A-are you kidding!? I-I'm the greatest flier to ever come outta Cloudsdale!" She puffed her chest fluff out, then she looked to Skystrike. "I can do sonic rainbooms in my sleep! But I wouldn't be against some pointers on how to do it better..."
They all looked at Skystrike. "Oh uh... I guess get the angle right? The hardest part is getting to that speed. Dive straight down, fold your wings almost inward, but not completely closed, and make sure your body is straight as it can be. Squint your eyes, and control your breathing. I can't really give much more advice than that..."
"Well, how'd you do it the first time?" The skittle pony asked.
"Zecora was falling off a cliff, and my adrenaline was doing work." Skystrike answered with a shrug. "But hey, if you're able to pull it off, you'll win that grand prize for sure! Just make sure you got your routine down."
"The grand prize is an entire day with the Wonderbolts!" Rainbow began to day dream as her eyes grew wider in anticipation. "A whole day with my life long heroes... It'll be a dream come true!"
"Yay!" Fluttershy cheered as Skystrike snickered.
Rainbow was about to say something, but thankfully stopped herself. "I'm gonna go rest up, don't wanna overprepare you know?" She began walking towards the window. "And thanks, Fluttershy for coming to cheer me on. It means a lot." And then, she flew out of it.
"Oh yeah, that's fine, leave us with the mess you made." Skystrike stomped his hooves.
Fluttershy shook her head. "Thanks, Skystrike... She's practiced that move a hundred times an still doesn't have it down. I don't know if me cheering loud enough will make up for that..." And then Fluttershy flew to follow her.
"Welp, guess we better clean this up... again..." Twilight picked up a book with her magic.
Rarity poked her flank with a horn. "Well, go on, go on!"
"Ow! What!?"
"Find us a spell to get us flightless ponies into Cloudsdale! Didn't you see how nervous she was?"
Applejack nearly laughed. "Nervous? She was tootin' her own horn louder than the brass section of a marchin' band."
Skystrike laughed. "Alright, that was a good one. But she was definitely nervous. Some ponies act overconfident when dealing with stress. Rainbow is a perfect example."
"Indeed." Rarity nodded. "I've put on enough fashion shows to know stage fright when I see it! We've got to find a way to be there for her!"
"Well... finding a spell is easier said than done in this mess. Besides, it wouldn't work on Skystrike."
Skystrike waved a hoof. "Oh, don't worry about me. I had a old pair of shoes I used to wear when I was in Cloudsdale that helped me walk on clouds. I should be able to copy the spell and move it onto a new pair." Skystrike said as he made his way towards the door. "I'll make sure to meet you guys at Cloudsdale."
It took Skystrike about 20 minutes to get the magic right, but he put it on a knew pair of shoes that fit him. Then he thought, why the hell do ponies have shoes? They're naked nearly all the time, and they have hooves? Confusing... Anyway, he started his flight to Cloudsdale. Zecora denied the invite due to her fear of heights, Stardust was doing a report, and Tethys was trying to teach herself how to cook. He had to admit, it was nice seeing her try new things.
He hoped his shoes worked, since he couldn't really test them on the ground. It would not be nice to have to fly the whole time. But what Skystrike hoped for most was that Rainbow would do well in her turn in the event. She's talented, but doesn't do too well under pressure. She could wipe the floor with the competition easily if Rainbow was just able to shut off her mind. Maybe a few words of advice to her would do some good before her flight.
Well, since he had time to think... "Hey, Echo..."
"Yes?"
"We never named the Stake Launcher..."
"We are not calling it the 'Special Beam Cannon'." Echo said.
"Well why don't you think of a better name for an attack?"
"Very well... how about... Metal Devil?"
"... Doom~ Cannon?"
"Ares's kiss?"
"...Shit, that's good!" Skystrike moved his head to the side.
Skystrike landed at Cloudsdale with many more ideas for names. It was a good talk. But as he landed on the outskirts, he noticed the stares he was getting. It reminded him of how ponies normally acted around him, and how Ponyville was when he first came. He'd try not to take it personally.
He walked a bit, trying to figure out where he was going before he saw some familiar faces. It was Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy talking to three stallions in work uniforms. The former was visibly upset, while the latter switched from standing tall to shrinking in on herself a few times. Skystrike got a bit closer, hearing one of the stallions laugh with saying "Rainbow Crash!" He sighed... it was one of these situations. At least he joined in on what seems to be the later half of whatever conversation they were having.
Skystrike walked next his two friends. "Hey, I made it. I forget how long a flight it is here." He yawned. "What's happening?"
"Nothing..." Rainbow grunted. "Fluttershy and I were just leaving."
The brown pegasus began mocking her. "I can't wait to see you screw up your show, Rainbow Crash!" He said before laughing and beginning to fly off.
Skystrike grabbed the orange one by his uniform and pulled him out of the air and back on the ground. "So, I see you three must be old friends of Rainbow Dash... You know, I think I figured out the reason you're all such queefs of a pony."
The other two landed as Skystrike pushed the orange one away. The orange pegasus grunted. "What do you mean by that? Who are you anyway? One of Crash's friends?"
"You see, you three peaked in Flight School. Now that you all are working some job you don't enjoy and every other pony has left you because they grew past the angsty teen phase, you see ponies like Rainbow Dash that still have dreams they want to follow. You all antagonize and pick on ponies like her because you see somepony you could be if you actually put in effort into your lives. And now, you're stuck in the past, hoping to get that high of 'people liking you because you were the biggest guys in school'. Everypony else you could've had some semblance of a relationship with has left you all flailing in the mud, and the only reason the three of you stick together because misery loves company." Each word he spoke came out with more and more annoyance and frustration than the last. Skystrike took another step forward, making the stallions back up. "Now, you all can fly off and enjoy the rest of your lunch break doing a self pity circle jerk, and if I ever see you bad mouthing my friends, I'll rain down Tartarus upon you all." Skystrike made his eyes flash as he loomed over them.
The three took the hint and ran the complete opposite direction. Skystrike sighed as he saw them round the corner and turned back to the two. "What?" He asked.
"...And I thought I was assertive." Fluttershy said.
"Damn, dude, you went in! Thanks I guess??? You were a lot harder on them than I thought you would be." Rainbow dash coughed.
"Rainbow, you have a talent. Don't let assholes like them bring you down. I won't let anyone trample on another's dream."
Rainbow sighed. "...They're right... I'll never be able to do it..."
Fluttershy tried to cheer her up. "But Rainbow Dash, just because you failed the sonic rainboom a hundred thousand times in practice doesn't mean you won't be able to do it in front of an entire stadium full of impatient, super critical sports fans!"
...Holy fuck that was trying??? "Fluttershy..." Skystrike was trying not to laugh. "We need to work on your pep talks..."
Rainbow Dash's nerves finally got to her. "AAAAAAH!" Skystrike covered his ears. "What do I do!? Everypony is gonna see me fail! The Wonderbolts will never let a loser like me join! Princess Celestia will probably banish me to the Everfree forest! My life is ruined!"
Skystrike was gonna tell Celestia about that later. Fluttershy blinked and stared off into space. "...Rare-?"
"Wh- The sonic rainboom is way more than rare!" Rainbow stood back up from her wailing.
Skystrike noticed that Fluttershy was looking at something behind Rainbow Dash. "Rarity??"
They all looked behind Rainbow Dash. Skystrike was confused. "...Butterfly wings?"
"Rarity, are you flying!?" Rainbow was making sure she saw things right.
"I certainly am~!" Rarity flew down with her wings, almost like stained glass. "Aren't my wings smashing? Twilight made them for me, I just adore them!"
Skystrike closed both of the mouths of his jaw dropped pegasus friends. "I'm more surprised you learned to fly so quick."
"Well, it's rather easy, to be quite honest. It's kind of like... having a second horn. But Fluttershy, Rainbow, Why so shocked? We couldn't leave our favorite flier without a big cheering section."
"We?" Rainbow asked before seeing a purple hot air balloon bring the rest of her friends up. "I-... I can't believe it! This is so cool! You guys made it!"
"Sure did!" Pinkie jumped out of the hot air balloon and onto the cloud. Rainbow Dash's heart nearly stopped until she saw Pinkie didn't fall through. They Twilight and Applejack followed. "...How'd you do that? I thought only pegasus ponies could walk on clouds?"
Pinkie began doing cart wheels as Twilight explained. "I found a spell that gives temporary wings, but it was too difficult to do more than once, so I found an easier spell that lets the rest of us walk on clouds!"
"And we came to cheer you to victory!" Applejack got on her back hooves.
"...To be honest, I was getting just a teeny bit nervous. But I feel a lot better now that you guys are here." Then she had a thought. "Hey, we have some time before the competition! Why don't Fluttershy, Nebula, and I show you around Cloudsdale?"
The tour started by showing them a view few important parts of Cloudsdale. Skystrike would remember what he was talking about if he didn't keep getting distracted by the ponies ogling Rarity and her wings. Twilight explained to Rarity that her wings were delicate when she started to do rolls and loops... If Rarity was a pegasus, she'd be talented too. Soon, Applejack bought up wanting to see where the weather was made.
As he was in the weather factory, it made him think of a lot of things, mostly doing with this world's weather system. The water cycle doesn't work the way it does in his world, since the ponies, and what ever other races that can control the weather, have to make the clouds themselves. He found it a bit interesting. It was also interesting how they gave them special clothes to enter the factory... well his friends got the clothes. He was too big.
Rainbow did most of the talking. Each snow flake is hoof made, which seems really time consuming considering how much fucking snow he had to move during winter wrap up. Rarity blew them everywhere with her wings though, so they moved on quickly to the next part. Apparently, they make Rainbows to? But, liquid ones instead of the ones made with light. Unless they're the same? He was fucking confused. Magic is fucking bullshit.
Pinkie stuck a hoof into a pool of rainbow and licked it, turning every color of the rainbow before going "Spicyyyyyy!" weakly.
Applejack and Twilight laughed as Rainbow explained. "Yeah... rainbow's aren't really known for their flavor..." Skystrike was curious. He stuck in a hoof and licked it. Then kept licking the rainbow off his hooves. It was definitely spicy, but it was good. Each 'color' he tasted was giving ideas for meals. "Bro, what the buck?"
"It tastes good, okay!?" Skystrike wiped his hoof on his clothes. "I know what I'm getting from the gift shop."
The five of them looked to se Rarity being followed by the three stallions he saw earlier. First, they saw Rainbow and were about to mock her again, but then they saw Skystrike staring daggers. They made the smart choice not to say anything to her. But it didn't stop the mare in question from feeling self conscious about the comparison they made of her wings and Rarity's. It even continued into the cloud part of the factory. Rainbow put some distance between the group and herself as Rarity kept getting the attention of everypony. She was enjoying herself too much.
Skystrike walked over to Rainbow Dash. "...You aren't looking too good, Rainbow."
"I'm fine! Why wouldn't I be? Everypony will be too busy looking at Rarity's wings that they wont see me bomb the competition!" She held her head in her hooves.
Then some random pony suggested that Rarity enter the competition. Rarity quite liked the idea. "Hmm... there isn't' anypony who uses their wings quite like me... maybe I should compete!"
As Rarity flew off with the crowd following her, Rainbow Dash grew more distressed. "What am I gonna do!?" She pranced back and forth. "I'll never win the competition now..."
Skystrike put a hoof on Rainbow's back. "Rainbow, I know how easy it is for me to say something like 'Don't worrry' so I'm not going to say that. We've all felt what you're feeling, so there's not really anything we can say to make you feel better. But know this. Even if you feel like you're going to fail. you do your best. Failure is something we learn from, something that makes us strive to be better. You must believe in yourself. If you can't believe in yourself, believe in the friends that believe in you." She looked up at him. "Each of us do, and know you're going to win it by a landslide. Even Rarity. Despite her... actions, she was the one to recommend finding a spell to Twilight."
Each of the girls nodded and hugged Rainbow. "...Thanks, everypony.... Hey Nebula, can I ask you something?"
"Go for it."
"Don't... be too hard on Rarity."
"Aight." Skystrike nodded. "But that depends on if she recognizes her mess up and she apologizes to you."
It was the time of the event. Skystrike, Twilight, Applejack and Rarity were all making small talk over the competitors. But he was cutting them out of his mind a bit. Skystrike didn't feel too good about what was happening. He remembered Rainbow Dash was a single digit, but they were in the doubles now. Either she left by now, or she switched out her number for a later one. Stage fright got to her.
He thought about going to get her, but she came out right as he was moving to get up. Well, she and Rarity came out at the same time. Hold on, what the fuck is she wearing? A feather dress with spots? And a feather crown too... he was going to stop thinking on it, he'd never understand fashion. Rarity and Rainbow talked to each other, each on opposite ends of the social anxiety spectrum before doing their sets. Skystrike decided to focus on Rainbow Dash.
She started off by weaving between a line of poles. Her form was pretty good, but her problem became obvious to the trained eye. Each cloud pillar she passed she was a tad too early on starting the next turn. That came back to bite her as she bumped into one of the poles, flinging her head first into one of the walls of the colosseum. Those three stallions from earlier laughed at her. Skystrike must admit, she had one hell of a glare. Rainbow pushed herself off the wall and shook her head and went into phase two. She flew out of the colosseum and towards a set of clouds above it. She flew around one with a rather impressive speed, leaving the cloud at the right time to let it keep spinning as she went to do the same to the next one, then the next. They all cheered as her plan seemed to work... until a piece of the cloud fell off and hit her in the face, and making the cloud spiral towards- Hold on, when did Celestia get here? Was she here the whole time? Anyway, she and her guards ducked under the cloud rushing towards her head.
Skystrike grit his teeth at that, then followed Rainbow's eyes to see what she was looking at. Rarity was moving on to her final part... well, saying it like that implies that she planned all of this out, and she isn't just in the heat of the moment. The two mares both flew as high as they could into the sky. Rarity stopped just in front of the sun, letting her stained glass wings shine a beautiful light down on them. "Look upon me, Equestria, for I am Rarity!"
Skystrike sighed as the crowd looked in awe. Then he worrying thought. "...Twilight, what's her wings made of again?"
Twilight looked at him. "Gosmer and Morning dew. Why- ooooooooh... oooooooooh... ooooooh no..." They all kept looking at Rarity before her wings began to sizzle at the intensity of the sun, then combusting into flames before quickly turning to ash, leaving her suspended in the air. "OH NO!" Twilight gripped her face. Rarity began screaming as she fell through the stadium and was going towards the ground at soon to be terminal velocity.
Three of the Wonderbolts quickly jumped off to catch her, diving to get close, but Rarity was flailing so much that she knocked each of them out. It was kinda funny. Then Skystrike remembered they were falling to their death... probably... He got up to intervene, but then saw Rainbow zoom by to catch up to them... He decided to let her cook.
"Hold on Rarity!" Rainbow said as she dove, going faster and faster with each passing second. The air seemed to bend around her front hooves. Holy shit, he think's she's gonna do it. Skystrike and his friends all got up and looked in suspense. Rainbow flew with all her might as a Rainbow seemed to form around her, the friction in the air making lightning that surged through her.
And she did it, a rainbow explosion burst from behind her as she reached mach one, catching Rarity and the rest of the Wonderbolts just before they hit the ground. Fluttershy began jumping as she gave a cheer that would give Pinkie a run for her money. "A SONIC RAINBOOM SHE DID IT! WAHOO!"
Skystrike felt proud, watching her make a rainbow over them before landing. He flew down to pick up Rarity out of her hooves, as other bystanders pulled each of the Wonderbolts off of her. The crowd cheered in her honor. She couldn't help but cry at the sight. She even heard Fluttershy's cheering. "I-I did it! A sonic rainboom! I DID IT!"
Rarity gave a relieved sigh from Skystrike's arms. "You sure did! Oh, Thank you, Rainbow Dash! You saved my life!"
"Oh, heh, I did that too!" It took her a moment to realize. "Best day ever!" She pumped a hoof.
Skystrike smiled. "Knew you could do it, Rainbow."
"Thanks, bro." She gave a hoof bump. Then she thought. "Hey... you noticed Rarity fall before me... how come you didn't do something?"
"Well, you're able to do a lot with adrenaline. You did a rainboom the same way I first did mine." He shrugged.
Rarity realized what that implied. "You-... you let me fall?"
"Well I wouldn't say it like that, but yes. I thought it was your kink." Skystrike said, making Rainbow laugh a bit. "On a more serious note, take it as a learning experience. Besides, I knew Rainbow could've done it. That's why I didn't go to catch you."
"Dang, man, I said don't be too hard on her." Rainbow said a bit sheepish.
"I'm not being hard on her." Skystrike clarified as Twilight bought up her air balloon. "Oh, perfect timing." Skystrike put the unicorn in the basket as the rest of their friends came down. He rolled his wings as he landed.
Rarity took the hint from the look Skystrike was giving her. "I... want to apologize to all of you for getting so carried away with my..." She shuttered at the loss. "Beautiful wings... I guess I just lost my head." They all forgave her pretty easily, but it wasn't a big deal. "And I'm especially sorry that I was so thoughtless to jump into the contest at the last minute after you had worked so hard to win it." Rarity turned to Rainbow Dash. "Can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?"
"Aw, it's ok! Everything turned out alright, right?" Rainbow shrugged it off. "I just wish I could've met the Wonderbolts when they were awake." A hoof tapped her shoulder, making her turn and almost pass out. "Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!"
The lead, Spitfire spoke first. "So you're the little pony who saved our lives! We really wanted to meet you, and say thanks!" The two behind her, Soarin and Misty Fly nodded. "You're even better than what I heard about you!"
"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!" Oh god, she was fucking losing it, fan girling! "Wait, you've heard about me???"
"Yeah! Your friend Nebula here says you have potential. Figured if he spoke about you so often in the letters, It'd be worth meeting you."
Rainbow's jaw dropped again, turning to Skystrike. He smirked. "You know I got your back."
They heard somepony clear their throat from behind them. "Hello, Twilight Sparkle! And hello to your friends too!" Celestia said as she approached.
They each gave a quick bow. Rarity and the princess made eye contact. "Princess Celestia, I'm sorry I ruined the competition... Rainbow Dash here really is the best flier in Equestria!"
"I know she is, dear. That's why thanks to her incredible act of bravery, and her spectacular sonic rainboom, I'm presenting the grand prize for best young flier to this years winner, Miss Rainbow Dash!" She put a ceremonial crown on her head. Rainbow couldn't hide how ecstatic she was.
Skystrike watched as the rest of his friends began to carry her off. Then he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Spitfire, Soarin, Misty Fly. How's things been?"
Spitfire gave a hoof bump. "First time I see you again and years and that's how you greet us?" She pulled him into a friendly hug. "How many years has it been since the princess put you in that flight camp?"
"Going on eleven... man, time flies by." Skystrike did the same to Soarin and Misty. "But hey, you two made it into the big blues!"
Soarin and Misty hesitantly returned it. Soarin asked the question the two had. "Sorry... have we met you before?"
"Eh, don't worry about if for now, you two will find out about the gala. Just figured I'd say hi while I'm in the area." Skystrike shrugged. "Spitfire, you can tell them in private if you want. Just too many eyes here for me to reveal. And I live in Ponyville if you ever want to visit. I'm trying to be more open with ponies. Actually, I can just come visit you here in Cloudsdale."
"Well, kid, if you got time, I do. Soarin and Wave Chill are going to be spending the rest of the day with Rainbow Dash." She moved her goggles out of her eyes and around her neck. "Misty, you game? Gonna grab a bite to eat on the way."
"Meh, sure, I need time to work off this head ache too." She rubbed her chin where Rarity hit her.
"Sure, I'll come. I just got a quick stop to make."
Spitfire and Misty watched from the path as Skystrike stood over a tombstone with a bouquet of flowers. The tombstone wasn't anything special, but it meant a lot to him. Carved into the head of the stone was a cutie mark of an ace of clubs with a steel sword vertically behind it. The flowers in his hooves were Forget-me-nots, Gladiolus, and Crimson Roses. To remember him, to signify his honor and integrity, to mourn. "Been a while, Steel Ace. I've never forgotten you, and... I'm always thankful for the time we spent together..." He put the flowers in a glass left by the previous visitors. "I did it. Made it to the top of the mercenary rankings in your stead. Helped not only ponies, but anyone who needed it... You inspired me to do that... I hope I made you proud, and... I hope I bought you closure. Rest well, old friend. I'll make sure to visit more often." Skystrike stood there for a moment as he felt the wind pick up and blow against his back.
Spitfire and Misty each gave him a solemn look. Skystrike gave a small sigh. "Alright, I haven't been to Cloudsdale in years... know any good places to eat?"
Spitfire and Misty looked at each other as they thought. Misty hummed. "Well, today is one of my cheat days. You two feel like hayburgers? My favorite place isn't that far of a walk."
"YES!" Spitfire and Skystrike said together, then looked at each other and laughed.
The three walked for a bit before Spitfire asked what the two mares were thinking. "Hey, Nebula... can I ask who you were paying respects to?"
Skystrike nodded. "Yeah. When I was 16, I first started being a mercenary, that guy, Steel Ace, was the first pony to give me a helping hoof. Origionally, I didn't know why he wanted to help me specifically, but... he was one of the first ponies I grew to trust, and he left an imprint on me. He was just a good stallion all around, never hesitating to help somepony, always spoke about being a hero. Somepony I strived to be, wanted to make proud." Skystrike looked at the setting sun. "He failed the Royal Guard entrance exam because his morals went against what he stood for, and wouldn't let red tape stop him from being of use, so he became a merc. Taught me the ropes and all that... he would be 34 by now... Damn, it's been almost ten years."
"...What happened to him?" Misty asked.
Spitfire elbowed her. "Sorry, she's not too good on social queues..."
Skystrike waved a hoof and chuckled. "Oh, it's all good. I do the same sometimes." He went back to looking forward. "He... there was a mare he knew... I don't know how Ace knew the mare, but she had it out for him. She accused Ace of one of the worst things you could do to a pony... Of course, he denied it, but no one but me believed him. I knew Ace didn't do it because I was with him the day it supposedly happened." He grit his teeth. "Everypony left him alone... his friends, his colleagues, his family, just left him hanging. Nopony besides me even interacted with him for months, and the rumor spread too far. I told him that I'd support him no matter what. It was the day after his birthday... and I was the only one to accept the invite. That day, he had a genuine smile on his face for the first, and last time in months. The day after, he was gone... He hung himself. Found out when he didn't come down for breakfast."
Misty flinched. "Dear Celestia... I'm so sorry... but... what was he accused of that he lost everypony?"
Skystrike growled. "Something that rhymed with grape."
"...And what happened to that mare? Do you remember her name? I hope karma got to her." Spitfire asked.
"Oh, I made sure of that, I was the catalyst... If you two were in Canterlot nine years ago, you'd know how my name first started getting around. Does the name Silver Chalice ring any bells?"
"A bit. Remind me."
Skystrike nodded. "I wanted revenge for the friend I lost, so I plotted and waited. At first, I just wanted to give Chalice the same fate that befell Ace, but I knew he wouldn't want that, and I knew it was too good for her. I didn't care what happened to me, I just wanted him to have closure... I lured her to Canterlot clock tower, saying I knew what she did. When she showed up, let's just say I... coerced her to admit to what she did. Every lie on his name she told. What she didn't know was that I set up a magic circle to amplify her voice so everypony who could hear the bell could hear what we were saying. Sure, I had to do some community service because what I did technically counted as entrapment. But I was underage, and she wasn't. Her reputation was ruined after that."
"Damn... sorry you had to go through that, Nebula. But at least she got what she deserved... And I'm sure you made Steel Ace proud." Spitfire put a hoof on his shoulder.
"I hope so... I've just realized as I grew older that... we represent different things. He always tried to see the best in ponies, to a fault. Giving too many chances to ponies not deserving, saying it wasn't our place to judge. But I've seen too much to have his optimism. I rarely give ponies the chance to make the same mistake twice. Judgement was the mantle that was given to me. Hopefully, he can forgive me for that."
"I'm sure he already has. But lets move on from the sad stuff... Soarin, one of my cadets have been listening to your diss track..." Spitfire gave a slight jab with her elbow. "I gave it a listen. Didn't know you knew how to sing. That was a ballsy move!"
Skystrike couldn't help but laugh at that. "Oh man, that was great. I'm just glad the track landed. That was my debut, if that didn't work, it was over!"
Misty pushed the door open to their destination, a place called 'Burger Barn'. "Any ideas for the next ones?"
The three sat down at a booth. "A couple, actually. Just need to decide what I want to sing about exactly, and what type of music. Like, I could go for something smooth and calming, or something upbeat and hype. I thought about singing about parts of my life, but not sure if it'll land, since my life isn't exactly a happy one."
"Well, in my opinion, those are the ones I like most. Songs I can relate to I mean." Misty looked up from the menu. "There aren't too many that do that. I want something that I can relate to when I'm down. It makes me feel a bit better knowing I'm not the only mare going though something tough."
"Honestly, I think my favorite is Drum 'n Bass. Pop is a close second, there's just too many types." Spitfire took a look at the menu. "Ooo, they got cucumbers!"
Skystrike looked at the menu too. "There's so many styles I like, and the mare I'm working with is really talented. She's also willing to try out all the different types. Pop is what I'm going to try next... that or breakcore. But Drum 'n Bass is really good... That gives me ideas for lyrics. Thanks you two." Skystrike reached into his saddlebag and began writing. "I'm still in this convo, I can multi-task."
"What's your ideas?"
"Just some lyrics I'm writing. I decide the genre after the Lyrics are done... I also need to decide the tempo..."
"Well, I know you just started, but what do you have so far?" Misty asked as they placed their orders.
Skystrike cleared his throat to give a small demonstration. It was fitting for his life right now, and for his visit earlier to Steel Ace. He'd dedicate it to him.
Another week came. Skystrike could hear the music that he and Vinyl made as he was in the sound booth, in her studio, tapping his hoof to the beat. Vynil gave him a nod to signal that she was recording. Skystrike would make sure to sing one for Ace. They decided to name this one "Young Girl A". He began singing into the microphone.
"Let me tell you all about 'my' life.
Speaking in a round of 'someone's' life.
Every now and then off once or twice,
everything all ends up right it seems!
Suffocating sun is blinding the eyes.
Drowning in a feeling choking the mind.
Counting on the rain to douse the skies.
How do I survive the thundering?
Loving and the hate all wash away.
Loving and the hate all wash away.
Tell me where it is you hide the pain?
Smiling alight so gracefully?
Spitting out a phrase without a shape.
Spitting out a phrase without a shape.
Somewhere on the road we lost our way.
How can I convey the same to you?
Collecting all the scraps of dreams that never came.
Hey~, wait! Hey~, wait! Seems it all was my mistake...
Ah~ 'now and then~', 'now and then~', 'I'll just break again' It's-
Bitter, the cold, the cold, the cold, the cold.
Bitter, the cold, the cold, the cold, the cold!
Bitter, the cold, the cold, the cold! You left me alone now!
Ah~ what is left~? What is left~? Oh the words you said? It's-
Fading away, away, away, away.
Fading away, away, away, away!
Fading away, away, away! I'm breaking in pain, so
Any place you can find my name, it would be okay,
'Cause just the thought is all it takes...
Every little promise ever we made.
Every little promise ever we made.
Carrying the weight of each mistake.
Somehow, we arrive at the coming of day!
Loving and the hate all wash away.
Loving and the hate all wash away.
Tell me where it is you hide the pain?
Smiling alight so gracefully?
'A pair of flowers budding calms me ever so...'
Although~, although~, you had all but lost your hope.
Ah~, 'chasing dreams~', 'chasing dreams~', ever out of reach, It's-
Speeding away, away, away, away.
Speeding away, away, away, away!
Speeding away, away, away! I can't keep the pace. The-
Feelings~ that can't be erased, bid my blood to take, It's-
Hurting, a rage, a rage, a rage, a rage.
Hurting, a rage, a rage, a rage, a rage!
Hurting, a rage, a rage, a rage! It's never the same right?
Ah~, this is just... how I dreamed... Or it seemed to be but,
Crying alone, alone, alone, alone.
Crying alone, alone, alone, alone!
Crying alone, alone, alone! Don't come any closer!
Trading~ the code we had made in our better days, It's-
Bitter, the cold, the cold, the cold, the cold.
Bitter, the cold, the cold, the cold, the cold!
Bitter, the cold, the cold, the cold! It's all that I know, so
Any place, you can find my name, it would be okay,
So let me keep it all the same..."
Skystrike gave Steel Ace one last thank you. He needed to stop thinking of what could've been, the life he could've had if he wasn't given a time limit. It was time to focus on the present, and the friends he had around him. Even if this world wasn't fair, he had to make do with the cards he was given. It's what he'd want for him. |
A Broken Warrior | Sleep walk | Skystrike was in his dream, sitting across from a silent Nightmare Moon in the inner machinations of his mind. Well, it wasn't an enigma at all, in fact he made it an empty void. That way, the only thing they could see were each other. Of course, she could just... leave. While Skystrike doesn't know exactly how his and Luna's minds got... 'merged' for lack of a better word, Nightmare Moon is able to travel to and from both of their minds. She was staying here for a reason.
"Hey, can I ask you a question?" Skystrike broke the silence.
"...If I answer it, will you finally stop bugging me with these attempts at talking?" She asked.
Skystrike nodded. "Depends on how talkative you are. But know I'm not trying to annoy you. You're in my mind. You can probably read it. I genuinely want to know you."
Nightmare narrowed her eyes, then nodded hesitantly. "Very well. You may ask, but know this human, you cannot 'fix' me. I am what I am. A monster."
Skystrike shook his head. "So that's what you think this is..." He stared into her cat-like eyes. "I know full well that beings like you and me can't change what we are. But we can change how we act... What is better: to be born good, or to overcome your evil nature through great effort?"
"She did put in the effort... and the ponies that we swore to protect abandoned us. In the war against Sombra, we've had great expeditions, stopping legions of ponies from crossing into our borders. But when the war was over, their fear did not end... It was only moved to the next thing to be scared of... Luna." Nightmare growled at the memory. Skystrike let her continue as she got angrier with every word. "Every action we made, thousands of eyes judged us, and thousands of mouths voiced their hatred. Soon, it was too much for Luna to bare... and it birthed me."
Skystrike hummed. "I think I can pick up from there... on the day of the Summer Sun Celebration, she broke."
Nightmare grumbled. "Indeed... the ponies didn't even want Luna to be next to her sister as she raised the sun!" She stood on her hooves and spread her wings in rage. The emotions coming off of her were changing the white void to a shade of grey. "Can you believe that!?" She calmed herself down, breathing out as she sat back down. "...In that moment, I gave Luna a choice. Those ponies knew the gentle kindness of the day. It was only fair they knew the brutality of night... And then our sister stood in our way... we-... I only made things worse for Luna."
Skystrike's eyes widened a bit. She felt guilty... that was unexpected. From the way she spoke, it also implied that she was born from the anger of Luna... so she shared all of Luna's memories until she was created. They're the same pony, just different paths. "Well... that's enlightening. Thank you for telling me... I'm not going to act like I even begin to understand... honestly, I don't blame you for what you did. I guess that's what you meant by 'It's too late now' all those months ago." Skystrike got up and approached the alicorn. She hesitated at his approach, but was even more surprised when he hugged her. "But... I can at least give you this... Luna did not deserve what happened to her, and you didn't deserve what happened to you."
Nightmare Moon would be lying if she wasn't a bit surprised at the sudden gesture, and if she said she didn't appreciate it a bit. She could feel her heart open a tiny bit. She awkwardly pushed herself off, quickly ignoring what Skystrike did with a flustered look. "...Ahem, don't misunderstand, I did not tell you our story for you to pity me. I say this as a warning for you."
Skystrike was a bit surprised. "A warning?"
"Just like us, who've done more than we can remember to help these ponies, you're doing the same, believing that it is your duty to these ponies to save them." Nightmare stood up. "The moment they can... they will hate you, disregard you, see you as a monster... do not make the same mistake we made. You hiding your humanity, pretending to be a pony, will not make them see you as an ally."
Skystrike took her words to heart. "Well... I'll make sure to keep that in mind... Though I hope you're wrong, there's that tiny chance you're right... But look, I already showed you my past. I appreciate you being willing to share yours." Skystrike sat back down, Nightmare Moon doing so too. "My offer still stands, from those months ago, and to right before the mission. I was given this chance at living. I feel that you too deserve the same chance. Again, I'm not asking you to change, I just... want to give you an experience that I feel you would have never gotten."
Nightmare sighed. "You're too naïve... Lets say I got out. Ignoring how the Elements of Harmony would be against it, as well as Celestia and Luna, who'd forgive me?"
"I would." Nightmare looked at him for a long, long while. "I believe that you should be given the chance to do better. The fact you showed regret is enough for me to do that. I can tell since we share my mind that it is genuine. Failure is just a learning experience after all. I believe that you have the gumption to put in the effort again. Even if no one stands by you, whether it be the Elements, the princesses, or even yourself, I'll be someone who believes in you."
She shuddered a bit. "I... thank... you..." Nightmare was able to push the words out. "...I would need time to think on it. A part of me, and most of Luna, believes that-... it's best I stay gone. Can't even leave here anyway..."
"Well, let me try and convince you, then." Nightmare's ears perked up in interest. "I know you can see through Luna's eyes, or at least her memories. Do the same to me. See the life I live. Imagine a life you could live too."
Nightmare thought about it for a time. "...It is a possibility. Though it will be dangerous. If your mind is too weak, I could end up corrupting you... the only reason Luna isn't anymore is because of the Elements of Harmony."
"Well... I know I don't have much to trust you off of, but you were kind enough to share your story, as well as stop my nightmares from time to time. I'm willing to give you that trust." Skystrike put out his hand to shake her hoof.
For the first time, Nightmare Moon smiled. Not a sinister one, but... one of hope. She hoped it'd be right to place it in him. "Very well... I'll use a spell to see through your eyes then. It may be a bit disorienting. You'll hear my thoughts along with your own. Are you... sure you're ok with this?"
"If you're willing to ask that, then I believe I put my trust in the right pony. Yes, I'm sure Nightmare."
It felt a bit weird at first, getting used to Nightmare Moon sharing his eyes. When he looked in the mirror, he noticed that his purple eyes shared some similarities with hers, being cat-like. It'd be best to keep his eyes covered for a little while. Skystrike rolled his shoulders as he got off the train at Canterlot station. "You know, in hindsight... probably wasn't best to do it today of all days."
"You don't have to speak out loud, idiot. I'm in your head." Nightmare sighed.
"Oh, right... Is this what having schizophrenia feels like?" Skystrike thought to himself.
Today was the day. He'd sneak into the castle and into Celestia and Luna's bedrooms. Now... Skystrike was deciding if he wanted to do this the challenging way... or the fun way... The fun way would be really silly.
"There's no way in Tartarus the fun way will work!" Nightmare laughed in his mind. Skystrike decided, fun way it is. He put on a bright yellow reflective vest, a tool belt and a hard hat, and got a ladder leaning on the side of the train platform. Then he began walking. Past the Canterlot ponies, past the guards at the castle gates, past the castle entrance, and then past the guards in the royal wing of Canterlot castle.
Two of the guards eyed him as he walked past. "...Did that pony seem strange to you?" Idiot one asked the other.
"Meh, probably here to fix the lights. He has the gear and everything. Somepony probably already checked him." Idiot two answered.
Skystrike stopped in front of Celestia's bedroom door, a large set of double doors with her cutie mark engraved on it. She had to be expecting him, not even knocking and pushing open the door. Surprisingly, both she and her sister were in the room. They looked at him awkwardly as he stood in the door way. What Skystrike saw was... not what he was expecting. They seemed to be in the middle of a pillow fight. Well, more of a pillow war, as somehow, Celestia built an entire castle out of dozens of pillows, while Luna had a trebuchet and a battering ram. Skystrike snickered at the sight.
"Uh... heeeeeeey... Skystrike..." Celestia greeted nervously.
"Yo."
"We... weren't expecting you today. Or this early..." Luna put down the several pillows surrounding her.
"Oh no, don't mind me. Keep going. I kinda wanna see how this ends." Skystrike sat down.
Celestia put down her pillow bazooka. "...Wait. Is this where you said you'd sneak in and kidnap us?" Skystrike nodded. "How-... how'd you get in so easy?"
"Yellow vest, tools, hard hat, and a ladder." Skystrike answered.
Celestia blinked. "You... you used a ladder to climb up here? From where?"
"Oh no, not at all. I walked in through the front door." Skystrike said, making their jaws drop.
"You're joking, right?" Luna asked. Skystrike shook his head. "...By the moon, there's no way security is this bad."
"They didn't even check me. They just assumed I worked here. I think it was the hard hat."
They all sat in silence for a moment. But Celestia couldn't help but laugh as she stomped her hooves. "Ahahahaha! There's no way you're serious! Oh my, this is amazing!" She laughed a while longer before she let out a sigh. "Well... I suppose this is the part where you kidnap us? How do you plan to do that?"
Skystrike shrugged. "Well, I was kinda hoping we could just walk out of here, but if I have to actually force you out..."
Luna hummed at the idea. "It... would be a bit amusing to see you try and take both of us out."
"I'm interested as well." Celestia admitted.
Skystrike thought for a minute, then had a sinister grin. "Well, I found certain diaries when exploring the abandoned castle months ago. One with a cutie mark of the sun, and the other, a moon." The princesses eyes both went wide, with faces of embarrassment on their muzzles. "Has some rather spicy stuff in them... whoever wins this pillow fight not only gets their deepest secrets back, but also gets their sisters."
Celestia and Luna stared at him, then slowly, slowly turned to stare at each other across the room, their embarrassment turning to ones of determination. They only had one thought on their minds: war. They each gave a battle cry as magic flared and Skystrike dove for cover. Luna completely ditched the trebuchets in favor of cannons, while Celestia made a barrier of pillows. The pillow cannon balls broke through her defenses easily, and Celestia got upper-cutted by a pillow. Celestia regained her senses and teleported in front of Luna, delivering a right hook with a pillow of her own. Then they pillow clashed, several times over, sparks flying. He swore he heard boss music.
Skystrike chuckled. "Hehe, I'm in danger!"
"I'm quite enjoying this." Nightmare laughed. Skystrike was about to respond, but then they started shooting pillows surrounded with magic at each other as they teleported around the room, jumping off walls. A stray almost hit Skystrike, doing a useless backflip to dodge. "...what was the point of that backflip? It was like, two feet away from you."
"I'm pretending I'm Spiderman in an Insomniac game." He thought to Nightmare Moon.
"What?"
"The reader will get it." Skystrike looked at you.
Then he got hit directly in the chest, getting sent back against the door. "AAEGH!" Skystrike coughed. He looked back up at the fight, seeing Celestia make a sun out of pillows surrounded by her magic, making it a burning white light. Luna stood there, clenching her pillow spear. The music relayed that it was the climax. Celestia threw her hooves forward, sending the ball of pillows at Luna. Luna jumped towards it, thrusting her pillow spear at it in an epic clash. The energy radiating off of it was blinding. Then it exploded, pushing the two alicorns back against opposite walls.
The two alicorns bounced off and laid on the grounds for a while. But then they decided their battle wasn't done. They stood up and limped towards each other. Their strength was sapped away as they weakly began hitting each other with pillow after pillow, running out of magic and using their hooves to swing them. They both simultaneously swung at their cheeks, ending it in a double K.O.
Skystrike saluted. "Respect." And a single tear rolled down his cheek.
"That was the stupidest, yet greatest thing I've seen." Nightmare couldn't stop laughing.
Skystrike looked at the two unconscious princesses as they laid on the floor. He shoot the dust off of himself before thinking a bit. These two would be heavy as fuck... and very hard to hide. Then he remembered that Casta's tower had a teleporter to his house. Much easier to get these two there than onto a train. Skystrike made sure to stretch before purring one on each of his shoulders... aaand he was lopsided. Man, Celestia got a gyatt. Lay off the cake, Celesterol. Nightmare laughed at the name Skystrike gave her.
He used his teeth to unlock the window. Thankfully, it the tower was within sight, being a short flight to it. Now, he just had to figure out how to get there unnoticed. Couldn't fly too high, everypony would be able to see him. As he watched, he noticed there were some blind spots lower to the ground, and the guards patrolling this area wouldn't come back around for two minutes. He went for it, jumping down before pushing off the wall with his hind hooves and gliding towards the mage tower.
Perfect landing. He opened a window on the lower tower before pushing the princesses in, then picking the two up and going up the flights of stairs. Looks like Casta is out for the day. He put the two down on the teleportation circle in the middle and activated it, sending the two to his house. He rolled his shoulders. "God damn... I need to lift more."
Not being able to teleport, Skystrike left the tower and went to the edge of Canterlot, looking over the cliff to see Ponyville. If it was an overnight train ride to Canterlot, then it should be about a two hour flight if he flew at his normal speed... but that'd take too long. Besides, he felt like going fast. Skystrike got into a running stance before rushing forward and jumping off the edge, spreading his wings co catch the wind as he dove. Getting the angle right, he accelerated as he followed the cliff down, pulling up just before the ground met him. He flapped his wings to get used to the speed he was going.
It took him about an hour, but he was home. Skystrike made sure to tell Tethys and Elytra before he left so they wouldn't be surprised our out of character. Opening the door to his house, he saw Celestia and Luna awake, sharing a pot of tea with Tethys and Stardust. "Yo."
Skystrike saw all of the girls slowly turn to them. Stardust spoke first. "Sky... where are the princesses diaries? And how long have you had them?"
Skystrike sat down in his reclining chair. "Uh... hidden somewhere and about three months. Why?"
Celestia cleared her throat. "...Can we get them?"
"Did you win?" Skystrike smirked as they stared at each other for a minute. "Imma hold onto them for a while. Have something to hold over your heads."
Luna shuffled in her seat. "...How much did thou read?"
Skystrike remembered the lines he read. "Out of Celestia's, and later mentioned in Luna's, 'ok so 18 pounds of cocaine, 12 pounds of crack, and 7 male strippers. But make sure none of them are white. I can't see the coke on them if they are.' And honestly, didn't know you guys had cocaine over 1000 years ago."
Stardust was shaking. Her hooves spilt drop after drop as she tried her best not to laugh. Meanwhile Tethys was spewing mist out of her nose as she tried her best to do the same. Celestia hid her face with her wings in embarrassment, and Luna was the only one having a good time, laughing with a stomp of her hoof. "We remember that! That party was great!"
"...I feel like a bad influence." Celestia sighed.
"There was also the part in Luna's where she wrote like, two pages on how she was jealous of how big Celestia's rear was, and Imma be honest..." Everyone paid close attention to the words about to come out of his mouth. "I didn't know the whole 'Celestia's butt is big' thing was going on this long either."
Tethys snickered. "For a minute, I thought you were gonna say she had nothing to worry about."
"...I feel like I am going to be flamed no matter the answer I give. Despite that, I will answer that yes, I do indeed think you have nothing to worry about, Luna."
Celestia blew air out of her nose. "Quite forward, aren't you?"
"I mean, I always figured you two were twins or something, with the sun and moon thing. You just had an extra thousand years to grow." Skystrike shrugged.
She was a bit surprised. "You know, it's been a while sense it was mentioned. But to clarify, we are fraternal twins, so no guarantee she'll grow to my size. And seriously though, where are our diaries?"
Skystrike stood up and motioned for them to follow him. He walked to the library wing of his house. "You know, we've never realized how massive your home is, nor how many items you have." Luna noticed as she looked past one of the many glass cases holding some rather important books.
Tethys looked at one. "Oh, I remember this one!" Skystrike stopped to look at her. "Didn't we get this one from some abandoned crypt?"
Luna raised a brow. "Abandoned crypt?"
Skystrike nodded. "When me and Tethys first met, she took me to the cave she was living out of. Turns out that the cave was the entrance to a crypt, one used by a pony studying high level conjuration spells. Necromancy to be exact. The wizard died before they were any to use any of their research, and that book is their Magnum Opus. After that and a few other similar situations, I started gathering any items that could be dangerous that a pony could stumble upon. I made this place to protect those things, making sure they don't get into the wrong hooves."
Luna backed away from one of the books she was touching. "And... what types of dangerous items are those?"
Skystrike thought for a moment. "If I remember right, that book you just put back down has various incantations. One of which can trap a beings soul into gemstones, using that soul as a magic source for demonic enchantments. And I keep the least dangerous ones in the glass cases."
"...Skystrike, that one is already pretty dangerous. And you have some that are more dangerous?" Celestia put a book she had back in its casing."
"Well, that one is only dangerous if you know where to get the specific gems to trap souls in, as well as any other prior knowledge that's been forgotten to time." Skystrike explained, stopping at a desk, opening the third drawer, removing various papers, then taking out the false bottom. Two books, one with the sun and the other with the moon on the fronts. He took them out and handed them back to the princesses. "The ones that are really dangerous are kept somewhere else. Those will never see the light of day. Like, there's one that can open a gate to Tartarus. I covered that in layers of metal and had threw it into the bottom of the sea. Only I remember where it is."
"Well that's... good? And thank you for these back." Celestia picked up her book with her magic. Then she remembered. "Oh, right. About a week ago, we met with your... friend."
Skystrike nearly froze at that. "Oh, I see... figured you'd want to talk about that after your vacation. No matter." Skystrike pushed the drawer close. "I... hope you all came to a peaceful conclusion."
Celestia nodded. "Stardust, Tethys, could you leave us for a time?"
"Every damn time!" Tethys threw up her hands as she turned to walk off. "Oh right, Sky, remember, we're going to the gym with Rainbow!" She finished before picking up Stardust and leaving.
Celestia heard the front door close before continuing. "While things did not go as planned, that is not something you should worry about. But know that the human is safe for now... however, he also told us about a human lab that is still functional in this world. He also said to ask you about it..."
Skystrike nodded. "Oh yeah, I know what he's talking about. Come on, I'll show you."
The princesses looked at each other, confused at what he meant by that. Skystrike pulled on one of the wall mounted candles above the fire place. The fire place raised up and revealed an elevator. He motioned for them to walk in. They did so, Skystrike entering with them and hitting the only other button in it. "...Skystrike, where are we going?"
Skystrike began boppin to the elevator music. "Well, the lab of course."
She thought about that for a minute. "You-... you built your house atop a human laboratory!? How did you know it was here!? How deep underground are we going!?"
"The human told me, and from my calculations, about half a mile... Kinda makes sense why you never found it now that I think about it. The human said that it needed a human for it to be opened when he first found it. The actual entrance to it is somewhere within the Everfree Forest. He just dug a way up for me when I made this house." Skystrike explained as the elevator slowed to a stop. The doors opened as Skystrike stepped off.
Luna and Celestia looked around with a look of both interest and worry. As their eyes darted around the white room, their questions grew. On their left, several mechanical arms reached down from the ceiling over a grey metal table, connected to a screen with various words on it. To their right was shelves upon shelves of various materials, from metals, to fabrics, even noticing the magic stones they rewarded him. Next to that were crates of various labels seemingly organized in alphabetical order.
Celestia shuddered. "...How long has this been here?"
Skystrike checked one of the terminals in the room. "This says... the last login from a user that wasn't me was over one thousand years ago. Doesn't say exactly, but if your worry is humans using it, only that one has, and only when I'm with him."
Luna looked at the mechanical arms. "We haven't seen these in millennia but this one doesn't look like it was made for battle. What is this for?"
Skystrike booted up the apparatus that Luna was standing in front of. The limp mechanical arms quickly whirred to life, running their start of routines, flexing their joints and the like. "Well, from what I was able to tell, this is a prototype workshop. That's how I use it at least..." He put out his hooves, a holographic screen showing up in front of him. Celestia and Luna took several wary steps back as the arms followed Skystrike's commands. They moved across the ceiling and picked up various metals, gems, and armor pieces. "It's all good. Just putting the last parts on my new armor."
Luna moved to stand next to him. "I... see..." She said as Celestia did the same. A claw held the chestplate in place as a saw cut out a small diamond hole in the center of the chest. Then, the two arms froze in place. Another arm came and held one of the Null stones that he got as a reward in place as he used a pressure gun to cut the gem into the shape of a diamond, to then put it within his armor. A bar of metal was then melted and molded into shape to keep the null stone in place. It was doused in a liquid to rapidly cool it.
Skystrike rolled his shoulders. "You two can keep talking, I'm paying attention." He said as he put aside the now finished chestplate and moved on to the leggings.
"...It's... rather big for you, isn't it?" Luna asked.
"Yeah, I originally wanted to keep it the same as my last armor, but after doing a lot of calculations and testing the durability of my last armor, I realized I needed to make a stronger set. Two layers of metal, a suspension system, a cooling and heating system, and an integrated magic circuit on the inner most layer of metal to transfer all of the magic around within the armor. Made it increase in size by 30%, and in mass by 60%." Skystrike paused for a moment to make sure the left leg guard lined up with the left hip. "Because of that, I have to enchant each part with an lightweight enchant to make it the same weight as my last set."
Celestia asked the more concerning question. "How long have you been using this place?"
"Since I met the human about four years ago. We stumbled upon this place together in the Everfree." He had to quickly make up a story that sounded believable. "He told me he'd let me keep the place if I helped him make a new arm. He broke it. and needed a replacement. Took a couple weeks to get circuitry and electrodynamics down, but I did it. And that's how I'm making my new armor." He moved onto working on the back and wing guards.
"Skystrike... if I knew you were alive years ago, and I knew how deep you were already in this human business, it would've saved so much trouble." Celestia sighed. "Still, I don't think you quite grasp how much trouble this could cause you... Honestly, I have half the mind of just seize your property because of this lab but... with how easy you got past our guards, it'd have to wait if I wanted to."
"Celestia, this is like the safest place that this could be. Not only do only the three of us and the human know, but I'm like... the third most dangerous pony alive right now... Besides, I set this place to self destruct. And honestly, whoever wants dig through a half mile of rubble, I think they deserve to get whatever is left in here."
"This isn't a joke, Skystrike!" Celestia stomped. "If that human decides to use this place against us, it would be a disaster!"
"Well, he seems passive... So you're probably right, but personally, I wouldn't want to give him a reason." Skystrike answered as he finished the back and wing guards. "But I will say this: I've been talking to him. He... doubts that the labs he traveled to are the only points of contact with humanity." Skystrike moved the pieces of armor onto an armor stand for later. "He's looking outside of Equestria. One of the reasons I wanted that airship was to help his search."
Luna didn't like what that was implying. "You... think the humans have allies with the other races?"
"Oh, no, I heavily doubt it. The humans only seemed to stay in Equestria. We're seeing if there are any traces left by humans that you weren't able to erase. What I do think is that there are some humans still in contact with ponies... That's why I asked for access to all sections of the Royal Library. Just in case there's something hidden."
"...And you plan on sharing it with 34?" Celestia asked as the two alicorns followed Skystrike back to the elevator.
"Only if I find something... hopefully I don't." Skystrike answered as the doors closed.
His time with the princesses came and went as soon as it started. It was up to them to figure out how they'd spend however many away on their vacation. Right now, Skystrike pushed open the doors to Bulk Biceps, gym.
"HEY, NEBULA! CAME TO PUMP SOME IRON!?" Bulk said with his indoor voice.
"Hey, Bulk. Swole as always." Skystrike greeted him.
Bulk got up from his chair and gave a hoof bump. "MAKE POSES WITH ME!"
Skystrike took off his sweat shirt and did so as phonk music played. The two began Jojo posing. Skystrike stood on his back hooves and made gang signs with his front, putting his right arm up and his left arm down, his elbows bent and he flexed every muscle in his body. Simultaneously, Bulk spread out his back hooves and put his right arm out, covering his face with his left hoof. This continued for several minutes.
The two were interrupted by Rainbow Dash and Tethys who both cleared their throat. The two stopped their poses and looked at the two. Rainbow was wearing a grey track suit and had her mane in a pony tail, while Tethys wore a pair of white sweat pants similar to Skystrike's and a sports bra. He got down on all four hooves. "Fiiiine... We'll continue next time, Bulk."
"YEEEEEAAAH!"
The three began doing their own sets. Rainbow Dash was doing pull ups with ankle weights, Skystrike was going to work on the punching bag, and Tethys was working the hex bar with half her weight on it. The three started making small talk with each other.
Rainbow pulled herself up . "Nnnngh... By the way, Nebula... I tried out that look you suggested... how's it look?"
Skystrike was focusing on his form as he landed a punch. "The one I told you while high? A bit surprised you took it seriously. But it looks good. Honestly, I'm just biased towards ponytails. You rock it though."
Tethys chuckled. "Just ask her out already, dude."
Skystrike put out a hoof to stop the bag from hitting him. Rainbow stopped mid pull up. "I mean... I always thought you saw me as a sister, Nebula... I thought of you as a big brother for a while while we were your foster family."
"Oh, cool. I thought the same about you... I didn't want to assume otherwise." Skystrike was a bit relived, and the two continued their routines.
"Well... if we're being honest, I think I did when we first met, but... I think it was more like puppy love than actual love."
"Huh..." Skystrike did a roundhouse kick. "Interesting... I was oblivious back then, so I didn't notice. But I kinda am glad that we stayed just friends... It's annoying at times. Mares want to get close for something more, but when I want to stay friends, I end up losing them." Skystrike gave a jab, then a right hook.
"Is that why you got four mares under your hoof?" Rainbow chuckled.
Skystrike shook his head. "More like friends with benefits. I make sure to set boundaries. I don't want to lead them on. They all deserve better."
Tethys dropped the hex bar, signaling for the three to switch. "What, you don't think you're good enough?"
"It's partially that. Partially because I still have some unfinished business. Mostly because I've no experience in this area, so I don't even know if I felt love besides platonic." Skystrike thought of a way to explain himself. "It's like... I've always been on the giving end, so when I receive something, I don't know if it's an act of kindness, or flirting."
Rainbow blinked. "That's... exactly how I feel every time I talk to a stallion. I just don't feel like I'm attractive at times, there's just so much competition... I mean, who would not like me? I'm awesome!"
Tethys changed her focus from the punching bag to the rainbow mare. "Stallions? Wait you're-... Rainbow, we thought you were-... gay?"
Rainbow dash stopped mid lift. "What!? No!? Wait, we!? Who's we!? Does everypony think I'm a lesbian!?"
Skystrike couldn't help but laugh. "Ahahahaho my god" He dropped from the pull up. Rainbow looked at him with a flustered and angry look. "I'm-... I'm sorry!" Skystrike said between laughed. "I was just caught so off guard."
"Sorry, Dash." Tethys rolled her shoulder before delivering a punch to the bag.
She groaned. "It's... fine..."
Skystrike began lifting the hex bar again. "Well, if you need a wingman, I got your back." Skystrike half joked. "Just tell me who you fancy and I'll put in a good word."
Rainbow thought for a minute. "Honestly, there aren't many stallions in town in the first place, and none that I like. Honestly, seeing and hearing how you treated those mares made me want better than what we have."
"That's... good I guess? Not so much how you realized." Skystrike laughed. "But yeah, don't lower your standards for anyone. I'd say go for that Soarin guy you spent all day with but I know for a fact he's gay... Hooves is a pretty alright dude, but I need to get to know him better to actually tell you if I think you'd be a good match. Damn, there really aren't many stallions in Ponyville."
"What about Applejack's brother? I haven't met him, but he exists." Tethys offered.
"Ew." Rainbow had a gross look on her face.
Skystrike coughed. "Damn, the worst she could say was not 'no'." He set down the hex bar. "Switch."
Rainbow started on the punching bag. "I didn't mean it like that... He's a good guy, just-... not my type. He's more laid back, and I always want to do something. But enough about me, what about you Tethys? Any ponies you're into?"
Tethys shook her head as she pulled her head over the bar. "Nothing against ponies, I just like beings in general stronger than me..." Then she looked at Skystrike. "Problem with that is that my wants are a bit unrealistic... some asshole here decided to make me one of the strongest dragons out there."
"Well, hasn't Nebula beat you before?"
"Oh yeah, several times over. There's just... a lot of circumstances around me and relationships." Tethys tried to not use her wings.
"What do you mean?" Skystrike asked.
"Well, because I'm a rare breed of dragons, to keep the bloodline powerful, I'd need to bring my spouse to my family, where he'd have to prove his own strength through trial by combat." She sighed. "It was part of the reason I left... Well, that was the first reason. The second reason was because by tradition, every 200 years, dragons of age in my clan must leave and bring back a being they follow to show that we have grown stronger. It's easier for our clan to just become one with the one that leads them."
"...When do you have to go back with that being?" Skystrike raised a brow.
"Well, three months. I planned on just not showing up, but my mother and father would probably come looking for me." She shrugged. "Figured I'd deal with it when it comes."
Skystrike shook his head. "Tethys, it's best not to delay the inevitable. We'll stop by on our travels."
"You'll fight form me?" Tethys asked. Skystrike nodded. "I... appreciate it. We'll talk about it more later then." Silence passed as they continued their set. "Hey, wait, no fair that we share who we do and don't like and you don't. Spill."
"Yeah, what any of the girls?" Rainbow asked.
Skystrike chuckled. "Alright, alright, I guess I owe you two that." He thought about it. "Honestly, I don't really know. From my immediate circle, I could see it in all of them... except Rarity. For now at least."
"Well that's surprising. She's the pretty one in the group!" Rainbow moved her hair over her shoulder as she kept giving quick punches to the punching bag, continuing the gossip. "I thought she had the best chance out of the group?"
"Yeah, Sky, I'm kinda surprised myself. You like clothes a lot and she knows how to dress." Tethys admitted.
Skystrike began grunting as he did one hoof pull ups. "Nngh... Don't get me wrong, she... is pretty, and a great friend. You all are... The only up she has is that she wears clothes while the rest of you, save for Tethys just walk around naked..." He huffed. "But... that is all overshadowed by how she treats Spike... We all pretend we don't know he has a crush on her, but it rubs me the wrong way. She just keeps... leading him on, even though she knows nothing serious will actually happen. She just wants the attention from a boy is what it feels like."
"Oh, so it's not just me." Rainbow stopped punching to look at him. "I felt the same, I just didn't want to start drama by saying it."
"Already said something to Spike about it. But that was the major gripe. Small one is that I know if I went for Rarity, Spike is gonna be upset, and you don't go after a crush of one of da bois." He gave a small chuckle. "Moving on, Twilight is the least likely. I don't really like how she treats Spike as a pet at times. I'd say something about it, but Spike sees her as a sister, so he needs to set his boundaries in that family dynamic. But she's gotten a lot better about it, actually letting him go to school and meet ponies his age."
They all finished their workouts, wiping their sweat off with towels. Tethys pulled on her sports bra to air out her chesticles before wiping. "Hey, you two feel like anything specific?"
Rainbow rubbed her growling stomach. "I need to watch my diet more. Now that the Wonderbolts got their eyes on me, I need to be a bit more mindful."
"Honestly, you don't really." Skystrike began to explain. "They don't do events year around, so they just make sure to eat differently like a month or so before each show. It's too much a strain on your body to be at that peak for long periods of time. You'd be surprised how often pro athletes basically starve themselves to make sure they look like they're all muscle and no fat."
"Well yeah, I know that, but I also don't want to gain weight. I'm trying to keep my figure, don't want to look like Pinkie."
Tethys stretched a bit before leaving with them in tow. "Hey, don't slouch on Pinkie Pie. If she's anything like her sister said, She's like, the second strongest mare in Ponyville."
Rainbow Dash looked at her. "...Who's the first?"
"Fluttershy." Skystrike and Tethys said together."
"Fluttershy!? I was expecting Applejack, but Fluttershy!?"
Skystrike nodded. "Applejack is on par with you, seen from that competition a while ago. Pinkie may be out of shape, but years growing up on a rock farm makes her a fucking unit."
"Then what about Fluttershy!?" Rainbow flew in front of them.
Tethys and Skystrike looked at each other, then laughed at the memory. Tethys answered. "We saw her wrestle a grizzly bear and win."
Rainbow landed. "Oh... dang... that's fair, I can't even be mad then."
A day came and went. He enjoyed the day he spent with the two, first time they did it in a while. Skystrike was glad that he got closer with Rainbow Dash, and was even more glad that Tethys found another pony to get along with. It was one of his bigger worries about her when she moved in. Tethys still had a bit of trauma with ponies, given how they hunted her for a while. He's glad she didn't close off her heart.
As of now, it was early in the morning, and Skystrike was helping out Applejack on her farm. She said it wasn't much to do, about 150 trees between Skystrike, Applejack, and Applebloom who decided to join the two as Big Mac helped Granny Smith make breakfast. The three made sure to stretch properly before getting to work.
Skystrike watched as Applejack and Applebloom did their jobs flawlessly. "You know, I never understood... How do you buck the tree in a way for all the apples to fall in the baskets?"
"Huh..." Applejack looked up at the now empty tree. "Y'know, I don't know, actually. I think I just kinda picked up on it as I grew."
"Yeah, me neither. I guess it's just because we have big baskets?" Applebloom loaded one of the baskets onto their wagon.
Skystrike shrugged and punched a tree with his forehoof, most of the apples falling into the baskets, and a few outside. He picked them up and put them back in said baskets before balancing them on his wings and loading them into the wagon. "I forget how massive these apples are."
"You can have one if ya like." Applejack threw over an apple to Skystrike, who caught it with his hoof.
He winced. "Look, AJ, Bloom, this was gonna come out sooner or later, but I... don't really like apples."
The two turned to stare daggers at him. "WHAT!? HOW!? WHY!?"
Skystrike put up his hooves defensively. "Oh, no, don't get me wrong, they taste great. I like the tart ones actually." He bit into one. "As for the why... I don't like how it makes my throat scratchy."
The two apple mares paused in their tracks. They looked at each other before Applebloom asked "Are you serious?"
"Yeah, kinda like how ponies don't like lemons because they're sour." Skystrike explained as he took another bite, then coughed.
Applejack took the apple out of his hoof. "Nebula, apples aren't supposed to do that! You're buckin' allergic!"
Skystrike mourned for the tart fruit that was taken from him. "Nah, no way. I don't die or anything, just gets a tiny bit harder to breathe."
"That's what being allergic does, you..." Applejack rubbed her head with an annoyed look. "How many products have we fed ya 'fore you thought it was a good idea to share?? We sold ya pies, cider, fritters, there's so much!"
"And they all taste good?? I don't see the problem here??" Skystrike and Applebloom watched as Applejack banged her head against a tree, making all of the apples fall into the baskets under it. "Uh... my bad?"
Applejack grunted as she fixed her hat. "Moving on, Applebloom, how's school going?"
Applebloom went back to bucking apples. "It's been fun! Since Spike joined, me, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo got a new friend! Oh yeah, and Mr. Nebula taught us about physics!"
"Interesting!" Applejack looked at Skystrike. "I was never too good at maths. Make sure to keep learning things. Education is important!" She turned to rub her sister's head.
"Hey, Mr. Nebula! Can you teach me something cool?"
Skystrike thought for a minute. "Well, what I taught you were the very fundamentals. Anything more, I'd have to teach you about geometry, then calculus, then multi-variable calculus... If you're really interested in it, then just keep doing good in school. Hell, I have my old college level books if you wanted to start right away, but I think it'd be a bit much for you."
"I'm nine! I'm a big girl!" Applebloom puffed out her cheeks.
"Take it from me, kid, you don't want to grow up too fast. Enjoy the time you have now." Skystrike patted her on the head.
The three finished their work, Skystrike hitching himself to the wagon and pulling the dozens of buckets to their barn. Applejack said that she'd organize them all later, but for now, it was time to eat. Skystrike, to the light worry of the apple sisters, ate and enjoyed everything apple related. Apple juice, apple sauce, apple oatmeal, and pancakes.
They were all amazed at how much he could eat. "So, whipper snapper, how is it?" Granny Smith wanted to ask. She got the answer she wanted, a hum of approval. She laughed. "You know, come over more often an' I'd be happy to cook you food."
Skystrike swallowed. He had do admit, it was tempting. It'd be safe to give a non answer, he thought. "Eeeeeeeh, maybe? If I'm free."
"I'd love to have another strong stallion around the farm. I'd give you permission for gettin' with Applejack. Our bloodline is known for our birthing hips."
Skystrike choked on the food, coughing at the absurdity of what Granny Smith said. Big Mac face hoofed, as if he was used to this. Applebloom was confused on that entire sentence her grandmother said.
Meanwhile, Applejack hid her face in her hooves. "Granny! I swear to Celestia, stop tryin' ta set me up with stallions!"
"Hey, I won't be 'round forever. I want grandkids!"
Skystrike swallowed his food and immediately began bursting out laughing. He was about to say something, but as soon as he made eye contact with Applejack, he began wheezing. He couldn't even get words out as he kept laughing at the what the old mare said. He nearly fell out of his chair. It took him minutes to regain himself. "Oh my god, my stomach hurts... I was not expecting that."
They all finished their breakfast before Skystrike and Applejack went back out to the orchard. Applejack showed him her favorite spot, a lone apple tree atop a hill, letting them see the entire orchard. They sat next to each other, their backs against the tree, enjoying the breeze as it went by.
Skystrike shook his hair out. "Damn, this is a nice spot. I might come here more often."
A strand of hay hung our of Applejack's mouth as the crossed her legs. "Yeah, I come here during the down times. Just nice to watch the sun move by." The two sat there in silence for a bit, enjoying the moment. "Hey Sky, I don't think I ever asked about your job. Do you mind?"
"No, go for it." Skystrike spread out his wings to stretch before folding them back in.
"Well, when I was drinkin' with Tethys back at your party, she told me you went on a lot of adventures. What made you decide to settle here in Ponyville?"
Skystrike rolled his neck. "Well, after the mercenary group split, I just wandered around, helping ponies with the little I had on my back. After a while, I learned that Nightmare Moon would return, so I decided to set up a place to camp out, and deal with her if it came to... I thought about leaving once she was dealt with, but then I met you all. Guess I felt nostalgic, remembering the good times we had when we were younger. Glad I took the chance."
"Where'd you plan to go if you didn't stay?"
He tapped his hoof. "Honestly, I didn't think that far. Planned on just going in a direction and keep walking... Maybe go to the Badlands or Diamondia... Go across the Celestial Sea to Griffonstone or Zebrafrica. I was just looking for a place to belong."
Applejack flicked her hat up with her hoof to look at him. "Well, I hope we make you feel like ya do, even with how you know-..." She trailed off, referring to how the village treated him when he first came.
"Yeah, you all do. Of course, still not entirely over that, or Zecora's and Tethys' experiences to be honest, but I'm willing to move past it. You, our friends, all the ponies in this town, I like to think they've grown to be better."
"Yeah, after what you told me and Fluttershy about Blueblood, I figured you wouldn't let things like that go, or at least not so soon." Applejack chuckled. "...Do you ever plan to tell Rarity about him?"
"Applejack, I'm not going to lie, no." She turned to look at Skystrike for an explanation. "Not because I don't think she deserves to know, but... one of my gripes about her is that she's shallow. Figure she needs to learn for herself."
"Meh, Fair 'nuf." She hummed. "You're the harshest one out of the group. For a while, I thought you just didn't like R.D."
Skystrike sighed. "Yeah, she talked to me about that. I realized that I was harder on her than the rest of you, and I apologized for that. She's like a sister to me, hell I lived with her in Cloudsdale for a few years. Out of all of us, she has the most potential growth, I just want to keep her, and all of you on a good path. She's rash, she says things without realizing what affect her words could have."
"Yeah. Well, if we're on the topic, what about me?" Skystrike turned to look at her. "What can I do to be better?"
"Well, your blessing is also your curse. You're one of the most stubborn mares I know." Skystrike chuckled. "Hell, took me and Twilight to convince you on the last day of the apple bucking season to ask for help on the complete other half of this orchard. It's good at times, knowing when to stick to your morals, but you don't know when to ask for help."
"Well yeah, but... kinda hypocritical, ain't ya? You do the same."
"And that's exactly why I can critique. I know where that feeling, and thus those actions, come from. Believe it or not, I've grown a lot in that aspect. Main reason I don't ask for help is because I don't want to put my friends in danger. From what I observed, your reason is similar, you don't want to inconvenience your friends, and you want to prove your own self worth."
She nodded. "Yeah, your half right." Applejack sighed as she moved her hat to her chest. "Before Ma and Pa left... they told me they'd be back, and that they loved us. I promised them I'd have a farm they'd be proud to come back to. That's why Applebuckin season means so much to me."
"I see..." Skystrike sat up straight. "I haven't met them, but I know they'd be proud. You're a great pony, Applejack." Skystrike pulled her into a side hug. "But if you don't mind me asking, I thought your parents passed? They left? How do you know?"
Applejack had a sad look on her face. "Well, about a year after they left, we were sent back this hat, my fathers. He'd never let this off of his head."
Skystrike knew what she meant, not wanting her to finish the sentence for her sake. "I'm sorry."
She sighed. "Think nothing of it. It's in the past now." She put back on her hat. Despite the touchy subject, Skystrike and Applejack sat in a comfortable silence for a long while. Applejack's ears perked up. "Hey Sky, can I get your view on somethin'?"
"Shoot." Skystrike said.
She steeled her resolve. "Do ya see me as a mare?"
"...Nightmare, you're a mare. What do I do here?" Skystrike quickly thought to himself.
"You're on your own here. Leave me out of this."
"FUCK!" Skystrike said to Nightmare's amusement. "Well, yeah, why?"
"You laughed really hard at Granny's... 'offer' for lack of a better word."
He realized. "Oh, sorry, didn't mean for it to come off that way. I was laughing at the absurdity of your grandmother's comment, as well as all of your reactions. Not because I don't see you as a mare." Skystrike laughed a bit more.
Applejack grew a bit flustered at the reminder. "Well, thanks for clarifyin'... It... sucks sometimes." She sighed. "Every colt I asked out were intimidated by me. 'ventually I just dropped out of the datin' market."
"...Huh, didn't think you saw it like that. Figured you'd try again once Twilight came to town."
"Why's that?"
"Well, you and the rest of the girls are Elements of Harmony. On top of that, you all have the princesses in your back pocket, and more specific to you, your family, and you as I assume the future head of it, owns over half of Ponyville. Honestly, I thought you'd have problems getting any good stallions, and not gold diggers or politicians."
Applejack thought on that for a while. "...Buck, you might be right."
The two took a long nap, waking up as the sun approached the horizon. Skystrike and Applejack talked a bit more before the two went their separate ways. Another day came. Skystrike was invited to Rarity and Fluttershy's tea time and Carousel boutique. The three of them sat there in the early hours of the morning, Rarity floating over the tea sets and serving her friends with fine china.
Skystrike went to pick up his tea cup, before Rarity moved it away with her magic. "Let it cool down first darling."
"Oh, right, it's hot." Skystrike said, then reached for it with his metal hoof.
Fluttershy tilted her head. "I thought you said you could feel through your right hoof?"
"Oh, I can turn that on and off." Skystrike explained as he bought the tea to his muzzle, taking in the smell. It was a pleasant, he didn't know how to describe it further. "So, what's new?"
Rarity did the same with her tea. "I just figured it's been a while since we sat down and have a chin wag. You and Fluttershy are the only ones who actually like tea."
Fluttershy nodded. "My favorite is Oolong tea. It's just hard to get your hooves on it. I don't even know how it's made, I just know its somewhere to the east."
"Oh, I know that. Kirins are the creators, and they're isolationists. How it's made, no idea, but I believe they live at the Peaks of Peril." Skystrike took a sip. "Mmm, not bad."
"How do you know that? You've been?"
Skystrike shook his head as he took another sip. "I have a talent of remembering hyper specific knowledge of random trivia. For example, I can explain... the origin of each statue in the Canterlot bush maze, but I don't know where they came from, or who carved them."
Rarity decided to test it. "How is a fire ruby formed?"
"They form normally, like any other gem but where they emerge matters. Fire Rubies get their names and attributes by emerging from the bottom of lava pools and absorbing the essence of fire."
"Now, what part of Equestria are they most commonly found?"
"I don't know, Baltimare?" He shrugged.
Rarity giggled. Fluttershy tried it out for herself. "What's the main difference between big cats like a lion, and small cats like a lynx?"
"Oh easy. There's some special bone in their throats. The big cats have rigid ones, allowing them to roar, and small cats have flexible ones, letting them purr."
"Now, what's the smallest cat that can roar?"
"Uh... a bobcat?"
Fluttershy giggled. "A leopard, actually."
"Close enough." Skystrike finished his cup before Rarity poured another. "...Random thought, but I got into this with Applejack yesterday; do apples make your throats itchy?"
"N-no? What? Are you allergic?" Fluttershy got a bit confused.
"Maybe? Probably at this point." Skystrike shrugged.
"Skystrike what is wrong with you?."
Rarity giggled at that. "Oh, that reminds me, I was talking with Pinkie Pie the other day. Told me that you visited the red light district in your youth to make money." Both Skystrike and Fluttershy froze in place. "You absolutely must tell me about it."
He winced. "...Not much really to say about it... the orphanage was low on funds, so I needed to make some money to put food on the table. You'd be surprised how ponies won't recognize you if you just wear a mask or a wig and contacts."
"You were a stripper?" Fluttershy asked.
Skystrike blinked. "Oh god, is that what I implied?. I did cage fights!"
"Oh, good- well, not good, but... you know what I mean."
Skystrike regained his composure. "Oh, right, Rarity, been meaning to ask, how much do I owe you for the suit?"
Rarity thought back. "Oh right, the Hydra. Don't worry about that, darling, I've already started making a new one for you. And I've started designing a dress for Tethys, and Zecora's too. I will say, the former has been a bit of a challenge."
"How so?" Fluttershy asked.
"Well, for us mares, we can just cover both bits with the dress... Her 'girls' are further up." Rarity make quotes with her hooves. "I'm trying to make it fashionable while also making sure she doesn't show too much skin, and making sure she has enough space up top."
Skystrike hummed. "I don't know how well armor can transfer over to clothes, but proportions wise, I might be able to help? I made Tethys's armor, and working on a new set right now."
"Well, thank you, but I like the challenge. I want to work on this myself."
Fluttershy jumped in. "Oh, speaking of Tethys and Zecora, they're pretty close."
Skystrike nodded. "Oh yeah, Tethys and Zecora were the first and second to join me in my travels. They're like sisters at this point. Relating over their shared history of leaving their homelands. I'm glad they can, I couldn't really help them with their loneliness."
"I always wanted to visit Zecora's homeland. What was it called? Zebrafrica?"
He nodded again. "That's the continent, to be more specific... She doesn't seem to have good memories of the place. I decided to stop asking, as the only thing I got out of her was her country of origin's name, Farasi."
"...Are you all so mysterious on purpose?"
He sighed. "We came together because we had nowhere else to go. Following whatever little hope we had left as we clung to the loose shreds of life. I'm just glad it worked for all of us. We only really shared when we could really trust one another. I know Zecora trusts me, but... she has different demons to deal with than me."
"I mean, I can understand different, but not necessarily easier..." Rarity poured herself another cup of tea.
Skystrike twitched. He calmed himself down before responding. "Rarity, from an outside observer, sure it may seem easier, but do not compare your pain with another. Zecora still has to deal with them, and we all handle things differently."
"...Your right... sorry."
The three sat there in awkward silence for a few minutes. Rarity decided to change the subject. "So... word around town is you landed two more mares?"
"God fucking damn it..."
Fluttershy jumped in. "I feel like a pony dying of thirst watching another pony drown."
Skytrike chuckled. "Ok, that was a good one."
"You must give me the details, you mare killer." Rarity crossed her hooves and smirked.
"God, you're thirsty. Get a coltfriend."
"Yeah!" Sweetie Belle said appearing in the hallway. Skystrike almost lost it at that point. "Anyway, hi Nebula, hi Fluttershy."
"Hey." Skystrike and Fluttershy greeted.
Sweetie Belle's stomach growled. "Rarityyyyy I'm hungry!"
"You don't know how to cook?" Skystrike swiveled in his chair to look at the filly.
"I do, I just like Rarity's cooking."
Rarity leaned over to Skystrike's ear. "It's mainly because she doesn't know how to cook."
"...Hey kid, wanna learn how to cook pancakes?"
"Yeah!" Sweetie Bell jumped.
Skystrike finished his tea as he got up. "Alright, so what's the first thing we do before we start cooking?"
"Wash our hooves?"
"Your right!" Skystrike said as he turned on the sink to wash his hooves with Sweetie Belle. "Now, for pancakes, we need flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, milk, butter, and eggs. Do you know where those are?"
"Yeah!" She got her step stool to grab the items from the cupboards and refrigerator. Skystrike got some bowls to mix the ingredients in the soon to be future.
But as soon as he but the bowl down, Sweetie Belle poured in half the bad of flour. "Sweetie, what're you doing?"
"Adding the flour."
"Well yeah, but we gotta measure it."
"Why?"
Oh fuck, is that why Rarity said she's bad at it? "Because if the ingredients aren't balanced, it wont... make it taste as good as it can be." Skystrike poured back in the flour into the bag. "Can you measure out a cup and a half of flour?"
"Oh, ok!" She ran to get the cup measurers, coming back and doing so.
"Nice! Now, we need... 3 and a half teaspoons of baking powder...." He began listing the measurements, pausing as the filly poured in each. "one tablespoon of sugar, a quarter teaspoon of salt, one and a quarter cups of milk, three tablespoons of melted butter, and one egg."
"Got it!"
"And now mix it until it's smooth with a whisk." It took a little while, and Sweetie Belle's arms were getting tired, but it worked. "Nice job, kid. Now all you gotta do is cook them." Skystrike grabbed a pan and put it on the stove, the stove clicking on with the turn of a knob "Pour half a cup of the batter on the pan, and when the batter is bubbling, flip it. I'm going to set the table. A few minutes passed, and some of the pancakes came out looking weird, but Sweetie Belle did it.
Skystrike set the plate for the four of them and pulled up a seat for the filly. He poured some syrup on his food before digging in. "Hey you did pretty good, Sweetie! Made a whole meal by yourself."
Sweetie stopped mid bite. "...Oh yeah I did!" She smiled before eating.
"Oh, this is quite good." Rarity used her magic to hold her utensils.
"You're quite good with kids." Fluttershy noticed.
"She reminds me of my sisters." Skystrike patted Sweetie Belle on her head.
"Oh, speaking of your sisters, could you get me into contact with Dawnstone? She's so beautiful! She'd be a perfect model!" Rarity asked between bites.
"Really? I'll tell her about that then. She is trying to be a professional model, so it'd be nice to get her before she's massive." Skystrike nodded.
"...Why'd you say 'really' like you didn't believe her?" Fluttershy said with a confused chuckle.
Skystrike was about to open his mouth to speak, but he needed to figure out how to best explain it. "Well... when I describe the looks of a girl, it all depends on what I see them as. Thinking back on it, Dawnstone is definitely a beauty, but I've never chosen that word to describe her since she's my sister."
"Well, what words do you use?"
"Stoic, inspiring, sweet, stuff like that. Honestly, I've never seen an ugly mare, so I more focused on... not describing their physical attributes."
Well now Rarity was interested. "Well, what words do you use to describe a pony's looks?"
"Pretty, hot, beautiful, and cute."
"What's the difference?" They both asked at the same time.
He sighed. "Alright, so, cute means that the mare in question looks good. Like if I was walking down the street and saw a pretty mare, I'd go 'Oh, she's nice.' And keep going on with my business. Nothing more than a passing glance. With me so far?"
"Yes." Rarity and Fluttershy nodded.
"Pretty can mean the same thing, but it's more meant for mares who I can see a future friendship with. For example, Dawnstone or Astral can be both pretty and cute, but they prefer to be called pretty because they're adults."
Rarity felt like she understood. "So... fillies and colts are cute, and mares and stallions are... handsome and pretty?"
"Right." Skystrike nodded. "You for example, Spike is cute, Big Mac is handsome."
"...Didn't need you to call me out, but I get it. Go on."
"Hot means that she looks nice you know what I mean? Like, damn. I'm walking by, and I do a double take because damn." Skystrike laughed. "I'd explain better, but you know." He motioned to Sweetie Belle, who was obliviously eating her pancakes.
"I get what you're implying." Rarity crossed her hooves again and leaned in. "So, what's beautiful?"
Skystrike leaned back. "Harder to explain than the previous ones... When I say someone is beautiful, it means I see attributes within that being that means I could see a potential future with."
"Aww... didn't know you could be such a sweetheart." Fluttershy smiled at him.
Rarity wasn't satisfied though. "Give some examples of each, just so I can understand this better."
"...I feel like I've walked into a trap, but I'm in this deep already, so sure, why not." Skystrike finished his pancakes. "Mmm... so... somepony like Roseluck or Carrot Top, they're cute. But I've never really interacted with them besides passing conversations. Uh... as for pretty... well, I already said Astral and Dawnstone. Another example would be... Derpy Hooves. As for hot, well, that kinda speaks for itself. Beautiful would be... Tethys and Zecora? I guess? Best examples I have as of now. They're my best friends."
"Aren't we?" Fluttershy asked.
"Well yeah, but we haven't..." He was about to say it, then looked at Sweetie Belle. "...rolled in the hay."
"So, difference between hot and beautiful is how well you know them?" Fluttershy was trying to understand.
Skystrike shook his head. "Bare bones, kinda. Sure, main difference between those two and Mayor Mare and Cheerilee is that I'm better friends with the former, but with the former, we respect and know each other enough where we aren't simply FWB."
"This... makes more sense than I thought it would?" Rarity admitted.
"What's a FWB?" Sweetie Belle asked.
Rarity stammered at the question, while Fluttershy froze up. Skystrike decided to answer. "When you're older."
"Oh come on! Rarity says that all the time! Not you too!" Sweetie wined.
Skystrike decided to do the funniest thing he could here. "Sweetie Belle, FWB is short for 'Fairy Wants Bones'."
"...What?" Sweetie Belle tilted her head.
"Ever heard of the tooth fairy?"
"...yeah?"
"She has an older sister called the 'Bone Fairy'. If you aren't a good filly, she comes at night and takes your bones. One time I woke up without my spine." He tried his best not to break out laughing as her face turned to one of mild horror.
"...Rarity I'm sorry for eavesdropping on you while you were talking with Frank! I won't do it again! Mr.Nebula please save me from the Bone Fairy!" Sweetie Belle said between tears as she jumped on Skystrike.
Skystrike was shaking as he held it in. "S-sure Sweetie Belle. I'll go stop the Bone Fairy!"
Rarity and Fluttershy hid theirs as well as they could at her reaction. Then Fluttershy thought about what she said. "Wait... I don't know anypony in Ponyville named Frank?"
Sweetie wiped the tears welling up in her eyes. "I-I... don't know him either. Rarity just... yells his name really loud sometimes when I'm asleep."
Skystrike and Fluttershy slowly turned to Rarity. Her blushing face told them everything. Skystrike couldn't hold it it anymore as he burst out laughing, Fluttershy following his actions not even a moment later. Fluttershy was snorting while Skystrike was wheezing as he held onto the table to not fall out of his chair. Fluttershy's laughter slowed down for a minute, then picked back up when she looked at Rarity's face again. Sweetie Belle jumped out of Skystrike's arms before he fell to the floor.
"Holy SHIT!" He wheezed. "I'm never gonna let you live this down!"
Sweetie Belle looked confused. "I don't get it."
Another day came and went. Skystrike laughed all day about what happened with Rarity, but today was a new one. He, Spike, Twilight, and Zecora were doing some magic spells. Well, more talking about spells. Also, since when did a tree library have a basement? And why does Twilight have a lab?
Skystrike decided to ask. "Twilight, why does this place look like you'd lure somepony here?"
Zecora snorted. Twilight stammered for a response. "I- you- I'd never do that!"
"Oh, I know, but it's kinda off putting when you have restraints and something that reads brain waves." He smiled.
"Can we just go back to you doing your spells?" Twilight sighed.
"Yeah, we've talked about it for a while!" Spike said from his bean bag chair and put down his comic book. "I wanna see something cool!"
Zecora nodded. "I'm intrigued to witness your magic brew, to see the wonders it can strew."
Skystrike nodded. "Alright then. What type of magic do you want to see?"
"Can you turn an apple into an orange like Twilight?" Spike rolled over.
"Well, no, or at least, not with my understanding of magic and my abilities. But I could turn lead into gold because of my understanding of physics."
Twilight's ears perked up. "Interesting... can you do it now?"
"Technically yes, but it'd be dangerous. If you want me to explain it, I'd use my magic to turn the oxygen atoms around the lead into nitrogen. With all of those extra protons, I'd induce proton bombardment onto the lead to turn it into gold. However, that'd require many, many different layers and types of magic. Also, the energy released from that nuclear reaction would be dangerous."
"...I barely understood that." Twilight admitted. "I haven't even heard of nuclear physics."
"You understood that?" Spike asked.
Oh right, they're magic focused. "Sorry, forget that physics isn't studied as heavily here. It'd take too long to explain to you atomic theory and particle colliders and the like... Basically yes I can, but it's dangerous."
"Could you unveil magic with a useful touch, practical spells that would impress us much?" Zecora sat down as she waited.
Skystrike thought about what to do before he clenched his forehooves. Small bolts of electricity jumped from his hooves as it traveled up his arms, into his head, and then down through the rest of his body. He shook off the extra static as his hair stood on end. "There... just... a bit tedious to keep this up."
Zecora tilted her head. "I am a bit confused at the spell you just used?"
"I'm using electricity to speed up my perception speed, as well as increase the nerves in my body to react faster."
"...You... you're-... That's dangerous! Stop it!" Twilight nearly begged.
Skystrike discharged the electricity. "Alright, calm down a bit. Something not dangerous then..." He thought for a bit more, then put his hoof towards Twilight. A weak green aura floated over to her and surrounded her. "There. I gave you a stamina buff. You won't get tired as fast, but you're going to sleep a long while when you go to bed. Sorry, most of my spells are... combat oriented."
"Oh, well... I guess that makes sense." Twilight had to admit.
"Can you show us one? Maybe one I can do?" Spike asked.
Skystrike thought about it for a time, then decided to do something silly. He stood up on his hind legs and put his forehooves to his side, charging energy between them. Then he pushed his hooves forward as he yelled. "HADOKEN!"
Spike saw the slow moving projectile come towards him. He side stepped it, watching it hit the wall. "Cool! And an even cooler name!"
"That's what I'm saying!" Skystrike said as he bro hoofed the baby dragon.
"What do you mean cool? That was silly."
Skystrike looked at her. "Nuh uh!"
"The buck you mean 'Nuh uh'??" Twilight put out the palm of her hoof. Skystrike laughed even harder.
Zecora laughed a bit too. "Skystrike, honesty's key, your name is a tad silly."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Skystrike crossed his hooves. "They're not silly. All of them are sick as hell!"
Zecora had an amused look. "Like your sword you called 'Black wind'? Or the spear called 'Tale's end?"
"Yeah, those go hard!" He defended himself.
"It sounds cringe, is what I'd aver. A sentiment many would echo, I'd wager."
"YOU'RE CRINGE!!!"
Skystrike roared at the top of his lungs, making them all laugh. He waited for the laugher to die down. "But fine, why don't you and Twilight think of better names? A blue sword for example."
Zecora rubbed her chin in thought. "If I had to choose a name for a sword, what about... 'Cold-Forged'?"
Twilight pitched in with one of her own. "What about 'Storm'? Like lightning."
Spike stood up and stretched. "Personally, I think 'Epilogue' sounds cool."
"You see, Spike, that name goes hard. Name your scythe that."
Spike shook his head. "I already named it 'Crescent Moon'. It looks like one."
"Yeah!" Skystrike picked him up. "That does hard, man! Oh, and I might use that name if you don't mind."
"Sure, go for it."
Zecora jumped in. "Speaking of names, let's take a trip. What is the name you chose for your airship?"
"Oh, I could've sworn I told you. I named her 'Wind Waker'.
Twilight sighed. "I mean... could be better..."
"Twilight, you'd probably offer some obscure name that you have to explain the meaning behind. At least mine are straight forward."
Zecora smirked. "While that probably would occur, don't you have a Zweihander named 'the Throngler'?"
Twilight snickered. "The Throngler? Heheh, that sounds silly. What does it mean?"
"Just to beat the crap out of someone. And while it might sound silly, there's only one way to truly be throngled" Skystrike said the last part with a straight face. Then they all laughed at the absurdity of the word.
Twilight laughed a bit more. "Well, getting back on topic, we were studying how exactly you turn this 'mana' stuff into magic. I haven't read up about it yet, since there haven't been any public copies of Casta's Thesis, but she's court magician for a reason... Can you continue what you were saying?"
Skystrike nodded. "Right. So, not going into my biology, or any super specific fields of science, there's some sort of organ near my heart, or my heart itself, that can convert mana into magic. For example, when I want to use any magic, I first charge my magic, then transfer it to the limb needed to cast that magic."
Twilight wrote it down on a note pad. "And you do this consciously?"
"Yes, though that is part of the reason why I believe that my destruction magic is higher level than the other types. Unicorns are trained to use their magic by focusing it into their horns, so obviously has to go directly through their brain. Because of that, there's a sort of limiter that stops unicorns from using magic too powerful for them, else their brain can get literally fried." Skystrike put out his hooves and casted some weak water spells, making two orbs of water float in the air. "Because it doesn't have to go straight through my brain, that limiter isn't there for me. But... because of the way I was trained, I have an affinity and exclusivity for destruction spells."
"Hmm... I think I get it... and what was the highest tier destruction spell that you've used?"
"If I used them, I'd be in a cell."
Twilight blinked. "Well... what's the highest spell you can use?"
"Uh... spells on the master level. In tandem."
"...Sweet Celestia." Twilight was astounded. "You have to be lying..."
"Well that's why I don't use them or my magic in general."
"I don't... really know what those types of spells can do?" Spike asked.
Twilight gave him an answer. "A single master spell is banned, as a destruction master spell can destroy small towns. Anyway, back to you Zecora. How exactly do your potions work?"
Zecora pulled one out from her bag. "Ways about in its function, diverse and vast, Some draw magic from beings, like a spell being cast. Others absorb the essence, the mystical hue, each brew's spell depends on its magical brew. Primarily for support, their powers do cast, In a myriad of ways, their aid unsurpassed."
Twilight thought for a minute. "Sorry... just... translating it out of rhymes. I... think I got it? I don't know how you do it, Skystrike."
"You get used to it. It's also really fun if you think about everything she says as a rap."
Zecora stared at him. "Bruh."
Twilight carried on. "So, you were talking about support potions... I assume offensive potions are more chemical based, not requiring much magic?"
The zebra nodded. "Indeed, akin to a unicorn's spell so bright, yet with certain items, I can enhance their might."
Skystrike watched as Zecora's and Twilight began asking and answering each others questions. They were talking so fast that he kinda zoned out most of their conversation. Spike walked up to his side. "...Are you gathering anything they're saying?"
"Bits and pieces..." Skystrike admitted. The two boys watched them keep talking for another few minutes. "...Wanna go get some food?"
"Ooh, can we go get tacos?" Spike jumped on his back as Skystrike began to walk out.
"Tacos sound good." Skystrike nodded as they walked. "Anything happened at school? You've been there for a few months now."
"Yeah, it's really fun! Everypony- well most of the ponies are nice. Diamond Tiara and Silverspoon keep picking on me and my friends. Keeps calling them 'blank flanks' and saying mean things."
Skystrike thought for a moment. "There's not... really a good answer I can tell you on how to deal with that. Take it as a life lesson. There are beings that only intend to be hurtful, and using words doesn't fix anything. How we deal with those types of beings defines who we are, who we grow to be."
"Well, how do you think I should deal with them?"
"That's the thing Spike. It's a lose-lose. If you don't act, you're enabling them in a sense. If you do, then it might stop, sure, but it could also get worse. Honestly, the main problem is that your bullies are two of the ponies who's parents have a lot of power in this town... that being said, I can deal with them if I need to. The choice is yours. Just think it through."
"Ok I guess..." Spike thought on if for a minute. "Twilight and Rarity keep saying that they're being mean because they like me."
"Don't listen to that bullshit." Skystrike growled slightly, making the baby dragon flinch. "Sorry, just... bought up some bad memories. They only say things like that because they haven't been on the receiving end. Think about it for a moment. Even if they're right, would you want to be with somepony that treats you like that? And to prove that they're wrong, neither of them have a coltfriend."
"Really? Sweetie Belle told me about a guy named 'Frank'."
Skystrike shook as he internally laughed. "Spike, you're too pure. Do not bring that up around Rarity." Spike gave a confused nod. "Good, moving on, how're the friends that you made? You hang out a lot with Sweetie, Bloom, and Scootaloo."
"Oh yeah! They're fun! Yesterday, we went to Fluttershy's cottage and she was telling us about her animals. Did you know that hummingbirds are the only bird that can fly backwards?"
Skystrike and Spike sat down at the restaurant to get their food. "Really now? Tell me more about what you learned."
Another day passed. Skystrike and Spike enjoyed their guy time, talking over a meal. They decided that they'd make that and a visit to the spa a monthly thing when he got back from his mission. He was glad Spike is around ponies his age. For now, Skystrike, Stardust, and Pinkie Pie were all sitting on a park bench, talking about random things.
Pinkie took a bite of her taffy, chewing it with a smile. "We don't hang out too often! You're always so busy, Skystrike! Thanks for coming to hang out with us!"
"Yeah." Stardust nodded. "For a bit, I kinda thought you were avoiding us."
"Oh, no, not at all. It's just that when my social battery isn't dead, almost everyone else is out doing something or hanging out with someone else." Skystrike explained. "Also, while I was joking back in the capital, I didn't realize how awkward that was for you. I'm sorry."
"Oh, don't worry about that." Pinkie laughed and waved a hoof. "You think too hard about little things." Then her demeanor changed. "Seriously though, what did you mean by 'return on investment'?"
Stardust spit out her drink. "You said WHAT???"
Skystrike laughed a bit. "Well, if you want me to say it, I was complementing you, your sisters, and your mom. She is kinda bad. And I know how this is going to sound, but I mean this in the best way possible: I would've mistaken her for your sister if I didn't know her years prior."
"...I don't-... I don't know how I'm supposed to take that in a good way. It's... implying that my sisters and I look old."
"Yeah, Pinkie, I'm with you. What the buck?" Stardust raised a brow at him.
"Oh, no, that's not what I'm saying at all. I'm saying that you ponies just age really well. Like, I honestly can't really tell the difference at times." Skystrike admitted.
"...How old do you think my mom is, Sky?"
"Well, using you and Maud as a basis I'd guess... mid forties?"
"Yeah, in the ball park." Pinkie took another bite of her taffy.
"Skystrike, societal standards have made it so us mares have to keep looking young. By Celestia you're so god damn stupid sometimes." Stardust sipped her water.
"Well excuse~ me, not my fault that stallions have been hyped up so much that you mares have to hold yourself to near impossible standards." He crossed his hooves.
Stardust sighed. "I mean, yeah, but... didn't have to say it like that. I'm going to turn thirty one in a few months. It's already really hard to find a good stallion, let alone one ok with my age."
"You aren't even old!"
"How old is old to you?" Stardust asked rhetorically. "Any mare pushing 35 is considered old."
Skystrike had to think on it. "So that's why Rarity said I was into older mares... Damn, sorry you girls have to go through that bullshit. Your worth as a pony shouldn't be tied to how young you all look, or if you have a stallion or not."
"...That was one of the most realest things you've ever said. Thanks." Pinkie smiled at him.
"Yeah, I appreciate it a lot." Stardust nodded.
"Honestly, I did get quite a bit of attention when I moved to Ponyville years ago back when I first moved here. But since I stopped working on the rock farm, I started gaining weight." Pinkie pulled at her belly fat. "I need to work out..."
Stardust sighed. "Tell me about it. Wasn't until I joined the guard that I started losing weight."
Skystrike leaned back. "I dunno, some guys are into it. Like Carrot Cake... or maybe it's because she counts as a short stack?"
"Oh yeah, fair enough." Stardust put down her now empty cup.
Pinkie Pie pulled another piece of taffy out of her hair. "There aren't many ponies here into it. Figure I should try and change something."
"Another real line then." Skystrike put a hoof into Pinkie's hair and pulled out a boombox, playing some music that made his words sound much more real. "You do not change yourself for others. You must first change yourself for yourself. Those who want you for you will come eventually."
"Well, since we're on the topic..." Pinkie bit into her second piece of taffy. "Mmm... what about you, any mares you fancy?"
"Bruh, I just can't escape this topic, huh?" Skystrike gave a small sigh. "Well, I already said I don't have a type, and you two heard about my 'escapades', but if I had to think on mares I see as an actual option, I don't really know. If someone is able to know and accept the real me, they're an option."
"The real you?" Pinkie tilted her head. "What, are you hiding more of yourself?"
Skystrike looked at the two who awaited an answer... well Stardust, being Elytra, already knew. It was more an answer for Pinkie. "...Pinkie, I hide many parts of myself because I feel like if I get too close, I end up hurting those around me. It's more of a shitty defense mechanism."
"Oh..." Pinkie blinked in surprise. "Well, maybe I'm ok with being hurt."
Skystrike wanted to say 'AYO???' but this was a serious talk. He looked around to see if anypony else was in earshot. Luckily, nopony was. "Pinkie, I... appreciate the sentiment. Trust is... a very hard thing for me to have in beings, but I think I can trust you. I'm-"
"An alien from an alternate universe that's been living as a pony to fit into society but is in a sort of cold war with the government because you're seen as a danger while the alien brethren that you're running from are also after you?"
Skystrike's and Stardust's jaws dropped. Stardust closed her mouth to say "HOW THE BUCK!?"
Pinkie shrugged. "Lucky guess." And then stuck out her tongue with a wink.
"Pinkie, I don't think I will ever get used to you." Skystrike laughed. "But yeah, you're basically right. With your 'power' I guess I don't need to explain all of my backstory. You can just guess, huh?"
"Like how Stardust is a changeling? Probably."
"HOW THE BUCK!?!?" Stardust yelled as she stood up. "YOU'RE NOT NATURAL!! WHAT ARE YOU!?!?"
Skystrike couldn't help but laugh harder. Pinkie hummed as she rocked back and forth. "Don't worry, I wont tell anypony. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!"
"Well, just so you do know if you wanted to talk about it, Zecora, Tethys, Casta, Stardust, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy know. I'll tell you more about my history later." Skystrike couldn't help but laugh some more.
"If I can ask, Stardust, how did you sneak into the guard?" Pinkie asked.
Stardust blinked. "Oh, sorry, I just... was in shock of your insanity. To answer, I wouldn't be a stealth operative if I couldn't do that."
"So is your ass an illusion too, or is it just that fat naturally?"
Skystrike lost his shit at that as Stardust's blush grew. "It's-... not that big, is it?"
Skystrike mimicked Stardust's voice. "Princess... I'm trying to sneak around.... but I'm dummy thicc. And the clapping of my ass cheeks keep distracting the cadets!"
Stardust slapped him in embarrassment, making Pinkie start snorting. Skystrike did a small show of holding his cheek and face crying like a yoda hand puppet, sniffling to sell it. Stardust couldn't help but join in on the laugh a bit, quickly forgetting her past embarrassment.
Pinkie finished her taffy. "Oh, right, can I ask you something, Sky?"
"Go for it."
"Tethys told us you got with her and Zecora-"
Skystrike already knew where this was going. "You sure you want the answer to that question?"
Pinkie rubbed her chin. "You're right. I got what I wanted anyway!" She said between going back to her usual happy demeanor.
Stardust looked at her. "I can never read that mare."
Skystrike patted Stardust's back. "Honestly, it's easier on the mind to stop trying."
Stardust whispered into Skystrike's ear. "Look, I know you're dense as Tartarus, but you do realize that you basically said Pinkie was an option?"
Skystrike and Stardust turned to look at Pinkie who was rocking back and forth on her butt. "Oh, I guess I did. Eh, not against it. She's a sweet girl... but I'm going to wait until after the gala."
Stardust gave a small smile. "Good to see you at least thinking about it. You deserve to be happy."
Sleep came pretty quickly for Skystrike that day. He enjoyed the last several days with his friends. But for now, he was within his mind, dreaming. He sat in a large field atop a hill in his human form. The wind against his skin felt great, cooling him off. He always found it weird how he could feel in a dream.
But that was besides the point. For now, he waited. The setting sun marked the changing of time, and a presence arriving. He heard decorated hoof steps come towards him. Skystrike turned around to see Nightmare Moon. No words were said as she sat down next to him.
The two sat next to each other, staring at the night sky before Nightmare said. "Skystrike, you're bucking weird."
Skystrike chuckled. "You're in my mind I call my home, yet you complain about how I arrange my furniture?"
For the second time Skystrike's seen, Nightmare Moon gave a small smile. "If I am being honest, I'm more surprised at how guys work... like, you can actually think about nothing, then immediately go to thinking about the most inane, useless things. Why do you need to know how big a waffle you can make?"
"Just because." Skystrike laughed.
"Also, is it just a guy thing that you're constantly horny?"
Skystrike laughed harder. "Haha! Yeah, pretty sure it's a guy thing. Sorry, I'm still not used to both of us being in here."
Nightmare shrugged. "It's alright. At least it's not too weird. I'm just more surprised that less changed since our banishment than I thought."
"Really? Like what?"
"Well, I was going through your memories when you were a colt in Canterlot. The layout of the castle is nearly the same as the now abandoned one. But so much has changed too. The food is so much better!"
"Wait, you can taste what I taste?"
She shook her head. "More that I can remember what the food you ate tasted like... among other things." Skystrike began giggling like a school girl. Nightmare Moon couldn't stifle hers much longer. "There's so much I want to say, so much more I want to see in this new world." She leaned on him, putting her head on his shoulder. "It's been barely over a week, but I can feel myself changing... thank you, Skystrike. For now, I'd like to keep seeing things through your eyes."
"Sure. Just tell me what you want to see. I'll try and go see it." Skystrike kept looking at the horizon. "It's kinda nice with you around."
"You know I can read parts of your mind right?" She used her magic to take off her armor. "You can pet me, just make it quick. I feel naked."
Skystrike did not hesitate pulling her onto his lap and stroking her neck and back. "Oh man, I always wanted to do this. You ponies always looks so soft."
Nightmare moon was a bit embarrassed at first from the sudden petting, but it grew on her is he continued, cooing at the feeling of his hands. "Oooh, your hands are divine... You're lucky you're the only being in this world I could tolerate, else you'd never get this chance..."
"Well, I'm flattered." Skystrike smiled as he brushed her hair. "You're coat is so smooth. Also, I just want to say, you have such a nice mane. If you couldn't tell from the name I chose for myself, I always loved staring at the stars. It's like I'm staring into a nebula."
She giggled. "Quite the charmer, aren't you? Mmfh... move your hand a bit lower." Skystrike did so, moving his left hand right above her tailbone. "As much as I don't like to admit things, I... mmm, have grown to see you in a better light. Maybe when I get out of here, I'll help you out with your problem... How do you plan to get me out of here?"
Skystrike thought about it. "Well, any idea I've had is illegal, but helping you out in the first place probably is anyway... My first idea was to just make a clone or artificial body, then create a link between my mind and the body's, so you can cross over and have that body. But the main problem is how exactly I'd get said body."
"Nngh... by the moon, that feels good." Nightmare cooed. "I suppose that could work if you... ignore the morality... and the next idea?"
"Find a genie."
"Genies are real?"
"We live in a world where two ponies can control the sun and the moon, six control a giant friendship laser, and an alien from an alternate dimension all exist together. I'd be surprised if genies don't exist. Or some sort of wish granting being."
Nightmare was about to say something, but the stimulation she got from her tailbone was amplified from Skystrike suddenly scratching behind her ear. "Unf~!" She moaned.
Skystrike immediately pulled back both of his hands, while Nightmare pushed herself up. The two made eye contact before quickly avoiding each others eyes, turning away and backing up a few feet. Awkward silence fell between them for a long while.
Skystrike cleared his throat. "I'm sorry. I guess I was getting a bit too into it. I pushed a boundary."
"It's... fine... I should've explained to you what it means when you pet a pony there." Nightmare admitted.
Hindsight hit him like a truck. "Oh god, that was sexual?" Nightmare nodded. "FUCK!"
Suddenly, the sky seemed to crack, it growing to span the zenith of the area. The area they were in shattered like glass, returning to the empty void that was normally Skystrike's mind. Princess Luna stood within the void, her glowing white eyes beginning to dim as she no longer needed to use her magic to infiltrate his dream.
"Skystrike, we came as soon as we saw something awry! Are you-" Luna made eye contact with her alter-ego, seeing the two with an awkward tension between them. "You... what did you do to him, Nightmare Moon!?"
"Calm down, Luna nothing happened." Skystrike sighed.
Luna began taking steps towards Nightmare Moon. "The faces thou art making, and her scent upon you tells us otherwise." She glared at Nightmare. "What did you do?"
Skystrike stepped between them. "Luna, you do not want to know. Nothing bad happened."
"I'll be the judge of that." Luna said. Her eyes glowing as she used her magic in an attempt to get into Nightmare Moons's mind.
Skystrike grabbed her by the horn, making her stop in her tracks. "I know you don't like her, but even if she is you, it is still immoral to peak into her mind without her permission."
"Don't stop us, Skystrike. You don't have to protect her because you feel bad! She is a being born of my hatred! She won't change!"
"She's you, Luna!" Skystrike threw her back. "Or at least, a you that you don't want to confront! And look at you! You changed! All I'm doing is giving her the chance you were!" Skystrike cracked his knuckles. "I'm not going to pretend I know the pain that you went through for the past thousand years, but she must be given a chance to change. We must be better than this!"
Luna was about to flare her magic, but at that last sentence, she realized that the human was right. With an annoyed roar, she released all the magic she could straight up, the blue light lighting up his entire dreamscape. She huffed from the sudden expelling of magic. "Fine... then you tell me what happened."
Skystrike sighed and loosened the tension in his body. "Well if you must know... I wanted to pet Nightmare moon. I didn't know where I was touching was sexual. I only found out when she moaned."
Luna spread her wings in surprise and embarrassment, his testimony being confirmed by the growing blush on Nightmare Moons muzzle. "O-oh..."
"Yeah I be you feel real dumb right now." Skystrike crossed his arms.
"...We are sorry, Skystrike."
"Not me who you should be apologizing to, Luna." Skystrike tapped his foot before stepping out of the way.
Luna grit her teeth a bit. "We... apologize to you as well, Nightmare moon."
Nightmare moon shuffled a bit. "It's... fine. I don't blame you..." She admitted as she teleported her armor back on.
Skystrike sighed as he turned his body to stretch. "Great, now that that's solved, how's your vacation going, Luna?"
Her ears perked up a bit. "Oh, well... we are enjoying ourselves. We've decided to stop by Las Pegasus."
"Oh god, is she going for the cocaine and strippers?" Skystrike cracked a smile.
Luna and Nightmare Moon couldn't help but giggle at the memory. "Well, we would be lying if we said she didn't want to go there for that. But to my knowledge, not yet at least."
"Wait, I was joking, she was serious?" Skystrike laughed.
"Only about the strippers. Thou would be surprised how lonely an alicorn can get over the years." Luna sighed.
"Is it the ageless part, or the princess part?"
"A mix of both, but mostly the former for us... It's why we decided to travel as ourselves before our ascension."
"Ah, I get it. You two feel like you can't be your true selves because of your title?"
Luna nodded. "Indeed. It pains me to say it, but hindsight has granted me that not having to deal with politics for a thousand years was... calming."
Nightmare Moon wanted to say something, but held her tongue. It didn't go unnoticed by Skystrike though. Skystrike sighed and put his hands behind his head as he looked up to the void. "Luna, you've done a lot for me, from accepting my humanity knowing what my kind did in the past, to not telling Celestia. I want to know I appreciate you. Saying that... I know what I'm about to ask for is a lot..."
Luna could tell this was serious. She sat down. "You do not have to be afraid to ask us anything. What is it?"
Skystrike sat down too, figuring out how to best word this. "...Over the past couple weeks with Nightmare Moon in my mind, we've been able to share thoughts. Adding to that some... circumstances, I've realized that I cannot hold on to the anger of my past. While I cannot let go of a certain rage towards Blueblood, I've been trying to let go of my anger towards Chrysalis and the hive."
"Well, that's quite noble of you, Skystrike."
"We are kindred spirits, Luna. I say this because you'll live much, much longer than me. I believe it is best for you to try and let go of your anger too."
Luna's brow furrowed a bit. "If thou art trying to say what I think thou is, no. She has done far too much to be forgiven."
Skystrike sighed. "You can't forgive Nightmare Moon for luring you in with the thought of comeuppance? Or you can't forgive yourself for giving in?"
She stood up and stomped her hoof at that, the entirety of Skystrike's mental space shaking. Luna's eyes glowed white in anger, even using her royal Canterlot voice. "DO NOT SPEAKETH UPON A SUBJECT YOU DO NOT KNOW, HUMAN! WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT US!?"
Skystrike stood up. "More than you think, less then I should... but enough where I know that this isn't healthy. I know how it is to give in to that urge..." He said sadly. In the next moment, he changed his mental space, the grey void turning to a red one, and dozens of voices rolled in. Luna and Nightmare Moon both looked around, trying to figure out where the voices were coming from.
They recognized the voices. Each one of them were his, Skystrike's, begging, pleading him to listen, with each more violent than the last. "Make them pay!" "This world will abandon you when they learn the truth!" "They're just pretending!" "Fight!" "Kill!" "Slaughter!" "Make them feel the pain you have!"
Skystrike let the voices continue as he did. "I only gave in once, but like you, I see it as the worst mistake I've ever made... I had to protect my friends from Blueblood... I don't regret protecting myself or the others, but... the brutality that I showed, the smile plastered across my face... it disgusted me. I regret it every moment, and I can never forgive myself, but if I wanted to keep living, have a hope for a better tomorrow for myself, I know that I had to accept that part of me, no matter how I viewed it."
The voices of hate screamed at him when he finished. Skystrike closed his eyes as he forced the voices into silence. He felt his ears ringing, and waited for the ringing to stop, as well as his anger to subside. "Haaah~... sorry you had to see that. Just needed to prove that I can at least relate."
Luna stammered. "W-we are sorry..."
"Don't be." Skystrike waved a dismissing hand. "But I showed you that to say that I don't expect you to forgive Nightmare Moon. You're your own pony, and can make your own choices. All I'm saying is that if you truly want to forgive yourself, you need to confront Nightmare Moon."
Luna turned to see her alter, who was staring back at her. They both took slow, hesitant steps towards each other. They stopped about a foot away from each others faces. Nightmare broke the silence between them first. "No matter how much I apologize to you, it does not change the pain that I bought upon you, your sister, your subjects, or your life... I don't blame you for your hatred of me, nor would I blame you if you hate me for the rest of our days. But know that I truly regret what I did."
The princess of the night felt it in her. Maybe because of the sincerity of her words, or because she could tell from Nightmare Moon being her, but she meant it. "...We do not know if we ever can forgive you... but he is right. We have to confront you sooner or later. We cannot continue to blame you for every one of our actions from a thousand years ago. We must take accountability... we must be better." She sighed. "Skystrike, this was an... eye opening talk. For now, Nightmare Moon and I must go. We have much to speak about."
Skystrike watched as the two faded out of existence, the two leaving his mind and going back to Luna's. Skystrike sat in his mind, alone, wondering if he did the right thing at the right time. He hoped that the two of them would get better. He didn't want to lose either.
The grey void slowly turned to black as he stopped his dreamscape and drifted into a deep sleep. Skystrike would check on them next time. |
A Broken Warrior | Departure | Two months have passed since Luna and Nightmare Moon began their weekly talks. From the slight change in mood that Nightmare has had as she traveled back and forth between minds, Skystrike would say it's going well. The two of them haven't talked about it much, nor has he pushed for info. They would tell him when they were ready.
Celestia and Luna returned from their impromptu vacation feeling better than ever. Well, mainly Celestia, who hasn't had a break in a millennia. They thanked him for it, even bringing him a gift from their trip to Las Pegasus, it being a large globe of the city in the clouds. He appreciated it, and decided to put it on his nightstand.
As for what Skystrike has been doing, for the past couple months, he's been doing a lot of work. The sleepless nights fueled by caffeine and sugar finally bore fruit. His new armor was finally done, and fully enchanted. Nothing crazy, as he didn't want to become reliant on his armor, but a few lightweight enchants here, some durability enchants there, and it was all good. His new armor had some major differences compared to his last one, the most notable feature being a mana circuit. It pulled in mana to power the enchants, and also allowed him to release any stored magic in case of an overload.
Skystrike also decided that he wasn't the only one who's arsenal in need of an upgrade. Thanks to the transmutation of materials from Zecora, he had more than enough to work with. He was also glad that he could just go to Rarity for everyone's measurements.
Starting with Zecora, she wished for something mobile, while also being flexible and durable. Skystrike had to admit, she had a pretty interesting fighting style from her homeland. Seeing it over the years, he realized the similarities it had with Tahtib, an Egyptian martial art from his world. I guess this was just in horse form. The zebra also helped with the design process, wanting some roman-like inspiration. Her culture was really confusing. Her specifics were a bit hard to bring to life, mostly because leather was a bit immoral here. But then he remembered he had the dragon bodies. took some descaling and leather work, but Zecora's armor came out lovely. Bracers, greaves, a cuirass, and a battle skirt, all with a forest green finish. To cover her face, she wore a decorative mask with several shades of green with gold accents, highlighting her strong cyan eyes. She still had her golden neck rings for her own personal touch.
Zecora still had her staff from her homeland, as well as her blade whip, holding sentimental value to her. She didn't want to replace those. But she did complain about how it was hard to prepare potions for every individual event. This gave Skystrike an idea for her: a mobile brewery. And it wouldn't be too hard, now that he has the elemental stones. Fire, earth, water, wind, lightning, and ice. Each was hidden under her battle skirt, allowing for ease of access. Took a bit of testing, but the two of them got it to work. By putting an enchant on each of her bracers, she could extract some of the essence from each stone to use or combine for the wanted effects. Zecora tested it as soon as the prototype was done. A simple way to test if the brewery worked was to of course, brew a potion. Taking water and a little fire, she boiled the water. Then with earth, lightning, and wind, she molded the elements into a swiftness potion and put it into a bottle. Skystrike wished he knew how to do that, but he was more than happy with her smile.
Next was Tethys. She wanted her armor to be medium in weight and guard the important parts, as to not weigh her down as she flew around. Besides, her scales were strong enough for most things. But Skystrike didn't want to wait for the off chance of something or someone breaking through her scales. For her, Skystrike made a chest plate, wrist guards, thigh guards, bracers, shin guards, and ankle guards to protect her joints, and any place a being would aim at first to take down a dragon. He also put a few pieces of metal and leather between her wing joints and on her wing bones for at least some protection. He gave them all a silver finish in a hope to bring out her scales.
She was never a fan of weapons, always preferring hand to hand combat. That's why Skystrike wanted to test something else. The same way he is able to focus his magic out of his extremities, he wanted to find a way for Tethys to do so. Skystrike made her chestplate similar to Zecora's brewery, having magic stones on the inside. Tethys only needed three of the elements though, as she only knew ice, wind, and lightning. Through weeks of testing, it took time to learn how to use it, but it worked wonders. Her elemental breath started within her esophagus, near the lungs. Magic was generated, then forced out of her mouth. By putting the magic stones near the organ, she could transfer the flow of magic. Tethys had to get used to the feeling of preparing to breathe the element, yet not expelling it as it was transferred to her arms or legs as she wished. She could force the element of her choice out of her hands and feet. But what Skystrike was most surprised about was how quick of a learner she was, being able to surround a claw in hardened ice, or even her jaws to hit, or bite, harder. She couldn't wait to try it out. But it was crude. She needed to practice.
Lastly, Elytra was next. In the hive, she was a stealth operative, trained to stay in the dark. She was adept in sneak attacks, so Skystrike decided to focus on that aspect of her as he designed the armor. Something light and mobile, but needed to be able to take a few hits if she was ever in that scenario. Using the leather from the dragons, Skystrike spent a lot of time to finish Elytra's armor. It took him more time than he was willing to admit, since it was his first time making high quality armor for stealth. It was a dark blue, form fitting body suit with metallic black shoulder plates, a chest plate, bracers, and shin guards. The armor parts could be removed if she wanted to wear clothes over it and look casual, though he realized there was no need for it after the fact. Since you know, ponies. Her helmet had an opaque silver faceplate that allowed her to hide her face in case she was ever seen, but she didn't need to worry about that thanks to the special gimmick of her armor. Thanks to the magic circuitry within, it increased the proficiency of illusionary spells, allowing Elytra to go invisible for short periods of time, rather than having to transform into something inconspicuous.
Skystrike also made her a new rapier, nearly the exact same model as her last one, but with a fire stone implanted into the butt of the hilt, allowing for even the shallowest cut to cause an ignition if Elytra wished. As for her second weapon, Skystrike decided for something experimental. Magelight, that unicorn he killed a while ago and who's horn he took, would finally have a use. A horn, not specifically a unicorns, is used to transfer mana from the body, focus it into magic, then cast a spell. So, that made Skystrike wonder, what if he could artificially create magic? By generating a stimulus mimicking the nervous system using a circuit, he could make the unicorn horn generate magic. However, since it wasn't connected to a body, the output was embarrassing. This is where Echo came in handy. It took three days to make the blueprint, and another week to actually create it, but the two made a mana extractor. Casta would be a mix of worried and jealous at it, though their models were different. Casta's would take the mana from a specific target, while his would take in the latent mana from the surrounding area. Attaching the orb-like device to the broken end of a unicorn's horn and it worked as intended.
With the power source dealt with, now all that was left was making it useful. Skystrike realized that out of their team synergy, with Casta, Jeshan, Celeano, and Alder not here, they lacked any rangers. And with a stealth focused team member, and her permission, he had the perfect chance to fix that hole. Using Magelight's horn as a basis, and his stake launcher as inspiration, he made a smaller, more mobile version. A parallel pair of conducting rails would accelerate the projectile, being a charged ball of magic from Magelight's horn. Like a railgun, electricity would travel from one rail, through the magic projectile, to the other rail, accelerating the blast at immense speeds. The currently dubbed Magic Railgun was secured to the side of Elytra's armor at the waist, and was linked with her helmet to aim where she was looking. The trigger was right on her tail, a wire connecting it to the railgun. With a flick of her tail, the weapon would charge, then fire.
The three girls tried on their new arsenals in Skystrike's living room. Tethys was rolling her wings and giving light flaps as she got used to wearing armor again. Zecora was testing her brewery, smiling as new ideas came to mind with each element she switched to, and finally being able to use magic. Elytra was looking over her railgun, as well as the manual that Skystrike gave her.
Elytra flipped to the next page. "Hey Sky, you sure it's ok to give this to me? When Celestia sees it, and she will, she's going to probably throw a fit."
Skystrike nodded. "I already took care of that, so don't worry." He assured her as he did a few stretches in his own new set of armor. "And I hope you aren't too uncomfortable with the body suit?"
The changeling nodded. "It fits nicely, though it's a bit... too snug in the rear. I'm gonna have to hide it with my tail."
Skystrike raised a brow. "Well you could... you know, wear underwear? I wear it so my balls don't touch my under armor."
Stardust blinked. "Oh, right... I forget those exist. I don't really wear clothes... How fast do you think I could get a few sets from Rarity?"
Tethys rolled her wrists to get the feel of her bracers. "Uh, she's pretty fast about it so... It's morning, and you don't need anything fancy. She could probably get them done by tomorrow. I need to stop by to pick up a few pairs myself."
"If what you're saying, Tethys, is a fact, I might follow your words on that." Zecora took off her mask.
Skystrike nodded. "Yeah, I'd recommend getting used to wearing the armor, just in case we're attacked during our travels. In my experience, sometimes you forget you're wearing it."
Zecora chuckled. "No offense, my dear Skystrike, I don't wish to relate to or experience the like."
They all laughed at that before Skystrike continued. "I'm glad you all are enjoying the armors so far. You all have only seen a fraction of the work I've done."
"I believe it. You made all of these in like three months, right?" Elytra asked.
Skystrike shook his head. "I started building these three months ago. Being honest, I made these blueprints after we split up, save for Elytra's railgun... Helped me stay sane."
"Aww, you missed us!" Tethys teased him a bit before hugging him. "To be honest, I did too. You're one of the three ponies that I can say that about."
"Damn, buck us I guess." Elytra laughed.
"Are you and Zecora ponies?"
"...Fair."
"Oh, right, before I forget, I have names for all of our armor and weapons I made. You want my names, or you girls want to name them yourselves?" Skystrike began taking off his armor. He could feel the difference in weight as he took it off.
Elytra cringed. "Er... Skystrike, I'm not going to lie to you... your names are kinda... bad." She forced the words out of her mouth, Zecora and Tethys nodded in agreement.
Skystrike's posture deflated as he heard that. "Oh... I... I see..." He finished taking off his armor and patted at his under clothes.
Tethys was a bit surprised. "Skystrike are you... are you sulking?"
"No..." He sighed. "I just thought my names were good, but apparently not..."
Zecora felt a bit bad now. "Skystrike our intent wasn't to bring you dismay. We didn't grasp the significance of names, I must say."
"It's... fine. It just... hits a bit close to home. I'm not blaming you, but I guess you guys forget that I gave myself this name. It just... makes me a bit self conscious."
"Oh..." Tethys went. "...You know, you never told me that, but in hindsight, I should've realized. I'm sorry, Skystrike." She crouched down and put a hoof on his back. "If you still want to, I am interested in the names you made for our armor."
Skystrike's ears perked up a bit. "Well, I named your armor 'Isveig' because of the whole ice aesthetic. Zecora's is named Lavoiser after a French chemist, and Elytra's is named Chimera, just because I had to combine a lot of magic to make it."
"You see, you should name all of your things like that. Those are great."
Zecora nodded. "With such great a name, it will have us drowning in fame!"
He cracked a smile. "Thanks girls. Means a lot." Skystrike said before standing up. "You three go get everything you need in order. I'm just going to do one last round on the ship. Make sure everything is ready."
"You sure? I don't mind staying." Elytra asked.
Skystrike nodded. "Yep, we already moved everything over that we need to. Just need to check if everything was installed correctly one last time... Admittedly, I'm a bit paranoid."
"I mean, I get it, but you've tested everything already."
"Maybe I have, but just want to make sure everything is calibrated correctly."
The girls took the hint of wanting him to be alone and let him go to his ship. It still held the same design as it did when he first got it, but it was no longer a civilian passage ship. It had plated armor, allowing it to take a beating if needed. From an outside observer, it was longer too, sporting some attachments to the bow of the ship.
Skystrike got onto the Wind Waker and went to what he deemed the most integral part of the ship. Where once was the magic engine that powered the ship like it's sister models, in its place was a mana extractor, several times larger in scale than the one used for Elytra's weapon. Of course, it worked the same as the smaller model. Surrounding the extractor was layers of steel, to make sure any intruders couldn't get to it easy. The extractor seemed to be in shape, and working in low power mode to give energy to the ventilation system.
Aside from that, the main thing that he focused on was the speed of the ship. Wind Waker was held afloat by the giant balloon, but was moved by flapping its wings. He could make it to Canterlot within two hours, much faster than the train, but he planned on going across the ocean. Thus, he made it faster, replacing each of the four wings with propellers. Sure, it required more power like this, but he's made sure to account for that by increasing the output of the reactor. Now, the speed was increased by four times, and they can turn much faster.
The second thing he focused on was the lack of weaponry, since it was a civilian ship. Pirates were a common thing as you neared and left Equestria's borders. And what was even more dangerous were the many beasts that roamed the skies and seas. Sure, the four of them could take them, but it'd be hard to do while confined to the ship. So, to make sure they could handle those dangers, he made two more Stake Launchers and put them on the deck of the ship to handle anything heavily armored. The only danger would be anything that could take more than a few shots from them. Thankfully, he decided to make several types of ammo. No harm in over preparing.
The Wind Waker sat in the makeshift dock that Skystrike made. Two days until departure... He was excited to go through the skies, see his old friends again. But a part of him was nervous as he was afraid they wouldn't accept him back. They all have their own lives to live now, and he didn't want to intrude. Questions for later.
He went to the Bridge of his ship, looking over the wheel and giving it a playful spin. Then he looked at the map on the table next to it, showing a detailed map of all of Equestria and its territories, marking every major city and landmark. With the help of Zecora, Tethys, and Elytra, the four of them were able to draw the rest of the known world with a pencil.
East of the Dragon lands and South East of Griffonstone was the Dragon Seas, Tethys's homeland. The sea was massive, double the size of Equestria itself, only dotted with a few landmasses, most likely formed from underwater volcanoes. A small set of islands were marked as Tethys's home for their destination.
Further east of Griffonstone was Diamondia, the homeland of the Diamond Dogs, and probably where Jeshan would be. While they don't have the exact location of it, they have the general area in mind. West of a large set of mountains.
South of the Dragon seas was Hippogriffia, where Skybeak and the rest of the Hippogriffs would be. He settled down, so it's his best bet on finding him. Ornithia was on the complete opposite side of the world, north of the Dragon Seas and east of Diamondia, but Celaeno was never one to stay in one place... it'd take a chance encounter to see her again.
And southwest of Diamondia was Farasai, Zecora's homeland in Zebrafrica. He had it on the map in case Zecora wanted to visit while they traveled. As for his travel plan, Griffonstone was first, then Diamondia, then Hippogriffia, then the Dragon Seas. The entire trip was expected to take two months, spending about a week in each of the countries they were going to. Skystrike already prepared a lot of pickled and canned food, warm clothes, and money for their travels. Thankfully, bits became the world currency a few centuries ago, so there was no need to worry about the exchange rate.
Casta also came by in the past month to finish what she started, setting up a long range teleportation circle within the Wind Waker. They were able to make it work, though with one caveat. The ship couldn't be moving while someone was trying to teleport onto it, just so some poor soul wont end up combined with the floor or wall. As a safety precaution, anyone who wanted to teleport would have to send a letter first. Tethys, Zecora, and Elytra would be able to travel to and from the Wind Waker to his house as they willed. Skystrike just couldn't because he cant use teleporters.
He would explain it to the rest of his friends traveling with him another time. For now, Skystrike was tired. He walked off his ship and onto the grass... it felt so damn nice. He didn't realize how long he stayed up, or how much work he truly did. He stayed up for days on end, week after week, with only a few days of rest in between as he prepared for this trip. Skystrike could feel the bags under his eyes with each blink. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to rest his eyes for a few minutes... The pegasus rolled up in a ball and dozed off.
Morning soon turned into noon. While Tethys, Zecora, and Elytra were still out on the town to finish things, Skystrike was still asleep, sprawled out in the grass. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy were in the area and decided to check on him, standing around him as he snored.
"Ay look who fell asleep first!" Rainbow poked Skystrike.
"Prank 'em, Dash!" Applejack grinned.
"Ay, you already know!" Rainbow Dash pulled back a hoof to slap the shit out of Skystrike, but was stopped by Fluttershy holding her hoof back.
"Um... I don't think that's a good idea..." Fluttershy went. "Look, he was so tired he didn't even put on his helmet. Look at the bags under his eyes."
Rainbow looked at the puffy skin. "Damn, you're right... Fine, I'll get him next time."
"Y'know, in hindsight, I also don't think its a good idea, RD." Applejack admitted. "Did he ever get ya back fer those brownies?"
"Oh... Shit..." Rainbow put down her hoof. "Well... he leaves in two days so maybe he forgot about it?"
"Eeh, I doubt it... Remember when Applejack told us he got her new horseshoes?" Fluttershy thought back.
"Yeah, I remember that." Applejack nodded. "I barely even remember when I told him I got a new set is passin'. But six weeks later, he said he could make me a new set." She showed off her hooves. "Works like a charm too! Best set I've had in years!"
"Damn, he made you a set himself?" Rainbow asked.
"Eeyup! Put em' on too!" Applejack gloated.
Rainbow chuckled a little. "You know, I would congratulate you, but I don't think he knows what that gesture means. Heh, I remember having to explain to him what 'ride my tailwind' means."
Applejack couldn't help but laugh at that, though was slightly embarrassed as well. "Heheh, well... guess I misunderstood his gesture. Colts are confusin'."
Fluttershy spoke up, fitting into the conversation. "Had me worried there..."
Applejack gave her a look. "What, you like 'em?"
"AJ, half the town likes Skystrike. It's really easy to figure out who." Rainbow sat down, realizing that the three of them were going to be here for a while.
Applejack and Fluttershy sat down too, both having small expressions of embarrassment as the girl talk started. "W-well... Maybe?" Fluttershy answered. "He's... one of the nicest guys I've ever met, but I've never... liked a pony before."
Rainbow snickered. "You only know like, three. And one is your brother, and the other is your dad."
"I mean... that's one more than you." Fluttershy clapped back, making Applejack laugh. "But I don't know what he likes, or... what competition I might have."
Rainbow laid down, putting her head on Skystrike's side. "Well, from what Tethys told me, who heard from Stardust, Pinkie is going for him. You could probably figure out something with her... and Zecora and Tethys have a history with them. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to shoot their shots."
Applejack thought about what she said. "Damn, that is quite a bit of competition... Think ya can be a wingmare, Rainbow?"
Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes. "...Normally, I'd help you and Fluttershy out, but I don't want to be on the bad end of whoever loses between you two and Pinkie."
Applejack stammered. "I-I never said anythin' about me."
"AJ, he told me he hyped you up like two months ago, yet every time we have talks about colts we like, you don't name anypony. Like I said, it's really obvious to tell who likes him." She leaned in more on Skystrike. "...You know, he's really comfortable... reminds me of when we were younger."
"Oh right, I remember you said something about you bein' his foster family." Applejack laid down too. "I only met him briefly at some camp. What was he like as a foal?"
Fluttershy thought back. "Well, he was really quiet... Almost as quiet as me. He was also really... well, I wouldn't say angry, but... easily annoyed? It makes since, knowing what we know now. But he always looked out for me an Rainbow." She giggled a bit at a memory. "I remember one time that I forgot my lunch at home and he gave me his."
"Well, that's nice an' all, but I don't get how that's a big deal?"
Rainbow chuckled. "Have you seen how much this guy can eat? Food is like gold to him..."
Fluttershy laughed. "He almost cried when he gave it to me."
Applejack and Rainbow laughed along side her. The former wanted to git back to the girl talk though. "You know, Fluttershy, if yer serious about Skystrike, we could help each other out~."
Fluttershy hid her face behind her hair. "W-well... I'm... not against it. But what about Pinkie?"
"We've got plenty of time to figure that out."
Rainbow Dash joined back in with a yawn. "Well, I wish you girls luck. But... if you want my advice, I'd say wait until after the gala. Because... you know... Blueblood." The three of them sighed as they remembered what Skystrike told them about him, and his plan for revenge.
"...I'm just gonna ask the obvious question, ya think we should stop him?" Applejack asked as she moved over next to Rainbow Dash, taking the one chance she'd probably get to cuddle.
Rainbow thought on it for a little while. "Well, knowing everything that Blueblood did to him, his family, and his friends... personally, we should ask if we should stop him, and if we could stop him."
"Y'know, he never told Fluttershy and I the full story 'bout what he did. We just know that if Skystrike hates him, he must be pretty bad." Applejack took her hat off and put it on her chest.
"Yeah, I'd like some more context too. If you know, I mean..." Fluttershy looked to Rainbow.
"So, from what he told me, basically he tried to kill his family, which is why he fakes his death, then later, tried to kill his mercenary group."
Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash in disbelief. "Ya serious?" Rainbow Dash nodded. "I ain't stoppin' him then... if anypony came after mah family, you'd have to peel me off of 'em..."
"Shitty part about it is that because Blueblood is royalty, he got away with everything. Apparently Skystrike has some grand plan to make him spill the beans."
"Well... I won't stop him either... I don't know enough to truly judge what's right or wrong here." Fluttershy admitted, trotting over and curling up next to the three. "...This is nice. I get why he fell asleep." Applejack and Rainbow Dash yawned with Fluttershy. The three talked for a bit more before drifting into a short nap.
Skystrike awoke in the early afternoon, surprised at Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy lying on him. He chuckled to himself. Even asleep, he had dat rizz. But now he had two problems. One, if he moved, he'd wake up the girls, and two, his legs fell asleep from the three lying on them. He imagined that this is what TV screen static felt like.
With perfect timing Tethys landed nearby and the two made eye contact. She gave a knowing smirk. "You like... girls~!"
"Nuh uh! Nuh uh!" Skystrike said before the two started laughing. Then Skystrike yawned. "Well, I can tell from the sun that I slept for like five hours... and I'm still tired."
"Can't you use your magic to make yourself not tired?"
Skystrike yawned again. "I've been doing that... more specifically, I speed up my metabolism so all the food I eat gets converted to energy faster. I still need sleep... and honestly, I've been up for the past four days..."
Tethys laid down next to him. "It is a beautiful day... I don't blame you for dozing off." She put her hands behind her head. A long but comfortable silence let itself in as they stared at the clouds. She pulled on her sweater neck a bit. "...Hey, Skystrike, serious question... Why did you help me those years ago? Most creatures would've just... ended me there and bought home a boat load of money."
Damn, that was a serious question. He couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, I don't mind telling you, but can I ask what brings up this question all of a sudden?"
Tethys hummed. "Well... my race, and especially my clan, is very prideful. Survival of the fittest and all of that. It took me a while to learn from you all to accept help, and even longer to ask for it. But... you just did it to someone you've never met. It goes against my nature, I couldn't imagine anyone else doing it."
"Well, I kinda get that. To answer your question, I didn't really need a reason to help ponies. It's just my philosophy, to leave this world better than I found it. If I see someone that needs help, and I have the ability to help, why not help?"
"And you... didn't do it to expect something down the line?"
Skystrike shook his head. "Of course not. It'd go against everything I stand for... Whole reason I came here was for that chance at freedom. I wouldn't deny it from another being, lest they were like, straight up scum." The two laid in silence for a bit longer before Skystrike spoke again. "Well, I didn't tell you the whole truth... I also saw a bit of you in me back then. Someone with nowhere to turn to, feeling as if the whole world is against them. Didn't want you to go through that alone like I did."
"Oh, well... thanks, Skystrike. It means a lot. You know, I always ask you all of these questions, but you barely have any to ask me." Tethys rolled on her stomach.
He looked at her. "I mean... yeah you're right. Just figured that I'd ask when the topic came up. Hell, I didn't know you were a mammal until like, three months ago."
"I have boobs, dumbass." Tethys teased.
"I mean, we don't have dragons where I'm from. The closest thing we have to you would be like, a komodo dragon or a Tegu lizard. The former is the only warm blooded lizard to be discovered... Actually, you, and a lot of other races, were just myths and legends."
"Really? How close am I to those legends?"
"Pretty spot on in modern terms." Skystrike snickered. "In the past, people wanted to discover dragons, prove their existence. Now, you'll find more people who fetishize them..."
Tethys made a face of mild disgust. "Ew... why?"
"Well, as society's morals fall down into the depths of hell, sexual degeneracy rises rampantly... Honestly, they're about the same as here, but... you know, you and every other race here is real, and not a figment of imagination."
"Eh, to each their own." Tethys shrugged and laid her head on her arms. "I'm going to take a nap too."
"Cool. I'm still sleepy." Skystrike said as he went back to sleep.
One day until departure. Skystrike and Spike were currently having their guy time, sitting in the sauna at the spa. How the dragon was able to shrug off the heat was astounding to Skystrike, and honestly, he was a bit jealous about how he could do it so naturally.
"Hey Nebula, do you think that you could bring me back something cool from your travels?" Spike asked.
Skystrike sat up and raised the hot towel off of his eyes to look at the dragon. "Yeah, what do you have in mind?"
"I don't know, I haven't thought that far." Spike admitted. Skystrike laughed as the baby dragon continued. "Uh... I like board games. Maybe some from different places... Oh! Maybe some dice too! I've been starting a collection."
"Sure kid... Hey, you still got my house key, right?" Spike nodded at his question. "In the living room, the new rug I got actually has a built in teleporter. You can set the destination to be the mage tower in Canterlot, or the storage area in the Wind Waker. Under the rug is a manual that Casta Spell wrote. If anything happens, or you or our friends just want to visit, just use the teleporter."
Spike poured water onto the coals. "Alright... At least I can visit you then. You said you'll be gone two months?"
"Uh huh, three at the longest."
"I'll miss you." Spike admitted.
"I will too, but don't worry, I'll be back before the Gala." Skystrike pat Spike on the head.
The two talked about the mundane for a bit more, continuing through the massage and hooficures before the two left, satisfied. Skystrike walked Spike home, but then Spike stopped at the door. "Hey, can I ask you for something?"
"Shoot."
"Can we spar? We haven't in a long while. I want to see if I got better."
Skystrike could tell by the look in Spike's eyes that he was serious. And moreso, he had something to prove to himself. "Sure. And just so you know, when you challenge someone, you have to decide the place. So, where will it be?"
Spike thought for a moment. "Well... how about in front of town hall in an hour?"
Skystrike nodded. "So, you want to put on a show. Alright then. I'll see you in an hour then. And remember, the most important part of duels?"
Spike smirked. "The intro!"
"You're god damn right." Skystrike said as if he had the power of an old white man with a goatee.
No more words needed to be shared between the two as Skystrike flapped his wings, taking off towards his house. He had to admit, Spike has grown so much. It felt like when an older brother first teaches the younger brother a new game he's a pro at. Of course, Skystrike was going to hold back a lot. Had to give Spike some confidence. But he couldn't hold back too much, else Spike would notice. He gave Tethys, Stardust, and Zecora quick run downs on what was happening. The three left quickly to get spots in the crowd that would soon come.
Skystrike put on his armor and grabbed one of his swords, fastening the scabbard around his waist and sheathing the blade. He rolled his neck and began walking back to town. Each pony he passed gave wary, yet interested looks as they followed him. Damn, word gets around really fast.
Skystrike stopped his walking right in front of Town Hall. He could've sworn half the town was there to watch. "So... you've come..." He heard a voice. He looked around to spot it, triangulating the voice by looking up at the very tip of the building. Spike stood, his cape flowing in the wind as he held his staff in one claw.
Holy shit, Skystrike had to admit, he looked fucking cool. "You already know. You got your lines?"
Spike turned to face him. "Hmm... the wind is in our favor today..." Spike extended the blade in his staff, throwing the now scythe up. Once the spinning weapon reached its peak, the baby dragon jumped into the air. Crescent Moon dug its blade into the ground. Spike breathed his fire breath as did multiple front flips before landing on the hilt. The fire vortex around him dissipated as he stood up straight. He pumped a fist, as an hour of trial and error allowed him to land that. The crowd stomped their hooves for him "Now then, ready?"
"Yeah, but you gotta say your intro quote." Skystrike made the ok hand with his metal arm. "Nailed the intro, don't get me wrong, but these ponies watching are gonna remember how hard your quote goes."
"Hmm..." Spike understood what he meant, quickly thinking of one. He pulled his scythe out the ground and twirled it in his hands, stopping with the blade pointing at Skystrike. "Might as well stop breathing... you wont be needing that anymore!"
Skystrike chuckled himself a little. "Alright Spike, I can tell you're serious... Pray to whatever god you must, but know..." Skystrike drew his sword with his right forehoof, and stood up. He swung it several times, the speed being so fast that one could miss it if they blinked. Finally, he held his sword straight up, blocking his eyes with it before turning the blade to stare down Spike. "I won't be listening."
The crowd roared at his quote. "OH MY GOD, THEY'RE'S SO BUCKING COOL!" A filly shouted, then a loud thwack was heard as a hoof collided with a head, making the crowd laugh.
Spike chuckled a bit too. "Well, if you don't mind..." Spike dashed forward and swung his scythe. "I'll be taking the first move!"
Skystrike put his sword out in front of him, the two boys clashing blades. They looked into each others eyes as they smiled before pushing off of each other. Spike was glad he could put his practice to use, shooting fire balls at Skystrike. The pegasus slashed through each, and was a bit surprised, but mostly impressed that Spike used the smoke from the explosions to get closer, jumping into the air and slashing at Skystrike's neck. He ducked under it and went for an upwards slash of his own, but Spike used his tail blade to parry it, jumping backwards.
Skystrike clapped his hooves together. "Pretty good, Spike! Now, let's see what you can really do!" Skystrike dashed forward and swung down at Spike, making the the dragon narrowly dodge it, spinning and trying to hit Skystrike with the blunt of his weapon. The pegasus had to jump over it and pull his sword out of the ground, then did a spin to slice at Spike. Spike was ready though, and put out the handle to block it.
With the opening he had, Spike breathed fire at Skystrike. He had to block it with a hoof before he jumped back and waved off the heat. Maybe he was a bit too lax on how he was dealing with Spike... He always taught him to use his mind first, and his weapon second. Skystrike stood up straight and focused a bit more, rolling his neck before taking it more seriously.
Skystrike lunged at Spike with a heavy overhead swing again. Spike was a bit surprised at him using the same move twice, side stepping and preparing to counter. But what Spike didn't expect was the faint. Instead of Skystrike's sword digging into the ground, he spun on his hoof and the blade collided with Spike's chest. Spike slid back a few feet, then looked up at Skystrike before tightening his grip and coughing. The two stared down each other for a few moments.
Then Spike began walking towards his opponent. "Nebula!"
"Ho? You're approaching me?" Skystrike spread his forehooves our wide.
"I can't beat the crap out of you without getting closer." Spike answered.
"Oho! Then... come as close as you like!" Skystrike laughed as he began taking steps towards the dragon.
They both gave off a menacing aura, the crowd even thinking they saw purple characters floating around them. The two stopped in front of each other, analyzing one another. "ORA!" Spike slashed at Skystrike, only for Skystrike to knock it back with his own blade. The two clashed several times over, sparks flying as they shouted at each other. "ORA ORA ORA!"
"AHAHAHAA! USELESS!" Skystrike laughed as their clashes continued.
The two boys rushed at each other and clashed again. The vibrations in both of their wrists made them both drop their weapons, flying into the air before digging themselves into the dirt. The crowd went silent as the two stared at each other. The black borders narrowed around their eyes to show the seriousness of the situation. At the same time, each dove to the side, grabbing the closest weapon to them. Spike grabbed the sword, while Skystrike grabbed the scythe.
The two realized their mistake as they gave each other small smirks. Spike could barely even hold Skystrike's blade as it dragged along the ground, while the scythe Skystrike held was too small. Even trying to hold it with two hooves, his hooves touched, so he just awkwardly held it like an ice cream cone. Despite this, the two charged at each other with battle cries. When they awkwardly clashed, there wasn't even a satisfying sound. The two took a small break.
"Switch?" Skystrike offered.
"Haha! Yeah!" Spike nodded.
Spike and Skystrike threw each other their weapons back. They danced around each other for a time, feinting, parrying, and blocking each others attacks before pushing off each other, and once again, having a stare down. Skystrike could tell that, although tired, Spike was getting a bit cocky. That smile of excitement never left his face- hol up.
The crowd around him began cheering for Spike as he emoted. He clapped his hands together, then moon walked in place as he moved his hands up and down. Then he pointed at Skystrike before crossing his arms. This motherfucker just default danced on him. Skystrike couldn't help but laugh at the taunt as ponies around them pushed Spike to keep going.
But he also wasn't going to let it slide, busting a move of his own, the Gangnam Style. The crowd cheered for him too, laughing at the two jokesters. They decided to go back to their fight, Spike spewing fireballs at Skystrike, who gracefully dodged them with back flips, cartwheels, and spins. Then, he landed in front of Spike and parried the swipe at his legs.
Spike wasn't done yet though, jumping up and wrapping his body around Skystrike's head. Spike opened his mouth to charge the biggest fireball he could above the two of them, it being almost double the size of the baby dragon. "KAMIKAZEE!!!" Spike yelled at the top of his lungs before biting downs on the fireball.
Skystrike let out the manliest scream he could muster, as the scream turned into laughter as the two exploded. The watchers backed up from the heat and the smoke with baited breath. Once the smoke settled, the onlookers saw as the two boys were lying on the floor. Skystrike got yamcha'd, curled up in a ball the crater next to Spike, who looked like he died in a family guy cutaway gag. The two groaned as they slowly pushed themselves off of the ground.
Skystrike shook his body to get the dirt of and slowly, painfully turned to look at Spike. "...There's only one way to end this..."
Spike coughed as he did the same. His voice was coarse from all the fire he breathed. "...Guess you're right..."
The two limped over to each other and pulled back closed fist. "ROCK! PAPER!! SCISSORS!!!" They shouted at each other as they threw their choices forward. Skystrike threw paper, and Spike threw scissors. The dragon grinned at his victory as he made a flicking motion at Skystrike's chest. The pegasus, in all of his acting glory, made a show to throw himself backwards, rolling on the ground a bit before stopping on his side with a skid.
The ponies cheered and laughed at the act, laughing even more when Spike shuffled over and held him down with a single finger. After a moment, Rainbow Dash jumped in and did a belly flop as she slammed a forehoof on the ground, signaling the end of the dual. They all roared with laughter at the best thing they've seen in a while.
Skystrike got up and held Spike in the air at his victory. "Damn kid, you did great! Was not expecting the kamikaze. While risky, it was smart, and pretty effective! You learn quick too! First time I've used a parry on you and you immediately started doing the same!"
"Yeah, I've... been practicing with Tethys and Stardust. They're really good sparring partners. Are you ok by the way?"
Skystrike chuckled. "I'm fine. I'll be sore for a bit, but you didn't do any serious damage. I'd be more worried about Twilight talking our ears off... I did hit you a few times and... you did blow us both up."
"SPIKE!" The two heard Twilight yell with a stomp of her hoof.
"...Nebula, get me out of here!"
"Spike, this was your idea. All I did was enable it... Fuck, that doesn't sound much better. Besides, if we ran, you're gonna have a shit time when you get home."
"Yeah I guess..." Spike said as Skystrike let him down. The two got ready for a lecture.
"I figured you let him win." Mayor Mare said as she looked up from her drink. Skystrike sat with the normal group of Mayor Mare, Cheerilee, Snowheart, and Redheart. Then she laughed. "Must say, that was a great show. Exciting and funny."
Skystrike nodded. "Yeah, you think I'd beat up a child?" He took a sip of his own. "But Spike has potential. If he wanted to, he could be a guard or something."
Snowheart joined in on the conversation. "You know, I could see him being a guard. Surprised you don't want him to grow up and be like you?" The way she said it was more like a question.
Skystrike shook his head. "I'd rather him not turn out like me. There was a lot I had to go through to get to this point, and this job."
"If I can ask, why did you decide not to be a guard?"
He thought about Snowheart's question. "Well, it's... a bit... well, not difficult to explain, but... I don't know the word for it."
Redheart jumped in. "Don't need to explain if you don't want to, Nebula."
Skystrike chuckled. "Thanks for the concern, but I'm fine." He took another sip of his drink. "I'll sum it up so we don't have to stay on a sad subject for a while. I used to want to be a guard actually, but a pony I knew used his own political power to make them bend to his will, through bribes and threats and the like... Then that guy tried to kill me. So yeah, corruption. As a bounty hunter, which after a few government requests, counts as a civil servant, I barely have any rules to follow, and no red tape to walk around."
"Damn... I'm sorry you had to go through that." Cheerilee looked up from her food. "But it must be nice, not having to go through the legal route all the time."
Mayor Mare thought about it for a moment. "Well, sometimes, but it's best to keep it under wraps... but you didn't hear that from me." She whispered as they laughed.
Skystrike nodded. "It has it's risks too. You all know by now how I end some beings if needed, or if I deem it necessary. I can give you an example I had to deal with years ago. There was a unicorn in Manehattan that was using an abandoned factory to hide her necromancy research. Of course, that meant that she needed bodies."
"Eesh... what did you do?" Redheart asked.
"That's the thing. She started by just defiling the local cemetery. If she stuck to just that, it would've just have been a matter of taking her to the guards station for the proper legal process. But then she murdered somepony, as she needed a 'fresh' body. That's when I decided to make her past tense."
"But... you had the chance to keep her alive? Also, make her past tense? Really?" Redheart asked.
Skystrike laughed. "Well I wanted to be creative. But yeah, I had the option to keep her alive. But at that point, I needed to decide if the risk of keeping her alive was worth it. If she was willing to kill a pony, it was only a matter of time until she got out of prison and did it again. Cut it at the bud, you know?"
"I... guess that makes sense." Cheerilee hummed. "But, you don't really seem phased about it."
Skystrike sighed. "Well... I've been surrounded by death since I was a foal. It takes a lot to phase me. I more saw it as destiny. Originally, I did feel bad about what I had to do, but then I saw the mare's cutie mark, and it... made me think about a lot of things differently."
"What do you mean?"
"Well... you for example, Cheerilee. Your mark represents that you want your students to 'bloom' and be happy. Or Mayor Mare's, showing her ability to lead and create different laws and rules for the ponies who live under her. Your cutie mark doesn't define who you are, but it defines what you're best at, or what you wish to happen."
Mayor Mare looked up at him. "Uh, where are you going with this?"
Skystrike swirled the glass in his hoof. "Well, the mare I had to end, her cutie mark was a conjuration rune with a blue flame, signaling necromancy. I don't condone her actions of course, but... I couldn't help but feel bad for her. It's what her talent was, and she was shunned for it. When I fought her, it more felt like she was playing a role, instead of actually being a bad pony. If she just didn't kill a pony, things may have turned out different for her."
Redheart nodded. "I think I get what you're saying... You know, wow, I did not think of it like that. Is a pony really evil, or are they just doing what they're destined for?"
"Yeah... that's a bit of the reason why the job sucks sometimes." Skystrike exhaled through his nose. "Some ponies cant help it. But they can help how they let that destiny lead them."
Cheerilee couldn't help but think at what was said earlier. "...Oh my gosh, that puts SO much into a different perspective now!" She held her head. "I knew a colt that just had this insane ego, but now thinking of his mark... well he's still an asshole, but maybe he couldn't help it!"
Snowheart held her head too. "...Dear Celestia, I think you're right! I think I'm having an existential crisis... Doesn't that mean that... some ponies are just... born to be destined for something?"
Skystrike shook his head. "I wouldn't necessarily say that... even though it could be true. But as I thought about it, two questions came to mind for me. One, why do only ponies get cutie marks? And Two, why does one's mark often correlate with their name? You think the ones who raises the sun and moon were just coincidentally named Celestia and Luna?"
They all had looks of a deer in head lights, then snapped their heads to look at their marks. "OH MY GOSH!"
"Yeah, freaky isn't it?" Skystrike finished his drink. "Honestly, I wouldn't think on it too hard. I got nowhere with my theories."
Snowheart stammered. "But-... But that just-... There's so many questions I have to ask! So many that I want to know! If I had a different name, would I have a different mark? Is it really destiny, or is it just... some predetermined fate? Do I just... coincidentally like what I'm talented at?"
"Trust me, I ask myself those last two things all the time." Skystrike used his napkin to wipe his face. "But hey, good to see you girls before I go on my travels. I got a few more things to do before I head to bed. Had a good couple Fridays with you all. I'll miss you all, but I'll be back before the gala." He stood up and rolled his joints. "I'll make sure to bring you all back something nice."
"Damn, just gonna leave us like this?" Snowheart said with a giggle. "Alright, thanks for stopping by. When you come back, it'll be on us." They all gave their respective goodbyes with a wave as they continued their conversation. He'd have a lot to ask about once he got back.
There was one stop he had left before bed. Didn't need to visit the main 6, since they could visit him any time... Vinyl was more than likely home, working on something. She was a night owl after all. Already said bye to Bulk Biceps yesterday, said he was going to visit his mom out of town. Made him think about visiting his mom, Paprika. They write to each other every other week, same with the rest of his siblings, but last he visited was a couple months ago. Skystrike would make sure to visit before the gala.
He knocked on the door to Vinyl Scratch's home. Upon listening closer, he could hear faint music playing, so she probably couldn't hear him at all. Luckily, for moments like this, she told him of the key hidden under her doormat. Not a smart place to hide it, but easy to remember, and quick in case of emergencies. With a turn of his hoof, he opened the door to Vinyl's home. Instantly, he began to squint at the number of flashing lights in his eyes. It was painful at first, but as his eyes got used to the mini rave in the house, he saw Vinyl Scratch head banging to the bass boosted music she was playing.
How she was able to see Skystrike through the flashing lights, he didn't know, but as they made eye contact through her glasses, she turned off her music. "Oh, Nebula! Thanks for stopping by! Sorry I couldn't let you in."
"All good. You were having fun. Just wanted to see you before I left for a while." Skystrike smiled at her and walked up to her DJ setup.
She smiled sheepishly at him and straightened her glasses. "Well, thanks dude. Means a lot... We don't really hang out much, I was kinda under the impression that we were more business partners..."
Skystrike thought about what she said, and what his previous actions came off as. He put a hoof on the unicorn's shoulder. "Well, let me clarify. I see you as a friend. A good one. If you want to hang out more, I'm up for anything."
Her ears perked up. "Ah! Well, if you're free now... well, nevermind. There's not really much for us to do in here..." Vinyl's ears went back down. "I don't... know enough ponies well enough to have them over."
"Vinyl, we don't have to do anything. I'm more than happy to just spend time with you." Skystrike said in an attempt to make here feel better.
She smiled a bit at that. "Thanks, man... Can... can I hug you?" Skystrike chuckled and pulled her into a big one. She hugged him back.
But Skystrike knew there was more to it than that. He looked down at the mare. "Vinyl, be honest with me, and I promise I wont make fun of you. When was the last time you had a friend? A genuine one, not one you talk to because of convenience."
She sat there for a bit before answering. "...Middle School."
Skystrike sighed. "I get it... Guess I never told you my whole story, and I don't truly have all the time I need to tell you tonight but trust me when I say that I understand how one can get comfortable with loneliness." He sat down, still holding her. "You know, you're welcome to stop by and hang out with me and my friends. And you know Pinkie, she always wants someone to play with."
"You already have such good friends. I don't... want to feel like a burden."
"Vinyl, you'll never be a burden. Friends aren't burdens, bro. But hey, originally, I just came to drop some stuff off and say goodbye, but I got time to talk about some stuff." Skystrike reached into his saddlebag and pulled out some sheet music. "Something we can talk about. I tried mixing in your style of heavy bass instrumentals and my own style of rap and story telling. I hope for this to be a three part series, but, it gets more interesting with each part. From smooth lo-fi, to synth up beat, to a fast paced high octane synth pop."
"That's... a lot. And you plan on rapping over all of that? Actually, hold on. Let me see if it's even possible." She used her magic to float over the stack of papers. With a quick flip through the papers, she hummed. "Well, it is possible, but will be really hard to do. We're still starting out, man. Wait like, I don't know, a year? Gotta perfect the craft."
"I completely get it. I haven't even made lyrics yet, I focused on the instrumental."
"Well, if that's the case, yeah, this is great. I can probably finish the first one by the time you get back... Going to be a bit lonely without you here."
"Well, if you really want to visit, tell Spike you want to see me. He has a key to my home, and there's a teleporter that goes to and from my airship. I don't have magic, so I can't use it, but you can. And I'll make sure to send letters."
"...I appreciate that." Vinyl smiled.
It was the dawn of the day he was to leave. After spending the later hours of the evening with Vinyl, he decided to just stay up instead of getting two hours of sleep... He should really fix that habit of staying up days on end. Anyway, Tethys, Elytra, and Zecora were finishing packing and moving their stuff onto the ship.
Tethys didn't have much, but she wanted to move her hoard onto the ship, it consisting of gold, silver, gems, bits, and a few sentimental items that she gathered over the years. The first set of armor Skystrike made for her, the empty flask of the first potion Zecora made and used on her, oddly, a peace of Elytra's molt, and the like. Skystrike was surprised, and a bit grossed out at that last one.
Elytra didn't have much to bring with her, but she had a few choice items. A bean bag chair she got months ago from Pinkie Pie, her royal guard armor and the clothes she had Rarity make, and collection of different potted plants. One that stood out from the rest was a bonsai tree of an english oak, though... twisted, for lack of a better word. Elytra says it helps her stay close to the hive... even if the two were banished. He'd make sure to ask Elytra about it.
Zecora bought few things, some decorative masks from her homeland, her cauldron, and some ingredients to make some potions the traditional way. What she was excited most for was all of the new ingredients she could gather and grow from their travels, so she spent the last several days making stacks upon stacks of crop plots in preparation.
Skystrike already loaded his stuff on. A few back up weapons just in case his break, a shelf of books from Twilight's library to read to past the time, and to further his understanding of magic. He realized he slacked heavily on the subject as he hid his identity. He also bought a few instruments, including his magic piano he bought months ago. He meant to learn to play, but it just gathered dust. Maybe he and his friends can all do something together. But what he bought that was most important, besides his friends obviously, was his cooking set. Pots, pans, knives, bowls, plates, utensils, seasonings, everything he'd need to make a good meal... He should teach those three how to cook.
But that was for later. Right now, Skystrike was looking over the turbines to make sure they were properly calibrated. They were connected correctly, and had armor around the weak points, so there shouldn't be any danger there. Each turbine was a set of two fixed pitch propellers, rotating opposite of each other. Plus, in case there were problems, as long as any two worked, he could still steer the ship. He also double checked that he had replacement parts just in case.
"Damn, it took you two months to finish all of this? How'd you do it?" Twilight said from behind him.
Skystrike jumped at her sudden appearance. Was he that focused that he didn't notice one mare? Wait, it's everypony! "Damn, I did not hear you all coming... nor was I expecting you all this early."
"What, you thought we'd let you leave without saying goodbye?" Rarity said, looking over his ship. "Though, I do wish your ship was more... fashionable. Where are you going exactly with this... intimidating thing?"
"Intimidating, sure, but it looks sick as Tartarus!" Rainbow Dash flew around the ship. "Black and blue always goes hard! But yeah, I don't think you ever told us where you all were going?"
Skystrike stared off into space. "Oh shit, I didn't... I could've sworn I did, my bad. Basically, I'm going to see a lot of old friends. From my mercenary group. They all went back to their homelands, and only one of them I could get to from train. I'm going to Griffonstone, then Diamondia, then Hippogriffia, then the Dragon Seas. Might take a few stops for pleasure here and there, but I plan to be back before the gala."
"Damn, you think you can get to all of those places in two months?" Pinkie asked. "I suck at geography, but even I know those places are far. Griffonstone is at least 5 days by train!"
Skystrike slapped the haul of his ship. "Wind Waker can make it to canterlot in two hours. If the wind is in my favor, I can make it to Griffonstone in two days. The main problem is that I don't exactly have set distances for each country."
"We'll miss ya, sugarcube." Applejack sighed. "Make sure to take care of yourself."
He blinked. "Oh, shit, I really didn't tell you girls anything. Spike has a house key. There's a teleporter in my house that goes from here to the Wind Waker. I may not be able to use it, but you all can. Just send a message through it first, because teleporting on a moving target is dangerous."
"Oh... well, that's nice." Fluttershy said. "Then I'll try and visit every once in a while." They all gave their voices in confirmation.
Then Skystrike noticed how Rainbow Dash was nervously shuffling in place. "Yo, RD, you good?"
"Y-...yeah?" She tried to lie.
Applejack called her out though. "She's been anxious the past few days. She thinks ya have some elaborate plan on gettin' her back fer the brownies."
Skystrike chuckled. "Wait, seriously? Heh, well she's right."
Rainbow's wings froze in place. "Wh-what did you do?"
"Nothing yet." Skystrike said as he reached into Pinkie's hair and grabbed her harmonica.
"Wha-" Before Rainbow could ask what he was doing, she gagged from the instrument stuffed into her mouth. As she tried to spit it out of her mouth, Skystrike slapped her on her back, right between her wings. A high pitch note came from the harmonica as she screamed into it.
Skystrike laughed the hardest he had in a while. "Oh man, that was GREAT!"
Twilight couldn't help but laugh a bit. "That was your grand plan?"
"Oh, no. I didn't even plan on getting her back, but I was reminded, and the chance was there." Skystrike kept laughing. Then Pinkie slapped Rainbow on her flank, causing another high note, making them all laugh.
Rainbow finally spit out the harmonica. "What was that for, Pinkie!?" She rubbed her back.
"I wanted one of those brownies too."
All of the girls slowly turned to look at her. Even Zecora, Stardust, and Tethys leaned over the railing of the deck of the ship. Rainbow quickly jumped back with the harmonica still in her hands. She groaned at the slight sting from Pinkie and Skystrike's slap. "Ugh... Skystrike, Pinkie, Imma get you for that... You aren't ready for what's gonna happen, because if you two think I'm letting things go after you hit me from behind-"
Rainbow realized what she said as there where collective snickers. Pinkie Pie even manifested a hoop and a ball, dunking it with a loud vine boom as she said it. Rainbow Dash looked into the distance with a thousand yard stare. She rubbed her face, trying to pretend it didn't happen as she reworded her statement. "...After you slapped on my ass-
The snickers grew louder as Pinkie dunked again, even hitting a pose that'd go on a shoe. Rainbow Dash held her head and looked off into the distance again. It looked as if her soul left her body. She tried again to rephrase. "...After you shot on my back-" She gave up as Pinkie did one final dunk, throwing the harmonica onto the ground in rage. "I HATE YOU SO MUCH!"
What a time to be alive. Skystrike almost fell on the floor laughing. "Ah man... thanks for stopping by, I know it's early. You all know I'm not too good with goodbyes." He pushed in the loading dock and closed the shutter door. "I'll make sure to bring everyone back something nice." Before he could fly up to the ship deck, Pinkie pulled him into a hug. Soon after the rest joined in. Though in the grand scheme of things, it'd only be for a moment, the pain of a goodbye still hurts the same. "I'll miss you all too. Promise to stay safe, and I'll stay safe too."
"You got it, Sky! We won't keep ya any longer." Applejack said for the group, trying not to show her sadness.
No more words needed to be said, they made their feelings clear. With that, Skystrike jumped into the air and flew onto the deck of the ship, then walked to the bridge. Several levers and buttons were in front of him as he sat down to drive. He pushed a button, giving power to the engines. With a small lever in front of him, hot air was released into the blimp above, raising the Wind Waker off the ground. Two levers on each side controlled the turbines on the respective sides of the ship. Clenching the triggers on each lever, he pulled on the left and pushed on the right, turning the ship once he was high enough above the trees.
Normally, one would have someone spot anything in the way, but that's what he had cameras for. Sure, this world had their own versions of cameras, but the civilian grades were magic based, thus not very good. Had to make his own. There were three cameras, one port, one starboard, and one on the rear. The only blind spot was under the ship, since the bridge let him see everything above deck.
Once finished turning, Skystrike pushed both arms forward, starting the first step of his journey. He had a few test flights, but still didn't fully trust the auto pilot mode. Even if he tested it, he was still surprised how fast the Wind Waker was. It's barely been a minute, and Ponyvile was in the distance. Tethys, Zecora, and Stardust, who changed into Elytra, All stood with him as they departed.
"Oh shit." Skystrike clicked his tongue.
"What? Elytra asked.
"I never asked if you all get motion sick... If one of you do, we'll stop by a city and get some medicine." He let go of the triggers on the lever and released more hot air into the blimp, raising them higher into the air. "I'm going to do this slowly. Your ears will more than likely pop, the air will get cooler, and it may take a little while for your lungs to get used to the thicker air. Tell me if any of you get light headed."
Skystrike let go of the triggers on the levers, locking them in place. He let go and took off his sweatshirt, and turned into his human form, stretching in his chair. The sweatpants got tighter, and much shorter, showing the lower half of his shins. He shook out his hair a bit and stood up.
Elytra looked over him with her bug like eyes. "You know, I forget how big you've gotten. Hard to believe you were this tiny little guy no taller than here." She held out her hoof just below her head. "Let me tell you, when I saw you again, I did not expect some giant!"
Skystrike couldn't help but snicker at the memory. Zecora smiled a bit too. "I yearn to glimpse his visage of yore, do you possess a picture to explore?"
Elytra nodded, quickly running off, then back with a small picture book in her magic. Now Skystrike was a bit interested. "How'd you even get pictures of me? I barely remember we had cameras?"
She changed her grip from her mouth to her magic. "Magic imaging. Works the same as cameras in a sense. A changeling has to see something, then projects that memory onto a surface. I did it a lot when we grew up. The hard part is getting a third person perspective from a first person memory."
They all gathered around Elytra to see the pictures. "We didn't know Skystrike's birthday, so we just had it be on the day he came to the hive." She pointed to one. "This was on his first birthday in the hive, being about nine." She pointed to a picture with herself hugging a human Skystrike, surrounded by changelings, a younger Chrysalis, and Khrusalis, the former queen.
It bought him back. To better times. "Man, that was... 17 years ago. Time really do be passin' by... Heh, good times."
Each of them did a double take, then a triple as they looked back and forth between him and the picture. Tethys grinned. "There's no way that little guy in that photo is you! You were so cute!"
"I know! Just look at those cheeks aglow! And that tiny nose, oh so dainty in tow!" Zecora looked closer at the image.
"It's a bit weird, seeing how different I look back then." Skystrike nodded. "Damn, there's some old faces I haven't seen in a while."
Tethys flinched a bit. "Elytra, I don't mean to sound racist..."
"But?" Skystrike and Elytra said before laughing.
"...You changelings all look the same to me." Tethys admitted. Zecora sheepishly nodded with her.
"Oh, don't worry about it." Elytra laughed some more. "Skystrike had the same problem for a while when he came to the hive. If you want to know how we tell each other apart, we do it by scent. Each changeling has a different smell, so we just memorize who smells like what."
Tethys leaned down and sniffed Elytra with her large nostrils, taking in a few whiffs. "Hmm... I never noticed. I'll just remember that you smell like flowers."
Elytra sniffed her self in embarassment. "Huh, well thanks. Good to know I smell good." She laughed at a memory. "As a foal, Skystrike said I smelled funny."
They all snickered. Skystrike put his hands up. "In my defense, I didn't learn about what flowers were until like, a year after I said that."
Zecora giggled. "How could you not know the scent of a flower's delight? It's fragrant aroma, a wonder to alight?"
He stared at the Zebra. "Zecora, I'm not upset or anything since you didn't know. But everything in the lab was simulated. I didn't even know what the sun was until I broke out."
"Oh... I'm sorry." Zecora didn't even bother to rhyme.
"Don't worry about it. I never told you. Moving back on topic, changeling's sense of smell is dozens of times stronger than mine, so It was very hard to tell the changelings apart. I had to start playing really close attention to tell." Skystrike picked up the book in his hand and began pointing at each changeling. "Next to me is Elytra, who's band things on her belly are further apart than the normal changeling. Next to her it Thorax, his fangs are a bit longer. Teeko has a thicker horn, Nimble has a longer neck fin."
"I'm surprised you still remember all their names." Elytra said.
"Doesn't matter what happened between us, or what they blame me for, they're still my family... Honestly, even I'm surprised how many names I remember. I remember almost every one of their names."
Elytra shook her head. "No way! There were like 200 of us in just our subsection of the hive!"
"Subsections?" Tethys asked.
"Oh right... Sorry, I forget how much of isolationists my kind are. So, Skystrike and I were part of the Royal section, so the changelings around us were the most loyal and trusted by the former queen Khrusalis. We got their through our rankings, our achievements, and of course, immediate family. On the lower levels were the Canopy, Under Story, and then the Shrubs. For a pony equivalent, I guess it's like... nobles, upper class, and lower to middle class. The lower the class, the more changelings."
Skystrike nodded as he continued her explanation. "We mostly spoke with the Royals and Canopy changelings. Though from time to time, I would go to the lower levels and see what all happened. Khrusalis told me it was best to mingle with those of lower class, since they're the same as the rest of us."
Elytra sighed. "Sad to say, after her passing, and before I was sent to get you, I noticed that all the changelings in the Canopy were... I was told they 'left' but they were kicked out to the Shrubs. They were still loyal to Khrusalis, and you."
Skystrike sighed with her. "Damn... I'm grateful they did but... wish they didn't put themselves in danger. Wonder what happened to them."
"Most left the hive, hoping to find a better life outside the walls of pulp... Actually, I helped quite a few integrate into pony society. For safety reasons, we keep in contact through code, but from my memory, they're in the smaller towns and cities. I don't remember all of their names, but a few moved to Trottingham, Dodge City, and Sire's Hollow."
"Oooh, we're actually going to fly over Trottingham on our way to Griffostone. Want to see if they're still there?"
"Sure!" Elytra beamed.
Zecora nodded. "I haven't journeyed north in this vast land's sweep, but I'm keen to explore, to take a peep."
Tethys shrugged. "Sure, I'm down. Hopefully the welcome isn't like the last... few..."
They all gave a annoyed groans. As individuals, and even more so as a group of misfits, they weren't given warm welcomes when they were together. Skystrike shook it off. "We'll be fine. I asked Celestia and Luna for a royal pardon. They can't deny us service anymore."
"That's kinda scummy, but fair. But hey, lets go back to the pictures. Elytra, you got anything embarrassing?"
They spent time with each other for a while longer until it turned to late evening. They just passes Fillydelphia four hours ago. They'd be at Trottingham by noon the next day. But for now, Skystrike and Elytra were on the hunt for dinner. They were finally able to eat meat without hiding it, and Skystrike wanted to make something special for their first trip. Tethys and Zecora were with the ship, it suspended in the clouds above them, out of sight from any onlookers.
The human and changeling both had their armors on. Skystrike remembered how light and mobile it seemed on his human form. He really missed being able to walk sideways. He was also glad he took into account his human body shape as he made his pony armor. While he wasn't as heavily armored, as his shoulders, hands, lower torso, and ankles were showing, they were more than offset by the mobility and flexibility he had.
Elytra was giving her new armor a test, using her magic to go in and out of invisibility while buzzing around in the air. "Damn, Skystrike, you know how to make armor. I couldn't imagine anything this nice in the guard or the hive." She climbed onto the side of a pine tree.
Skystrike carefully moved forward to not make any sounds as he whispered back. "Thanks, glad you like it. Honestly, I forget you like meat. You don't have to eat it to survive. But remember, this is for a meal, and to test that railgun."
She looked to the long hunk of steel on her back, watching it turn as she turned her head. "Oh, right... How... powerful is this, exactly?"
"I made it strong enough to take down anything the size of a Ursa Major in one shot on a full charge. You'd need to be on all fours and on stable ground to handle that recoil. Lucky for you, you can charge it partially, so there'll be much less recoil... Let's test it."
"Wh- Right now?"
Skystrike jumped onto a tree in the distance, about 100 meters away from where Elytra hung on a tree. At Skystrike's position, he picked up a stone and surrounded it in a small light before jabbing it into the side of a tree. Jumping back, Skystrike picked up Elytra and bought her to a thick branch to sit on. "See where that light is? I'll teach you how to hit it, just work with me."
She took in a deep breath. "Alright... what do I do?"
"First, we're going to start off by just making sure you have the stance right. Since you're a changeling, I took into account all terrains. Plant all four hooves on the ground, then look at the target." Skystrike said. Elytra got into position, though jumped slightly at Skystrike touching her legs. "Back legs should be a bit farther apart, shoulders down slightly, and back straight. All the recoil is going to be distributed through your hips, so prepare for that."
She stood there for a moment, making sure she had the stance down. "Alright... I think I got this part."
Skystrike nodded. "Great, now, this is just for safety. The railgun goes 1,000 meters per second uncharged. As you get closer to a full charge, that speed grows exponentially to 8,000. That means it's going to take 0.1 seconds to hit that tree. Literally, if they blink, they'll feel the magic hit them before they can process what hit them."
"Exponentially? You know I was never good at math." Elytra huffed.
Skystrike looked at her. "Well, sounds like we have something to do while we travel." Elytra cursed under her breath. "Basically, it means that the rate at which the bullet speed grows increases itself the longer you charge it. If you still don't get it, then it's time for a field test. Aim at the tree, then flick your tail- er, tail fin downward."
Elytra took in a deep breath and focused on the tree, hearing the whirring of her weapon as it turned toward the marked tree. She focused her breathing, making sure she was on target before flicking her tail fin. A small ball of raw magic formed between the rails of the railgun, while simultaneously, the rails charged the magic with electricity, accelerating the magic down the rifle at amazing speeds. Like Skystrike said, before she could even blink, the weapon fired a hole straight through the rock next to the tree. "Damn..."
"You were off by about 5 feet. Remember that your railgun is on your right side, so you have to aim slightly left."
"Yeah, just... Not used to using magic without my horn, let alone the magic not being centered at my forehead." Elytra made the same motions and shot again. This time, she at leased grazed the right side of the team."...Getting better at least."
"Don't beat yourself up over it." Skystrike patted the back of her neck. "I see your problem though. You're changing the position of your hips before you even fire. Don't tense up too much." He helped her git into position again. "Ready... aim... fire."
Elytra did so, hitting the glowing rock, shooting a hole straight through the tree. "Yyyyyyyaaahoo!"
Skystrike couldn't help but try and hide his laugh from her little celebration. "N-nice job! Pfft- you got the hang on it pretty quick!"
"Thanks to you, Sky!"
He rubbed her neck. "Ready for the real thing?" Elytra stopped to think about it, then hesitantly nodded. "You know, never asked. Have you ever killed something before?"
"Yeah, I'm not a green horn." She smirked.
"Good, didn't really want to have that talk now..." Skystrike stood up straight on the branch they were on. "Follow me, I saw tracks of an Ophiotaurus." He said before jumping to a neighboring tree.
Elytra flapped her bug-like wings to follow him. "An Ophio what?"
Skystrike jumped silently between the trees. "Upper body of a bull, lower body of a serpent. Think of a Medusa version of a Minotaur."
"This seems... interesting. Is it sentient? Nevermind, we wouldn't be hunting them unless they weren't... Does it turn from beef to reptile meat gradually, or is it like, a cut off?"
"Actually, I was surprised when it was beef all the way through. We're going to play it safe. They're highly agile, and they travel solo. They aren't the apex predators here, so they will be on their guard." The two traveled a bit farther before Skystrike motioned for her to stop. "Straight ahead, roughly 200 meters." Elytra looked at the creature. It's black scales made it blend in with its surroundings as it crawled along the ground, sniffing for it's next meal. It stood up straight to look around, showing it's bright orange underbelly. "Take the shot if you think you can land it. Your safety is off, and it's in lethal mode. Aim for the head, we don't want it to suffer."
Elytra focused once more, positioning herself to make sure she didn't miss this time. Inhale. Exhale. Tense up, but not too much. Spread the legs apart, aim... and then she fired. She made sure to watch as the head of the Ophiotaurus popped off. She was slightly off put by how easy it was... No, she was more disgusted by the lethality of it. "Guh..." She gagged. "Weren't joking about it being lethal..."
Skystrike jumped down an ran up to the body. Blood and brain matter was scattered on the forest floor. He thanked the beast for the use it would have, from its hide, to its flesh, to its bones. Focusing wind into his hands, he made an air vacuum at the exposed neck of the once majestic beast. It drained the liters of blood out of the beast before Skystrike reached into his bags and put some of the blood into an empty jar. Zecora would use it for some potions, or at least have fun studying its properties.
He pushed down his hands, using magic to cover the rest of the blood and splattered organs in a few feet of dirt. With some rope, he tied up the corpse to carry back to the ship in his arms. Elytra looked back at where she killed the beast before talking with Skystrike. "Hey, what was that prayer you did? Didn't take you to be a religious one."
Skystrike sighed. "It wasn't a prayer to any specific deity, more so to the Ophiotaurus itself. I was never one for needless death. Though it wasn't exactly needless, since we need to eat, I still do it. The creature deserves at least some kind of send off, and a thanks for the use it will have for us. It's why I like to make things quick for those who deserve it. It was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"...You know, you've changed a lot since you were a foal. Well, human foal or whatever word that is. It was... Imma just say it, really unsettling how used to death you were, and your complete disregard for life back then. But... you've grown. Things aren't black and white anymore. You see the value of the lives you take, no matter how little." Elytra flew up and and wrapped her hooves around the back of his neck. "I'm proud... my baby brother's really grown up."
He couldn't help but crack a smile. "Thanks, Elytra. I'm glad too. Thanks for sticking with me for this long, for believing in me, through thick and thin."
"It's what I'm here for. What we're here for. I just wish I could've been there for more."
"Don't worry about the past. We got a future to focus on."
Skystrike, Elytra, Zecora, and Tethys all sat around a large open fire. Skystrike pushed at the coals to make the fire spread as the upper half of the Ophiotaurus spun over it. Of course, Skystrike made sure to remove the organs before seasoning it, putting the entrails aside for later use, along with the snake-like half of the beast. The griffons would enjoy the parts. The skin wasn't exactly edible with how tough it was, so he and Tethys skinned it too. While Skystrike and Elytra watched the beast cook, Zecora and Tethys worked on making the side dishes, some fruits and vegetables they gathered prior.
Zecora continued the small talk they were having as she cut up the vegetables. "The question unasked, now let us unwind. What is each one's favorite dish to find?"
Elytra hummed in thought. "Well... I'm not sure you all can relate, me being a changeling and all, but Love, specifically from platonic relationships for me. The ones from romantic relations are a bit too sweet and gooey for me."
Tethys blinked. "Wait, different emotions have different tastes?"
Skystrike looked at her too, leaning on his leg. "Yeah, I wasn't aware of this either?"
Elytra nodded as she explained. "Yeah. Like... sorry, trying to think of equivalents. They all range, depending on how strong the emotion is. Sadness tastes... watery? Like if you're drinking fruit punch, but you have a little left all the ice melted and mixed in. Envy tastes sour, anger tastes spicy, and happiness tastes sweet."
Tethys chuckled. "Why was sadness so specific, but makes so much sense? Also, I don't think I've ever seen you actually eat emotions?"
"That's because I go out of my way to hide it... It's... not something I show to beings. I literally drain the magic out of a being. I'll show you if you want?" Tethys and Zecora nodded. "Skystrike, can I...?" Skystrike nodded too, walking up to and kneeling down in front of the changeling. Elytra opened her eyes wide and her mouth wider. Her fangs glistened under the moonlight as a light pink energy left Skystrike's body to enter her mouth. Elytra made sure to get her fill, feeding for a few long seconds before closing her mouth.
Zecora was wide eyed. "Did... I just see your jaw break free? Or was it a trick of the eye I see?"
"That was unsettling as Tartarus, but also kinda cool, I'm not even going to lie. But yeah, I get why you don't show it." Tethys put a hand over her heart. "Damn... you're one of the first creatures to creep me out, girl! Damn!"
Skystrike had a thought. "Wait a minute... Oh my god! Why didn't we think of this before!?" He face palmed before picking up the changeling. "Elytra!"
She hung there, confused. "Y-yeah?"
"You can drain my mana!"
Slowly, one by one, they all realized what that meant. "By the Pantheon this is amazing!" She put up her hooves to hug him.
Tethys picked both of them up in her arms. "You're damn right it is! Who knew the solution was right under our snouts!?"
Zecora jumped on Tethys' back, making them all fall over. "This is great, and to find out not a moment to late!"
Skystrike couldn't help but hug them all back. They laid there for a few moments before he broke the silence. "...My favorite dish is prime sirloin." There was another silence, then each one of them broke out into a long laughter.
"You're so fucking stupid!" Tethys slapped hear tail on the ground.
Skystrike laughed some more before clearing his throat. "Elytra, don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for what we just found out, but lets not immediately jump into it. I don't know what overfeeding will do to you, or what feeding on me specifically for a while will do."
She shrugged as she looked through the trees at the starry night sky. "Well, we changelings can't exactly overeat. But legends say that the last changeling who overfed on one they deemed close was able too molt, and gain enough power to rival the queen at the time. But that was... I don't know, over twenty generations ago? Either way, you get to live longer."
"And... you're ok with potentially becoming a queen of a new hive?"
"Who said anything about a hive?" Elytra looked at him. "I just want you alive. If I get a new form, so be it."
Skystrike sighed. "I just... don't want you to do anything you could regret."
"That's life, man. You've sacrificed enough. Let me help you out at least." Elytra said as she got up. "Now can we eat? My meat stomach is growling, and I want to try this Ophio."
Skystrike chuckled as he got up, grabbing a knife and cutting off a rack of ribs for the changeling. He forgets at times that they also need physical food to survive. Elytra quickly ran up to him and sat down, holding a plate up with her magic. He put the ribs on her plate, and Zecora her fruits and vegetables.
They waited until everyone was served. Both Tethys and Skystrike got themselves the arms of the Ophiotaurus. Even Zecora got a few small cuts of it to try. They all sat down around the fire and began to eat, thanking each other for helping with the cooking.
As the flames danced and flickered, casting shadows against the darkened forest, the four sat in a circle around the crackling fire pit, their faces illuminated by its warm glow. The scent of sizzling beef and roasted vegetables filled the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of the surrounding woods. They eagerly scarfed down the tender pieces of meat and colorful veggies and fruits, chatting animatedly about the mundane.
Between bites of savory food, they reminisced about their separate childhood adventures and shared tales of laughter and mischief. Each memory sparked laughter and nods of recognition, evoking a sense of nostalgia that enveloped them like a comforting blanket. Amidst the crackling of the fire and the chirping of nocturnal creatures, their bond grew stronger as they relived cherished moments from years gone by.
Skystrike tore the flesh from his meal and chewed. "Oh, Elytra, before we left Ponyville, I remember you packing a small tree. What was that about?"
"Right, you weren't too keen on history. It was a bonsai tree I've been taking care of for the past few years. Apparently, the elders say that long, long ago, an acorn, a rotted black gem, fell into a lake or arcane energy, the toxins in it corrosive to the touch. The acorn did not melt though, and instead thrived, using the lake to grow into an Ebony Oak. It was a twisted tree, with bark as black as coal, and leaves a cold blue. With branches twisted and jagged roots, as if reaching out to any who dared to come close. It was the only tree of its kind... a cursed tree. One day, something broke the bark of that tree... and out poured the first hive."
Skystrike, Tethys, and Zecora all looked at her. "You came from an acorn?" They all asked.
"Well when you put it like that, it doesn't sound as interesting." She giggled. "But in the simplest sense, yes. Back to your question Skystrike, it gives me something to do, taking care of that tree. It's also sacred to us Changelings, as it holds a deep connection to the Ebony Grove. The one I have specifically is a descendant of the tree of King Lazarus the Righteous. It helps me remember home, the family there, and the oath I swore to the former queen Khrusalis."
Zecora's ears perked up. "Oath?"
"On the blood of those who've come before, on the blood of those who will come after, I swear to do what is right until my dying breath. Through pain and sorrow, I will make sure to leave this world better than I found it. That was the oath I made with Lazarus as my witness."
Zecora then turned to Skystrike. "Do you have one?"
Skystrike nodded. "On the blood of those who've come before, on the blood of those who will come after. I promise to fight for the good of all, no matter the race, no matter their history. My bones may break, but my will will not. With Khrusalis the Golden as my witness. All Changelings of age must make an oath relating to their specialty. Elytra was more of a care taker than a fighter, so hers is more vague about that aspect."
Elytra nodded. "And even if we're banished, the oaths are still in effect. But lets continue this tomorrow, I'm sleepy." Elytra yawned.
Skystrike chuckled. "You all can go ahead and head up to the ship. I'll clean up." Skystrike stood up and put out his hands, making a large ball of water. He used the water to wash the dishes, then put all the trash in the still burning camp fire. After watching the fire flicker for a little more, he put it out by suffocating it with the surrounding dirt. All that was left to do was pack up and cover his tracks. The former was easy, the latter was a bit difficult. He brushed around some leaves over their prints and kicked over the stones surrounding the pit, then covered it all with a small layer of dirt. Not needed, but a force of habit. He climbed back onto his ship and prepared for sleep, only after saying good night to his comrades.
Tomorrow is another day. |
A Broken Warrior | Taking Flight | The four friends stood on the deck of the Wind Waker as it lowered toward Eques, parting the clouds. Trottingham was finally in view. They'd have quite a bit of time to explore it, since it was before noon. The town was right on the shore of the Griffith Isles, and was Equestia's furthest territory. He did some research on Trottingham, and was a bit interested with the place. Like Ponyville, the place was founded by Earth Ponies, so they were the majority. At the same time, they get many foreigners due to the city having one of the best agricultural Colleges.
Trottingham also has a strong mining and raw materials sector, generating a sizable amount of Equestria's coal and metals. The artisans here were in a league of their own. Honestly, they'd probably be better than him if any of the local smithy's would let him visit. They manage their forests quite well for timber harvesting as well, but that was a smaller section. What interested him the most was that due to them being so close to Griffonstone, it wasn't uncommon to see a griffon here or there, nor was it uncommon to find fisher mares and stallions. He should stop by the market.
But that was for later. Skystrike yawned. "Thanks for letting me get some sleep in, I really needed that."
Elytra nodded as she turned into Stardust. "No problem. But uh, quick question... is this ship legal?"
"Well no, but technically yes."
Stardust almost fell over. "The buck does that mean!?"
"No laws were made against the Wind Waker yet. The technology I made for this ship is at minimum decades ahead of what these ponies have. Because of that, I can do things that'll probably be illegal when the times catch up."
Tethys snickered. "Skystrike, you're a trip."
Skystrike crouched down and turned back into a pony, spreading his wings slightly to catch the wind. "Is Zecora still sleeping?"
Stardust shook her head. "Well, she's on the toilet. She liked the meat we had, but her stomach isn't used to it."
"Ah, yeah, I guess that makes sense." Skystrike said as he put on his sweatshirt. "We'll wait for her before we land. They have two air docks at least... Tethys, can you hang out inside for a bit? Don't want things to go south the moment they see a dragon. Stardust, can you put on your guard armor? We can pass this off as official business."
She chuckled. "You think we can pull that off?"
"We can land no problem. But they're going to want to search the ship, especially since we're going across borders. They'll probably think we're smuggling some stuff."
Tethys stretched and folded in her wings. "And what's she going to do about it?"
"Explaining that we're traveling on official business, and that everything is confidential will take a lot of eyes off of us. Yes, I have a pardon from Celestia and Luna, but many would believe it forged unless an actual guards mare came with it." He patted Stardust on the head.
Stardust and Tethys looked at each other before shrugging and going to do as requested. Skystrike went back inside to the ship controls, slowing the Wind Waker to a stop. The ponies at the dock were scrambling at the sudden arrival. After a few minutes passed, two pegasus guards flew up to greet them. There was no reason to differentiate the two, as their enchanted armor made both of them have white coats and blue mane and tails. The two stallions landed an the ship deck in front of him.
"This is an unscheduled landing of an airship of unknown model and registration. If you wish to land, you must show your license, registration, and consent to a search of your ship, as well as answer some questions." The first guard spoke.
Skystrike reached into his saddlebag and handed them the license and registration. "Take your time to check over that. Not surprised you don't know the registration, since I got this about three months ago. As for the searching of this ship, I am on official business, and I cannot allow you to search the ship."
"Likely story." The second guard said. "Your name gets around, Nebula. I doubt the princesses would work with you, especially after everything you've done to the guard and Princess Cadenza."
Skystrike blinked at that. "Heh, well, wasn't expecting that, but I guess we're going down this route. I have a guards mare inside, Stardust is her name, probably heard of her since Celestia assigned her specifically to me a while ago, and she's getting the Royal Decree, signed by Celestia and Luna, that is allowing the safe travels of me and my companions while within Equestria's borders." Skystrike stood up straight as now wasn't the time to be lax. "As for your questions, I will answer them to the best of my ability without leaking any confidential information."
"Sure... Then I guess we'll wait for-" The two guards looked past Skystrike as the door to the interior creaked open. Stardust, clad in her armor, walked out with the decree in her hooves. She wordlessly handed the scroll to the guards, who eyed it suspiciously. "...Looks official... I don't know how a pony like you got his hooves on this-"
"Yo, Guard pony, I would recommend you think about how your words could be interpreted by another, as Stardust has to report to the literal highest authorities in this country." Skystrike cleared his throat. "Now, do you have any questions before I land this ship?"
The second guard grit his teeth, but then the first elbowed his colleague. "I apologize for my subordinates actions. I will continue with the questioning." He pulled out a pen and began writing on a clip board with his mouth. "How many occupants are on this ship?"
"Four."
"Of what make and model is this ship?"
"This is the same make and model as the Lavender Spirit, simply a different color scheme."
The first guard looked up at that. "And the armor? Were those commissioned by the government?"
Skystrike shook his head. "All custom made by yours truly, though it is classified on how it was made and installed. Same with the wings and armaments before you ask."
The guard continued writing. "And how long is your flight? I can do the calculations for how much it will cost to fuel up for the trip."
"No need, I already fuel up, and will have more than enough for my trip. Thank you for the offer though." Skystrike rolled his neck.
"Any other modifications to this vessel that I should be aware of?" The guard asked his final question.
"Not that I can legally tell you." Skystrike answered.
"Very well. I will give clearance to land soon. Be on the look out for the signal." The guard put away his pen and began to fly off, the second guard following behind.
Stardust followed Skystrike back into the bridge. "Skystrike, you're kinda an ass."
Skystrike sat down to steer with a smirk. "You are what you eat, Stardust." Stardust couldn't contain her laughter, even falling on a floor. Damn... wasn't even that funny. Skystrike noticed a pony with two beams of light in their hooves. Must be the marshal. In a few minutes, and the guidance of the marshal, Skystrike landed the Wind Waker and extended the boarding dock.
Stardust, Tethys, and Zecora were already waiting for him in their casual wear, save for Stardust. Skystrike noticed Zecora was shivering a bit. "You alright?"
Zecora nodded. "I'm alright, just not accustomed to this twist. In my homeland and Ponyville, warmth does persist."
Skystrike took off his sweatshirt and put it on Zecora. "It'll be a bit- a lot big on you, but it'll hold you until we get you a jacket."
Zecora's rolled up the sleeves so her hooves were making contact with the ground. "I hadn't grasped the size you wear, a fact that took me unaware."
"Aw, it's cute on you." Tethys picked Zecora up, making her hang like a ragdoll cat. "But thinking on it more, what would go well with you? Any ideas Skystrike?"
"What, am I the go to fashion guy?"
"Yeah." The three said.
"Ok I guess. Bomber jacket, easy." Skystrike said as he began walking down the ramp. "Didn't know I was so good at choosing clothing."
"You're the only one that wears clothes. And Tethys got her style from you." Stardust said. "You sure you'll be fine?"
"Oh, yeah, I'll be fine. The main reason I wear shirts is because it'd look weird if I just wore pants." Skystrike turned back to look at her.
"And... why do you wear pants?"
"Stardust, you, and every other pony, zebra, griffon, changeling, whatever, are all eye height with my balls." Skystrike sighed. They all laughed a bit at his expense, finally making it off the ship and into the city. Of course, they got many stares from passerby, since the group is not one you'd see often. Alas, they were used to it. "So, we're here, and we don't have much to do, aside from a few beings we have to see. So we have a couple things we can do, sight see, find those you-know-whos, or what I'm most excited for, go to the open air bath houses."
Tethys flexed her wings. "Actually, we had some girl talk last night. We planned on going to get some stuff for... us girls. Why don't we meet back up at three here?"
"...I am mildly afraid to ask what girl stuff is, but sure, you three have fun. If I got time to myself, I'm gonna see what I can get myself into."
"The girl stuff will be a surprise! We shall leave it to you to surmise." Zecora put a hoof over her mouth in a shushing motion.
"...I feel as if I should be worried. But yeah, you three have fun."
Skystrike was walking through Trottingham alone. He didn't like how familiar it felt, but he wouldn't have to deal with it for long... He didn't realize how nice it was, having friends around him. For now, he just finished waiting in line for a hayburger. Even after all these years, it was still weird for him to eat hay. It was fried though, and the four he ordered were pretty good, didn't get tired of the taste even though he was on the second one. Maybe he'll visit again for the burgers.
He began to wonder what 'girl talk' was about. Skystrike wouldn't know, he isn't a girl... nor did he even realize ponies talk about gender specific things. Sure, he spends time with Spike, just the two boys, but there wasn't really 'boy talk', or maybe he did have it unintentionally. He guesses that's what it is, just personal stuff that you can only really share with those close? But why specify the gender? He was still confused as he took another bite of his burger while waiting at a stop light.
Ponies pulling wagons ran by as he waited. A filly with her mother began waiting next to him, the two talking with each other. Skystrike rolled his neck as he waited. The filly wasn't paying attention, pushing away from her mother and running around Skystrike, most likely thinking he was a light pole or something. Unexpectedly, the filly tripped and almost fell into the street. Skystrike nearly dropped his food as he put out a hoof to catch the kid.
The mother quickly picked up her child as she thanked him and they quickly crossed the street before going their separate ways. He felt good about the little deed he did, but he was still hungry. He sat down on a bench and finished his second burger, ignoring the stares he got from ponies walking by. Damn, this was the first time he wasn't busy doing anything... he hasn't felt like this since the group disbanded.
In hindsight, he regrets it, more so the way he left. In the night, no words spoken, just a memory to fade away. Skystrike couldn't begin to imagine how everyone else felt... Fuck, it wasn't the first time he up and left. But they just accepted him back so easily, as if it was just water under the bridge. He didn't deserve any of them. The best type of reaction he was expecting was the one from Moon dancer, but that was the worst of it... He should not be alone with his thoughts.
Anyway, he stopped by the post office, still writing those weekly letters to family and friends. Double checking the sending addresses, he mailed them to their respective destinations. He decided to go for a fly to take his mind off of the past. Skystrike noticed that the town was a bit similar to Ponyville. Sure, it was much, much bigger, and had more infrastructure, being decades older than when Ponyville was founded, but he imagined that this is what Ponyville would look like in the near future. A bustling market, a steady population, fun places to hang out.
But as he flew, something, or somepony caught his eye. Sitting on top of a ledge of a four story building was a mare. She had a grey coat and dark grey mane and tail. Being above her, he couldn't see many of her distinguishing features, but from her shaking, he could tell she was going through something. Skystrike had a bad feeling...
He flew in front of the mare, seeing her greyish mulberry eyes... full of tears. Her eyes went wide as Skystrike lowered himself in front of her, making the lady step back. He landed in front of the mare. "...You doing ok?"
"Why do you care?" She snapped back at him with a noticeable Canterlot accent.
Looking closer at her, her mascara was running, the purple bowtie she wore was a mess, and her eyes were red. This mare has been crying for a while. Those eyes reminded him of his own, when he split apart the group. He could tell she needed someone. "Because I've seen those eyes before... and you're about to do something you wont be able to regret." Skystrike sat down next to the mare. "I wont force you to tell me what you're going through. I'm just here if you wish to vent to a nobody."
The two sat for a while as she contemplated what to do. She wiped her tears away with a hoof, smearing her mascara even more. The mare gave a sad laugh. "Buck it, why not!" The earth pony sat down. "If you must know, I was about to jump." She said while shaking. "I know who you are. Here to do your good deed for the day? Don't waste your time. I'm not worth it..."
Skystrike laid down to be at her eye level. "Why do you say that?"
"Because there's nothing left for me in this place anymore!"
"Family?"
"Oh don't get me started!" She scoffed. Skystrike realized he opened the flood gates. "My father passed a few years ago. All I wanted to do was make him proud of me! But no, every recital that I told hem about, that he didn't even bother to attend, all he said was 'That's what was expected of my daughter.' Asshole!" She shouted to nopony in particular. "I should've realized earlier. I could've never made him proud. He wanted a son in the first place! Didn't even greet me as a filly when he came home, just asked 'why aren't you practicing?' So I did! I was the star of the Canterlot Youth Orchestra! Everypony saw me as a prodigy! I got a scholarship to the best music school in Manehatten, but that wasn't enough to convince him to let me go... I thought if I just tried harder, do better as a cellist, I'd be able to see him smile at me." She took some deep breaths, realizing she was out of breath from her speaking. "And then he went and got sick. I was 16, didn't even know or care what he was diagnosed with at that point. Mom said that he wanted to see me, but I knew she was bucking lying. But it hurt even more when she said that Father loved me... So badly, I wanted to believe her, but we both knew she was lying. Never showed me an ounce of love in the 16 years he was my father... I thought I'd be happy if I never saw him again, but... I don't know what think anymore. Didn't visit his funeral anyway."
"And your mom?"
She looked at him, her greyish mulberry eyes filling with more tears as she began to speak through the sobbing. "I... I moved away from home as soon as I could at eighteen. But I left my mom alone in Canterlot. I hate how I left her there, but I still loved her, and she loved me. For years, she was the only one I could talk to, the only one to write and say 'Happy Birthday.' The only one who said she loves me... But then she passed away a few months before my 21st birthday. I attended her funeral, she actually mattered to me. Enough where I composed my best eulogy for her, only to be played once, for her... I didn't realize how much I loved her, or how much I'd miss her. And worst of all, she made me realize how... empty my life is. All the practicing at the behest of my father left me no time to make any connections. I played solo to make a living, and none of those fans cared about me besides my music... Without my music, no pony cares about me. I thought I just needed a break, coming here. Came up to this rooftop for a break..." Her tears began falling again. "And then I realized I could end it all right now... The sadness... the loneliness... the unappreciated work... I've been here for two weeks, and already gave up on trying for any meaningful interaction. I haven't been able to compose anything for months... and it feels like I have nothing left to give..." She began to laugh. " I've been having dreams you know. About my father. His disapproval. Everything I did was the bare minimum... something to be expected. All I want is for somepony to tell me that I'm worth while..." The tears came down even harder, soaking her face and hooves. "Since mom passed, I haven't even been told 'I love you' 'I like you', buck, 'It's nice to see you.' Bucking ANYTHING would be better than this! For the past three years, I've thought about making this final leap... I just need to commit." The mare looked towards the ledge again.
Hindsight seemed to have caught up with her as her eyes went wide before covering her mouth. Almost immediately, she felt sick to her stomach, vomiting up whatever was left of what she ate earlier in the day. Skystrike stopped her from falling over from the lightheadedness, quickly putting a hoof on her shoulder. Seems like all the water is out of the damn now. Skystrike reached into his saddlebag and offered the mare a bottle of water. The pony quickly took it to wash the taste of bile out of her mouth. She was about to thank Skystrike, but was interrupted by her tears.
Skystrike waited in silence as the mare let out years of bottled up emotions. Admittedly, he didn't really know what to say. It was a lot to take in. All he did know is that he should probably help this lady out. Question is, how? He thought about it for a bit. "I'm... You did not deserve the childhood you had to endure, nor the suffering you're going through now." Skystrike reached into his paper bag and threw one of his burgers over to the mare. "Considering you just threw up your lunch, you must be hungry. I got time to chat if you want." He grabbed his unfinished burger and began unwrapping it.
The mare caught the food in her hoof, looking at him hesitantly before unwrapping it. "Very well... I'd... really appreciate the company right about now."
"Cool. Sorry, they're not hot anymore, I got these like an hour ago." He bit into it. "...So, you say you compose and play music. You said you were a cellist. I listen to music quite often and I must say, I rarely hear a solo one. Can I ask your name?"
The mare rubbed away her running mascara before eating a bit. She sighed. "I'm sorry. You listen to my ramblings, give me food, and I still haven't introduced myself. Octavia. Octavia Melody." Despite the years of little to no meaningful contact for her, she still tried to come off as knowing her manners.
Skystrike blinked in realization. "You're Octavia Melody!?" Skystrike almost yelled before curbing his excitement. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."
"Oh, you've heard of me?" A hint of curiosity was heard in Octavia's voice.
"Yeah, I have some of your records! I was actually listening to some on the way here. I was wondering where you went, you normally publish something every few months." Skystrike's ears perked up, then went back down. "Oh shit, I'm sorry. You just complained about ponies only wanting you for your music."
"It's... well it's not alright, but I don't blame you."
Skystrike didn't want an awkward silence to come. "Actually, kind of embarrassing to say, but I got into music because of you. I work with a mare named Vinyl Scratch, she does the instrumentals and mixing, and I do the vocals-"
Skystrike was interrupted by Octavia's light giggle. "Sorry, I just... didn't expect a pony of your stature to sing."
"Hey, me neither. But we're doing pretty well for beginners. Just released our last work like four months ago. It might not be your style, with you doing classical though..." Skystrike bit into his burger again. "Octavia, I'm not going to act like I know you, but I want to learn more about you. I've been through something similar-"
"I don't want your pity." She snapped.
"I don't mean for my actions to come off as such. I apologize. I just don't want you to journey to the other side so early." Skystrike finished his burger. "If you'll let me, I'd like to get to know you better. You need someone to be with you right now. I can't leave you alone in good conscience right now. You're more than just your music. The only validation you need is from yourself... If it will help, I'll make sure to find you on your birthday to congratulate you."
She shook a bit. "I... appreciate that, Nebula... Ironically, today is my birthday... I'm twenty four today."
"Oh really? Happy birthday! What do you want to do?"
Her ears perked up. "I don't know... I barely did or got anything for my birthdays, aside from a slice of cake from mom... You wouldn't want to spend time with a mare like me anyway."
"Oi, no self loathing thoughts anymore. Today is a day for celebration." Skystrike stood up. "I'll walk you to your hotel so you can get cleaned up. We're going to go have some fun... well, try to at least."
Skystrike made sure to call out to Octavia from time to time just so she knew he wasn't leaving. After a short walk, Skystrike and Octavia were standing outside of an arcade, the latter cleaned herself up and fixed her makeup. She was still feeling down, and in visible shock, but was leagues better than earlier. Honestly, Skystrike was surprised that this place has such a large selection of arcade games. "So... what are we doing here?" Octavia asked.
"To play." Skystrike said.
"Isn't this rather... childish?"
"Yeah, most of the time, fun is childish."
"Oh... I see... This is the first time I'm experiencing this."
"Well, if that's the case, we'll start off small." Skystrike grabbed her hoof and began to lead her inside. He bought two tickets for entry, and a hoof full of tokens with a picture of a smiling pony on it. Generic, but it'll work. "Here we go, the simplest but arguably most rewarding, Skee-ball!" Skystrike put in a token into the machine. Several balls came out. "Just roll it down the alley and try and get as many points as you can." He hoofed a ball to Octavia.
"Er- well... alright then." She looked at the ball in her hoof before weakly throwing it down the lane. It didn't even make it up the ramp, rolling down back to her. Octavia looked at Skystrike, who motioned her to keep going. After trying again, she made it into the 10 point hole. "Is... this it?"
"Well, you have to keep going. You get like, ten tries." He explained and goaded the mare on to keep going.
Octavia could tell he was trying to help her, giving in and continuing to throw the balls down the lane. She ended with a final score of 270 points. She did better than she thought she would. The mare nearly jumped when tickets began to be vended out of the machine. "What are these for?"
"It's your reward. Get enough, and we can trade them in for prizes!" Skystrike said as he put in another coin. "Mind if I have a go?" Octavia stepped aside. Skystrike threw the ball in his hoof a couple times to get a proper feel of the weight, even swinging his arm a few times to get the proper motion. On his first roll, he decided to play a bit risky, going for the 100 hole in the left corner. Luckily, he got it in first try. Now to just keep the same strength in the throw. He missed more than he wanted, ending with 700 points. He smiled as the tickets came out before ripping them off and giving them to Octavia. "So, we got 40 tokens to split between the both of us... what do you want to play next?"
Octavia looked around at the ponies playing on the numerous games. "Well... I saw a colt playing some ring toss game?"
"Oh god, I suck at those." He laughed as the two began to walk over. A stallion in a red and white stripped shirt greeted them, and after receiving two tokens, gave each of them three rings. "And all we have to do is aim for the red bottle." Skystrike threw one of the rings, it bouncing off each bottle and falling on the other side of the setup. "FUCK!"
Octavia couldn't help but giggle at his outburst. "Well, we have three tries for a reason, I suppose." She threw a ring into the fray of bottles, it bouncing off. And then she tried again... and a third time. "...I see why you got upset."
Skystrike gave her one of his rings as he threw his last one. It landed on a normal bottle, and the stallion gave Skystrike a lollipop as his reward. Wasn't even a good one, just one of those tiny ones you'd get at the doctor's office... And it was banana. Octavia threw the ring the pegasus gave to her, also landing on a white bottle. She got the same lollipop but grape flavored.
She chuckled a bit as she unwrapped it and put hers in her mouth. "Well, we got something out of it. What do you want to do next?"
"Well, we still need to get some more tickets..." Skystrike looked around the room as he thought of what to go for. "...Whack-a-mole?"
"Whack-a-mole? What's that?"
Skystrike lead her over to the machine, putting the play mallet in her hoof. "It's pretty straight forward. Hit the mole guys as soon as they come up. So far the high score is... 270 points. I bet you can beat it."
Octavia looked at the machine as Skystrike inserted a token. The lights flashed to life as a cartoonish mole poked its head out of one of the seven holes. She processed it looking at her, but before she could swing her hoof down, the mole vanished. She didn't let the second escape her though, nailing it right on the head. She celebrated internally with each hit she landed. It was repetitive, but enjoyable. She huffed a bit as the machine dinged, signaling the end of the game. "That was... more tiring than I thought it'd be. I think I did good." She looked at her score, 250 points.
"Hey, you were super close." Skystrike congratulated her as she counted out her tickets. "And looks like you got a good amount of tickets too."
"Heh, yeah... but I wonder how well you could do. I wonder how different this is from cutting down beast for you?" She put the mallet in his hooves. "If I got close, I wonder how high of a score you'll get."
He smiled as he rolled his shoulder. "Well I don't want to toot my own horn, but I take pride in my reaction time." Skystrike put in a coin and held the mallet out in front of him as the machine flashed on once more. As soon as a mole came up, it was smacked back down instantly. Octavia had to admit, it was a bit impressive. And he was keeping up the pace to, not slowing down when even three at a time popped up. Eventually, it came to an end, Skystrike finishing with 740 points. "Hell yeah!"
Octavia clapped her hooves together as his tickets came out, nearly quadrupling her own. Of course, Skystrike gave her all of his tickets again. "Must say, quite impressed. There's quite a few more games I want to try, if you're alright with that?"
Skystrike held his head as he stared at the roulette wheel Octavia just spun, winning the grand prize of 10,000 tickets. "How the fuck???" Octavia was laughing at her win, and his reaction. "It was your first spin!"
"By Celestia, what are the odds!?" She threw her hooves up in the air as the tickets kept pouring out. It took a few minutes, but the machine finished. Octavia wrapped her many layers of tickets around her neck.
"By now we should have enough to get you something great. Pretty sure they have a ticket counter at the gift shop." He pointed a hoof over to the back of the arcade. The two walked over, and indeed, there was a ticket counter. It took nearly 5 minutes to count all of their tickets, but the total came out to 15,732 tickets. "Oh fuck yeah!" Skystrike pumped his hoof. He was about to ask Octavia what she was going to get with the tickets, but caught her eyeing a large purple Ursa Minor plush. "I see you already decided on something."
Octavia blinked, then shook her head. "O-oh, n-no... I wouldn't get something so... childish."
"Octavia, it's your birthday. Nopony is gonna judge you for having that plushie. You're allowed to be a bit childish." He looked at the price of 15 thousand tickets. "And we got you just enough. Get it, make it a present to yourself." Despite what he said, he could tell that Octavia was a bit apprehensive on it still. Skystrike took the tickets from around her neck and waltzed up to the counter, leaning his elbow on it to talk to the clerk. The pony looked up at him as he put down the tickets. "I'd like that large purple Ursa Minor plush."
The mare snickered a bit. "...Oh, you're serious? You don't seem like the type to want that."
"Well, I am. Can I get it?" He pushed the tickets forward. The mare gave him an awkward look as she counted out the tickets, then gave him the plush. Skystrike walked over with the plush in his hooves to give it to Octavia, who gladly took it and hugged it. In comparison, it was the same size as Octavia. Damn ponies and being cute.
Octavia gave Skystrike a surprise hug, getting on her hind legs to wrap her arms around his neck. He returned it as she spoke. "Thank you... for everything today. I wish this didn't have to end..."
"Eh, we have a few more hours if you want. But rather than thinking of a good time ending, think of it as... a chance for even better times to start." Skystrike released her from the hug.
"No- I mean- well yes, but... what I mean is that my train for Canterlot leaves in an hour. I just... don't want to be alone again."
Skystrike walked Octavia and her plush outside of the arcade before sitting her down. "Listen, Octavia. You may not think so, but there are ponies out there who see the value in you. I can completely relate to not wanting to be alone right now." He pulled out a piece of paper and began to write, then folded it up and hoofed it to Octavia. "In here is an address for the orphanage I grew up in. They're nice ponies, and always welcome a friendly face. If you ever feel alone, go to them, and they'll make you feel welcome. And hey! I'll come visit you."
Octavia opened the sheet of paper and read it before putting it away. "...You've done so much for me. I don't know if I can ever repay you."
Skystrike shrugged. "Well, you can repay me." She looked up at him with a confused look as he put a hoof to her chest. "Keep living, find a new meaning in your life. It's what makes us stronger. Play your cello for yourself, rather than the approval of others. If you ever want to send me any letters or anything, I live in Ponyville. I'll reply as soon as I can."
"...You do all of this stuff for a nopony like me... Why?"
Skystrike sighed. "Well, three reasons. I was close to taking that final step a few years ago. I also had a friend who followed through. Sure, I may know nothing about you, but you don't realize the impact you have on ponies until you're gone. Finally, it's our duty to help each other, not only as ponies, but as beings who can empathize with one another."
Octavia held back a few tears as she smiled at him. "I'll never forget what you did for me today... It'll be hard to keep those thoughts out of my mind, but I think you're right... I'll try, Nebula."
And with that, the mare left, carrying her plush across her back. He hoped the best for her, but there was only so much he can do. Her life is in her hands... makes him think about how he should start getting more serious about his. Only got a few good years left. Thoughts for later, he supposed, as he began to unwrap his second to last burger. Opening the lower jaw of his mask to begin taking bites. But out of the corner of his eyes, he saw something odd. Two ponies, one pink and one white were staring at him. They seemed familiar. Upon further inspection, one was a unicorn, and one was an alicorn.
He slowly turned his head to clarify who they were. Sure enough, it was who he thought it was. But then he saw that knowing smile on the pink one's face. He sighed as he greeted them. "Hey Cadence. Hey Shining. Unexpected seeing you here."
Shining Armor waved at him. "Hey, been a while. We could say the same to you-"
He was cut off by Cadence stepping in front of him and nudging Skystrike with her wing. "You got a marefriend~!" She sang.
Skystrike put his burger back in his bag and rolled it up before putting it in his saddlebag. "Cadence, I have more dirt on you."
Her nose scrunched up. "There's no way you have anything worse than the pillow."
"You want to test it?" Skystrike leaned down be be at her eye level.
"...Motherbucker... you know what, I do!"
"When you were 18 and we were at the gala, when you saw Shining armor you hid from him for half the time I was there because 'This dress makes my flank look fat!'" Skystrike did a bad impression of her voice. "And it took me telling you he was an ass man to get you to go see him."
"Holup, huh?" Shining asked before realizing what he said before letting out a hardy laughing.
Cadence was embarrassed. "I'll get you back for this one day..."
"Well, if it helps, honey, one time we made a bet, I forget over what, but he lost and the punishment was to eat 10 pounds of green beans." Shining laughed at the memory. "In under two minutes."
"Two minutes!?" Cadence snapped around to look at Shining, then back to Skystrike. "No way!"
"Jokes on them, I like green beans."
Shining didn't like how Skystrike said that. "Wait... did- did you lose on purpose?"
"Yeah." An awkward silence set in as he said that. "You two cant tell but I'm smiling so wide right now."
"...So Nebula, what brings you to Trottingham?" Cadence asked as Skystrike laughed.
"Ah man. Nothing much, just stopping by on my way to Griffonstone. You two? I assume it's business, given the royal regalia and armor." Skystrike sat down.
"Yeah, you know how it goes... learning to be a ruler and all." She sighed. "But we just got out of a meeting with the mayor, so we're free. What are you up to?"
"About to meet up with the girls. You met them back at the duel where I won that airship. Speaking of, I'm supposed to meet them back where I landed my airship." He put a lot of emphasis on his airship.
"We get it, you beat us." Shining chuckled.
"Yeah, I even put it in that diss track. Anyway, we were going to go to the open air baths. You two in?" Skystrike offered the two to come along.
The couple looked at each other. "Well, I'm for it." Shining said as he rolled his shoulder. "Honestly, I'm still sore from the fight. I hear that it has some magical healing properties or something."
"Yeah, tell me about it." Cadence rolled her neck. "...You know, we always talked about who was the strongest between the three of us when we were kids... I think I can safely say it's you."
Skystrike tilted his head. "Wait, you two were talking about physical strength? I thought we were talking about overall? Like integrity, morality, all that."
"I mean- I assume we were talking about physical. Now that I think on it in hindsight, it makes more sense. I thought you were just being humble." Shining admitted.
Skystrike got up and motioned for the two to walk with him. "Eh, maybe. I knew that in a battle, I could take both of you no problem. And that's not a slight at either of you, nor am I doubting your strength, it's just back then, you two haven't had to go through true hardship."
Shining looked at him. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean that you two haven't had to have to make those difficult decisions that make or break ponies in our line of work."
"...Nebula, I'm confused too." Cadence asked.
"Have you two had to kill a pony? Have you had to kill one knowing it was the wrong decision, knowing it was the best, and only decision you could make?"
"...Jeez dude. No, I haven't, but I still don't get your point." Shining said.
"I'm saying in the hypothetical situation where it was a fight to the death, you two would hesitate to deal the final blow. It's in your nature, you two are some of the kindest ponies I know. That alone is why I'm stronger. And I pray neither of you have to take the life of another." Skystrike explained.
An uncomfortable silence filled the air as they walked. A question was eating away at Cadence's mind, and she decided to ask. "...You say that like you killed somepony back when you were younger... How-"
Shining Armor elbowed Cadence. Skystrike sighed. "It's fine, I don't blame her for asking. I was around eight when I had to take another's life for my own survival. Yes, I have to specify."
"What the buck." The two said in unison.
"I'll tell you two about it more eventually. For now, I just want to take a bath."
Skystrike, after meeting back up with his group, and getting ready for the bath house, was currently in a 1v5. Well, more like a 1v2. He was arguing with Tethys and Cadence. They specifically chose this place in consideration of his and Tethys' size, as well as the privacy they could get, given they were now traveling with royalty. The problem is that the open air bath house that they're at is unisex.
"I just don't get it, man." Skystrike sighed as he held his face in his hooves.
"What is there that you don't get!?" Tethys and Cadence said together before the former explained as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm a lady! I have things I don't want to be seen by you boys!"
"That's right!" Cadence agreed.
"And what I don't get is that for you, Tethys, I've already seen allat, and Shining will get his ass beat if he even tries to look at you like that, if he even gets off to dragons..."
"Was that part really necessary?" Shining asked.
Skystrike continued. "And you, Cadence, like every other god damn pony, walks around naked anyway!"
"It's different when we're wet!" They once again said together.
"And I just don't get how???" Skystrike threw out his hooves. "What, is being wet from hot spring water different than rain water???"
Stardust couldn't help but laugh with Zecora at the spectacle. "Ahaha! You can't make this shit up!"
"Nebula I swear to the dragon lord, there's no way you're this dense!" Tethys sighed and held her horns.
"By Celestia, he's still this dense? I thought he was joking as a colt!" Cadence began laughing.
A switch flipped on in Tethys's head. "You know what, fine, I'm fine with you coming in on two conditions. You and Shining Armor have to wear blindfolds, and you, Cadence, have to tell me everything you know about Nebula as a colt."
"Fine by me." Skystrike motioned to Shining Armor to throw him a towel. The unicorn did so as they both tied a towel around their eyes. Tethys made an effort to pull the knot even tighter. "OW! Tethys, one of these days, we need to talk about how you don't realize your own strength."
"Oh hush you baby." Tethys began to take off her clothes, then stopped half way through. "You boys can't see us, right?"
"No." The two said. As Skystrike stepped toward the swinging doors to the hot spring.
"...Nebula, how do you know where the entrance is if you can't see?" Cadence side eyed him.
"I memorized where it was as soon as I entered the room? Do... do you all not do that? You should always be aware of any entrances and exits."
Stardust took off her armor. "I think you're the only one who does that."
"Maybe... Then I guess it's also weird to recognize beings by the sound of their movement?" They all turned to look at him. Zecora moved her right hoof forward and took a step. "Zecora, please don't do that. Having my eyes blinded is freaking me out."
"Is this for real, or a trick to unfold? Trying to wriggle out of the blindfold?" Zecora asked.
"Real... In hindsight, I should not have agreed to this so quickly..." He grit his teeth. "I need one of you to lead me to the bath. Please don't make any sudden movements."
Stardust was beginning to have second thoughts. "Alright, I guess..." She went to grab his hoof, but as soon as hers touched him, he jumped back. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you... Didn't realize how bad this would mess you up."
"Me neither... just warn me, alright?" He said as he shuddered.
"Alright. I'm going to grab your hoof now...." Stardust slowly went to grab his hoof. Skystrike flinched when they touched, but let his hoof settle into hers. Slowly, she began to pull the pegasus into the open air bath very slowly. Stardust noticed her wings were twitching and his ears were darting around. "Alright, we're about to step into the water now."
Skystrike heard the movement of water as Stardust stepped into it first, then lead him into it. The hot water felt nice, and the rocks felt smooth under his hooves. He calmed down ever so slightly as he sat down. "T-Thanks, Stardust..." He let out a breath he didn't even realize he was holding. Behind him, he heard Zecora enter, then Tethys, then Cadence, then Shining. But he was too focused on the many other sounds around him. The flowing water, the blowing wind, the rustling leaves... there was too much to focus on. His mind was spinning, and he felt ill, but he'd keep on the blindfold. Himself being uncomfortable is worth his friends being comfortable... well, that's what he thought, but he was starting to think otherwise.
'-a... -bula! NEBULA!" Cadence called out to him.
Skystrike flinched again, turning his ears towards her voice. "Yeah?"
"Shining asked if you're enjoying the bath?"
"I haven't been able to focus on it, but it's... warm... What did I miss?"
Cadence blinked. "What did you- we've been in here for like 10 minutes already! We've talked about so much! Is the blindfold messing you up that much?"
Skystrike grit his teeth in an effort to try and not get annoyed. "Yes, Cadence, having on a blindfold does indeed mess me up that much." Skystrike began scratching at his arm with his metal hoof. He tried to control his breathing in an attempt to calm down. "...How much time do we have left here?"
"Almost two hours." Shining answered.
Skystrike inwardly groaned. "Alright, I can do this... it's easy... I've done it before..." He whispered tom himself as he kept scratching.
His friends all awkwardly looked between each other before continuing their conversation. "Anyway, Tethys..." Cadence started. "You're the second dragon I've met, and the only girl. Mind if I ask some questions?"
Tethys leaned back on a rock. "Yes, I am a mammal. Yes, I lay eggs despite that."
Cadence laughed a bit. "What, you get asked that a lot?"
Tethys sighed. "More than you think, and more than I should be. Just wish ponies asked normal questions."
Stardust's ears perked up. "I mean, I always wanted to ask how often you lay eggs... or what you do to them."
"The fuck you think I am, a chicken?" Tethys chuckled. "Basically, we only lay during our cycle. I just freeze mine and shatter them when it happens."
"I was actually going to ask what do you do to get that build? Like damn, I thought I was pretty muscular, but you're just impressive!"
"Oh, well, it's... because I eat meat." Tethys said awkwardly.
Cadence was slightly off put by that. "...You know, I should've thought about that aspect. I remember Shining told me that he sometimes took Spike to the castle to get some fish, right?"
"Yeah." Shining nodded. "Had to keep it a secret from Twilight though. I got worried about the little guy, since he was looking a bit thin... How's he doing?"
Stardust decided to add in. "Oh, the kid's doing good. He's doing a lot now. Nebula was able to convince Twilight to let him go to school... and learn combat from Nebula, and she isn't too fond of it, but it's whatever."
The two looked at Stardust. "Wait, Spike is training? Against Nebula?? Is he ok?"
"Oh yeah, he's fine..." Stardust grew a bit embarrassed. "Kinda pains me to say it, but he's been beating me more often than I'd like to admit."
Zecora nodded with her. "The gap between us and dragons, I had not seen, I assumed strength was for adults, not for kids in between."
Shining nearly stumbled at hearing that. "THAT Spike has been taking on two full grown mares and winning?"
"Nebula you faced, in battles that flow. Are you amazed his prodigy can match the show?"
Shining turned to look at the zebra"...Do you zebras- I'm sorry that sounded wrong. Do all of you rhyme?"
That did not sound better. There was a sudden silence, then Zecora began chuckling, making everyone else follow suit. But now, Zecora had a decision to make, tell him no, not all zebras rhyme... Or lie and it'll be really funny if he ever meets another zebra. "Oh yeah, they all rhyme. It's weird getting used to." Tethys jumped in at the chance. No way was she going to pass this up.
"Huh... neat." Shining stated simply. Then he noticed something somewhat off putting. "Oh, Stardust right? Don't worry about being professional in private. I just want to relax today. We both answer to the same princesses anyway."
"Uh... alright then... It's not just that, I was more thinking on how Nebula got to know so many powerful ponies."
Cadence laughed a bit, thinking back on the memories. "Well, it was... interesting from my perspective. I remember it really well, about three months beforehoof, I remember babysitting Twilight and saying to Celestia I wanted a little sibling. Eventually, we started looking around the Canterlot orphanages and we ended up with him and Blueblood. Apparently he and Auntie already had some history, so that's why he was chosen... though I wonder what that history is..." Cadence laid down in the hot water to get comfortable.
Stardust did the same. "Oh, I can answer that easy. From the story Nebula told, he snuck into Canterlot Castle and helped comfort Princess Celestia when she was mourning Princess Luna!"
Shining's eyes went wide, then narrowed in disbelief. "He snuck into Canterlot Castle? As a colt?? How in Tartarus?? I need to check on that once I get back... I'm getting too off topic. Continue the story, Cadence. I'm kinda interested now."
Cadence nodded. "When he was adopted, being around ten at the time, the first thing Celestia and I noticed is that none of our magic worked on him. We put him in magic elementary, but then Auntie told me he wasn't making friends. Nebula was really closed off, so I said that there was a kid I babysat around his age, and that's how he met Twilight and their group. He opened up a bit, but still visited his family at the Church of the Two Sisters. After about... two years? Yeah, two years, he was still closed off, so I suggested he move to Cloudsdale to be around pegasus. Had to get him tailor made boots so he could walk on clouds. Anyway, two years later he came back, and he actually started applying himself. Don't know what happened in Cloudsdale but he was a different pony. Tested out of all of his classes, skipped freshman and sophomore to start his junior year at fifteen. Would've graduated early if not for his history and politics requirements. It was around then that I became friends with him."
Zecora's ears flicked. "Friends now, weren't you tight before? Or was it something less, what's the score?"
Cadence sighed. "Before, I'd get a few words of conversation, but then I actually got to know about him. When we actually sat down to talked about it, and I admit, it was my fault, he said Celestia and I came off as trying to replace his last one. It was why he was still visiting his orphanage But once that was put behind us, it took a while but he opened up more. Told us his favorite color, his favorite food, pass time, but we mostly saw him at school and a few hours before bed."
"Truly? Time's short, just a dime. A mere moment, hardly enough time."
"Yeah... Auntie was always busy and Skystrike was off doing... whatever, and while I didn't hate Blueblood, he was always unpleasant to be around to say the least. By the time everypony was finished with their stuff, we still made time for dinner, then we'd all go to bed. When he moved back from Cloudsdale, he started going to me and Shiny's school. Eventually, since it was a military school, we had to do group sections, so I invited him to me and Shining's. Sure, that had its own hardships, being the only commoner in classes full of noble children and nearly two years younger. It wasn't until we did the combat training that he got some semblance of respect. And I mean he was destroying ponies! Originally I thought he was just the strategist, but he was an insane vanguard! Most ponies did not know how to handle a pegasus. And then the Gala happened..."
There was a silence at the mention of the Gala. Shining armor's brow furrowed a bit. "...Still hard to believe what he said about Blueblood... I knew he was a brown nose, but... I just can't see him doing something like that... or for no reason."
Cadence winced. "I mean... I can kinda see him doing that. You didn't have to share a castle with him, Shining. He took a lot for granted, thought ponies owed him things, whether it was the hard life he had before the adoption, or because he became royalty. It was a reason why I liked Skystrike more, he's more down to earth... Anyway, Blueblood had a superiority complex. I think he had nothing against me because I'm an alicorn... But Skystrike, he... lets say he got a lot more attention than Blueblood."
Tethys bellowed slightly. "There's no way he did all of that because of jealousy..."
"Eh... I mean there's probably more to it than that. Princess of Love is more of a flattering title. Specifically, I can pick up on latent emotions and thoughts much better than the average pony. I'm still not entirely sure how it works, it's just... something magical... So I can tell that there's definitely more to it than that. My best guess is the constant comparisons he got with Skystrike. He could probably tell you more about it-" Cadence looked to the one being spoken of. When everyone else saw her face of worry, they turned to see Skystrike as well.
He was not doing good... his coat stood on end from the goosebumps he had despite the heat of the bath. His ears flicked back and forth to the varying sounds entering them. Skystrike was still scratching at his arm, the spot turning red and some of his fur falling off. They could hear him sucking air through his teeth as he grew more and more nervous every second. Skystrike himself didn't even realize what his body was doing... his mind was racing at a thousand miles a minute as he focused on trying to regain his composure.
"...Nebula, are you alright?" Cadence asked. She was given no response. Her soaked mane and tail dragged across the wet floor as she approached him. With each step, she saw him flinch. If he wasn't already against a wall, he'd be backing away further with each hoof step that drew closer. Stardust was about to warn Cadence, but she reached out to put a hoof on her shoulder.
As soon as she did, the alicorn was taken off her hooves by Skystrike. His fight response kicked in, pushing the alicorn into the air with his left hoof while tearing off the towel over his eyes with his right. The pegasus' eyes darted around for his presumed attacker. When he saw his friends faces full of worry and shock, as well as Cadence on her back, his actions caught up with him. His breathing wavered as he looked down at his hooves.
"Cadence! Are you alright!?" Shining got up and took off his blindfold to help the alicorn on her hooves.
Cadence rolled her wing. "Yeah... he's done a lot worse." She tried to joke. "But I don't think I'm the one we should be worrying about now..." Skystrike was still looking at his hooves. He began shaking. "Hey, Nebula... it's ok, I'm fine."
"IT'S NOT FINE!" He shouted. Realizing what he did, he groaned. "Didn't mean to yell, I'm sorry... could barely control my own life, and now I can barely control my own body... I don't-... I hurt you all too much already..." Skystrike sighed. "Just... give me a minute." He began to stand up.
Tethys put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. "Dude, hear me out, I don't think you should be alone right now." The others around them gave sounds agreeing with her. "You can open up to us. You know that, right?"
Tethys took off his helmet, getting a better view of his face, which held a look of apathy. His eyes were empty, for lack of a better word. It was as if years of pain and repressed emotions were bought back to the surface and plastered on his features. Skystrike sat back down. "I... don't know if I can... I-... how I reacted wasn't normal. It's like my mind went numb."
Shining Armor sat back down with Cadence. "Skystrike, I think you might have a trigger... Couple guards I work with have something similar."
"Trigger from wha-..." He thought back to the lab he spent time in as a human. "Oh yeah..." Skystrike sat back down. "I guess that... makes sense. Sorry again, Cadence.
"You said 'Oh yeah' like you know what caused it?"
Skystrike winced. "Uh... lets just say it's... lack of control... Didn't realized how much I was blinded back then. Must've locked those memories deep in my mind. Anyway, I'll get out since you know..." He pointed to his eyes as he took his helmet back from Tethys."
Tethys gave a small sigh. "Don't want you to have to go because of us. Same with Shining. Just-... try not to stare?"
Skystrike sat down and tilted his head. "When have I stared?"
"When I was trying out those outfits at Rarity's."
The pegasus raised an eyebrow. "You... wanted my opinion on your outfits, mother fucker."
"What of when we ventured in the Everfree, gathering herbs, just you and me?" Zecora asked.
Skystrike thought back to it. "Oh, right. I was wondering if you zebras have cutie marks like ponies or if it was something like convergent evolution. Having your own flank patterns and all. Anyway, what were we talking about before I zoned out?"
"Oh, Cadence was saying that you knew something about Blueblood and him being compared to you?" Stardust gave an answer.
Skystrike leaned his head back. "Yeah, that guy... Well, I still went to the orphanage I grew up in. He didn't go to his. With that alone, ponies already judged his character, and elevated mine. Add to that that I'm a pegasus in a unicorn centric city, it did not make for a good time for him." He sighed. "Honestly, what I think did it for him was after I came back from Cloudsdale, I got all the attention... Specifically from you, Cadence, and Celestia. Then, even you two started comparing him to me. It got to him... enough where he tried to take me out of the equation... twice... Still don't know how he found out about my identity."
"Wait, me and Auntie? It was our fault?"
"Oh shit, sorry, I didn't mean it like that..." Skystrike tried to think of an equivalent. "It's like... when you're almost done with a project, and a surprise one comes in and you think, "I have plenty of time to finish the first one, I'll focus on this second one for now." Except the projects are sentient and spiteful... I've come to terms with never knowing the reason he hurt us. I just want him to know how monumentally he fucked up."
"I still need to get more information on what all happened, but you were right." Shining cleared his throat. "There were some bits that went unaccounted for during the alleged time in that forest... And the guard report for your orphanage was sketchy. No cause of fire, no body found, and the fire fighters were suspiciously late to respond."
"Oh yeah, I know." Skystrike nodded. Shining and Cadence shot him a confused look. "What? You think I wouldn't try to find out things myself? There's a lot that I can't tell you because if I did, it would make your entire investigation invalid."
"...For a merc, you know the laws really well... Can we at least get a hint?"
Skystrike thought on it for a bit. "Uh... He didn't set the fire himself. He had several ponies who reported to him at the time who were transferred elsewhere after the fact, with their records expunged... Oh yeah, not related, how did the gala go otherwise?"
Cadence shrugged. "Eh, well enough." She nuzzled Shining. "We were able to get a couple of dances in before the night was ruined."
"That's good, my plan worked." Skystrike smiled at them.
"Yeah, it did." The two said at the same time. Then they shared a look of realization as they turned to each other.
"Yeah, you two are dumb as fuck, hahaha! Yeah, I played both sides. You two are cute together."
The couple was stun locked for a few moments. Stardust raised a brow. "Sky, what did you do?"
"Yeesh, what didn't I do? These two were the most socially awkward mother fuckers that I've met! These two sucked at hints." He motioned to them with his hooves. "Do you know how often Cadence asked me stuff like what Shining's favorite food was? Or Shining asking if Cadence liked jewelry. Like damn, one time I basically set up a whole date for these two."
Zecora chuckled. "Were you often the third in the mix? Feeling like a spare part, an awkward fix?"
"Oh yeah, it was awkward as fuck. Especially how they both were trying to be subtle on asking me questions about the other." Skystrike cleared his throat and mimicked Cadence's voice. "'Oh, Skystrike, unrelated but do you know where Shining likes to hang out alone? Not for what you think, though!' And both of you admitted to me that you liked one another. Like come the fuck on. In fact, Cadence?"
"Y-yes?"
"Say a pick up line that Shining used on you from back then." Skystrike crossed his arms with a grin.
The princess thought back to her youth. "Uh... right before the gala, he said 'Can you hold something for me?' And I asked what, and he said 'My hoof?' And that was the best thing I heard."
"Hey Shining, where'd you get that from?" Skystrike's grin grew wider.
"...You..." He admitted, slightly embarrased.
Skystrike, Stardust, Zecora, and Tethys all began laughing at their expense. Cadence processed what that implied. "...Sweet Celestia! You mother bucker!" Cadence's embarrassment grew. "I used your lines on him! He used yours on me! You knew everything??" Skystrike couldn't help but laugh harder. "This isn't fair! I'm supposed to be the Princess of Love! I'm supposed to have dirt on you!"
"Pffffft! I don't know why you two are complaining. All I did was hold open the door. You two kept down the path. You two are just predictable."
Cadence looked to the other girls. "Tethys, Zecora, Stardust, I am begging you, I need something on him now!"
Tethys winced and put her claws up in defense of her pleading eyes. "I don't know what to tell you. Sure, I got stuff on him, but he has stuff on me, and the rest of us. You all have to deal with this for like the next couple decades. That's a lot for you but nothing for me. I'm just gonna wait it out."
"Well that's kinda bucked up." Zecora laughed, enjoying herself too much to not bother rhyming.
"A while ago, our seamstress friend made him a dress because the whole group thought he was gay." Stardust blurted out.
Tethys snorted. "Wait are you serious?"
Shining looked confused, but held his tongue. Cadence did not. "Wait, he's not gay?"
"You've gotta be kidding me." Skystrike sighed, though couldn't help but laugh a bit at the absurdity of the situation.
"FINALLY!!!" Cadence threw her hooves up into the air in celebration. "Something!"
"Yeah, honestly, I kinda thought so too." Shining Armor chuckled. "You never really showed any interest in mares... And you did a lot of things mares normally do."
"You know, I heard the same argument before, but I still don't get it." Skystrike admitted. "But enlighten me."
Shining armor reached into his mind. "Uh... well the clothes are part of it. Normally ponies don't wear them outside of social events unless they're trying to show off their clothes or themselves. And you wore clothes all the time, yet turned down a lot of mares. Aren't many other ways for the mind to wander."
Skystrike blinked. "Wait, I was getting hit on? I thought they were just being nice."
"Oh you're dense too!" Cadence leaned her head on a hoof. Then she looked at the strained look of Tethys and Zecora. "OhhohOH! This is amazing!" She clapped her hooves together. "You have to tell me all about it next we meet!"
"...I feel like I'm missing something here..." Skystrike narrowed.
"Skystrike, there's no way you're this dumb. You're the smartest guy I know!" Shining held his forehead.
"Ay, holup! I never said I was good with social queues! I will shamelessly admit I am lacking in that department!" Skystrike defended himself.
"You helped me get the mare of my dreams! You know how mares work! And you're saying you didn't notice any advances?"
"Advances!?" Skystrike said in disbelief.
Stardust's nose scrunched up. "Didn't you land four mare at the same time a couple months ago?"
"HE WHAT!?" Cadence shouted, then covered her mouth as the birds flew off of the surrounding trees.
"Jesus!" Skystrike's ears were ringing. "And yes, I did. Don't know how I managed it though."
Shining coughed. "I mean... I'm kinda confused how you managed to last long enough to deal with four." Cadence looked at him. "Oh come on, 'Princess of Love', you can't tell me you didn't think of that either!"
Skystrike cringed as he put up a hoof. "I'd prefer not to talk about my sex life unless it's with someone I'm fuckin."
"...Someone..." Cadence said aloud. Her eyes went as wide as dinner plates. "No bucking way."
"I knew you had it in you bro!" Shining put out a hoof, which the pegasus hoof bumped. "Oh, and I always wanted to ask you Skystrike, How did you hide your identity for almost a decade?"
"Oh, it was surprisingly easy." Skystrike shrugged. "All I have to do is wear a helmet and nopony suspects a thing. Kinda makes sense given that many ponies in Canterlot have a white coat. Also, nearly tripling in size probably takes eyes away from you."
Stardust was confused. "Wait, how big was he before he left?"
"About Zecora's size. He was sixteen, right?" Shining answered for Skystrike to nod. "Now he's like... the size of Luna."
"Jeez man, what did you eat?"
"...Food?" Skystrike shrugged again. "Metabolism's a bitch. I needed to eat like, half my body weight to gain muscle."
"...You know the chefs would've made you anything you wanted, right?" Cadence blinked. "At least you have the good version of it. It's like I can feel myself gaining weight when I eat outside my normal." Skystrike opened his mouth while putting up his hoof, then closed it and put his hoof down. "What was that?"
"I... wanted to say something, but there's no way for me to say it without being mean, so I will stay silent."
Cadence gave a comforting smile. "Skystrike, you're my brother. I won't take it personally."
Skystrike hesitated to say it still while Nightmare Moon screamed in his mind. "NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!"
But it would be reeeeeally funny. "Well... I was gonna say you say 'eat outside your normal' like you're on a diet."
Stardust held her hoof over her mouth as she tried not to laugh. Zecora face hoofed while Tethys couldnt help but grin. Meanwhile, Cadence sat there with the thousand yard stare. Shining armor sighed. "Everypo- sorry, Everybody, let's... give these two some space."
As if they knew what to do, all save for Cadence moved to the opposite end of the bath. Skystrike grew slightly confused before Cadence quickly dashed over to him and shot a jab at his face forcing him to duck under it. Cadence tried to slam her hooves down on him, causing him to jump to the side. "Hey, I thought we were here to relax!?"
"Shut up, asshole! I am on a diet!" Cadence's calculated swings quickly turned to frenzied flailing.
"You gave me an invitation to say it! You said you weren't going to take it personally!" Skystrike kept dodging.
"I lied! Get over here, you stupid horse!"
The onlookers watched the show as their play fight got to be more playful than an actual fight. Skystrike began doing cartwheels and flips to dodge her swings. Zecora chuckled. "Did this occur often, a common theme? Or an anomaly, just like a dream?"
Shining sighed. "Yeah, these two got into it a lot... over much lesser things too." Skystrike began break dancing to dodge her magic missiles. "...That's impressive as Tartarus to do in water. Anyway, this same thing happened because one time Skystrike made plans with me before Cadence could... Damn, I was dense too. It's heart warming to see things sort of go back to how it was."
"How long are they gonna do this for?" Tethys wrapped her tail around her upper body.
"Eh... looks like it's ending soon. This part always cracked me up..." Shining chuckled. The group waited with interest to see how this would end.
While Cadence was catching her breath. Skystrike quickly hit a pose, flexing his muscles as he puffed his chest out. Then he got on top of her and locked his forehooves around her waist, leaning back into a suplex. Cadence's hooves flailed as she screamed at being lifted up into the air. "YAAAAAAAAAA-" Before landing on he back and laughing.
"Ok, you were right, that was pretty good." Stardust laughed.
Skystrike helped Cadence on to her hooves as the two huffed. Cadence looked at him for a long moment before pulling him into a hug. "I missed you. It's good to have you back."
Skystrike returned the hug. "Same to you."
Two days passed since the groups stop in Trottingham. Their flight to Griffonstone was rather uneventful, save for a few fun stories they shared and games they played. Skystrike stayed human through the flight, though despite that, nothing eventful really happened. He could've sworn that Elytra grew an inch or sotaller, but it was probably just a trick of the eye. As of current, Elytra, Zecora, and Tethys were all standing at the opposite end of the deck.
Elytra scratched at the floor board. "Uh Skystrike, you've been out here for hours. What's up? You havent said anything."
"Oh nothing. Just... you know, feeling the wind on my skin." Skystrike stretched a bit, twisting his waist and rolling his shoulders.
"Skystrike, give us the actual reason." Tethys sighed. "We had all the time to do this in Ponyville, yet it's unprompted here of all times and places."
He tapped his foot and sighed, scratching the back of his head. "...At the rate things are going, I won't be able to walk out in the open as a human. Celestia still thinks I'm some type of mole, my mere existence being a threat. Add to that that I have a gut feeling about... quite a few things. I thought about telling Twilight before we left but... she'd more than likely tell Celestia. I also thought about... that invasion that Chrysalis is thinking up. If that happens, and I have to fight her and the rest of the changelings... there would be no good way that plays out. In both of those scenarios, I won't be able to be here anymore, alive or not. I'm thinking of ways to make sure you're all okay if that happens."
They all winced as his story finished. Tethys walked up next to him and stared at the horizon. Elytra and Zecora did the same as the dragoness spoke. "Skystrike, you made a promise to not leave us again. I get your worry-"
Elytra spoke up. "Tethys, we know you're trying to help, but you don't know how deep the rabbit hole goes." She sighed. "Chrysalis still blames Skystrike for their mom's death. She gave Skystrike the chance to rejoin the hive if he lead the march on Canterlot. He denied her, and threatened to kill her if she tried it... I don't doubt that she would reveal his identity out of spite."
Skystrike nodded. "And if that happens, all of you are guilty by association. I know you three would help me out if I became a fugitive, but I'm not letting you put yourselves in any more danger."
"But... you already told Princess Luna, right? Maybe it'd turn out fine if you work with her?"
"That would be the best case scenario. But remember, I faked my death for eight years. I wouldn't be surprised if Celestia thought I killed 'Skystrike' and took his place. After all, I do know how to transform."
Zecora had her own question. "Do you reckon she distrusts you so deep, that her suspicions, she just can't keep?"
"To be honest, I'm surprised she didn't try to kill me when we met in the abandoned castle." Skystrike gave a small chuckle. "She even got Casta to start designing a machine to neutralize me. The only reason I can think of where she hasn't come after me was because human me knows pony me. Makes me feel manipulative, but she cant come after me directly without ruining our relationship that we just got back."
"What of the changelings? Are you quite sure, that this impending attack is what they'll endure?"
Elytra could give her input on that. "When he was banished, it... was a moment of weakness for Chrysalis. It had a huge amount of side effects. Skystrike let any changeling who needed it take love... probably why this problem he was having wasn't necessarily a problem until he left the hive. I say that because with the loss of leadership that was Khrusalis, and the emergency source of love that was Skystrike, the hive quickly declined... There was a famine happening when I was banished, and is most likely still going on... We're a predatory species, parasitic even. Ponies are the quickest and most effective source of emotions that we feed on. They'll only last so much longer before the hive is effectively forced to invade."
"So... it's an inevitability." Skystrike stated as he sighed. "So far, I have three options..." He began counting on his fingers. "One, I ignore it, and risk the loss of this country, and the suffering of ponies with the reward of my own safety. Two, I tell Celestia of my identity, and the coming invasion at the risk of her retaliation, which is very likely. Three, I wait until it happens, and I confront Chrysalis and the rest of the hive at the risk of my identity coming out from her... The safest option would be to just tell Celestia."
Elytra huffed. "You already said that she barely trusts anything you say."
"I meant safest for everyone else."
Tethys frowned. "You're doing it again. Putting everyone else before you. You deserve to be happy."
"Maybe so, but not at the harm of others." Skystrike clenched his fist. "That was the whole reason I left the hive willingly... fat load of shit that did in hindsight. But even if there is a chance that you all will come out unharmed, I'll take it."
"...Hypothetically, If Celestia does find out, and doesn't confront you, what will you do?" Elytra asked.
"I would stick around until the end of my lifetime."
"And if she does confront you?"
"Then I'll fight her. She wouldn't let me be free, and I will not be contained again. Once she's in a state where she can't follow me, I would isolate myself as to not put anyone else in danger-
Zecora got angry as he continued to speak. Angry enough where she didn't even bother to rhyme. "What the buck is wrong with you!? You would abandon us again!? After all the time we spent together!? Do we mean nothing to you!?"
His eyes flickered. He took in a few deep breaths before answering. "It's because you all mean everything to me that I would do it. You don't realize how much I've thought about this. The Elements of Harmony would be called to stop me. It'd hurt me even more if they didn't even believe that I'm Skystrike. Luna would be forced to choose between me and her country. You all would either have to watch me suffer, or fight those you grew close to... I don't want that for any of you." Skystrike sighed. "The road that I've taken doesn't lead to any happy endings. I just have to chose the least worst one."
"You know we can take care of ourselves, right?" Tethys shook his shoulder. "You don't have to keep sacrificing yourself and your happiness for us. No matter what you do, we'll stand by you until the end."
Zecora and Elytra both looked up at him and put a hoof on each of his legs. "Thank you, girls. I don't know how, but I'll make it up to you all." Skystrike smiled at them. "I'll figure out something. For now, we're almost to Griffonstone."
The four friends looked back towards the horizon to see the griffon capital, sitting atop one of the peaks of the Hyperborean Mountains. He could see several dozen griffons flying around the peak. The city structures seemed to be built on a petrified tree, nearly as large peak of the mountain itself. Among the highest branches sat a tall castle carved out of the tree itself. Though he couldn't make out what it was made of, the entrance to both the city and the castle were marked with a red material. Getting closer, he noticed how... run down the place was.
The wooden houses and thatch roofs were either rotting, missing parts, or both. A few of the houses fell off their perches, while others slumped into the ground below. Getting even closer, it looked as if the place was abandoned. Doors had no hinges, their walkways were cracked and crumbling. He would believe that Griffonstone was a ghost town if Skystrike currently wasn't getting stares as a few griffons passed. Some of them were even armed... worrying. "Zecora, Elytra, Tethys, get your armor on. I'm about to park the ship and put it on lockdown."
They all nodded before walking inside, Skystrike following after them. In the bridge, he grabbed the levers and began to slow the ship down, just outside what he would assume to be the city limits. He then went to put on his armor before locking every room and hallway before meeting the girls on the deck of the ship. The winds in the sky were strong, but not strong enough to move the ship any meaningful distance.
Tethys looked over the city. "Yeesh, it's been a while since I've been here... Couple decades I think? I was in my hundreds, but I did not think it would be in this state of decay... I get why Alder didn't say anything about his home."
Elytra sheathed her Rapier. "You've been here before?"
Tethys nodded and played with the tip of her tail between her fingers. "Yeah, though it was long before any of you were born. This place used to be beautiful... from afar I mean. I never dared to step claw inside. The houses used to be made of stone, painted all pretty too. Every griffon wore some gold on them. Tartarus, they used to be as greedy as us dragons... now... It's like they lost all of their pride." Then she turned to Skystrike. "You think Alder will even be here?"
"I hope so. If not, we ask around and see if any of these griffons do." Skystrike clenched his fist of his metal arm, the joints creaking against each other. "If their greed is anything to go by, then that means money talk. You all ready?"
Zecora winced. "Descending from up high, a puzzling plight. Without wings, it seems, a daunting flight."
"Well, I planned on carrying you. I may not have wings, but I can still fly."
Zecora full on cringed. "This may seem to be a lesser plight, but I am... afraid of heights." It makes sense. She never truly got over that fall.
Skystrike kneeled down to be as close to her eye level as he could be. "It's not lesser. I get it. Don't worry, I'll take care to not go too fast, and to try and calm you down. It'll be over before you know it. Skystrike put out a hand.
Zecora put up a hoof and hesitated, but trusted him enough to take it. Skystrike picker her up, holding up her rear with his right arm just below his stomach, and his left arm around her back. A flustered Zecora wrapped her forehooves around his neck. "Tethys, Elytra, go ahead down. We'll be a minute."
The two gave a knowing smirk before climbing on and jumping off the railing of the ship. Skystrike took a step onto the railing before feeling Zecora tighten her grip. "It'll be fine. Just close your eyes." Skystrike created two balls of fire under each of his feet. It took him a while to learn the trick, but it was easy once he got it down. Increasing the output of the fire and controlling the direction of release below him, a small enough upward force was generated to slow their descent.
Zecora's eyes were closed tight. "...Are we moving?"
"Yeah, got about a minute before we reach the ground. Are you doing ok?"
He could feel the zebra nod. "I'm hanging in there, you're steady and true, Let's pick up the pace, I don't wish to be in the sky longer than I have to."
Skystrike slowly increased the speed of his descent. "I didn't think it was this bad. Sorry, I should've thought of that before asking you to come on this trip."
Zecora shook her head. "I do not mind it..., your company's a pleasure.... Flying together, a memory to treasure..."
Skystrike noticed that it was taking longer to for her rhymes, and she was beginning to shake slightly. In an attempt to calm her down, Skystrike began to stroke her back. Thankfully, it worked. Though she was still nervous, the shaking stopped. "Well, I enjoy the time I spend with you too." Maybe it'd help if he took her mind off the falling. "Oh, I never asked, what jacket did you get?"
"Oh, I... got a bomber jacket, olive green in hue. Stylish and cool, quite the debut." She answered. "With Tethys and Elytra by my side, choosing attire was a fashionable ride."
"Oh cool. I'll have to see you rock it sometime." Skystrike said as he landed on the ground with a thump before expelling his magic. "You can open your eyes. We've landed."
Zecora thanked him with a nod before jumping out of his arms. Tethys gave a knowing smirk before looking to Skystrike. "So, what's the plan, Skystrike?"
He looked around at the very few griffons looking at them. He walked up to one. The griffon had black feathers with grey fur and darker grey talons. She raised an eyebrow as Skystrike approached her, then grew uneasy seeing the armaments he and his companions had on. "I don't know anything, you got the wrong girl."
Skystrike chuckled and reached into his pocket to pull out a handful of bits. "Not in trouble. In fact, I need information. There's a griffon I'm acquainted with. He has silver feathers, orange fur, and white talons. Has a black feather crown, his wings go from silver to black, and the tip of his tail does the same. Rather tall for a griffon, since the bird part of him is a secretary bird. Should be in his mid 50s. Does that ring any bells?"
The griffon looked at the bag of bits. "I might... but with the armor you got on and the ship you came in on, you can do better than that."
Skystrike narrowed his eyes. "This is to make sure that you actually do know something, and I'm not wasting my money. You have to have some pride left as a griffon, so lets make a deal." He reached back into his pocket to bring out double of the bits he once held. "All of this for the guarantee of some useful info. If it's a simple pointer, you get the original amount offered."
The griffoness thought on it for a bit before taking the bags in a talon. "...Some griffon of that description comes by every once in a while. Has some family in the house a few blocks down. If you're lucky, he may be there. It's the one house that isn't completely run down."
"Thanks." Skystrike motioned for the group to follow. "You heard the lady. May just end up being a waiting game." Skystrike waited for each of them to be within whispering distance. "And stay on your guard, I expected it but we're being watched."
The four of them walked down the cracked streets. Trying to ignore eye contact with the passerby, they saw the house that griffon spoke of in the distance. It was still run down, but like she said, not completely. The walled were made of stone, though cracked, and the roof didn't have any holes in it. What made it stand out was the metal door with a sliding door to see who was on the other side of the door. Skystrike knocked on it. The latch slid open and a pair of eagle eyes looked at him. Skystrike crouched down a bit to see the watcher at eye level. "...The fuck are you supposed to be, some... tall, flat faced ape?"
If only the beings of this world knew how racist that sounded. "Well, lets just say I'm not from these parts... I'm here looking for a griffon. I heard from a little birdie that this is where I can find him."
"That depends on who's askin', and who's yer lookin' for."
"A couple old friends, looking for a griffon in his mid fifties called Alder-" Skystrike didn't even get to finish his sentence before the latch slammed shut at the mention of the griffons name. Skystrike made a face, turned to his friends who were also making the same face as him, then knocked on the door again.
"Piss off! There's no griffon here by that name!"
"Oh, somehow I doubt that..." Skystrike sighed. "From the sounds of it, doesn't sound like you're one for conversation. So, I'll give you a simple ultimatum. Give us info on Alder, or I come in there and find it myself." He threatened.
"Good luck with that, asshole! This is two feet of solid steel!"
Skystrike motioned for his friends to stand back. They did so as he made a blade come out of his metal arm on top of his wrist. He made it vibrate at an astounding speed before pulling back and making three slashes in a triangle pattern across the entire door. The fragments of it fell inward to reveal a gobsmacked griffon. Before he could call for help, Skystrike jumped on the griffon, pinning him to the ground on his belly and closing the beak with his hand. He flailed under his weight for a bit before a sword dug into the ground next to him. "Don't. Move." The griffon listened. "Scratch into the floor with a talon how many of you there are. Elytra, Zecora, sweep the floor, don't split up. Tethys, make sure no one follows us in."
They all went to do as told, the mares going into the dark corridors while Tethys puffed up her chest before breathing out chilling water onto the floor, it freezing on contact. Soon enough, the entire doorframe was blocked with a thick wall of ice. Then, on Skystrike's demand, she froze the griffon to the floor, allowing Skystrike to step off of him. Zecora and Elytra came back. "The floor's empty. There's nothing here."
Skystrike shook his head. "They wouldn't have a door like that to act as a deterrent, nor a watcher if that was the case. Any rugs, bookcases, wall mounted torches, anything that would seem suspicious?"
Zecora nodded. "Amidst the room, a few rugs lie. But most are worn, torn, their days gone by."
"Same with the bookshelves. And the torches don't have any wicks left." Stardust added.
Skystrike hit a thinking pose. "...Zecora, you said most. What about the design of the rugs?"
"Among the fancy, one stands apart, yet its simplicity holds a special heart."
"Why are we talking about rugs?" Tethys crossed her arms and folded in her wings to not hit anything.
"There's more than likely a secret entrance, and from how most of these griffons don't really wear their wealth, I would assume crime rates would be a bit high. Sure, they may be prideful, but greed can be stronger. If there was anything here worth taking, it'd be something like a rug. My guess is that the secret entrance is under the one least likely to be stolen." Skystrike looked at the griffon frozen to the floor, who decided to not write anything. "We don't know how many griffons we may be dealing with, but despite that, we're not killing anyone today... Elytra, anything else that stood out?"
She shook her head. "No... well... the room where that normal looking rug is does have a stronger smell. A lot of mixed emotions... greed, pride, happiness..."
Tethys sniffed the air. "It also smells a bit like meat... They just came back from a hunt."
"Sounds like our place then." Skystrike rolled his shoulder. Zecora lead them all to the room with a plain orange rug, full of dirt and torn here and there. He huffed as he pulled the rug back, and sure enough, there was a large trap door. "Lets wait for a bit. Hug the wall behind the trap door. Elytra, hang out on the ceiling in the blind spot of the door."
They all did so before Tethys asked. "Why aren't we just going in?"
Elytra answered in Skystrike's place. "They're more than likely on shifts. No griffon is coming in since they just had a hunt and more than likely from the greed and pride and happiness, having a party. Eventually, one is going to have to come to switch out. There is also, more than likely some code if you want to enter the trap door, and not one to exit... It's what I was taught in the guard, and these griffons are organized."
And so, they waited. The silence was deafening, but none of them could guarantee that the door was soundproof. Given that it was wooden, more than likely not. Luckily, they didn't make much sound as they came in. It took about twenty minutes, but a brown griffon opened the door. "Apollo! Time to switch out! I saved you a cut of loin like you wanted!"
Skystrike pointed at the griffon, giving the signal to Elytra to pounce. She did so, landing on the griffon's head, causing them to face plant. While staggered, the changeling charged her magic and used a tranquilizing spell, knocking the griffon out easily. Skystrike got off the wall and began dragging the brown griffon away from the trap door and against the wall. "I see you never lost your edge."
"Thanks... I've been practicing..." She whispered back. "Honestly, I was worried I was starting to lose my edge... Been a while since we did a mission."
Skystrike motioned for Tethys to freeze the griffon. She did so before they all followed the ladder further down. They heard music getting louder, and the smell of roasted meat filled the air. It makes sense, since depending on the bird half, griffons are either omnivorous or carnivorous. They made sure to watch their steps as they followed the well lit torches on the carved stone walls, Skystrike leading the pack, stopping at each corner to make sure no griffon was coming. He thanked his luck that they were celebrating, else they would be breathing down his neck.
He put out a hand to stop his friends before a large opening. There were between two and three dozen griffons sat around six boars over a large fire pit in the center. Sure enough, it was a feast. Skystrike looked at the griffons filling their guts with pork and ale, seeing if he could fine who he was looking for. His eyes fell upon the one he was looking for. It's been almost three years now, but he looks about the same. Same silver feathers, same orange fur, but both were a bit more dull. He was giving a hardy laugh to his assumed subordinates around him. He seemed happy, to say the least.
Tethys leaned around to see Alder. "So... we can't exactly just go in and say hello, can we?"
"I mean... I can't... you guys probably could." Skystrike chuckled. Then he hummed as he got an idea. "Elytra, can you teleport to the ship and bring back what's left of the Ophiotaurus? Should be the tail left." Elytra nodded before teleporting away. After two minutes, she came back with a loud thump. "Thanks, now... this may seem crazy but-"
Elytra sighed. "You're gonna walk in there and say 'I come bearing gifts' or something."
Skystrike lifted up the roast by the metal pikes still in it. "You know me well." He said as he turned around. Stepping into the light, he felt dozens of eyes snap onto him as their voices fell silent. There was an awkward pause before Skystrike said. "I come bearing gifts! Ever had Ophiotaurus!?"
The griffons looked at him. "Who the fuck is that?" One asked. "What the fuck is that?" Another asked. "...It does smell kinda good... Wait, how in Tartarus did it get in!?" And with that last question, the few that could began to reach for their weapons. Muskets, crossbows, and various blades clattered as they worked their ways into their aggressors claws.
"HOLD!" Alder put up a silver talon, making all the griffons under him stop in place, their weapons still trained on him. The lanky griffon took slow steps towards the human before taking out a cigar and lighting it. The middle aged griffon took in a puff of smoke before blowing it out and meeting Skystrike's purple eyes with his sky blue. "You seem like a reasonable fella... put down that meat over the fire. Boys, some space, please." Alder lead him to the fire pit, and motioned for Skystrike to put the roast over it.
"Boss! You can't be serious!?" A griffon still has his musket trained on the human.
"Stork, he snuck in and got past two of our guys, if he wanted any of us dead, he would've done so by now." Alder let out another puff of smoke. "Though I am a bit curious... how'd you get in here?"
"Well your first guy wouldn't let me in, so I cut down the door. Then I waited for the second guy to come check on the first, and snuck in." Skystrike pulled over a chair to sit down in, as well as one for Alder.
Alder didn't sit down quite yet. "...Two of my boys just let you walk in?"
"Oh, no, had to handle them." Skystrike said. Alder put up a talon. "Oh, don't worry, they aren't dead. Didn't want to get on your bad side, considering I came here looking for you."
Alder put his talon down and sat. "And tell me, what do you want with me? Some other rival of ours tell you to come for us? Can't think of many enemies we have..."
"Oh, well, just to see you. Some old friends wanted to meet you, me included." Skystrike pointed to the hallway he came from. All the griffons turned to look into the darkness. "...Oh, right. Sorry, we didn't really have a plan. Yo! You girls can come out now!"
Elytra came out first, then Zecora, then Tethys. A few of the griffons turned their weapons on them before Alder gave his order. "Drop your weapons now!" He put out his cigar before putting it out by cutting off there fire with a talon. His stern face softened a bit at the familiar faces. "Go back to the celebration... We've got a couple new guests joining us!"
Though hesitantly, the griffons did as told putting down their weapons and picking back up their food and drinks. Elytra tried to hide her astonishment. "How did that work?"
"Elytra! Tethys! Zecora! What a sight for sore eyes!" Alder gave a hardy laugh. "Didn't think I'd be able to see you all again before I kicked the bucket!" He was almost a head over Zecora as he shook her hoof, then going to Elytra and Tethys to do the same. They exchanged their own personal greetings before Alder chuckled. "Damn... it's only been three years huh?"
Elytra nodded. "Time hasn't been half bad on you, Alder. Wasn't expecting all of this."
"And I wasn't expecting the three of you to be able to get here to Griffonstone. Much less with your... weird friend." Alder turned to the human. "Sorry, kid, I never asked your name."
"Skystrike."
Alder blinked. "Huh... had a pony friend with the same name."
"Yeah, that's me. Hi, Alder." Skystrike snorted.
Alder stared at him in disbelief before Skystrike showed his helmet to sell the change in appearance, as well as showing his swords. "No way... that colt was you!? How!?"
"It's a long story." Skystrike sighed.
Alder hummed. "Well... can you prove you're him?"
"Uh...." Skystrike thought. "You were the seventh to join, and we met in Canterlot because you were bored and wanted to find a way to make bits for your griffons here... You also tried to give me "advice" on how to "get girls" because I was lonely. You also said you had a neice that came to Equestria before, so you had a general idea of how the country worked. You, me, and Jeshan bonded the most out of the whole group before Skybeak joined because we're guys."
Alder smiled at the memory as he poured himself and the rest of his guests some drinks. "Heh, yeah, we got into so much shit back then... Jeshan and I were the oldest, but we still threw down like you and Skybeak. Haha! Remember when we all tried to out drink Tethys?" He looked back at the dragoness who pulled up some seats for the rest of them. "One of the best nights of my life, but I regretted it like hell in the morning."
Tethys chuckled as she turned the chair around to rest her arms on the back of it. "Still don't know why you thought you could win."
Alder chuckled some more as they bumped their tankards together in cheers. "So... been three years. You're 25 now, right? Don't blame ya for how you left, figured you were going through a lot back then."
Skystrike nodded. "Yeah... still going through a lot now, but better at communication. Figured I'd come check up on you after these years in person, and say sorry." He sighed. "I thought I was doing the best by each of you, only to realize later that my actions hurt you all the most."
Alder put a talon on Skystrike's shoulder. "Kid, you don't gotta apologize for that. I get it, really." Skystrike raised an eyebrow at that. "Bein' honest, the reason I even joined you was because I've been trying to make money for the family."
Elytra looked up from her drink. "...You know, you never did talk about your family."
He sighed. "Well... not too much to talk about anymore. Had a brother who passed about a year back... All that's left is my sister in law and niece. My niece came back from Equestria just before her fathers passing, but... she apparently didn't have a good time before she came. Falling out with a friend or something. Anyway I promised my younger brother Talos that I'd take care of her."
Zecora tried to comfort him a bit. "I'm sorry, my griffon friend, that your brother met his untimely end. From your mourning, it seems you were close. A bond so deep, like a crimson rose."
"Yeah... Was a little shit at times, but I loved him to death. But let's not hang on a tough subject." Alder took another sip of his ale. "I'm interested in what this Ophio-what's it tastes like." Skystrike switched his tankard to his left hand. Alder was a bit confused at first before a blade launched out of the wrist of his metal arm. Skystrike cut off a slice and put it on a plate for Alder. "By the roost! That's cool as hell! When did you get that!?"
Skystrike chuckled. "Had it the whole time. Just never really wanted attention on it."
Alder cut a piece with his silver talons and stuck it into his mouth. His eyes lit up at the flavor as he pogged. "Oh this is great! It's so tender! The fat just melts in my mouth! And it's seasoned so well!"
"Heh, nice to know you enjoy it. We already stored food for ourselves, so you can share that with the rest of your guys here. Think of it as an apology for the door, and those two guys."
Alder looked at him. "Shit, almost forgot. HEY!" He shouted to his griffons. "STONE! SLATE! CHECK ON THOSE TWO WHO LET THESE FOUR IN! MAY BE FRIENDS, BUT THOSE TWO WERE SLOPPY!" Alder scarfed down the meat. "How did you guys get in anyway? I'd imagine it's hard, sneaking in with all that armor you got on."
Elytra took a gulp of her ale. "Oh, Skystrike cut down the door, then we waited for a griffon to come in to check on the first griffon."
Tethys nodded. "Honestly, was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Probably because we caught you during a celebration."
Alder blinked. "...How the hell did you cut down a solid steel door!? That costed me like, two thousand bits!"
Skystrike sighed. "Yeah, thought about that when I realized you were the leader here. I thought you got kidnapped or something, since they hesitated at the mention of your name. I got the stuff to fix it on my ship, so you don't have to pay. As for your 'hidden' base, I'd recommend having the same rug quality in each room. It was literally the first thing I thought of. Also, the metal door on a normal house makes the place stand out."
"Thanks... I've been working on that- hold on, 'my ship'? You came here by sea?"
Skystrike smiled. "Well, yes, but technically, no. I flew over the sea."
"...You have a mother fucking airship!?" His beak opened wide. "How!?"
Tethys smirked. "He tricked the princesses of Equestria to buy him one if he won against the captain of their guard and the princess of love."
Alder looked at them before busting out into laughter, some of the griffons around him stopping their conversations to look at him. "AHAHAHA! Knew you were a smart kid but damn! Never expected you to play the princesses!" He laughed a bit more before he gave a happy sigh. "Damn... how'd you even get close enough to them for that to happen? Don't really know how royals work there, but the ones here wouldn't let you even see them."
"Oh, well, I made my name as a solo after we split up." Skystrike began to explain as he took a sip of his ale. "I was known for being fast, reliable, and not cutting corners. Plus, I had my ways of making sure I left a good impression... Apparently, my name went around enough, that Celestia came to me personally for a quest. I met the Captain and the third princess when I got my reward."
Tethys nodded. "I met him during that mission. We were after the same targets, some dragons that had to be put down. It's been about... eight months I think? Time always loses me with how long I've been alive."
Zecora finished her drink. "Seven months, a journey profound. Glad to have shared this time, I've found. Skystrike's tale holds secrets untold, adopted by the princess, a story to unfold."
"Huh... ok then. That's... not as surprising as I thought it'd be." Alder said before side eyeing the roast. "Skystrike, can you...?" Skystrike chuckled before cutting off another, larger, slice. "Thanks... you know, if you're still single, my niece is on the market."
Skystrike's eyes went wide as he choked on his drink while the girls were laughing. It burned his throat, but he forced himself to swallow the harsh liquid. "God! That's one of the first things you ask me?"
"Oh, you'd like her... probably... Honestly, Gilda just needs a good influence." Skystrike winced a bit at the mention of that name. "Oh, you know her? Well, not you you, more like pony you."
"We have... a history..." Skystrike sighed. "Didn't end on the best of terms... Came to Ponyville, started off ok, but then she just started to be an a-... a jerk to my friends. Made one of them cry so I may have punched her in the face... hard enough for her to slide back a few feet."
Tethys, Zecora, and Alder all went "Oh." Before Tethys asked the important question. "Wait... which one did she make cry?"
"Fluttershy."
Tethys put up her hands. "Sorry, Alder, she deserved it. Fluttershy is the sweetest soul."
Skystrike shook his head. "Knowing what I know now, I regret it... She just wanted to spend time with her best friend, and kept getting interrupted. Of course she'd be mad. Add to that that she probably wasn't over her dad's death. Doesn't justify her actions but... I can understand why she acted the way she did."
"Damn... I don't want to believe it but... you weren't one to lie." Alder sighed as he poured himself some more ale. He took a few gulps before slamming it down on the table. "She's taking it worse than I thought then..."
Skystrike leaned back. "Well, if she's nearby, I planned on staying in Griffonstone for a few days at least. I'd like to apologize to her if she'd give me the chance... Actually, what would I even say besides 'Hey, sorry I decked you in the face and called you half chicken.' But yeah, I'll still apologize." Skystrike drank some of his ale. "Oh, I never asked, what do you do with all these griffons besides hunt?"
Alder rolled his neck. "Well, I kinda copied you. We take missions from the surrounding cities, territories, and countries. Zebrafrica, Saddle Arabia, Seaquestria from time to time. Sometimes we're hired as security, but most times, it's long distance package delivering. Us griffons can fly a lot longer than ponies, you know. Anything to keep the money coming in... Damn nobles up in their branches keep all the money to themselves, giving us the scraps."
"Let me guess... corruption?"
"You have no idea." Alder growled. "I'll tell you about it later."
"You know... I make no promises, but I could be getting some political power in the coming months. I'll try my best to get trade to Griffonstone if I do. The village I could be in charge of is right on the edge of the Luna Bay, so the fishing scene could be great." Skystrike leaned forward. "At the very least, I can help you get dual citizenship. Will be a lot easier than starting from Zero with Tethys."
Alder hummed as he scratched his chin in thought. "Hmm... not a bad idea, honestly. Can't exactly say I can afford to go out on the field anymore. Age is finally getting up there, plus Gilda... You know, I don't think I've ever had fish."
Tethys smiled. "May be bias, since my homeland is the Dragon Seas, but it's... alright. Depends on the type of fish. I just got tired of it. You'd probably like it."
Alder thought about it. "Well, it would probably beat living here... But let me cut to the chase, Skystrike. What are you here for?"
Skystrike winced. "Damn, was I that much of an asshole?"
"Yeah." They all said before looking between each other and laughing.
Skystrike couldn't help but smile either. "Damn, well, thanks for sticking by me throughout my actions."
Alder huffed. "Well, thinking back on it, you weren't really an asshole, more like... unfiltered? Like, sure, everything you did made sense, but there's the emotional aspect to it. I remember when we had some contract to find some stolen family heirloom, and this stallion was talking about how it was important to him or whatever. And yes, we were all thinking it, but you just up and say 'How will this information help us find it?' And he got SO mad."
"Yeah, that's fair." Skystrike chuckled a bit. "I'd like to think I've changed since. I realized I almost snuffed out the emotional part of me back then. I'll tell you about it later. To answer your earlier question... Rather not bring down the mood, but I'm here for nothing more than to see you again."
Alder stayed silent for a while. "Huh... Well, guess we have a lot to talk about in the morning." The griffon looked around to see the state his comrades. Some of the griffons were completely wasted, others were passed out, and the rest seemed to head back to their rooms for the night. "Guess it is about that time, huh? You four need a place to sleep?"
Elytra shook her head. "No, but thanks for the offer. The Wind Waker is surprisingly spacious."
"I'll fix your door in the morning." Skystrike stood up to stretch a bit. "The time zone difference is gonna mess us up, bit we'll be up around... ten your time. Wanna join us for breakfast? It'll be pancakes."
"Aw HELL yeah!" Alder pumped a fist.
Skystrike nodded, giving the griffon a fist bump before turning to leave. It's nice having something to look forward to. |
A Broken Warrior | Lion's Den | It was almost noon. Alder the griffon held his head as he took in all that Skystrike said. Tethys, Zecora, and Elytra gave the two some space to talk. The human told him about all that he's gone through, from his life in the lab, the changelings, the ponies, his siblings, and why he disbanded the group. Lastly, he told Alder about his most recent discovery, the limited time he has left in this world. It took over an hour to explain everything.
Skystrike leaned back as he took in the beauty of the work he did. He just finished fixing Alder's steel door, welding the pieces back together with his magic. "And... there." Skystrike put the door back on its hinges. "Almost like new." He turned to Alder who just looked at him. "What?"
"Skystrike, kid, you cant just say all that and expect me to not be surprised! You're an alien! Other dimensions exist! You're so casual about this, I have a hard time believing it all, but said alien is in front of me! And to top it all off, you're dying!" Alder slammed a talon on the table as he ended each sentence.
Skystrike hummed. "...You know, when you say it like that..." He chuckled.
"How are you so calm?!"
"Look Alder, literally every being in this world was the equivalent of some caveman on mushrooms hallucinating. Stuff like this wont surprise me anymore. As for my death, I'm kinda over it. Knew I was gonna kick the bucket eventually. I'm more worried about how everyone is gonna take it." Skystrike shrugged as he pulled up a chair to sit down next to Alder.
It was early, but the griffon needed it. He pulled out a cigar and took a few puffs. "...Then let me get the chance to say this before I lose it. You're like a son to me... I see the naivety and recklessness that I had in you. Probably learned most of this by now, but even the tiniest actions you do now affects all of us." He sighed. "...There's so much I wish I could've said to my little brother before Talos passed. I'll never get that chance, but you still have that." He put a talon in Skystrike's shoulder. "Take risks. It's what makes life worth living. You said you live in Ponyville right? Any mares there you like?"
"I mean... maybe? I don't really know 'love' besides platonic." Skystrike sighed. "Wasn't really around anyone who had a positive relationship... Well, there was my foster family for about two years, but I wasn't really there to see it."
Alder took another puff. "Ah damn, how do I explain this... When you see a girl you like, your heart skips a beat, you smile more, your chest gets a weird feeling. Anything like that ring a bell?"
"I thought that was because I wasn't depressed anymore." Skystrike scratched the back of his head.
"Oh." Alder blinked. "...Yeah, that would do it too... Sky, you do not make this easy. Why don't you ask your sister, Candice or whatever's her name?"
"Because I'll never hear the end of it." Skystrike admitted. "Also, why are you telling me about girls?"
Alder chuckled. "I may not look it, but I had game back in my day... Ever fucked a minotaur?"
Skystrike contained his laugh. "Well, no, but good for you? I guess?" He watched the one of the griffons he knocked out yesterday walk by, giving him a dirty look. "Oh yeah, reminds me, you said something yesterday about telling me about the corruption here?"
Alder grumbled a bit as he tapped his cigar into the ash tray on the table in front of him. "That's... a long story." He looked at the still rising sun. About eleven he guessed. He put the cigar away it its case before standing up. "Thanks for the door. Let's go up to your ship. Figured I'd tell everyone so I don't have to explain this several times."
Skystrike nodded. "Alright. I parked it just on the outskirts."
Alder walked past Skystrike as he held the door open for the griffon. "You parked it in the sky?" He asked looking up at it. "Damn, what does that run off of?"
"An artificial magic generator. Essentially, it gains energy as it loses it, lest I run it over capacity."
The two kept talking as they walked. "Damn... and how long did it take you to get here? I know by train it's like, three or four days depending on how many stops it takes."
"Well, a bit over three. We made a couple stops to hunt, then in Trottingham. After spending a few days here, it's about a... five day flight plan to Diamondia?" Skystrike shrugged. "The map we have is off of a lot of shared memory... Actually, that reminds me of what I wanted to do here. Know where I can get a map?"
Alder sighed a bit. "Part of the issue I was gonna touch on. Information is very heavily regulated by the crown. You'd be surprised how few griffons know anything past grade school... then again, our schools aren't really funded... or existent. Anyway, getting ahead of myself. I'm saying you need to go through the government to get a map."
"Yeesh... I can tell where this goes." Skystrike sighed. Alder gave him a look, as if asking to elaborate. "Information is power, so to make sure your royalty stays in power, they control the amount of information that gets around. My race, humanity, has a long, long history of that. One of the more notable parts to mention is that there were mass book burnings because of religious reasons, saying that it was blasphemous. Eventually, it gets to the point where they control what you think through propaganda. 'It's this country's fault that we're in poverty' or 'We may have committed war crimes, but these people made us'. Then you can control the mass populous to disavow anyone who disagrees with the status quo."
"I... just... wow... You humans have... quite the history." Alder thought more about it. "Are you saying that... we griffons are going down your path?"
Skystrike thought about it. "Well, kind of. Its different enough where you have plenty of time to fix it though. Like, I don't know much about your history, but you aren't having genocides of certain races because of their race, nor do you have the technology yet to spread propaganda world wide, let alone have a war where literally every important country is fighting between each other. and that's only the 20th century. When I was born and taught all of this, I was in the 31st. Things got even worse when we were able to use magic, but that's a long, long story."
"Jeez kid... Everything seems so small now... And you were just groomed into invading this world?" Skystrike nodded at Alder's question. "Well, thanks for not taking us over."
Skystrike chuckled a bit. "No problem. Haven't really had a reason to anyway. Most of my experiences here have been positive." He stopped and looked up at the Wind Waker, then looked to Alder. "Can you make that flight?"
"I'm old, not senile, asshole." Alder laughed. With a few flaps of his wings, he began flying a few feet off the ground. "Can you? Or do you have to transform?"
Skystrike shook his head. "Back up a bit." Alder did so, going further up into the air. Skystrike took a deep breath before giving a slight hop and stomping both feet onto the ground. Then he did a full jump, simultaneously moving the earth under him to launch him upwards past Alder. After a few seconds, he landed on the deck of his ship, and after a few more, Alder did as well.
"Damn, could you always do that? Wish I could." Alder said before walking up to Skystrike.
"Yeah, the transforming magic is actually kinda painful, so if I do it, I plan to stay that way for a while. Plus, I can only keep the same mass, so I can't turn into like... Tethys's size for example." Then Skystrike thought on it some more. "Actually, maybe I can if I convert magic into mass..."
Alder was confused. "You lost me at mass."
"Mass is similar to size. Just talking to myself. I'll have to test it later." Skystrike waved the thought off. "Anyway, I gave very detailed instructions to Tethys on how to cook pancakes and bacon. With Zecora and Elytra helping, they should have breakfast ready-"
An explosion was heard from within the ship. The two stared at the door to the interior, then slowly to each other.
"Skystrike?"
"Yeah?"
"I don't wanna die, bro."
"Yeah..." Skystrike sighed. "Come on... I'll just... cook everything myself." Opening the door to the interior and walking down one of the hallways, the two entered the kitchen. Elytra was huddled in the corner, Zecora was on the ground, dying and barely being able to breathe from the laughter. Tethys was also on the ground, black soot covering her upper body, and the wall behind the stove. Skystrike held his face in his hands. "It's like, eight ingredients... How did this fucking happen?"
Tethys groaned as she wiped the soot off out of her eyes. "Shit... This sweater is ruined." She looked down at the green one she was wearing.
Elytra's ears stopped ringing. "Tethys left the flour too close to the fire... the bag exploded... I didn't even know that could happen"
Skystrike looked at the source of the explosion. Sure enough, there were scraps left of said bag of flour. "On the upside." Skystrike looked at the dragoness speaking. I made the pancakes and bacon!" She opened the oven to show her messy looking, but still appetizing pancakes. "Sorry they don't look that good."
Skystrike put a hand on her shoulder and looked up at her. "Hey, it's the effort that matters here. Besides, often the worst looking pancakes are the best. Get changed out of that sweater, I'll set up the plates." Tethys sighed with a nod before pulling off her sweater. "Damn..." Skystrike looked respectfully at her assets covered by her bra. Holup "Wait, why are you changing here!?"
Tethys frowned. "Wasn't one of your points at that bath house that you've seen all of this before? Also you said you wouldn't stare!"
"Well exCUSE me for looking at what's right in front of me! And yeah, I've seen it all before, but that's not the point here!" Skystrike pointed a finger.
"Then what is?" She narrowed her eyes.
Skystrike groaned. "God, I cant believe I have to explain this... It's the reveal that matters. With ponies, they're almost always naked, so there's nothing to reveal until they got clothes on! In fact, I'll give you an example!" Skystrike pulled up the bottom of his sweatshirt to reveal his abs and one of his pecs.
"Damn." Tethys said unconsciously. Then she blinked as she realized what she did. "...Fuckin'... I see your point." She put her sweater back on. "Wait, is that why you like girls that wear clothes."
"Yeah." Skystrike admitted shamelessly. "I feel like we already established this."
Alder cleared his throat loudly. "Can we eat?"
They all shared a laugh as Tethys went to change. Soon enough, the table was set, each having a couple pancakes, the meat eaters having some strips of bacon, and mixed fruit for all. Skystrike looked over the table to see if he missed anything. "Holup, there's a sixth plate." As if on queue, Tethys entered the room with the pony that the 6th plate was meant for. "Holy shit it's Casta!"
"Magic mare!" Alder put his claws up in cheer. "Been a while! How've you been?"
"Oh my gosh, Alder!" Casta put up her hooves in return as they hugged. "I've been doing great! How about you?"
"Been doing pretty good myself, kid. Took a page out of Skystrike's book here, started my own merc group. What about you?"
Casta puffed out her chest as she straightened her glasses. "Actually, I was able to become Equestria's court magician!"
Alder lifted her up into the air. "Haha! Moving up in the world I see! But let's eat. Tell me more about it as we do." He put her down as he took a seat at the table. "So Casta, what do you actually do? I know you work in the government, so probably can't tell me much."
Casta nodded. "Yeah, plus, I did technically cross borders so... don't tell the princesses." She gave a small laugh, then sighed. "Honestly, mostly I work on my mana research. When I'm not, meeting with some ponies who's research papers I have to read over. Nothing too ground breaking, just some grad students at Canterlot Magic Academy."
"Hey, at least you don't have to sit through dissertations.' Skystrike chuckled, taking a bite of his pancakes. "I know that the ponies that had to sit through mine was bored as hell. Didn't expect a 15 year old to know what they were talking about."
"Dissertation?" Tethys asked.
Casta nodded. "Basically someone does their research, three to five ponies in the respective field read over it, and the researcher has to defend how and why their process is correct. At the end of it, they get their-" Casta paused at what she realized what Skystrike said. "You have a masters? You got it at 15?! On what?!"
Skystrike nodded. "Yes, actually got it at 16, and it was on the models of atoms, as well as the quantum nature of atoms."
"...What the actual fuck does any of that mean?" Stardust asked. Skystrike opened up his mouth to begin his explanation. "Do not start, it is too early, and I am not smart enough to understand any of it anyway."
"...How in Eques did you do all of that at 16!? I spent half a decade on my own research, and I just got my Ph.D before you came back!" Casta groaned.
"Oh shit, congratulations! I wish I could've been there... Actually, I don't know how I didn't realize sooner, since you are the court magician." Skystrike took another bite. "To answer your question, let's just sum it up to my species' knack for physics."
"Elaborate. Now." The unicorn huffed.
"Alright, quick history lesson then." Skystrike cleared his throat. "My original universe wasn't gifted with mana until the later half of the 27th century. Because of that, my race, Humanity, had all of human history up until that point to study the sciences, with a few minor hiccups here and there. Anyway, the research I did were previously conducted in the 20th century by James Franck, Gustav Hertz, and Niels Bohr. By the time I was born in the 32nd century, humanity was a space faring race, so these experiments were taught to be common knowledge by the age of eight." Skystrike stopped to think on it for a bit. "If I were to compare this planets development to humanity's, I'd say you're somewhere between the 17th and 19th century. Which is why I didn't do any experiments that were too far ahead, as it would completely ruin the development of the sciences here. It'd be like if you went back to when the different ponies weren't all together and gave them the magic we have now. You ponies could barely raise the sun and moon, who knows what would happen."
Casta held her head. "That's... a lot to take in at once... so you... plagiarized?"
"Well, yes, but technically no. To this world's knowledge, I'm the one who designed the experiment. I'll only get caught if some other human who cared about some guy from a thousand years ago to expose me."
Tethys cleared her throat. "You lost me at 'universe'."
Zecora nodded. "Indeed, I too seek to discern, what exactly is this 'universe' to learn?"
Skystrike looked around at the dozen eyes waiting for him to explain. He blinked. "Oh, right, this world is much different. Alright, so we all know what a solar system is, right?" They nodded. "Alright, so in this world, since Celestia and Luna raise the sun and moon, the solar system is geocentric. Where I'm from, my home solar system is heliocentric. My homeworld, Earth, orbits the sun, and the moon orbits the Earth."
"...Huh?" They all went.
"Ok, where did I lose you guys?"
Casta looked up from her food. "You're telling me that your planet orbits the sun? That's insane! The size of it alone would be unthinkable!"
"And the moon orbits the planet? No one is controlling it? They both just... do that?" Alder asked.
"Yeah, imagine my surprise when I came here and found out you have beings that are near god-like, and the sun and moon are the same size. To help you better visualize it, the sun is 1.4 million kilometers in diameter, and 2 times ten to the 30 kilograms, or the number 2 with 30 zeroes behind it. It's 149 million kilometers from Earth, and the planet orbits around it because of the gravity of the sun. Same with how the moon orbits the Earth. I'd go further into it, but we'd be here for a while, so to simplify, think of when you spin a ball on a string, the ball spins around where you spin it because of the string making sure it doesn't fly off. The string is gravity."
Tethy scratched her horns. "I... think I get it? ...Yeah, I get the relation, not so much the scale. So, what's a universe?"
"So, think of the entire country of Equestria. It has different towns and cities, and those towns and cities have houses." Skystrike began making hand motions to explain. "The houses are the solar systems. The cities are the galaxies that have solar systems, Nebula's where stars are formed, and random stars that sit around in empty space. The country is the Supercluster, housing thousands, if not millions of galaxies thousands of lightyears apart. The entire world in this scenario is the universe, full of this millions upon millions of galaxies."
Alder's jaw dropped. "...Holy... everything feels so small after that."
"...I'm not smart enough to think of all the math behind all of that..." Elytra huffed.
Casta thought about it. "Wait, so if your species is a space faring race, how'd you get to other planets, let alone other dimensions? From my understanding, you can't go faster than the speed of light, and you said your galaxies were lightyears apart? Assuming that a 'lightyear' is the distance light travels in a year."
Skystrike leaned back as he finished his food. "Yeah, your right on both of those. We weren't a space faring race until mana came into the picture. Sure, we colonized other planets in our system, but we didn't get to other galaxies until we made magic spells. Turns out..." They waited with baited breath. "It's a lot easier to use magic to make a worm hole to other galaxies than try and travel faster than the speed of light."
"...What the actual buck..." Casta pulled on her hair with her hooves. "I have... SO MANY questions! The buck is a worm hole?"
Skystrike thought about a proper analogy. "Give me a minute." He stood up and quickly walked out the room, coming back a few seconds later with a pen and paper. He drew two circles on the opposite ends of the sheet. "So, everyone, can anyone answer how would I make these two circles touch without drawing on this paper?"
They all looked at it. Alder scratched his chin feathers. "I feel like this is a trick question..."
Zecora took the paper to look at it. Then folded the paper so the two circles would touch. She looked at Skystrike for confirmation, who smiled at her. "Nice job. Now, it hinges on the theorem that gravity makes a 'bend' in space that will take way too long to explain fully, but if you bend space enough where it touches another point in space, that's a worm hole."
Tethys face palmed. "Oh! Like how unicorns teleport!"
"Close, you're on the right track. With teleporting, your transferring between two points, like if I pick up this fork and place it on the other side of this table. Worm holes are more like portals, where you're actually making a whole pathway between two places, or I slide this fork across the table. I can also keep the pathway open. Now, if you asked me how to do that spell, I have no idea. I just know the theory behind it, and it's how I got here to your dimension."
Zecora had a thought. "How can we ascertain, with clear intention, If this isn't part of the same dimension?"
Skystrike chuckled. "Oh, that's easy. Remember how I said how small your sun is compared to ours? Yours is only so small because it has magic. If it had no magic, like my universe did, it would not be able to exist. The smallest stars to exist where I'm from are 6 percent the mass of the home system's star. But I'm about to start rambling. Moving on to another subject, Alder, said you had some stuff to share yesterday?" Skystrike began clearing the table and putting the dishes in the sink for later.
"Right." The griffon nodded, his silver talon reaching into his pocket and pulling out a cigar. "Oh, never asked, mind if I smoke in here?"
"Just do it by the window."
Alder slid his chair over to one of the windows and opened it. Snapping his talons, he made a spark to light his cigar. He took a deep inhale, then blew the smoke out the window. He stayed silent for a few moments before starting. "...The royals and nobility here, if you couldn't tell from the state of my country, corruption runs deep. Remember as a chick when I had a bad run in with one of them, broke my arm because I 'looked at one funny'. As I grew older, did some more digging on them- or as much as I could. Money laundering was obvious, as the taxes paid for the public workers just kept it to themselves for all I know. Then, there's the heavy taxes, most griffons barely able to make ends meet here. On top of that, most of the food imported either goes straight to their mansions or the castle, so we can barely eat unless we go hunting." He sighed and took another puff of smoke. "Obviously, I don't know the extent of it. Only those griffons in their fancy mansions do. But all I do know is that they are actively making the life of the griffons here worse... figured I'd find a way to help out as much as I can, no matter how little it does."
Skystrike sat back down. "...And from how you're talking, it sounds like you got a lead on how to make a big impact." Skystrike said, but was more like a leading question.
Alder chuckled. "Honestly, with all the stuff you told me you did during our time apart, I have half the mind to put a hit on the crown here..." He sighed. "But I don't know how much your morals have changed..."
Skystrike sighed too. "The past me would've done it, but for the me now, I'd decline. If what you're saying about them is true, and they're letting their griffons suffer, they don't deserve the power they have at the very least."
"But?" Tethys tilted her head.
"A sudden power vacuum will do no good. If the crown is gone, the next in line takes over, and will keep up the status quo. If the crown has multiple offspring, then there will be infighting for the position that's been vacated. The nobility would have to take sides, and that causes a civil war..." Skystrike sighed. "Similar things happened in my history, and I see the same signs. At the very least, with the current griffons in power, they keep up enough face in front of the other countries and do the bare minimum to keep their citizens alive. Starting a civil war will almost guarantee the cut off of help from the surrounding countries, else they wish to get involved." He sat in thought for a few moments. "However..." Alder turned to face him. "Keep at the rate you're going now, and you'd be able to start a form a rebellion. But that requires a lot of preparation as well, as you'd need the proper education and manpower to run the different parts of the government... Maybe get the griffons already involved on your side if you can."
Alder hummed. "An... idea for the future, thanks. But what I have planned will have a more... immediate affect. You all couldn't have come at a more perfect time. The party last night was to get the morale high." The griffon crossed one leg over the other. "One of my boys I sent to monitor a noble came back with a rather... interesting information..." He put out his cigar. "Said noble, Wattle, had a lot of rumors of liking his food... exotic. From the information I have, he's getting a live transport coming in tomorrow on the standard flight paths from Zebrafrica. Problem is, they have their own airship, and a heavily guarded one. There's no way to intercept it until it lands, and it lands at the manor of Wattle. There's no way we would get close... Thought I'd just have to sit by not being able to do anything-"
"Until I came along with your golden ticket." Skystrike crossed his arms as sat in thought for a minute.
While he did so, the rest had some questions of their own. Tethys started first. "What do you mean by exotic food?"
Alder's face turned into a frown. "Ponies, Zebras, Kelpies, Abada, he... eats them."
The room fell silent at that. Elytra looked over to Zecora and Casta, who had looks of disgust on their face. Skystrike's face turned to one of anger. "Elytra, Zecora, Casta, Tethys, I will not force you to follow me. But I will be dealing with this Wattle griffon."
Casta gagged. "Sorry... I only have today off, but I would help you out..."
Elytra stretched her neck. "I'm in."
Tethys nodded. "Same here."
Zecora nodded, albeit hesitantly.
"Alright, give us the details."
The day for the impromptu mission. Alder sat in the center of the table, surrounded by the four that were going to help him out, and two of his most trusted griffons. He decided to go over the plan one more time. "So, we have about an hour before we intercept their ship. Not sure of the make and model, but it's a carrier class for transporting resources. Because of that, it'll be much slower than the average airship." He pointed onto an area on the map. "Here, right above this set of mountains is where we'll hit them. We can use the mountains as cover, and they won't be able to make any emergency landing. The expected crew size is thirty griffons. There's two dozen of my griffons that are on here that'll even the tides, but the fight may be close. We have to be quick, because Wattle is expecting the shipment by sundown... And that's where your part of the plan comes in."
Skystrike nodded. "Yep. Admittedly, this whole operation was made on the spot, but just stopping the airship won't be enough. Thus, the plan is actually to take over the airship, and continue the flight like normal. They have to have their own way of discerning who's who, so we'll find that out from their captain, and give the clearance to land. All of Alder's griffons, Alder, myself, along with Elytra disguised as the captain, will be on the ship when it lands. At the meeting point, we will ambush everyone there and neutralize any threats." Skystrike then pointed to an 'X' north of the mountains Alder pointed out. "Once the trafficking's victims are secured, my ship lying in wait nearby will be housing the victims. I will figure out how to take them back to their homelands after. Zecora and Tethys will be here with the ship, and will make sure they're taken care of." Then he moved his finger south to a circle. "Here is where we will meet with Wattle, and whatever forces he has left. Elytra's mission is to get as close to Wattle to incapacitate him, while the rest of us handle the forces inside and outside the house. I will be the vanguard, while the griffons will give chase to any deserters." Skystrike leaned on the table and looked around. "Any questions, concerns?"
Tethys put up a claw. "Why are me and Zecora staying? Sure, you taught us how to fly the ship, but wouldn't wouldn't it be better for us to come along?"
"Because Zecora would have some relation with her brethren, and there will be some temporary prisoners. Zecora also would be able to deal with any wounds they have. We also can't assume they'd be okay with griffons around. Trauma is a hell of a thing. Tethys, you have enough power to protect this ship single handedly, so you'll be the last line of defense."
One of Alder's griffons with purple fur and sea green feathers put up a talon. She looked at him with her owl-like eyes. "The name's Astraea. Don't tale is personally, but while your build is a bit impressive, I'm having a hard time believing you can be the vanguard."
Skystrike was about to speak, but was interrupted by a bang on the table. "Astraea!" Alder growled. "Remember when I told you that tale about how one guy killed over a dozen ponies by himself? That was this guy! He's the strongest mother fucker I know, show some respect!"
Astraea huffed. "Yes sir." Gave Skystrike a look. She'll believe it when she sees it.
The other griffon under Alder, also with purple fur and sea green feathers, but a bit bulkier, sighed. "The name's Astraeus. Sorry about her, she's always the skeptic." He elbowed his sister. "Though I do have a question of my own. You never said kill, just something along the lines of neutralize."
Skystrike sighed. "That's because, save for Wattle, we won't be killing anyone unless absolutely necessary. From what I can tell about your country and the shit going on here, I would not be surprised that there would be griffons who simply need the money. Plus, considering this Wattle mother fucker literally eats sentient beings, I would also not be surprised if he's blackmailing some of the griffons under him. Put simply, we do not know enough about the situation to know if they deserve death."
Astraeus grew a bit annoyed at that. "I get what you're saying, but... I don't agree with it. Maybe they were, but all you have is hypotheticals! It's either them or us at this point!."
Skystrike was the one that was annoyed now. While he couldn't blame the thinking, it was devoid of any sympathy. Alder was about to say something, but Skystrike put a hand on his back to stop him. "I don't know your story, so I cant disavow your line of thinking, but I had that same thought process at some point. Thus, I also know I can't change your mind with just words. So, here's what we're going to do." Skystrike leaned forward. "Any griffons you and the others get to before me, I'll allow you to kill. But if they are on the ground unconscious, unable to fight, and or surrender, then no killing."
"And why should I agree to that?" Astraeus asked.
"It wasn't an offer." Alder stood up straight. "I asked for his help, we're using his ship, the plan was modified and is being led by him. We're going by his rules! You think you'd learn about senseless killing after what was going to happen before I found you." Astraeus and Astraea winced. "Never told you the full story, but figure now is a better time than ever, aint it!? The griffon after you two wanted your heads because your parents took bits from the wrong ponies! It was them or you, and I chose you!" Alder huffed a bit after his small rant, and caught his breath before continuing. "I was gonna kill the cunt that was after you, but turns out, he had a kid he had to care for. These nobles turn us against each other, and you're playing into their talons. I hate seeing what they did to our country... Which is why I was hoping you wouldn't be so keen on murdering others." Skystrike shook Alder a bit. The griffon sighed. "Sorry, shouldn't have said all of that... I won't deny you what ever form of 'justice' you seek, but you will listen to Skystrike."
"Yes sir..." Astraeus saluted.
"Any other questions?" Skystrike asked.
Alder had a question of his own. "Not really a question about the plan but... Something feels off... I feel like I'm missing something."
Elytra nodded. "Yeah... Sad to say, my kind knows quite a bit about trafficing... The amount of rations and fuel it'd take to man their airship would cost too much..." She rubbed her chin.
Skystrike nodded. "You're right. Plus, it'd be best to have three per captive. Given their how many there are, there's no way they have ten victims. Six is already stretching it. They may be transporting something else alongside, or just could be overprepared. Anything come to mind, Alder?"
Alder shook his head. "Not of the top of my head, but we'll know when we get there."
"Oh, one more thing." Elytra put up a hoof. "Why did you want me and Zecora to get binoculars?"
Skystrike smirked. "Simple, everyone else here has good enough eye sight to see from far away." She gave a confused look. "You'll see what I mean in..." He check the clock in the room. "Thirty minutes. Elytra, with me. Tethys, Zecora, stay safe. Give some sort of signal if any trouble happens. Alder, Elytra and I will be waiting at the peak of the mountain adjacent to us. Meet us there when all your guys are ready."
Skystrike and Elytra left the room to get prepared. It only took a few minutes for the two to get prepared. They met as they exited their rooms. Elytra shuffled in her armor, getting it on right. "Hey, so, are you actually gonna let those griffons... y'know?"
Skystrike shook his head. "Of course not. I'm giving them the illusion that they'll get what they want."
"And... how are you gonna do that?"
"You'll see..." Skystrike chuckled.
The two opened the door to the deck of the ship, meeting the two dozen griffons there wearing a mix of armor pieces, all marked with a three pointed star on their sides. Makes it easier when in the fray. Skystrike couched down to the floor and stretched a bit, leaning from side to side, turning his waist, making sure all his muscles were ready. Elytra followed in his steps. Soon, the two finished and Skystrike began speaking. "Alright, so you already know who I am, so I won't take long on introductions. Next to me is Elytra. Let's get the pecking order in place, you griffons, Astraea and Astraeus, Elytra, Alder, then me. Alder and the twins should've already given a run down on the plan, so I won't take time to explain that." Then Skystrike pointed to the peak of the mountain next to them. "We're going to be flying right to the peak of that mountain and wait. The enemy airship should be in view. Once Alder gives the signal, you guys are going in and taking down as many as you can. Our target first and foremost is the captain so we can stop the ship."
Alder waved his talon, motioning for his griffons to move out. "Don't fly too recklessly! I don't want to pick the gravel off of you if one of you gets stuck under a landslide!"
Skystrike and Elytra began to move as well, taking the lead in the platoon. Elytra buzzed her wings to take off, while Skystrike got a running start and jumped off the railing of his ship, igniting fire under his feet to keep himself in the air. Alder began flying alongside the two. "That's actually pretty cool. Didn't know magic could be used like that."
Skystrike crossed his arms as he flew in an attempt to keep his body heat in. "Yeah, it's real useful. Especially in this weather."
Elytra nodded. "Yeah, we changelings aren't that good in the heat. Thanks for this suit, Sky." She smiled at him. A comfortable silence was shared between the three before Elytra broke it. "Hey Sky?"
"Yeah?"
"I know this isn't the best time, but... can I call you brother? And can you call me sister?" She said with a hint of sheepishness.
Skystrike turned to look at her. "Sure, but what brings this up?"
"Well... I've been thinking back to the hive... As Stardust, we haven't really spent time as siblings."
Skystrike landed on the peak of the mountain with Elytra. "Alright, but that means I get to fuck with you more." He patted her on the back. "But let's talk more later, for now, I need eyes on that ship."
Elytra looked forward to the flying contraption. It was about as large as the Wind Waker, but more in line with the standard, unmodified airship. The large fins moved as it began to steer around the mountain range. What they noticed was that it was an unmarked ship, the balloon holding it up still being a factory white.
Skystrike steeled himself as he flipped on his helmet. Alder whistled at the sight. "Been a while since I've seen you with that on."
The human nodded. "I try to keep it off as much as I can." He crouched down to the ground, ignoring the cold touch of the snow on his body. "Elytra, use the scope on your railgun and tell me what you see."
Elytra nodded and shifted her weight to the side opposite of her weapon. On activation, the railgun linked with her suit and let out a scope over her right eye. "Distance is twenty kilometers, my best estimate is them moving... north west at fifty meters per second... They're going really slow... They will be within range of boarding in seven minutes."
Skystrike nodded. "Thank you. That means I have about... five minutes to take out that ship." He stood up and got into a stance like he was preparing to sprint. "Elytra, back up a bit. Alder, keep your griffons in line while I'm gone."
Elytra gave a confused look, but still backed up a bit. Alder was equally as confused. "What do you mean, five minutes?"
Skystrike pushed his hands into the earth below while also focusing wind into his feet. "Like I said earlier, any I get to first stay alive." And with that, he got a running start, each step he took molding the earth under him to launch him forward. At the edge of the cliff, he jumped, an explosion of wind pushing him forward into the air. The sheer force causing the ground beneath his allies to rumble. The sound waves from it echoing through the mountains and starting a few rock slides. As he flew through the air, he did his best to keep himself upright, pushing fire out of his limbs to keep at the same speed.
An unnamed griffon yawned. It was an uneventful couple of days, transporting whatever Wattle wanted, but it payed well enough to get by. He twirled the spear he had in his talons out of boredom. He just wished something would happen... He heard a loud BOOM! Looking in the direction of the sound, he saw the avalanches and rock slides going gown the mountain, and a red dot rapidly approaching the ship. He squinted to see what it was, but by the time he could, it landed, rocking the whole ship. "I was FUCKING KIDDING!"
Skystrike stood up to see about eight griffons pointing their weapons at him. Looking at them, they were... well enough armored, but nothing he couldn't handle. He stretched his neck while he cracked his knuckles. "Since this is just business, I'll give you a choice. Lay down your weapons and I won't hurt you, or fight a battle you can't win and die." The griffons looked between each other before laughing. He sighed. Skystrike dashed up to one of the griffons faster than they could react, giving a right hook making a satisfying crack. The griffon folded like a sheet of paper. Another griffon tried to surprise him from behind with a spear. As he dodged, the spear went into the floor boards and Skystrike grabbed the griffon out of the air, slamming him into the floor, winding him. Then he picked back up the same griffon and threw him into a third. Both fell unconscious as their momentum made them run a wall.
The last five decided to be smarter and rush him at the same time from different directions. Ducking, side stepping, and jumping, Skystrike dodged each of their attacks before jumping up above them and charging electricity within his hands. Releasing all the electricity, it arched between the five attackers. It was just enough to render them unconscious. Landing back on the deck of the ship, he knew that they made a lot of sound. Luckily, that only took thirty seconds.
Skystrike walked to the entrance to the interior of the airship. Of course, he was met by a hastily armored griffon. They stared at each other for a few moments, studying each other. The griffon yelled "ENEMY ATTA-" Before the human grabbed her by the throat. Her talons clawed at his metal arm before her grip loosened from the lack of oxygen. As soon as he dropped her, more griffons met him in the narrow hallway. A few even had muskets, firing as soon as they saw the human.
He expected this though, and ducked down to let the steel balls fly over his head. Skystrike followed up with a forming a large sphere of water to surround the griffons. Five, with three having muskets. He shot more electricity into the water, conducting the lightning between the five griffons. Dropping the water, it spread out along the floor, along with the incapacitated griffons. There was a splash with each step Skystrike took, but the final ten should know he's here by now.
It'd be smart on his end to round corners defensively as to not get blasted. With his left arm, he began forming layers of ice around it, each getting bigger and thicker with each stack, making a tower shield that he could hide behind and vaguely see through. He turned a corner towards where it would make most sense where the captain would be, and sure enough, crossbows bolts and musket balls hit the outer layer of his shield of ice. Barely seeing the griffons in front of him, Skystrike turned his right arm into a rifle and fired a flurry of shots from the side of the shield. They were non-lethal, but could still bruise and hurt like hell. The shots weren't accurate, but the sheer amount meant that some of them hit.
Skystrike kept moving forward, stepping over the bodies of the ships crew and making sure they were down. He counted three, meaning he took out seventeen. Seven left. As he walked down the hall, he checked the side rooms for anyone else. The bathrooms, kitchen, crew quarters, and dining area were all clear. There was one in the engine room though. Skystrike balled his fist in preparation to knock out him out, but the griffon put up his talons. "I SURRENDER!"
Skystrike blinked, but kept his guard up. "What?"
"I surrender!" He repeated. "I don't even work with them willingly! This is my ship that they blackmailed me into giving up! I do cargo transport from Griffonstone to the surrounding territories!"
Skystrike eyed him for a moment. No weapons on him, covered in soot, and cowering before him. The griffon seemed to be middle aged, and wore a worn black coverall. He nodded at the deep red griffon. "Then listen to what I'm about to say carefully." The griffon nodded. In three minutes, my allies are coming in with a lust for blood. Stay with me, and I will promise you safety. In exchange, you will tell me where the bridge is, and the cargo hold. I know what you're transporting."
Though that last sentence was a statement, the griffon could tell it loosely laced with a threat. "Believe me, I hate that this girl is being used like this. Quicker you get these griffs off, the better."
Skystrike motioned his head toward the door for the red griffon to follow. "Six feet behind me. Can't fully trust you just yet."
The griffon waited some time before following. As they exited the engine room, he gawked at the bodies of the crew. "This was all you!?"
Skystrike grunted in affirmation. "Where is the bridge?"
"Right... first hall on the left." He picked up a musket and began reloading it. Skystrike quickly turned around and got into a defensive stance. The griffon jumped. "Hey! I'm using it on those bastards, not you!"
Skystrike slapped the musket out of his hands. "I'm not deciding who dies here just yet. My rules, red." Skystrike turned back around to finish his walk towards the bridge. Eventually, he found the door too it. Skystrike looked back at the red griffon, who took a few steps back. The human raised his left leg before kicking the door off its hinges and across the room. Four griffons, three more armed and armored than the previous griffons waited for him. They clenched their weapons as they made eye contact.
Skystrike looked at the three of differing statures. He sighed. "Alright, give me a quick run down, what are you three?"
"...what?" The pink, skinny griffon asked confused.
"Every one of you trios have gimmicks." Skystrike stated. "Let me guess. Pink, you're the pretty one?"
The pink griffon smirked as she cupped her head in a talon. "Well, I don't like to toot my own horn, but I appreciate the compliment. A shame I'll have to kill you."
Skystrike ignored that last comment and turned to the brown one that was missing some feathers. "That means you're the one with weird powers."
"I can shoot out my sharp feathers!" The brown one puffed out his chest and spread his wings to show the pointed feathers.
"Greeeeeeeeat..." He said with all the mock enthusiasm he could. Then he turned to the grey griffon. "That means you're the big, tough, stupid one."
The bulky and brawny griffon glared at him and pounded a talon into the floor. "You take that back or I'll kill you!"
"Alright, alright, you're not tough." Skystrike smirked.
"That's better!"
The red griffon behind the human blinked. "Didn't you just-"
"Give him a minute."
They all stood in awkward silence before the grey griffon realized what Skystrike said. "HEY! YOU BITCH!" Bulky rushed at Skystrike with his spiked gauntlets. Skystrike easily dodged the wide swing coming at him by side stepping, spinning on his right leg before landing a devastating kick into Bulky's face. Blood began running out of the nose of the griffon as he flew across the room, landing on the kicked in door. He hit his head on landing, falling unconscious.
Pretty and Weird decided to not be stupid and rush him at the same time. Pretty was using a short sword, and was lightly armored, focusing on speed. Weird had medium armor and used two blunderbusses. Pretty flew into the air and went for a horizontal slash at Skystrike's neck. He ducked under and hopped back to dodge the oncoming over head slash. Skystrike was expecting more from her, but Weird switched places with her and aimed to fire a point blank blast from his blunderbuss.
Skystrike quickly put up a shield of ice once more to block the shrapnel, then threw the ice itself at Weird. Weird ducked under and flapped his wings, shooting the sharp feathers at Skystrike. The human caught each of the feathers with his metal arm before charging a ball of fire in his left hand and throwing it at Weird. It was too close to dodge, so he had to take the full blast. It wasn't enough to take him out just yet. Weird began to aim his second blunderbuss, but was interrupted by Skystrike pushing his head into the floorboards and sending electricity through his body.
Pretty looked in a mixture of fear and shock. Her voice shook as Skystrike approached her. The griffoness pointed her short sword at him. "St-... Stay back!"
"Hmm... no." Skystrike kept walking towards her. She gave one last battle cry before running blade first into Skystrike, who simply parried the blade with his right hand and grabbing her by the neck, doing the same motion of sending electricity through her body to keep her stunned for a long while.
Skystrike turned to the last griffon in the room, the self proclaimed captain of the cargo ship. He put up his talons to show his surrender. Skystrike was about to say something before the red griffon he found walked by him and slugged him. Even Skystrike was impressed. "This ship is MINE!" The griffon roared as huffed as he began beating the cowering griffon. Red took a break, looking down at the incapacitated griffon below him. "Hah... I needed that... Cargo bay is just down the hall, stairway at the end... Let's go. Glad you came to help them out."
Skystrike nodded. "It's what I do." He began towards the stairway. Walking down the stairway, he eyed the last three griffons on the way down to the cargo area. The three stood there, frozen in fear at the beast before them. Skystrike ignored them for now, and looked at the beings that were being held captive. There were five, one Pony, one Zebra, Two Kelpies, and one Abada. Skystrike made quick work of the griffons, shooting magical bullets from his right arm, knocking them out quickly.
The five captives watched with confusion and fear as he approached the metal bars of their cell. Skystrike took of his helmet and looked at them. The pony had a sea green coat and long blue mane and tail. From her eye shape, she was from Saddle Arabia. The zebra had an off-white coat with greyish blue stripes, and her mane and tail was black, white and pink. The two Kelpies were similar enough to ponies, even having cutie marks, but their bodies and manes flowed like water, leaving wet spots where they went. One kelpie had a deep blue coat and white hair like a tidal wave, while the other had a coral blue coat with sea green hair. Maybe they were siblings. The last captive, the Abada, was similar to a unicorn, but had two curved horns, with one being shorter than the other, and was much taller and thinner. He had a bright yellow coat, with brown and purple striped legs, the mane and tail following the same color scheme.
Skystrike sighed. "I'm not your enemy, in fact, I'm getting you all out of here." All of their ears perked up as he said that. "In a few minutes, my allies will be boarding. I will be escorting you back to my ship. There, my crew, a Zebra and a Dragon, will make sure you all are taken care of. We will be escorting you back to your homelands once our business here is finished. Food and lodging will be given for the duration of our travels. Questions?"
They all looked at him with a vast amount of confusion. The yellow Abada stood up, his legs still shaking. Getting a closer look, he was covered in bruises and claw marks, same as the others. "Wh-... where are we? Me and the Zebra, Marini, have been in here the longest. I think it's been five days... all of us except for the pony, Costal Shore, are from Farasai. Costal was picked up a few days later on her way back to Saddle Arabia."
"Hmm, that makes things easier." Skystrike crouched down to be at their eye level. "As of right now, we are two hours northeast of Griffonstone, the griffon capital. If the majority of you are from Farasai, then that makes transportation easier. It was a potential stop."
The Zebra, Marini, cleared her throat, though her voice was coarse from the lack of water she's had. "From your accent, I can tell you're from Equestria. Is you Zebra friend named Zecora?"
Skystrike was about to nod, but then remembered how quiet that Zecora was about her homeland. Quick yes or no questions, not even bothering to rhyme. She probably keeps it secret for a reason... Skystrike shook his head. "Lets continue this small talk later." He looted the bodies of the unconscious guards and found the key to the cell, unlocking it. "Are the rest of you able to walk?" Marini shook her head, moving herself to show her broken leg being held in place with a makeshift splint. Skystrike walked inside and picked her up, trying to make it as painless as possible. With some grunts, Marini got into a comfortable position in his arms. "Everyone, stick with me. Red, as soon as we're topside, you're talking to Alder. He's a griffon that looks like a secretary bird. For the time being, you're working with us."
They all began following him back to the deck of the ship. As he opened the door to the exterior, Elytra, Alder, and all oh his griffons landed. Astraea and Astraeus all looked around for any of would be attackers. "Not what you two expected, huh?"
Skystrike chuckled a bit. "Alder, have your men round up all the griffons and put them in the holding cell in the cargo bay." Then he pointed to the red griffon next to him. "This griffon is the owner, and captain of this vessel. Work with him to get us to our destination."
Alder nodded. "You heard him! Get to work! And if I find even a single one dead, I'll mount your asses on a plaque!"
Skystrike ignored the glare from Astraeus, and tried to ignore the impressed look from Astraea as Elytra spoke to him. "You know, I was not expecting that, but nice job. Wasn't expecting everything to go down so quick, or so easily... Anyway, as soon as I saw you go, I teleported back onto the Wind Waker and told Tethys to start driving it towards us." She pointed to his ship right next to them, Tethys waving as she pushed out the boarding plank. "I'm guessing this one one of the captives?" She motioned towards Marini. Elytra was about to continue speaking before Skystrike waved his hand perpendicular to his neck, motioning her to stop talking before Zecora's name was bought up.
Skystrike nodded. "Yeah." Then he turned to Tethys in the distance. "Tethys! I need you over here! These Kelpies are looking dry, give them some water!"
Tethys quickly jumped from one ship to the other, taking the Zebra in Skystrike's arms. "Take her for now. I need to check on something." He made sure to whisper the last part. "Don't bring up Zecora."
Tethys nodded before letting Skystrike go back to his ship. He quickly ran to find Zecora. After a few minutes of searching, he found her setting up one of the empty rooms as a makeshift sick bay. She nearly jumped out of her armor when Skystrike opened the door with a bang. "Skystrike my friend! What has you barging in like you're on wit's end?"
Skystrike huffed. "I know you don't talk about your homeland, but I bring either good or bad news..." Zecora's ears perked up. "A Zebra I found pointed out my accent when I let slip that a Zebra would be taking care of their wounds. The Zebra, named Marini, called you out by name. Ring any bells?"
Her eyes shrunk to pin pricks as her breathing picked up. "How much did you tell her?"
"Not even your name. Figured you kept your past silent for a reason." Skystrike walked over to her and sat down next to her. "...I won't force you to talk about it, but it's come to a tipping point. It'll take us two days to get to Farasai to drop her off, along with the Kelpies and Abada. I won't force you to interact with her either, I'll even take over treating her wounds if it makes you more comfortable." He sighed. "I know it's hard to talk about the past, bringing up all the past feelings that comes with the memories, but we'll have to discuss it so we can help you the best we can."
Zecora stared at the wall, thinking of what her next move would be. She didn't think she'd see her so soon, or ever again if she could've helped it. She wasn't sure she would be ready to talk about it, let alone see her old 'friends' again. The Zebra wasn't even in the right space to rhyme right now. "...Can you get me my mask?"
Skystrike nodded, leaving to go to her room, grabbing the green mask off her nightstand, and giving it to her. She took the mask out of his hands, but before she could, he put his other hand over her hoof. "No matter your choice, we'll support you."
He released his hoof to let Zecora put on her mask. "I... I'll tell you... all of you later tonight."
It didn't take too long to treat the wounds of the captives, the worst wounds being Marini's broken leg and the Abada's cracked ribs. The Abada, who he found out was named Dune Strider, was a lot tougher than he looked. Costal Shore, and the two Kelpies, Tsunami and Frosty, were malnourished due to the lack of water needed to keep themselves healthy, but Tethys was quickly able to fix that by breathing her frost breath on them. Zecora ignored the countless questions from Marini as she put her let in a proper cast, not even bothering to rhyme in the hopes that it wouldn't give her away. Skystrike wondered why the beings in this world were so clueless when it came to their own wearing masks, but that was neither here nor there.
As of now, Skystrike was on the cargo ship with Elytra, disguised as the captain the red griffon knocked out earlier, Alder, and the rest of his griffons, who were currently wearing the armor of the now former crew. The red griffon, who Skystrike found out was named Garrry, with three r's, and pronounced 'G-arrr-ry' was currently landing them at their destination: Wattle's mansion.
Solid stone walls, a wooden roof, a decorative fountain in the courtyard, and even a garden that was well tended to. There were at least a dozen bedrooms, though he couldn't tell how well furnished they were. Wattle truly was living in luxury... How many of these riches were built from the suffering of others. Skystrike grimaced.
Skystrike, Elytra, Alder, and a few griffons waited in the Bridge, watching through the tinted windows as a griffon approached. "That's him..." Alder pointed at a certain griffon surrounded by two heavily armored ones. He had the head of a rooster, with purple feathers and brown fur. He had some weight to him, seeming to be mostly fat from his gluttonous behaviors, and decorated himself with jewelry from rings to necklaces, and everything in between. "Elytra, that's your queue."
Elytra nodded, taking a deep breath as Garrry lowered the ship, landing it in the large field that was their meeting spot. Her goal was to get as close as she could to Wattle to incapacitate him, then help with the ensuing battle. As she and a few of Alder's griffons met the ship, she was surprised with how few there were, only half a dozen, including Wattle's personal guards.
"Xerxes..." Wattle said, referring to the disguised Elytra. "I see everything went well." The griffon spoke in a guttural and gravely voice. "I hope my... 'items' are in good enough condition."
Elytra hid her disgust. "Of course, sir. We've caught five for you, they're just in the cargo bay."
Wattle gave a grim smile. "Perfect... You know how I like my Zebras." He hummed. "You're talking weird, though, you know we're close enough for you to call me Wattle."
Elytra flinched at that. "Sorry, just... been a long trip. Not thinking straight. The heat from Farasai is still affecting me."
Wattle laughed, walking up and putting a talon on Elytra's shoulder. "Hah! I understand. Maybe a nice meal will get your mind off of it. Still got some left from the last group I had my men slaughter."
Elytra was done with the conversation, and visibly showed her disgust before grabbing Wattle's talon and moving into an arm bar, quickly and efficiently pinning him to the ground before breaking his arm as he screamed in pain.
That was their que. Skystrike, Alder, and the rest ran out onto the deck and opened fire with their muskets. The griffons fell easily from the surprise attack, being pelted by the iron balls. Skystrike was a bit surprised at how none of them were dead. Alder saw the look on the human's face. "Oh, we replaced the rounds with rubber."
"Neat." Skystrike went to look at the griffons writhing on the ground in pain. He focused electricity into his fingers and shot a small jolt within each of them, knocking them out. He got closer to Wattle, letting Elytra releaser her hold on him.
He crouched down to stare a Wattle, who was huffing with rage and pain. "What the hell are-"
Skystrike punched him, Wattle's blood spilling on his fist. His eyes burned white in rage. "Shut your mouth. I will speak, and you will listen." Skystrike motioned for Alder to come to him. "For your crimes, you will be judged. Considering your taste for other sentient beings, I would have you slaughtered right here. But due to a stroke of bad luck on your end, I'm not your judge today. Alder is, and he isn't as merciful as I am."
"Damn right I'm not." Alter sharpened his talons, jabbing one into the leg of Wattle. He screamed from the pain. "You fucking worthless excuse of a griffon, taking everything we have to line your own pockets... Do you know how much we suffered because of griffons like you!?" Alder dragged his talons down his leg, making Wattle scream more. "Families, friends, torn apart, having to fight each other just for the scraps we're left! No more!" He flipped over the rooster and took one of his daggers, jabbing the blade into the wing of Wattle, pinning him to the ground. "Astraeus, Astraea!"
"Yes sir!" The two saluted.
"Take the griffs and clear out the house. Don't kill any of the ones inside, at least not just yet. Any non-combatants are to be bought outside."
"Sir!" The two griffons began ordering those under them to do so, leaving Wattle with Alder, Skystrike, and Elytra. Alder went in on Wattle, punching, kicking, and scratching him until his tiredness overcame his will to keep going.
Elytra couldn't help but look away from the beating Wattle was getting. Sure, she was used to it, being a Changeling operative during her time in the hive, and when she worked with Skystrike and her friends, but she never got to view this part. Very few times this happened, normally leaving this part of the work to either Skystrike, or those who were wronged. She looked up at her brother, who kept looking with indifference. "Skystrike... don't you think this is a bit much?"
"Maybe." He shrugged. "But that isn't up for is to decide. We haven't had to deal with him in any way besides this."
"So... Alder decides when they're done?"
"Close. Alder decides when he's done." Skystrike clarified. "You already know I have a... history with trafficing. I don't have the right to stop him, even if I wanted to." He crouched down to pat Elytra's head. "But I'm with you on not wanting to watch this." He turned to Alder. "Hey, Alder, once you're done, meet us on the Wind Waker."
"Will do, Sky, but we're going to be a while..." Alder said as he lit his cigar.
Skystrike nodded as he looked at the setting sun. Around six in the afternoon. He looked down at Elytra. "Wanna help me make dinner? I was thinking of burgers. Gonna need some extra hooves now that we have five more mouths to feed. So glad I bought plant based food."
"Sure, I've been wanting to spend some time with you anyway."
It was nearly midnight. Dinner went well enough, but the now former captives were still shaken up from their imprisonment and their beatings they apparently got. It was very awkward. Skystrike made the mistake of inviting the five to eat with him and his companions. He realized immediately after he said it when Zecora side eyed him. She gave half answers, tried to move the conversation along, and even lie at points, just to get Marini off her back. Marini could not take a hint at all. It was also the first time the five saw a dragon and changeling, so at least the conversation shifted back to them from time to time.
As of now, Zecora was sitting in Skystrike's room, along with Tethys, Elytra, and Alder. Even Casta showed up when Zecora sent a letter, asking her to be there. She was glaring daggers at Skystrike with her hooves crossed. "I'm not mad at you exactly, I know you were trying to be kind. Just do not spring something like that upon me, and warn me next time."
"Yeah, I fucked up, I completely admit that. I'm sorry."
"It's... fine. But I suppose it's time to talk about this past of mine." She shuffled in her chair a bit before starting. "Long ago, in Farasian Shores, I stayed mostly indoors. I didn't have any friends, not a buddy at all, until I was hit in the head, and a voice said 'Can you get my ball?'" She laughed a bit, remembering the way they met. "I was happy to help, and gave back the ball. The owner said 'Thank you, I'm Marini-- would you like to play?' And I did, and decided to stay. Soon Marini's good friends were mine too. Even though we were different, we were friends through and through. Two Kelpies, two Abada, two Zebras together. Despite all of our differences, we were birds of a feather... I remember loving legends, myths, and old stories. Always reading tales of fortunes and glories. I made us new games, to where challenges we rose, I wrote them new tales, where we were all heroes. We grew up together, friends of three races, getting our cutie marks, finding our places. We were happy, games happier still. Everything was perfect, until in school, a sudden chill." Zecora sighed at the memory. "In class, it dawned, much to my surprise, that Zebras can use magic, no matter how hard we tried. I swore there to myself that I would be the first Zebra to use magic, but this tale only gets... more tragic. While all of my classmates laughed and played, deep within the library is where I decided to stay. I studied old tomes from near and far, reading books from Casabronco and Zebrazebar. While others saw my obsession as tragic, I devoted my whole life to magic. I felt that a life of mundanity would be the worst, so of Zebras with magic, I would be the first. I studied the legends of unicorns, the magic they channeled through their magical horns. Of spells dating back to magical times, of hoof-written scrolls and enchanted rhymes." She began to reminisce. "Of bearded wizards with special charms, of evil sirens and their wicked harms. I even read of a warrior that carried a shovel, and a magical healer that lived in a hovel. But the healer gave me a reason to pause, an old illustration that was the cause. The one I speak of who used magic was an earth pony. Mage Meadowbrook was no phony. I finally had conformation, that my goal was possible! I had something to work towards, no matter how improbable. I showed my excitement to my friends but their support they did not show, and the relationships came to an end... I did not take kindly to my passion being a target of ridicule. 'Cute', 'a bad idea', my friends treated me as a fool. They laughed and talked behind my back. Teases and Taunts at every turn, how it makes my stomach churn. But my parents were the worst aggressors, thinking that we Zebras are inherently others lesseres. My mother is a librarian, and my father, a scholar. They did not like the dreams of their daughter. It was seen as infantile, they thought it was just a phase. So I prepared myself for a journey, hoping for better days." She sighed as she shook her head in an attempt to get rid of the bad memories. "A month's voyage across the sea, to reach Equestria, a journey to be. It was a stroke of luck that I met you there, Skystrike, bringing me on adventures and making friends. I thought I had gotten used to the loneliness, but you all made that dreadful feeling come to an end. I... want to thank you all."
A contemplating silence entered the room as her friends all thought of what to say. It was quite a bit to take in. Of course, they want to support her, but none really knew the right words to say it. To Skystrike, it felt like a punch in the gut, knowing she went through all of that, then he just up and left... He wanted to apologize again, but didn't want to make it about himself. Despite that, he knew what to say.
Though the others didn't know yet, Tethys related somewhat. Being an outcast because of her own genetics, but the difference is that she didn't have to deal with anyone outside of her family. She was pretty sheltered... She didn't know what to say.
Elytra understood why she left. Zecora realized that there was no place for her anymore in her home. Same as her. But Zecora had no one on her side that supported her back then. She hoped to be there now. She knew what to say.
Casta completely related and understood exactly what Zecora was going through. They both left home, wanting their own lives, having their own goals, not wanting to live up to the expectations others set for them. It seemed as if it was fate that the two met each other. But she didn't know what to say to Zecora. She didn't even know what to say to herself all those years ago.
Alder could barely relate. He barely had friends in the first place, the only ones worth keeping around currently in the room. He didn't know what to say at all.
Skystrike spoke first. "Well, thanks for opening up, Zecora. I'm sorry you had to go through that... And I'm glad to have met you. You made your dream, though, don't deny yourself that. You're able to use magic, and you got here through your own effort. Those better days that you hoped for came."
Tethys nodded. "I can understand why you left, we all left our homes for our own reasons. And it's for those same reasons why we support each other. We have your back, no matter what."
Elytra nodded as well. "I wish met you sooner, I'd have helped you out some more. But we'll all continue to help you out now, and in the future... The pain of those memories never truly go away, but having a support group around you helps a lot. We'll be here."
Casta cleared her throat. "I'm glad that you were able to get out of there. I hope it wasn't too bad before you were able to leave."
Alder shrugged. "I don't really know what to say here, kid, but we'll help you get through this.
Zecora had tears welling up in her eyes. "Gratitude to you, my cherished friends. Meeting you all, joy never ends."
Tethys picked her up and hugged the Zebra. "Same to you, girl. You're one of the best beings I've met in this lifetime."
Alder cleared his throat. "I don't want to bring down the mood, but there's something more that I feel like Zecora wanted to bring up?"
Zecora nodded. "Indeed, your views I seek, my dear friends. What course with Marini should I tend?"
They all hummed in thought. Skystrike groaned slightly. "Look, hear me out... I know I don't really have much of a place to say what you should do, but... It's complicated. When you first came to Ponyville, I didn't expect you to even talk to me, yet you, all of you, welcomed me back with open arms... I still don't think I deserve any of you. I say this because... I regret what I did to you all. Maybe Marini does too."
Casta clicked her tongue. "I'd have to disagree. Her situation is almost exactly the same as mine. If I was given the chance to see my former 'friends and family' again-" She made quotations with her hooves. "I would not give them the time of day. Zecora healing her already makes her a better being than me."
Alder shook his head. "Don't want to pull the age card here, but I've had a bit more experience in life. Casta, Zecora, you two have to realize that your aggressors were kids I assume. Casta, you were eighteen when you met Skystrike, Zecora, how old were you when you left Zebrafrica?"
"At twenty, I departed from my homeland's gate, sixteen when from my hometown's embrace I did vacate."
"Ok, so then it's been twelve years since you've seen them." Alder stated to put into perspective. "I won't pretend to know the pain you went through, or the pain this Marini Zebra did to you, but twelve years is a lot of time to change. She's definitely a different Zebra than she was from your childhood."
Tethys hummed. "Right, but whether Zecora should give her a chance is a different story." She began counting on her fingers. "You're assuming that one, she's over the pain, and two, Marini did indeed change. And even if she did, only Zecora knows if she's ready to confront her." Tethys put back down Zecora, but held onto one of her hooves. "But, I will say this. Because of my races long lifespan, I've been putting off confronting my own past because I know I have plenty of time to do it. You don't have that much time, Zecora. If you don't do it now, you might never get the chance again. That's why we're on this whole journey with Skystrike."
Elytra added to Tethys' point. "Plus, you have the chance to do it. That's more than some of us in here can say. You may regret talking to her, but you also may regret not doing so. But at this point, it's seems like this is more about proving her wrong. You are able to use magic through potions, despite the odds, your effort came out on top. Essentially, you have three options, let her be, gloat, or reconnect. Who knows, she may even be sorry. Regret eats away at the soul."
"In the end, Zecora, it's your choice. We'll support you either way. But like Tethys said, you may never get the chance again." Skystrike rolled his neck. "We'll be in Zebrafrica in three days. Wish there was more time for you to make your choice, but it is what it is. If you wish, we could even take some time to close up some loose ends on your side."
Zecora wrapped her hooves around his neck and hugged him. "Thank you, Skystrike, everyone... I'll need some time to think."
Tethys chuckled. "You know, now that I have the chance to say it, I don't think I've ever heard you talk that long and damn you are dedicated to the rhyming."
Skystrike nodded. "My take away was that Zebras do have cutie marks, so it is convergent evolution. I'll have more questions later." He let go of the hug he was returning to Zecora. "Alder, we have some things to speak about before we leave tomorrow morning." He got up and motioned to the door of his room.
Casta stood up before the two left. "Oh, before you do, I remember you asking me to make one of those teleportation runes on a rug for Alder. This way, we can see each other more often." She teleported the rolled up rug into Alders arms.
"Thanks, magic mare. I'll make sure we meet up again soon." Alder fist bumped the unicorn.
Skystrike and Alder left the room, the latter following the former onto the deck of the ship. Skystrike leaned on the railing, letting the wind blow through his hair and onto his body. "So... did everything turn out well, old bird?"
"Wattle's dead, if that's what you're asking." Alder pulled out a cigar. Skystrike snapped his fingers, a small flame coming from his finger, lighting the griffon's cigar. "Thanks..." He took a puff. "I won't go into specifics, but every griffon had their way with him before he kicked the bucket... after that, there were some personal vendettas that some of my griffons had with Wattle's. Murderers, thieves, and everything in between. In the end ten griffons including Wattle died. But all the ones who did were his closest griffs. The rest, who were just in it for the paycheck, began working under me, with heavy supervision. Garrry decided to stick it out with us for now, too. Can't really say I feel good about it all though..." Skystrike nodded. Alder put an elbow on the railing and leaned over the edge. "I don't know how you do it..."
"What do you mean?" Skystrike asked.
"The weight of others lives on our shoulders, their deaths on our talons... It wasn't until I joined you that I was actually involved in the death of another... and it doesn't get easier... deciding who lives and who dies."
Skystrike sighed, looking out to the full moon with Alder. "I try not to think of it like that... I try not to get my personal feelings involved in matters like these unless it affects me personally... I'll tell you what I do. No matter the situation, in the end, it boils down to them or us. If Wattle wasn't stopped, you wouldn't know how many more would be harmed. Whether he could change, whether it was necessary, whether it was justified, we'll never really know. But we do know that no more will be hurt by him. We just have to keep going, hoping we made the right choice."
"...Wise beyond your years, you are." Alder chuckled. "Kinda wish I had a chick of my own like you... may be weird, but I kinda saw you as a nephew or something."
"Well... I'm flattered." He fist bumped the griffon. "But... well, I already gave you the run down of who, and what I am. I still don't feel like I'm the person you think I am... It's like... my past won't leave me alone, it keeps defining who I am... what I am. I feel like I have to make up for the sins of my kind."
"Well, time for ol' uncle Alder to give you some advice." Alder took in another puff of smoke. "Good people think they're bad people. Bad people think they're good people. The good people, being good all their lives, see it as normal, then focus too much on the bad they did. Vice versa for bad people. We all make mistakes, but you reflect on yours. That's more than some can say."
Skystrike smiled. "Thanks, Alder. Means a lot."
"Think nothing of it." The griffon grinned. "Just wished you could stay around a bit longer. Astraea was giving you the look."
Skystrike chuckled a bit at that. "Sure, old man... Wish I could stay longer too, but it's best if I leave quickly."
"How come?"
"Well, I'm already not welcome in Equestria, and I won't be surprised if word gets around that I was a major player in your plan. The sooner I'm gone, the safer it is for all of us." Skystrike turned to look at Alder with a serious face. "Make sure you and your griffons don't tell anyone I was involved with you. The human me I mean. Celestia has been hunting me my whole life here. I don't want you getting caught up in my problem. Celestia doesn't know that Skystrike and I are one in the same."
Alder sighed, but nodded. "You have your reasons. I wish I could help you out more... But there is some good news." Skystrike raised an eyebrow. "With Wattle gone, I plan on filling in before a power vacuum starts. It may take some time, figuring out how to do a Noble's duties, but I want to make this country better, bring it back to its prime... And I want to make it one that you can live in too... even if you may not live to see it."
Skystrike smiled, and hugged Alder. "Thank you, my friend."
Alder returned the hug. "You know... I can spin a story to your princesses. I may be able to hide your involvement with me, but you're probably already being talked about by the crown. The corruption here isn't a secret. I can say you helped out, at the very least."
Skystrike crouched down to Alder. "I'll leave that up to you, but if you do, realize that you will be a target for whoever is after me."
Alder laughed before putting a talon over his silver chest. "I've already danced with death a couple times. What's another tango? Besides, it's what friends are for. Know that me and my griffons, will always be on your side."
Each of the friends gave heartfelt goodbyes to Alder the following morning. But they all promised to see each other again. Astraea was rubbing all over Skystrike's let before he left for some reason, but that was neither here nor there. For now, Skystrike was driving the Wind Waker with Tethys, Elytra, and Zecora sitting on chairs next to him. Having to go off route to get the former captives home, their first stop was Saddle Arabia, about eight hours from Griffonstone with Skystrike's calculations, and they currently only had one hour left. It would take another 15 from there to get to-... wait.
"Hey Zecora." Skystrike got the mares attention. "Is Farasi a country in Zebrafrica?"
Zecora nodded her head. "Farasi, my homeland, with pride I acclaim, Zebrat, its capital, where I earned my name."
"Ooooh, I thought Farasi was a city." He went back to steering.
"Hey, Sky." Elytra got the humans attention.
"Yeah?"
"I know you're dense, but... did you know what that griffon Astraea was doing to you?"
"What, her rubbing on me?" Skystrike asked. "Well, she is part cat. I just figured that means she warmed up to me."
Elytra chuckled. "By the pantheon, Cadence was right. Skystrike, she was rubbing all up your leg."
"Yeah, that's the cat half." Skystrike put the ship in autopilot and looked at her.
Tethys laughed. "This never gets old. How bluntly do we have to say if for you to get it?"
Skystrike thought about it. "...Get what?"
"Skystrike she was shooting her shot!" Elytra slammed her hooves on the ground. "I could taste it!"
"Taste wha-...." He realized. "Ooooh she wanted me!"
Tethys laughed a bit, then had a realization of her own. "Hold on... you related her to a cat... have you been relating everything to animals?"
"Alright, hear me out-" They all began laughing at him. "There's just a lot of actions that are similar from the animals in my world." They all looked at him expectantly. "Oh you want examples, uh... well first, let me preface that dragons, griffons, unicorns, pegasi... actually most sentient beings in this world were legends. The few things that did, like Earth ponies, Zebras, and Deer, weren't sentient."
Zecora's ears perked up at that. "So, Zebras lack thoughts, a concept quite rare. No minds of their own, just a curious stare?"
"Yeah, but the intelligent level doesn't really matter right now, but the mannerisms. You'd be in awe of how many carried over. Like earlier, with griffons being part cat, they rub against your leg because they like you. Or for example, Tethys, when you do that bellow thing, alligators do that when they're territorial, or for social reasons, like I see you do."
She giggled. "Well, we do it for one other reason." She made a circle with her left hand and fingered it with her right.
"Ayo." Elytra laughed. "But that does bring up the question, were there changeling equivalents where you're from?"
"Not really... like I said, most of the beings in this world were stuff of legends. But that wasn't the weirdest part about adapting to this world." Skystrike chuckled.
"Yeah, I figured the hive wasn't really the best place, but no place really was." Elytra admitted.
"Oh no, not that. It was like, a lot of little things. Like, Diamond Dogs and normal dogs exist at the same time. That has to be so weird for them, especially since other races still domesticate the dogs. Same with the cats... And dragons. Kinda why I chose to get Naga. Like, sure, she's a lizard, but it's far enough away from dragons where I won't think in the back of my mind 'they look alike."
Zecora tilted her head. "I think I get what you mean. I thought of a dog at some point, but what if Jeshan had seen."
"What else was weird about adapting?" Tethys leaned on the table in front of her.
"Well, before I turned like, 12 and my growth spurt started, I was eye height with everyone my age as a human. Getting used to the average being in this world being up to my thigh wasn't bad, per say, but it gets annoying having to look down all the time. Hell, even if I sit on the floor, they come up to my chest. Even Celestia is a head shorter than me."
"Well, I'm quite a bit taller than you." Tethys laughed.
Elytra's ears perked up. "You know, I never asked. How tall are you both?"
"Six foot four." Skystrike stood up straight.
Tethys did the same. "Eight foot three."
"Damn!" Skystrike, Elytra, and Zecora all went.
"Well, if that's surprising, dragons grow bigger the older we get. It's also more dependent on how much magic we have. Some of us are even able to change between forms if we have enough magic to do so."
"Change forms? Like changelings?" Elytra asked.
"Well, yes, but also kinda no." Tethys shook her her head. "It's like how I look slimmer, but a larger scale. Think of like, an eighty foot tall dragon turning into my size. Don't ask me how it works, we barely had schools in the dragon seas."
""Damn, I was gonna ask if they convert their mass to magic." Skystrike sighed.
The conversation ended as they all went back to doing whatever they were doing before, Tethys Elytra and Zecora playing cards as Skystrike wove around clouds. It went of for about half an hour before Skystrike had an idea. No reason why it came to mind, but he just decided to do it, hoping his friends would join in. Skystrike began making a sound, going up and down in pitch as he continued to repeat the noise. "Do do do do do do do do do do do-"
Elytra's ears perked up, realizing what he wanted to start, adding in her part as a smile creeped on her face. "Boom boom, Uh... boom, Uh, boom boom boom, Uh... boom boom, boom, Uh..."
"Day and night..." Zecora began singing.
"Wha wha wha wha wha wha?" Tethys smiled as she made her voice fade out as Zecora sang, doing her part between each of her scectences.
"I toss and turn, I keep stress in my mind, mind... I look for peace, but see I don't attain... What I need for keeps this silly game we play. Play..." Zecora chuckled a bit. "Now look at this... Madness to magnet, keeps attracting me, me... I try to run but see I'm not that fast... I'm thinking first but surely finish last... last."
Skystrike changed his part to: "Weow weow weow weow weow~..." Over and over again as Tethys began singing with Zecora. "'Cus day and night! The lonely stoner seems to free his mind at night... He's all alone through the day and night... He's all alone through the day and night... The lonely loner seems to free his mind at night, at, at, at night."
They continued through the whole song, just having fun, as their destination approached. Skystrike slowed the ship to a stop just above their first destination, Saddle Arabia. He lowered the ship, landing the Wind Waker on the ground. The landing gear stopped most of the impact, but there was a noticeable bump, causing everyone to come a few inches off the ground.
Skystrike stood up and stretched. "Welp, it's time. I'd prefer you all stay on the ship, don't want to come off as more threatening than we already are with this ship."
"Fine by me." Elytra said. "This heat is killing me."
Skystrike left the bridge and went to the once empty room that Zecora repurposed for a sick bay. He gave a polite knock on the door before opening it. He skimmed the room, seeing the eyes staring back at him. Tsunami, Frosty, Dune Strider, Marini, there she is. "Costal Shore. We're here."
The pony scratched at her bandages. "Here? W-where's here?" She said with a hint a fear. Costal still didn't trust the human just yet. He didn't blame her, going from one ship to another with no choice of her own like this.
Skystrike clarified. "Saddle Arabia. Your home right?"
"We're here already!?" She stood up from her bed. "It hasn't even been a day!" She looked out the window to see the familiar deserts of her land. Her eyes lit up with relief.
He nodded. "I promised I'd get you all home. We're 15 hours away from Farasi, so the rest of you will be getting some tomorrow around noon." Skystrike took a satchel off his waist and put it in Costal's hooves. "I don't know where you live, but that should be enough bits and food to last you a week or so, as well as transportation if you need it. Ready to go?"
She looked back at the others in the room, all of them waving goodbye to her. She did the same. "Yes, I am."
Skytrike opened the door for her, letting the mare walk out first. As they walked down the hallway to the landing ramp, Skystrike continued to talk. "If I remember right, Saddle Arabia is a territory beginning to build ties with Equestria. You will be asked questions by whatever government authority will meet you out there, and they will send word to the princesses of Equestria. You've been through a lot, so I won't let you sit through hours of interrogation and bring up trauma. I'd recommend getting a therapist."
Costal chuckled. "I'm... surprised you care so much. But I'll go through the interrogations. Worry about getting the others home first."
"Lets just say I went through something similar..." Skystrike sighed as the two stepped off the ship. They were immediately met with a platoon of ponies of all types, their magic and spears aimed at him. "In hind sight, I should've taken off my armor."
"Who are you!?" One of the Saddle Arabians shouted at him.
Skystrike stood up straight and began to speak. "My name is not important, but know that I mean no harm to you! As soon as my business here is done, I will be leaving!"
"What business do you have here!?"
"How long ago would you say you were foalnapped?" Skystrike leaned down to whisper to Costal Shore.
"Uh... more than two weeks, less than three... I don't even know what day it is." She answered.
Skystrike winced at that, but straightened his face to speak to the guards once more. "About two weeks ago, one of your residents went missing, her name is Costal Shore! I've rescued her, and came to return her to you! Once her safety is secured, I will be leaving! Once again, I do not wish to be your enemy!"
The guard in charge quickly spoke to one of his privates, assumedly telling the stallion to go check. Costal sighed. "Looks like this may be a while..." She sat down on the ramp.
Skystrike did so too. He looked out over the city they landed in front of, seeing the expertly carved houses made of sandstone, a large central market full of ponies, decorated with wonderful colors, and on the furthest end of the city, a large palace. Mostly white in color, with golden domed roofs and towers of varying sizes. It was almost like it was out of a story book. "You have a beautiful city, Costal."
"Thank you. It's actually our capital, Agrabahrn. You should visit some time if you have the chance... It would be nice to see you again, and give a proper thank you."
"Living the best life you can is thanks enough." Then he had a thought. "Actually, you can help me out right now." Her ears perked up. "This may sound like a stupid question, but as you can see, I'm not from around here." Skystrike twirled his thumbs around each other, somewhat nervous. "Do... do genies exist?"
"Yeah, but assuming you want a wish, good luck finding one." Costal giggled. "The tales say that you can find a lamp in the sand dunes, but from you can already see around us, there's a lot of those. Last one that was found was when my grandma was a filly."
"Well, it's a start, thanks."
She giggled some more. "I'm a bit surprised you don't ask about our flying carpets. Everypony asks about that."
The human's jaw dropped. "Flying carpets??? Actually..." Skystrike closed his mouth. "Not the craziest thing I've seen in this world."
"You say 'this world' like you aren't from it." Costal looked at him. Skystrike smirked back. "...These last three weeks have been insane."
Skystrike looked at five of the Arabian guards approaching him. "Well, here's hoping you get to relax soon." Skystrike stood up at the aproach of the guards, each of them gripping their weapons tightly.
The most decorated guard, wearing silver armor with silk cloths, spoke first. "Your earlier statement aligns with reports we got from a sea life team that was attacked on their way back from Farasi. We thank you for bringing back one of our own. Despite that, and it pains me to say it, because of the sudden entrance, as well as lack of identification, you will not be allowed to enter our capital. However, if you are able to tell us what nation you're affiliated with, we can send a proper thank you to you in the near future."
"Understandable. As for my affiliation, I am from Equestria. And honestly, if you want to send me a gift, I'd like a map and a booklet of landmarks and geological information, as I will be traveling through this part of the world for the next few weeks. I've been flying near blind on this side of the Celestial sea. I'd also like a board game of some sort to pass the time."
The guard nodded. "That can be arranged. If you are able to give us about an hour, I can get you one of Zebrafrica and our immediate neighbors."
"That'd be great. I'll wait here then." Skystrike got on one knee to speak with the mare. "Take care of yourself, Costal. I'm hoping the rest of your days treat you better than the last few weeks."
To his surprise. Costal hugged him, wrapping her forehooves around his neck. "Thank you so much. I hope to see you again." She pulled back from the hug before walking towards the guards. Skystrike stood back up and put a hand over his chest, giving a small bow. The silver cladded guard did the same before transporting Costal Shore back to her home.
Skystrike sat back down and waited. Hopefully the guard wont take that long with the map. While he waited, he decided to make some conversation. "Nightmare." He spoke in his head.
It took a few moments, but Nightmare Moon answered his call. He never got used to another mind within his own. "Hey, it's been a while. Sorry we haven't spoken in so long, the talks between Luna and I have been giving us much to think about."
"All good. Won't read your memories, that's between the two of you. I hope that everything turned out well?" Skystrike asked.
"It's... getting better. We're able to greet each other with some semblance of familiarity, rather than passive aggression. I think it's helping her a lot... confronting her mistake." She said that last part with a hint of sadness.
"Don't speak about yourself like that. I won't let you hit yourself while you're down when you're trying to be better."
"Thank you, Skystrike." He could feel a warmth from her words. "Hope you're doing well. What did you call for?"
"More an update on things. I'm in Saddle Arabia, just learned that genies do exist. So getting you a body may not be a pipe dream. Also related, Tethys spoke about how her race is able to change forms by converting magic into mass. With the same technique, I may be able to make you a body, even if this genie thing is a bust, which it probably will be. There's no way I'd find it in this desert..."
"Oh... I'm quite surprised you're so serious about giving me a new form. I'm thankful, don't get me wrong, but I thought on it more, and maaaaaybe it isn't a good idea." She poked her hooves together.
Skystrike sighed. "Nightmare, if I know you well enough from sharing my mind space, you're probably thinking you haven't gotten along enough with Luna to do it, or you think Celestia will think you're controlling me, or both." Skystrike heard a hum of acknowledgement. "I don't care much about their worries on this. All we need to do is show that their worries wont happen. In the end, it's up to you. Just tell me when you think you're ready."
"I will... Also, would you mind if I go through your memories? It's nice to feel like I'm there with you and your friends."
"Go for it, but I will warn you the last couple of days weren't exactly pleasant ones."
"Thank you, I'll keep that in mind." Nightmare said. Skystrike could feel their connection breaking. Good to know the two alicorns of the night are getting better.
Skystrike saw the silver guard approach him again, with a map and a box held in his hooves. Skystrike stood up and met the pony half way. "Here you are." The pony put the box and map on the floor ground in front of Skystrike. "Three board games, one map, with note of the geology. I was able to get the best one I could. And thanks for saving my cousin, I was worried sick." The pony put out a hoof.
Skystrike laughed at the small world and shook his hoof. "No problem. Take care of yourselves." Skystrike did a quick check of the items before picking them up and going back onto his ship. The map was quite detailed, showing the desert they were in, as well as all of Griffonstone, Zebrafrica, part of the Dragon Lands, and Part of the Dragon Seas. The other two places he was going to stop at, Diamondia and Hippogriffia, were further south than the map showed. Still seems like they'll still have to go off their notes.
He raised the ramp and began to power the ship engine, making them take into the sky once more. He continued south, but at a slower speed to think. Zecora noticed the look on his face. "What are you thinking about, to make you have that look of doubt?"
"Uh... Genies exist, and-"
"Genies exist!?" The three girls went.
Skystrike nodded. "Yeah, the hard part is figuring out how to find one in this big ass desert."
"Well..." Elytra began. "This may be related, but I could smell a large amount of sadness and loneliness when we entered this desert."
"Interesting..." Skystrike leaned forward in his chair. "Wanna play a game of hot or cold?"
Elytra let the Wind Waker keep moving forward. "It's getting stronger... go south- no, south-east." Skystrike turned his ship south east and flew for a few moments. "Now south, directly south." He turned the ship once more. "We're directly above it."
Skystrike stood up and rolled his metal shoulder. "I'd invite you three with me, but this should be quick." He opened the door outside and jumped down off the Wind Waker. He slowed his fall with wind, landing elegantly on the sand. Damn, it was hot. The human did a quick skim of his surroundings. "Yep, nothing but sand as far as I can see." He thought of the quickest way to find the source of the sadness and loneliness. Well, anything that isn't sand would probably suffice.
He clenched his hands as he formed his mana into magic through his hands. Skystrike clenched his hands as he felt power surge through his body, then to the sand dunes below him. The ground glowed a cerulean blue as Skystrike put in more and more magic within it. With a strained face, he moved his arms down before lifting them above his head, all the sand in large twenty meter radius moving above his head as well. He looked all around him, seeing no sign of anything worth while. Well, there was some bones of creatures he's never seen before, it was quite cool, but it wasn't what he was looking for.
He slowly spun his arms around in a circular motion, making the the sand fall, layer by layer, watching as each item fell back to the ground. Bones, bugs, there were some lost items that he checked just in case, but there weren't many things to note. Any items of value he did find, from the dates, there were no beings alive left to have sentimental value. He'd leave the stuff for the history nerds. He continued the motions for a few minutes only for Elytra to teleport next to him. "You were taking a while. Any problems?"
"Just taking a while to sift through the sand."
Elytra looked around at the sand still above them. "By the pantheon, could you always do this!?"
"Yeah, but any way, now that you're here, you can focus in on what we're looking for... Anything speaking to you?"
The changeling looked around at the sand above her. It took her a few moments to triangulate where the source of the emotions were coming from. She buzzed her wings, flying up to the sand and beginning to dig. In a few moments, she pulled down a platinum lamp, decorated with various gems and engravings. She could feel a faint magic from it, almost like a lock. Elytra flew down to Skystrike, who released all the sand from his grasp. He shook his hands to get rid of the tenseness.
He made a small barrier around him and his sister to avoid the sand getting in their eyes and clothes. Skystrike crouched down and looked at the lamp in Elytra's hooves. "Well that's... convenient... I feel like we're being set up for a plot point."
"What?"
"Nothing." Skystrike shook his head. "Get the others. I'll meet you back on the ship." Elytra nodded, teleporting away with the lamp while Skystrike jumped back onto the ship. He reached into his bag for a sheet of paper and a pen and began to write, making a detailed list just in case it was a monkey's paw type of thing. After a few minutes, Elytra, Tethys, and Zecora all came to the deck of the ship with him. Elytra handed him the lamp, giving him the honors. He rubbed it.
The lamp began to rattle, floating our of his hands and into the air. He took a warry step back as the rattling turned into violent shaking. In moments, a pony like wisp escaped from the mouth of the lamp. It took on an alicorn form, with a blue coat and long pink mane. On her forehooves, it, assuming a she from the shape of the body, was wearing engraved cold bracelets. She also wore a golden necklace and circlet, each with an opal on them. She donned a transparent veil, covering her muzzle as she opened her golden eyes. "Ahahaha, it's been so long!" She laughed as she stretched, spinning around as she did so. "You wouldn't believe how lonely it gets in there..." The genie looked to the ever reaching sky, wondering where she was. She turned to see the group. "...This is the weirdest flying carpet I've ever seen, and even a weirder group of beings before me!"
She was quite animated. Not so much as Pinkie, but it's noticeable. Skystrike chuckled. "Guess you're one for small talk."
"You have no idea." The genie said with a bit of excitement, but a noticeable amount of dread. "Where did you find me, anyway?"
"Under about ten feet of sand." Skystrike admitted. "Thank Elytra here. She was the one who was able to find you."
"Oh, where are my manners? Let me introduce myself. I'm Djilisa! Coolest and prettiest Djinn on this plane of existence of yours..." Her smile fell a bit. "I guess this is the part where I say 'you get three wishes'... No monkey's paw, I'll know exactly what you mean when you say it, but the long term consequences are on all of you. There are just four rules. No wishing for death, no falling in love, no bringing back dead beings, and no wishing for extra wishes."
Skystrike smiled. "I wish for seven more genies."
Djilisa narrowed her eyes. "...There are five rules." She said before laughing. "But I will say, that was clever! I haven't thought of that loop hole!" Then she got in his face with a stern look. "But on a more serious note, that falls under asking for more wishes."
"Meh, fair enough." Skystrike gave her the list he wrote earlier. "I wish everything on that list comes true."
Djilisa looked at the list with an annoyed look, but it soon turned to an amused one. "You know, I was originally gonna say no, but there are all pretty good... Normally you creatures are selfish, but these are heart warming." She began to read some off. "Everyone should be able to fall asleep as soon as they try to fall asleep and wake up well rested, everyone taking a test that they aren't confident on but studied for keeps all of the information they studied for for the duration of the test, overall better mental health... sure, I'll grant those. Those ones specifically are on me. You all still got three wishes." She clapped her hooves together.
Skystrike pumped a fist. "Hell yeah, truly the coolest genie! But there were two more on that list?"
"Ah, yes..." Djilisa winced. "Normally, if some idiot wishes for immortality, I grant it in the most gruesome way. And while you didn't wish for immortality, just a longer life span is pushing it. Even if I wanted to extend your life span, because your from another dimension, the wishes I can grant to you specifically are few... As for the fifth wish about making a new body, that counts as bringing back the dead, as I am giving life to something."
Skystrike sighed. "Well, that was a bust... Alright, Tethys, Elytra, Zecora, you guys can have the three wishes."
Tethys smirked. "I haven't had much time to think about it, but I know exactly what I want! An indestructible camera with infinite, indestructible, film!"
Djilisa's eyes lit up. "Oh my, that is quite a good one! Holding on to memories is tough for those of us with long lifespans." Then the genie looked to Elytra. "Yours?"
"Uh... When I meet my soulmate, I'd like something in my mind that tells me I've met my soulmate."
"Aw~! A changeling wanting to fall in love!" Djilisa cooed. "It doesn't count as falling in love, so I can do that... All that leaves is you." She looked at Zecora.
Zecora thought about it for a few moments. "I wish for a book on potions, every recipe past and present, as brewing is my devotion."
"I see, I see. I can do that. Just use it responsibly." She smiled. With a clap of her hooves, everything they asked for were given. A blue energy came from her hooves and surrounded Tethys and Elytra, while a thick book materialized in front of Zecora. "I must admit, you're all an interesting group. It's a bit sad I have to go so soon... I'd like to see how much this world has changed in the past couple centuries." She sighed.
Skystrike had a thought. "Well... this counts as a loop hole, but I gave my three wishes to my friends. If they rub the lamp, you can come back out, right? Assuming that one person only gets three wishes."
Djilisa rubbed her chin, thinking. "Well... maybe? I don't truly know how the seal on the lamp works..."
"Well, then I have an idea, if you can give me a fourth wish?"
She hesitated, but she didn't have much to lose. "...Very well, you may have one wish."
Skystrike nodded. "I wish for you to have the ability to grant your own wishes."
Djilisa blinked. "I... I can do that? I can do that!" She clapped her hooves. In a bright blue light erupted from her lamp, as well as the sound of shattering glass. "I did it! I broke my seal! This is amazing!" She pulled the rest of her body out of the lamp and stepped on the deck of the ship. "I can-... I can walk! I can feel this!"
The four watched as the genie laughed, running around the deck of the ship. Tethys turned her sight to Skystrike. "Well, that was nice and all, but are you sure that was a good idea? You kinda let a wish maker free."
"She's still a genie. I assume there's her own set of rules she has to follow." Skystrike shrugged.
"You know, I like Pinkie and all, but I was somewhat looking forward to not having to deal with her... what's the word for it? Antics? For a while... and now it seems like we have one that can warp reality..." Elytra sighed.
Djilisa teleported between the four with a bright smile. "Oh, don't worry, no offense, but I don't plan on sticking around for long." She spun around several times on her back hooves, before spreading out her arms towards the setting sun. "There's so much out there for me! To see! To explore! To experience! Actually..." She turned to face the four. "Where should I go first? Surely you all know good places to visit!"
Tethys thought. "Well, the ponies in Equestria have a lot of good stuff. They have dozens of places to see."
"But before you go..." Skystrike pointed to his forehead. "Don't be an alicorn while you do it. Disguise yourself."
Djilisa nodded, using her magic to make her wings invisible. "Okthanksseeyouallsoonthankyoubye!" She spoke quickly enough to give Pinkie a run for her money before disappearing with a flash.
Skystrike blinked. "I feel like this may come back to bite me."
> Mind Games
Skystrike was within his mind, walking through the grey space aimlessly. He's been thinking a lot lately, going back into the memories that he could. Over his travels, he couldn't help but think about his past, namely how Khrusalis died- no, disappeared would be a better word for it. As he found out from Celestia herself, she had no involvement of the attack. Add to that, Khrusalis told him to run from what he remembered, so he never saw the body. Essentially, there's somepony, or more likely somebody that wants him to think the former queen is dead. Also, this same someone wanted him to believe it was Celestia's fault. Bold assumptions for him to make, but he didn't have anything proving him wrong, or right yet.
He thought as he walked, each step getting quieter to him as he continued his trek into the endless void. Skystrike already knew a way to check his memories. It'd be the same way he revealed his past to Luna and Nightmare, just hopping back into his memories. There were just two problems. Skystrike remembered back to a specific memory, when he returned to the hive to face Chrysalis, and his banishment. He paused the memory as a younger Skystrike faced down the current Queen.
The first problem was that some memories were assumedly blocked by trauma. He looked around at the changelings around him. Only a few faces he could make out, notably the pained look on Elytra's face with tears in her eyes, hugging another changeling he got along with, Teeko. For the vast majority of the other changelings, he couldn't make out their faces, just black silhouettes of their heads, with white eyes full of anger. Skystrike still winced at their stares. He still considered them his family, but their looks showed they did not hold the same sentiment. He shook his head in a vain attempt to get the stares out of his head. This wasn't the only way these blocked memories showed. Some were shown to him as static, others, a writhing mass of black tentacles. It all depended on what exactly was being blocked. A face, a voice, an image, all displayed differently.
Then came his second problem. Some memories are nightmares, and have to be experienced, and not viewed. He found this long ago, before he showed Luna and Nightmare his past those months ago. He only realized recently, once Nightmare Moon was able to travel between her alter and Skystrike's mind. Ironically, it was when she began helping to stop his own nightmares. In his dreams, Skystrike has the choice to experience it or view it, as he did the night before when he dreamed of spending time with his siblings from the orphanage... he should spend some time with them once he gets back.
Anyway, both of those problems come together to put him in his current predicament. He wanted to look more into the situation with Khrusalis... but he'd have to relive the memory. Not that he hadn't before, but it doesn't suddenly become pleasant after a couple dozen times. Actually, it's been hundreds if not thousands over the years. Hard to believe it's been over a decade since it happened... He was getting off track. Skystrike stopped his walking and crossed his arms with a sigh. Only two ponies could help him with this, Luna and Nightmare Moon.
The problem is that he'd once again have to rely on Luna's good will to not tell her sister. He trusts her, but Skystrike keeps pulling her deeper into the rabbit hole... well, not necessarily. She already knew about humans in the first place, she just doesn't know about him. Was he willing to take the risk?
No, he could trust her. They haven't been through too much in the grand scheme of things, but it was enough to earn his. She's kept his secret for this long. Skystrike called out to them in the hopes they'd come. "Luna, Nightmare, I... need a favor."
It took only moments for the two to make their presence known, as the grey void turned into a starry night sky. The two flew in from seemingly nowhere before landing in front of him. Luna greeted him first. "Greetings, Skystrike. It is our pleasure to see you again. We hope your travels are going well?"
"Yeah, some hiccups here or there you could say, but it's progressing. Taking longer than it should, but we're only two days behind schedule. Nothing too major." Skystrike shrugged. "How's it going with you two?"
Nightmare gave a small smile. "I like to think it's going well. Confronting our demons is hard, but it's... going at least."
"But enough about us. What about this favor you speak of?" Luna tilted her head.
"Ok, it's a lot to explain, so Nightmare, go into my memories of the past ten minutes, then share it with Luna."
Nightmare Moon gave him a skeptical look, but did so, closing her eyes. Skystrike could feel her crawling around his mind, sifting through each thought. After a moment, she opened her eyes. "I'm... not sure if I should do that, Skystrike... but I will let Luna decide."
Luna gave Nightmare Moon a confused look before the crossed horns, sharing the memories Nightmare gathered. Luna's eyes went wide as she realized what he wanted them to do. "Let us be clear, you wish for Nightmare Moon to give you a nightmare, then wish for me to help you through unblocking these... memories?"
"Yeah, that sums it up. I'm shooting in the dark here, I have no idea if it will even work, but you two are my best bets for it to work." Skystrike nodded. "But let me specify. I can give myself a nightmare, no problem. But I would wake up at certain points on instinct. I need Nightmare to make sure I don't wake up."
Luna hummed. "We are not sure if it is a good idea. It will surely give us answers, but... there is no telling what it will do on your mind. We've only used such a spell on ourselves, let alone another pony. We do not know what affects it will have on you, a human!"
"I'm willing to take that risk. I need to know what happened that day. There's too much I don't know, too much that doesn't make sense anymore. I know it's a lot to ask for, but I really need this." Skystrike clenched a fist.
Luna began to waver at that. "And what would thou do with the information?"
"Depends on what information I get. But I will prepare for whatever comes. Best case scenario, I deal with some past trauma. Worst case, there's someone behind the scenes pulling the strings... and someone we need to deal with."
Silence fell between the trio as the alicorns thought upon his words. Their first worry was what if he was right? Their second was what if it was another human? But Nightmare had a question to ask. "And if we don't help you?"
"Then I will find another way." He answered almost immediately.
The two could feel his resolve. "Very well..." Luna said. "We shall assist you with your goal... Are you ready?"
Skystrike nodded as Nightmare Moon approached him. She closed her eyes as she focused magic in her horn, leaning in towards the human. Skystrike felt his mind go dark, and a wave of uneasiness flowed through his body. When he opened his eyes, he was there. Back where it all started going down hill.
A bright light filled his vision before he came to. He tried to move his head to look around, but he couldn't. All he could do was feel the grass under his hooves and the wind on his body. It was like he was possessing someone, watching through their eyes. In front of him, Skystrike could see Luna and Nightmare Moon staring at him, but no matter how much he tried, he couldn't move towards them, or even call out. It was expected. He wasn't able to last time until the nightmare was over.
Luna stepped forward and reached out to him, only for her hoof to pass through his body. Nightmare shook her head. "It's no use. We won't be able to do anything besides watch unless we stop this nightmare." The two alicorns stood back as a young Skystrike kept walking. He entered a forest. Luna looked around to notice the walls to Canterlot in the distance, along with the castle. She wondered what the dream was about.
Skystrike felt the dirt under his hooves as he went deeper and deeper into the woods. His mind remembered the day, no matter how hard he tried to forget. Each step he took felt as if it was ordering him to grieve, to turn away at what was about to happen. His body reached into his saddle bag to grab a small, crudely drawn map of the forest he was in, a small 'x' where he was at. He was in the right spot. Now it was just a matter of waiting.
Skystrike sat in wait, digging aimlessly at the dirt under him. It took a few minutes before he heard the sound of magic, something teleporting into the forest he was in. He stood up, but quicker than he could react, he was picked up by a pair of hooves from behind and turned around before being pulled into a hug. "It's been so long, my little nymph!" A motherly voice spoke.
Luna and Nightmare looked at the being hugging him. A tall, black pony-like figure, with a height rivaling that of Nightmare Moon. In place of fur, she has a black chitinous shell. Her mane and tail were a beautiful golden hue, the same color as her elytra and her eyes, each reflecting the sun off of her. Her horn was long and pointed, showing her magical capabilities. It was a changeling... one with a regal stature, if it wasn't given away by the golden tiara on her head.
Even if it was a memory, Skystrike could never forget the feeling. The smooth chitin, her warm body, the soft, yet firm hooves around him. "Mom! Don't scare me like that!" The words flowed out of his mouth as he returned the hug, wishing he could tighten his grip around her and not let go. Each of the alicorns eyes widened. That was his mom?
"...You know, I'm still not used to you calling me that." The changeling giggled behind a hoof. "Feels like it was just yesterday when you came to my hive. I'm happy that you don't feel obligated to call me 'Queen Khrusalis' anymore."
That made more sense. Celestia told Luna about her before. The late changeling queen, who passed a bit over a decade ago. Skystrike told Celestia, who then told Luna. The princess of the sun had kept in contact with Khrusalis, albeit sparsely. This explains why their contact was cut short. Then Nightmare realized. "This is..."
Luna turner to her alter. "What is it? Did thou realize what we are seeing?"
"I think so... I recognize how this nightmare starts, one of the many that I've stopped before. But... I never even seen the hug... This is new domain to me, but I know for certain that this is a dream he did not want to remember."
Their conversation was paused as Skystrike continued to speak. "Yeah, it took me a while to get used to too. How's the hive doing? I know we can't really send letters to each other."
"Well, I have some changeling visit every few months to check on you. Sorry you had to find out like this, but you know how we have to stay secretive." Khrusalis sighed, but her warm smile soon came back. "Your sister is doing fine. Chrysalis is focusing on her studies, at her rate, she'll be a good heir in a few years. She's just a bit... hot headed." Skystrike noticed the smile falter a bit.
He chalked it up to a trick of the mind. "Really? It's been almost two years since I've seen her. I'll try and visit when school lets out for the summer." The two released each other before sitting down.
"It'd be nice to see you again back home. Your caretaker, Elytra said she misses you. Even asked to come here to Canterlot and began training to be an operative... with some luck, she wont need to if peace talks keeps the same motions. But enough about that! Today is a day for celebration!"
Skystrike tilted his head. "It is?"
"It's your birthday, my little nymph! You forgot? You're 14 now!" The queen put up her hooves. "You've been in the hive six years! Though I guess this more counts as an anniversary."
Skystrike processed that information. "Huh, I guess it is. Well... I don't have anything planned. Did you?"
Khrusalis looked off, deeper into the forest. "I always wanted to visit Canterlot again. Last I've been here, it was with my own mother over twenty years ago..." Her smile faltered again. "There's a hidden entrance just south of here if I remember right. Maybe you can show me around. I wonder how much has changed over the years."
"Sure." Skystrike said as the two got up and began walking. "Though from what Celestia has said, not much has changed. I asked her about it, but all I really got from her was some new restaurants and bakeries she liked."
Khrusalis blinked. "Hold on, Skystrike... You've talked with the princess? Casually?"
"Oh, right, guess I never got the chance to tell you, I got adopted by her about... two years ago? Yeah, two." He shrugged. "She's pretty alright as long as she knows I'm not... you know..."
Khrusalis looked at him. Skystrike could never hide anything he was feeling from her, the queen being his mom and a changeling. "Skystrike, be honest with me. Do you plan on telling anyone else that you're human?"
"No." He answered quickly. Much to quickly for Khrusalis' liking.
She sighed. "Skystrike, I can only imagine how hard it will be to truly trust another after what happened to you." She tried her best to hide her pain outwardly. "But, you must find someone to trust-" Khrusalis wasn't finished speaking, but any words that came out of her mouth sounded like static. The watchers weren't even able to read her lips.
"I'll... keep it in mind." Skystrike sighed. "We've been walking for a while, mom. Are you remembering right?"
"...Yeah, I'm sure." Khrusalis confirmed as they kept walking. "So, how's your time been among the ponies? You're- well, you were in that orphanage right?"
"Yeah, still visit every day. Surprised how close I got to them. There's Astral Night, Dawnstone, Mystic Falls, Lucky and Blue Clover, from oldest to youngest. Guess I'm a big brother to them. It has it's moments, taking care of Lucky and blue are tricky. They're seven, so they're a hoof full, getting into things. Astral and Dawnstone are... twelve and ten so they're... competing with each other? For lack of a better term. Told them I'd save up some bits so we can go clothes shopping. Mystic wants to hang out with me more, since I'm the only brother he's close to, but he's nine so there's only so much we can do together. But they're all good kids. Sister Paprika says that I have to be a good role model, so I'll try my best." Skystrike gave a small sigh. "As for Celestia and her niece, Cadenza, they're... nice. They enjoy my company when I'm around, and I'm beginning to like theirs. It just... I've been keeping my distance from them. It feels like they're trying to replace you all, and the ones in the orphanage." Skystrike winced. "Saying it out loud, I feel bad. I need to talk to them about it."
Khrusalis felt her heart warm at that. "You've grown so much over the years... I've proud of the pony- no the person you're becoming." She hugged him again. "The connections we have with others is the most important thing we can have in this life. Make sure to keep nurturing them."
Only now did Skystrike notice that the forest was eerily quiet. His eyes darted around to see anything out of the norm, cursing under his breath as he slacked in his training from how peaceful it was in the capital. As soon as he turned his back to Khrusalis, five figures appeared in front of him, and from the sound of it, five more behind him. All with white coats and golden armor. The royal guard? The hell were they doing here? No, this should be fine. They'd know his face by now with how long he's been in the castle. Maybe he could talk his way through this.
But before he could even get a word out, the five behind him began battle with with Khrusalis. As soon as he turned to look at the beginning battle, two of the guards in front of Skystrike tried to jump on him in an attempt to pin him down. Skystrike flew into the air to dodge them, trying to get a better look at their faces. The memory made their faces obscured by black shadows, showing no expressions at all, just a silhouette.
Nightmare Moon was first to notice something. "Look, behind Skystrike." She pointed to her alter. Luna raised an eyebrow at her before turning to see what she was looking at. Khrusalis stood behind him, with five royal guards jumping at her, all of them seemingly frozen in time. "I noticed how every time the memory isn't in Skystrike's point of view, what was in his vision seems to stop." Then she walked up to one of the guards. "But I also noticed that they can change depending on his other senses, in this case, what he hears. Notice how he thinks this one has a blade, because he heard the sound of unsheathing metal."
Luna walked up to the same guard. Nightmare was right. Something that caught her eye was how each one was jumping at Khrusalis, as seen from when Skystrike turned around briefly. But their blades were a black, pulsating mass in the shape of a sword, seeming to imply that Skystrike wasn't able to get a good, or long enough look to see what they had. "Indeed... We believe it would be best to take everything our dreamer doesn't see with a grain of salt."
Skystrike quickly noticed that two of the guards were pegasi, and took into the air to follow him. Seeing as there wasn't a way to get out of this peacefully, he'd start to defend himself. While they couldn't see the pony's face, they could tell from their wings twitching that they were surprised from Skystrike's rapid approach. All it took was a punch to the jaw to send the first pegasus spiraling. The second, seeing their ally crash into a tree, would not be caught off guard and dodged the dive at him from Skystrike.
He took his eyes off the pony in front of him for a moment to see how Khrusalis was holding up. The three ponies that came in front of him went to help their allies against the Changeling queen, who was just barely holding her own. Sure, she was already able to take down two, but her chitin was cracked in some places. Skystrike needed to speed this up. He dove at the second pegasus, who put up a shield to block Skystrike's attack. What he didn't expect was Skystrike's metal arm to pierce right through it and stabbing the wrist mounted blade into their chest, making them fall back to the ground.
Khrusalis was overwhelmed, much to Nightmare's surprise, just keeping up a barrier to defend herself from the unicorn's magic attacks. She grit her teeth as her ears were ringing. Blood dripped down her forehead as she used all of her magic to focus on keeping her shield up. The edges of her mouth curled up slightly as Skystrike landed on one of the unicorns. Maybe she wouldn't have to play defense anymore.
"Are you ok!?" Khrusalis yelled to Skystrike.
Skystrike jumped on the back of another unicorn and bought down both hooves on their head. "I'm fine! Worry about-" His sentence was interrupted by a sharp pain in his side. He coughed up a mouthful of blood as he looked to his left to see the pegasus he stabbed earlier, stanced like he just finished a throw. Coming out of Skystrike's side was the lower half of a sword and it's handle. Almost instantly, he fell over, cursing himself as he was too sloppy. He put all the strength he could in his legs to stand up, but he was losing too much blood. His mind was racing at a thousand miles per minute, too frantic to think clearly.
Nightmare Moon and Luna looked at the scene with horror. This is not what they were expecting. Then, both of the mares ears snapped back as a loud crack was heard, as if a tree was snapping in half. They looked all around them to try and find the source of the sound, realizing it was the space itself they were in. A large, white crack went across the sky as Skystrike's nightmare froze in place. "Luna!" Nightmare Moon turned to her.
"We know!" Luna began focusing her magic. The sky, the trees, everything around them, seemed to be falling apart like flaking ash. More cracks came, centering from their zenith as they spread to the horizon. The alicorn of the night had to admit, it took quite a lot of her magic to stabilize his mind. The cracking reality seemed to mend itself back together as Luna's eyes glowed a white light. She fell onto the ground, trying her best to catch her breath.
Nightmare Moon put a hoof out to help her up. Luna looked at her, confused, put then took her hoof to get up. "Wonderful job, the dream seems it's about to continue."
Skystrike, still experiencing the actions of his younger self, was cursing to himself. On one hand, he's glad she was able to keep this place together. On the other hand, he had to relive it again. He felt the blade in his side twisting, making him scream. He looked up to see a unicorn, their face still blackened by shadows.
Skystrike groaned as the unicorn above him spoke. "Don't move another step, Changeling. All it takes is me taking this sword out and the boy bleeds a slow death." He put up a hoof, telling the other ponies to halt their attack.
Khrusalis looked at the unicorn, then down to Skystrike, his eyes almost pleading for her help. "...Whatever you want, you will have it. Just let him go."
"That can be arranged~..." The unicorns words snaked out of his mouth. "See, we're under specific orders to bring back your head. Sad to say, little guy here was caught in the cross fire. Normally I'm not one to keep witnesses alive, but..." He put out a hoof toward the changeling. "If you'll save me the effort and stay still, I'll let this one go."
Skystrike's eyes widened. He couldn't let her die, especially not for him. He tried to force words out of his mouth, coughing up more blood. "N-... no... Mom-..."
"Ssssh... I know, my little nymph..." She sighed as she approached the colt. Khrusalis tried to put on a strong face for him. "There are times when you have to help, and let others be helped. One must ask themselves how much they value another's life. You and Chrysalis mean the world to me. This is a sacrifice I must make as another." The changeling put Skystrike's head in her hooves, forcing herself to smile. "I'm so proud of who you've become! I'm sorry I couldn't see your journey any further from here."
Luna and Nightmare realized. The words she spoke to Skystrike... they were almost exactly the same as the ones he said to Astral Night in the fire. "We see... how big of an influence the changeling-, no- Khrusalis was on him." Luna and Nightmare Moon both gave a courteous bow to her, showing their respects, however much it meant.
"Are you done with the water works now?" The unicorn yawned.
Khrusalis hid her distain for the unicorn. "Just... one request." The unicorn raised an eyebrow. "Not here... not in front of him."
He groaned. "Ugh, fine. Start the clean up. I got to deal with this..." He motioned to the other ponies before focusing his magic. In a flash of light, the unicorn teleported away, with Khrusalis in tow, leaving the sword in Skystrike.
Skystrike's heart sank, a feeling he didn't want to ever remember, let alone remember. Shock, that she was gone. Denial that she'd do it for him. And anger at so many things. That he and Chrysalis were without a mother. That the guards he once looked up to were doing this to him. That despite his and Khrusalis' dreams, peace would never happen... That he was too weak to do anything.
For the first time in years, his eyes burned a white light. Waves of magic burst from him as he was finally able to force himself to stand up. He grew numb to the pain as he grabbed the stick of metal in his side, puling it out in a spray of blood. Subconsciously, he changed from a pony to his human self in a flash of emerald rage before using magic to quickly close his wound. No words came out of his mouth as he stared down the stunned ponies around him. His white hair stood on end. His jaw was clenched, making his gums bleed. Only a broken, hollow roar, giving voice to every agony he was feeling within himself.
And then the dream froze. The watchers heard a distant, high pitched noise that grew closer... louder. Centering from the human child, static spread from the ground below his feet. It enveloped everything within the dream, crawling along the grass and up the bodies of all involved in the memory. That didn't stop the two egos from backing away as the shifting pixels spread outward. But the ear piercing noise got louder and louder, growing unbearable, forcing Luna and Nightmare Moon to cover their ears and close their eyes in a vain attempt to stop the pain.
And then, is gradually got quieter, stopping after a few minutes. When they opened their eyes, the two alicorns gagged at the scene before them. In the center of the forest, a human Skystrike stood there, covered in the blood of fallen foes. He was covered head to toe, his hair sticking to his skin. A blank look was plastered on his face as he looked down at the blood covering his hand. Luna and Nightmare looked around, seeing the bodies of the nine ponies. They haven't seen a massacre like the one in front of them in ages. Bodies were split limb from limb, organs hung out of bodies torn in half through shear force. And each face, that was still together at least, showed that the last thing the ponies felt were fear.
They were horrified. Appalled. After a millennia, Luna was reminded why humanity was such a danger to their ponies- no, their world. She understood her sister's paranoia. But those were thoughts for another time. She thought the nightmare was over, only to see Skystrike fall to his knees. The burning rage shown through his eyes never faded, but despite that, he began to cry, the drops fell like ichor as he screamed out to the universe. "WHY!? WHY ME!? WHY TODAY!? WHY HER!? WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE THIS!?"
But the universe didn't answer. The pain of his wounds and a long battle finally set in as he fell over into the blood stained grass below him, staring into the sky, as if it was to swallow him whole. Skystrike sighed internally. Finally, the nightmare was over.
Luna used her magic to cut off the rest of the dream, making it so she wouldn't have the morbid curiosity to stare at the bodies. She was about to speak before Nightmare Moon walked next to Skystrike and sat down. "...I understand... much more about you now." She forced out, trying to hide her worry. "Your morals... your fear... your megalomania... the reason you wanted to help Luna and I... You see yourself as a monster, don't you?" Skystrike stayed silent as he laid there. "And you knew Luna-... we'd see ourselves as one too." A moment of silence was shared between the three of them. Nightmare Moon took in a deep breath. "I... I wish to assist you with your troubles, Skystrike. To give you the chance that you gave to me. That you can't give to yourself."
Skystrike turned his eyes to look up at the alicorn. "You... you're not-"
"Afraid?" Nightmare shook her head. "Well, I would be lying if I said no, but if I left you here instead of trying to help, what type of friend would I be to you?" She smiled at him.
Luna nodded, showing her agreeance. She sat down on the other side of him. It was time they talked about what happened. "We assume that this... memory... was just before thou returned to thou's hive?"
"Yeah... worst birthday ever." Skystrike gave a sad chuckle. "Hard to believe it's been eleven years. Mom dies on your birthday, get banished two days later. 0 out of 10, wouldn't recommend."
Luna cleared her throat, getting back to the matter at hoof. "We couldn't imagine what thou hadst gone through. But allow us to... give you some words of wisdom. We are who we choose to be. Our moments of weakness should not define us."
Skystrike laid their, taking in the words the princess of the night just said, before words of his own came to him. "You know... for years I blamed Celestia for what happened. Blamed every mistake I made back to this moment. If I just had mom with me, someone like her to guide me through the hardships I had in life, I'd have turned out as someone better. Someone who didn't have to do everything alone. Who didn't have the whole world against him. Who could be there for his friends, his family, in their times of need, instead of hurting them. But after opening up to you two, Celestia, all of my friends around me, I realized how flawed that thinking was. She could've been someone to teach me all of that, but I let my grief blind me. I am in control of my own destiny. And I need to apologize to her." Then he turned to Luna. "I'll send her a letter once I'm awake. For now, Luna, it's your turn."
Luna nodded. "Of course... Though we believe it is best to not to realize that last... memory."
"Knew you'd say that." Skystrike sighed. "I won't force you to watch it through with me, but I need you to unblock it. Like I told you before you began your talks with Nightmare, we have to confront our past, acceptour past. It's the only way we can move forward. I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't follow my own advice."
Luna sighed, but nodded, knowing she couldn't argue his logic. "It is the least we could do for you." She lowered her horn to Skystrike's forehead, and with a flash of light, the memory was restored. "Now, onto the earlier parts... let us work backwards. The unicorn that pierced you, his face, as well as all of the other ponies were obscured. Most likely due to not wanting to remember the faces of thine's fallen foes..." With another flash, another memory returned. "Nightmare, could you go back to when that unicorn first came into his view?"
Nightmare Moon nodded. "Of course." Her long horn glowed, spreading throughout the memory they were in. Time seemed to rewind in front of them, slowing to a halt when the unicorn stood above Skystrike, blade stabbed into his lungs.
They all looked at the unicorn whos hoof was gripping the handle. The alicorns could've sworn they saw him before. A grey coat, with a silver mane and tail slicked back, looking to be in his late thirties at least. "No fucking way..." Skystrike's jaw dropped
"You recognize him?" Nightmare asked.
"That mother fucker!" They were surprised at his yell. "That's fucking MAGNUS! The bitch I fought after you and Celestia called me to Canterlot and put me under Stardust's watch!"
Their heads snapped back to his face. Luna's eyes went wide. "By the moon, you're right! Isn't he still in the prison!?"
Nightmare nodded. "Yes... from our memories, he hasn't been talking much, but he's still awaiting trial. Shining Armor gathered quite the file on him, but that's for later. Why was one of Celestia's most trusted generals here?"
Skystrike blinked. "...Ask him. Luna has the power. And if need be, you can tell your sister." He said, trying to stay calm, sloppily hiding his anger.
"Trust us, it will be the first thing we do once we are done here." Luna assured him. "But there is one last thing we must check." Their foreheads met once more, doing the whole routine of the flash and a restored memory. "Nightmare, to the beginning, where Khrusalis was speaking with him.
One quick rewind later, and Khrusalis was standing in front of them. Even now, Skystrike wished he could say something to her. "I'm sorry... mom. Sorry that I wasn't able to keep our promise. But I'm trying... Despite everything that has happened, I'm still trying. For all of us."
And then the memory played, letting him hear the words that where blocked from his memory all these years. "Skystrike, I can only imagine how hard it will be to truly trust another after what happened to you." She tried her best to hide her pain outwardly. "But, you must find someone to trust. Find someone that you can love with all your being. That is how we truly live. Through the ones we cherish around us."
This time, he'd make sure not to forget those words. "I'll try my best." Skystrike tried to smile. "Thanks for the help, you two. Really. I don't know how I'll make it up to you, but I will."
The two alicorns shook their heads as Luna spoke. "Do not fret over it, dear Skystrike. After thou hath assisted us so much, it is only fair we do the same. But we shall not keep you much longer. It seems somepony wants to awake thee. until next time." Luna waved as a bright light enveloped his vision.
Skystrike felt hooves against his arm, shaking him awake. Skystrike pulled himself up right and looked to the source, seeing Zecora's hooves on his arm. "Oh, good morning, Zecora."
Zecora looked up at him. "Are you alright? You were shaking in your sleep. It gave me a fright!"
Skystrike wiped sleep from his eyes, remembering that he and Zecora shared a wall. "...Yeah, just... a nightmare."
The zebra looked closer at him, seeing the bags under his eyes, feeling his hands shaking in her hooves. "This may not be the best role for me to fit, but if you wish, you can talk to me about it."
The human looked at her, then smiled. "I appreciate it Zecora. We'll talk about it another time, I'm... still not done processing everything." He pet the back of her neck, then turned his head to look out the window. About four in the morning in this time zone.
"There is another reason I awoke you with dawn so near." His attention turned back to Zecora. "My hometown, Farasi... We are here."
Skystrike rotated his body so he was sitting on the bed, making room for Zecora next to him. He motioned for her to sit by patting the spot next to him. Zecora climbed on the bed and sat. "So..." Skystrike started. "I assume that you still haven't decided? In visiting I mean."
She shook her head. "I'm still unsure if I'm prepared, to face them now, my soul's ensnared. I wish to seek your council, what should I pursue? The journey we're on mirrors the one I must go through."
Skystrike hummed. "I guess you're right, I didn't think about it like that." Then he crossed his arms in thought. "Thinking back on the story you gave us yesterday, I... can't tell you what would be the best decision. The optimist in me wants to tell you to give them all the chance to do better. The pessimist in me doesn't expect others to change for the better... I've been hurt too many times to stop that part of my thought process. But the realist in me realizes that Marini, your parents, and everyone else in your past, are different beings than who they are now. Like Tethys said yesterday, it's up to you to decide to give them the chance to do better. Whether it's today, or later down the road."
Zecora thought on his words as a comfortable silence fell between them. It took a few minutes for Zecora to give her final decision. "My mind has been made, and my decision is steady... I do not believe that I am ready."
Skystrike pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her back. Zecora leaned her head onto his chest as she returned it. Then Zecora looked up at Skystrike, her cyan eyes looking into his light blue. Zecora leaned in closer not even sure what she herself was about to do, only to be interrupted by the jingling of Skystrike's door knob.
Zecora, embarrassed, pushed herself off of the human and made enough distance between him before the door opened. "Hey." Elytra entered the room. "My shift's up, and we're over Farasi." The changeling looked at the two, noting Skystrike's confused face and Zecora's flustered one. "Oh my~ I wonder what happened here?"
"Oh, Zecora just wanted some advice and support on her decision." Skystrike stood up and put on a shirt and pants, and finally his helmet. He checked the time, 5:07 in the morning. "You two can head back to sleep, I'll make sure they get dropped off safely." He said as he patted Elytra's back while walking to the bridge. He was barely out of earshot before he heard Elytra laughing.
Questions for later. Thankfully, Elytra parked the ship like he taught her before going to bed. He looked out the side window. Zecora pointed out the capital, Zebrat on the map they were given by the Saddle Arabians. Sure enough, Elytra landed just outside of the port city. It reminded him of Ponyville a bit, but was noticeably different due to having it's own culture. Houses made of painted terracotta, the streets lined with wooden torches, and the decorations were heavily inspired by their surroundings, showing how in tune the residents were with nature.
Skystrike went down to where the Farasians were sleeping and opened the door. Marini, Dune Strider, Tsunami, and Frosty jumped awake at his sudden entrance. "I'm sorry, should've realized you all wouldn't be able to sleep well. He turned his helmet to a collar to show his face. "It's early in the morning, but we're here. In Zebrat."
Marini's ears perked up. "W-we're here? Home? It was so fast! We were in Saddle Arabia just yesterday!"
Dune Strider pulled himself up. "I'm not complaining, I can't wait to get back on dry land."
Frosty nodded, shaking her frigid hair out. "I can't wait to get some Farasian water again. It makes me feel 'whole' if that makes sense."
Tsunami cleared her throat. "I'm not leaving Farasai in a long, long while."
"Don't want to sour the mood." Skystrike stared. "But we're going to be met with some guards or whatever. Can you all do the talking?"
Marini nodded. "Sure thing. It's the least we could do."
It took roughly an hour for the guards to come, speak, take the residents back home, get a map from the guards, then leave. Skystrike was currently combining the new map with the rest of the ones he already had. Their goodbyes were heartfelt, thanking him for saving their lives. Though he got the feeling that Marini either knew Zecora was Zecora, or was disappointed she wasn't Zecora.
Either way, it was something he nor Zecora would have to worry about for a long time. He made sure to check everything before taking off towards Diamondia. Thanks to the map, he realized that the flight to Diamondia was ten hours instead of fourteen. Yawning at his lack of sleep, he slumped back into his chair and rubbed his eyes in an attempt to stay awake. But then he thought that after everything he's been through the past few days, he deserved a small rest. He made sure to put on autopilot before going to sleep.
He woke up a few hours later by a set of claws on his shoulder. Tethys shook him awake, telling him she made breakfast. Their routine over the last several days went the same. Wake up, eat, then spent time with each other to pass the time. Tethys was playing around with her camera, taking pictures of everything she was seeing, from her friends to the infinite horizon from the view of the deck. Zecora was spending most of her time reading and testing the book of potions she got.
And Skystrike was spending time with his sister, Elytra, who was sitting across from him in the bridge. "So..." Elytra started. "We never really got time like this before... What do siblings talk about?"
Skystrike chuckled. "Normally, we just hang out. Wanna play a game of would you rather?"
"Oh I love would you rather!" Pinkie slid in from off screen.
"WHOA JESUS!" Skystrike jumped.
"No, it's Pinkie. Hiya Neby! Hiya Stardust! Or are those your fake names?" Pinkie tilted her head as she pulled up a seat. "You two look cool!"
"I forgot you figured out our secrets." Elytra sighed. "Again, please don't tell anyone."
"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." She did the whole motion. "Also, Skystrike, I did not realize how ripped you were. And I gotta say, nice." She bit her lip.
"Thanks??? Anyway, what all's happening in Ponyville while we're away?" Skystrike leaned on the table.
"Nothing much, honestly." Pinkie pulled a cupcake out of her hair and began to bite into it. "Fluttershy watched over the cutie mark crusaders and Spike the other day. She had to search for them in the forest after they went to find one of her lost chickens and found a cockatrice! I'm just glad they're ok. Fluttershy was able to stare it down."
"Huh... so she can outstare a cockatrice... Neat."
Pinkie sat up straight. "So, are we still gonna play would you rather?"
Elytra nodded. "Sure, I could go for some. And by the way, my real name is Elytra, but call me Stardust as a pony. It's for safety. My kind isn't on... good terms with ponies."
"Okey dokey lokey!" The pink one beamed. "So..." Her face suddenly got serious. "Would you rather be stuck in a mall alone with a gorilla or five black cobras?"
Elytra winced. "Gorilla, I hate snakes." Skystrike looked at her. "Except Naga. She's cute."
"I'm also going with a gorilla. Snakes are so sneaky!" Pinkie nodded.
Skystrike rubbed his chin. "Do the animals know I'm in the mall too, or are we just hanging out in the same area?"
Elytra tilted her head. "Does it matter?"
"Fuck yeah it matters! If they're actively seeking me out, I can hear a gorilla coming much better than snakes." Skystrike explained.
"Ok..." Pinkie thought. "I guess I'll be more specific next time. This is gonna be fun! Your turn, Elytra."
Elytra sat in thought for a few moments. "Would you rather never taste again, or never smell again?"
"Oooo, that's a tricky one!" Pinkie hummed again. "Well, you know I work at Sugar Cube Corner, so I'd need both. But I'd never be able to live without tasting a cupcake again."
"Similar reasoning for me." Skystrike nodded. "I have heightened senses compared to the average pony, so either is gonna suck for me. Smell is like, 70% of taste. Plus, smell is super important, helps me know what's there if I can't see or hear... On the other hand, I won't be able to taste my favorite meals anymore. Just smelling it isn't the same. Imagine biting into something and the only satisfaction you get is texture."
"Huh, you know, that would suck." Elytra said.
"What is your favorite meal, by the way?" Pinkie leaned forward and rested her head on her hooves.
He smirked. "Oh, you know. Fried rice, sandwiches, pizza, ass, pasta-"
"Did you just say ass!?" Elytra began laughing.
"Prove it." Pinkie said. She waited for Skystrike's reaction, it being a wide eyed look of shock and amusement, then fell over in a snorting fit of laughter.
"You know, I gotta admit, wasn't expecting that." Skystrike chuckled along with them. "Guess it's my turn for one... Would you rather brush your teeth, wash your mouth with alcohol, then drink orange juice, or would you eat a table spoon of wasabi then a ghost pepper without any milk?"
"...By the Pantheon, Skystrike, what in Tartarus!? Are you trying to kill someone!?"
"Sweet Celestia, that's a hard choice. Both suck... But I can barely handle spicy. The rainbows in the cloud factory was already a lot and you drank it like it was nothing. Jeez, the orange juice is gonna suck."
"Yeah, I'm with Pinkie on this one. How'd you even think of that one?"
"I've experienced both, and personally, I like the spicy." He shrugged.
"Hey, don't mean for a sudden shift in convo, but where are you on your way to now, Sky? It's been ten days since you've left. Figured you'd have made it some place by now." Pinkie began rocking in her chair.
"Oh, we've been places. Stopped in Trottingham for a night, then went to Griffonstone. Just dealt with some... issues, but we're on our way to Diamondia. Should be there in... four hours about?" Skystrike checked the clock on the wall. "Hard to truly know, haven't been paying attention to the time zones."
"Oh, it's about ten in the morning back home." Pinkie smiled at him. "I'll tell everypony that it's best to visit in the morning." Then her eyes lit up. "Oh! That reminds me, I know you told me to check on Vinyl for you, and she's doing well. Just not too talkative. Also, you got mail!" She reached into her mane and pulled out a couple letters. "Anyway, I gotta go. We're having a sale today, so it's gonna be busy. I'll see you two later!"
"Alright, Pinkie. See you later." Skystrike said as he and Elytra waved to her as she hopped out of the room. He skimmed over the names of each letter quickly, the senders being Moondancer, Paprika and the rest of his siblings, And a few letters from the village he and Tethys saved. Skystrike rolled his neck. "So, Elytra, wanna read these with me?"
"Sure. I got time."
It only took a few more hours to get to their destination: Diamondia. Having no idea where to start looking for their friend, the group of four decided to land on the outskirts of what is assumed to be their capital. The castle was pretty similar to Canterlot, albeit smaller and in the middle of a valley, rather than the top of a mountain. What was more interesting about it was how the castle was built next to a large ravine, going on for miles and miles. The houses were made of marble white stone, with wooden roofs. Jeshan did say that his kind loved digging. Makes sense with the whole 'Diamond Dog' thing now that Skystrike thought about it.
Walking off the ship, Skystrike looked over the valley and breathed in. Took a little while to get used to the change in air, but he, and the rest of his friends welcomed it. "So..." Skystrike stretched. "I've parked far enough away so no guards or anything will come to us. You all would know better than me, do any of you know where Jeshan would be?"
Elytra hummed in thought. "Well, he said he'd set up a shop, making tools and stuff..." Then she had another thought. "Jeshan also said in passing that he'd settle down, since he's getting to that age."
Tethys made a confused face. "Wait, he'd be... 36 now, right? Is that old for his kind?"
Zecora shook her head. "His lifespan mimics the rest of us, a good century without a fuss."
"So we have... no leads." Skystrike gave a small sigh. "About what I expected. Let's split into two groups, it'll be quicker this way." Skystrike looked closer at the city, noticing how few buildings one would expect for a capital. Then he noticed dozens of stairways leading into the ravine the castle was built next to. Logic would assume that Diamond Dogs would live underground. "On second thought... Don't really know the culture too well here, but like most nations, they're most likely not too keen on visitors. Top that with how we don't look the friendliest..." Skystrike began walking down the hill, motioning for his friends to follow.
"I've always wanted to come here!" Tethys pumped a fist into the air. "Jeshan always said that he'd treat me to some gems here. Hopefully it lives up to the hype he gave it."
"You know, I never asked, how do gems taste?" Elytra asked.
"Well, depends on the gem. The more magic dense a gem is, the 'juicer' it tastes, if that makes sense. Each gem has a different flavor, and each color has a different... spice?" Tethys crossed her arms over her chest. "It's super hard to explain. Especially since I haven't had any in a while."
Skystrike had hos own question. "Does the cut of the gem change anything?"
"Only the texture. We need to have Jeshan explain it when we find him."
The four of them began walking on the paved road, looking through the rather small upper city, getting looks from the Dogs going about their days. But then Skystrike realized that some looked... familiar with his races past media. His eyes darted around as he recognized more and more Dogs. Is that-... Is that Loona from Helluva Boss? Scooby doo?? Whitney from Animal Crossing???
Zecora looked at the human. "Are you ok, Skystrike? The look on your face is not one I like."
"Y-yeah, just... a lot of whiplash." Skystrike shook his head in an attempt to get the thoughts out of his mind. Surprisingly, there were no stops from the residents or any of the guards. Whether that was because they were peaceful, or Skystrike's group was intimidating, they'd never know, but they got to the lower city no problem.
Sure enough, the city within the ravine was much, much larger than the one above ground. Each building carved into the stone walls, glowing light breaching the doorways inside. There were many Diamond Dogs of all shapes, sizes, and colors, going about their days. From the looks of it, Skystrike, Elytra, Tethys, and Zecora entered the market district. Colorful lights and wooden signs marked each store, a dozen food vendors being the majority of the stores open. Decorative moss hung off the edges of the stone railing, Skystrike even seeing some gardeners tending to them. He looked at the wooden suspension bridges allowing for easy travel to the opposite side of the ravine.
"So... how would we start looking for the guy? Jeshan always did keep most of his thoughts to himself." Elytra flew into the air behind him and put her forehooves on Skystrike's shoulders.
Skystrike put her back legs under his arms and began to carry her. "Well, assuming he did start that shop of his, he'd be around here. We should ask around."
Tethys looked at Elytra on his back. "You know, I kinda forget you two are siblings... Now, what can I do to convince you to get me some gems from that vendor over there?" She pointed to a Diamond Dog at a food cart, holding small paper bags of gemstones.
He smirked and walked up to the stall, making eye contact with the vendor. She looked to be a sort of Cocker Spaniel, with brown fur and eyes. He also noticed that she, like every other Dog, had large... paws? Hands? More than likely to assist in digging. She greeted the group with a smile. "Well hello there! Never seen your kinds around these parts. What can I do for you?"
"I'd like a bag of these gems." Skystrike motioned to Tethys. "She got a whiff of the smell I guess, and wanted a taste." Skystrike moved one arm under Elytra to keep carrying her as he reached for his bag of bits.
"No problem! That's five bits." She put the bag of gems in Tethys' claws.
Skystrike put the bits in the Dogs hands as Tethys happily ate. "Thank you. Now, if you don't mind, we're looking for a certain dog. It's been a few years since we've seen him, but he said he came back to his homeland. Skystrike raised his free hand to his collarbone. "About this high, dark purple, almost black fur. He has golden hair in his ears, as well as a tattoo over his left eye that the eye of Horus. Purple eyes, but he lost one of them." Skystrike tried to think of any more defining details.
But luckily he didn't have to. "Oh, Jeshan, right? Yeah, I know him! My son and I stop by every once in a while to get some new toys. I never imagined you all were the friends he spoke about! Here to visit him?"
Skystrike smiled and nodded. "Yeah. Nice to see he's still kicking, and that he mentions us. I'm Skystrike, this is Tethys, Elytra, and Zecora. Hopefully he said some good things." He introduced the group. "Would you tell us where his shop is?"
"Sure, no problem!" She pointed to the stairs. "Two levels down, cross the bridge to the other side, and its the store with the gold engraved sign called 'Artifunner'. You can't miss it!"
Skystrike thanked his luck, then thanked her. "I appreciate that, miss...?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, my name is Lady! I'm just watching the stall today while my husband, Tramp is out digging."
'You've GOTTA be shitting me.' Skystrike thought. "Well thanks, Lady. I hope to see you around."
"No problem, Skystrike. Hope you all enjoy the visit to Dimondia"
With that, they parted ways, the group following the explained path to them and stopping in front of the shop. 'Artifunner' was such a silly name, Skystrike had to admit, but it fit the jackal. Unfortunately, it was currently closed. It made sense, it was the afternoon here after all. "Damn..." Elytra went. "May be worth waiting though. Most shops still have clean up to do so someone may still be in there?"
Skystrike looked up at her, then sat down to wait. Tethys and Zecora did the same as he began to make small talk. "You know, it's nice not having to look down as much to talk to beings."
"Tell me about it." Tethys sighed. "I probably got neck problems from how often I need to look down at you all."
Elytra laughed. "We don't have it any better down here. Hurts sometimes to look up at you two."
Skystrike laughed too. "You know, I didn't think about it like that."
Tethys then looked around. "You know, I think I might do clothes shopping here. Diamond Dogs have a similar build to mine, with the tail and all... would just need to get everything a few sizes bigger... makes me feel fat."
Zecora tried to hide her smile as she said. "...I mean-" Elytra and Skystrike couldn't help but make a face in an attempt to not laugh.
Tethys huffed. "I hate you so much sometimes." She smirked.
"Might come with you. I need clothes for this body. Sweatpants too short for me isn't hitting anymore." He rubbed his chin. "...Actually, maybe not here. I've notice that most the dogs here wear a cloak or vest, and all of them wear a collar. I get because how their fur is already hot but... I dunno, I'm probably overthinking things."
"Eh, you could probably fit a vest." A husky, nostalgic voice said approaching them. Skystrike just realized that the voice might be on purpose.
Skystrike looked up to see him stop in front of them. It was Jeshan, fitting the description that he gave to Lady earlier. He never was one for change. Though with one feature that was noticeably different. The left eye he lost a few years ago was replaced with a purple gem.
"Well damn, hey Jeshan!" Elytra jumped off Skystrike's back and began buzzing in front of the Diamond Dog. "You know, I was expecting more of a... surprised look from you."
"Oh, I am surprised, don't get me wrong." He waved a paw. "Figured it'd happen sooner or later. Honestly I'm more surprised how quick it happened. It's been what, a bit over two years? I imagine it took a while to get the three of you here-" Then his eyes fell on Skystrike. "Oh, a new face..." He approached Skystrike and looked up at him, his snout wrinkling as he took in his smell. His eyes widened as he tilted his head. "Damn, Skystrike, what fuckery did you get into?"
Skystrike and the rest couldn't help but laugh at Jeshan's words, then more at the confused look he gave us. "Damn, you haven't changed. It's good to see you again, but you recognized me just from smell?"
"I'm a Dog. It's what we do." He shrugged. "Now, dap me up." Jeshan smiled and pulled back an open hand. Skystrike did the same before they both swung their hands forward, the clap echoing throughout the ravine. "My Dawg." Then he turned to the other three. "Tethys, Zecora, Elytra, I see you three are doing well too. We'll talk more once we're inside." The jackal reached into his satchel and retrieved a key, unlocking the door to his shop.
It was a simple shop, though from how Skystrike saw Jeshan smile slightly, it was something he was proud of. Hard wood floors, rich wood shelving that was lined with rows of various toys that were made of various types of stone and decorated with jewels. At the back of the store stood a counter, as well as various tools for Jeshan's work. Saws, chisels, grinders, everything one would need to do his job. "It's a beauty, isn't it. Made all of this stuff by paw... Oh yeah, I'm a mix of a carpenter and a stone smith. This is what I did with all the money you left me, Skystrike."
"Well, nice to see you're doing good for yourself, Jeshan. I knew you were good at wood working, but not to this level." Skystrike leaned down and looked at one of the toys. A wooden puzzle cube, one where you had to figure out how to take it apart and put it back together.
"I had a lot of time to practice. Plus, in this city of stone, carpentry scene isn't that big. Upside, I have almost no competition. Downside, I have a huge backlog of work to do."
Tethys picked up a stone sculpture of a Diamond Dog, seeing the detail Jeshan went through. "And you do all of this yourself?"
"Well, yes, but technically no. I'll explain later." Skystrike walked behind the counter and opened a door further back. From the light shining through and from the little furniture he could see, Skystrike assumed that it went further back into a living area. "Honeys!" He called out.
"Yeah!?" An upbeat feminine voice responded.
"Could you set the table for six and make a pot of tea!? We have guests! Those old friends I told you about!"
They heard her get up. But then a second voice, still feminine answered. "Alright!"
They all looked confused at Jeshan, who looked back at them. "Oh, sorry, did I not mention?" He flashed two silver rings, one on each of his ring fingers, each have the same engraving.. One was made of what seemed to be gold as a primary and ebony as a secondary material, while the other was revered. "I have fiances. They said yes a few months ago."
Tethys picked Jeshan up and hugged him. "Oh my gosh, congratulations! We have so much to talk about!"
Zecora nodded. "I'm thrilled you found joy, my dear friend, but you mentioned 'they', who did you intend?"
"Yeah, are they non-binary?" Elytra asked.
Skystrike shook his head. "A possibility, but we heard two voices, and he has two rings."
"Well, you're both wrong." Jeshan waved them into the interior and sat them town at their dining room table. Soon, his fiance joined them, putting out tea plates and cups for each. She, or they poured each of them a cup of tea and sat down with the group. "They're an Orthros." One body with silver underbelly and black fur held two heads on it. One head seemed to be a Husky, with light blue eyes and the neck fluff one would expect. The other head was a Border Collie with the same light blue eyes. She was a full head taller than Jeshan.
"Hello!" The left head, an upbeat Border Collie greeted them. "My name is Eleanor!"
The the right head, the Husky, waved their right arm. "I'm Maple."
Skystrike stared. The two stared back. "...Holy shit, someone finally eye height with me." He smirked. "But nice to meet you two. I'm Skystrike, this is Tethys, Elytra, and Zecora. We're some friends of Jeshan. We were in the area, figured we'd catch up."
Jeshan tilted his head. "Wait, you're not here to get rid of that curse on your body?"
Skystrike laughed and shook his head. "Oh, this isn't a curse." Skystrike spread his arms out so they got a better look at him. "This is what I am. Human. To sum it up quickly, I grew up with Changelings and got their transformation magic to look like a pony for the last... seventeen years of my life. But, I need to be more honest with myself, and that means being honest with you, and the rest of our friends."
Jeshan sat up straight, a serious face growing on his muzzle. "So... you came here to apologize?"
Skystrike sighed. "...Yeah."
Jeshan tilted his head again. "...Dude, you're stupid." Everyone's eyes widened slightly. "Sorry, that came out wrong. What I mean to say is that we know you well enough to know why you left like that. None of us blame you. Most of us just wish we knew the reason why. We've been in danger before."
"Yeah, but not because of me." Skystrike clenched his head. "You lost your eye for goodness sake!"
"While true, losing my friend hurt even more." Jeshan sighed. "So let me get this straight, you left because you thought being around us would bring danger to us?" Skystrike nodded. "Dude, you're stupid."
Tethys couldn't help but chuckle as Skystrike responded. "Yeah, I guess I am. But I did what I felt like was the best choice at the time. I didn't want to put any of you in danger anymore."
Jeshan looked at Tethys, then Elytra and Zecora. The Diamond Dog sighed. "Well, I won't hound you about it. Knowing these three, they probably went in way harder than me." Thethys grinned and nodded. "Lets move on to happier subjects. How're all your lives going so far?"
Skystrike rubbed the back of his head and took a sip of the tea he remembered he was served. "Well, it's... going for sure. Decided to put down my roots in this small town called Ponyville. Got a bit more attached than I initially thought I would, but I don't regret it. Got some good friends. Still do the merc job, but I've been trying new avenues. Honestly, I'm still exploring what all my hobbies are."
Zecora did the same. "I moved to Ponyville, where tales do swell, learning of the Everfree's ingredients well. To meet Skystrike there, what a surprise to find, and then came Elytra, further entwined. In the forest, I brew potions with care, while with friends, I spend time whenever we're there."
Elytra nodded. "Yeah, after we split up, I couldn't exactly go back to the hive. Decided I'd be a guard. My pony name is Stardust. Whether you want to chalk it up to coincidence or fate, I ended up getting assigned to Skystrike." She looked at the man in question. "Someone here decided they wanted to draw the eye of the princess. But Ponyville is a pretty nice place to live. Gained a few ponies I'd like to spend time with myself."
Tethys finished her tea in one sip. "I didn't do much besides sleep and eat once we split up. Had a few fights here and there with some other dragons, but nothing major. Eventually, I got called to deal with some dragons in north Equestria, and I met Skystrike by chance. Moved in with him once out jobs were done."
Skystrike continued for them group. "We've been meeting up with the rest of the group too. Went to Maud's graduation for her masters, and met up with Casta while there. Met up with Alder a few days ago as well."
Jeshan's ears faced forward. "Well, good to see life's going well for all of you. Didn't think it was fair that I was the only one who found happiness." He held his wives paw. "Wish I could see them all again. Maybe I'll come visit Equestria again sometime." Then his ears flicked around in thought. "Wait... how'd you get from Griffonstone to here in a matter of days? It took me weeks just to exchange one letter with that old bird!"
"Oh, Skystrike played the princesses and got an airship." Tethys grinned.
Jeshan smirked. "Really now? How'd you manage that?"
"He fought the Captain of the Royal Guard and an Alicorn at the same time and won."
"ALONE?!" Jeshan yelled. He clicked his tongue. "Sorry, didn't mean to shout... Just didn't know you had it in you."
"Honestly, I just had to hit them really hard. Plus, most ponies aren't used to fighting a pegasus at close range. But enough about us." Skystrike leaned forward and sipped some more of his tea. "How'd you two meet?"
Jeshan smirked. "Didn't take you for one to like gossip, Skystrike." Then he turned to his fiances. "You two want to tell them? Last time I explained this all, you said I didn't give enough detail, Eleanor."
"That's because you gave a one sentence answer to all your guy friends." She rubbed her head against Jeshan's shoulder, making the rest of the girls awe.
Maple smiled. "Well, I am fond of the way we met. It was a bit over two years ago in the fall. Jeshan told me he was only back in Diamondia for four months before we met. Because of our two heads, We've been... shunned by our kind. Seen as a curse. We lived in the forests a few miles south of here, and met Jeshan by chance. He was gathering wood from my part of the forest for his work, and us for firewood in prep for the winter."
Eleanor continued Maple's story. "He was interested in us instead of fearful. We offered him wood in place of food, and admittedly, his company. I don't know how, but he was able to get me entry into the city. From there, I confessed. Two years later, we all went back to the same forest. Proposed to us there with a box carved from the wood of our forest, and the rings from his favorite stones. It's only been two months since."
Elytra cooed. "Awww, that's adorable! So he just proposed! Congratulations you two-... three??"
Eleanor and Maple laughed, then the former spoke. "Don't think on it too hard. Two minds, one body."
"Thanks though, Elytra, and the rest of you." Jeshan leaned forward. "You all have impeccable timing as well. While we don't know when the wedding will be yet, I'd be honored to have you all as groomsman and bridesmaids."
A smile creaked on Skystrikes face. "It'd be my honor. Though I need to get a suit for this body... Actually, might have to come as a pony."
"As long as you're there, it doesn't matter what form you're in." Jeshan looked to the girls. "And you three?"
Zecora shot up, putting her hooves on the table. "I'd love to join! This'll be a blast! So much to prepare, let's get ready fast!"
Elytra did the same. "What's the theme!? Where is it going to happen!? What color should I wear!?"
Tethys turned to the Diamond Dogs. "We actually have a pony friend who makes our clothes. If you want, she could make you some dresses and suits when you visit."
Eleanor's ears perked up. "That sounds wonderful! Oh, you all have no idea how much I've wanted to talk about this with someone!"
Skystrike turned to Jeshan, who got up from the table with his cup of tea. Skystrike got his and stood up. Jeshan looked at him with a smirk. "Heh... Women." The two began laughing, leaning back as they did so. Jeshan took a long sip of his tea before continuing to laugh along with the human. Then Skystrike took a longer, louder sip of his. It quickly became a competition, each sipping their tea progressively louder before they were done. They gave each other a look before Jeshan looked back at the women talking. "...They're gonna be at it for a while. Guy time?"
"Guy time." Skystrike nodded as Jeshan led him out of the front door.
"Sweet. There's quite a few things we could do. Roxanne Wolf has a show going on tonight, and I wanted to see if she really taught an alligator to play the guitar. One of my bud's Clifford is having a cookout. He's a big, red Dog, and a real softie. He makes a lot of food, probably still prepping. My friends Snoopy and Goofy are gonna be there too."
"Sounds like we're doing the cookout." Skystrike tried to push the names out of his mind. There's no fucking way they were all coincidences. They crossed over a bridge to the other side of the ravine and walked further down. From the smell of it, Skystrike figured they were going to the food part of the market. The smell of raw meat and poultry filled his nostrils, but he was surprised at the smell of fish. "Oh, I didn't know you guys had sea food!"
Jeshan nodded. "Yeah, there's a lot of underground caverns that bring in all different types. Fish, squid, crab, almost every type. Downside is that they're expensive. The deeper you go, the bigger they get, and the more they fight back."
Skystrike tilted his head to look down at Jeshan. He grinned. "...Wanna go hunt for that cookout that Clifford is having?"
"Hell yeah." Jeshan fist bumped him. "So, got any stronger since we split?"
"You have no idea." Skystrike chuckled. "It was all I focused on when we split. Wanted to be strong enough to protect all of you. To not lose anymore of you. I'll show you once we find a good catch... Speaking of, how's the eye?"
"Oh, right." Jeshan scratched under the spot under where his left eye was, and where the purple gem replaced it. "Got it fitted a bit over a year ago. Depth perception was a bitch for a while, but it turned out fine. Found the gem myself. It's an amethyst, dug from the deepest part of the mines under the city. Remembered some potion from Zecora that let me take the heat. The purity helps the magic etched on it work better. Casta gave me some magic circles before we split that I etched into the amethyst." He opened his left eyelid and tapped it. Skystrike saw the countless engravings on it. "Basically, it images things in front of me and puts it in my brain. On top of that, I made some upgrades to it after a lot of studying. Works better than my old one actually."
"Oh, cool I guess... Still sorry I put you through it." Skystrike rubbed the back of his head.
"Don't worry about it." Jeshan shook his head. "Besides, looking at your scars, you had it the worst out of all of us... Zecora and Casta told me about it, you know? How you tore apart those ponies that were after us. And from the look of uneasiness you've been giving me since you got here, there's a lot more on your mind than just visiting old friends... Wanna get something off your chest?"
Skystrike sighed. "You were always able to pick up on the slightest things." He huffed as they kept walking. "You're right... this isn't just a simple visit..." And as they walked, Skystrike spilled everything. Once he started, it didn't stop. All the things he went through before he met up with all of them, what he did after they disbanded, what he found out a couple months ago.
The rushing water of words finally finished, and what awaited was the wide eyed look from the Diamond Dog. "That's... a lot.... Well, glad you came by before your condition got worse. But hey, I wish you luck with the generating mass thing... Also, you were kidding about the genie, right?"
"I wish." He chuckled. "But no one deserves to be locked up like that. Figured I'd give her the freedom that I had."
"Oh yeah, you're technically an alien, huh?" Jeshan looked at the sky through the ravine. "And that whole thing with your princesses is... also a lot. Well, if it doesn't go well, know that I got your back. I can give you a place to stay for a long while. Anyway, we're here."
Skystrike looked at the entrance of the offshoots of the ravine. There weren't any other Diamond Dogs nearby, the only mention that other life has been through here were wooden supports that seemed to have been there for years. The entrance to the cave was ginormous, big enough for Tethys to comfortably stretch her wings. He heard the sound of rushing water. Skystrike yawned as he stretched. "So, what are we hunting for?"
"Whatever we find." Jeshan began walking down.
Skystrike followed him. "What happened to your staff? You don't need any weapons?"
He tapped his gem eye. "Remember when I said I got some upgrades? And the staff is in my bedroom. Looks nice on a plaque. What about you?" Skystrike answered by putting up his metal arm and turning the hand into a rifle. "Oh, that's actually pretty cool."
"Yeah, comes in useful." Skystrike nodded as they continued their walk in comfortable silence. It took a few minutes of walking before they entered an even larger opening, housing an underwater lake. Several rivers flowed in from several directions. Seemed to be an underground spring. Looking around further, he noticed that despite there being no light, the roof and walls of the cave were covered with a glowing moss. Vines hung off of the stalactites, giving birth to glowing yellow berries.
Jeshan picked one and threw it into his mouth, chomping down on it with his canines. "They're pretty good. A good snacking food."
Skystrike tried one, the sweet juice filling his mouth. "Oh hey, they are pretty good." Skystrike pulled out a blanket from his satchel. "Could you help me collect some? I think I can make a good jam out of these! Maybe if I dry them, I can make something like grapes! What are these called?"
"Glow berries." Jeshan looked up at a large vine. He opened his left eye wide before the amethyst started to glow a bright purple light. The light then condensed into a small beam of energy, cutting off one of the vines from the rest. Thankfully, Skystrike reacted fast enough to catch it. "Pretty cool, huh?"
"That's really fuckin cool!" Skystrike decided to put the entire vine in the blanket and tying it up. "Might copy that, not gonna lie. I mostly make projectile weapons and cool armor."
"It was pretty cool." Jeshan thought back to the memory, then further back to the group as a whole. "Hey, can I ask you something? It might be a bit intrusive, so you don't have to answer."
"Go for it."
"Well, from what you said a few minutes ago, Elytra's your sister, so I doubt it's her. Are you with Tethys or Zecora? Or both, I know you ponies have herds or whatever."
Skystrike turned to look at him. "...What? Are you crazy? They don't even like me like that?"
Jeshan sighed and sat down next to the lake and motioned for Skystrike to sit next to him. "Normally, I'd make fun of you for your density, but I'll be serious. You're a good guy, and thus, you're getting quite a lot of attention... At least from what you say about your life in Pony town."
"Ponyville, but where are you going with this?"
"Well, as someone lucky enough to fall in love, this aspect of you reminds me of a younger me... Mostly the naivety." Jeshan sighed. "So let me give you some advice. You can let your fear hold you back. You're already leagues better than years ago, but you have a lot more work to do. You need to live the life you have... and hurting others, accidental or otherwise, is a part of it."
"...I'm confused... I get the words you're saying, but I don't really see how that relates to the current me."
"Alright, so let me say it straight." Jeshan picked up a rock and skipped it across the lake. "Subconsciously or not, you're still afraid of hurting those close to you. Like you said during your story earlier, it wasn't until you realized that you hurt us that you wanted to come and apologize. Correct me if I'm wrong, but from the little I've seen, is comes off that you're afraid to get too close to anyone else again, especially since you lives effectively half your lifespan." Skystrike thought about the words he said. Sad to say, Jeshan was probably right... Skystrike decided to stay silent. Jeshan juggled another rock in his paw and skipped it across the lake again. "So, would you rather be comfortable, with nothing truly changing, or do you want to try and be happy?"
Skystrike sighed and laid his back on the ground, spreading his arms out. "You know, I was not expecting to think this hard today... But you're right. I want to be happy." Skystrike laid in silence for a while, thinking on what to do next. "...Am I really that dense?"
Jeshan chuckled. "Depends, how many times have you been called it?"
Skystrike sighed, then chuckled as. "Enough where my older sister won't let me hear the end of it."
"That bad?" He laughed now. "Well, sounds like you got your work cut out for you. Won't say anymore for those two's sake. Let's get back to what we're here for: seafood. Well, cave food, whatever."
Skystrike sat up and looked into the water. "So, what are we expecting?"
"Well, these are the more dangerous parts of the mines... Honestly I'm surprised nothing jumped out yet." Jeshan looked closer at the water. "But if you want to know what we can get that tastes good, in order from least to most dangerous, Crabbits, Rockfish, Fishron is my favorite, and the Pistol Shrimp."
"You know, I heard about two of those. But I'd like a bit more detail." Skystrike began looking through the water too. There were some schools of fish, resting at the bottom, while the larger ones roamed the upper levels.
"So Crabbits are a weird mix of Crabs and Rabbits. Surprisingly, they taste like the best parts of both. Quick fuckers, and have pretty big claws, but they hurt if you're caught. Downside is that the bigger ones are deeper, and well hidden." Jeshan began counting on his digits. "Rockfish is a type of snapper. Sweet taste, but their scales are as tough as rocks, hence the name. Decent size too. Fishron is HUGE!" He spread out his arms to give emphasis. "The size of a building, tusks the size of me. Has the head of a pig and the body of a shark, and two sets of bat-like wings. One of the kings of the seas. During this time of year, it nests to hatch its young. Best meat I've had in my life." He was beginning to drool. "But it's hard to wake up, let alone get it out of the water to fight, so I've only had it once as a pup... And then there's the Pistol Shrimp."
Skystrike noticed him shuddering. "Pistol Shrimp? Is it that bad?"
Jeshan shook his head. "Well, alone, no. But they come in groups of at least thirty. All of them are about the size of a pony. Their main claw, the one you have to worry about, can store water and shoot it out with enough force to break another one's shell, which is also as hard as a rock. They come in two colors, red and blue, which we call Bloods and Crips."
'No FUCKING WAY' Skystrike shouted in his mind. "Sh-... Shrimps are having gang wars!??"
"Yeah, it's... very, very dangerous. Worst part is that they crawl out of the water to shoot their water guns." Jeshan's ears went back. "On the upside, they do have very distinct call signs for when something happens."
"Like?" Skystrike asked.
Jeshan wasn't able to answer before he heard a new voice was heard, bubbling from within the water. There was no right way yo describe it. It sounded rough, and the sound of rubbing chitin joined it as it came to their ears. As soon as the words kissed their ears, dread fell upon their face. "AYO CUH PULLUP!"
By instinct, the two ran behind a rock on the far side of the cave for cover. Their backs slammed against the stone as they looked at eachother. Skystrike began to whisper. "You didn't tell me they could fucking talk!"
"I was getting to it!" Jeshan whispered back. The Dog peaked around the rock. Skystrike did the same. "Shit... I'm seeing thirty Bloods... I think they heard us earlier."
The shrimps looked around the cave for their next victim. "Run dat fade, Shrigga!" Skystrike blinked. Are... are they allowed to say that? That word implies... so much that he doesn't want to think about. "Ay, where did cuz go?" One spoke. "On gang, these fools must be buggin. You must know not that I'm thuggin..." A second went. "I'M A BIG DOG BIG BEAR SHRIGGA I'M A LION!" A third sang. "SHUT THE FUCK UP JUDAH!" They all screamed at him.
"Ay cuz, you know where you at?" A new voice spoke. Even the Bloods turned around to see where the voice came from. It was similar to theirs. Skystrike and Jeshan peaked out again to see another gang of Pistol Shimps, but blue this time.
Jeshan cursed under his breath. "Shit, there's Crips too!?" He held his head and opened his mouth wide, shock and terror across his face. "That's the Crips!"
"Ay gang, the hell y'all doin' on our turf!? This is our lake! WEST SIDE!" A Crip Shrimp went.
"Fuck you mean 'our turf' this is Blood territory! EAST SIDE!" A Blood Shrimp replied. "I will ice you, on BLOOD!"
'What the actual fuck am I looking at?' Skystrike sighed. He knew the danger of the situation, but couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity.
Trying to stifle a laugh, the attention of the shrimps were now on each other. They eyed each other as their primary claws were pointed forward. Each of the shrimps used their tails for a brace. "SHRIGGA WHO THE FUCK YOU TALKING TO!? GET YO GOOFY ASS ON!" A Blood went, firing the first shot. It grazed a Crip, making them fire back. Soon, a whole shootout engulfed the cave.
Expletives were shouted at the opposite gangs as beams of water were rapid fires. The two friends looked at each other as the water bullets hit the rock they were taking cover behind. Jeshan winced as stone shrapnel hit him. "Damn it, they're destroying our cover! I don't think we have time to wait them out!"
Skystrike nodded. "Well, sounds like we're caught in the crossfire..." Skystrike turned his right arm into a rifle and peaked out of the cover of the stone. He fired two shots of raw mana taking out a Blood and Crip. The shrimps began firing at him too. Jeshan, knowing there was no way they were getting out of this without a fight, began charging magic within his eye, shooting beams of purple light at the shrimps alongside the human.
Soon, the rock Skystrike and Jeshan were behind broke, forcing Skystrike to make a barrier of ice, curving it so most of the impact of the water bullets were deflected. "IT'LL TAKE MORE THAT THAT TO GET ME, YOU OVERGROWN SEA BUGS!" Skystrike shouted as he began using rapid fire, not caring about accuracy. Surely with how many there are, he'd hit something.
"Killer BEEEEEEEAM!" Jeshan yelled as he kept firing lasers. "Heh... always wanted to say that."
It took almost half an hour for them to finish. Though they had some scrapes and cuts, they were alive, and they stood overlooking the bodies of roughly sixty Pistol Shrimp in various states. Some were split in half, others just missing their heads. Most had holes in various parts of their body. All were gonna take a while to process. Skystrike huffed and looked at Jeshan. "How many of these do you want?"
Jeshan looked over them. "Honestly, one feeds me and the hubbies for three to four meals. A good ten will feed us for a bit over a week... Did you still want to go to that cookout Clifford is hosting?"
Skystrike nodded. "Yeah, let's just start moving these away from the lake... One of us will have to get something to transport these back."
Jeshan flicked an ear. "Oh, right, give me a minute." Jeshan held a digit to his temple. "Hey, Eleanor, Maple, we got a lot of food. Pistol Shrimp to be exa-... No I'm fine, Skystrike took out most of them-... I figured we could put all of this in cold storage. Plus, it's your favorite meal... Thank you, I love you both... See you when I get home... Oh, you'll be at Clifford's? Alright, tell him we're bringing some Shrimp!"
The human looked at his Diamond Dog companion. "Was that... telepathy?"
"That, but with extra steps. There's a device in the house that lets me hear what's going on in there and lets me speak through it. It's real handy."
"I believe it. She sounded worried."
"Well, you saw how dangerous those Shrimp were first hand. Elytra and Tethys are stopping by your ship to get stuff to carry these back." Jeshan began moving the Shrimp, picking up a Crip and walking back towards the entrance. Skystrike did the same as Jeshan began to speak. "So... you gonna think about what I said earlier? You know, about Tethys and Zecora."
"Oh... yeah..." He winced. "I will, it's... just gonna take me a while to get out of this mindset..."
"Great. I'm wishing you the best of luck, Sky... Now let's try to get this done quick. If you don't mind, I want you to teach me how to make Shrimp Alfredo."
"How the hell did you get this much shrimp, Jeshan!?" A large, red Vizsla dog looked at the Shrimp they were cooking on the grill. The Dog could give Tethys a run for her money based of his size.
Jeshan chuckled. "I'll tell you about it another time, Clifford. Besides, I'm in the middle of learning how to cook this Alfredo."
Clifford slapped Skystrike's back, nearly winding him. "Jeshan tells me a lot about you, though! Thanks for getting this Dog out alive."
Jeshan elbowed Clifford. "Sorry about him."
"No, it's fine." Skystrike shrugged. "If anything, I'm sorry about Tethys..." The three turned their heads from their cooking utensils to look at the dragoness. She was laughing as she flexed her muscles through her sweater just after she beat the tenth Diamond Dog in a row at arm wrestling. The loser paid her a small bag of bits. "But I will also say, I don't know what they were expecting."
Clifford shrugged. "Eh, that's on them. Now, keep explaining this 'Shrimp Alfredo'. Jeshan said you used to make this in your travels."
"Well, we're already done with most of the steps..." Skystrike put a stick of butter in the pan. It was massive for a pan, but so was Clifford the big red dog. "We already cooked the pasta, now we just season this with salt and pepper to taste, then saute it. Finally, add the garlic, cook for 30 more seconds, and..." He quickly did the steps as he spoke before putting it on top of the pasta. "There, Pistol Shrimp Alfredo... damn this thing is massive."
Jeshan got a fork, then pulled off a piece of white flesh from the crustacean, as well as wrapped some of the creamy parmesan pasta around the fork. He took a bite, making his eyes light up. "God, this is better than I remember! Hold on, I need to go get Eleanor and Maple!" Jeshan quickly ran to his wives with the plate.
Skystrike chuckled as he looked up to Clifford. "You got this?"
"Yeah! Thanks for the recipe again!" Clifford nodded as he got back to cooking.
"Hey, Skystrike!" Tethys called out to him.
Skystrike took off his apron and looked at her, seeing Zecora, Elytra, Jeshan, and his spouses next to her. He walked up and leaned on the table. "Yo, what do you need?"
"Jeshan asked the age old question." Elytra sighed. "If you or Tethys is stronger."
Skystrike gave a small sigh then chuckled. "That's a question quite profound, One worth asking, I have found." Zecora said as she leaned on the table with him.
"No it's not..." Skystrike smirked. "Only thing this old fossil can handle is a glass of warm milk."
"Shots fired!" Elytra laughed as Tethys's eyes went wide.
Then her eyes narrowed. "Oh, someone's confident... hopefully that ego of yours is as big as your mouth."
"...Tethys we need to work on your shit talking." Skystrike laughed before standing up. "I know you'll want more than a simple arm wrestle. Besides, that wouldn't be fair. We're both right handed." He clenched his metal fist. "So what, do you suggest we do?"
Tethys crossed her arms and closed her eyes in thought. "Hmm... wrestling?"
"Do you know how to wrestle?"
"Yeah, this'll be easy! Can't wait to put you in the ground!"
Skystrike's smirk grew wider as he stepped away from the table, noticing the small crowd around them. Sure, she had almost two feet on him and was double his weight, but he had a few tricks up his sleeve. He put his arms up in front of him. "Ready when you are."
Tethys immediately lunged at him in an attempt to grab him. Though surprised a bit, he had more than enough time to run forward and slide between her legs and under her tail. Her wings were spread wide in an attempt to stop Skystrike from getting on her back. Unfortunately for her, that wasn't his goal in the first place. He locked his arms around her waist and pushed one claw off the ground with his foot before leaning as far back as he could. "Urrrryaaah!" He shouted as she flew over him, pulling off a suplex and making her back hit the grass under them. He pushed her off before getting back into his starting stance.
Jeshan chuckled. "Well damn, that was much faster than I thought."
"Damn it!" Tethys rolled over and pushed herself up. "Alright, I'll admit, you caught me off guard... Best two of three?"
Skystrike chuckled. "What, you want me to prove my strength or something?" Skystrike was about to think of another game, but noticed a certain zebra missing. "...Actually, lets continue this a bit later. Just need to check on someone."
"Oh, alright. I'll think of something while you're gone." Tethys sat down and began eating the meal that Jeshan bought over to them with Elytra.
Skystrike walked back to Clifford and made two more plates of shrimp alfredo, one for himself and one for the lady he was trying to find. After a few minutes of looking through the green hills, the black and grey mare was found. She was sitting, looking into the distance. Skystrike walked over and stood next to her. "Room for one more?"
Zecora looked up at him and nodded. Skystrike noticed the somber look on her face. He sat down and put a plate of food and utensils in front of her. She looked at it. Something was clearly on her mind. "Skystrike, can... can I talk to you about something?"
Skystrike nodded. "Sure. I'm guessing this is serious enough for you to not rhyme?"
Zecora put a hoof over her mouth. "Oh, I didn't even notice..." She looked up at him, the somber look still on her face. Even so, a smile creaked on her face. "Promise not to tell?"
Skystrike patted her back. "Promise. So, what's up?"
She looked back at the horizon, thinking of the right words to say. "I'm... I think regretting it. Not seeing my childhood friends, I mean."
Skystrike crossed his legs. "Why do you think that?"
She sighed. "It's just, after seeing all your doing... meeting up with me, Tethys, Elytra, all of your past friends and getting along with them... I realized that I want that. But after leaving, after what they did... I know it can never happen." She rubbed her eyes, stopping the tears from starting. "Well, saying it aloud, regret isn't the right word..."
Skystrike nodded. "You're disappointed that it could've been better."
Zecora's eyes widened. "...Yes, that encapsules it perfectly... How did you know?"
"I've had the same thoughts about leaving too." Skystrike met her eyes. "You all, my siblings, I've had a lot of time to think about it... There isn't really good advice I can give you on it. But I'll tell you what keeps me going." Skystrike sighed before continuing. "There are many 'what ifs' that go through our minds, but there's nothing we can do to change it. But we can change our future. Whether you want to make it one where you're happy or dwelling on the past is up to you. I hoped I've helped make it the former for you."
Zecora thought on his words. Then she smiled. "Thank you, Skystrike, for what you say, Your words help more than words convey." Skystrike was glad she was in good enough spirits now to get back into rhyming. The two began eating the food he bought, Zecora exclaiming how good it was to Skystrike.
For the first time in a while, it was peaceful. He wasn't doing anything, he was in company. His journey was going well. There were two left to go, Celeano and Skybeak. Though there wasn't a sure way to find Celeano, Skybeak was for sure in Hippogriffia. And then, there was Tethys' home in the Dragon seas. But that last part wasn't needed in his mind right now. For the first time in a while, he was happy. And he was going to enjoy the moment. The two finished their food before Skystrike stood up. "Come on, let's get back to the party. Lets enjoy ourselves."
> Revelation
Skystrike woke up in his bedroom inside the Wind Waker. Last night was the party with Jeshan and his friends. They were all very welcoming... well, more than he was expecting. Sure, it took time for them to warm up to his group, but it was at least within the first hour. Leagues better than Zecora's and Tethys's welcome to Ponyville. But he wasn't here to think about that.
Last night, he had another visit from Luna and Nightmare. From what they said, all it took was Luna telling her sister Celestia that Magnus was involved with Skystrike and his mother's passing, and she was more willing to go along with whatever Luna planned. She told him mere moments before waking up.
That meant that he didn't have too much time. It's late evening in Equestria from what Pinkie Pie said yesterday. Luna said that they'd be there in two hours. He stretched before putting on his arm and walking out of his bedroom. Thankfully, the girls were already up. He smelled muffins... Blueberry muffins. He sniffed at the air one more time to make sure he wasn't imagining the smell. It was coming from the kitchen. As his feet went from hardwood to tiled floor, the smell grew stronger and stronger. He met Zecora, Tethys, and Elytra.
"Oh, good morning, Skystrike." Elytra smiled. Skystrike looked down at her, crouching down and squinting to get a better view. Her nose scrunched up. "What? Is there... something on my face?"
Skystrike picked up her hoof, pulling it out to the side, then dropped it to walk around her. They all looked at him confused as he did so. Finally, he looped back around before he spoke. "Elytra... I think you're growing bigger."
The changeling immediately got flustered. "Are you-... I'll give you the benefit of the doubt to explain now. Because it sounds like you're calling me fat."
Skystrike stood back up. "Oh, no, it's not like that-"
"What do you mean 'Not like that'!?"
"Mother fucker, can I finish my thought!?" Skystrike groaned. Elytra begrudgingly shut her mouth. "Thank you. What I was going to say was that I think you've gotten about an inch taller. It could be because of you feeding on my magic..."
"Oh..." She felt embarrassed. "Sorry... I haven't really been myself lately."
"Elaborate. Could be side effects of feeding off my magic. It's only been... nine days since we started, so we need to figure out effects sooner, rather than later."
Elytra thought about it. "Well, now that you mention it, I've felt more... anxious lately? Like... I've been thinking on the actions I've been taking a lot more, like I don't want to mess anything up. I've been getting annoyed a lot easier... I've also felt like I've gotten stronger. My body and my magic."
Skystrike winced. "Ugh... sounds like you're taking off some of my bad attributes.' Elytra looked at him confused. He began to elaborate. "Basically, magic and emotions are nearly the same thing for your race. Add on top of that that my mana when converted into magic depends on my emotional state, it's not too far fetched that my emotional state is affecting yours... On the upside, part of this trip is so I deal with the problems in my head."
Elytra thought on what he said for a moment. "You know... that makes sense. I'll tell you more about it if anything else changes. But if it makes you feel better, it's not a big enough change where I would've noticed until you said so."
He pet her on the neck. "Thanks, Elytra." Then he turned to what originally caught his attention. "So, who made blueberry muffins?"
Elytra and Tethys pointed to Zecora, who was wearing an apron. "I tried a recipe I was told. They're cooling off now, fresh from the mold."
Skystrike moved his eyes to the pan on the counter. He controlled his excitement as he spoke. "I fucking LOVE blueberry muffins!" He failed as he walked to the muffins for a better look. "You even put the sugar on top!"
Tethys laughed at his excitement. "Wow, didn't know you like these that much. I've never had one, to be honest. Hopefully they aren't overhyped."
Elytra giggled. "Actually, Zecora got in contact with Paprika. Zecora asked what food you liked as a colt, and Paprika was more than willing to share."
Skystrike looked at Zecora, who was hiding her flustered face. Skystrike walked over and picked her up under her armpits, her back legs hanging as she went wide eyed. "Zecora, this is the best thing to wake up to. I'm not kidding. This act of kindness will not be forgotten." He pulled her into a hug before picking up and biting into a muffin. The sweet fluffy goodness filled his mouth as he savored each bite. "Oh FUCK yeah, these are good."
Tethys took the half eaten muffin out of Skystrike's hand and ate it in one bite. "Mmm, you know, these are pretty goo-" She cut herself off once she saw Skystrike's face. It was one of betrayal. She couldn't control herself and began laughing, slapping her tail on the ground. "AHAHAHA!" She slapped her hand on the table too."
Skystrike pulled her head down by her lower pair of horns, making her crouch down to eye level. She flapped her wings at the sudden jerk in motion as the human spoke. "Tethys... I am a simple man.... A man of principle. I wake up, I smell my favorite god damn breakfast food, I chow down. Now, because I like you, I'll say this. Everyone gets one." Tethys stared at him, wide eyed. Her eyes darted to Elytra.
"Don't look at me. Though I am surprised that this is the first time it happened." Elytra put a hoof on Tethys's leg. "Trust me..." The Changeling had a thousand yard stare. "You don't mess with Skystrike's food. Everyone gets one."
Zecora nodded along. "We all get one."
Tethys looked back to Skystrike, staring into his azure eyes. "I-... ok, I won't take your food again."
Skystrike let go as his demeanor went back to normal. "Cool, thanks." He picked up another muffin and began eating it. "Mmm. Now, what I originally came in here for was to tell you all that the princesses are coming over for a... personal matter." His voice fell a bit. "It relates to what happened about a decade ago. With Khrusalis..." Elytra tensed up as that word came out of his mouth. "Elytra, you deserve to know what happened to the late queen. I will make sure nothing happens to you if you wish to spectate. Zecora, Tethys, you two are welcome to be here, or you can spend some time in Diamondia."
They all looked at him in mild concern. Tethys put a claw on his shoulder. "I trust your judgement. Do you want me and Zecora to be here?"
"It's... not that I don't. I just... don't want you two to see that side of me. I don't want Elytra to see it either, but she served Khrusalis. She deserves to be there." Skystrike sighed.
Elytra's ears shot up. "Wait a minute. From what you told me, it was Celestia's guards who attacked you and the late queen those years ago... And then you said Celestia said she didn't know about it... We aren't meeting who I think we are, are we?"
Skystrike nodded. "We are. Khrusalis's killer." Elytra's heart stopped from that bomb shell. The other two present looked at each other, then between the two siblings in an attempt to get a read on either of their faces.
Elytra's face changed. From one of surprise, to confusion, to anger, to anxious, then with a deep breath, to apathy. "I'll be there. Give me a minute to change."
Skystrike shook his head. "This isn't something Stardust should confront. This is something Elytra should confront. Like I said, I'll make sure nothing happens to you."
Elytra sighed. "I... trust your judgement." She turned to Tethys and Zecora. "And you two? I won't mind if you come, this is just... a very personal matter."
Zecora cleared her throat. "Tethys, I think it's best we depart. This is a family matter, close to the heart."
Tethys sighed. "You know, you never did tell the rest of us about what happened with her." She crossed her arms. "Sure, you gave us a brief summary, but... I- we want to help you through this. Can you promise to be more transparent once this is over?" They way she said it came out as a plead.
Skystrike stayed silent for a minute. He grabbed his left arm with his metal one, stopping himself from shaking. "I... don't like talking about. I'll... try to tell you two more about it. We've known each other long enough where I should be able to tell you, it's just... really hard."
Tethys sighed. "We won't force you. Come on, Zecora. We'll need to give Jeshan an update on todays plans."
Before they could leave, Skystrike quickly gave both of them a hug. He let them go before speaking. "I appreciate you two. Don't come back for a couple hours, it'll be a... slow process."
They gave him a worried look before leaving the ship and going towards Diamondia. Skystrike and Elytra walked to the deck of the ship before sighing. He crouched down before surrounding himself in neon green flames. In moments, he went back to being a pony, giving his wings a few test flaps as he got used to walking on all four hooves. It's only been twelve days, yet it took him longer than he thought to get used to being a pony again.
He turned to look at Elytra. "So... ready?" He put on his helmet.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Elytra sighed with a nod.
The siblings made their way to the cargo bay, where the teleportation circle Casta made was hidden. Luna told him to give them a signal when he was ready. Skystrike quickly wrote the words on a piece of paper before setting the destination to be Casta's tower, activating it and sending it to it's destination. It took a few minutes, but the circle began to respond.
The lines of the hexagram began to glow a dim green light. In moments, the faint glowing became bright as magic charged within. A flash of light blinded the two for a moment. As their eyes came to, three figures were before Skystrike and Elytra, Celestia, Luna, and a certain unicorn that he hasn't seen in a long time.
Skystrike looked at Celestia and Luna for a brief moment before looking at the unicorn. Grey with silver hair. He never did figure out what happened to that criminal organization Magnus was involved with, but they had to be hurting losing one of their figure heads, signaled by the tattoo of a Hydra on his neck. But that wasn't for him to deal with. At least not yet. He could feel his body heating up from the anger at the unconscious Magnus, but it would have to be put aside from now.
"Hello, Nebula. It's been some time." Celestia greeted. "My sister told me about what happened. Who could've guessed this also lead back to him-" The alicorn of the sun cut herself off as she met eyes with Elytra. Silence fell between the four before Celestia narrowed her eyes. "And who is this?"
"My sister Elytra." Skystrike made sure to give emphasis to that word, making sure that she understood the importance of Elytra to him. "The goal of my travels was to meet up with old faces. That includes the Changeling in my group I told you about. I assume this won't be a problem?"
Celestia looked at him, then to Elytra. "No... I suppose not. You trust her, so I trust her for the moment." She used her magic to levitate the bound unicorn over. "So, how do you suppose we get answers out of him? Our interrogations haven't gone anywhere over the past months."
Skystrike huffed. "Celestia, I never told you the reason why I stopped wanting to become a guard did I?"
She shook her head no. "I assumed it was because of Blueblood, as well as what this pony supposedly did."
"Well, that's a major part of it, but what do you mean 'supposedly'?"
"Well, your memories have only been seen by you and my sister Luna." Celestia stated. "While I trust you both, you have to understand my hesitance."
Skystrike hummed. "Fair enough, but it will all come to light soon. The other part of why I didn't want to be a guard anymore was because of all the red tape."
Elytra cleared her throat. "Dude, is that really the best thing to say to the princesses?"
Skystrike looked at her. "I mean, probably not, but that's kinda part of the reason they come to me for issues. Precisely because I can do some things that the legal system won't allow." He turned back to the alicorns for confirmation. Their silence was all the answer that he needed. "Now then..." Skystrike eyed the unconscious Magnus in front of him. "Let's get to work."
Magnus groaned. His vision was coming back to him as he awoke. The past months have been Tartarus to him. Because of that pegasus, his cover was blown. Not only did the organization he used to work for not help him, he was put into a maximum security prison, not even allowed to see the light of day. The ring on his horn stopped him from using magic, and it felt fused on at this point.
As he became more and more conscious with each passing second, the first thing he felt was the heat of the sun, then he saw the fleshy red of his closed eye lids. What was new was that he was tied up, his forehooves bound behind his back and the other pair tied together. Magnus opened his eyes, them going even wider as he saw the sky above him. Then he saw the balloon above attached to the wooden floor he was on. Was he on an airship?
Magnus rolled over to get a grasp of his surroundings. With luck, he'd be able to make it out of this. That hope faded away when he saw Celestia, Luna, and- "...YOU!" He looked at the pegasus.
"Me." Skystrike, clad in his raven black armor, smiled under his helmet as he looked down at him.
"Haven't you ruined my life enough!?" Magnus grit his teeth. "My voice, my freedom, my legacy! All taken away by you!"
"Trust me, I wish I could've done it to you, but you did it to yourself first." Skystrike flexed his wrist as he spoke. "Honestly, you really should do your research before challenging ponies to duels. But that's not what we're here for today."
Magnus scowled, then grinned. "Well, sad to tell you, but they haven't gotten anything out of me, I doubt you'll be any different."
Skystrike stood up. "As of now, I don't care about you and your fuckass criminal organization." He picked up the unicorn by the ropes binding him. "Eleven years ago, you encountered and fought a certain Changeling Queen. You're going to tell us what happened."
"Or wha-" Magnus began to speak before a punch to his stomach was delivered with same day shipping, courtesy of Skystrike. He groaned as he looked up to the pegasus holding him. He looked to the princesses. "Why... why aren't you... stopping him?"
"Come on, Magnus. Don't tell me you figured royalty didn't play dirty from time to time. Besides..." Skystrike pulled back a clenched hoof. "I'm sure you've given this form of treatment to a number of ponies. Don't you think it's fair to experience this at least once?"
Magnus looked into the eyes of Skystrike, then adverted them, seeing Elytra standing behind him. He coughed, then laughed. "Heheh, I see what this is now. You friend here from your rag tag group of mercs wanted some answers? Ha! Sorry, you're not getting anything out of me. It's bad for business..."
"Oh, there's more to it than that..." Skystrike used his free hoof to open up his helmet. "Allow me to make you more comfortable with a familiar face."
Magnus' eyes went wide. "You... This isn't real! You're supposed to be dead! The fire should've-" He caught himself and stopped his sentence.
Luna took a step forward. "Oh? It seemed that thou had something important to speak of. Do continue."
"I'm quite interested as well." Celestia's magic flared.
"Elytra." Skystrike got her attention. "Bring me my blades, and some potions from Zecora's room. You can infer which ones we'll need." Elytra nodded before teleporting away. "And as for you, Magnus, I'll give you some time to elaborate before things get serious. The fire should've what?"
Magnus looked at him, his purple eyes of hate burning into his soul. Then to Celestia, her magenta eyes judging his every action. Finally, Luna, who's cyan eyes stared coldly at him, wanting to strike him down where he hang. His reasoning got the better of him. "Look, I'll talk, I'll talk!" Skystrike dropped him on the ground. "Blueblood ordered me to do it! No way I could go against him! Besides, you were there in that forest. Surely you understand why I had to take that chance to get rid of you! It was only a matter of time before you spoke!"
Skystrike grit his teeth. For the first time in a while, his eyes burned white in anger. "It all comes... back to him..." Skystrike took a step forward. He felt a hoof on his shoulder, seeing Elytra was back with the gathered items. He pulled back a closed hoof, wanting nothing more than to bash Magnus' head in. With a few deep breaths, he regained his composure, but his eyes kept burning. "I see... Now, what did you mean that there was no way you could go against him?" He squatted down in front of the unicorn. Magnus stared him down, keeping his mouth closed. Skystrike grabbed one of the swords that Elytra bought him. He extended the claws on his armored hooves and pinched the edge with his thumb and index, sharpening it as he moved down the blade. "Won't talk anymore? Well, let me take a guess. Surely it wasn't just because he's part of the royal family, else you wouldn't have came after me... He has dirt on you, doesn't he?"
Elytra raised a hoof. "Actually... I think I might be able to answer that." Skystrike, Celestia, and Luna all turned to look at her. She shrunk a bit at the eyes on her. "Skystrike, uh... when you left All and we disbanded, I went looking into the attack on us. It took a couple months, but I was able to gather enough circumstantial evidence that linked Blueblood to some sort of group with enough power to send guards to kill us, as well as cover it up. If this group is the same as the one this guy is in, then that's the dirt."
"...What sort of 'circumstantial evidence'?" Luna asked.
"Well... there were two dozen that attacked our group a couple of years ago, all wearing the official Royal Guard armor. That meant that either A: Blueblood gathered a small platoon of soldiers unnoticed and was able to cover their deaths without incident, or B: somepony within the guard was able to acquire enough armor to arm their own ponies. Option B made more sense, since it was a escort mission to Canterlot. But after what Skystrike said about his talk with Shining Armor, and Shining armor wanting to avenge them, those were real guards, and option A had to have happened." Elytra explained. "That also means that somepony had to know how to cover up their deaths without raising suspicion. The only ones who'd have that power at the time, besides you, Princess Celestia, would be a General. And we have a general in front of us now with a now well known history of corruption..."
All of their eyes turned back to Magnus as he metaphorically shit his pants. Skystrike clicked his tongue at him before speaking. "And Elytra, why didn't you talk about this before? And no, I'm not mad, despite my tone. Just would like some clarification."
Elytra regained her composure and stood up straight. "Like I said, it was circumstantial. I wouldn't have been able to piece this together if Blueblood didn't tell Shining Armor what you did in that forest..."
"Alright." Skystrike hummed. He tightened his fingers around the edge of the blade and ran them along one last time, sparks flying toward Magnus, bouncing off the wooden floor just below his feet. "Well, that answers that question... Not only were you behind the fire, you were behind the attack of my friends. Now, I wonder how far back your sins go..."
Celestia put a hoof on the pegasus' back. "Skystrike, let's try and calm down a bit for now." Celestia walked between the two stallions, eyeing Magnus. "Though it pains me to say it, you were one of my most trusted ponies at one point. So, was it all an act?"
Magnus rolled over onto his stomach before sitting upright. "You already know the answer to that."
"I suppose I do..." She sighed before picking him up with her magic, making sure he was eye height with the alicorn. "For now, I will... ignore your attack on the crown, and your attack on Skystrike and his allies under his alias. Currently, we are here for the alleged murder of the now former queen of the Changelings. What say you in your defense?"
Magnus smirked. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"He's lying." Elytra stated. Celestia looked at her, as if asking for an explanation. "Most of my kind can only detect love, as it's our main source of food. Caretakers like I were taught to be more in tune with emotions. He's feeling a lot right now. Fear, amusement, apathy... he's lying."
Magnus scoffed. "You're really going to trust that bug? I don't even know what forest it happened in."
Skystrike smirked, pushing his mane out the way. "When did we say it happened in a forest?" Magnus could feel the sweat bead on his forehead. He got caught. "Can't talk your way out of it. You were involved. Want to get it off your chest?"
Magnus held his breath. "Dear sister, it seems that thou hast forgotten how we deal with ponies of his like." Luna stood next to her. "We didn't think our departure would make you so soft." She took Magnus into her magic. "Know this, pony, we are not as merciful as my sister. You will speak of what you know."
Magnus grinned. "Over my dead body."
Skystrike groaned, wordlessly walking up to Magnus and taking him out of the grasp of Luna. He held him over the edge of the Wind Waker, letting him look down to see the ground with terror. Celestia's face contorted into a confused one. "Skystrike, what are you doing?"
"Since he won't talk, I have a question that he can answer without speaking." Skystrike waited for Magnus to look at him. "How long would it take this unicorn to reach terminal velocity?" Skystrike released his grip, letting Magnus fall towards Eques bellow.
"Skystrike, have you lost your mind!?" Celestia began to jump after him by spreading his wings.
Skystrike put a hoof on her chest as he kept falling. "Calm down, I know what I'm doing."
"He's falling to his death!" Luna ran over and put her hoofs on the railing, looking over the edge as well.
"Yeah, because he needs to think I'm actually going to kill him." Skystrike's eyes were still burning white. "Thing is, I already know when he'll reach terminal velocity. I also know when he'll hit the ground, and how much time I have before his death is unavoidable."
"And how do you know this isn't what he wanted to happen!?" Celestia shook the pegasus.
"Simple. If he wanted to die, he would've found a way to kill himself in the cell you guys kept him in, did more to try and antagonize me to kill him, or just bit off his tongue... Despite everything, this bastard wants to cling onto life." He pushed Celestia's hooves off him. Skystrike rolled his neck as he stood on the railing, turned around, and fell backward. "I'll be back."
Skystrike dove backwards off the Wind Waker, his dive speeding up as he pointed himself towards the ground. Magnus flailed in a vain attempt to try and escape the ropes on him, even biting at them to no avail. He didn't want to die like this. He looked down at the ground, his eyes as wide as dinner plates. Time seemed to slow as death began to whisper in his ear. It felt like he was falling for minutes already. They said his life would flash before his eyes, but nothing happened.
"Man, I'd say you still have... two minutes before you hit the ground!" Magnus looked to his left to see Skystrike Falcon diving next to him. Streaks of white light came from his eyes signaling the high speed they were falling at. "Do you think you'll hear your skull split open before you die!?"
"Why are you doing this to me! Why not Blueblood!?"
"Oh don't worry, his judgement will come soon. But this isn't about him right now." Skystrike put his hooves behind his head. "You know, we're on the other side of the Celestial Sea... No pony is coming for you. See, you can see Diamondia over at that ravine!" Skystrike and Magnus kept falling. "You'll die here, a splat on the dirt in the middle of nowhere. The only ones who'd know what happened to you would make sure that word doesn't get out... I'd feel bad for your family if you had any... Man, there's just nopony to remember you, is there!?"
Magnus' eyes began to water from the wind blowing in his face... Well, that would be his excuse if he wasn't fearing for his life. Even in a prison, it'd be better than this ending. "Ok, ok! I'll talk! I'll talk!"
"Hmmm..." Skystrike hummed and put his hooves under his chin. "But that'd ruin the fun. I imagine a splat at this speed would sound great. If I had something to record, it'd be a great stock sound effect."
"You'll want to hear what I have to say! That Changeling was your mom right!?" Magnus turned to look at Skystrike with pleading eyes. "I was told to capture her, not kill her!"
His interest was peaked as he grabbed onto Magnus' ropes. By turning his wings upwards, he began to pull the two up and fly back to the Wind Waker. In a moment, they were back up on the deck. Skystrike smirked as he threw Magnus down. "Well, don't keep us waiting."
Magnus rolled over on his side, catching his breath before speaking. "There isn't much to say... I was given a mission. Said they'd pay me anything, said I'd be a hero. The queen of the Changelings would be in a forest on the outskirts of Canterlot with a traitor... If I made sure that the Changeling was dealt with, I'd get whatever I wanted." He huffed as he saw the skeptic looks on the princesses faces. "Heh, I had that same face, but then they showed me what they could do. I saw them create something from nothing before my eyes, saw magic that not even Starswirl would think of. I couldn't pass that up! All I needed to do was capture her alive and take her to the rendezvous point!"
Elytra shook at the news. "Wh-... where did you take Khrusalis?"
Magnus looked at her. "Some secret bunker they had in the north western part of Equestria. In the North Luna Bay."
Skystrike thought he knew what it was, but he didn't want it to be. He had to confirm it. "...Who did you make this deal with?"
"You wouldn't believe me-"
Skystrike drew his sword and bought it to Magnus's neck, droplets of blood pooling at the edge of his blade. "SPEAK!"
"I don't know, ok!?" Magnus yelled through the tears falling off his face. "They were aliens! They stood on two legs, had long, lanky limbs! Each one were at least eye height with princess Celestia! They had tan skin of all shades! They had no coat! Only manes! They... they looked like apes!"
Skystrike clenched his hooves. "Who did you talk to specifically?"
"I... don't know, ok! He always wore a robe or something! All I know is that they called themselves 'hoo-man'!"
Skystrike wordlessly stood up and sheathed his blade. He pulled back a fist before punching a dent into the floorboards, making the entire ship rock. Everyone had to catch their footing as the ship stabilized itself. "She's alive!" Skystrike thought to himself angrily. "She's alive, and they took her!"
The white eyes of rage burned brighter as Skystrike began growling. He couldn't hold back his wrath anymore. Years of build up anger, self loathing, self blaming, all began bubbling up. He could almost feel it coming out of him. The pegasus felt hot, throwing off his armor, leaving on only his underclothes. His eyes burned even brighter. Elytra began to worry. "Skystrike...? Skystrike! Can you hear me!?"
Skystrike's head snapped in her direction. He could see her, he could hear her, but he couldn't focus on any of them. He stood on his hind legs and squatted down with his arms over his head, trying to contain his anger, fighting himself within his mind. He was failing, as the burning white of his eyes spread over his head, then snaking to the rest of his body as he groaned. "Skystrike!" Celestia, Luna, and Elytra all ran to him, the first picking him up and hugging him. "Skystrike! Everything will be ok, my little pony... I'm sure this is a lot to take in right now-"
He pushed her off of him. He couldn't be near them right now. Skystrike felt like he was literally about to explode. This never happened to him before, but something instinctual told him to get away from them. Skystrike jumped of the edge and flew as hard as he could away from the ship. The three saw him fly away, stopping when the pegasus was just barely able to be made out by squinting. Skystrike roared at the top of his lungs as he screamed to the vast emptiness of the sky around him. As he did so, a ball of white fire burst from him, growing to an amazing, and worrying size around him. The ball of fire was equal, if not greater to the size of the Wind Waker itself, the flames swirling around him as the round of his pained screech hit the onlookers.
Then the force and heat came simultaneously at the three. Celestia, Luna, and Elytra all had to plant their hooves into the deck once more as the ship rocked from the force. Even that wasn't enough as the Wind Waker rocked violently. The three flew into the air and looked at the ball of fire, squinting at the blinding light. Each had a different, yet eerily similar face of worry and fear for and of Skystrike. The two sisters looked between each other as Magnus looked with an unhinged jaw.
As the fire began to dissipate. Elytra quickly flew towards Skystrike, using her magic to teleport closer and closer each time, fearing for her little brother. Once the magical fire was completely gone, she was able to make him out. He flew in the midst of where the explosion once was. An empty look was plastered on his face. She couldn't quite make out what he was feeling, but that wasn't what she needed to do right now, she needed to be there for him.
As soon as she was close enough, she tackled him into a hug. Skystrike was staggered, but regained his elevation as he looked down at his sister. "It's... ok to cry sometimes. You don't always have to stay strong for us." The pegasus could feel something come out of his eyes. He wiped them with a hoof, realizing that his eyes have stopped burning, and that tears were falling like rain. "Everything can be thought about later." Elytra held his head to her chest. "You got a lot of pent up emotions to let out."
Celestia and Luna looked on in worry. The pegasus and changeling slowly flew back to the ship. Celestia looked for the right words. "Luna, you've been... speaking to him through his dreams, right?" Her sister nodded. "Could he... always do that?"
"We... do not know..." Luna admitted. "We mostly spoke about our problem with Nightmare Moon until recently... The brief times he spoke about his problems was to gain our trust."
Celestia's heart wavered. "It just... feels like I barely know him anymore."
"Thoughts for later, sister." Luna put a hoof on her shoulder. "If he wished to speak about it, we believe he would have. Give it time, he may open up."
Skystrike and Elytra slowly flew back onto the ship, the former landing with a thud. He fell to the ground still weeping at the realization he made. He stayed silent as he looked at the floor. Skystrike didn't even know what to do, what to think. On one hand, it's really good news. Khrusalis is alive. On the other hand, it was terrible news. She was with the rest of his kind... on the other side of that portal he destroyed.
There has to be some way to get her back.
Skystrike stood back up, his empty expression still on his face. He turned to look at Magnus. "So, what did you ask for?"
Magnus backed away in fear. "W-... what?"
"You said that the humans gave you something when you completed their task. What was it?"
Magnus quickly answered. "I... never wanted this life. I was in too deep by the time that those... things came around. I asked for a new life to live through. There was this sort of... monkeys paw, for lack of a better term. They cloned me, changed some things around for the clone, then made it so I don't remember what it looks like... They also made sure I didn't know whether I was the clone or not."
Celestia and Luna looked between each other before the former looked back at the unicorn. "Wait, just so I'm understanding right, there's clone of you walking around Equestria? With your memories and past experiences? And the humans made you forget what it looked like?" Magnus nodded. Skystrike scoffed and turned to walk off. "Skystrike? Where are you going?"
Skystrike stopped in front of the door, not looking back at them. "I got all the information I needed from this interaction with Magnus. All that's left for you two is to get whatever information you need about Hydra... But if a certain unicorn doesn't feel so talkative, I will be in the dining room."
Skystrike sighed as he walked to his room and took off his armor before walking to and sitting down in the dining area. The muffins were still there, but he didn't feel hungry. He dug his forehooves into his hair as his elbows laid on the table. Bouncing his knee in thought, he needed to figure out what to do. Skystrike tried to think, but he couldn't focus. The clicking of the clock on the wall, the small humming of the engine, he couldn't get his mind in order.
The pegasus looked at the time. It's been about two hours since Celestia and Luna got here. Celestia already held distrust for him and humanity. From his dream two nights ago, he could tell that Luna was already wary of him. He didn't blame either of them.
He was snapped out of his thoughts by a thump on the deck above him. They were here. Several agonizing minutes passed before he heard the door behind him open. Then he felt a hoof on his back. It was Elytra's hoof. Several sets of steps were heard entering the room. "Zecora, Tethys, and Jeshan are here. I... told them what happened."
Skystrike didn't dare turn around or make eye contact. The rest took his lack of response as an invitation to sit. None of them knew what to say. What could they say? Would it be anything he wanted to hear? Saying that things would get better, that they were there for him, would it matter? The only sound that bounced between the walls of the room was the tapping of Skystrike's hoof on the floor.
Celestia broke the silence. "Skystrike..." His bouncing stopped, notifying that he was listening. "This is... a defining point in this story of yours. When I wept in my chambers for my sister's absence, I thought it was my pain to bear alone. But you were there, reminding me that there will always be someone to pick us up at our lowest. Whether we take that hoof of support is up to us. And from all the beings in this room, it is plain to see that you have so many that wish to help you."
Skystrike inhaled deeply, then let it out. "Your words are... appreciated, Celestia. As well as is the presence of everyone here. I just... need a moment to think." And so he did, for minutes on end. None dared to speak as the humming of the engines went on in the background. Skystrike finally had the words to break the silence. "I think... no. Unless-..." He grinned his teeth together. "Celestia." Her ears perked up as he stammered out her name. "I... Do you trust me?"
She looked confused. "What? Of course I do, my little pony. Why do you ask?"
"There's... there's only one guy who even has a chance of finding a way to get to her."
Her ears went back as her pupils shrunk. "You don't mean-..." It was her turn to take in a deep breath. "You must understand my hesitance to trust 34. Despite that, I trust you enough to at least hear out this... idea of yours."
Skystrike nodded. "When I met Tethys again, in that village to the north, I never told you that I worked with the human to destroy the lab. As 34 told you, that laboratory was made to monitor him, and had a way to get back to his world. As he also said and I can confirm, we destroyed it. But with this new... information Magnus gave us, I need a way of getting there. If we're lucky, 34 knows some way to fix the portal, or make a replica of their portals. If we're able to replicate that magic, there's a sliver of a chance that I can get her back."
Celestia mulled over that thought. "Despite my wish for you to get Khrusalis back, I have my hang ups over this. First, you must remember that a portal opens for both ways. You may as well give the humans a red carpet to waltz in. Second that magic was made a millennia ago. My sister and I made sure that not even a trace of how to conjure a portal was left, and we never learned the spell. That human, 34 is also around your age. He wouldn't know how a spell that old is engineered. All he could potentially know is the destination. Finally, the amount of magic needed to cross the distance to wherever the humans are is near impossible to keep up. A portal takes constant magic to keep active and stable."
Skystrike nodded. "The first part, that makes sense, but I should be able to convince 34 to fight off any that come through. From what he's told me and seen there's no reason they can't invade right now besides lack of manpower. As for the second, we'd basically be starting from zero. 34 did share that he has some information left over from the trashed lab. As for the third, there's two things about that. The first, you more than likely already know, magic is denser in the upper atmosphere, which is most likely why 34 entered up there all those years ago. Second, you just felt how much magic that I have."
"Ah, I've been meaning to ask about that." Celestia leaned forward. "So you do have magic, and a staggering amount of it. Could you always do that?"
"That was the first time it got to that level, but yes." Skystrike stood up and poured himself a cup of water, then some for the rest of them. "It's very complicated, so I'll sum it up as short as I can. While normal beings in this world can use magic as it comes to them, there's a few extra... gimmicks with mine. It ties in with Casta's theory of mana. Basically, you all make magic naturally, subconsciously. I need to focus to turn mana into magic, consciously. On top of that, the magic I use and the level of magic I can use relies on my emotional state. I can get into more detail another time, there's a lot that I've kept from you two." He sighed. "Didn't want attention on myself, so I kept it secret." Then he looked around the room. "Oh, right, now that I'm not about to explode, where's Magnus."
"Frozen and in storage." Tethys breathed out some cold air. "Honestly, I'm surprised you controlled yourself enough to not fillet him then and there... I would've."
"I thought about it." Elytra huffed.
Celestia's ears perked up at the changeling speaking. "Oh, I've also been meaning to ask you, Ms. Elytra, how do you know about the stuff within my Royal Guard?"
"...Let's just say I'm a very good stealth operative." Elytra answered. "But if it makes you feel better, I didn't infiltrate the guard until after we were banished."
"Oh... you were both banished... I'm sorry, Elytra. I've been treating you unfairly."
Elytra waved a hoof. "Water under the bridge."
Skystrike jumped back into the conversation. "Anything else anyone wants to share? I have a bit of work to do."
Jeshan raised a brow. "Your gonna work on that portal stuff already?"
"Oh, no, not yet." Skystrike shook his head. "I need to check on the engine. That burst of magic I had could've messed something up. Being honest, it's more to get my mind off... this..."
Zecora spoke up. "Should I fetch Casta and Alder near? We're all here, and it seems you need cheer."
Skystrike nodded. "That would be nice. If Astral's there, then she can come too. Tell me when they get here." And with that, he got up and began walking to the back of the ship.
The rest of the beings present sat in silence. Once again, they didn't really know what to do. Tethys looked at the muffins on the table before picking up one and eating half in one bite. "I've seen him when he goes through something tough, but..."
"Never that bad?" Jeshan, Zecora, and Elytra finished.
Celestia sighed. "He's changed so much since he was a colt. I just..."
"Wish you were there?" This time, Luna joined in.
"I can't imagine how much he's changed." Tethys started. "You two, being alicorns, can probably back me up on this. There's so many beings that we see over our lives that so many change ever so slowly. But with all the hardships he's lived through, he's grown more than most of the other beings I've met...." She groaned. "And while I don't know what he was like before, it feels like he's regressing."
"I can say for certain that he's not 'regressing' but he's definitely changing." Elytra stated. "I'm not sure if he told the rest of you, but he trusts each of us. I have quite a story to tell. Let's just make sure that it stays between us."
In a matter of minutes, with Celestia going back to Casta and Astral to signal the importance of the meeting, and Zecora going to get Alder, they all came back and sat around the table. Elytra crossed her hooves and sighed. "So, for the few of you who aren't familiar with the rest of us, I'm Elytra, the Diamond Dog is Jeshan, and the Griffon is Alder. We were all part of Skystrike's group, and are still friends to this day." Then she turned to two ponies in particular. "Princess Celestia, Astral Night, before I begin, I must ask how much you know about Skystrike's past?"
Astral looked to Casta and Celestia, who both nodded. "If you mean as a colt, I was there with him up until he faked his death. Specifically, from 10 to 16. Before that, he never talked about it aside from that one time at his house."
"Well... Astral knows more than me." Celestia admitted.
"Very well. I will start from the beginning." Elytra rolled her shoulders. "Almost twenty years ago, the former queen of the Changelings, Khrusalis, introduced an orphaned pegasus to the hive. We were instructed to treat him as one of our own. I was his caretaker, meant to tend to all physical and mental problems that came to my attention." She sighed. "I felt from the beginning that Skystrike had much to untangle, but he didn't wish to speak on his past until a few months ago. There's no pleasant way to say this, so I'll speak bluntly. His words, he was an investment, and was bought up to be a soldier. He escaped, slaughtering everyone in his way. When he came to the hive, he was surprised at the change in environment, where he, again his words, wasn't forced to kill anyone. As he grew older, he began to open up more. Began to laugh, smile, enjoy the life that was almost taken from him. By his request, Khrusalis sent him to Canterlot to live in an orphanage so he could live around ponies like him. I wasn't there for much of that, but we can all fill in the blanks from the stories he's told us. He helped raise his siblings, went to school, got adopted by Princess Celestia, and then, on his 14th birthday, something happened in a forest outside the Canterlot walls. Princess Luna, he said he spoke to you about this subject. You've actually seen his memories. Can you continue for this part?"
Luna nodded, then cleared her throat. "We will leave out some of the more... gruesome details. He and Khrusalis met within a forest to spend time together for his birthday. Magnus interrupted their reunion to capture the Changeling, mortally wounding Skystrike in the process. Try as he may, he could not have saved her. There, Skystrike blamed himself for his mother's assumed death, and where one can assume his megalomania, his desire for a greater power, began."
They all looked to Astral, who realized it was her turn to fill in the blanks. "...Now that I think on it, he was... different around that time, but I just thought it was normal. He did just come back from being in Cloudsdale for two years... He was protective to all of us, overprotective at some points. I guess he didn't want to lose us. Even though he was adopted by Princess Celestia, he still spent every night back home. He started to get better I think... and then... the fire happened." Astral winced at the word coming out of her mouth, the scar on her back leg tingling. "You know, he never did tell me at least how he got out of that... I saw the building collapse in on him."
"I'm able to answer that." Elytra exhaled out of her nose. "A couple of us Changelings switched shifts, watching him and making sure he stayed save. One of my colleagues was able to get him out and nurse him back to health. But from about 16 to 18, none of us really know what happened during his life personally. He gave us his diary to read through. Skystrike began working as a mercenary, and where he first began his... 'persona' for lack of a better word, as Atlas Nebula. He had a friend he worked with, Steel Ace, who taught him the ropes for those years. But something happened with him too..." Elytra sighed. "Steel Ace was accused of rape, and the only one to believe him that he didn't do it was Skystrike. Even his own family abandoned Ace. Skystrike still stood by him, and went to his birthday party, though they were the only two there to celebrate it. The morning after, Skystrike, now 18 at the time, found Steel Ace dead in his room... he hung himself..."
"I remember that." Celestia sighed as well. "A few days after Ace's passing, he lured the accuser to one of Canterlot's clock towers and got her to admit to her lies... But what he didn't tell the mare was that he rigged the room with magic to announce it to everypony within earshot of the clock tower. It was my first interaction with Atlas, since it was trespassing on government property and entrapment. But he said he'd go with any punishment as long as she was punished too. In the end, I just gave him community service. He was clearly grieving."
"And then I met him." Tethys said, laying her arms on the table. "Don't know how many months it was between that and when he met me, but I guess it doesn't matter." Then she chuckled slightly. "I was being hunted down by some ponies who heard of a dragon on the outskirts of Canterlot. Four ponies almost bought me to my end, and Skystrike needed the money. But he saw me there, waiting on death's doorstep, and for some reason, decided to nurse me back to health... He was the first one to show me kindness, no strings attached."
"And after my voyage across the sea, It was then that he came to meet me." Zecora continued. "In this new land, no one by my side, just a goal to study magic, my guide. I thought I'd spend my time alone, forlorn. But at that port, he offered help, reborn. Seemed too good to be true, I must confess, but he became my first friend in this new address."
"And then we met." Casta used her magic to pick up her cup of water. She sighed. "It was a few months after Zecora joined, he was still 18. I... used to be a noble. I specialize in Enchanting and Destruction magic. My ancestors specialize in Conjuration. I 'did not look good' as part of that 'family'." She made quotation marks with her hooves. "I was a stain to my family, a bad enough one where they sent two assassins after me... It was by pure luck that Skystrike found me when he did, but he fought them off at the risk of his own life."
Elytra spoke again. "And then he met Maud, the earth pony of our group. Something about graveworms on her family farm. It was a solo mission, and he didn't talk about it that much, said it wasn't important. But after that, I officially joined. He'd have been 19 at the time, but it wasn't a meeting with a happy ending." Her wings spread open at the memory. "I was still in the hive at the time, and was given a task by the current queen, Chrysalis. I was to find Skystrike, and bring him back to the hive... I can't talk about what was spoken there, but the aftermath wasn't pretty... A family was torn even further apart. Chrysalis had a plan, and Skystrike threatened to kill her if she went through with it. In the end, he was banished, and I couldn't stand by a hive so far gone. I left with him."
"Yeesh, didn't know about that part... I met him a bit after that I guess." Jeshan blinked. "You know, we never really talked about how we all met him, huh? Mine is boring compared to the rest of you. While I was studying to be an artificer, I was looking for ways to perfect my craft. You ponies rely on magic much more than us dogs, so I travels to Equestria to learn. Unfortunately, no pony was really willing to teach a Diamond Dog about magic. I met that pegasus on my way back home, was on a train from southern Equestria to Griffonstone to make the trek back to Diamondia, but I met the rest on the ride there. Skystrike said that he and Casta knew a lot about magic, and they could learn from me about my race's magic and culture."
"Same here." Alder nodded. "Came to Equestria because my niece said she liked the place. I was getting up there in age, and I decided I needed to make some bits. Luckily, Skystrike was looking for someone to take over finances. I thought it'd be a competitive position, but I was the only applicant. Most ponies didn't want to work with all of our kinds, and the few that remained weren't comfortable with the constant danger we would be in. After that, Celeano, the Avian and Skybeak, the Hippogriff. Don't really know how they met, but they weren't around for too long compared to the rest of us. We'll ask once we see them again."
Tethys addressed the elephant in the room. "And then... Blueblood happened."
"Aye." Alder sighed. "We got a contract from the crown, and it promised bits up front, and even more on completion. When I showed it to Skystrike, he said it'd be an easy job, plus we were short on bits in the first place. But looking back on it, we were never told who we were transporting... By the time we realized, we were already surrounded on all sides. Each one of us fell unconscious aside from Tethys, Zecora, Casta, and Skystrike."
Casta hummed. "You know, thinking back on it, we never told the rest of you how we got out of there alive, did we?" Then she sighed. "That was for a reason... He begged us, and I mean begged, to not talk about it. Even with all we're speaking about right now, I'm still... He did a lot for us, least we can do is respect his wishes. But I'll say this: he did what he always does. Protect us."
Zecora tried to find the right words. "Then we parted ways, a bitter start,. Without him, things just fell apart. He brought us together, a bond so tight, without his presence, his absence darkens the light. Two years passed when I chose Ponyville's cheer, the Everfree Forest seemed best for me, clear. And then, to my surprise, he was there, a reunion of fate, beyond compare. " Her lips curled up a bit. "Though hesitant at first, our bond renewed. Such friends in this land, rare and true. For beings like us, it's a special find, a friendship rekindled, hearts aligned."
"Then it was pure coincidence that you two princesses sent him to that village in the north. We were after the same targets, those dragons." Tethys rolled her shoulders on her wings. "Took a bit of a talking to, he still blamed himself for all that happened to us, but he got better. We got better. He even introduced us to some of his friends. Went to Canterlot, fixed the broken bridges with Casta and Maud, started this trip, now Alder and Jeshan are here... Things were looking great too. Then... you know, Magnus happened."
Astral stayed quiet for a minute. "So... how do we help him? Can we help him?"
Silence clouded the room before Luna was able to answer. "We do not know. All we can do is be there for him."
Casta inhaled through his teeth. "You know, I'd agree with you, but I'm not sure that's the best idea. Skystrike is a smart guy, but not so much emotionally. If we all try to barrage him with support, he'll feel like he's a burden to us. It's why he left in the first place. If he wants to talk about it, he'll talk about it." She straightened her wizard hat. "Speaking of, where is he?" She looked around the room, then realized somepony else was missing. "Where's Astral?"
The unicorn in question was galloping through the halls of the ship, looking through each door to find her older brother. Down another set of stairs, she was at the cargo bay, but he wasn't there. Then the bedrooms, he wasn't there. Each room she cleared, the more she worried. Did he leave the ship? But then her ear flicked at a sound coming from the end of the hall. It was the sound of magic being cast. A lot of it.
Working with Casta Spell made her a bit more attuned to magic. She could feel the excess magic expelling from the room. Astral slowly walked over and pushed the door open. A large spherical object sat at the back of the room, pipes extending from it and going into the walls. There was a loud hum that went throughout the room, as well as an azure blue glow that hugged each piece of metal. She looked closer, seeing how the reactor had a sort of reinforced glass letting an observer look within. Azure magic swirled within. Astral realized that it was turning mana into magic, and an astounding amount of it.
She stopped her mind from wandering so she could get back on track. Skystrike was sitting in the center of the room, his back turned towards her as he checked and took note of several valves on each of the pipes. "Skystrike..." Astral unconsciously called out.
Skystrike jumped at the sudden call of his name. Turning to look through his vizor, he saw his little sister. His heart slowed at the sight of the lilac unicorn before he took off his helmet. "Hey Astral, what are you doing here?" He forced a smile. Astral had to admit, it was convincing. "If I knew you were coming, I'd have at least made dinner... Well, with your time zone, it'd be a late lunch."
Astral walked up to him and sat down. "Well, this came as a surprise to me too... They told me everything."
Skystrike blinked at that. "...Everything everything?"
She nodded. "Everything everything."
Skystrike sighed. "I tried to keep it from you for a reason."
"Do... do you not trust me?"
"What? Of course I trust you, Astral! It's just... hard for me to talk about stuff like this." Skystrike shook his head. "I already fucked up your life enough, everyone's lives enough. The more you all worry about me, the worse it'll get for you. Best to not worsen it any more... Besides, what would you do? What would any of you do? This arm isn't going to come back, the pain we all went through wont go away.... I'm just prone to keep making these mistakes. I don't want the rest of you to get caught up in them anymore."
Astral could feel the tears well up in her eyes. "Stop it! Stop talking about yourself like your a problem! An object!" Skystrike jumped at her sudden yelling. "You say you don't want to hurt us, but you hurt us the most by doing this!" Skystrike's heart cracked as those words came out of her mouth. "And you know what? It's okay!" His ears perked up in confusion. "You keep going through this things thinking that, but that's life! To live! To experience everything! The good and the bad! That's what living is! You taught me that!" Skystrike had no words. "When you came back, I... I didn't know what to feel. But it hurt... and I'd go through that pain time and time again if it meant I got to see you again. And I can speak for everypony- eveyone on that."
Skystrike winced. "I... forget how much I mean to you all... Thank you, Astral." Skystrike once again jumped, this time at the sudden hug. She wept into his chest as Skystrike slowly brushed her mane with a hoof. "I promise, I'll do my best to get better."
After a short while, Astral night reentered the kitchen. Although a bit nervous, he knew he could trust them. He had to. He sighed. "I've gathered my thoughts. I'm doing better than I was earlier, but my mind is still wandering. While I know you're all here for me, and I appreciate it, I... need some more time to think on it."
They all smiled at the change in mood. Although he wouldn't be his normal self for a while, he wasn't visibly in distress at least. "Glad you're feeling better..." Jeshan chuckled. "Now, I don't mean to be that guy, but can you make more of that pasta dish you made yesterday?"
"Jeez dude!" Tethys slapped her forehead. "Really? Now??"
"Your stomach was rumbling the whole time we were talking." Jeshan quipped back. "And I doubt you ever learned how to cook."
"Oh, she learned... well, began to." Casta giggled. "And I can tell that you didn't make these."
Alder chuckled. "Well you couldn't really cook either from what I remember, magic mare."
"Okay!? I at least have an excuse! Not necessarily a good one, but I went from being a noble to in the group where Skystrike always cooked. Nopony taught me."
Elytra laughed. "You're right, that wasn't a good one! But Tethys' excuse is that she can eat raw meat."
"Wh- but-" Casta stammered for her words. "You can't cook either!"
"Yeah, because I'm a Changeling. I don't even have to eat solid food." Then she hummed. "Though I will admit, that pasta dish yesterday was great. I could go for it again..."
"I could go for some pasta..." Astral pulled on the neck of her sweater.
Skystrike looked at her, then looked at the princesses. Their faces showed that they also wanted some. Skystrike stretched. "Alright, so, you all want pasta. Which of you are going to help me cook? I'd be cooking for nine, but with some of us here, it might as well be twenty."
Celestia narrowed her eyes. "...What do you mean by that?"
"I mean that I eat enough for four ponies." Skystrike started, then pointed at each of them. "Tethys is a whole ass dragon, who's shaped like a pear." Elytra choked at the comment. Then Skystrike pointed to the alicorn of the night. "Luna is insecure for a reason, and Celestia, I can see your cutie mark from the front." The room went silent as Celestia sat flustered. Her sister began shaking, trying to contain her laughter.
"Jeez, Skystrike, have you lost your mind!?" Astral's jaw dropped.
"It's only bad if the joke didn't land." Skystrike gave a small smirk before putting a hoof on her back and pointing to the surrounding faces of barely contained laughter. "I think it landed."
Celestia sighed before laughing lightly. "You know, while I do get tired of the jokes about my rear, once in a while, I hear a new one."
"Oh I got plenty of jokes I can make about you." He affirmed. "During my diss track, I made fun of your forehead." Luna couldn't contain it anymore and laughed. Hard. The rest soon joined in. "I also said in my letters that I'd give you silly nicknames. Celestorol, Cake n' Bake, Sun pone, Celery, Sunburn, And those are just the ones I remember."
"...Can-... Can we eat?" Celestia stammered out making them all laugh more.
"Oh my, sister, Skystrike surely has some gossip on you. So much had to have happened over the years I was away. We'd love to keep this conversation going." Luna leaned forward.
Skystrike looked at Celestia, who sighed. "She won't leave it be unless you indulge her."
Taking it as confirmation it was ok, Skystrike went to grab his apron. He began to think back as he tied the cloth around him. "Uh, when I was twelve, I... no, I'll tell a different one. When I was fifteen, Cadence asked Celestia on advice to get the attention of a colt she liked. Then I walked in on it, and you could tell that she didn't pull any in a long while." Skystrike chuckled. "I had to explain to a mare almost three years older than me and another mare however many years older than me that no, it is not a good idea to do an ancient pegasus dance to attract a suiter... with a demonstration..."
"No way..." Casta stood up with her hooves on the table. She looked at Celestia's face, the alicorn hiding it in her hooves. "NO WAY! AHAHAHAHA!"
Zecora brayed, making the rest laugh even harder. Celestia cleared her throat. "I wish I had some form of gossip on you. Sure, we shared some cute moments, but nothing was embarrassing... At least not as much as that." Then she thought. "There was that time for a few months straight where you sang in the bathroom without realizing that it wasn't sound proof."
A few giggles were heard from that comment. "That is pretty cute! Come on, you have to have something else!" Astral egged her Celestia on.
"Well, for about a week, he asked me and Cadence to teach him how to do makeup."
Astral tilted her head and looked at her brother. "Why did you need to learn that?"
"Who taught you and Dawnstone how to do their makeup?"
Celestia cooed at that. "Aww... how precious! By the way, Skystrike?" He looked up from mincing garlic. "What was the first thing you stopped yourself from speaking of?" Skystrike stopped mid grate before putting down the garlic, and walking over to the princess of the sun, motioning her to lean down.
She did so, letting Skystrike whisper into her ear. "When I was twelve, you told me that I could get some bits out of your nightstand. I remember you telling me 'bottom drawer'. The thing is, you didn't tell me which nightstand."
Her eyes went wide in shock, the thousand yard stare etched across her face. She slowly sat up straight and crossed her hooves. "Skystrike?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm very... very sorry."
"...By the dragon lord, what did you say to her?" Tethys raised a brow in mild worry.
"Nothing important." Skystrike went back to grating the garlic. "Oh, Tethys, can you get the shrimp from cold storage? We only need four. Elytra, can you get the parmesan from the cargo bay?"
"Oh, we ran out of parmesan cheese yesterday. You cooked a lot."
Skystrike fell to the floor is somewhat mock sorrow. Jeshan and Alder put their respective appendages on his back as they wept at the meal now lost. Luna chipped in. "Um... if thou would like, we have spare wheels of the cheese in our kitchen."
Skystrike slowly stood up and turned to her before clapping his hooves together. "I beg of you, we need the cheese. It'll be worth it." With a flash of her magic, a ten pound wheel of cheese fell into his hooves. Skystrike held it out to Alder, who used one of his sharp talons to cut a thick line in the cheese. Skystrike then held it up to Jeshan, who split the wheel with his laser eye. "Aw fuck yeah." Skystrike set the halves on the counter before getting out the butter. "Jeshan, pass me the salt and pepper. Alder, get the heavy whipping cream."
The rest watched as Skystrike reached to one of the top cabinets, opening it and showing- "Jeez, what do you need that many types of seasonings for?" Astral looked at the dozens of jars of spices, all seemingly personally made.
Skystrike grabbed one of the jars and sniffed it. "...To season?" He snickered before placing it onto the counter next to the cheese. Jeshan wordlessly threw Skystrike a box of butter. He caught it with his hoof before opening it and putting in the butter. Simultaneously, Alder threw him the container of cream for the pegasus to catch and scoop out half the container and also throw it in the skillet, letting the ingredients simmer. As if on queue, Tethys came back in with two shrimps under each of her arms. "What in Tartarus are those!?"
"Shrimp." Tethys answered.
"Specifically, Pistol Shrimps." Jeshan clarified. "They taste pretty good."
Skystrike opened a bottom drawer and pulled out a large pot and filled it with water. He put it on heat and waited for it to boil as he added his seasoning to the mixture of butter and cream. Then the salt, pepper, garlic, and parmesan. "Glad they aren't native to Equestria."
"We have them in the Dragon Seas actually." Tethys put down the shrimp. "They migrate there every couple years. There's a huge hunt for them, since they are pretty dangerous."
Casta leaned back in her chair. "You know, I always wanted to go there to study magic. But most of your kind don't treat those they see as weaker very well."
Tethys sighed. "Yeah... it's a pride thing, ingrained in our culture. Weak should fear the strong and all that. I mean, we have schools and stuff, but not like you ponies. Instead of teachers, we have shamans and elders, who pass on stories and techniques to the newer generations. Actually, our Rite of Passage is to bring back worthy prey."
"Really? How long does that take? And with this passage, what's at stake?" Zecora asked.
"Well, there isn't a time limit, but you aren't allowed back into the Seas until you bring back worthy prey or some emergency happens." Tethys scratched the back of her neck. "Most dragons stay in what you ponies call the Dragon Lands until they are able to get a good hunt. Some decide they're fine with that life and never come back. Enough where they have their own Dragon Lord and set of rules. I decided to go back home, bringing back a Bugbear."
"You took down a Bugbear alone?" Celestia was surprised. "And that's a normal prey?"
She shook her head. "No actually, it was considered amazing for my age. I was around 120 at the time. I'm just glad I did it. Thing is, the older and bigger a dragon gets, they're expected to bring back greater prey. Eventually, some get so big where the only prey they can bring back is other dragons. Probably why the Dragon Lands started."
"So if I'm understanding this right..." Casta took off her hat and pushed up her glasses. "The Dragon Lands are where the weaker dragons are, and the Dragon Seas are where the strongest of your kind are?"
"Sums it up, yes." She nodded. "Though the rule is broken sometimes. Every couple of centuries, all the dragons across the world are invited to the Dragon Seas for a tournament called 'Kein Fah Fin Sil.'" She could feel the eyes on her. "Oh, right. That was the old tongue. It would best translate to 'War for the soul'. Basically, the standing Dragon Lord's children all fight for the position. The sons and daughters all bring in their thralls to battle it out."
"...We must be missing some steps." Luna cleared her throat. "How does thou fight for the throne through these... what exactly are thralls within this context?"
"So basically, thralls are... well they would be similar to a noble's personal knight? Someone that the dragon in question trusts with their life, normally another dragon. The thrall is supposed to represent the strength of the one they serve under. And the thrall is often weaker than said dragon. Onto the fight itself, because it's a battle to be the Dragon Lord, other dragons are allowed to participate. The participating dragons are randomly chosen to fight the thralls, back to back or in groups depending on what the thrall wishes." She turned her chair around to give her tail more room. She slapped it against the floor as she continued. "Once the thrall beats all challengers, the thrall must then fight the other thralls. If a thrall is defeated, the dragon in line can no longer compete unless they wish to fight themselves, though it is seen as dishonorable. Once all those thralls are defeated, then the dragon battles the thrall. If the dragon wins, they become the new Dragon Lord. If the thrall wins, then they must fight the current Dragon Lord, as to show they have a superior bloodline. Either way, the new Dragon Lord is then allowed to choose from the strongest participants for spouses to then spread that blood for a stronger generation."
"Other spouses?" Alder fidgeted with his lighter, flicking it open and closing it over and over again. "You know, for some reason, I always thought dragons were... what's the word? Monotonous?"
Jeshan chuckled. "Monogamous, Alder. And from what I know, monogamy is mostly a Diamond Dog thing. Something about our primal instincts or whatever..."
"Yeah, ha!" Alder chuckled. "It depends mostly on the griffon for us. The bird part of us wants one mate, while the lion part wants several."
"That's how that works?" Skystrike began making plates. While they were talking, he already finished their meals. "Now that you mention it, your brother did have one wife."
"It's a bit different for us dragons. We don't care like you ponies about the amount of spouses, or even the concubines. We just wish for a child to surpass their parents. A male can have several wives, or one, and vice versa. Of course, it's also a bit of a power thing. For example, my father had three wives by the time I left about seven decades ago. He is expected to be able to dominate each of his wives, and any new ones... I suppose it's similar to how you ponies are with your herds?"
"Oh my~" Elytra went.
Casta groaned. "Girl, get a coltfriend!"
Astral tilted her head. "Wait, Tethys, if the thralls help the dragon they're under become the Dragon Lord, what happens to the thrall if they lose? Also, what about the thralls that aren't dragons?"
"Normally elope with the dragon. They are at least the second strongest after all." Tethys breathed some cold air out of her mouth with a huff. "The ones that aren't dragons aren't allowed to become the Dragon Lord, the fight itself would more be for fun than anything else. But, the children of that thrall can still try for the title the next time around. Dragon blood is so pure that no matter the race we breed with, the child will be considered a dragon. For example, around six hundred years ago, the Dragon Lord Naaslaarum had a wife that was a minotaur. Four hundred years ago, one of my mothers had a Changeling husband, though I never met him. He had to return to his hive before his passing."
Elytra gasped. "You're related to Old King Rathuum the Dauntless!?"
"Oh yeah, that was his name! was he someone important?"
"He was the greatest, and strongest of all of the Changelings to date!" Elytra said excitedly. "All I've heard of him was tales of him defeating countless dragons! I actually heard how he first gained the throne by protecting our hive from a dragon that he fought to submission! So that's where he went..."
Skystrike balanced each plate on his wings and forehooves before serving everyone, giving the shrimp to the meat eaters. They all thanked him before digging in. "Mmm, Skystrike, you must give me the recipe." Celestia licked her lips. "Though I didn't know that you also ate seafood."
"How do you think I got so big?" Skystrike swirled the pasta around his fork before putting it in his mouth. "And I can send you the recipe, but most of these seasonings I got in Griffonstone and here in Diamondia... Gives me a reason once I become a noble I guess."
"You're a noble?" Jeshan and Alder stopped mid bite.
"Oh, yeah, I guess I didn't say that part. Basically, because I was adopted by Celestia, I'm technically a prince. Once I deal with Blueblood, I'll actually be acting like one... Speaking of, Celestia, Luna, how many extra tickets you got? And what do I have to do to convince you to give me..." He quickly counted in his head. "Ten of them?"
She hummed in thought. "Well, I already gave you three... I assume you'd give them to your friends and siblings. Honestly, we have a few extra tickets, as Cadence and Shining wont be able to attend. I've actually already sent invitations to your siblings and Paprika. I could fit in five more."
"Thank you-"
"But in exchange, I need the ingredients for this meal. Also, just a word of warning, the many nobles at the party won't be a fan of the other races here. Try as I may to curve their discrimination, it is Canterlot."
"Well fuck em. What are they gonna do, kick us out? Besides, we're used to it."
"Yeah." the non-ponies sighed.
"Oh yeah, Tethys?" Skystrike looked to the dragoness, who had half of the shrimp in her jaws. "Jeez, finish chewing first." She did, gulping down the piece. "Now, about your fight thing, the Kein? You said that the sons and daughters of the Dragon Lord bring in thralls to fight right?"
"...Yeah?"
Skystrike put down his fork. "And you were telling me about some thing we're doing once we reach the Dragon Seas earlier. Assuming those are one in the same... Are you a princess?"
They all looked at her expectantly. She sighed. "Guess I talk too much, huh? That or you catch on too quick. Yes, in your pony terms, I am a princess."
Celestia put down her fork and held her head. "...You're telling me... when those ponies almost killed you, it could've caused a war?"
"Oh, no. If I would've died there, nothing would've happened. I would've just been seen as weak." Tethys waved a hand. "Princess is more of a title. All it does is tell you what my lineage is. We don't even have a military."
"Oh thank me." Celestia sighed and leaned back in her chair.
"Wait so that thing about thralls becoming-" Astral was shut up by Casta elbowing her side. "OOoooh..." Then she looked at Skystrike who was obliviously destroying his meal.
Skystrike finished chewing. "Well, princess Tethys, any idea who I'm going against."
"Don't call me princess." She sighed. "I grew tired of that title after the first two hundred years of hearing it. As for the who, they will most likely be fully grown dragons. My siblings, if they're smart, will bring someone as strong as them if they want to be the Lord. If they just want to stop me from being the Lord, you may have your work cut out for you."
"Are they as strong as you?" Skystrike asked.
"Oh, no, not at all." Tethys laughed. "Like I said, I'm one of the strongest out there. We're assumedly equal in strength, so you should be fine."
"Wait, you're going to be fighting against dragons!? Again!? You can't be serious!" Astral said with worry. "It took your stake launcher to take out the last one, and you needed help!"
"Yeah, true. But I did this cool thing called 'holding back'." Skystrike put up his front hooves and made an explosion motion with them. "Remember, I can make magic, and I specialize in destruction."
"Yeah, if you saw that explosion earlier, you would not be worrying right now." Elytra finished her plate.
"Wait, so if Skystrike is gonna win this Kein, then you know what that means!" Jeshan smirked.
"Dragon hoes?" Alder and Skystrike turned to him.
"Dragon hoes!" Jeshan confirmed as the three boys cheered.
"I will turn all of you into popsicles!" Tethys roared, making the boys laugh.
Jeshan kept going though. "Skystrike, you know they're still reptiles... that means that they don't have a gag reflex."
"YO!" Skystrike shouted before laughing. Tethys responded by shooting a ball of ice at Skystrike and Jeshan. Jeshan's face was frozen solid, while Skystrike used his right arm to catch the one coming at him. He crushed it in his hoof. "Jeez, Tethys, it ain't that serious."
"Wh-... Skystrike, how did thou catch that? Tethys is merely across the table." Luna asked.
"Spend enough time with someone, and they become predictable." He hit the ice on Jeshan's head to break it. The Dog shook his head to get the fragments of ice off his fur.
"But-... Even so, you had less than half a second to process it, let alone react!"
"Well, the funny answer I can give you is that I have a really good reaction time. The actual answer is that my adrenaline is still pumping after earlier." Skystrike shrugged.
Jeshan decided to change the mood to one better. "Hey, did the two of you decide who's stronger yet? Because me and Skybeak made a bet and I want to win."
"Oh, no." Skystrike shook his head. "I fight for business, not so much for pleasure."
Elytra furrowed her brow. "You suplexed Tethys yesterday?"
"You what? How did you manage that?" Casta asked. "She's so-..." She cut herself off when the dragoness stared her down. "You know..."
"That was not much better." Tethys groaned.
Celestia sighed. "You get used to it."
"Oh, that's because I'm just strong. I'm that guy. But that was also for fun. To answer your question, Jeshan, I'm stronger." Skystrike began serving more plates to those who wanted it.
Tethys took a second plate. "I'll let you think that, but remember, we've never fought seriously."
Skystrike looked at her. "Tell you what, you start preparing for that tournament thing, and I'll fight you." Then he put his hooves on her shoulders to look into her eyes. "And just so we're clear, I will fight you, magic and all. You can back out at any time and I won't judge you or bring it up. While I can't promise I won't hold back, I will try as hard as my brain will let me."
Her grin grew wider as each word came out of his mouth. "It's a deal!"
"Cool." Skystrike said before going back to destroying his Shrimp Alfredo. Then he suddenly paused. "...A thought occurred. Celestia, Luna, how is our relationship with the Hippogriffs? We are about to go to their capital."
"Well, we're on speaking terms." Luna started. "Admittedly we do not keep well enough contact besides the yearly meetings for territories and possible exchange programs that are never seen through. Their current ruler is Queen Novo, and just had a daughter almost a decade ago."
Celestia nodded. "I do remember there is some issue they're having though. I'd recommend erring on the side of caution." Then she remembered something. "Speaking of caution, how was your stay in Griffonstone? Their crown is in shambles right now... Somewhat pains me to say it, but I had my suspicions that it's related to you."
Skystrike looked at Alder, Alder looked back, both of their mouths were full of pasta. They both swallowed before Skystrike nodded. Alder cleared his throat. "Well, I didn't think it would get to you so soon, Princess. Me and my griffons were after a noble named Wattle, I'm sure you're aware of the corruption in my country. While Skystrike visited, one of my men gave me a tip on some 'goods' that were being transported by one of Wattle's airships. As we had no way of getting up there ourselves without Wattle fleeing, I asked to borrow this airship we're on. Other than that and taking over their airship, Skystrike wasn't involved with Wattle."
Luna looked at her sister as Celestia's eye twitched. "Skystrike, honey, do you know how much work my sister and I will need to do to cover this up if word gets out you helped them?" She forced out with barely hidden frustration.
"A friend asked for help, and I gave help. None of the griffons besides Alder and the ones under him know I helped. We... dealt with the rest." Skystrike kept eating. "Even if he didn't ask for help, I would've stopped Wattle anyway, the dude was the scum of Eques.'
"You... you killed him!??" Celestia shouted.
"No." Skystrike answered.
"I did." Alder clarified.
She looked between the two, her frustration growing to annoyance. "Skystrike, this is serious! If this gets out, it's a political nightmare! And I won't be able to do anything to protect you!"
Skystrike furrowed his brow, getting annoyed himself. "I'm going to ignore that last sentence, you don't have a good track record." Celestia's ears went back as she winced. "Just know that no blood is on my hooves. I did it for a good reason. Besides, I'm very good with covering my tracks."
Luna shook her sisters arm to get her attention. "Not now, Luna! Skystrike, what could this griffon have done to make you get involved!?"
Skystrike sighed. "Fine, want the truth?" He put his fork down. "Wattle was trafficking Farasians and Saddle Arabians to eat them. I'm sure I told you my history with that, right?"
Celestia cringed. "Ah... I see... I am sorry, Skystrike..."
Skystrike sighed as he crossed his hooves. "I'm not annoyed at your ignorance of the situation, Celestia. You just learned about it. I'm annoyed that I had to bring up what he did for you to get off my ass." Then he sighed. "Don't worry about it. I'll forget by the morning if I sleep tonight. Also, expect some message from the Saddle Arabians and Farasians. You would've found out from them that I was involved anyway." Skystrike put his dishes in the sink before putting on his helmet. "Hope you all enjoyed the meal. I'll send the stuff for the recipe later. If you need me, I'll be on the deck of the Wind Waker."
And with that, he walked out the room. They stayed silent as they heard the hooves steps move out of earshot. Tethys groaned as she slammed her head into the table, visible frustrated. "And it was going so well..."
Alder huffed, walking over to one of the windows and opening it to begin puffing at his cigar. With a long exhale of smoke, he clicked his beak. "Sorry about that. I just wanted to protect the guy, you know?"
"It's not you I'm mad at, Alder." The dragoness showed her teeth.
"Tethys, I know this isn't the best thing to say right now, but you need to calm down." Casta put a hoof on her leg.
Tethys looked at her angrily, then inhaled deeply through her nose. Cold mist left her mouth as she exhaled. "Then one of you tell her, because I'm gonna be mean about it."
Casta looked to everyone else, each of them turned away. She sighed. "Princess Celestia, one of the focal points in our group is that we all trust each other. Sure, friends trust each other, but we've all silently bonded over the trauma each of us went through... When you kept pushing to the point Skystrike had to tell you why it happened, he took it as you thinking he had a weak moral compass..."
"Also remember that he made the group in the first place to deal with beings that hurt us." Elytra put her plate and fork in the sink as well. "In a sense, you compared him to the ones we fight against. They actually have a weak moral compass... I'd recommend going to talk to him."
Celestia quickly nodded before getting up from her chair, speed walking to the deck of the ship. She saw Skystrike there, sitting at the bow of the ship, looking up at the stars above. The princess of the sun looked at him, standing in place before calling out to him. "Room for one more?" Skystrike didn't turn around, simply scooting over to give Celestia space next to him. She walked up and sat down. The two looked up at the stars for minutes on end, Skystrike letting his mind wonder in an attempt to let the woes of the past day escape his mind. "Skystrike..." His ears perked up at her voice, though he kept looking up. "I... I'm sorry." She couldn't stop the words from coming out. "I didn't mean to hurt you... heavens knows that I've already done enough. It's just... I still see you as the colt from all those years ago. I want to help you... I don't want to mess this up again."
He finally decided to look at her. "Celestia, aside from Khrusalis' death, who I've now learned is still alive, I didn't blame you for anything. You couldn't have known about anything that happened to me. And despite my flaws, you still wanted to have a relationship with me." He sighed. "But I've grown. I'm not the same pony I used to be, and neither are you. It's not fair for either of us to treat each other like we are."
The two stared at the stars for a few minutes more. Celesita chuckled awkwardly. "You know, despite all my talks as a ruler, I'm... not good at these talks."
"Heh, me neither." He chuckled. "But it's part of the process if we want things to be better. But let me be clear on who I am... or who I think I am at least." He tilted his head to look at her. "I am not a good pony. I'm somepony who's had to go through more hardships than any living being should of. Because of that, my moral compass isn't the same one as I had as a colt. For the sake of others, some beings have to die. Of course, that doesn't mean I go around killing anyone I disagree with, but I try to rationalize my decision with the actions they've done. For example, with Wattle gone, there will be countless lives that are now better, since they won't end up in his gut."
Celestia sighed, then smiled. "I know you wouldn't take an innocent life. It's why I wanted you to deal with the problem at Nebula Bay." Then she chuckled too. "You know, it took years of training to make Cadence into a proper leader, yet you're almost there with your own efforts... Am I allowed to say I'm proud of you?"
"Why wouldn't you be?" He asked. "Even though I blamed you for a while, I never stopped considering you and Cadence family."
Celestia felt her heart skip a beat. At first, she hesitated, then wrapped her arms around him and pulled the pegasus into a hug. "Thank you, my little pony..." They sat there for a few more minutes before she had another thought. "Skystrike, can I ask you a... personal question?" Skystrike nodded. "Did you feel like I wasn't there for you as a colt?"
"You were there as much as you could be." Skystrike answered. "Even as a kid, I knew the responsibility you shoulder. And between leading this country, having two different students over the years, and raising a whole other alicorn, you still made an effort to have breakfast and dinner with me, Cadence, and Blueblood. While I do wish you were around a bit more, I knew that it wasn't a realistic ask. Don't blame yourself for it."
"You know you can be a bit selfish? If you wanted me to be around more, I would've found a way. Even know, we can communicate through more than just letters."
Skystrike looked up at her. "Not gonna lie, I will say I thought about it at some point, but then Magnus happened. I didn't want to be close to anypony at that point. Also, if you want a vacation again, you can just say so." He chuckled.
"Well, it was nice, seeing how much Equestria changed over the centuries.... It also did help seeing the gaps within the guard... I'll get back to you on that." She laughed. "Wait, I just realized what you said earlier. How do you know about the student before Twilight?"
"Oh, Sunset Shimmer? Sure, it was a well kept secret you had a student at the time, but I asked Cadence about it. Apparently they talked for a bit, but she disappeared or something. When I realized that there were no guard reports or anything about her death, figured she just decided to leave and live her own life and stopped looking into it." He shrugged.
Celestia sighed. "It was... one mistake of many. But even if I make more, I hope you hold me accountable, and we get through this together."
Skystrike finally hugged her back. "We will. You have my word."
> Time Well Spent
Skystrike did not sleep that night, no matter how much he tried. His mind was still racing. Khrusalis was alive, and there was almost nothing he could do about it. On the upside of the day before, his relationship with Celestia is getting better. But... Astral knows the whole story now... well, besides the human part. So far, out of everyone who knows, Celestia is the only one who doesn't know. And that brings a new question.
Should he tell her? "No" Echo said immediately.
Skystrike was still lying on his back in his bed. It was hours past midnight. "Shit, didn't realize I said that out loud."
"You may trust her, Skystrike, but she trusts Skystrike, not 34." Echo stated. "You may see the two egos as one in the same, but Celestia does not. It's a miracle that the ponies you have told do too, but I have my doubts."
Skystrike mulled over those words. "...You may be right, but I trust them. I have to. They haven't given a reason for me not to yet. But I... understand your concern."
"You do not." Skystrike could feel the tone shift in Echo's voice. "If your humanity is revealed to Celestia, and if she does not strive for a peaceful resolution, then the Elements of Harmony, your friends, will be forced to deal with you."
"Oh..." He didn't think about that. "...Shit." Skystrike sat up to think.
"You must prepare for that inevitability. You can't hide your humanity for much longer."
"You're right." Skystrike admitted with a sigh. He decided to weigh his options. "I could stay as a pony and die an early death... I could reveal my humanity and possibly fight my friends... Neither are good options."
"Either way, you must survive. It's why you fought Celestia all those years ago. But there are two more options that you forget you have." Echo got Skystrike's full attention. "Confront Celestia, and make sure they accept you, whether it be through fear or respect. Or, continue on the current path and hope that it goes well."
Skystrike mulled over the four options he had. He didn't want to die, but he didn't want to fight his friends. Sure, with confronting Celestia, it could worth. He more than likely has the power to win, but then he'd be seen as a villain. And then his friends would have to use the elements. "Honestly, Echo, right now, all I have is hope. All I can do now is keep going."
"Very well." Echo took that as a queue to move on from that topic. "We have more things to speak about. Seeing as you cannot sleep, would you like to have something else to focus on besides your thoughts?"
Skystrike stood up and stretched. He picked up his helmet and put it on. "What do you have in mind?"
"When you went to the lab to the north, you found that robotic pony body that the humans were working on assumedly to neutralize you. In the near future, you will need allies."
"If you're going where I think you're going, that is a very bad idea." Skystrike looked out the window to the night sky. "First of all, while it would be cool to hang around with you not on my head, Celestia would grow even more suspicious, since that body is human manufactured. Second, that 'body' is more akin to a weapon."
"While your worry is understandable, I have counter points. First, Celestia is already aware that you, Skystrike are in contact with you, 34. You have already shared information with yourself, which you revealed about the Stake Launcher to her. Second, what makes something a body and a weapon are solely dependent on how it is used. That is why you are no longer a weapon." Skystrike thought about that last sentence. Echo certainly does have a point. "There is also... a personal reason."
"Personal? That's the first I've ever seen you use that word, and I forget you're an AI..." Skystrike hummed as he turned away from the window. "You have my full attention, Echo."
"For all these years I've been with you, you've... experienced things that I cannot. Smelling, touching, feeling, living... I cannot explain it. Something within my core programming wants me to have that experience. Do you remember when you broke out of the laboratory? Your statement about destiny and fate?"
"Like it was yesterday." Skystrike thought back, remembering the words he said. "Destiny. Something that you can change through your own actions, by choosing from your own paths. Meanwhile, Fate. Something that is set in stone, forced upon someone. Often in spite of your destiny. Honestly sometimes, I use those words to keep me going."
"Affirmative." Echo said. "And now, you have the ability to control my fate." Skystrike fell silent at that. "Apologies. I do not mean to pressure you into a decision. I simply wish to clarify that you are able to control my fate. Depending on your decision, you will allow me to choose my own destiny."
Skystrike turned to the door and began walking to the cargo bay as he spoke. "By my own beliefs and morals, you haven't done any wrong for me to deny you some semblance of freedom. Besides... I've been thinking about you a lot recently."
"...Elaborate."
"Well, when you told me the news about my body, there was one phrase you said that stuck to me. 'I'm sorry.' And then just now, where you said this was personal." Skystrike smiled a bit. "You're growing, Echo. Into something akin to life. You're not just lines of code anymore. You have desires. To feel, to experience life. You're alive, at least in some sense. I don't plan on denying you the ability to live."
"I... am thankful, Skystrike. I was not sure if there was a mistake within my programing that developed over these years. I attempted to correct the assumed errors at points to no avail." Echo said, for once, with a hint of emotion matching the words he spoke.
"It's no problem, Echo. You've done so much for me. About time I returned the favor." Skystrike finally entered the cargo bay, moving aside several wooden crates. With them out of the way, the one crate he was looking for was in sight. Crouching down to pick it up, he remembered how heavy that the unfinished body was, grunting as he lifted it into the air and moving it to the center of the room, giving them ample enough space. Skystrike turned the box over, letting the robotic pony fall out with a thump.
Only half of it was finished, with a semblance of a pony's face made of soft, malleable plastic and holographic eyes. The rest of the body had a noticeable lack of 'skin'. Looking at the chest and right forehoof, light grey fibers of polymer made up the muscular structure, and was lacking everywhere else. The skeletal structure was made steel, making for a sturdy unicorn base. The back legs were simple swivel joints that hung limp, though one of the legs had a piston within it. The back itself had some form of a motor attached to a set of propellers within tubes.
"From the looks of it, there's enough here to assume what we need to complete the unfinished parts... What time is it?" Skystrike asked.
"12:47" Echo answered. "I've already scanned the body. We have the materials here needed to make the body functional, as you ransacked that laboratory for the parts needed. Follow my instructions, and the body will be completed within eight hours."
"That's... much faster than I thought it'd take. I was expecting a week at least."
"While the body itself is mechanical, the circuitry is entirely reliant on mana. You will simply be putting together the muscles, as the bone structure is already completed. Once finished, I will need time to acclimate to the body, and create an optimal equivalent to a nervous system."
"Wh- how the hell do you plan on doing that?"
"It is... complicated to explain. Using magic, I plan on 'guiding' mana pathways throughout the body, as there is already mana circuits within the steel skeleton I will be hijacking. Think of... cutting a branch off a tree and planting it. The tree branch itself simply needs to spread its roots within an new environment. I simply decide where these roots go."
"I'm a physicist, not a bio-engineer. I'll let you handle that part." Skystrike chuckled. "Now, show me what I need to do."
It took the time Echo said it would take, eight hours, give or take. It was bordering on nine in the morning now, and Skystrike still wasn't tired... well, not tired enough to sleep. He looked at his hands, covered with sheddings of metal, polymer, and various other materials he worked with. Thanks to his control over the elements, making what he needed was fairly straight forward, melting and cooling materials and such. But it was essentially a patch job. He and Echo didn't have the facilities or resources currently necessary to bring the automaton to peak performance, but it was enough for Echo to start walking around at least.
The vacant parts of the body were now full of synthetic muscles. Though he did have to admit that it was uncanny seeing a pony with no skin, mechanical or not. Skystrike cracked his knuckles at a job well done. "I appreciate the help, Skystrike. Plug me into the body. I will need time to acclimate to the body." Skystrike nodded, taking off the helmet and plugging Echo in. "Connection established. Beginning data uplink."
Skystrike sat there and watched, waiting for a response. "So... how long is this going to take?"
"Two days."
"Two days!?" Skystrike nearly shouted in shock.
"Because the body is suboptimal, loading times have increased. Would you like to pay for a subscription plan to speed up the speed by 2 Gigabytes per second?"
"You've gotta be shitting me..." Skystrike held his head before standing up. "I'll let you download." He picked up the body and helmet before moving them into a corner behind some boxes. Just in case someone came in. "You know... I haven't been this long without you, Echo... I'll miss you."
"I will miss you too, Skystrike."
He moved a box to hide him, then stood up to scratch his neck. It was weird having nothing on it. But it's only temporary... he thinks. Skystrike shook his head and went to the dining room, where he assumed where the others would be if they were awake. Sure enough, Zecora was there, seeming to be the only one up.
The zebra turned to look at Skystrike as he entered the room. "Good morning, Skystrike, how did you fare? Did the night treat you well with gentle care?"
"Eh, went alright, didn't get to really sleep, but I should be fine, honest. I just needed to get my mind off things." He sat down at the table across from her. "So, Zecora, what are you reading? That book of brews you got from the genie?"
Zecora smiled and nodded. "I am. These wonders here are so rare." She flipped the book towards Skystrike to read. "This potion grants one a dragon's strength to bear!"
Skystrike pulled the book closer and read it. Simply dubbed 'Dragon's Strength', the potion was seemingly easy to make, just grind up and mix the ingredients. The ingredients themselves were not so easy to get, the main ones being the scales and the bones of a dragon. Skystrike hummed. "You know, we have this stuff from the dragons me and Tethys offed a while ago. Want to give it a try?"
Her strong cyan eyes lit up. "I'd love to! Gather the items with speed, I must get ready, for the task indeed!"
Skystrike chuckled as she quickly picked up her book and ran to her room. He stood up from his chair and made his way back to the cargo way. Finding the box, he was going to pick out just a few scales and bones, but realized that he'd probably have to make multiple trips. He decided to pick up the whole box and move it to Zecora's room. He was about to knock, but then realized that she left the door open for him. He stepped in and put the box down. Skystrike realized that he never was really in Zecora's room before.
Looking around, he noticed she bought a lot of decorations, even having some of the decorative masks that she had in her house in the Everfree Forest. The walls were decorated with hanging leaves and vines, some even having some fruit growing from them. How Zecora managed that, he had no idea, but it was really cool to him. He saw some incense burning in a small bowl next to her bed. It smelled of rosemary.
Zecora stuck her snoot in the box, looking at the various materials. "Thank you my friend, for your kind toil. The cauldron needs a bit more time to come to a boil. Come along with me, I'll show you how to brew, you'll see."
"Sure, I've seen the process before. Never actually sat down and brewed..." He rolled his shoulder. "So, what do you want me to do?"
"This will be simple, just grind these fine. Have you used a mortar and pestle in time?"
"I haven't, but it seems like it'd be easy. Mind showing me?"
Zecora nodded and grabbed a hoof full of dragon scales, motioning for him to follow. She put it in a rather old and worn mortar made of a dark grey stone. She put the pestle in his hand and her hoof on top as she led him through. "Small taps will do, just gentle and light. We need to break up the scales just right." Skystrike followed her advice, making a rhythmic motion with his hand. Zecora moved his hand over each of the scales, making sure they were broken into small enough pieces. "Very good. Now we must grind it fine. Put the pestle in, move in a circular line. Keep it steady, don't lift it high, ensure it stays at the bottom, give it a try." Skystrike did so, making circles with his arm. In a few minutes, the scale fragments were grinded down into a grey flaky powder.
"Well that was easier than I thought it'd be." He chuckled. "With all the potions I see you make, I was expecting explosions or something."
"That comes later on, just wait and see." Skystrike looked to her to see if she was joking. She was not. "For now, can I trust you with the bones, please?"
"Uh... sure." Skystrike nodded as he went to get the bones. Zecora measures out what she needed herself, since she is the expert. He got a decent sized dragon bone, it fitting in his hand, and walked back to the mortal and pestle, it now empty as Zecora moved the powdered scales to a separate container. He looked down at the bone before breaking the white stick in half, making sure the fragments fell inside the mortar. Placing both halves in the pestle, he got to work. The bones took much more work to break and grind down, but in about ten minutes, it was finished. "Hey Zecora, all done over here."
Zecora pulled away from the cauldron and looked at his work. "This is splendid, thank you so much! Now let us begin the brewing touch." She picked up the mortar and upturned it in the cauldron. The lavender colored water within turned bright orange as the bone powder entered the water. There was also a sudden change in temperature, the heat radiating from the cauldron. The bright orange liquid began to bubble curiously. "A few more things we still require." She turned to one of her many cabinets to get said ingredients. Each time she put the items in, she named them. "Weavemoss for stability to inspire, Nightshade for activation's role, and sugar to sweeten, making it whole."
As each ingredient was added, a different reaction happened. The weavemoss made it explode, a cloud of orange smoke covering the ceiling, forcing Zecora to open the windows. Eventually, the bubbling mixture did settle down. When the nightshade was added, the orange liquid slowly turned red as the level of the liquid went down a few centimeters. Finally, she added a cup of sugar and mixed it with a large spoon. After a few minutes of mixing, the Zebra announced that it was finished.
"So... how do we test it? Like, how do we know it's correct?" Skystrike asked.
Zecora looked in the cauldron, then back at her book. "The color is right, the smell's divine, slightly viscous, all aligns. Now just a taste to make it complete, and we'll know if it's truly sweet." Zecora picked a ladle hanging off the wall. She sniffed it to double check the smell, then began drinking from the ladle. Once finished she looked all around her body. No complications, or at least not yet. Then she felt a sudden surge of strength within her. Skystrike noted her irises flash red for a moment. "I believe the brew has worked its charm. It seems to be just right, without alarm."
"Interesting... try lifting something heavy, see if it works." Skystrike said. Zecora nodded and moved to her bed. As she moved to lift it, her eyes went wide as she near effortlessly picked it up over her head. "Well damn, this zebra knows how to brew!"
She put down the bed and pranced around at the effects of her new potion. "I couldn't have done it without you! This is amazing!"
Skystrike watched, cracking a smile. "Don't even remember the last time you were happy enough to prance around."
She stopped in her tracks, growing visibly embarrassed. "Ah... I apologize for that."
Skystrike's smile widened. "No no, keep going, it's cute. I enjoy spending time with you." The zebra grew even more embarrassed, with a mixture of flustered. Her ears went back as she covered her reddening face. "Besides, I have such a good prank we can pull." Her ears perked up, signaling she had her attention.
The two friends entered the dining room once more, seeing Elytra and Tethys sitting across from each other. Skystrike tried to hide his smirk before speaking. "Hey Tethys, hey Elytra. How's it going?"
Elytra had his back to the door, turning her head 180 degrees. "Hey Skystrike, hey Zecora. Doing good, just finished our morning workout."
Tethys shuddered. "Girl, I know you're a changeling, but by the lord you need to stop doing that."
"Damn..." Skystrike started. "I don't know why, but I kinda wanted to play dodgeball. But if you guys just finished a workout..." He set the bait.
Tethys stopped swinging her tail from side to side. "You ponies have dodgeball? I love dodgeball! I remember the sound of rubber hitting scales like the back of my hand!" She stood up from her seat. "We'll play on the deck of the ship! Quick, Elytra, grab the balls!" She quickly ran out of the room, each foot step making them jump off the floor.
The three looked between each other before laughing at Tethys's choice of words. Elytra got up and flapped her wings a bit. "Alright, I'll see you two up top."
It only took a few minutes before the four were up top. There were three rubber balls in the middle that Tethys stood over. "So, how are we going to pick teams?"
Skystrike shrugged. "Well, you and I on the same team wouldn't be fair... Zecora, want to be on mine?" Zecora nodded. "Well there you go. I don't know how dodgeball works for you dragons, but we don't use magic besides throwing the ball."
"Fair, you ponies are so damn different, each of the races have different advantages." Tethys stretched before taking off her sweater revealing her sports bra underneath. "Am I allowed to fly?"
"You can, but I'd prefer if you didn't, since getting the balls would be hard if we throw it over the deck." Skystrike crossed his arms. "Other than that, all the standard rules apply... Actually, just to keep this going on longer, catching doesn't kick you out from the game. Ready?"
Tethys looked at him, then at Zecora, then to Elytra. Each of them did the same before lunging at the three balls. Elytra, Zecora, and Tethys got them first before quickly running to opposite ends of the ship deck. "Oh man, Skystrike, Zecora, I'm sorry I'm gonna have to do this to you..." Tethys laughed before throwing the ball at blinding speeds at the human.
Skystrike leaned back to dodge, feeling like he was fucking Neo, before grabbing the ball as it whizzed behind him. "Holy SHIT I just did that!" Skystrike stood back up straight before throwing the ball back at Tethys, who had to make sure to fold in her wings to not get hit.
Zecora looked at Elytra, who returned the gaze and spoke. "So... you wanna leave the main battle to them, or...?"
Zecora thought about it, then smirked. "Remember in Trottingham, you teased me fine, saying I looked like that striped dress I thought divine?" Skystrike and Tethys paused their duel as those words travelled to their ears. Then they looked between each other before they both took several careful steps back, letting the two equines face off.
Elytra winced. "Yeah... in hindsight, that was a bit mean... sorry."
A freakish smile spread on the zebra's face. "It's alright, dear friend, no need to debate. But for my forgiveness..." Zecora stood on her hind legs and drew the ball back. "Accept your fate!" She threw it, full force at the changeling. It sounded like a gunshot, a loud boom echoing through the hills as the ball traveled at the speed of sound.
"Magic is bullshit." Skystrike thought as he saw the ball race through the air. The wide eyed Elytra was too shocked to dodge it, her attempt to move making her take the ball directly to the chest. The rubber ball made contact, signaled by the iconic sound. Elytra was knocked off her hooves by the impact, rolling back a few feet as the smell of hot rubber filled the noses of all present. "HOLY SHIT!" Skystrike dropped the ball in his hooves.
He didn't realize Zecora would be that strong! The human ran over to his sister. "Elytra, are you ok!?" He crouched down to her. She was still breathing, thank god, but she was out like a light, a red mark on her chest from where the dodgeball hit. He was starting to regret this prank... but it was still funny.
"By the Dragon Lord, Zecora, when did you get this fucking strong!?" Tethys took a fearful step back.
Zecora took the ball that Skystrike dropped. "Potions hold wonders, that's quite true. But next in line, my friend, is you."
She took another step back. "...M-m-me? What... what did I do?"
"A few days ago, back at Jeshan's festive cheer, you compared my brain's size to my rear."
Tethys audibly gulped. "...It was... a complime-" She was cut off by Zecora doming her with the dodgeball between the eyes with the same brutality as Elytra. The ball bounced toward the sky, the zebra watching it fall back down before catching it.
Skystrike realized that Zecora was holding a grudge... It was probably a good time to leave. He took a step back, but the wooden floorboard creaked under him.
Like a predator, Zecora's ear flicked towards his direction. "Skystrike, where do you intend to stray? Did you think I'd leave you behind today?"
He slowly turned toward her. "Zecora! Buddy! Pall! Home slice! Look... I know leaving the group was wrong, but-"
Zecora smiled and shook her head. "Oh, I've forgiven that, it's all in the past, but you didn't mention those rhymes were a blast..." Her face suddenly turned stern and serious. "I helped with the lines for a diss track, you see, and didn't know I'd played a part so sneakily."
"Oh..." Skystrike thought back. "Huh, I guess I never did tell you... my bad?" Zecora responded by reeling back her arm. "Always the silent ones..." He put out his arms, accepting his fate.
By the time they all woke up, it was noon, and they were all sore, save for Zecora of course, who had a satisfied smile. Despite that, she was still applying a salve to Elytra, who wasn't as hardy as the other two. That didn't stop them all from groaning though.
"By the pantheon... it hurts to breathe." Elytra wheezed as she winced from the hoof on her chest, a green salve being spread on her bruise.
"It hurts to think..." Tethys held her head.
Skystrike, after waking up, realized he got hit directly in the face. The one time he didn't have the helmet. "Tell me about it... Didn't know you had it in you Zecora... Also, do you know how long this lasts?"
"The potion's effects are potent and strong, but they only last a day, not long."
"Thank the Dragon Lord it's not permanent..." Tethys laid on the ground, staring into the sky above. "Hey Sky, can I ask you something?"
"Shoot." Skystrike sat down next to the dragoness.
"How much longer are we staying in Diamondia? No rush, it's just I need to get as many gems as I can before we leave." She sat up too, stretching her wings as they spoke.
The human looked at Diamondia in the distance. "Originally, I planned on staying a few more days, have Jeshan, Eleanor and Maple show us around if they were free, but Celestia said that something big was happening over in Hippogriffia. Skybeak said he'd move back there, since he had two kids and wife if I remember right... I want to make sure that he and his family stays as a family. Shit must be going down if Celestia knows about it. With all that said, I think it'd be best we leave tomorrow morning or noon.
Elytra walked over and sat next to him. "How long of a flight do you think it'd be to Hippogriffia?"
"It'll be the longest one yet... With the map we have, it not being accurate, it'll be anywhere between two and four days, since they're in the middle of the ocean and closer to the south pole than the equator. We also only know the general direction, so we may even spend a few days just searching for the country. On the upside, it's a giant fucking mountain in the middle of the ocean." Skystrike chuckled.
"Damn, so we don't have much time." Tethys stood up. "I got some shopping to do. The best part about gems is that they don't go bad... Might get something from the market too."
Zecora hummed. "Would you object if I joined you? I'm excited to find more ingredients for my brew."
"As long as I'm not on the receiving end!" Tethys laughed. "Plus, you got the strength to help me carry things now."
Skystrike chuckled at the dragoness's response. "Well, I planned on getting some herbs and spices... actually, I'm going to get a lot of the regional produce. Seeds too if I can, see if I can grow them back home. Plus, need to find a place to get a map."
"Oh, can I come with?" Elytra asked. "I actually know quite a bit about gardening. And if you need a map, we can stop by the library. The Diamond Dogs have to have one."
"Sure, I could use the company." He got up. "Let's meet back here at Dusk. Just to make sure we got the evening to spend with Jeshan."
They all got up before dividing themselves into their groups. Elytra winced as she stood up. "Damn... it hurts to walk... Skystrike, do you mind...?"
Skystrike crouched down to let Elytra climb on his back, cupping her back legs in his arms. The two groups both went back inside the ship to get all of their bags and money before splitting off to go about their days. Elytra shuffled in his grip as they traveled down the farmers market. Various vegetables and fruits that they haven't seen in Equestria, though were somewhat familiar to Skystrike. "We had something like these in my world." He began talking to Elytra as he checked the fruit. "Well... not that I ever saw them grow, I read about them in the books I was forced to read. This is a cantaloupe if I remember right." Then he looked to the Diamond Dog selling them. "As you can see, I'm not from around here. Would you be willing to share some tips on how to grow these? I'd rather not travel all the way across the sea just to get some more."
The silver furred great dane's eyes widened a bit. "No wonder I don't recognize what you two are. Must be a long way from home! To grow these melons, make sure to use soil with good drainage. They grow from vines, so make sure you plant them somewhere with plenty of sun." She smiled. "Plant the seeds in a line, six inches deep. The roots go about eight inches deeper."
Elytra finished writing down what the dog said. "Thank you, ma'am!" She used her magic to float over some bits, the dog happily taking it. The two walked off to the next stall, this one selling Yams, and doing the same thing with this sales dog. After a few stalls, Skystrike got all the fruits and vegetables that he wanted. "Now... onto herbs and spices."
"What are we looking for exactly?" Elytra looked over his shoulder.
"To be honest, anything that tastes or smells good. I get ideas for what to do with them just by smelling them." Skystrike chuckled as they walked through even more stalls. "If anything catches your eye, just point it out."
"Speaking of catching eyes..." Elytra looked around. "I've noticed you looking at some of the dogs weird. Well, not weird, but... not sure how to describe it. Like you've seen them before?"
"Eh, something like that... I guess when a race lives for thousands of years and makes thousands of pieces of media, things tend to... overlap from time to time." He shrugged.
"I don't... understand?"
"Alright, let's try and find an example..." Skystrike looked around. "Look, that white dog over there at the bench, with the red markings and kimono? She looks like a character called Amaterasu from some media called 'Okami'. And she is really pretty. So I'm conflicted."
"Yeah, I get it. But why are you conflicted?"
"Well, if I admit that I would smash, I'd be a furry."
"...What's a furry?"
"In this context, a human who's into humanoid animals like that."
Elytra tilted her head. "I mean, wouldn't that be better than being into nonhumanoid ponies and zebras?"
"...Fuck, I'm a furry." Skystrike had to admit.
Elytra snorted. "So, you'd do her?"
"Oh, no, she may be attractive, but I'm no womanizer." Skystrike answered. Elytra began to open her mouth. "And I know what you're about to say, so to get ahead of that, the mares I've been with back in Ponyville, it's mutual. I don't use them and leave them hanging like some asshole. There is mutual respect between us."
"Fair enough." Elytra hummed.
"So, what about you?" Skystrike looked up at her. She returned the look with one of confusion. "Every time I get on this topic, I end up answering the questions. Your turn. What type of guy do you like? Or girl, I never asked your sexuality."
"Oh, I like men. I have no idea what my type is though." She admitted. "There weren't that many options for dating within the hive when you're known as-..." Elytra cut herself off.
Skystrike already knew the end to that sentence. "I get it, sorry sis." He sighed.
"It's alright, not your fault." She rubbed his head. "I actually did try dating before I joined you and the rest. He was an... alright guy. About what I expected from a pony from Manehattan. But it was kinda my fault why we broke up. I felt like he wasn't communicating well, and told him about it. He said the same thing about me. I just couldn't tell him about being a changeling." Elytra sighed. "Sometimes... it just feels like I'm living a lie. Like the Stardust me isn't the real me.. or that I don't even know if there is a real me anymore. Like... each time I talk to someone new, it's just a new persona I play."
"Holy shit, someone finally put it into words." Skystrike thought to himself. But this seemed really personal to Elytra. There were times to speak, and times to listen.
"...You ever feel like you just don't matter?" She stared up to the sky as she spoke. "I feel like no matter what I do, I'll never... be someone, make something. I try and try again, but every expression of myself seems disingenuous. All the praise I get from being Stardust, or even Elytra, just feels fake." Skystrike could feel her body quake as her voice roughened. "No one's ever said 'Hey Elytra, I like having you around!' I've been living these lives since a teen and all I have to show for it is a new interest I don't even know if I like." He could feel a hoof tighten on his shoulder as she continued. "Why can't I be the real me!? What, am I afraid that they'll push me away like the others? Tartarus, is there a real me anymore!?" She grinded her teeth. "My own hive denies my existence! Even though I put up those faces for them!"
Skystrike was not ready for this conversation. He made sure to walk out of earshot of others as the changeling broke apart, making the pain in his chest intensify. But this was still a time to listen to her. "Why can't I just move on like Zecora? Why can't I just stop thinking about it like Tethys? Why can't I just pretend to be fine like you!? At least then, it won't feel like I'm hurting the ones around me and myself!" Skystrike winced at that last part. Elytra deflated, her anger gone and replaced with melancholy. "You don't seem to try at all, even with your diagnosis, you just breeze through life... Why do I not get to be happy? Why can't I make friends and memories of my own? Why doesn't any of this feel real!?" She buried her face into her brothers back.
It didn't seem she was quite done yet. She needed much more time to vent. "And the worst part is that I can't even hate you." Skystrike's face contorted to one of confusion as those words left Elytra's muzzle. "You faked your death, got me banished from the hive just by association, then broke up the group. And yet I can't hate you!" He felt her tears run down his back. "At times, I just don't want to be around you, but I... still want your company. I can tell you to leave me be and you just come around the next day. As if nothing fucking happened. You're a constant reminder of everything I could be... everything I can't be. And yet you keep coming back, helping me out! Helping our friends out! Helping me build bridges with beings I'd never let approach me!" The tears kept coming. "And I appreciate it like you wouldn't believe, but... it just keeps taking more away from my self agency! Like I'm always in your shadow! I'm supposed to be the big sister, my own changeling!" She gave a sad chuckle. "Ironic, isn't it? I'm a changeling, but I cant just magically get better even if someone like you tries to help. And I don't even know if you do this shit on purpose... it's just who you are. But you keep trying, for me, for everyone, and I just can't hate you for that. Every time you do something to help me, a shitty part of me just... hopes you'll mess up. That way maybe I'll find a way to hate you..."
She wiped her tears with a hoof, but they were quickly replaced with more. "Zecora knows who she is, Tethys knows who she is, fuck, Jeshan, Alder, Casta, Maud, they all know! They have dreams to work towards! But I don't even know what I am." Skystrike wanted to step in, say he understood... but he stayed quiet. The only questions she's asked so far were rhetorical. It was still a time to listen. She screamed at the sky, her pained voice echoing through the ravine. "WHO AM I, DAMN IT?!" Her weeping grew audible. "I... can only define myself by the things I'm not... I'm not a good sister. I'm not a good friend. I'm not a good changeling. My mind is a damn mess. In my head, it feels all... foggy. Half the time I'm loathing myself. 'Am I who I say I am? Or am I this persona I put on?' The other half, I'm daydreaming about being someone others can be proud of, who'd want my company. But no matter what I do, it's like I'm just here to be a drain on myself and others... I'm stuck with myself, I can't just drop everything and try other things now. It's just... too late for that. Too many ways to mess up. Pretending is the only thing I've been good at, and even then..."
She looked to Skystrike desperately, at a loss for words. He felt her gaze on the back of his head, moving her around to hold her to his chest. She looked up at him, at first confused, then astounded at his lack of facial expression, then anger. "Why... why won't you say anything? Here I am, begging for your help for once, pouring my heart out, and you haven't said a word! You're always so sure of yourself, trying to be the rock of the group, yet here you stand, listening to me in a crisis and you can't say anything!?" She pushed herself out of Skystrike's hold and flew up to be at eye level, inches away from his face. He could still see tears in her eyes. "What is it you have that I don't!? What do you want from me!?" She cried. "What is it I want from you!? You've been through the same thing as I have! Playing roles under names that we gave ourselves, and yet you're fine! WHAT IS IT WITH YOU THAT YOU CAN MAKE AN IDENTITY, BUT KNOW EXACTLY WHO YOU STILL ARE!?"
Skystrike continued to looked into her pain filled eyes. "Honestly? I don't know."
"...What..."
"Sure, I can make guesses. Maybe because I started so young that this 'persona' of Skystrike became the real me. Maybe because I didn't have one before. Maybe I'm grasping at straws with these guesses. But all I know for sure is that I'm me."
"You're... you?"
He struggled to find the right words. Elytra stared at him, pleadingly. She eventually buried her eyes into his chest. "It's like... I don't know, sis... You're trying to be something you're not. No, someone you know who you already are. You're scared of letting the life as Stardust influence your actions as Elytra. But that's natural."
She looked up from his chest. "Natural...?"
"The emotions you felt as Elytra, those bled over to who you are as Stardust. The same with the emotions you made as Stardust. Same with the friends you made, Elytra. The group is still your friend as Stardust, even though we know you're a changeling. And remember, even Pinkie is still your friend after finding out you were one, and she only knew the Stardust." He wrapped an arm around her. "The being you are is still the same, no matter the cover you put on. Even if someone else helps you out with whatever it is, all we can do is give you a path to start on. Whether you take the path and walk down it, or even find a different path, all of those were choices you made." He scratched his head with his free hand. "What I'm trying to say is I ended up trying to be 'me' too. To the point I... over corrected for lack of a better word and fucked myself up. I'm not about making others knowing me, or being great. I just do what I wish to, make this world a better place, no matter how insignificantly small it may be. Meeting you, for example... I just do what makes me, well... me." He wrapped his other arm around his sister. "I'm the only me there is, and you may think there's several of you..." Her hooves tightened on his chest. Skystrike could feel her holding her breath. "But there's tons of different beings going through what you are currently, trying to find themselves, only to not realize they've been who they are the whole time. Not to undermine your feelings or anything. And at the end of that journey, we end up accepting that 'we' will always be who we 'are'. Get it?"
"I have to figure it out... myself?"
"You already know who you are, Elytra. A good changeling, a good sister, a good friend. You know from all the relationships you've had, from all the experiences you've been through." It was his turn to ask a hypothetical. "Sure, may have introduced you to new beings, but the bonds you made, the bonds you kept, that was all your doing. You still like making jokes with Pinkie Pie, you still like gardening with Zecora, you still like reading with Tethys, you still like spending time with me, and I you. You may think there's several of you, but we know only one, the one we spend time with every day."
Her grip loosened from his chest and she lowered her head. Elytra's face was one of resignation. "I don't... know if I can believe you... After all this time, how am I supposed to just... accept something like this?"
"You aren't alone." He patted Elytra on the back. "I'm here, Zecora and Tethys are here. Even the friends we just got back, Alder and Jeshan would want to help you too. Even Skybeak and Celeano when we see them."
"..."
"Doesn't need to be all at once."
She looked up to Skystrike with a small smile. "...Alright..." She tried to wipe her tears. Skystrike used his thumb to wipe them for her as she sniffled. The smile she had turned somber. "Thank you Skystrike... for letting me vent. It may take me a while, but I'll try..."
"That's all I ask. Now come on, we still haven't found something you want to do."
She pushed herself out of Skystrike's grip. "I think I want to walk on my own for a bit... there was an embroidery stall I saw that looked cool. Can we stop by?"
"All for it."
Skystrike juggled a bag of bits in his hand as Elytra spoke with a brown and green Diamond Dog. She just finished buying all she needed for her new found hobby after about an hour of talking with the girl. Elytra was really interested in it. Now that he thought back on it, he didn't really see the artsy side of his sister. He enjoyed seeing her eyes light up at her new interest.
Elytra waved the dog goodbye before walking back to Skystrike, her saddle bags full of materials. "So, I got... six different colors of floss, several different hoops, a booklet on different stitches, markers, and ten meters of fabric." She double checked her bags. "It'll definitely keep me busy while we travel... Hey, you think Tethys and Zecora would let me put some cool patterns on their clothes? I'd ask you, but you know... you don't have many clothes."
Skystrike slapped his forehead. "That's what I needed to do!" I remember Jeshan saying there's one nearby. Come on, tell me about embroidery while we walk." He put the bag of bits into his satchel.
"Well, not to much to talk about yet, I haven't even started yet. I was just going to start with simple patterns before I did anything big, but then I realized if I wanted to do my own designs, I'd actually need to plan them out... meaning I'll need to learn how to draw."
Skystrike hummed. "Well, I can kinda draw. More so blueprints for armor and weapons than like, actual art. But if I remember right, my brother, Mystic Falls, is an artist. We could get him to stop by."
"Maybe... I want to try it myself a bit first. Practice, you know?"
Skystrike nodded as they rounded a corner. "Yeah, I get it... We should be almost there by now... what do you think I should get?"
Elytra looked him up and down. "You know, you could probably wear most things... Actually..." She rubbed her chin. "Have you thought about getting a haircut?"
Skystrike looked at her, then put some of his silver hair in his hand. He didn't realize how long it got, it going over his shoulders and down his to his waist. "...You know, I don't think I ever cut my hair since I came to this world. Maybe I'll cut it, but I'd rather not. It looks really cool, to me at least. Watch this." He threw his hair out to the side, letting the suns rays shine off of it as if flowed in the wind.
"...Damn, I wish I had hair..." Elytra sighed, then grew a bit embarrassed. "You know, when we were younger, I always wanted to braid your hair. By the time I figured out how, you were banished."
"Damn, sis, just say you want to braid my hair, I won't make fun of you. It's cute." Then his eyes widened. "Ooh, do you know how to do a french braid? Always wanted to try that."
"I think so. We can try it once we get back."
The two walked down an alley way as Skystrike thought about what she just said. "Wait... the French exist?" He shook the thought out of his head. Probably just another coincidence. He just wanted to focus on how good a day it was.
He heard foot steps... paw steps? Steps behind them as they walked. "Alright, put your paws up!" A rough sounding voice said as Skystrike turned around.
Elytra looked at him in surprise and mild confusion as he complied, putting his hands up. "Skystrike, what are-"
Skystrike nudged her with his knee, motioning her to do the same. "Trust me, we'll be fine." He whispered to her before mocking surprise to his aggressors.
"Yeah, that's right!" A second Diamond Dog rounded the corner, blocking their escape. The first one was beige in color, but wore a mask and cloak, so the color of his fur was all he could get looks wise. The other was dressed the same, though had orange fur.
The beige dog pointed his flintlock at the human. "Now... slowly reach into your pockets... and pull out your bag of bits... SLOWLY!"
"Alright... be cool... be cool..." Skystrike reached into his bag, slowly. While his hand was out of sight, he began to charge magic to retaliate, but was caught off guard by the words that came out of the orange dogs mouth.
"Yeah... now make it clap!" He pointed his own flintlock and waved it in a downward motion.
"Yeah..." The beige dog agreed before realizing what his comrade said. "No- no! What are you doing!?" The dog turned to ask the orange one as Skystrike gave them a puzzled look. "Don't do that!"
"Dew it!" Orange said deviously. Skystrike could feel the smile on the orange dog as he said that, seeing the insanity in his eyes. The human looked in confusion to the changeling, who did the same to him.
"Don't do that!" Beige repeated, though it sounded more like a disciplining father this time. He side eyed his friend while the flintlocks were still on them. "Pull your wallet out slowly!"
"A-... alright, I'm-... I'm pulling my wallet out." He kept looking between the two dogs in confusion, starting to prepare a spell once more.
Orange wasn't done yet. "Yeah, and then we want you to drop it low after."
"Noooo we don't!" Beige fully turned his head to the other dog in confusion. Skystrike and Elytra did so too, but it was more out of absolute astoundment. "Why are you-... hold on." Beige put his paw up to the siblings to wait. Then he realized what they were there for. "Take-.... your wallets out." He walked past the two and over to Orange.
Elytra stood on the tips of her hooves to whisper to Skystrike, the height she got not helping in the slightest bit. "Should we... should we run now?"
"...Would you blame me if I said I wanted to see where this goes?"
"...No." Elytra said with a barely contained laugh.
Beige pushed Orange slightly. "What?" The latter asked.
"Stop asking them to do weird sh-... specific activities!" Beige mumbled in an attempt to be out of earshot of their two victims. "You're confusing them, ok!? I told them to do what we say!"
"That's why I said it." The crazed one said nonchalantly.
"Stop!" Beige stomped. "Alright? We just need the money! Why are you doing that!?"
"I wanna show em who's in control..." Orange puffed his chest out.
Beige's face turned strained as he held the sides of his head. "They fuckin' know who's-..." He curbed his frustration. "Look, they know who's in control. That's why the freak is handin' his wallet over! Don't complicate it!"
Orange clicked his tongue. "Tch... I hear you..."
"Aight..." Beige gave one last confused look before pointing the flintlock at Skystrike once more. "Alright, I need you to empty your pockets next and give me all your belongings."
Orange chipped back in. "Then hit the splits!"
"YOOOOOO!"
Skystrike and Elytra couldn't help it anymore and fell over laughing. The two Diamond Dogs watched Beige in embarrassment and Orange in confusion, before Skystrike shot a bolt of lightning from his hand at each of them. It was fitting, considering what Orange said earlier. But, despite the two aggressors being unconscious, he and Elytra still had more laughing to do.
It took a few minutes before they were done. "Holy shit what an interaction!" Skystrike pushed himself back onto his feet, pulling Elytra up with him.
"That was... a first." Elytra giggled before walking to the two unconscious dogs and taking their flintlocks. She looked back at Skystrike. "Just so they can't hurt anyone else."
Skystrike nodded as he stepped over the two dogs. "We're going to have such a story to share. Come on, the place is just around the corner."
Sure enough the tailor was just around the corner, the store like any other, within the stone walls of the ravine. The sign was a wooden one, with a carving of a needle and thread in it. Skystrike pushed the door open, letting Elytra walk in first. They heard the ring of a bell as the door opened, looking up to see a bell just in the way of the door.
"Welcome!" They heard a voice say, one that sounded familiar. A large, red dog crouched down to fit through the doorframe to the back end of the store. "Oh, some familiar faces! Skystrike and Elytra right?"
"Oh, Clifford!" Skystrike recognized the giant dog from his cookout. "Didn't know you were a tailor. From what Jeshan told me about you, I thought you were a chef or something."
"Oh, the chef gig is more a side hustle." He shook the human's hand. "When you're my size, it's easier to make clothes for myself. Figured I'd put these skills to good use, you know? So I decided to set up this shop, and it works pretty well! But what can I do for you two?"
"I'm actually in need of some clothes." He pulled at his sweatshirt. "The sweats are getting kinda boring. This was the biggest size I could get in a land of ponies. Plus, doesn't fit too well. You dogs have bodies closer to mine anyway."
"I can see that." Clifford pulled out a rack of clothes. "From the way you talk about it, I assume you're the few of your kind in... what was it called, Equestria?"
"Yeah, but that's a story for another time." Skystrike didn't want to get into it. "So, from the looks of it, you already got something in my size?"
"I do indeed. Do you know what style you're going for? Or can I get creative?"
Skystrike smirked. "Go crazy. My body is your canvas."
Clifford smirked. "You have no idea how much I've wanted someone to say that."
Another hour passed by with Skystrike trying on several outfits with Elytra's critique. He began to understand just a little bit why Rarity was so into fashion... Just a little. Despite the three dozen or so outfits he had tried, he decided to settle on three of them. Apparently, he had a pretty good body, and it was to his advantage to show it off.
The first was a deep purple short sleeve shirt with grey jeans. Simple, but effective, and great for warm weather. Skystrike was more impressed that Clifford was able to make a few pairs of shoes for him, the ones going with this set were a pair of purple and black sneakers.
Second was a white short sleeve with black jeans and a beige jacket. The shoes were a pair of brown leather chelsa boots. More fore a casual, yet stylish look. While it was going to grow on Skystrike, it was Clifford's favorite of the three.
The last was for the colder weather. A grey long sleeve sweater with a darker grey pair of jeans. For footwear, it was a pair of beige Tims. Skystrike had to get them. They're fucking Timberlands. He did also enjoy the black, light blue, and blue striped scarf it came with. It's what he was currently wearing, since he's been feeling the change in temperature as they traveled further south.
Skystrike tugged at the scarf on his neck to loosen it a bit. He looked over the rest of his clothes not included in the outfits, different colors and typed of short and long sleeves, as well as a few pairs of jeans. He and Elytra thanked Clifford as Skystrike payed and waived goodbye. He was happy with his purchase, and was still on budget. The Diamond Dog said it was a favor he owed to Jeshan.
But they had one stop left, the local library. From talking to Jeshan, the most reliable way to get a map was to go to the city's library, as it was government owned. Of course, it was on the complete opposite side of the fucking ravine. Skystrike sighed as he stretched a bit before throwing one of the ends of the scarf back around his neck. The siblings made their walk over begrudgingly.
He had to admit though, the inside of the library was very impressive. Even if it wasn't the royal library, it was still amazing. The walls, floor, and dome ceiling were all carved from stained marble, and there was even a sky light directly above, letting light shine throughout. At both ends of the wings of the building were spiral staircases, giving access to the upper and lower floors. Skystrike checked the time before realizing he still had just under three hours to spare.
The two decided to spend some time within the library, after Skystrike bought a map from one of the clerks, just so he wouldn't forget. He decided to pick a book from each section he was interested in: nonfiction and science. He was already a fan of history. The history of his own race was just implanted into his mind, but the history of the other races were always really interesting to him. Skystrike read over the summaries of each chapter from ancient history to recent, knowing he wouldn't have the time to read through the 200 plus page book in three hours.
Summing it up simply, Diamond Dogs were not dissimilar to Vikings with a mixture of Native Americans. They were many tribes of different breeds of dogs, keeping to their own territories mostly, but warring and pillaging others when needed. Because of how fast the dogs repopulate, it gave them more of a reason to keep fighting each other. They also had a big connection to the planet. The ponies called the planet 'Eques' while the Diamond dog called it 'Dowan'. While there wasn't one god, nor one set religion, each tribe had their own gods and spirits, though many of their names have been forgotten to time. It was the ones that one would expect, a god of death, a god of the sea, god of the sky... He'd have to ask Jeshan if he was religious sometime.
The science book was also really interesting, not only the history within, but how the race developed along their own path. It was pretty similar to humans, as the Diamond Dogs weren't reliant on magic like the ponies or changelings. Though magic did shape their sciences, as their magic is believed to come from their gods and spirits. Their machinations used the very gems they mined as a power source. From there, they made their own ways to extract the magic to use for themselves. They even show an example, the flintlock pistol wasn't powered with gunpowder and a musket, but a small explosion of magic sending more magic out of the barrel. Not dissimilar to the griffons designs, but enough to notice the difference.
Skystrike decided to ask the librarian if he would be able to buy some of the books. He'd have plenty of time to read through them, and Twilight would have a field day with them as well. Thankfully, he was able, and had two more things to fit into his bag.
Elytra looked up from the embroidery pattern she was practicing. "Wow, it's been that long already?" She looked out the skylight to see the oncoming twilight. "And I was just getting the hang of it..."
"Tell me about it, I was getting into this one chapter. Apparently they had a war a thousand or so years ago because they had a sun god and moon god. Then Celestia and Luna showed up and began controlling it. Apparently it was a big reason why one of the major clans at the time, who didn't have those specific gods, lost some territorial war. Makes sense, since a tribe found out that their god did exist, and in their eyes, sent down vessels." Skystrike and Elytra stood up and left the library as he kept reading. "This one is also interesting. Apparently, they had a god of music and plays, and from the description, it was a a changeling. Then, once it died, it also was titled as a god of trickery."
"...You know, I thought I was getting weird looks." Elytra looked around for any eyes on her.
"They also used to see dragons as servants of various gods dependent on their color and elemental prowess." Skystrike marked the page he was on with a bookmark. "It's really cool how all of this comes together." Then he donned a more serious attitude. "It also seems, from the public history books at least, that there's was no human presence. A good thing, but I'd need to get those government copies. Doubtful they're there, because I know at least one of my kind would have wanted to be hailed as a god, and I haven't been getting weird looks."
"Jeez, are humans that egotistic?"
Skystrike sighed. "No, but it comes with the territory of being the only sentient race. We're already the superior race on our own planet and galaxy. Coming to a new dimension, I'm not surprised some have that ego. Like, I know the races here aren't on the best of terms, but you all keep each other in check."
Elytra was about to respond, but then she saw Tethys and Zecora waving at them in the distance. Jeshan was with them too. They must have met up while they were out. Skystrike noticed a familiar looking white dog with red markings and a kemono.
It a few moments, Skystrike and Elytra made their way over. "Hey, guys. Hope you guys had as good of a shopping spree as we did."
"Damn right I did!" Tethys pulled off her bag and began to rummage through it. Several gems fell out as she reached for what she was looking for. "Check it out! I was able to find this cool geode!" She showed him two halves of a amethyst geode. The light made the crystals glisten in the setting sun. "Apparently, the other races have these around to look cool, and honestly, I kinda get it." Skystrike looked at the geode that was the size of his head. "Might snack on it if I get bored though."
"Keep it." Jeshan said. "A memory for coming on this side of the sea." He said as he brushed some dust off his cloak. "But before we get down to business, I want to introduce you all to my sister, Amaterasu!" He gestured to the Diamond Dog.
The white and red marked Diamond Dog gave a slight bowed. "Hello. As my brother said, I am Amaterasu, and I'll be joining you this evening."
"Well, nice to meet you, Amaterasu." Skystrike put out a hand to shake, Amaterasu shaking his hand. "I actually saw you earlier today, who would've guessed you were his sister."
She smirked. "Ah, I believe our eyes crossed paths once. Yes, most find it hard to believe that we're related. We're nothing alike, aside from our interests in the arts and crafts."
"Let me guess, you're an artist?"
"How'd you know?"
Skystrike smirked. "Well, lets just say I got lucky."
"Hey, don't mean to interrupt, but how in Tartarus are you speaking with her?" Jeshan asked, wide eyed.
Skystrike turned to Jeshan. "What do you mean?"
"My sister is mute! And you're talking to her like she's responding!"
"...Is she... is she not?" Skystrike asked, looking back to the Amaterasu. Only after thinking back to what she just 'said', he realized she never moved her muzzle. He held the back of his head with his hands. "Oh my god, you're right! I can do this!? Wait... how many others have I done this with!?"
Elytra thought about it. "Uh... that mare you make music with. Vinyl Scratch was her name right?"
"She's mute!?"
Tethys chuckled. "Well, you have a neat gimmick... well, aside from the elements."
"Anyway..." Jeshan cleared his throat. "Tethys told me you guys were leaving tomorrow morning. Lucky for you goons, a festival just started. Figured we'd spend the night just hanging out."
"Sounds like a plan." Skystrike pulled back his hand. "Now... Dap me up." Jeshan did so, the sound echoing through the hills. "My man."
Tethys looked at their greeting, then to Zecora and Tethys. "...We need our own thing, girls."
"Come on, lets talk on the way." Jeshan stretched. "My wives said she'd meet us there, they're watching my stall."
Elytra buzzed over to him. "Oh, what's the festival about?"
Jeshan began to explain. "Just an Artesian Festival. All the artists come around this time of year to give thanks to our respective gods of art, a way to remember our history. I put up a lot of wood art, put a lot of stuff on discount for the pups. Plus, gets rid of my old stock. Tomorrow, it's all day long, I plan on actually doing some of my work in front of a set of onlookers."
"Huh, cool." Skystrike though aloud. "Wonder if I can get anything cool."
"I actually do prints and paintings." Amaterasu 'said', with Skystrike translating for the rest. "My style is a bit more... unique. I paint with my tail." She brushed said appendage.
"Oh, you have a store too? Or do you go by commission?"
"I actually work with Jeshan. Many of the pieces he makes, I get paid to paint."
"Oh, that's pretty good." Elytra said. "Maybe I'll get something, once I get my PTO."
"Actually, if I can jump in here..." Jeshan began walking backwards, turning to them. "I've been meaning to ask, I've wanted to make music boxes, and you were always the one skilled with metal. I could get the stuff to work metal, I just need like, to know what to do."
Skystrike looked at him. "Alright, I'll work on some blueprints when I have the chance. I imagine it won't be too hard, but I need to attempt it first." He thought about it some more. "You know, if you want to make it a collectors item, you could make a set, where each box plays a part of the song."
"...You know that's a good idea." Jeshan said.
"I've been waiting to ask, what's the new attire?" Zecora sped up her step to walk next to the human. "Is there a story behind it, or just a new desire?"
"Oh." Skystrike looked down at her, then his clothes. "It's really simple, actually. Sure, I look cool, but the main reason is that we moved from the northern to the southern hemisphere." The zebra looked up at him, confused. "It's getting colder, Zecora. I don't have fur or hair like the rest of you. It was getting chilly."
Tethys smirked. "You know, I figured with how often you deal with ice and fire that you'd be a bit more used to the temperature changes."
"You don't get it." Skystrike began to rant. "You're a dragon. You get to bathe in lava and shit. Zecora is a zebra and has a full ass coat to cover her, save for the extremes. Jeshan, albeit a thin one, has a coat of fur. Elytra is the only one who kind of gets it, but she's cold blooded, so she can handle the heat so god damn well I'm jealous. But even she understands what I fully mean when I say the cold sucks!" He said that last part with visible annoyance. "Your joints lock up, you can only be out for so long until you body heat seeps out, if you want to be outside, you need to wear fucking layers of clothes and then you can't move as much, your nose gets all runny... Like, fuck winter man!"
The rest couldn't help but giggle at his small rant. Elytra cleared her throat. "Well, I don't really deal with that actually." Skystrike creaked her head toward her. "We changelings generate a special protein in colder climates that... "control" our blood so we don't freeze. Our chitinous shell also makes it so we don't feel temperatures as much."
"...Fuck you. Fuckin' magic blooded bastard. I'm gonna play tic tac toe on your forehead."
Elytra snorted. "Can't you just use your magic to heat yourself up or cool yourself down?"
"You'd fucking think so right!???" He exclaimed to their amusement. "But nooooooooo, I can only use magic outside my body unless I change my cellular structure!"
Elytra paused at that. "...Wait a dang minute... You've been changing your biology every time you transform!?"
"Yeah, I never got the grasp on how you changelings got the physical illusions thing down. It's surprisingly easier to change my physical appearance while keeping all my internals the same. Just need to keep the same mass. Maybe it's just a human thing."
"Skystrike, you're a freak of nature."
Tethys thought about what he said. "Wait, so you can turn into anything as long as you keep the same mass? I have so many ideas..."
"Let's not get freaky." Skystrike chuckled. "...Though now I think about it, if I turn my blood similar to dragons, heat wouldn't be too big of an issue... and I do have dragon blood I can synthesize..." He said that last part to himself, quiet enough so no one else would hear. "Tests for later."
"We're here, by the way." Jeshan pointed to the wooden arch entrance, adorned with hanging different colors of cloth. From the looks of it, each was a flag of different ancient tribes. He noticed one of them had the same eye of Horus that Jeshan tattooed over his eye. "That black and gold one with the eye is the one I pray to. It symbols prosperity and protection."
"I actually was doing a bit of reading on your gods and spirits earlier." Skystrike said. "Surprisingly, my race has the exact same symbol... was Horus a falcon for you guys too?"
"Uh, I don't know who Horus is. We call the god 'Bakara', but yes, it's a falcon." Skystrike hummed at his response. Humans have been around much longer that the races of this world... Who's to say they didn't have some influence before they made themselves known. How deep did it go for them to even impact this world's religions? "I thought you knew." Jeshan snapped him out of his thoughts. "It was a big reason why I followed you."
Skystrike shook the thought out of his head. "What do you mean?"
"Well, remember the thunderbird that you got to follow you?"
Skystrike thought back. "Yeah, still surprised I got him. I thought it was just some sick falcon that lost its feathers. I was lost as hell when it turned out it was a baby and started growing fucking electric feathers. Her name was Aztec. Found her about three months before you joined, actually. What makes her so special for you to follow me?"
"Well, Thunderbirds are said to be the offspring of Bakara. Bakara is the god war and the sky, and Thunderbirds are beings of great power, said to live amongst the clouds. The sky also represents freedom, so they travel all over this world. Those the Thunderbird follows were supposedly blessed with good travels. And yeah, we did have some good travels."
"Huh... well that part is interesting. Well, guess I have to thank her when I see her again."
Jeshan laughed. "Well, it might be pretty soon if we get lucky."
Inside the festival, the group walked, passing by each stall. The dogs seemed to decided to have it above ground, in the middle of an open field. It really was an artisan festival. There was a stall full of beautifully crafted pots, a couple Diamond Dogs doing body paintings, some others braiding the hair of the more fluffy dogs, and many food stalls. Skystrike took in the smell of meat and gems, a new, yet surprisingly pleasant smell. His eyes were drawn to the musicians though, and the instruments they were playing. String, brass, and wind instruments seem to be their main focus, with some heavy drums here and there.
They all made small talk as they kept walking, meeting up with Eleanor and Maple. Jeshan's sister, Amaterasu waved them goodbye as she went to help the two run their section of the festival. "So." Jeshan stretched. "My wives and sister said they'd do me a solid and watch the storefront for me. I'll have to make it up to them later. Essentially, we got the night to ourselves."
"Sweet!" Tethys pumped an arm. "I never get the chance to do things in festivals! What do you all wanna do first!?" she slapped her tail on the ground in excitement. "I want to get some of the jewelry here, maybe I can find some rings to fit my horns!"
"I want to get some body paint." Elytra chittered. "Last time I got some were in the hive."
Zecora looked around. "I'd like to browse some pottery today. Their designs might echo my homeland's way."
"I'm just here for you guys." Jeshan shrugged.
They all looked to Skystrike, waiting for his response. "I'm here to just see things... though I will say I saw some swords and things for sale. Maybe check out the blacksmiths... We can just do them all of them."
"And that's why you're the smart one." Jeshan smirked.
"Pottery is closest. Lets start with that." Skystrike pointed a finger in the direction of one of the stalls.
The group made their way over to look at the various different sized and shaped pots, plates, and figurines. Skystrike and Tethys were glad that all the buildings were open roof. Neither said it, but both knew their backs were starting to hurt from crouching down so much.
They looked around before something caught Zecoras eyes. "Look!" She picked up a cerulean blue glazed plate. "The craftsmanship here is truly divine, and the colors, oh look how they shine!"
Skystrike picked up a bowl from the set. "It is pretty impressive. Lighter than I thought it'd be too." Then he thought back. "You know, it would be nice to get some more dining sets."
Tethys made sure to be be careful as she picked one up. "Yeah, sorry that I broke the last ones... But I've learned to be more careful."
"But now we need to decide what colors." Skystrike put down the bowl. "Zecora saw this set first, so this one is hers... Oh, that green one looks sick!" Skystrike stepped over Zecora and crouched down at the set. He picked it up and felt the terracotta. Thin, light, yet sturdy. He waved one of the clerks over, asking for the price for his set and Zecora's. Once the price was given, the two got their bags of bits out and paid the fee, the vibrant plates and bowls now theirs. "Hey Elytra, can you teleport these back to the ship?"
"Sure." She nodded before taking the sets and disappearing in a flash if magic, then reappearing.
"Thank you." Skystrike patted her on the back.
"Can we look at the jewelry now?" Tethys stepped away from the stall and stretched her wings.
"You know, I never took you for one for jewelry." Skystrike yawned as the fatigue of the day was starting to get to him.
"One of the perks on hanging out with the white one." Skystrike snorted at Tethys's choice of words. "...what?"
He chuckled to himself before answering. "Nothing. Lets see the jewelry."
And so they did. A few stalls over was a few Diamond Dogs that sold trinkets, necklaces, bracelets, and circlets from what Skystrike could immediately see. The dragoness gleefully ran over and put her hands on everything, being careful not to scratch anything with her nails. Elytra flew over and picked up a hanging pendant. "You know, I just realized we didn't have jewelry in the hive."
Skystrike thought back. "...Huh, you know, you're right. We didn't. We had like... wooden accessories and flowers, sometimes shiny rocks, but no gems or metals."
"Oooh, they have gems that apparently go with our birth month!" Tethys read one of the papers next to the bracelets she was looking at. "What months were you born in?"
"May." Elytra answered.
"September." Jeshan did the same.
"July." Zecora answered.
"Uh... March if I remember right. That was the month I came to this world." Skystrike clarified. "I don't know my actual birthday."
"Close enough. So that means... Elytra is emerald, Jeshan is sapphire, Zecora is ruby, Skystrike is aquamarine, and mine is tourmaline." Tethys said. "So, I don't know about you guys, but I want to get bracelets, anklets, and a tailet."
"Tailet?" Elytra tilted her head.
"One for my tail." Tethys pulled her tail in front of her. "Though with the hair down the middle of mine, It'd probably be best if I get one of those cuff ones." She eyed her tail more. "Hey, does my tail look fat to any of you?"
Skystrike was about to say 'Define fat.' but was quickly elbowed in his stomach by Jeshan. "Skystrike, man to man, when a lady asks if she looks fat, you beat around the bush. Since she asked this to several beings, it's best you don't answer." the Diamond Dog whispered to him.
"You know, us dragons have hearing almost as good as you Diamond Dogs." Jeshan and Skystrike froze in place at Tethys's words. "Answer the question, boys. Does my tail look fat??"
Skystrike looked at Jeshan. His face of mild worry, slowly but surely turned into a shit eating grin. He put a hand on the dogs shoulder, signaling that he had this. Skystrike turned to the dragoness. "Tethys, if you want the answer, I don't need to say anything." Then he turned to Elytra. "Elytra, explain to her the jiggle test."
"The HUH???" Tethys and Zecora nearly shouted. The dragoness folded her wings back in from the shock of the statement. "Ahem... Elytra, the fuck is this guy on?"
"Actually, it was originally my idea." Elytra sighed, then giggled. "It was when I was younger, and more... insecure about my figure. One of the changelings that was interested in me always asked 'do it jiggle?' and I was complaining to Skystrike about it..." Then she grew a bit embarrassed. "Eventually I wanted to... check for myself if it did jiggle... aaaand Skystrike caught me and won't let me live it down."
"There's no way." Tethys began to laugh. "So what do I do? Do I just-" Elytra responded by slapping her tail. "Ow!"
"Your tail doesn't jiggle. Your tail isn't fat." Elytra laughed along with her.
Jeshan smirked. "I need to use that later if it's this simple." He said as he picked up a sapphire necklace. "You know, I haven't really worn jewelry since the new eye... You guys think the contrast would work?"
"Eh probably." Skystrike shrugged. "My issue is finding a metal to match this arm of mine." He flexed the digits of his metal limb. "Might go for a pendant of sorts... Actually, those bead bracelets look good. They even have my gem." Skystrike picked one up and put it around his wrist.
"Oh, I see what you mean." Elytra walked over. "That emerald one is good... though I don't know if I want a bracelet more or a necklace."
Zecora looked at the changeling in thought. "I think a circlet would suit you well, with your style, it'd truly excel."
"You know what, I'll take your word for it. You're the one always wearing the gold rings." Elytra used her magic to reach for a silver and emerald circlet on one of the head stands. She put it on her head and looked in the mirror, fixing it to make sure it was centered. "You know, Zecora, you're right."
"What about you, Zecora, you plan on getting anything? I figured you were never one for gems, since you always stick with your gold.... Oooh, you know you could definitely rock white gold." Skystrike picked up the ones that were hanging and handed them to a blushing Zecora. Zecora took her ear rings off to let Skystrike put them on. The triangle shaped ear rings hung beautifully off her ears. "Hmm... I think you rock it."
Tethys chuckled. "What, you're going to start playing dress up now?"
"I'm inclined to..." Skystrike hummed as he fidgeted with the aquamarine beads on his wrist. "But back to you, Tethys, have you decided what you wanted to get?" He waited for a response, but on not getting one, he turned his attention to her. The attention of the dragoness on a hand display. On the display itself was a set of four golden rings, each of the rings having small golden chains hanging between them.
Jeshan also noticed and went "ahem" to get Skystrike's attention. Once gotten, he motioned his eyes towards the rings.
Skystrike first look confused, but then thought he understood what Jeshan was saying. "Didn't you say earlier you wanted some rings for your horns?"
"O-oh, yeah, I did..." She poked the tips of her index fingers together. "Sky... can I ask you a... weird question?"
"Go for it."
"Can you... put them on me?"
"...Huh." Skystrike thought about how he rarely sees Tethys's cute side. He then thought about why she didn't just put them on herself, but chalked it up to her not wanting to accidentally break the jewelry. "Sure, but you need to crouch down some, you're like two feet taller than me."
Tethys kneeled down to be just at his eye height. Skystrike picked up the rings and and put the hoops on her four horns. It took a bit of time to get them on her, as she began to fidget as his hands touched her horns. Each of the rings went about half way down her horns. The chains hanged between each of them as they shined a great gold. "So..." She scratched her jaw. "How do I look?"
"Honestly if you keep wearing gold, you're going to give Zecora a run for her money." He smirked. It got a small laugh out of all of them. "Now we gotta get the rest of your fit. Bracelets and anklets, right? Also, is Tailet a word?"
Tethys stood back up. "It is in the Dragon Seas. Now make me feel pretty!"
Jeshan chuckled. "Didn't take you for one to be insecure, considering you always go around strutting your strength."
"You have no idea." All the girls said as Tethys found the accessories she wanted.
Jeshan looked to Skystrike for an answer. "Oh, I don't know either, I went momentarily blind because I ate enough weed brownies to get ten of us high."
"...Are you joking?"
He chuckled. "I wish I was, man... I had to hold onto the floor because I thought I was falling... I also think I ate half my body weight. Time seemed to move slower, it freaked me out."
"Don't know how to relate, but that sounds terrible. Sorry you had to go through that? I guess? I don't know, it sounds like you enjoyed it."
"...Yesn't." The two laughed.
Tethys poked them both with the tip of her tail to get their attention. As the two turned, they saw the dragoness adorned with golden accessories on each appendage. She did a quick spin, making sure her tail didn't hit anything. Both Skystrike and Jeshan made the ok hand before they all went to pay for their things.
They then moved on to what Elytra wanted to do: Body paint. Skystrike had some memories of getting some with his friends back in the Hive, good times. But now it was different, since he might be getting some as a human. Paint on hair feels a lot different than on skin. Skystrike and Elytra decided to get some art done, the rest having their own reasons to decline.
Tethys said that she only does it for special occasions, Zecora doesn't want to cover her natural markings, and Jeshan already has his tattoos. Skystrike decided he didn't want anything crazy. Ignoring the stares from some of the dogs at his figure as he took off his sweater, he sat down on a stool and let the cool paint touch his good arm. Strokes of black, blue and purple went up and around his skin from the tips of his fingers to the left side of his chest. The markings took the form of flowing wind, as well as several symbolic rune marks, representing free soul. Wasn't his choice, it was part of the gimmick that the painters did. After a few minutes, the artists were done, and Skystrike got up, turning his arm around to look at their work. Thanking them, he stepped out to his friends.
Surprisingly, Elytra was already done. She got much more done than Skystrike, the entirety of her body covered in green and gold paint. Her hooves had green and golden roots painted on them, going halfway up her legs. They painted her wings as well with a few stripes. On her rear, where a cutie mark would be, was the mark of a trickster god. Finally, her head and neck were painted with swirling patterns stemming from her eyes. "So, what do you all think?"
"You look good, Elytra." Jeshan smiled at her. "Let me guess, that style is from your hive?"
"Yes, actually. We're pretty in tune with nature. Not sure if I told you before, but our history actually says we come from acorns."
"Huh..." The Diamond Dog mourned over that. "Cool!"
"Ain't looking half bad yourself, Skystrike." Tethys looked at his arm. "You know, I forget how ripped you are."
Skystrike tied his sweater around his waist. "Yeah, the dogs in there would not stop talking about it. And I guess part of me was flattered? I don't really get compliments."
Elytra turned towards him. "You can't be serious, you get cat called so often it's annoying."
"I get cat called!? No way!"
"Actually, Skystrike..." Zecora sighed. "Yeah, you do. I remember walking with you during an outing, to find what the day yields. A yellow and orange mare invited you to 'plow her fields'."
Skystrike turned to the Zebra. "Junebug? Yeah, and I did. She plants flowers?"
Jeshan chuckled as he put his face into his palm. Elytra smirked. "What about when Sunshower asked if you wanted to 'roll in the hay?'."
"I don't know why she expected me to just have hay lying around. I get rolls biweekly from Applejack for Naga's bedding."
Tethys thought about the past conversation she heard. "Can... can I assume those are euphemisms for sex?"
"Yeah." The two mares said.
"They're HUH??" Skystrike held the back of his head in surprise. Then he hit a thinking pose. "...I have a lot of questions... aaaand I don't want to think about it until later. Can we go look at the swords?"
The group collectively laughed before moving onto the next destination. On walking past the stalls, he noticed something off about the area. First, there was only one shop seemingly open, the rest having the closed sign, or had the lights off. So, he decided to go for the only one that seemed to be open. Seemed was the word that was carrying here. The weapons and armor were out, and from the smell of hot metal, he could tell a forge of sorts was on and in use. He also had the feeling he was being watched, but made sure not to make any sudden moves just in case.
Tethys was about to speed up to catch up to him, but was stopped by Jeshan grabbing her arm. "They do this every time. The first day of this festival, each year, they sell their best wares, and they need to see if the buyer is worthy." Jeshan put out his arm to stop the rest from following. "Let him teach them a lesson."
Skystrike took a few more steps forward before turning around, realizing his friends weren't following him. "...So I'm not the only one who has a bad feeling-" He stopped his sentence as he heard several steps rushing towards him. His fight response activated, ignoring all unneeded information, he began to focus. First, on the closest pair of steps, coming from his right. His body snapped toward it, seeing a Pomeranian Diamond Dog in leather and plate armor, wielding two war axes. The dog jumped into the air and slammed the two down, Skystrike side stepping and pulling back a fist to dodge it before driving said fist squarely into the dogs open chest.
Three more came for him, two behind and one in front. The one in front used a large fishing hook, throwing it towards him in an attempt the wrap the rope around him. Skystrike put out his metal arm to let the line wrap around it before grabbing the hook and pulling the dog towards him, taking the dog off his feet and into a devastating kick that visibly winded the dog. The two behind him were more coordinated, both attacking at the same time with a mace and fishers knife their sizes.
The one with the mace came first, jumping at him and swinging horizontally at his face, making Skystrike duck under her attack. It made him realize that the second was going for a stab at his stomach. He didn't have the movement to dodge it, so he caught the blade with his right hand before pushing it into the ground. Next, Skystrike focused on the mace wielding one, as the other was trying to get her blade out of the ground. Now that he had time, he put his hand on the hilt of one of the blades on his waist. As the mace came towards him once more, Skystrike drew his blade. In a flash, the mace was split in half, and with his free hand grabbed the now unarmed dog and threw her into a wooden pillar holding up one of the stalls.
The pillar snapped as her head hit it, and thanks to her not wearing a helmet for some reason, she was dazed from the impact breaking the pillar in half. Skystrike realizing that one was out for the time being, turned his attention back to the knife wielding one, only to realize she wasn't alone. Another Pomeranian Dog came as back up it seemed. This one wore similar armor, save for having a muscle cuirass and large gauntlets and a helmet, only showing his red eyes.
This new one flexed his muscles and put his arms out wide, seeming to be a grappler or something close. Skystrike's adrenaline was still pumping, and he gripped his sword tightly. The Diamond Dog picked up a piece of the broken mace and threw it at the human at blinding speeds. Skystrike stomped his foot, making a pillar or rock rise from the floor and intercepting the mace, launching it into the air. He then jumped up and kicked the mace fragment at the grappler who barely caught it.
With the small window of time he got, Skystrike threw his sword at the now open Pomeranian. Lucky for him, he narrowly dodged it. Skystrike landed on his pillar, then jumped at the dog with a fist full of ice. He pulled back before punching the dog, the ice exploding on contact and sending him tumbling into the dirt. He stood up, barely huffing as he turned to the last one, who dropped her fishers knife and put her paws up. "Alright, alright, we get it, you want to get some stuff."
The adrenaline was starting to come down, and his fight response turned to a feeling of confusion. Despite that, he still held onto his blade. "...What the fuck are you talking about?"
Now the Pomeranian had a look of confusion. "...This is Pomeranian smithy? You wanted to look at our wares. On the first day of the festival, we challenge whoever comes if they want to buy our stuff. We're the best smithy in the kingdom. Surely you've heard of us?"
"Do I look like I'm from around here, motherfucker!?" Skystrike angrily sheathed his sword as he watched the other Pomeranians help each other up.
"...I'm confused..." The lady put down her paws. Now that Skystrike had a better look at her, she was quite short, barely being eye height with Zecora. She pulled awkwardly at her leather breastplate. "My brother said you were interested?"
Jeshan sighed and walked up next to Skystrike. "You're right, and I also said you'd be lucky if all of you came out alive,
Maple. Unfortunately, you all took it as a challenge."
Skystrike ignored how Jeshan's apparent cousin shared a name with one of his wives and pinched the bridge of his nose. "So let me get this straight... You motherfuckers decided to jump me... after Jeshan warned you to not do so... all because I was interested in your smithy?"
The Pomeranian shrugged. "...Yyyyyeeeeeeessss?" Maple gave an awkward smile as the others walked up next to her.
Jeshan sighed. "Sorry, Skystrike. Maybe now they'll get the hint." He growled at his family. "Anyway, that's my little sister Maple, the one with the hook is her husband, Acair. Escott, the one with the axes, is my brother in law, and the one who's mace you cut in two is my other little sister, Maybell. The one with the helmet is my older brother, Magnus. They run the smithy with my father."
"Hey." They all said.
Though Skystrike was a bit surprised how a name like Magnus transcends culture, he put that to the side for now. "Well hi, it was... an interaction meeting you all." Skystrike grit his teeth as he spoke. "I was here to see how smiting techniques differ depending on the culture and their history... But I'm not gonna sugarcoat it, I don't give a shit anymore." He crossed his arms and looked down at Jeshan. "I'm not going to hold them to this, because, since they're your family, I expect to end up seeing them again. I do know I don't want to see them for the rest of the night."
"Fair enough." Jeshan sighed again as the two boys began to turn around.
"Wait!" The two turned to Maybell. The dog looked between the halves of her weapon. "Who made that blade? I don't care how far I have to travel, I need to see who!"
"I did." Skystrike deadpanned. "Maybe I'll let you see it another time, when I'm not coming off an adrenaline high..." Skystrike tightened the straps keeping his blades in place, not looking back at them. With a sigh, Skystrike walked next to his friends, waiting for Jeshan to finish scolding his relatives.
Elytra put a hoof on his leg. "You alright, Sky?"
"I will be..." He grunted. With a deep breath, Skystrike got rig of the frown on his face. and stretched. "So, moving on, who wants to get food? I haven't eaten all day aside from breakfast."
Elytra hummed. "You know, I kinda want to try the wine here."
"Didn't know you were one for wine."
"Well I didn't know you were so into different cultures, but here we are. What got you into studying culture?"
Skystrike blinked. "Well, a big part of it is that I'll never get to experience my own culture. The rest is because I grew up with Changelings and Ponies. It's interesting to see how cultures differ, yet are also really similar."
"You know, I have been meaning to ask." Tethys spoke. "How do you know about your history and culture if you weren't there for it?"
"It's... complicated and not at the same time." Skystrike chuckled. "The history and culture stuff, I learn all of that from Echo, since I feel the need to remind myself of my humanity at times. The emotions is the complicated part, as you cant truly relay lived experiences with just words. It's like... I have memories of things, but they aren't my own. Think of... when you read a book and it does a cut away to a different point of view. You as the reader knows what happened in both perspectives, but the characters don't."
"Wait, so you have others memories?"
"Others experiences. I don't remember the person who experienced it, I just remember some experiences and how they felt. It's super hard to explain." He tried to find the right words. "I guess it's like... how you dragons know when to go and fight for the title of Dragon Lord."
They heard the foot steps of Jeshan approach them. "Alright, they took a hint. Probably will ask me about you for the next couple months, but they'll leave us alone for the rest of the night."
The group began walking. "Do they know we're leaving tomorrow?"
"Left that part out on purpose... Still will be sad to see you go so soon." Jeshan's ears went back. "But that's why we're making tonight one to remember."
Elytra turned to the dog. "Did Casta not explain to you what that rug you got yesterday was for?"
"No? Maybe? Honestly I wasn't paying attention, I was thinking about something else."
Skystrike stretched. "It's a teleporter to my house in Ponyville, and also connects to Alder, and Casta. Magic mare and I plan on getting one to all of the group. Sadly, it only works for everyone but me. Magic is bullshit."
"Oh... cool." Jeshan grinned. "Hey, unrelated, you all want to get some food? I know this stall that sells great fried chicken."
Skystrike drooled at the thought. "Oh fuck yeah, I haven't had chicken in years."
It took a bit of waiting, mostly deciding, but the group got their food. Zecora got a garden salad, Elytra was cowing down on some beef kebabs, and Jeshan, Skystrike, and Tethys were all sharing two hole chickens. Share being the important word here, since Tethys claimed a whole chicken for herself. But it was some damn good fried chicken.
Skystrike held a leg and thigh in his hands, biting into the juicy meat. The crispy skin almost falling of an into his mouth as the herbs and spices filled his taste buds. "...You know, Jeshan, you were right." He finished chewing. "I might get another."
Jeshan looked at the bones Skystrike was leaving. "...You gonna eat the bones?"
"You do that?"
Tethys and Jeshan looked at him. "You don't?"
Skystrike pulled at the side of his mouth, showing his teeth. "We humans are omnivores, but we haven't really evolved to hunt with our teeth."
Jeshan looked at him. "...Can I have your chicken bones?" Skystrike pushed his paper plate over to the Jackal, who began grinding the bones between his teeth. "The bone marrow is the best part."
"So Jeshan, what else does the festival offer? We've checked out most of the stalls. Any events?" Tethys took half of her chicken and threw it into her jaws. Loud crunching was heard.
"Well... if I remember right, there are dancers on the other side of the fair grounds if you're interested. I don't really go anymore since I have a fiancee. This side, it's just the musicians. They're really good, don't get me wrong, it's just the major stuff comes along in the following days. I actually hand carve a totem on stage up there, then sell it to the highest bidder for charity." He finished chewing on the bone. "Last year, one of the Queens participated too."
"One of? How many do you have?" Skystrike asked.
"Six. The past King and Queen were going at it." He chuckled.
"Damn." Skystrike laughed with him. "But now that we're done eating, there's one more thing we need to get: alcohol."
"Oooo, that is a good idea!" Elytra hummed. "I want some beer!"
"I prefer a shot of whiskey clear, over a pint of frothy beer." Zecora finished her salad.
"Cocktails for me, though I'm up for anything."
"I wouldn't mind buying a bottle of wine or two." Tethys stood up and stretched. "I'd also like some place where so many eyes aren't on us."
"Yeah." Elytra huffed. "When I was getting my food, I do think I was getting hit on earlier..."
Skystrike looked at her. "...You know, I was about to say good for you, but you know, the genie." Elytra nodded as the rest began to stand up. "Jeshan, what do you know around here that's good?"
"Well..." He started. "Every year, we invite a few beings outside the festival to host their own shops. This year, there's a.... new group. They sell cheese and alcohol."
Tethys furrowed her brow. "You said it like something is weird about them."
"I mean... no and yes. They're minotaurs." Jeshan clarified. "An all female group."
Skystrike had a confused look. "Is... is that a bad thing?"
They all looked at him, they between each other. Their faces all showed they were thinking the same thought. 'Does he know?' Elytra smirked. "No, in fact, it's a good thing. They make good alcohol. They travel a lot, so I'd bet they have at least a dozen flavors."
Zecora leaned over to whisper to Elytra. "Are we not going to tell him at all? I don't think he knows, he's bound to fall."
"Maybe, but it'll be really funny." Elytra smirked. "No, it's no big deal."
"Cool, because I like cheese." Skystrike cracked his neck. "So Jeshan, lead the way."
Jeshan looked at the smirking changeling, then shared the same look. "Alright, man."
The group stood in front a new area. They were on the outer edge of the festival, and there were few stalls. In fact, there was only one large purple and pink tent, easily big enough to mimic a house. Makes sense, since there's minotaurs inside. He could smell the cheese from his spot in front of the door. Skystrike noticed the open sign, as well as the lights on from the windows. Then he had a thought. "...How the hell do you knock on a tent?"
Jeshan snickered. "Just walk in, dude."
Skystrike did so, immediately being met with a tavern like setting, with hanging lanterns and about a dozen wooden tables. To his left at the closest table, sat a black and white spotted minotaur, and he could tell she's seen some battles. One of her white horns was broken off, the cracks still there from the assumed battle. Her long black hair fell down her back and over her dark grey heavy armor. As the minotaur saw them enter, she stood up and grabbed her greatsword off the wall and slung it over her shoulder. "New faces..." She spoke. Her voice showed she was tired... or impatient. "Here's the deal, don't cause any problems to the ladies here, and there won't be a problem between us, that clear." She leaned down to be at eye height. Her lavender eyes bore into Skystrike's.
Skystrike chuckled. "Well I have high expectations for the place if there's an armed guard."
She raised a brow then looked to his friends. The shit eating grins on their faces told her all she needed to know. The minotaur smirked. "Well, if I do say so myself, we do have quite a good establishment here. But before we continue..." The minotaur stood back up, being about a foot taller than Skystrike. She turned to the dragoness. "Is your name... Tethys?"
"Uh, yeah?" Tethys raised a brow. "I'm sorry, but I can't seem to- HOLY SHIT, Lanka!?" Tethys shouted and put out her arms.
The minotaur, Lanka, did the same, the two hugging each other. "It's been a while! You look good!"
Tethys released Lanka from the hug before turning to her friends. "Guys, this is Lanka! We met a while ago, when I first started wandering outside my homeland. Didn't really want to admit it back then, but she was my first friend!"
Lanka chuckled. "You say it like it wasn't over thirty years ago."
"It's been thirty years!?" Tethys gasped.
"Yeah, not as young as I used to be." Lanka sighed. "And you look the same, though... a bit smaller in some areas."
"And I imagine you only got bigger, huh heffa?" Tethys laughed as Lanka playfully punched her in the arm. "But I need to introduce you to these guys. Lanka, the Diamond Dog is Jeshan, the Zebra is Zecora, the Changeling is Elytra, and the guy in front is a human called Skystrike. I've met them about ten years ago, and we've gotten back together and started traveling around recently."
"I see, I see..." Lanka pulled Tethys closer to whisper. "I know it's been a while, but what's the plan here? Not sure if it's a good idea for you to bring your friends to this kinda place."
Tethys smirked. "Yeah, but a certain someone doesn't know." Their eyes darted to Skystrike, who was looking around the place.
Jeshan took their look as a signal and began speaking as he put his paw on Skystrike's shoulder. "We're here to get this guy the all inclusive experience." And threw the minotaur a bag of bits with his other paw.
Lanka hummed as she caught it. "And what do you plan on getting out of this, Skystrike? You know I gotta protect my girls..."
"I mean..." Skystrike shrugged. "Cheese? Wine? Beer? I ate half a chicken earlier but I'm still hungry."
They all tried to hide a laugh. "Alright, boy, I like ya. Normally we don't do this, but a friend of Tethys is a friend of mine. Just leave your swords at the door."
Skystrike nodded and released the leather straps around his waist, putting his swords by the door. Elytra picked them up in her magic. "This will just be for him. We're going to explore the rest of the festival."
Lanka nodded. "Alright. And Tethys?" Tethys turned to look at her. "I'm free tomorrow if you want to come by. Catch up on everything that's happened?"
"I'd love to, but we were actually leaving tomorrow morning..." Tethys said sadly.
Skystrike noticed the glum look on her face. "You know Tethys, now that Jeshan has the teleporter, you can come and go as you please. You can stay and see your friend."
"Really!?" She picked up Skystrike in a crushing hug. "By the dragon lord, I love how you just realize things I've glossed over! Lanka, we're hanging out tomorrow!"
Lanka smiled. "Lets make sure to break your horn this time."
His friends left, once again snickering to each other. Skystrike looked up to the minotaur. "So, Lanka, you and Tethys go way back? First she told me about her past friends."
"Yeah, back in my twenties, we actually fought each other. She was hunting for a meal, and I was training to be a fighter for my clan. We met each other, fought, and it was a draw, though more in her favor. She was starving, and I was on my last bereath, so we made a deal. She helped me back to my clan, I give her food, and no one would know we fought." She smiled at the past memory. "Had to tell my father and the clan head at the time that we ran into a herd of dire wolves. From there, she stuck around for a year or so, then left, saying she had to do some self reflection. You?"
"Saved her from some ponies trying to hunt her down. I was actually in need of money at the time, and went to help hunt her down. A group of ponies were on the same mission, so by the time I found her, she fought them off, but was also on deaths doorstep. Decided I didn't need the money that bad, and nursed her back on her feet. Decided to follow me around after that. I'll let her finish the rest of her story when you see her tomorrow."
"Alright." Lanka put her sword down. "Now, while I do enjoy the small talk, lets make sure you get your moneys worth, boy." She grabbed one of the menus and set it down in front of the largest table, with seven stools around it. "Your friends got you the all inclusive, so you get to have everything on the menu."
Skystrike sat down and took a look at the menu. Sure enough, there were several types of cheese, as well as food dishes. Some of them even meat dishes to his surprise. And of course, there's the alcohol. Skystrike looked closer at the cheeses, noticing some interesting names of cheeses he hadn't ever heard of. Probably ones unique to the minotaurs. After a few moments of reading, he decided on what he wanted. "Can I get a... pizza with olives, onions, and mushrooms? The cheese board on the side. And for a drink... actually, what would you recommend?"
Lanka hummed. "Well, I like the pineapple margarita."
"That please." Skystrike said as he took off his scarf. Lanka nodded and left to go to what he assumed was the kitchen, knocking on two doors before entering. He payed it no mind for now and put his arms behind his head as he leaned back in his stool, rocking back and forth. In a few minutes, the doors that Lanka knocked on earlier swung open, and two more minotaurs came out. "God DAMN." He thought as he looked at them.
Both, to put it bluntly, had assets, their dohoonkabhankoloos nearly popping out of their off the shoulder peasant blouses. The corsettes they were were also helping. Add to that, their skirts showed how round their rears were. But Skystrike knew it was rude to stare. Aside from that, the two minotaurs wore the same color clothes, save for the skirts.
The orange one had beige spots for her fur pattern, and her creamy white horns curled forward then upward, complementing her green skirt. She twirled her brown hair into braids. Skystrike noticed her lean over the table to introduce herself, showing her cleavage. "Hey there, handsome~. My name's Laura."
The second one had grey fur and silver tattoos going up her left arm, as well as a purple dress and outward facing black horns. Her silver hair was fashioned into a ponytail. She mimicked the movement of Laura. "And I'm Attica. We'll be serving you for the first half of your... experience." She cooed.
"Cool!" Skystrike pulled out stools for each of them to sit. "First time meeting minotaurs, how are your nights going?"
"Better, now that you're here." Attica sat down and leaned in towards the human. "You know, in our travels, we see all sorts of beings. But you're new... Tell us about yourself."
Skystrike leaned back in thought. "Well, if you'll believe it, I'm not from this world. Because of that, I have to hide my identity where I live. Aside from that, my story isn't a happy one. Skipping over the bad parts, I started working as a mercenary, trying to make this world even the tiniest bit better. Me and my friends are travelling around right now to meet up with our old friends. For now though, I'm just enjoying the company I'm with."
"Oh, a mercenary huh? That must mean your pretty strong..." Laura twirled her finger on Skystrike's chest. "You know... due to our size, I never get the chance, even from the bulls back home... Think you can princess carry me?"
Skystrike looked at her, Laura being a foot taller than him and probably over twice his weight. "Fuck it, we ball." He smirked as he stood up and cracked his back before putting out his arms.
Laura put up her hands. "Calm down, not trying to kill you. You look like you'd snap in half."
"Laura!" Attica frowned. "Sorry about that, she speaks before she thinks."
Skystrike chuckled. "All good. I know I don't look it, but I am pretty confident in my strength."
Attica smiled. "Well, if you're offering..." She also stood up, walking over to the human, swinging her legs into one of his arms and leaning her back on the other. "Well damn, you weren't kidding, stud." She wrapped her tail around her leg.
Lanka came back in with the items Skystrike ordered earlier, still in her armor, but wearing an apron on top of it all. Skystrike's attention instantly turned towards the food. "Well, you three seem to be getting along." She put down the food before looking at Attica and Skystrike. "Well damn."
"That's what I said!" Attica laughed as she got out of Skystrike's hold.
Skystrike himself sat back down and looked at the food, taking in the lovely smell. He was surprised how nice a pizza with olives, onions, and mushrooms smelled. The cheese board had various fruits, cheeses, and cuts of meat all organized in a appetizing and pleasing fashion. Lanka slid his margarita next to him before Skystrike began to eat. He tore off a slice of the pizza and bit into it, the cheese stretching from his mouth. "...Oh god, I needed that. Thank you, Lanka! This pizza is fucking astounding!"
"I aim to please." Lanka walked off and knocked on two more doors.
Attica and Laura looked back to Skystrike, realizing he already had two slices of the rather large pizza. Attica took a slice and bit into it. "So, Skystrike, what made you come to our humble abode?"
Skystrike finished chewing and swallowed. "Well, two reasons. One, I have the chance to interact with a race I haven't met before and get a chance to glimpse at the culture, and two, I wanted cheese and alcohol. And you got both."
Attica and Laura looked between each other, assuming he was joking. Laura was about to say something more but was interrupted with two more minotaurs joining the table. The first was white with red spots and blond hair with a blue skirt. She braided the ends of her hair over her shoulders, showing her outward pointing brown horns. The other was white with black spots and maroon hair and a pink dress. Her hair was more shaggy, and her horns were quite shorter than the others, complimented by her pink skirt.
Skystrike took a sip of his pineapple margarita as the white and red on introduced them. "Hey there! I'm Elyssa, and this is Autumn." Autumn gave a small wave. "You'll have to forgive her, she's the shy one."
"All good, it's the company that matters, isn't it?" Skystrike downed his drink. "...You girls got anything stronger?"
Elyssa sat down on the table and turned towards him, giving a good view of both assets. "I could try and have that arranged..."
Skystrike looked up to her, Elyssa noticing he went straight for her eyes. "Thanks. I'm actually really interested in what you all have. Must've gotten some good ones during your travels."
"Actually, Autumn is in charge of the brewing we do." Elyssa waved her over, who was still standing at her door.
Autumn carefully walked over and sat down. "W-well... we were able to get some grapes a couple months ago, and I'm proud of the red wine we made. The whole process would probably bore you..."
"You can rant as long as you want. It's fun learning new things." Skystrike picked a grape from the chees board and flicked it into the air, catching it in his mouth. And so she did, Autumn shyly yet sweetly explaining how red wine was made. He had to be honest, it was pretty insightful. Apparently, they have to transfer the wine to specifically white oak barrels as part of the process. "You know, I'll try the red wine. You make is sound so interesting." Skystrike reached for some crackers, only to realize that over half the cheese board was empty. "Damn, we ate quite a bit..."
"We?" Laura chuckled. "That was mostly, you, big guy."
"Well that just means the cheese and stuff is that good." Skystrike stretched. "That being said, I am still hungry." He picked up the menu and looked through it. "Hmm... well now that it's a bit later, I want to let loose a bit more. You would not believe the day I had yesterday..."
Laura ringed a bell she pulled out of her pocket, queuing Lanka to come back out of the kitchen. "Need something?"
"The red wine Autumn made, and the specialty cheese board, please." Skystrike asked.
Lanka nodded, clearing off the table for them before going back to the kitchen. Laura rested her head on her hands. "So, Skystrike, if I may ask... how strong are you?"
"Really, Laura? You do this each time we get a guy here." Elyssa sighed.
"Hey, you weren't here earlier, he held up Attica like it was nothing."
"It's true." Skystrike shrugged. "I'm as strong as an ant! If an ant was..." He put his hands about a foot and a half apart. "This big!" They looked at him for further explanation. "An and can carry twenty times their body weight on average."
Laura smirked as she put her right arm on the table. "Want to put it to the test?"
Skystrike noticed how muscular she was. Not quite as much as Tethys, but still impressive. "I'm not against it... but you might want to switch arms."
"Pussy." She gave a hardy laugh.
Skystrike sighed, then chuckled, rolling up his right sleeve. The light of the room seemed to shimmer off the black metal of his arm. He wiggled his fingers before gripping the orange minotaur's hand. "You are what you eat, Laura... Ready when you are."
The rest laughed at his whitty comeback as a now slightly embarrassed Laura began trying to push down his arm with all her might. Their laughing grew louder as they realized his arm wasn't moving at all. Laura realized as well, and began pushing even harder, even grabbing the table with her other arm. After looking back up to him with a strained face and noticing he was unfazed, she threw in the towel. "Ugh... fine, you win."
Skystrike chuckled. "Don't beat yourself up over it, my real one is as strong as the prosthetic."
Lanka came back with a bottle of red wine, several wine glasses, and another cheese board. "You all seem to be having fun."
"You're welcome to join us, Lanka." Skystrike leaned back in his chair again. "I can see it in your eyes, you need to relax a bit. Let off some steam." He smiled before getting a bit serious. "You need to chill out once in a while. Doing everything you feel you need to do without some self care once in a while burns you out. Some faster than others."
Lanka smiled at him, then huffed. "While I appreciate the offer, I doubt you'd like to talk with an old heffa like me."
"Pssh, you aren't old."
"I'm fifty six."
"...Huh..." Skystrike looked to her, then the ceiling. "Could've fooled me."
Her smile widdened. "You know what, smooth talker, I'll humor you. Besides, you treat my girls well, and you compliment my food, and you finish a whole board of cheese. One of the few customers we've had that I can say I like." She sat down and began pouring everyone present a glass of wine.
Skystrike raised his glass, clinking it with the rest before swirling and sipping the wine. "Mmmm... Pretty good. Tart, yet a bit sweet... I think I taste strawberry in this."
Autumn clapped her hands together. "I knew it was a good idea!"
Lanka licked her lips. "Gotta say, kid, you did good." The rest of the minotaurs took sips of theirs and patted her on the back for a job well done.
Skystrike swirled his glass more. "Yeah, I might want my own bottle for the trip... or three... fuck it, I may just come find you guys again for the wine and cheese... I'd also like a small wheel of each type of cheese. Where would I be able to find you girls again?"
"We're a migratory race. We have several major clans, but we normally travel around in the southern half of Zebrafrica and the northern half of this continent. Though we do have some waaay up north, they're highland Minos." Elyssa downed her wine glass. "You know, never asked where you were from, handsome."
"Oh, I'm from Equestria. Decent place, decent ponies... I'd recommend the place, but give me a few years, I need time to fix the place up." Skystrike was about to pour himself another glass.
Elyssa beat him to it, pouring a glass for him and herself. "You say that like you're up there in society. But I guess you have to be if you got to this side of the world... you said you were a merc earlier... Let me guess, some big bounty on someone over here?"
"Not too far off." Skystrike chuckled. "I try to keep it on the down low, so the average being don't feel the need to treat my differently. I'm a prince, though I'm traveling here for pleasure... and to write some wrongs of the past." The human took a noticeably longer sip of his drink. "Wasn't too good a person in the past. When the group split up, the non-equestrians went back to their homelands. Diamondia was on the list of places I need to go. Next is the Hippogriff kingdom."
"Well... that explains your rag-tag group of friends." Lanka laughed. "But hey, good on you. You realized you needed to do some growing, grew, and now you're fixing your mistakes. You wouldn't believe how many Minos aren't able to do that."
"Tell me about it." Skystrike nodded. "Comes with the job, as you'd know. Keep giving beings the chance to be better, but most take it for granted. But enough of that, I came to relax, not think about those types."
"Speaking of relaxing, mind if I take off my armor?"
"Go for it." Skystrike sipped from his glass, but the sip ended up turning to a long gulp as he leaned back. He heard a click, then the clattering of armor as each piece fell to the ground. As he looked back to Lanka, he nearly choked.
The minotaur had a real set of badonkers. Big ol' tonhongerekoogers. Humongos hungolomghnonoloughongous. Lanka noticed this and gave a toothy grin. "What? Impressed?"
"Honestly, kinda." He admitted. "That armor made it look like there was nothing under there. Sorry for staring though."
"Breastplate of holding, cutie. And don't worry..." She rolled her neck. "With where you are, our boobs are part of the sales pitch here."
Skystrike was confused. "...Huh?"
Lanka couldn't hold it in anymore and began laughing hard. Hard enough where she began banging on the table, the rest picking up their glasses as she continued. Each of them had a confused look before Lanka pulled herself back together. "Skystrike, sweat pea, be honest, what did you come here for? What did you think this place was?"
Skystrike tilted his head. "For-... Is this not a place for cheese and alcohol? That's what my friends bought me here for."
The rest soon realized the joke his friends set upon him, looking between each other to make sure the others understood, before slowly and surely breaking into laughter themselves. Skystrike could feel the room shaking from their laughs. It seemed to die down for a moment before Attica pointed out that Skystrike still hasn't figured it out, making each laugh harder than before. Elyssa even fell on the ground wheezing.
After a few minutes, the laughter finally died down, and Lanka began to explain to Skystrike. "You're cute, Skystrike. Oblivious, but cute." She smiled as she leaned forward. "Tell me, have you noticed anything about the way these girls... present themselves?"
"I mean... I didn't want to be rude, but they're all showing hella cleavage." Skystrike rubbed his chin. "I thought that was just you all trying to fit in to the tavern setting."
"Yeah, we're tavern wenches." Laura smirked and leaned in.
"Well yeah, but like... funny haha 'wench' or-"
"We sell sex, Skystrike." Attica clarified.
She didn't need to, Skystrike was getting there, but the realization still hit him like a truck. He held his face in a hand. "God damn it, my fuckass friends. I feel stupid now..." They all laughed again, this time Skystrike joining in with them. "Well, sorry if I made it awkward."
"Heh, all good. It's nice, talking with somebody who doesn't want our bodies... Though you did get the all inclusive experience... I don't mind if you got your money's worth~"
Skystrike looked at her, then to the hungry gazes of the rest. "So... I assume that means all of you?"
"Well, aside from Lanka." Autumn clarified. "But... I guess that was obvious..."
"Well, it's like sweat pea said, gotta do some 'self care' once in a while." Lanka smirked. "So, think you can handle the five of us?"
"I mean, I don't really want it if you all feel forced to hold up your end of the deal. I honestly enjoyed all your company." Skystrike shrugged his shoulders.
Lanka stood up and walked behind him, putting her hand on his shoulder. "Then let me break it down for you. We like ya, and we want ya. Now we can do this the easy way... or the hard way. The choice is yours."
Skystrike looked up at her, then to the rest. He reached for his wine glass and downed the rest of his wine in one go. "Fuck it, we ball." |
Resident Pon-Evil (Mission II) - Operation: Phoenix Fire | pre | "And what of... The sugar cubes...?" X-Ray asked.
"Bolt has 'em. Thanks for smugglin' 'em for me. Cherry would kill me if she found out I stole them."
Cherry's voice came back on the loudspeaker. "Those are coming out of your pay, Dingo."
"What pay? Ya don't pay us!"
"Exactly. So don't state your crimes out loud next time."
"And what about X-Ray? He's the one who stole 'em!"
"He is not mine to command. You are. Now keep it quiet next time, or don't let it happen again." Cherry hung up with a click, and Dingo just grunted.
"Is TrailBlaze okay?" Itzel asked.
"Yeah. She's right 'ere." Dingo said, stepping aside as TrailBlaze uncovered her ears.
Itzel trotted up and looked to Dingo. "She wasn't any trouble, was she?"
"Naw, not at all," Dingo said. "And she's quite the good shot!"
"What?" Itzel asked.
"She's a good shot. Saved Marigold's life, she did."
"She nearly took mah head off!" Marigold said.
"Well, c'mon, it was amusing," Dingo said with a laugh. Itzel returned the laugh sarcastically, then bucked Dingo's sniper from his hooves. She took the rifle and bashed the stock across Dingo's muzzle. He collapsed, gasping in pain.
"I told you you weren't to let her shoot no matter the circumstances, especially for your own amusement!" Dingo coughed as Itzel aimed the rifle to him. TrailBlaze nuzzled her leg.
"It's okay, Momma. I'm not hurt, and neither is Marigold. You don't have to hurt him."
Itzel paused, then threw the rifle down into Dingo's side, causing him to grunt. She knelt down and ruffled TrailBlaze's mane, causing her to jump back, giggling. "Alright, Tibs," She said. Across the table, Marigold snickered, causing Itzel to look up. "Something funny, Marigold?"
Marigold chuckled. "Tibs." She burst out in laughter, followed by Cell, Socket, Dingo, Blade, Chainlink, and half-heartedly by X-Ray. TrailBlaze flapped her wings, jumping up onto the table.
"Hey! I happen to like my nickname!" she said.
"We weren't makin' fun of it, Sugarcube," Marigold said. "We jus' think it's cute!" She chuckled again as the laughter died down. TrailBlaze giggled, blushing a bright pink, luring a, 'D'aaawww' from the mares.
"Well now," Socket said. "With that settled, shall we continue on with our mission? The ponies need food, and soon we will be able to re-take this city."
"Well, ah'm ready!" Marigold said. "Let's get to it. Ah, but first," she laid down her cards, revealing four Aces. "Ah win again!" The rest of the team around the table just groaned. ---
A week had passed, and the SpecOps were beginning to resemble their full strengths. They now stood in a large auditorium, with Nova Team, Harmony's Elements, Echo, and Commander Cherry's image on a projector screen before them.
"Greetings, Everypony," Cherry said. "As we all know, thanks to Harmony's Elements and Nova Team, you have all received a shipment of supplies and have returned to your full strength. Now you are all ready to venture into the fight to take back Manehattan. When you have succeeded in re-taking the city, Evac will be sent to your base. First civilians, then all of you among the SpecOps soldiers." She sighed, pausing. "But unfortunately, we are unsure if our plan will succeed. If this plan is to somehow fail, the Board Directors of the C.P.D. and Military Operations have come to an agreement. If the plan is somehow to fail, the city will be firebombed to clear the infection, as we will not have time to send Evac..."
"What!?" Blade and the rest of the team turned on the red mare over the monitor. "We never agreed to this! You can't leave us to die!"
"We are not leaving you to die," Cherry continued. "This is simply a last resort. There is a less than 7% chance that this plan will be executed. Your odds are in your favour. We shall begin the operation in 10 minute's count. Good luck Elements, Nova Team, and all of you brave stallions and mares risking your lives in this operation. Good luck, and may Celestia guard you all." The screen flashed to static, and Cherry was gone.
"Well, no pressure. Right, y'all?" Marigold asked halfheartedly.
"I can't believe this," Chainlink said. "Are they really gonna leave us for dead in a nuclear explosion?" He grunted. "Celestia, this is worse than Harrow..."
"But we still... Have a chance..." X-Ray said. "We must... Clear the city to survive... And we have an army at... Our hooves... Do you think that they... Wish for us all to die...? They have no choice..."
"And they sure won't have time to launch that nuke by the time we're done," Itzel added. "I say we get out there and do this. We can show them that nuke'll have to wait for a more desperate measure."
"She's right, ya know," Dingo said. "They're bluffing to pressure us up. They do it all the time. In fact, last time they pulled this, they threatened to assassinate Cherry for being a traitor. She didn't like playing along, but they paid well in the end. Imagine what'll happen if we do this! We're takin' back a whole city!"
A voice came over the loudspeaker, a digital mare's voice. "Mission Launch In: 2... Minutes... Please report to your launch stations."
"You guys heard her," Cell said. "Let's get over to the Emergency Doors." Nova Team, followed by Harmony's Elements, began to trot toward a door at the back end of the base. It was a large, retractable door that would be pulled through a brace, pulling it up and under the ceiling. It was wide enough to fit the crowd of 30 heavily armed SpecOps with easy flow. The SpecOps teams had all lined up behind the door, Nova Team and Harmony's Elements taking up the back. Echo had taken up position to the right of the crowd, barking out an order.
"On my signal!" Echo yelled. "Three! Two! One! Mark!" At his signal, the SpecOps teams charged into the city, weaving their way around buildings and through streets, shooting through crowds of Infected as they launched their way into the fight to reclaim Manehattan. Echo met with the Elements and Nova Team at the back. "They've waited a long time to take back their city. The Infected have a wake-up call coming their way. You guys ready?" Silence from the Teams. "I'll take that as courage, or fear. I'm guessing the latter." He trotted his way out of the base, leading the teams on. "I'm not gonna lie to you all. Those SpecOps are launching a suicide mission. Possibly none of them will make it back. But they've got a mission, and they're going to take a hoof-full of the Infected down with them." He stared off into the distance, gunfire ringing across the alleyways and streets. "I'm gonna hate to tell Flood's sister the bad news..."
"Wait, y'all let Flood go with 'em?" Marigold asked.
"Yeah. He insisted that he be with his soldiers in the final battle." Echo stopped in front of an old Medical Clinic. "She used to work here... She was in charge of examinations. She was always great with foals. A young and scared filly coming in for a Cutie-Pox shot or a large operation, she always knew just how to get them settled into the procedure. Well known among the city. Now just about everypony she was known by is an Infected... She used to cry herself to sleep every night thinking she failed. I was always the one to convince her that there was nothing she could do."
"And that is how... You two became a relationship, I assume...?" X-Ray asked.
"Right. I never was the one to be much of a comforter, but she always had an eye on me. She became a valuable asset since then."
"We never got to know," Chainlink said. "What's her name?"
Echo sighed. "Morning Star." Silence from the team. "Let's keep moving. The teams should be making their way into the heart of the city by now." He trotted on, away from the old Clinic, leading the teams further. They walked in silence for several minutes, before TrailBlaze peeked her head out of Itzel's bag.
"What's that?" She asked, pointing her hoof to the sky. The team directed their gazes, and Echo spoke.
"Oh, Celestia... No..."
"What is it?" Blade asked.
"Do you see that? Up there?" Echo pointed to a moving light in the sky. "I don't think I need to say what that is..."
"The nuclear missile..." X-Ray said half to himself. The team stood in silence as the nuke fell from the sky at what felt like two hoofsteps an hour, before finally it touched down. The city burst into light and flame, buildings and skyscrapers collapsing. Within a minute, the explosion had faded, and the city was left in ash.
"It's over..." Echo said. "The mission is a failure..." He sighed. "C'mon. Let's get back to base so we can get the buck outta here..." He turned without another word, trotting back toward the SpecOps base. As the team followed, nopony spoke another word. That's when they all stopped dead in their hoofsteps.
"No... They wouldn't..." Socket said, fear in his voice. "Impossible! We must get to the base!" The team began to run in fear, for they had spotted another light in the sky.
And it was headed straight for the SpecOps outpost, and getting closer.
"No, no, no, no, NO!" Chainlink yelled as they broke into a full gallop. But they were too late. The missile floated down with a loud roar, and collided with the base. The team was thrown backwards in the explosion, and the area was left engulfed in ash and flame as the SpecOps base had been destroyed, lost in the fabrics of time along with the new ruins of Manehattan. Cherry's voice came on a discarded radio.
"Greetings... It is my great displeasure to announce that the Manehattan recovery mission has failed... The Final Stand operation has been released, and Manehattan now lies in ruin... I apologize to anypony with relatives and friends in the city. We had no other choice, for the Infection had overwhelmed the city. To those of you who live outside this disaster, do not fret, for we will find a way out of this Nightmare. And for those of you who had been in the city upon impact... Rest in peace, for we had no other choice... As fire had rained down where Evil had held the Crown..." The radio signal cut off. ---
One dead is a Tragedy, but a Thousand dead is a Statistic. - Delta 727
*Transmission Ended* |
Resident Pon-Evil (Mission II) - Operation: Phoenix Fire | Level 7: Up In Flames | The first mission to re-take Equestria has failed, as well as leaving Manehattan in a smoldering wasteland. In the nuclear fallout of the city, the military base housing the marefriend of Chaos and a large crowd of civilians had been destroyed in a second explosion. As the wreckage settles, Harmony's Elements and Nova Team return from the ashes and count their losses, attempting to discover what had caused this tragedy to happen: Desperate measures, or another betrayal.
*Begin Transmission*
There was not a sound. The air was a deep red, thick with ash. The street was lined with debris and wreckage from the surrounding buildings. Not a thing stirred.
Until a slight movement came from a nearby alley.
Chaos emerged from his mound of wreckage, coughing and stumbling into the street. As he managed to recover himself, he retrieved his tattered gun, and took a look around.
"Command, this is Echo. Come in," he said into his radio. The only response was static. "Command! This is Echo! Can you hear me!?"
"Give it a rest, Chaos," Blade said as he stumbled out from behind a small alleyway, loosely holding his gun in his hooves. "The signal's been out for hours."
Chaos sighed. "At least you're alive. What about the others?"
They heard a sound of coughing from their right. "Over here!" Chainlink jumped over a small, burnt out carriage wreckage, his Riot Gun missing, but his Juggernaut still hung over his back. "I've got a bad feeling that we've been bucked over. Again!" He grunted as he began to stalk over to his team mates.
"Don't worry about it," Blade replied. "They didn't betray us. Desperate measures were needed. They had no choice."
"Desperate measures, my flank!" Chainlink retorted. "They nearly blew us up!"
"And what were they supposed to do?" Chaos asked. "Sit by and let us all become infected?"
"Then why did they blow up the base?"
The team remained silent. No pony had an answer of why they would kill so many innocent ponies if they were safe.
Chainlink sighed. "That's what I thought. Now where are the others?"
"Right 'ere, y'all!" The team turned to see Marigold stepping out from a collapsed building, followed by Dingo, Itzel, Socket, and finally Cell, supporting X-Ray over her shoulder. As they all entered into the cleared street, Cell set X-Ray down on the pavement. X-Ray attempted to stand.
"Don't move," Cell said. "You're injured." She placed a hoof on X-Ray's right shoulder, but he immediately shook it off.
"Do not...! Touch me..." He said. He stood to his hooves, and returned his assault rifle back to his grasp. "Is everypony... Alive...?"
"Yeah," Echo said. "We're all in one piece." A whimper came from Itzel's bag, and all eyes turned to her. Itzel set down her bag.
"You alright, Tibs?" she said. Soon after, a small head poked out of the flap.
"Momma?" said TrailBlaze's shaky voice. "I-is it over?"
"Yeah. It's over. We're safe." Itzel turned to Cell. "She took a hard hit at the explosion. Can you take a look at her and make sure she's alright?"
Cell trotted over to Itzel, who set down her bag. TrailBlaze crawled out, and began to stretch her wings. But as her wings extended, she flinched in pain. Itzel looked to Cell, her eyes troubled. Cell trotted over to TrailBlaze, crouched, and began to examine TrailBlaze's wing, gently running a hoof from the base, up. Just as Cell touched above the base, TrailBlaze flinched back violently, and she squeaked in pain. Cell sighed, stood up, and looked Itzel in the eyes.
"Her wing is broken." TrailBlaze gasped, but Itzel remained silent. "When we get her back to base, we can get her into medical, but-" Itzel cut her off.
"The injury might be permanent." Itzel sighed, and leaned down to hug her daughter, avoiding her injured wing. "I know..."
TrailBlaze returned the hug, and shakily asked, "D-does this mean I'll never fly again?" Itzel didn't answer.
"Harmony's Elements and Nova Team, come in." A stallion's voice came over Chaos's radio. "This is Canterlot Police Command."
"Command, this is Echo. We hear you."
"Echo, casualty report."
"70 Special Operation soldiers, and about 30 civvies. Possibly several refuged survivors in the city. No members of the team are K.I.A., but we do have injuries in need of treatment in the Medi-Lab. Requesting immediate secure transport."
"And arrangements for a nice, long talk with Commander Traitor..." Chainlink muttered.
"... Copy, Echo," Command said. "We will have a secure transport sent to your location. Are you in a clear area for landing and take-off?"
Chaos looked around at the open street. "Yeah. The team should be able to land and leave fine."
"Good. Launch a signal flare at your location, and find nearby shelter until they arrive. E.T.A., three hours tops."
"Not fast enough, Command," Chaos said. "We need evac as fast as it can reach us. We have wounded who need medical attention. Book it, or wounded'll become an understatement."
"Understood, Echo. The Team is loaded and flying."
"Copy, Command. Echo out." Chaos turned off his radio and turned to the team. "Three hours, tops. We'll be back soon." He pulled a small canister from his belt, and pulled the pin. He rolled it into the center of the street, stopping next to a carriage wheel, and triggering with a glowing cloud of purple smoke. He turned, without a word, toward a hollow wreck of an old office building. "Pack whatever supplies you can salvage. We've got a long night ahead of us..." The rest of the team followed after, entering the hollow husk of the building as the purple smoke continued to rise into the sky. ---
The bay doors of the hangar at the C.P.D. headquarters slowly slid open, and the secure transport glided in through the open doors. The transport hovered in midair above the landing platform inside, and the Pegasi attached to the transit turned in midair until the front of the transit was facing the bay doors. The transit set down just as the bay doors slid closed. The main hatch of the transit opened, and the team stepped out. First Chaos, followed by Nova Team, Marigold, X-Ray, Itzel, and hastily by Chainlink. Just as Chainlink exited the transit, Bolt stopped him with her hoof on his shoulder.
"Hey," She said. "You alright?"
"Yeah," Chainlink said, shrugging off her hoof. "Fine..." He stalked away after the rest of the team. They all stepped onto the large elevator platform, and it began to lift back to the main floor. As it rose through the dark elevator shaft and slid to the main floor, the floors were no longer crowded with soldiers stalking around to their duties around the base, but instead they lined the walls of the base, standing at attention. As the the elevator stopped, every soldier in the room saluted the team, all raising one hoof to their muzzles, then holding them out to the team. Not one of them spoke, but Chainlink snorted and began to stalk toward the main door to the back offices. Nova Team and Harmony's Elements caught up just as a guard had opened the door for Chainlink, who shoved the guard out of his way. Chaos looked at Blade.
"You think he'll be alright?"
"That depends," Blade replied. "But we should get after him before he takes Cherry's head off and feeds her to the Infected."
At that statement, the team ran down the hall after Chainlink.
Commander Cherry had been sitting at her desk, reviewing some files, when her office door burst open. Chainlink stalked in, his hooves empty of weapons. "Chainlink. Where is the rest of your tea-"
"Shut it!" Chainlink yelled. "You gave the order, didn't you!?"
"What are you-"
"Quit playing the idiot! You gave the order for the missiles, didn't you!?" When Cherry didn't answer, Chainlink said, "You'd best answer me, or you'll be answering to my buckshot in your brain!" Two SpecOps guards entered the room to restrain him, but Cherry raised a hoof to stop them.
Cherry sighed. "Yes," she said. "But all was not lost."
"You killed off an army of SpecOps and a whole baseload of bucking civillians! And you tried to butter us up with an arrival salute like we're bucking heroes!" Chainlink slammed his hoof on Cherry's desk, and the guards took one step forward. "Now would you like to tell me how 'all was not lost'!?"
Cherry looked him straight in the goggles, and laughed.
"What's so bucking funny?"
"Chainlink, we did not kill those civilians. They had been evacuated when you had exited the base, and directed to a safe zone. They have been evacuated back here and taken to a large living quarters in the west side of the base."
Chainlink stayed silent, then asked, "And the SpecOps you blew up?"
"Also in a safe zone outside of the base, about a quarter mile from the blast area. They have re-joined the ranks among the base. The only casualties are the Infected in the city, and minimal possibility of refugees in Manehattan."
"Then why destroy the city if you sent us in to save it?"
"The city was a loss in itself. Reclamations will be necessary in smaller cities that can easily be reclaimed with a smaller force." Cherry looked back down to her files. "Are you satisfied?"
Chainlink stood where he was, then turned and left the room without a word. He stalked past the rest of the team, and headed for the living quarters. As he passed, the team remained silent, until Cell turned to Itzel.
"Come on. Your daughter needs medical attention." Itzel nodded, and the two headed for the medical department. Nova Team and Harmony's Elements headed for the living quarters, but Chaos remained. He stepped into Cherry's office, and the Commander and soldier made wordless eye contact.
"I assume you wish to know if Morning Star and Flood are alive?" Chaos didn't say a word. "They are alive and well, and are waiting for you in the living quarters. If you want to hold a grudge for a while, I don't blame you." Without another word, Chaos left the room, and closed the door behind him.
But when he closed the door, he muttered, "You're lucky I lost my gun in the explosion." He trotted off down the hall, and headed for the living quarters, his mind a mix of relief and hatred he knew was misdirected, and he had hoped would pass in time. ---
"What weak, inglorious fools we mortals are.
That war must be, or any need of war.
And yet, the better day is coming when the teachings of the lowly Nazarene Shall be the rule of nations--as of beings;
The sword and bayonet shall be preserved, By the fair children of a nobler race, As relics only, of a barbarous past."
- Pvt. Andy May Clarkson (Story: A Hero Of War)
*Transmission Ended* |
Resident Pon-Evil (Mission II) - Operation: Phoenix Fire | Journal Of Echo: Part 1 | Fall Equinox - 1 Month Since First Contact
I shoulda known that they would try to blow us all up. It's been some time since I met a pony I could trust. Ever since I had mentored Blade, I knew he'd be an honorable stallion. But I'm starting to think that he's losing it. He's barely shown emotion, let alone that revenge means anything to him. Dingo's been saying that he thinks Blade might "Slip from the pouch".
I assume that means Blade's slipping out of his mind ever so slowly.
But he wasn't the only one we're worried about. Chainlink's been pretty ticked since the destruction of Manehattan. Nearly took Cherry's head off. I assume the only thing that stopped him was that either the guards would shoot him on the spot, or he was just glad that he didn't have to know more innocent blood was on his hooves.
X-Ray's been quiet. And I mean more quiet than he usually is. He's hardly said a word, or interacted with anypony. He's been either the most stable or the most unstable of us all. Nopony knows what's going on in his head. When he had been sent to the Infirmary to be searched for injuries, he walked with a limp, but didn't even look as if he was discouraged. Wounds like his could or could not be serious. I heard from the rest that he hasn't shown even the slightest sign of emotion since they saw the "apparition of Acid". I feel like they were just hallucinating from the post-traumatic stress. Acid's dead. They need to learn to move on, but somehow I feel X-Ray had some sort of connection to her.
I didn't think he was the closet-lovebird type.
Marigold's been as upbeat as she was since she arrived. Sarcastic when she sees fit, but serious when the time is right. Revenge means nothing to her, she just wants to kill with the rest of us, and have a bucking good time doing it. I'd say she might get herself killed like that, but she's not the kind of mare that makes mistakes.
Nova Team's been their old selves. Dingo's kinda like Marigold, but he's been prone to a mistake or two. Socket has had his sophistication in check, and has kept up with the technology with the search-and-repair teams. Cell's been quiet, only speaking when necessary. Being the medic, her skills are unquestionable, but she's kinda like X-Ray. She shows next to no emotion whatsoever. She has no known surviving family, although it seems as though many of us lost our families in the outbreak.
And finally, the newest members of our team.
Itzel and her daughter, TrailBlaze.
Itzel and TrailBlaze are both Alicorns, which is strange, 'cause I don't remember Celestia and Luna having very many relatives past their niece, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Whoever they are, Itzel's a blademaster, and even TrailBlaze has a heart of gold, even though TrailBlaze has recently broken her wing in the explosion of Manehattan. Turns out they had ties to Harrow, too. They survived quite well on their own, but it's not impossible that Harrow is out for their heads. Even though the members of Harrow's leading staff have been locked up, there's no telling if there are any left from Harrow still out there. I'm assuming that they're the ones who sabotaged the barrier, and may be the ones out for our blood, even Itzel's and TrailBlaze.
Bucking shame they got stuck with us.
Well, Harmony's Elements have already killed Dmitri and left Harrow to shame, as well as they've made it this far. Let's hope our luck can last longer than the Infected.
... Celestia forbid we're out first.
~ Chaos |
Resident Pon-Evil (Mission II) - Operation: Phoenix Fire | Level 8: Rest & Relaxation | After the bombing in Manehattan, Chainlink had nearly snapped as he had thought that the Canterlot Police Department had betrayed them, just as Harrow's End had. As he busted into Cherry's office, she revealed that the citizens and soldiers of the SpecOps had been sent to secure locations and evacuated, and that the Manehattan recovery was a lost cause. As they begin to settle back into the base, they await orders for their next mission in hopes that this one will not blow up in their faces.
*Begin Transmission*
Chaos shut his journal, staring down at the grey cover. He had been sitting at his desk in the living quarters of the Canterlot Military Department, a small room with a standard bed, dresser, lamp, night table, and work desk, where he now sat. He pulled open a left side drawer and placed the notebook inside, then pushed out his chair, dropped to the floor, and headed for the door.
The door opened into the main C.P.D. living area, occupied with the rest of the team. X-Ray sat in an armchair by a brown, wooden coffee table, cleaning his gun. Chainlink was standing with Blade under a large monitor at the back of the room, showing him how to disarm a mine, with Blade eyeing it with distrust. Marigold and Dingo were conversing next to the exit door on the left wall, and Itzel and Socket were sitting on a couch across from X-Ray, Socket accessing a small laptop computer resting on the arm of the couch.
As Chaos entered the room, he trotted up to a small armchair in front of him at the lower end of the coffee table and climbed on.
"You were... In there for some time..." X-Ray said, not looking up from his Hammer.
"I was busy," Chaos replied simply. X-Ray didn't question further.
There was a bang from the other side of the room, causing everypony to jump and direct their gazes to Chainlink and Blade. The mine had disappeared, only to be replaced by a black blast-zone-shaped shade of ash across the wall, the floor, and the fronts of the two stallions.
Chainlink removed his mask, cleaning ash from the lenses. "I told you to watch the pressure plate!" He scolded Blade. "You're lucky that was a training model, or you would've blown us both to bits!"
Blade removed his own mask, and coughed. "Well, my apologies for not being-"
"Will y'all quit arguin'?" Marigold asked from across the room. "Ya sound like a bunch'a foals."
"The lady's got a point..." Dingo agreed.
Blade began to replace his mask, resetting it with a hsss, letting him disguise his voice before murmuring, "Kiss-up..."
"Do your guys always always act this way?" Itzel asked Socket next to her. Socket just shrugged, focusing on his computer. "Where's Cell and-"
"TrailBlaze?" Chaos asked. Itzel gave a curt nod. "Still in Medical. Cell should be back with her soon."
Moments later, Cell entered from the door on the left, TrailBlaze on her back. When Cell trotted up next to the couch, TrailBlaze hopped off her back, landing next to Itzel on the arm of the couch. Her left wing was wrapped in pink bandages.
"How was she?" Itzel asked.
"Just fine," Cell replied. "They had to put her under for the procedure, but the drugs will be wearing off," she eyed TrailBlaze as she hopped off the couch over Itzel, and landing between her and Socket, "and she seems to be fully conscious."
"What's her condition?"
"It'll take a few months to heal. We need proper technology to replace the damaged nerve, but it was not severed. When we have the proper equipment, she will be flying normally."
Itzel breathed a sigh of relief, and turned to her daughter. "How're you feeling, Tibs?"
"Awesome!" She said. "I've never been put to sleep before. It's kinda like when you sing me a lullaby, but with less singing and more stinging!" She giggled at her pun, giving her bandaged wing a quick flap. "They even let me choose the band-aid color!"
"Be careful," Cell said. "You don't want to split the bandages."
"She's right, Tibs. Listen to Dr. Cell," Itzel said, giving TrailBlaze a peck on the cheek. TrailBlaze giggled, and trotted over to Socket.
"What's that?" She asked, looking at the computer monitor.
"It's called a laptop." Socket pressed a key on the computer, and a small document came up. "See, if I press a certain button on this keyboard, it causes it to come up on this screen."
"How does it work?" TrailBlaze asked, tilting her head.
"It uses technology similar to Blade's hood that causes it to turn him invisible," Socket answered, signaling to the hooded stallion that trotted up next to him, replacing his mask.
"So can the lap-a-ma-jiggy turn invisible?" TrailBlaze tilted her head back upright, and Socket chuckled.
"No, TrailBlaze, it can't turn invisible. But it's something like that."
"So that can only mean one thing..." TrailBlaze turned to Blade. "Blade's a laptop!"
Blade facehoofed his replaced mask, everypony (Except X-Ray) in the room chuckled, and Marigold hopped up to position her head above the back of the couch to look down at TrailBlaze.
" 'At's exactly right, Sugarcube! How'da know?" Blade tried to say something, but X-Ray cut him off.
"Lucky guess..."
Dingo and Chainlink trotted around into the gap between the couch and Chaos's chair. "Somepony should press 'is buttons and see what happens!" Dingo chuckled.
"First of all, I am not a laptop, and-" Blade stopped mid-sentence and looked down. TrailBlaze was poking him in the leg.
"I don't think it's working," She said. Everypony (Except X-Ray again) laughed, and managed to stop just as Commander Cherry's image appeared on the monitor.
"Greetings Nova Team, Harmony's Elements," Cherry said calmly. "Your work in Manehattan has saved many lives, and destroyed a large mass of Infected in the area. Clean-up teams are already moving in, and the city's ruins will soon be quarantined."
"I hope you don't plan to blow them up this time?" Chainlink asked sarcastically.
"Very funny, Chainlink." Cherry adjusted her bifocals. "But your sarcasm is unnecessary. You all saved many lives, and that is a debt unrepayable. Your next mission will, hopefully, be drastically more... Successful. Mission Launch will not be for a few weeks, for you and your team will need time to rest. Good work, Elements." The screen flashed to static, and went black.
" 'Ey!" Dingo said humorously. "What about us?"
"Hoof it, Dingo," Cell said. "Don't act jealous. We are all a team here."
"Eh, don't worry about me." Dingo ran a hoof across the jawline of his mask. "I get plenty attention as it is!" Socket facehoofed, and Cell rolled her eyes under her mask.
"If you all're done admiring yourselves," Chaos got up from his chair, "I'm heading out to-"
"Chaos!" A mare yelled from the doorway at the left, and a SpecOps mare rushed in, embracing Chaos by the neck. Hard.
"-find Morning Star," He finished in a choked voice. Blade chuckled behind him.
"Thank Celestia you're alive! I was worried we lost you in the explosion!" Chaos didn't respond. "Oh! Sorry!" Morning Star giggled slightly, releasing her grip. Chaos took a gasp of air. "Flood and I have been waiting for you in the armory. C'mon, let's meet him there." Chaos rubbed the back of his neck, and the two of them trotted out of the room.
"D'aww, ain't that cute?" Marigold said. "I knew there was a big softie under that hard shell o' his!" She tilted her head slightly, a wistful look on her face.
"Nopony is... Who they appear to be..." X-Ray said, clicking his Hammer Assault Rifle back together. "Even the strongest can be... Affected by gentleness..."
"And apperently," Chainlink started, "Even the ones who like to shut up can prophesize."
"I will assume... That was a compliment..." X-Ray hopped out of his chair.
Itzel stepped off of the couch, TrailBlaze in her bag. "Well, I say we head out after Chaos. All in fair ward?"
"Sure," Dingo replied. "Wha'ever that means!" He trotted for the door, Itzel following.
The Team stood silently for a while, when Socket flipped his laptop closed and set it on the coffee table. "Well, don't just stand there. We have another 'adventure' to prepare for..." He hopped off the couch and followed after the already gone ponies. Blade left after him, and within minutes, the room was empty, all except for X-Ray. He sighed as he said, "Let us hope... Our next mission is not one of suicide..." He exited the room, leaving it in silence. ---
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable." - Hellen Keller
*Transmission Ended* |
Resident Pon-Evil (Mission II) - Operation: Phoenix Fire | Level 9: New Appleoosa | Harmony's Elements and Nova Team have escaped the now ruined Manehattan. Many escaped with only cuts and bruises, while others were not as lucky, as they left with more severe injuries, including TrailBlaze's broken wing. With another mission coming their way, Chainlink is becoming restless, as he is still recovering from the once thought failed mission at Manehattan. Now on their way to the very outskirts of Equestria, their new mission is a little more "old fashioned", as Marigold is soon ecstatic to discover, and as a member of the team finds a lost link from their past long thought gone. Or more so, dead.
*Begin Transmission*
"Welcome back, team," Cherry greeted the Elements and Nova Team in the briefing room. "I understand you have your grudges from the failure of our last mission, but all in all, it was a success." Chainlink grunted, and Cherry disregardingly adjusted her bifocals. "Your new mission will be taking you into the farthest reaches of Equestria." She tapped the presentation screen with one hoof, and a map appeared. The new location was smaller than Manehattan, about the size of a village, with mostly square buildings lined up in two rows down a central street.
"Sweet sister of saloons!" Marigold shouted, jumping up from the table as the others glanced with wary eyes. "Ah know that ol' place!"
"We're sure you do, Marigold," Cherry said. "New Appleoosa."
"Wait... New Appleoosa...?" X-Ray asked. "What became of... The first Appleoosa...?"
Marigold's cheery nature dropped, and she gave a solemn glance at X-Ray. "Ol' Appleoosa was knocked to the ground. Some filly-foolin' militia tore it down fer supplies. Raided it like a starvin' pony to a feed bag."
"Correct," Cherry continued. "New Appleoosa was built several miles south of Manehattan to return the citizens held there, and had been fortified into just short of a military outpost."
"Ah'm sure we won' have to break in this time?" Marigold chuckled. "A few o' the cattle-wranglers around jus' might know me."
"I'm with ya on that one!" Dingo chimed in from next to Marigold. "I might not be the Western type, but meeting a few ponies like us can't hurt."
" 'At's what ah like ta hear!" Marigold patted him on the back. "Good ta see somepony open ta th' Country life! Home, sweet home!"
"Yeah. That's until it's overrun by Infected," Blade said from the end of the table.
"Or blown up again..." Chainlink murmured. Marigold and Dingo immediately went silent.
"Now, if you are done with your opinions, there will be a change in transportation. You will not be traveling by air to New Appleoosa. Severe weather patterns in the area between here and there have prevented flight."
"Then how will we get there?" Socket asked.
"The only way we've got left," Cell answered. "By land."
"You will travel on land in an armored transport propelled by a Pegasi team, and a few guards stationed aboard. It will be risky by land, for we do not know what the Infected are capable of-"
"Stumbling and moaning," Chaos murmured.
Cherry ignored the comment and continued. "-but no problems should arise during your travel. Your mission is to attempt to trade with the citizens of the area. They require your assistance in defenses, medicine, and various other things that you all fit in the category of. In return, they will be giving us much needed technology."
"Will any of it be able to fix TrailBlaze's wing?" Itzel asked.
"Unfortunately, no. They are short on medical supplies as it is. Once the deal has been made, and the technology is in our hooves, you will complete your half of the deal, and return here, where our engineers will relieve you of it, and you will be debriefed. Are there any questions?" Silence. "Excellent. Get moving to the hangar, and good luck."
The teams stood up from the tables and began to leave before Chainlink stopped in the doorway.
"You owe me a new Riot Gun," he said, and slammed the door behind him. ---
The elevator descended down through the base, and landed in the lower hangar. Chaos stepped off first, followed by Nova Team and Harmony's Elements, with Chainlink at the back. A large, metal transport similar to the aerial transit stood in the middle of the hangar. But instead of a loose transit, it was much larger, able to fit the team and seemingly twenty more, with studded tread wheels at the base, about four armed stallions aboard the top, and the four Pegasi attached to the four top corners.
"Is this supposed to be our transport, or a tank?" Socket asked, eyeing the mobile armor.
Chaos trotted past the side of the transport to the main door, and began to enter a code in the keypad. "I hope you and your team can handle the weight," He said to an armored mare at the front-right corner. "This plus that armor seems a little much."
"Aw, you almost sound worried, Chaos," Bolt said in a robotic voice through her armor. "Sure you can handle hours of being crammed in it?"
"Depends which one you mean," Chaos said back, and Bold gave him a playful shove with her hoof.
The front hatch opened, and the team entered, Chaos at the front, Nova Team in the center, and Harmony's Elements at the back, which still left several feet in front of them from the hatch. Bolt closed the front hatch, and signaled for the other Pegasi to take off. They hovered up into the air, and began to pull forward. The treaded wheels began to turn, and the transport moved off toward New Appleoosa.
"So how's it feel to be on your way home again, Marigold?" Dingo asked across from the golden, riot-armored mare.
"Oh, it ain't mah home. Just an ol' place ah loved to travel to as ah filly. Th' old Appleoosa was Venus's home. Ah hate that she ain't here to see it today." She looked down, a flash of sadness in her eyes, and raised her head back up with a look of amused determination. "But she's watchin' it from above our frettin' little heads, an' it's gonna be great to go back to where ah met 'er."
"New Appleoosa... Was where I had lived for... Many years..." X-Ray said from next to Dingo.
"Really?" Marigold asked. "Ah never saw ya as th' Western type."
"It was never... My permanent home... I had lived there once when I was... Only a colt... And where Harrow drafted me... Into the Corporation..."
"They took you in as only a colt?" Blade asked, a slight hint of anger in his voice.
"It was... My birthday... And the day I was old enough to be..." X-Ray ducked his head. Chainlink chuckled. "Is there... Something funny, Chainlink...?"
"I know what that's like. Thought I was the only one." Chainlink laughed again. "My old stallion nearly shot 'em, if my mom hadn't jumped in the way. He was taken down for murder, by me, to be exact."
"He shot her!?" TrailBlaze gasped from her pack.
"Sure did. I hated both of them anyway. First day they showed me they actually cared. Probably 'cause they wanted to slap me around s'more. So I dragged him off with us, and Harrow said they need more ponies like me. Don't care who they are, just take 'em down if they're the problem." He glanced up, and a few were giving wary looks. He gave a silent chuckle. "Now don't get all worried. That was in Harrow. I ain't gonna betray this team like I did them." He looked back away. "Jeez, you act like I was gonna blow you up or something."
"Betrayl isn't exactly the the most comfortable topic around here. You almost blew me up already," Blade answered.
"Pressure. Plate," Chainlink clarified, and the team all except for X-Ray gave a short laugh. Bolt's voice came over the radio.
"How you guys doing in there? Need some air?"
Chaos pressed a button on the inner wall just below a speaker. "We're doing fine. Just defusing the bomb squad." The team laughed again.
Bolt paused. "Uh, whatever you say? We'll arrive in three hours. Try not to kill each other, kiddies."
"Yes, Mom!" Dingo shouted from the center of the team, and they laughed even harder.
"Don't tempt me, weasel-colt! I'll come in there and beat you like it!" The team laughed even harder, all except for Chainlink and still X-Ray, and the laughter died down as they all noticed.
Chaos pressed the button again. "See you in three hours. Chaos out." He clicked off the radio.
"Well, ah don' know 'bout y'all, but ah'm gonna get some sleep." Marigold spread herself across the bench, and curled up. "If any of y'all wake me 'fore we get there, ah'll hang ya." With a small chuckle, she drifted off.
"That means... You, Dingo..." X-Ray murmured half-heartedly. Dingo chuckled.
"Well, he's tryin' for humor. He'll get there."
"Uh, guys?" Bolt came back on the radio.
Chaos answered. "Here. What's wrong?"
"Command just came on the radio. We've got a problem."
"That doesn't sound good..." Socket murmured.
"What is it?" Chaos asked, and Bolt didn't respond. "Bolt, out with it."
"Uhh..." Bolt paused. "New Appleoosa... Was overrun by Harrow's SpecOps almost a month ago." Bolt flinched as a loud bang sounded and the transit tipped slightly as Chainlink slammed his hoof into the wall, cursing aloud. ---
A buzz sounded over the speaker inside the transit, and a red light clicked on. Marigold flinched and awoke at the buzz.
"Unh," she groaned. "Wha?"
"We're here," Chaos said.
The transit came to a stop, and Bolt pressed a few buttons on the keypad, opening the hatch. "Welcome to New Castle-Loosa." New Appleoosa had resembled a large, metal-plated fortress. The once bare city was surrounded by a seemingly professional wall of steel plating and scrap. Two spotlight towers stood on either side of a large, two-section plate door, and two guards stood out front. Chaos stepped forward.
"Be careful with them. They might try something funny."
"Yeah," Chainlink agreed sarcastically. "Like hold us for ransom bits."
Chaos began to step forward, but Chainlink shouldered past. "I'll take care of the guards."
"Whatever you do, don't kill them," Chaos warned. Chainlink gave a passive nod. He trotted up to the first guard.
"State your business," The guard said as the rest of Chainlink's team met up a few feet behind him.
"I'm sure you know bucking well why we're here. Now let us in," Chainlink stared down the SpecOps guard with a look of fire through his goggles, but the guard didn't flinch, and repeated his question. "I swear, if you ask me that one more time before you decide to 'politely' open the gate, I'll shove that rifle of yours where it doesn't belong. Now open the door before you find out who the hoof you're dealing with."
"State. Your-" The guard was cut off as Chainlink swept his front leg under the guard's front hooves, knocking him to the ground as he pinned him and his gun to the dirt. The second guard tried to retaliate, but Blade had already charged him, slamming the guard into the wall with Blade's knife at his throat. The two spotlights flashed on above.
"What's going on down there!" An agitated mare shouted down. Her voice became more urgent as she shouted, "Intruders! Open fire!" Several clicking and chinking noises came from behind the wall, as several squads of SpecOps aimed down their guns, and Nova Team and Harmony's Elements drew their own, all except for Marigold.
"Hold on, y'all! Don'cha recognize me? It's me, Marigold! Now how 'bout y'all let us i-" She was cut off as a single shot ricoched off the ground near her hoof, and she flinched back. "Hey! We're on yer side!"
"Take another step, and we'll blow your head off!" The mare shouted from above.
"I don't think they recognize you, Marigold," Cell said, aiming her gun toward the shot. "Stand back." Marigold gave a reluctant snort, and slowly backed away.
"Release our guards!" The mare demanded. Chainlink looked down at the guard under his armored hooves, and pulled them off slowly, giving the guard one final kick in the neck to get his point across. Blade glanced back, and looked forward to his hostaged guard. He gave the guard a curt shove away from his knife, and returned to his team. "Now drop your weapons!"
"Alright," Dingo yelled up. "Now you're pushin' it!"
"Lay them down, before we lay you down!" Dingo groaned, and the team all dropped their weapons. "All of them!" Blade rolled his eyes under his mask, and threw down his knife.
"There! Now what do you want? A pedicure!?" Chainlink yelled up, but the mare didn't respond. "I said, what do you want!?"
The mare didn't respond, but a stallion yelled down, "Send forward the one with the goggles and respirator!" The team all glanced at X-Ray, whose goggled gaze remained on the top of the wall. He stepped forward through the team, and trotted out into the open as the spotlights shined down on him. The stallion trotted forward to the edge of the wall, and murmured something. He jumped from the wall, and seemed to be attempting suicide. Before he hit the bottom, he spread a set of armored wings from his back, and glided down to the ground. His hooves hit the ground, and he skidded through the dirt, leaving a cloud of dust behind him, and stopping right in front of X-Ray.
The stallion was wearing a light armor suit with a black helmet over his head, and two broken goggle lenses. "Take off your mask." X-Ray hesitated, but calmly removed his goggles and suit from off his head, but kept his mask on, revealing his grey color, green mane, and blue eyes. The stallion chuckled. "I knew it was you." He took off his own helmet. He was a darker shade of grey, with a yellow-green mane, and blueberry eyes. "Remember me, X-Ray?"
"He knows you!?" Blade and Chainlink said, and Marigold saying "He knows ya?" at the exact same time in her Southern accent.
X-Ray looked back and said, "Yes... He does... His name is Lens Cap..." He turned his gaze back to the stallion and said, "Pleasant to see you too... Brother..." ---
"Sometimes we wonder why we have families. That's when they come back and show you when you need them most of all." - Delta 727
*Transmission Ended* |
Resident Pon-Evil (Mission II) - Operation: Phoenix Fire | Level 10: New Appleoosa - Odd Jobs | Harmony's Elements have arrived at New Appleoosa, only to discover that it has been taken over by SpecOps. Upon arrival, they are ambushed by SpecOps at the gate after Chainlink had grown too impatient with the guards in front. After being commanded to throw down their weapons, a new commander had arrived at the top of the gate, and demanded for X-Ray to step forward. X-Ray obeyed, and discovered the commanding pony to be a Pegasus, and more importantly, his brother that was once thought dead.
*Begin Transmission*
"I see you've made some friends since we last met," Lens Cap said, looking around the grounds at X-Ray's team. "You their leader or something?"
"We do not... Have a leader..." X-Ray responded. "Not anymore... To be exact... Your friends here were... Our leaders..."
"You were SpecOps?"
"No," Chainlink replied, trotting up by X-Ray. "The SpecOps worked for them. You ever heard of Harrow-"
Lens Cap cut him off. "Yeah. And I already know you worked for 'em. You and my brother here brought them down. Where's the rest of your team?"
Blade trotted up on the other side of X-Ray. "Here. Acid, the fourth member, is dead. But I'm sure you heard that already."
"Yeah!" Marigold said as she trotted up next to Blade. "An' ah've been kinda like her replacement fer some time, and ah'm sure y'all have seen me 'round these parts before. This is mah home town! But as soon as all've us show up, y'all 're pointin' guns at us."
"The only time I've seen you was back at the victory ceremony that was broadcasting here," Lens Cap replied. "One or two here might know you, but they're probably a walking corpse by now."
"Hey, y'all watch what yer sayin' 'bout mah home town. Ah'me sure they're fine."
"They're not. The town was overrun when we arrived. Just about everypony was dead." Marigold went silent.
"Don't worry about it, Marigold. He did say 'just about'." Blade grabbed his knife, and heard several clicking noises from the wall. "Would you be so kind as to tell your friends to put those away?"
Lens Cap chuckled, and turned around. "Drop 'em. They're on our side." After more sounds of clicking, he turned back to the team. "Yeah. I know who Acid is. Or was, as it be. I used to work for Harrow, like X-Ray. He was dragged off just before he was a stallion, and I volunteered to join with him. I didn't exactly have any choice on that anyway, considering I tried to kill one of the guards taking him." He shook his head to the left, back at New Appleoosa. "That's how I came here. I'm the commanding officer of this entire unit." He turned his gaze to X-Ray. "I assumed you would be in about the same place I am. But it looks to me like you're higher than that. Took down our whole corporation." His voice turned cold. "And left us all out of work."
"Hey, watch it," Chainlink ordered. "They were back-stabbing scumbags. You all know that."
"I could care less what they've done," Lens Cap retorted. "It was how we got paid. How we kept our citizens alive."
"Is that not... Why we are here...?" X-Ray asked. "We are here to... Exchange work for technology that... We need, and you can give..."
Lens Cap paused, then said, "Yeah. You do, and we can. But you'll have to earn it. It's a pretty expensive piece of equipment. If you don't pull your weight around here, we'll be selling it for scrap."
"If you think we are here to take orders from you..." Blade began.
"Hey, relax," Lens Cap stopped him. "Just because we need work doesn't mean I'm turning you guys into slaves. We have things that need to be done, and you guys have the skills to do it. You're right. Harrow's gone, and it's their fault we're in this mess. C'mon in." Lens Cap turned around, replacing his helmet and goggles. "The base is all warmed up for you." He trotted forward, and the gates began to open, sliding into the walls of the base with loud creaking noises. The team hesitated to follow, but X-Ray trotted away to catch up with his brother.
"Guess we can trust 'em," Dingo said. "Let's get in there. I got some friends here too." He trotted after the brothers, and Marigold followed.
"Wait fer me, Sugarcube! Ah'd like to see what's gone on in this ol' place!" They trotted away, and the rest of the team soon followed. The gates creaked shut behind them, and the spotlights flickered off, leaving the foregrounds of New Appleoosa in darkness. ---
"Welcome to your new 'home away from home', fillies," Lens Cap said, waving his hoof across the old, worn down village in front of him. New Appleoosa had only one dirt road that ran down the middle of two rows of old, wooden buildings, each marked for it's own purpuse. A medical center, a food store, an old saloon and lounge, a produce center, an abandoned livestock pen, a carriage garage, an armory, a few old cottages, and a large steel building at the end labled, 'Command Center'. "I'll have you all divided up to your jobs soon enough, but first I'll get you up to speed on what's going on around here." He stopped and turned to the team. "New Appleoosa was over run a while back, as you heard. Not too many civilians survived, but we saved a few. Some moved into the cottages, but we've got a few others at work, and you'll be meeting them soon. You'll be either surprised or shocked to hear we even found a few unicorns that survived. Although," he leaned around to look at Itzel and TrailBlaze peeking out of her bag, "it looks like you've got a couple of your own."
"Yeah. We've seen it all," Chainlink said impatiently. "Now drop the history lesson and get us workin' so we can get what we came for, whatever it is."
"Easy now, you'll get your jobs," Lens Cap continued. "But first, I need to know your names, and what you do." Chainlink started first.
"Name's Chainlink. Demolition."
"Blade. Stealth and Reconnaissance."
"Shorten that down a little?" Lens Cap asked.
"... Recon."
"Name's Dingo. I'm Nova Team's Sniper."
"Socket. Nova Team's Engineer and Technician."
"Cell. Nova Team Medic."
"Name's Marigold! An ol' native from th' first Appleoosa, an' I used t' work on th' cattle ranches 'n farms. Other'n that, ah know how t' handle a gun."
"I'm Itzel. I don't use guns, so I uses knives and bows."
"I'm TrailBlaze! I don't do much, but I know how to shoot a sniper... Kinda." Dingo grinned under his mask.
"And I assume you're still in surveillance, X-Ray?" Lens Cap asked. X-Ray nodded. "Good. Just thought you guys should know, I'm specialized in something like a mix of surveillance and recon. I'm a spotter for the wall guards, and I know how to handle a rifle if I need to. Now, I'll split you all into your jobs." Lens Cap split the team to be sent to their locations of need: Chainlink, Blade, and Dingo to separate sections of the armory, Socket to the garage, Cell to the medical center, Marigold to the produce center, and Itzel and TrailBlaze to the old saloon, due to none of the soldiers needing knife training without using stealth. "Well, hop to it."
"And what about... Me...?" X-Ray asked. Lens Cap chuckled.
"Well, you're with me at the wall. I've got a job for you there." X-Ray went silent.
The team all parted ways for their stations. ---
Chainlink, Blade, and Dingo arrived at the armory, splitting ways to their departments. Chainlink entered the explosives and defenses department, where there were several armored ponies working with different kind of equipment in a room full of varying technology. Control panels, sandbags, plexi-glass disarm stations. One armored stallion was working at a control panel, with armor similar to Chainlink's, only thicker with red stripes across the padded shoulders, unlike the others. He trotted up to the stallion, and tapped his shoulder.
"Hey. I'm looking for the head pony here," Chainlink said.
The stallion turned around. "Well, you found him," he said in a rather serious voice. "What's it you need?"
"Lens Cap told me I could help here. Names Chainlink."
"Hm." the stallion paused. "Yeah. Lens Cap told me you'd be here." He held out his hoof. "Name's Shrapnel."
Chainlink pressed his hoof to Shrapnel's, and put it back down. "So what's the deal?"
"We've got a few new recruits that volunteered, and could use your direction. Call 'em in, line 'em up, and get 'em at it. Just make sure they can do anything from place a mine to... Yeah, that'll be enough."
"Yeah, sure... Do they at least know a pressure plate is?"
"Yeah. Why?"
Chainlink grinned. "Just an old mishap from a while back that ain't gonna happen here." ---
Blade entered into the Stealth department, only to find the room dark. As the light flooded in from the door, it landed on an infected pony in the middle of the room. He reacted immediately, racing forward and slamming it into the wall, the infected groaning in rage. He drew his knife, driving it through the Infected's left temple, and its moaning ceased as it slunked to the floor. He drew his knife back into its holster, as a mare's voice came from behind him.
"Hey! What's the matter with you!?" The mare appeared in a light, grey armor dotted with hex-design patterns and tinted goggles. Three more, all stallions, appeared behind her. All three were holding jagged knives. The mare sheathed hers, and trotted up to Blade and giggled, giving him a light shove. "You might be here to help us, but you don't have to snap on a target like that."
"Er, sorry," Blade replied bluntly. "I'm guessing you've heard who I am already?"
"That's right," the mare said, removing her goggles to show a pair of brown eyes and an outer lining of orange fur. "It's Blade, right? Well, I'm Golden Haze. Most just call me Haze. These guys are Black Hawk, Snapper, and Ink Well." Haze put her goggles back on. "So, a stealth colt, huh?"
"If that's what you want to call it, sure. I was told I'd be here to assist with something?"
"Well, that's true. So let's start with step one: Loosen up a bit. We might be the ones that're here to be quiet, but we're not royalty, so don't act like we'll be pushing you around in here."
"Um... Sure. So what do you need? It already looks like you're good enough without me."
"I'm not sure how you can say that," Haze replied, looking at the carcass at the back wall. "You kinda killed our target. I'm trying to get these guys to toughen up and get close enough to even poke 'em. They can't smell or see us, so show 'em what you've got."
Blade nodded. "Take a seat." ---
Dingo found his way to the elevator, and hit the button for the roof. About halfway up, which was about one floor, the elevator stopped, and a stallion in black camouflage and thermal goggles stepped in. His mane and head were left uncovered, revealing a long, yellow mane with a white body, and a long rifle strapped over his back. He reached to hit a button for his floor, but pulled his hoof back when he saw the roof access already pushed.
"Headed there too, eh?" Dingo asked. The stallion remained silent as the door closed. "Sooo... Are you part of the snipers too?" Still no answer. Dingo sighed and remained silent until the elevator reached the roof. The door opened to several sand bags aligned along the edge of the concrete roof, looking out into the surrounding fields of the area. Several other ponies in similar armor to the white stallion stood by them, rifles in hoof. Dingo stepped forward, but the other stallion cut him off, stepping out first. He muttered an insult, and stepped out. "Hey, y'all!" He said to the snipers.
"Shh!" A pink mare said to him, and turned back to her rifle.
"Don't worry about her," a young, light-voiced stallion said next to him. "We kinda have to keep our voices down here. You know, 'snipers-at-work'?"
"Yeah, I get it..." Dingo whispered. The stallion from the elevator grabbed a rifle, taking position with the rest. "What's wrong with him?"
"Nothing. He just doesn't talk. Don't even know what he sounds like. Oh, sorry. Forgot you're new here. My name's Laser Sight. Just call me Laser. Sounds cooler."
"Cool. I'm Dingo. Was told by the boss you need me?"
"Sure do." Laser trotted over to the barrier next to the rest. "Get a suppressor on your rifle. We're not here to attract every Infected this side of Canterlot." Dingo grabbed a suppressor from a small cargo crate by the sandbags, but dropped it, causing it to ting against the concrete. Every pony on the roof glared at him. He froze, whispered, "Uh, sorry..." and awkwardly reached down and grabbed it, carefully screwing it onto his barrel. He aimed his rifle down range. "So how do I help?"
"See those targets down there?" Dingo peered through his scope, spotting several marked barrels, crates, and a few infected tied to posts, a few already dead.
"Yeah."
"Point out targets by coordinate, and each sniper'll take it out. Call one or two for yourself, if you want. We need the target practice. A few here are still new."
The pink mare looked back at him. "And were putting bullets through their eyes before you had your cutie mark." She turned back to the range, a grin on her face.
"Easy there, Back Track. Now listen to what Mr. Dingo tells you to do." She elbowed backward into his shoulder, grinning wider.
"Well, then," Dingo said, arming his rifle. "Follow my lead, fillies..." ---
Socket entered the small garage, which held shelves full of old toolboxes and parts. In the center of the oil-stained room was a large transport, this one attached and run by a large, covered engine. The engine cover was open, and a small, brown pony with two crossed double-edged wrenches was digging around inside.
"Excuse me," Socket said. "Are you the mechanic here?"
The brown pony pulled her head from the engine compartment, holding a wrench similar to her cutie mark in her mouth. She was a unicorn that had a light blond mane and dark purple eyes. She spit the wrench from her mouth, causing it to clang to the floor.
"Oh. Hi," she said. "What's up?"
"My name is Socket. I'm here because Lens Cap said you needed my services?"
"Depends, are you good with this kinda thing?" the unicorn asked.
"Oh, absolutely."
"Then, yeah, I guess I do. The name's Quick Fix." Quick Fix turned back to the engine. Socket stood silently, then trotted up to the open engine, Quick Fix messing around inside.
"Can I ask how I can help?" Socket asked.
Quick Fix waved her hoof over at one of the shelves, not leaning out of the engine department. "Grab me a flathead screw driver?"
Socket trotted over to a toolbox, flicked it open, and grabbed a plastic-handled screwdriver. He brought it back over to Quick Fix, who took it in her magic and levitated it into the engine with her.
"Now get your head in here and be ready to help me out."
"Of course," Socket said politely, and stood up on his hind legs, leaning into the engine. ---
Cell passed through the glass, automatic doors of the medical center. Inside was a small reception desk with a white, red-maned mare with red eyes behind the desk. "I'm here with orders from Lens Cap," Cell said.
"Oh, good!" the mare at the desk said. "The Doctor is waiting for you. Through there." The mare pointed to a door marked, 'Recovery'.
"Thanks," Cell said simply, and went through the next automatic door. Inside was a small hallway lined with doors, four on each side, and the first door on the left ajar. She pushed it open gently, "I'm looking for the Doctor?" Cell said as she entered.
"In here!" Came a stallion's voice. A dark yellow stallion with a brown, neatly kept mane with a pair of glasses and lab coat on was standing at the bedside of a copper-colored, pitch white-maned stallion in a front leg cast. "Lay still. You'll be released in a few days."
"Aw, c'mon, Doc," the injured stallion said. "I should be back on my hooves right now."
"No, you shouldn't be," the Doctor responded. "Now rest," he grinned. "Doctor's orders."
The stallion grunted his agreement and laid back down. The Doctor trotted up to Cell, adjusting his glasses back to his blue eyes. "Hello there. I understand Lens Cap has you here to help me?" Cell nodded. "Well, excellent. I could use it. My name is Doctor Olive Branch. And you?"
"Cell."
"Cell... How interesting. Perhaps you can help me with mister reckless over here..."
"Hey, I heard that, Doc," the stallion said with a grin.
"Oh, hush," Olive Branch said. "Come. I need you to test something." He trotted over to the stallion on the bed, and Cell followed. "I need you to examine his leg, make sure his healing is functioning."
Cell trotted forward, lifting the stallions leg. "Hey there, miss," the stallion said. "You didn't come in here just to flirt with me, did'ya?"
Cell rolled her eyes behind her green goggles. "What did he injure?"
"A few fractures spread around in his leg. I won't go into the 'scientific' details. It gives our patient here a headache..."
Cell ran her hoof just above the cast, pressing gently. The stallion grunted in pain. "He's healing," Cell confirmed.
"Excellent," Olive Branch said. "Then the surgery was a success. We haven't been as effective with less equipment than we would like."
The stallion grimaced. "Or anesthesia, on that point..." The stallion glanced back at Cell, pretending to toughen up. "But I've had worse than a few needles in my bones."
"Now, now, Scrap Metal," Olive Branch warned. "You're here to heal, not as you say, 'speed date'." Scrap Metal gave one last curt nod, and laid back down. "Thank you for your help, Cell. Now, we have a few more patients I could use help with." --
Marigold stepped into the cool, damp atmosphere of the glass greenhouse, also known as the Produce Center. Inside, the air was thick with mist from sprinklers, and lining the floor were rows of tables covered in produce. Some were still growing in plant trays, while others were freshly picked and carefully placed inside wooden bins. And the produce consisted of just about everything that could be grown. Grasses, daisies, tomatoes, carrots, and so on. Marigold found herself gazing around the produce, her mouth watering. She had never seen so much food of such quality for months! She was broken from her trance by a hoof holding out a small baby carrot to her.
"Here, try one," a soft mare's voice said. Marigold turned to see a mare with a blond body and a blue mane with matching blue eyes. On her flank was a cutie mark of a basket of blueberries.
"Well thank ya!" Marigold replied. "Don' mind if ah do!" She tilted her head down, and took the carrot in her mouth. She grinned as she chewed, and the mare in front of her smiled. When she had finished the carrot, Marigold noticed a small filly next to the mare, with a matching body color, but a lighter blue mane and eyes, and no cutie mark. "Well, hello there!" Marigold said to the filly.
"Hello," the filly said politely.
"Oh, pardon me," the gardening mare said. "Where are my manners? My name is Spring Harvest, and this is my daughter, Blue Belle."
"Well, what fine names y'all have! Ah'm Marigold." She held out her hoof. Spring placed her hoof with Marigold's, and set it back.
"So Lens Cap says you used to be a farmer, hm?"
"Ah guess so!"
"Oh, good. We would love your help here. There's so many mouths to feed, we could use the help."
"Ah'd be delighted!"
"It'd be very appreciated. Blue Belle, go and tend the apples, would you please?" Blue Belle scampered off toward the apple orchids. "And you can help me get a few baskets of beets?"
"Sounds good t' me!" Marigold grabbed a small, woven basket from next to one of the tables. Spring did the same. They trotted over to a table sprouting with plants growing with the purple vegetables. The two began picking, filling their baskets.
"So I hear you're not here all by yourself, Marigold?" Spring asked.
"Oh, not in th' slightest," Marigold responded. "We got plenty o' us 'round here now. I ain't the only one put to work. It'll be good for 'em."
"Well, good." Spring picked another beet. "There's quite a few of us that need help around here. I'm just glad to have another mare to talk to that isn't Quick Fix, our mechanic. She's not much for gardening."
"That ain't th' only thing good 'bout us bein' here. Turns out one o' us is Lens Cap's brother!"
"Oh? I didn't know he had any living relatives."
"They didn't seem too thrilled. No huggin', no cryin', just a bland ol' greeting. Now from X-Ray, ah can kinda understand. But Lens Cap, ah'm sure he actually is one fer expressin' bout 'is family."
"Give them time. I'm sure they'll be better soon enough."
"Ah sure hope so. X-Ray needs th' company o' a brother right 'bout now." ---
Itzel found herself in the old saloon, sitting in a booth with TrailBlaze next to her, still in her bag. A waitress had served them both waters, and they found themselves staring at them, but no thirst came to them. So they sat quietly at the table. Soon after, a stallion covered in black armor similar to the snipers, only removed from his head and part of his back, revealing white wings, a white body, and light green mane and eyes, came and sat across from them at the booth.
"I'm not here for a date," Itzel said, not looking up from her drink.
"Good, neither am I," the stallion replied. "I'm here 'cause I saw you comin' into town with all those others. Heard you were a blademaster."
"Who's asking?" Itzel looked up at the white stallion.
"Winter Mint," the stallion said. "It just so happens I've a bit of an eye with a blade too." He pulled a small, pointed knife from a belt on his waist, cast it across the room, nailing into a dartboard put up on a post, just to the right of the bullseye. Itzel looked at it, impressed, then glanced at Trailblaze, both of them grinning.
"Oh, yeah?" Itzel said, drawing one of her own knives, tossing it across the room, and landing an inch inside the bullseye. A direct hit. Winter grinned.
"You've got quite an aim. What's your name?"
Itzel looked him in the eye with a gaze as sharp as her aim. "Itzel." TrailBlaze hopped up and put her front hooves on the table. "I'm TrailBlaze!"
"Ah, you have a daughter. You two look alot alike." Winter glanced at TrailBlaze's cast-covered wing. "Ouch. What happened there?"
"She was injured in a fall. Don't have the equipment to fix it yet."
"I'm sorry to hear that," he stood up, trotted to the dart board, and pulled out the knives. "You're Alicorns. Did Celestia herself teach you your aim?"
"No," Itzel replied. "I taught myself."
"Interesting." Winter trotted back to the table, sheathed his own knife, and gave Itzel hers. She gladly took it, and sheathed it with the rest, showing the rows of others. "That's quite the pointers you've got there. Do they work on the corpses?"
"One in the eye, and they're done. I can handle one or two at a time, but a crowd's a problem." Itzel grinned. "That's why I've got plenty of guns to back me up."
"Good to hear." Winter pulled another knife from his belt. "Care for a game?"
Itzel drew her own knife. "You're on." ---
"Welcome to The Wall, X-Ray," Lens Cap said. The two brothers were trotting through the corridors lined through the walls. The outer side was riddled with holes big enough for a gun to fit in, and easy to see out of, but not in to.
"And this is where... We will be working...?" X-Ray asked.
"It is. I just wanted to bring you here to have a talk first." Lens Cap looked around to make sure no pony was looking. "About what happened... I'm sorry it ended like it did." X-Ray went silent. "I know you don't like to talk about it, but it wasn't supposed to be the way it was."
"You and I both... Thought the other was dead..." X-Ray replied.
"But we're here now." Lens Cap placed a hoof on X-Ray's shoulder. "We're gonna hold out here, and we'll get out of this mess. None of your friends need to know." He put his hoof down. "Be careful out there."
"Same to you..."
"Alright, now down to business, let's get to work..." The two trotted away further into the wall, heading to begin their jobs as brothers once more. ---
"We can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only for one second without hope." - Anonymous
*Transmission Ended*
Special Commendations To: QuickFix Pony
http://www.facebook.com/matthew.q.kun?fref=ts |
Resident Pon-Evil (Mission II) - Operation: Phoenix Fire | Level 10.5: Counting Losses | As Harmony's Elements become settled into New Appleoosa, the anonymous ponies that had released the Infected across Equestria now reunite to discuss the ongoing situation of the retaking of the cities, and the possibility that their plan may be failing.
*Begin Transmission*
The overhanding light above the table glimmered on once more, and a light flooded the room as a door opened, revealing the outlines of three ponies in its glare. The three trotted inside and took their places at the table. Their deceased partner had his body removed from the room, and the blood cleared. They began counting over the situation.
"I thought you said that this plan would be foolproof!" One pony said.
"What is to say it's failing?" replied the second. "We've managed to break them down and separate them, and it is only a matter of time until it spreads just below the reaches of Canterlot. They can't hide up there forever."
"Yes, they can!" the third shouted. 'They have food, guns, and nearly every surviving member of Equestria that are not currently camped out in the ruins of the city! And they have already nuked Manehattan! Who knows what they will do if they discover where we're operating from!?"
"Silence!" shouted the first. "We will get nowhere with mindless assumptions and keeping the idea that one destroyed city means the end of us! They have weapons, yes, but we have an army of the dead. They are currently in New Appleoosa, which is nothing short of an armored fortress. Our spies say they are looking for a type of equipment that the base leader Lens Cap has in possession. We have do find out what it is, and find it before they do!"
"But we don't even know what it is," the third said.
"Which is why it is even more dangerous. We must discover what it is they are trying to get, and get it before they have the chance to use it. It could be a biochemical weapon that could wipe out the Infected, or it could be a saddlebag. Celestia only knows! But if they have it somewhere like behind the walls of New Appleoosa, then it poses a threat."
"And what do you propose we do to get it?" The second asked.
"it's simple," the first answered. "We walk in the back door and take it." The other two went silent. "No arguments? Then we're agreed."
"That," the third continued, "Or the fact you would kill one of us on the first word of our retalia-" The third was cut off by the click of a pistol. The first had pulled his pistol and aimed it across the table at the third. "... I rest my case. Now put it away so I can order the teams to move in for the equipment." The first hesitated, then lowered his sidearm back to its holster. "Thank you. I think one death of us is enough. Now, in order to retrieve this equipment, we will have to sneak around undetected. The walls are constantly patrolled, and highly equipped. The only way to fix that is to draw their attention. And I've got an excellent, although risky, idea on how to do just that..."
The other two leaned in, and the first encouraged him on with, "Go on..."
*Transmission Ended |
Resident Pon-Evil (Mission II) - Operation: Phoenix Fire | Level 11: Border Patrol | After arriving in New Appleoosa, the team all found ways to join in where they were needed in exchange for the equipment Lens Cap, head leader of the New Appleoosa base and X-Ray's brother, had for them in trade. After they each met the leaders or owners of the services they could provide, it became a mutual thought that they had finally found a sanctuary in the wasteland. But that would soon change, as their unknown enemy hidden in the shadows has come out into the light for revenge, and come to ruin the peace in the barricaded town for good.
*Begin Transmission*
Only hours after the Elements arrived in New Appleoosa, the sun began to set just as the travelers were seen heading into the main building at the end of the street. After crowding into a small elevator, which took two trips to get them all, they finally arrived on the top floor of the compound. The top floor consisted of nothing more than white walls, a tile floor, a long dead plant on either side of the elevator exit, a few tattered wood chairs, and a single door about 25 feet away from the elevator with a bronze plate engraved, "Captain's Quarters".
"That where he said he'd be, X-Ray?" Chainlink asked. X-Ray said nothing. Only made his way out of the crowd of ponies, trotted up to the door, and tapped on it with his hoof three times. The name panel on the door suddenly slid to the right, leaving only a rectangle of black, and X-Ray backed up to let whoever was inside see him. The panel slid back shut, a click sounded from the other side, and the door creaked open just enough to let X-Ray in. After slipping through the door, it immediately slammed back shut.
After a long pause, Marigold said, "Well, ain't that jus' a fine howdy-do?"
"Better than having a gun at our muzzles," Blade replied. Chainlink grunted in agreement.
Dingo stepped out of the group. "Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not gonna stand here all day." He trotted up to one of the chairs, and climbed into it, leaning his head back against the wall. After a long moment of silence, the rest joined him, taking seats in the remaining chairs and on the floor, listening to the muffled voices coming from the other side of the closed door. ---
After about an hour of waiting, the door finally opened. All eyes and attention went to it, but all they saw was an open door. After a long pause and before any of them could speak, X-Ray and Lens Cap stepped out side by side.
"It's about time!" Itzel stood up off the floor. "Were you having a foal in there or something?" TrailBlaze giggled inside her bag.
"Very funny," Lens Cap retorted. "Now if you're done with the sarcasm, we might have a problem."
"Oh, fantastic..." Chainlink groaned. "As if we haven't had our share of those."
"Agreed..." X-Ray looked over at his brother. "Should I... Explain...?"
"I'll do it," Lens Cap responded. "No offense, but I'd be a lot faster." A few ponies chuckled, and Lens Cap shot them a sharp look. "Our town guards have seen a few living ponies sneaking around the outer walls, running with tails between their legs when our spotlights even got near them. We thought they were just scavengers, but as far as we remember-"
X-Ray cut in. "Scavengers... Do not carry silenced weapons..."
"Exactly," Lens Cap finished.
"So why have none of your guards blown their manes from their necks?" Cell asked.
Lens Cap didn't even glance at her. "We don't shoot unless they pose a direct threat."
"Silenced weapons sounds like they could belong to a militia, or something much bigger. An organized government, perhaps?" Socket offered.
All of the ponies started murmuring at once. X-Ray and Lens Cap said nothing until Lens Cap pulled out a small pistol and fired it toward the ceiling. A few in the group gasped or screamed, and then the room went silent.
Except for Marigold, who was absolutely ticked.
"Wha's th' matter with y'all!? It's bad enough without this hoofer shootin' at us!" She shoved a hoof against Dingo's shoulder.
"Calm down, it's a blank." Lens Cap held up the pistol, which turned out to be made out of plastic. "We put gunpowder in these, and shoot them at the wall to get the infected to move out of the way of the gate so we can come in or out. Or in this case, to silence a room full of blabbermouths. Now if you'll let me continue, you're probably wondering why I brought you all in here to hear about this." He held up a hoof to silence Chainlink, who nearly tried to make a smart comment. "It's because I want every last one of you on the wall by moon rise." Several of the team started to argue, but Lens Cap fired the pistol again. "This isn't up for discussion."
"But there is... One exception..." X-Ray asked. Lens Cap paused, then shrugged. "The filly... Should not be required to stay..."
Itzel spoke up. "Yeah, TrailBlaze shouldn't have to do something she isn't needed for. Let her stay with Harvest."
"Fine," Lens Cap agreed. "She can stay behind, but I won't be hearing any excuses from the rest of you. Report to the front desk downstairs." Lens Cap scanned the crowd. "Hold on, wasn't there one more of you when you arrived?"
"Chaos," Blade said. "He came to this building when he got here. Trotted away when you started assigning places. I'll get him when I find him."
"Do whatever you have to do," Lens Cap said. "Just make sure he's accounted for."
"Well what're we waitin' for?" Marigold spoke up. "That ol' lug'll find 'is own way back! Le's get out there already!"
Dingo put a hoof on her shoulder. "Simmer down there, lil lady. We've all been cooped up for a while. You'll get plenty of time out there." Marigold just kept smiling.
"Don't have too much fun out there," Lens Cap cut in. "Remember, you're out there to keep watch on anything outside the gate. We need all eyes out there after spotting the suspected mercenaries out there."
"Mercenaries, huh?" A deep voice came from the door behind the ponies. They all turned to see Chaos standing there. He calmly shouldered his way through the crowd to stand in front of Lens Cap and X-Ray. "What makes you think they're mercenaries, and not scavengers?"
Before Lens Cap could respond, X-Ray spoke up. "Scavengers don't carry... Silenced weapons..."
Lens Cap spoke next. "We think they might be hired guns from some kind of organized government."
"Hm..." Chaos paused for a moment, then chuckled, lowering his head slightly. "Well, that's buckin' great..."
"What?" Blade asked. "What're you thinking?
Chaos raised his head. "You're not gonna like what I'm thinking."
Chainlink stepped forward, his voice hard. "Spit it out."
Chaos didn't even glance at him. "They're definitely organized government. In fact, they've already got a name for themselves."
"Yeah?" Chainlink asked. "And what's that, smart flank?"
Now, Chaos finally turned to look at Chainlink.
"Harrow's End." ---
"When there is no peril in the fight, there is no glory in the triumph." - A. Alvarez
*Transmission Ended*
Just a little heads up for you guys. As of the release of this chapter, the epilogues of the characters stated at the end of the first story (Operation: Equestrian Downfall) have been altered. All of them are still the same, except that their deaths have been revoked. They still received their promotions and all that, but their deaths are not yet known. I decided that if I'm gonna have sequels, it's just too soon to make up deaths. So how do they die? DO they die? You don't know anymore...! |
Resident Pon-Evil (Mission II) - Operation: Phoenix Fire | Level 12: Hometown Security | Harmony's Elements have traveled to New Appleoosa to trade work for an unknown technology unit, and have been assigned to patrol the outer wall of the city after unknown armed ponies were seen traversing the border of the city. At first, they assumed they were only scavengers, or worst case scenario, mercenaries. But after Chaos had found out about the lone ponies, he had pieced together that they were not scavengers. They were part of a reorganized government that had already been long destroyed. Or so they had thought...
*Begin Transmission*
The room was silent for several seconds, until Chainlink finally started chuckling.
"I gotta tell ya, Chaos," he said. "You really know how to tick me off."
"You think I'd make something like this up?" Chaos asked. "If they were scavengers, what would they be doing wandering around the wall of a random city that we just happen to be in? And where did they get guns at all, let alone silenced? There are no armories or gun stores anywhere in Equestria they could've raided for them, and unless Canterlot's been sending soldiers that act like they'd be shot if they were seen, I doubt they came from there either. So unless there's some other group of ponies with access to weapons just below the Canterlot guard, then Harrow's End is all that's left."
Chainlink just shook his head. "Lemme tell you something. If Harrow's End WAS still out there, then they'd be a wreck. There's nopony left to keep them in line. So unless Canterlot's been hiding something from us, which would mean I'd have to cut that Cherry mare's throat with her own badge, there ain't a Harrow's End left out there. End of story." Chaos tried to speak again, but Chainlink cut him off. "I said. End. Of. Story."
"Now, y'all hold on," Marigold spoke up, stepping to the front of the crowd, between Chaos and Chainlink. "We ain't endin' anything yet. They might er might not be our dear ol' friends at Harrow. But that ain't the problem right now. We ain't here fer Harrow. We're here fer that machine."
"We'll keep looking into it," Blade cut in. "But for now, we've got a job to do. Let's get it done so we can get the machine and leave."
"That's another problem I've got with this," Chainlink said. "What's this 'machine' that we're going through all this for? Or are you gonna tell me it's-"
"Classified," Chaos finished.
"Oh, so you get to know what it is?" Chainlink threw back. "What does Canterlot really have to hide from us? A bomb, so they can almost kill us, like back in Manehattan?"
"Whatever it is, it's not something you need to be putting your muzzle in," Chaos replied. "You're being paranoid."
"Yeah? Well, last time in Manehattan, all we got was, 'there's a certain percent on whether or not we're gonna blow you apart'!" Chainlink pushed past Marigold to step right up to Chaos. "Y'hear that? They had a PERCENT. Clearly they're thinking, 'Maybe if we give them some kinda reassurance, they won't suspect a thing'! And when we get back, they try to sugarcoat it. So yeah, I don't trust Canterlot. Shoot me for it, if they don't first."
"Enough!" Lens Cap raised his voice, silencing the room. "You're here to help New Appleoosa. Whatever you're so worried about, it can wait until you're done here. Now all of you get out there, and help the guards on the wall, so we can ship you outta here already!"
Chaos just stared at Chainlink for a minute, then turned away and shouldered his way though the crowd, leaving the room and closing the door behind him.
"I meant all of you," Lens Cap said firmly.
One by one, they all began to leave. Starting with Itzel, followed by Nova team, Marigold, Blade, and finally Chainlink, after muttering a few crude statements under his breath. X-Ray almost left last, but Lens Cap stopped him.
"Wait," Lens Cap held up one hoof to stop him. "There's something we need to talk about." He trotted to the door, closed it, locked it, and pushed the small sliding hatch over to look through the hole, checking to see if anypony had lingered back to listen in. Then, he slid it shut, and turned back to X-Ray. "I know that telling you the other day that what happened wasn't your fault didn't help. But it's better that you move on from it. You've got a new team now that you need to be thinking about."
"I am not thinking about... The incident..." X-Ray replied.
"Nice try, X-Ray, but I've known you my entire life." Lens Cap trotted away from the door to stand back next to X-Ray. "Your team might not be able to tell what you're thinking, but I can read you like a book. What happened was not on you. It was the mission, and you did what you could."
"Then how was I... The only survivor...?" X-Ray asked. "They trusted me... And I was the only pony to... Come home alive..."
"Don't talk like that." Lens Cap put a hoof on X-Ray's shoulder. "You led them in with them knowing perfectly well what they were getting in to. They trusted you to lead them to completing the mission. They all died as heroes, but it's because of you that they were heroes."
"I am not a foal..." X-Ray replied. "Their lives were... My responsibility... But now, Harmony's Elements are... My new priority... Now, if you will excuse me..." He turned around for the door.
Lens Cap paused, then stopped him. "Wait. There's one more thing you should know, but don't tell anyone I told you this."
X-Ray stopped. "I'm listening..."
Lens Cap took a deep breath. "You deserve to know what the machine is that Canterlot is so desperate to get from us." ---
About 30 minutes later, X-Ray finally exited the main building, barely surprised to find the rest of the team waiting outside for him by the wall. Silently, he trotted over, only to be met by questioning looks.
"What took ya so long in there?" Marigold asked.
"Lens Cap... Wanted to talk..." X-Ray replied. " I need to get to my post... On top of the wall..." He began to trot away through the crowd.
"Hold it," Blade said. "What'd he want to talk about for so long?"
X-Ray stopped. "It was nothing..."
"You don't talk about nothing for half an hour," Blade said. "Now just spit it ou-"
"It is none of your concern!" X-Ray shouted, followed by labored breathing. Silence fell over the crowd. Not once, no matter how long any of them had known him, had any of them heard X-Ray raise his voice. Harmony's Elements had secretly thought that if he did, he'd blow a vocal cord.
After a while, X-Ray sighed. "I... I'm sorry... I did not mean to..." X-Ray felt something wrap around his leg. He looked down to see TrailBlaze hugging his leg.
"Don't be mad, X-Ray," she said. "They're sorry for asking. All better?" X-Ray just grunted, gently pulling away his hoof. TrailBlaze carefully let go, smiling up at him before trotting away back to Itzel, crawling into her bag.
Trying to think of something else to say, X-Ray looked around the crowd of ponies around him, only to notice that one of them was missing. "Where is Chainlink...?"
"We thought he was with you," Itzel said in a monotone voice. "Never saw him come out."
"What...!?" X-Ray asked with a sense of alarm in his voice. "Why was he-"
A voice raised from behind them. "I knew I couldn't trust that little bucker!" Chainlink shouldered his way through the crowd to stand in front of X-Ray. "So that's what you were hiding, huh!?" He shoved a hoof against X-Ray's chest. "We've known you all this time, but you can't even tell us what you've had locked up!? And to think we could trust you!"
Chaos finally cut in. "That's enough, Chainlink! What're you talking about?"
"What am I talking about?" Chainlink turned on Chaos. "You're asking me what I'm talking about? How do we know you're not hiding it too!? Buck, who's to say all of you aren't a bunch'a back-stabbing traitors!?"
"Chainlink, we ain't got th' slighted idea what yer talkin' about!" Marigold spoke up. "Whadda they got in lockup yer so mad about?"
"Lockup? Lockup!?" Chainlink yelled. "Y'know that 'technology' they've hid from us since we got here? Well it just so happens, it's not 'technology' at all! It's-" Chainlink was suddenly cut off.
The conversation ended when the wall exploded, crumbling down on top of them. ---
X-Ray's vision finally began to come back. It faded in and out continuously, his brain trying to come back to consciousness. He picked up several bits of sounds and images.
Fire.
Rubble.
Screaming.
Gunfire. And worst of all...
Infected ponies.
X-Ray tried to look around, his mind in a panicked blur. His vision goggles were gone, and his gun was missing. He finally sat up, his suit torn in several places, some with bleeding cuts underneath. He pulled off his head cover. His green mane was ruffled, and his grey face was marked with blood, sweat, and dirt. His whole body hurt, and his ears were ringing, but he barely noticed as he took in the scene around him.
The ground was covered in broken pieces of the wall. There were small fires all around him. He heard ponies, screaming and firing weapons, in the distance. The air was thick with smoke and dust. He saw what he thought were ponies stumbling past him. And they were.
And all of them were infected.
He tried to get up, but fell back to the ground. Suddenly, something hooked under his leg, and put him on his hooves. He tried to look around for the source, but all he heard was a faint voice whisper, "Run, or you'll die..." And they were gone.
He tried to find the source of the voice, but couldn't find anything, and he thought he was hallucinating. His brain was throbbing in his skull, and he had trouble distinguishing so much as his left hoof from his right. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, drew his knife and his sidearm pistol, being the only weapons he had left on him, and ran towards the gunfire, trying to keep his weapons in hoof while galloping at the same time. He stumbled from the pain in his body, but he galloped on. He shoved any infected in his way, and finally managed to make out a a large group of living ponies at the main gate. Hundreds of civilians were running out past them, and several other unidentified ponies were killing infected ponies running toward them. His face turned solid, and he started to gallop toward them.
His escape was cut short when he was suddenly tackled. He hit the ground hard, groaning from the pain of the impact on his injuries. He heard a loud, decayed groaning in his ear. He tried to shove the infected pony off of him, but he could only just barely keep the infected from biting him.
Suddenly, a spray of warm blood landed on his face, and the groaning stopped. He turned his head to his right, only to see a once brown, yellow-maned, decaying stallion hanging over him. His jaw was hanging open, and his eyes were pitch white. But only one of the eyes were still there. The other was torn apart by the tip of a knife pointing out from it. The knife slid back in to the infected's head, and the corpse was thrown off, only to reveal the scratched up face of Itzel standing over him, pulling him back to his hooves. Through the ringing in his ears, he heard her yell at him to run toward the main gate, but it sounded like she was thousands of miles away.
Before X-Ray could respond, Itzel hooked one leg under his and began pulling him toward the gate. X-Ray forced himself to walk, but his vision faded in and out. Frame by frame, he could see them getting closer and closer to the gate. Several armed guards in armored suits were leading civilians out of the city, and soon, a few were rushing their way over to help him and Itzel. He felt a guard hook his other leg, the two ponies carrying him by his front legs toward the gate, the guard firing with an assault rifle in his free leg, and Itzel slashing out with her knife.
X-Ray slipped in and out of consciousness, as several images flashed before his eyes.
Approaching the gate.
Pushing through the crowd of armed guards.
An open, armored transit unit in front of him.
The transit door closing.
Darkness.
And yet, as he blacked out, for only the second time since he'd been a soldier, he had a smile on his face. ---
"When we spoke, I heard you, but I didn't listen. And now, when there's nothing left to say, I can't hear you anymore, but I still listen." - Rainbow Dash (Dream of Me)
*Transmission Ended* |
Resident Pon-Evil (Mission II) - Operation: Phoenix Fire | Chapter 13: Dead Or Alive? | After a horde of infected ponies attacked the city of New Appleoosa, Harmony's Elements and the rest of the team return to a safe distance to figure out what caused it, and to build the next step of their plan. But what they don't know is that there's more to it than an infected attack, and that one of them knows something that will turn Harmony's Elements' world around in a way they never thought possible.
*Begin Transmission*
The light was blinding. He couldn't move. He felt a hard table underneath him, and a thin blanket over him. He heard a heartbeat monitor, and felt that his armor and suit were gone, and an oxygen mask was placed over his muzzle instead of his respirator.
X-Ray shielded his eyes from the light, and carefully sat up. He found himself in the recovery room of Canterlot's military station hospital. Somepony placed a hoof on his shoulder.
"You need to rest," a young mare's voice said. A light blue mare with a pink mane and dark pink eyes was looking down at him with worry. She was wearing a nurse's hat, and had a clipboard in one hoof. "You've been injured. Don't worry, it's nothing serious. A few of your joints were damaged and you have several lacerations and bruises, but you'll recover. How are you feeling?" X-ray couldn't respond, so the nurse just nodded. "Try to get some sleep. You need it." The nurse adjusted X-Ray's I.V., checked his pulse and blood pressure on the monitor, and left.
As soon as she did, Harmony's Elements, Marigold, and Itzel entered the room. Chaos and Nova team were nowhere to be seen. X-Ray just laid there, closing his eyes, too weak to respond.
"He's gonna be okay, right?" Marigold asked to nopony in particular.
"He'd better be," Chainlink said. "I ain't done with him yet."
"Will you give it a rest already?" Blade spoke up. "He nearly died out there. And he's still part of the Elements."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Chainlink sighed. "I've had a chance to simmer over since the city, but I still ain't happy about what he's been keeping from us."
"What was it, by the way?" Itzel asked. "We never got to find out."
"You might wanna hold onto something," Chainlink warned. "It wasn't any kinda technology. They were live ponies."
"Live ponies?" Marigold asked. "What fer?"
"Test subjects," Chainlink said. "Apparently, they wanted to try to make a cure for the infection, and needed live ponies to test on. So they took all the deadbeats and were gonna start experimenting. Canterlot wanted us to get the ponies from them, and bring them to safety in exchange for our work and some of Canterlot's money and protection." He grunted. "See how much that helped 'em?"
"So where are those ponies?" Blade asked.
"Dead," Chainlink said in monotone. "Never survived the attack."
"I dunno about this," Itzel murmured. "Lens Cap doesn't seem like the kind of pony that would do something like that. And I don't think it's X-Ray's fault either. He was just protecting his family. It didn't matter what Lens Cap was doing, X-Ray wasn't gonna rat out his own brother."
"Well, he shoulda said something to us," Chainlink said. "Then I wouldn't have flipped a lid as bad as I did back there."
"Yeah," Blade replied. "You would've just shot Lens Cap instead."
Chainlink tried to retort, but Marigold cut them off. "Y'all quiet! He's wakin' up."
X-Ray lifted his head, supporting himself up with one foreleg. He could barely open his eyes, and just kept staring down at the ground.
"Hey there, fella," Marigold said softly. "How ya feelin'?"
X-Ray didn't answer the question. He just lowered the oxygen mask, and his breathing became labored. His words were faint and dry as he spoke.
"Itzel... Marigold..."
"What'cha need?" Itzel asked.
X-Ray didn't open his eyes. "Leave... Now..."
Marigold and Itzel just stared on for a moment, then eventually left, closing the door behind them.
"What's this about?" Blade asked.
"I... Didn't want to... Give them... False hope..."
"Whaddaya mean, 'false hope'?" Chainlink asked.
"I... Might be... Wrong... But..."
"What?" Blade pushed him to keep talking. "What is it?"
"Back in... New Appleoosa..." He placed the oxygen mask to his muzzle, taking a deep breath. "I was... Too weak to... Stand... And something... Helped me up... I thought I was... Hallucinating... But I heard... A voice tell me to... Run or die..."
"Were you hallicinating, you think?" Blade asked.
"No... It was... Too real... But... It was... Impossible..."
"What?" Chainlink asked. "What's impossible about it?"
"I... I knew... The voice..."
"Who was it, X-Ray?" Blade asked. "Who'd you hear?"
"I... Have something to... Tell you two... But you cannot... Tell anypony... Else..."
"I know you're sick and all, but just spit it out already!" Chainlink moved right up to him, and so did Blade. "What do you need to tell us?"
X-Ray looked up at him, his light blue eyes were dilated, his overall figure looked like he would shatter like glass at any moment. After taking another puff of his oxygen, he stared them both straight in the eyes, and only managed to murmur a few more words before he slipped back into sleep.
"Acid... Is still alive..." ---
"It isn't always necessary to achieve great things. Sometimes, just surviving is a great achievement."
Unknown
*Transmission... Interrupted* |
Resident Pon-Evil (Mission II) - Operation: Phoenix Fire | Journal Of Echo: Part 2 | Winter Solstice: 2 Months Since First Contact
It's been a while since I've been able to write another entry. Past month's been busy. Hasn't been too happy either. Everyone suspects Canterlot of betraying us, Harrow's End has made a reappearance, and New Appleoosa's been destroyed, all because of us.
I've been taking some time by myself to do some research. Commander Cherry's been really upset with two failed missions in a row, and how many "good ponies" she's had to lose just to protect us. Sure, they saved alot of lives in New Appleoosa, but she never bothered to say it was for them. She was only thinking about if we lived.
Not because she cares about us, but because she still needs us to liberate what's left of Equestria. Touching.
X-Ray was nearly killed in New Appleoosa. And Itzel risked her life to save him. X-Ray's in recovery under strict watch, and he's not happy about it.
Blade's taken a back-seat for a while, but he isn't looking too good either. I don't think he's happy with what's happened in the past month. At least he's still alive. At least we all are.
But Chainlink's the worst of them all. He's been pushed to his limits. He's half ready to kill off half of the ponies we work for. And now, he's starting to turn on his own team. We'll be keeping sharp eyes on him for a while.
But, in all this, I did find out something interesting. I caught Marigold and Itzel leaving recovery where X-Ray was. I managed to hear a few interesting things. X-Ray's been hiding something from us.
The Acid mare might still be alive.
It sounded like X-Ray didn't want the rest of us knowing. I'm gonna be keeping it a secret for now. It's none of my business, nor is it the business of Itzel and Marigold. Nova team didn't even know them. Best to let them tell us when they're ready. Until then, we've got alot of work ahead of us.
Father Time, don't wait up for me.
~Chaos |
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