Split (1)

train · 456k rows

book stringlengths 2 250	chapter stringlengths 1 255	text stringlengths 1 4.64M
Good, bad, and why me?	Eploration HO!!!	Exploration HO!!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-==-=---=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-===-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Somewhere Outside of Ponyville) 3rd person view) " So what do you think it is?" Spoke a tiny orange Pegasus with a purple mane. Scootaloo is her name and poking others on the face is her game. " Well didn't Twilight say it's a human? And will you stop poking it in the face with a stick Scootaloo." Says the filly that has a yellow coat and red mane with a pink bow. Applebloom tries to keep her friend from poking the alien in the face, fearing that they might anger it. " Yes Twilight did day HE'S a human, and she told everypony at the party last night that he's friendly." Spoke out the last filly of the group. Having a two tone pink and light purple mane all on white coat. Sweetie bell is her name. The three fillies kept watching the outsider, well two watching one poking him in the face with a stick. They heard a groan come out of the human, They all backed away fearing what would happen but all he did was sit up right and open his eyes. ==-==-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=--=--=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-===-=-=-=--==--=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-==-=-=- Back to Jon) I open my eyes to see three fillies. They all look familiar but I cant put my finger on it. They seem to be friends by the looks of it seeing that they're holding each other. I wonder what there doing here? I'm gonna ask! " Hello there." I speak out. " H-hi." The small trio speaks simultaneously. " What are you doing around here?" " Well we were about to go crusadin and we walked on by an saw ya." said the one with a bow. " Well what are your names if you don't mind me asking." " My names Applebloom." " My names Scootaloo" " And my name is Sweetie belle." " And that's not all together were the..." Applebloom started. "THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!!!" they all shouted at the sky. Being about three feet from them, bad idea. Well i'm death. " Ow my ears. Dey bleed." I speak quietly. They look at me questioningly wondering what's wrong. I gain my bearings quickly and talk to them. " So what are cutie marks exactly?" " What are you stupid?" Says Scootaloo. Her friend, Applebloom hit her with her hoof lightly, but I don't think she got the memo. Also considering my ideas and grades, maybe. " Hey am not! Can't you tell new planet and all?" She gave a quick embarrassed smile and quickly sad sorry after that. " Well what were you about too do next?" "Well, we were gonna explore!" " Gonna explore what?" "Girls what were we gonna explore?" Spoke Applebloom. "We already explored the lake, town, and every other place there is." Said Scootaloo. "Why not the forest?" I suggest. "WHAT!!!" They all yell. "But were not supposed to go in there." " Why?" I ask. " They say is dangerous because, the weather moves on its own!" Speaks Applebloom. " So does mine at home." I counter. " All the animals take care of them selves! " Continues Sweetie belle. " Ok then its natural order of nature." I counter again. " And there are tons of monsters in there!" Lastly spoke Scootaloo. " Like what?" All three give their own answer simultaneously. " Like Timber wolves!" I raised my eyebrow at this. " And dragons!" Left eyebrow up activating right eyebrow. "And dangerous plants." Eyebrow scrunching maneuver activated. " And?" It seems they couldn't think of anything else. They each put their own hoof to their chin and thought. " Tons of giant bugs, thorns and manticores!" I made a 'ooo' Face at this. " Well what are you gonna do now?" I ask. " Can you give us any Ideas Mr. human?" "Well first my name is Jon." They all nodded at that. " Second my Dad is Mr. human." They seems surprised at this. Lets let them spin for awhile. " Why not try being lawyers?" " Tried that." Said Sweetie belle. " How about river rafting?" " I think we tried it." Says Applebloom. " We did two weeks ago, remember?" says Scootaloo. I'm surprised at this did they do everything? Well only can keep continuing until I find out. " How about airplane making?" They all seemed quite excited for this. " What's a airplane?" Ask Scootaloo. " Its like a flying chariot." All their look saddened at this. " What's wrong?" " We already gave flying chariots" Says Sweetie belle. " Really? How do they move?" I ask. They all looked at me with the 'Are you seriously asking this' face. I can tell what it looks like, Can't others answer my stupid question? " Don't you know they get Pegasi to move them." Answers Sweetie belle once again. " Ooh well a airplane is different from that." As soon as I said this the hype came back. " You see a airplane is like a flying chariot, But it doesn't use ponies to fly it." All their eyes went wide at this. " Can you show us how to build one?" Scootaloo asks. " No, I don't know how." I say while shrugging." But I kinda now what it takes to make one." " Can ya tell us how?" Ask Applebloom. "Do you want me to tell you or draw you it, and what it needs." " Umm, number two please." " Ok then where can we find a chalk board?" Everyone stopped and thought for a minuet. We all speak up at the same time. "No Idea!" I say while raising my hands in the air. "Twilight!" Applebloom spoke. "Twilight!" Sweetie belle. "Twilight!" Scootaloo spoke. "Oh yeah, Twilight's! Where's Twilight's place?" "Come on we'll take you there!" -==-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-==-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-==- We all meaning me got up from the ground and walked towards town. I know what Twilight's place looks like but not a freakin clue where it is. As we stepped into town I got more looks at the architecture, it seems easy enough. wonder why in the old days we somehow both used straw as the roof protection? Meh i'll ask someone later. Anyway the CMC apparently took me trough the most busiest part of town because all dem stares. I could see a whole lot of damn colors around, and they can see me, I don't like that. The CMC apparently notice this and sped up. me trying to run after them equals not a good Idea. As I started to jog after the CMC the screaming was heard. I turned around to see what was happening and this is a bad day. There is a small mob right behind me loos like a crowd of twenty strong. I start running as fast as I can while splitting away from the CMC. I really don't want them involved in this. now Where can I run to get away from the villagers? The Forest, its either a win-win are a all lose oh god I hope luck isn't a dick right now. Karma too. I turn to the direction of the forest and start getting closer. I look at the ponies behind me and there are now less, but still a lot to kill me. I like being alive. It's fun. Any way the mad mob is still on my ass but the forest is getting closer. I didn't realize this cause i'm busy thinking about how not to die, but I think I kept saying " Bad day." Over and over again. Huh. I could see the forest up ahead. I run like there's no tomorrow. I could tell that more villagers left but still enough for a mob. Ok the edge is literally ten feet away What Do I do? " When you get to the edge jump like a action movie." You know... when you feel lie your on the brink of death you'll do anything. I got right to the edge of the forest and jump for my life. I closed my eyes waiting for the pain. Time seems to slow down you know. In the midst of this, I turn my head and op my eyes to see about five villagers left, well damn. I wait for the pain but it doesn't seem to come. All I hear is a had fwump and mild pain. " Ouch." I push my self up ad look around. Apparently landed in a large patch of flowers. Blue flowers. I get up and look around but don't see a exit of any kind or a mob, cool. Anyway from what I got his forest is dangerous and needs some exploring. I walk away from the flowers and head away from where I think I entered. Remembering what the CMC told me about to this place is that I need a weapon. While on the move I talk to Iris. " Hey Iris can you hear me?" I speak out loud. " Yes I can hear you. What do you need?" " I need some help to decide what to do." "Such as?" " Well, you see I have this idea." " What is said idea." " Well this place says 'you need a weapon' and I don't have one." "How are you gonna get a weapon?" " Well the remember the gauntlet here can transform in the light?" "Go on." " I'm saying that a gauntlet is no the best weapon of choice." " Please do tell how you are gonna get a new weapon" "What do you think would happen if I threw the gauntlet above the trees, so the gauntlet could change into a weapon" " Well that might a bad idea." "Why?" " Because if you throw it in the air and if it does work, you don't know where it's gonna land." " Ooh." " Also there is when it transforms it flashes, so it might just signal everybody including predators, where you are." " Ugh, fine. What do you think we should do there is a lot of plans in my way." I say while trying to get around a massive set of vines. " Don't you have that knife thing in your bag?" " Oh, duh." I stop and take off my bag to open it. I take out the machete and start hacking with the black blade. As i'm hacking at the plant a small rumble is heard. " Hey Iris? You heard that too right?" "Yes I did Jon." I look to my left and fight and see nothing. " Well there's nothing around me, Iris?" "Look behind you." I look behind me too see something. But there's nothing there. All there is, is a tees and flattened grass from where I stepped. " See there's nothing behind me." Oh how wrong I am. A light growling is heard behind me. "Hey Iris?" "Uhh, Yeah?" The nervousness in her tone is clear. " You then I should turn around?" The nervousness is also clear in my voice. " Maybe?" I turn around to see the growling foe. Ok the monster, which is now in front of me, is a giant vine monster. Ok how can I describe this? Um the have you ever played Pokemon? Well the monster is like a tangela, but it has no eyes, a giant multi vine stem, and plant teeth made of pointy vines. Not good at all. The plant is huge and by that I mean way taller then me, Damn thing is practically ten feet tall. " Oh god, Hey Mr. Plant." I say while backing up. Lets call him Mr. Plant for now K? Mr. Plant is getting closer to my face while growling. As i'm backing up I hit tree. "So Mr. Plant, your not gonna eat me? Right?" ROOOOOOOAR!!!! And there off! I run as fast as I can away from Mr. Plant. Trees pass bye faster and faster. I look behind me only to get a glimpse of death. Oh god, Mr. Plant is right behind me snapping away at me. As i'm looking away I hit a tree and fall to the ground back downwards. Apparently Mr. Plant here couldn't stop fast enough, because he crashed right into the tree and smashed through with his plant jaws. All I could do is lay down and wait for the right time to move. Mr. Plant reared back and is now face to me, he prepared to strike me and all I could do is watch. I snap out of it and barrel roll to the right. I watch in horror as Mr. Plant's 'teeth' snap at the earth that I layed upon seconds ago. His 'teeth' stuck to the ground and he couldn't move. I took a breather and stared at him thinking what to do next. My breather got cut short by a rumbling sound. Mr. Plant isn't done yet. The vines that make up the stem arch back and strain at the head. With a great force Mr. Plant's 'mouth' pulls from the ground with a giant mound of dirt in his mouth. I take this as a sign to run. "Bad day bad day bad day bad day bad day bad day bad day bad day bad day!!!" I take multiple corners to try to escape the monstrosity, but is useless as he keeps coming after me ever time. Maybe it'll be like a power cord and he'll un out of vines. I run in to a wall of stone, its keeping me from moving forward. Mr. Plant prepares to take a snap at me. But like the tree ad ground it sticks to it. I don't stay around to watch, because I nee to get away. I make a tactical retreat or run away. Anyway up ahead is a giant ravine with a rope bridge. The rope bridge is rickety, all the planks almost seem to worn down with natural causes. I hear a roar behind me. Well time to run across. "AAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!" I yell while sprinting at full speed across the bridge. I make it across with few problems. I take a breather and turn around to see damage. The rope bridge has a lot a broken planks now, yeah definitely not gong across that again. I turnaround to find a direction to run but all I see are ruins. The ruins consist of multiple towers all covered in vines from to bottom the front of it has stone bricks of all sizes stacked upon each other. Windows of intricate designs with no glass but the bars are still there. Stairs lead to two giant doors made of wood and a giant handle. Thinking about Mr. Plant I try to get inside ASAP. I walk up the stone stairs and to the door. I pull the giant door with ally might, but in only opens for me to slip in. I make it in and pull the door to shut it I look for a way to lock it the door has two hooks on the side and the handles are lose. Ok the hooks are either for design purposes or a lock but it needs a long of some kind. Shut up. I look around the castle like ruins, but time has hit this place hard. The entrance i'm in has a long hallway down. at the end seem to be a pedestal and entrances. One left, one right, and the last one is behind the pedestal. The pedestal has I think four arms sticking out and a flat place on top. Who cares? Looks like someone looted place already. Can't hurt too look. I see some sunlight through a shattered window. Wonder if it can change in to a ranged weapon. I move over to the sunlight and shove my gauntleted hand into the light. You know how a mega buster looks? Yeah that's what I wanted. A flash happens and my jaw drops at the sight. Ok the official mega buster is blue with a little energy bar on the side right? I'm not sure if this is a mega buster but it looks awesome in the color. The main color is golden , instead of a curved body it points in a cone fashion with the end cutting off forming a opening to shoot. the yellow bar is replaced with a liquid in one place that glow in a deep purple color. The only way to describe what it looks like is regal steampunk-ish. "Whoa..." Wonder how it shoots. I point my arm at a nearby rock and shoot a glowing purple pellet the size of a orange flies out and strikes the rock with gusto. The rock smashes in to smaller chunks meaning that it isn't OP. " Ok if it does that to a rock, lets try to not use it full charge. Well at least I have range now." Never learned how to use a sword. Just hack and slash. I turn the mega buster back into the gauntlet. " Why don't you get some food first. It's still earlyish and you might be here for a day or so." " Your right maybe there's a well outside." I walk over to a widow with no glass and look around the edge to find anything helpful. Just out side is a stone well with a wooden bucket. that's easy now to find a easy way out. I look around to find window without an thing . I walk over to it and poke my head out. You know those garden things where they have a bunch of bars on the wall so vines and plants can grow on them? Well that is perfectly against the wall right next to the window. I tap the bars to get what its made of, a small metallic sound is heard. This means I have a ladder, now if only we can find some food. The climb down wasn't eventful but being scared of heights doesn't help at all. I make way to the well and inspect. the well is I good condition the bucket seems clean enough, good enough I guess. I look around to find food but none is here. " Well I can fast on water done it before, can do it again." " When have you fasted before?" Iris asks. " Well i'm a lazy bastard, so as you can see during the summer I stay home a lot. This causes the fasting because i'm to lazy to get out of my room and cook." "Oh, um cool.." "Hey I lost weight from that." "Sure" I drink the bucket only to realize I have to pee. I quickly put the bucket back and head towards a bush. You know the process, don't ask. After that I drank a large amount of water from the bucket. Ok, I take a substantial amount of rope from the well and cut the part of the rope with the bucket (with full water of course) and start my climb up. The climb up is short but clunky when a rope and water is tied to it. after that I make a makeshift camp. By makeshift camp I mean but the bag down next to the water and sleep. Later though got to loot this place. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- One session of looting later) So after looting every entry down those three hallways all I got is, some golden coins ( they were lying around and seem pretty old), rubbish (rusty ETC), and some colorful gems. I was surprised to find all this maybe its worth something. Night time is approaching. I want to sleep but I forgot to make a fire. I take my self to a corner and nod to sleep not without being cold though. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Jon's head.) I open my eyes to not see a stone roof but a sky of stars. Neat. I get off the ground and set off to find Iris. "IRIS!! WHERE ARE YOU!!" "Jeez i'm right here. what do you want?" " Well I am about to see if Luna wants too come in so Just warning what's happening." " Oh, ok. I'm gonna hide now" I give her a thumbs up and turn around. I walk a little bit away and make a door. I open it, guess who's there? Nobody cause i'm a unsocial prick. I close the door only to hear a quick succession of knocks. I open the door and surprise! It's the princess of the night. " Hey there Luna." " Greetings Jon." I motion for her to come inside and she does. " So need anything?" " Yes we heard from thou sister that something has happened today, can you elaborate?" I tell her what happened from this morning with the CMC and where I am. " So thou is in the Everfree?" I nod at this " Where is thou taking shelter?" " Oh, I found this old castle thing. There's a rope bridge and its pretty broken. So i'm stuck here." " Well then, we shall send help after this." " That be nice, cause I haven't eaten anything all day and all I got is water." "WHAT!! Why couldn't thou find food?" " Well I couldn't find some berries and I don't know how to hunt animals, nor want to. Don't worry i'm fine I can do this just send help soon. From experience I might faint tomorrow. Just warning you" " We shall leave soon and send help as the sunrises soon." " Got it how long should I wait?" " Soon, the sun is soon to rise and you re to wake up soon." this is the of are conversation, i'd say it went well. I open the door for the princess to leave, she accepts the opening and leaves. I black out. -=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- IRL) I wake up but feel different. I reach up to rub my eyes but to my realization its a hoof. I turn my head to look at my body. Oh damn i'm a pony. That day a scream was heard across Equestria. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" back to Jon) I look at my self while on the floor screaming. " WHAT THE BUCK! WHY DID I JUST REPLACE BUCK WITH BUCK!" insert more screaming.
Good, bad, and why me?	I'm a human in a pony body, stuck in ponyland	I'm a human in a pony body, stuck in ponyland =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-==-=---=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-===-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" " Jon calm down and think." Iris speaks in a calm tone. The real reason I stopped screaming is that if I don't stop i'll faint. What would make me change? Why did I change? I need a adult now. But first priorities. I try to get up but fall down multiple times stupid hooves have no grip. Ok so front legs planted, moving back legs. I move my back legs to make me stand up. " Huzzah! Success!" I yell but i'm only standing. " Cool now get moving." " I haven't got there yet." Silence. k then maybe its like crawling? Lets see. I make the motion of a crawl and slowly but surely i'm moving. Oh if something tries to eat me they will succeed. Remembering from last night I had a gauntlet, my bag, and a bucket of water. I slowly turn around to look for said items and there they are, mocking me that I can't use them. I make my way over to my bag and try to mangle it on to my back. I look to my hooves to see if the gauntlet is on and of course it is. the once gauntlet has turned into what seems to be a segmented leg brace that stops at by bending of the leg part, of course it's golden and very nice. All this unlucky crap is tiring I need a drink. I stumble my way over to the bucket and take a drink. The drink is water and its the quenchiest. There isn't much to do here except wait for help. Me being in a now more appropriate state I wonder some questions. Such as, 'where's my clothes?' or ' Is this permanent?' and ' what have I done to be a pony.' Waiting gets boring but a problem arose. What's the one thing you have to do every morning after you wake up? I have to pee. Oh god code red! CODE RED!! (gonna censor this part cause I am literally at loss 4 words) -=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-===-=-==-=-=-=- Ok now that is over for sure, I have a chance to inspect my self. It looks like i'm a unicorn with a soft yellow coat and a black mane. Neat. Anyway I sitting here waiting for a rescue. don't have the strength or know how to use this body to open doors or do anything efficiently. So now I sit thinking about home and ponies and more home. ==-=-==-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=--=-=-=--=-==-=-==-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-==-=-=-=--=-=--= Here I am sitting. That's it. It feels like hours since I woke up and it probably has. Wonder how many more hours it is now. I'm not feeling good, really hungry, meh I get up to get a drink of water and lay down to take a nap. -=-=-=---=-=-=--=---=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--==-=-=-=-=---==-=-=-=-=-=---==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-==-=-=-=--==-=-==--=-=- Dreamscape) Well since its a dream it turns out i'm a human here. This reminds me of them olden day it feels like yesterday that I was walking on two legs now to four. " Uh Jon it was yesterday and the princess is here again." " Oh, ok." I make a door and open it but this time it doesn't involve Luna It also includes her sister. "Oh hey there, come on in." I motion for them to come inside. " Jon we need to speak to you." Says Celestia. " Is it about the rescue?" I ask but don't feel well I think the outside damage is seeping in. That's not good. " Yes and no. You see, the rescue is coming soon but not as soon as we like, but be sure that its coming." " Ok good cause as you can see I don't look good. Also there's a problem." This got there attention. " I'm a pony now." This seems to alleviate their fears. " And I don't know how to use it." " What does thou mean 'not know how to use it'." Luna speaks. "Well that means like I cant do things like regular this past day all i've been doing is drinking water and sitting down waiting." This seems to stun them. " Are you ok?" ask Celestia. " Not gonna lie, I feel turable." " Turable? What does that mean?" " It means that I feel like i'm gonna die." This also stuns them. " Who are you sending for the rescue?" " We are sending the elements of harmony to rescue you." " Have they left yet?" " No they have not." " Ok let give you some tips on what to bring." " Jon that isn't necessary its a simple rescue right?" " Maybe, But tell them to watch out for Mr. Plant." " Who is Mr. Plant?" " Ask Luna. Next tell them to bring Discord along with you." " Why?" "Simple because he can help if there's is conflict, there is more then Mr. Plant you know." " I see, is there anything else?" I think for a few moments and come up with these replies. "Three things. One. Tell them i'm a pony." They both nod. " Tell them to get ready to build a bridge, Or have Discord magic it up." They nod at this again. " And tell them to bring food, lots of it." "Anything you want?" " Something with rice and vegetables." Nods. " Oh and me as a pony looks like a soft yellow me, but more closer to the yellow color on your butt." I say while pointing at the inside of the sun on Sunshine. Reaction Priceless. Before they could retort I keep going. " Black mane, unicorn and a golden piece of armor that's on my front right leg. It's a segmented piece of armor that is golden and stops at the bendy point. That's all I could think of, other than I really don't feel good." "Now get outa my head while i'm still awake." I open the door and then they leave. As I close the door I fall forward to the ground and black out. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-==-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=--=-=-=-==-=-=-= IRL) I wake up in the same position as I slept but hungrier. Well now i'm gonna go get a drink of water...After I pee. Ok got through that. Now I wait. Wonder how my family's doing. I hope they think i'm not dead, I did convince them that I can see ghosts, wonder what their reaction will be. I think i'm gonna lay down and a close my eyes. I feel on the verge of blacking out but keep my eyes open. Slowly slipping to sleep. I think someone opens the door. I hope I can turn back into a human soon. I hear yelling behind me but I don't feel good enough to answer. Maybe they found me. " Jon!! Where are you?" I can't identify the voice, but at least its a friendly. " Look there he is!!" Lots of hooves clop against the floor. The sound gets closer to me. " Are you Jon?" My eyes focus on what's in front of me it seems like all six mares are here, I don't see Discord around. Damn could use some fun around here. To reply to her answer I nod once. " Okay everypony lets take him out!" I soon got lifted up by something and taken out of the ruins, then out the forest. Well i'm gonna sleep ==--=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-==-=-=-=---=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-==-=---=-==---=-=-=---=-=-=--=--= Transition. I wake up in a bed, from my surroundings it's not a hospital bed. The room seems homey, my bag is over there and my bracer thing is not here, not good. Can't really tell who's house this is, but lets find out. " Hello?" I yell just loud enough for someone to hear. Clopping is heard and the door across the room is opened. Twilight came in. time for the Q an A. " Hello Jon, How do you feel?" She asks. " Fine. Do you have food for me?" I ask back. " Yes here it is." She use her magic to bring over a tray of food. The food consisted of what seems to be porridge with some be vegetables mixed in. A glass of water is put to the side for me to drink. A problem came up. "Twilight I can't eat this." I say flatly. Her face turns into slight shock. " Why can't you eat it? I assure you its perfectly good." " Uh, ok then. Who made it?" " Fluttershy did, also this is her house." " Oh, um. still can eat this." " Do you not like it or--" " I can't use hooves." everything foes silent for moments. " Oh... um. Do you want me to feed you or something?" " I don't know, but maybe i'll stuff my face into it." I get ready to plunge into the bowl face first. " No you will not." She says this as she magicks the food away "That's bad manners." " But... food." I say while I use both my hooves to point at the bowl of food. " Just let me feed it to you." She says while holding a spoon full of food with her magic. " But I can eat it with my face." I'm losing! " It either this or no food." This is bad. The situation is that I cant feed myself. Well I can but she won't let me. Its taunting me, just right there. You never take away a man from his food. Never, my dad learned that the hard way. " Can I just feed myself, Or i'll do it by force." "Fine." Faith +10. Hope+10. My face :D " No food for you." Faith and Hope -100 D: " Ok then leave me to starve." I put on a strait face. "OK then." She trots out the room with a slightly perturbed face. I'm not sure how the battle will favor now but sacrifices were made. I soon heard a 'arrgh', bet that's from Twilight. Ok maybe that was a bad Idea. I'm hurting real bad. We must advance. I get off the bed and hobble to the door. Luckily Twilight didn't close it all the way or I couldn't open it. I make enough space to make it through. I walk down the hallway to encounter my newest enemy. STAIRS. Evil bastards. I really hope I can turn back soon. I hear conversation down stairs. The talking is between Twilight and someone else. " I can't believe he won't let me feed him." Says Twilight. " Well Why didn't you let him?" Says a posh voice. Sound Identified: Rarity. " He wanted to stuff his face in there. What am I supposed to do?" " WHAT! He wanted to eat like that? ahem Well uh Why don't we try somepony else?" I'm getting bored standing here. What's the easiest way to get down? Falling. No pain, no gain, but this is just all pain, unless I get the food. LEEEEEROY JEEEEENKINS. I take a step forward and wait for the pain. This like a really bad trust fall. "Ow" "Ow" "Ow" "Ow" "Ow" "Ow" "Ow" "Ow" And slide. I take that pain and raise 7.No really but at the bottom of the stairs. Which is where I am. So there's more then just Twilight and Rarity, there's Fluttershy too. " OH MY GOSH! Are you alright?" Asks Fluttershy. " NO, buy I blame myself and Twilight." This is the answer she was not expecting. "Way would you blame me?" Speaks Twilight. " Well you took my food away. Ow-pain. I told you that I will do anything for food." " That doesn't mean fall down the stairs." " Well if I called for help, you would of held it against me. Simple." " He does have a point Twilight." Says Rarity. " Hey Fluttershy." She turns towards me." Where's the food?" " Oh um, I-its in the kitchen on the table. Do you want me to get it?" " Well if I don't ask you to get it, I might break something. So yes please." Fluttershy trots to the kitchen to get my food. " Thank you." I sit down and wait. "OH MY GOD!!! Twilight when did you get bigger? You too Rarity? What happened." " Um well your a colt." Says Twilight. " Does that mean i'm a kid size now?" They both nod. " So does this mean i'll have to go back to school?" I think I just dug my grave, because Twilight has a smile I don't like. At this point I just stared blankly and screamed. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" Fluttershy must of heard my yelling because she came back faster then she went into the kitchen. " What's going on?" She asks her friends. "Well he might go back to school." Says Rarity. "Wait." I say this and silence is heard. " Where's my thing?" " What thing?" Says Twilight. " The thing that was on my right leg, you know the golden thing?" " Well we took it off for you to rest." " Can I have it back?" Oh no they have leverage. Twilight now has a smug grin. " Twilight darling please let me handle this." Says Rarity. Twilight steps down from the talk and Rarity takes over. " Jon what would you do for the golden bracer?" Don't say it." Anything." " Would you let somepony feed you?" she says with her eyebrow raised. " Yes.." The tone in my vice is slowly fading into a quieter tone. " Would you go to school?" I am in a bad situation. " Can I ask a out of topic question?" she nods and that give me the ok to proceed. " How can I change back into a human?" " We don't know what happened to you so we don't know what to use." " Is there anything I could do to help?" " Did you touch anything in particular?" " Uh maybe some flowers? Does that help?" " Yes that does. Twilight, Fluttershy go over to Zecora and see if she has any of it left." they both nod and leave. through the front door. Wonder who Zecora is? " Am I gonna go to school?" I ask Rarity. " What's wrong with that?" " I don't wanna go." I whine. " Do you want the bracer back?" " Yes..." " Ok then. Now eat up." She levitates the spoon of food over the my mouth. I reluctantly eat from the floating spoon. At least the foods good. The process is repeated until almost all the food is gone. The last spoon is floating over and I accept it. Twilight and Fluttershy came back. With good news I think. " She said it'll take a week to gather the herbs." Says Twilight. A week in this body oh god. " Well that should be fine. Jon here said himself that he'll go to school. Isn't that right Jon?" I'm looking at the floor but they see me nod to that. Things are going trough my head right now. Well maybe I can make light of this and have fun. Maybe. "Hey Fluttershy?" I say. " O-oh, yes?" " I'm still hungry." " O-oh, i'll go make some more." She trots to the kitchen and she starts another meal. " Can I have the bracer back now?" " Do you pinkie promise to go to school?" Ask Rarity. " Um ok. Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye." This caught them off guard but they don't ask. " No dear it goes like this: Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." with each part she makes a gesture that fits with each part. " Okay, Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." " Just to let you know a very bad thing will happen if you break it." Man with all the crap that is happening I took tht to heart I don't know how pinkie promises work in ponyland. " Can I have the bracer yet?" " Twilight be a dear and go get it." Twilight walks away from my vision. Probably out of the room or something. " So how and where is the school building?" I ask Rarity. She was about to answer but Fluttershy came in with more food. " Here you go." Fluttershy says. " Oh, thank you." I'm about to dig in but Rarity took it away. " Hey!" " Don't eat it like that. Just let me help you." " Uhg fine." She's about to floats the spoon over but Twilight came back with the bracer. " Oo can I have it back now?" She has a small grimace on her face but she levitates it over to me. I fumble it n my hooves and it falls to the ground with a clank. " Rarity." " Yes dear?" " Can you help me put it on." " Why yes I can." She levitates it and I slide my right front leg. The bracer fits good so yeah. I look to a nearby window to see if there's some sunlight and yes it is. I trot over to it and shove my arm into the light. I'm not looking for a weapon but a extension of the bracer so it goes up my whole right foreleg. The oh so familiar flash appears, three yelps I hear from the three mares. I forgot to warn them. This is where I die. "Jon... What was that?" Says a angered Twilight. "Aaa! Don't hit me!" I say while cowering on the floor with my hooves covering my face. " Why in Celestia's world would I hit you?" " Oh it's just a reaction don't worry about it." " That's not the point what is it?" She says while pointing to my bracer, yeah I'm claiming it. " It's mine." " Its dangerous, give it to me." " But she said I could have it back if I listened and I did." I say while pointing to Rarity. " Rarity what would you do of this situation?" Says Twilight. " Well he did agree to listen, I think we should let him keep it. Especially after what he did a couple of days ago." " But what if-" " That is a what if the time of the situation is now not later. Just let him keep it." " Hey Twilight." Twilight looks over to me with a defeated face. " Two things. One, Defeated!" I say this while pointing at her in a slight mocking way. " Now two. I have my science book from my world let you borrow it." This seems to lighten the mood. "Sigh What am I gonna do with you." Its only been one day and she seem to be more exhausted then ever. " I told you i'm a bad friend." She rolls her eyes at this. " So yay or nay on the science book? Oh I forgot to mention this, but uh, where am I gonna live, and the book is a text book so that mean its all knowledge." Her eyes widen but se recomposes herself before it goes out of control. " Ok you let me borrow it and you can keep it. For as where your gonna live why not here?" " Here as in Fluttershy's house, nah don't wanna." " What's wrong with it?" " Nothing it's that I feel like i'm taking advantage of her hospitality." " Oh it nothing your welcome to stay here though, if you want to that is." Fluttershy says. " See?" " Well then who are you gonna live with?" Twilight asks. " Sorry Fluttershy, but you are eliminated from the nominees." Her head goes down with sorrow." But you get a honorary approval." Her mood lightens up and she walks away to do animal stuff. " Out of the two of you. Whose house is closer?" Rarity raises her hoof. "Congratulations you got a useless house guest, it comes with me and help if you ask." I say this with a flat tone. Twilight looks sad from this. I take this as a chance to tell her something. " Don't worry Twilight after a week is gone i'll need another place to stay." This makes her slightly happier. " Now Rarity where is your house? Wait I need to get my bag. can someone take me up stairs and help me get my stuff?" "Oh my god! Don't do that without warning please." What Twilight did made herself chuckle and lift me off the ground with her levitation. She trotted up the stairs and into the room where I once rested. She levitates me and my bag from the floor, and soon trots back down stairs with me in tow. Twilight put me on the ground with my bag next to me. I try to lift my bag and fumble it on like back at the castle but it's soon levitated by Rarity. " Hey! I was gonna carry it." " Well you were too slow." She said. " What is that supposed to mean." " It means you're to little to carry it. I don't like being called little. Basically when I was little I was the shortest in my family, school, everywhere. It's just a pet peeve, and it's stupid that way. This can change my mood but not one of anger, not that much anger. " Fine, can we leave?" " Yes darling, now say bye." Why does everybody say that? I know how to say bye, I just don't wanna. She soon starts trotting towards the door. " sigh Bye Fluttershy, bye Twilight." As i'm about to trot Twilight stops me. " Jon wait!" " Yeah?" " You forgot to give me the book." " Well Rarity has my bag. And I got to go now, so bye." I began to trot away after Rarity. " Don't forget to change your name then!" She yells at me. I catch up with Rarity and start making small talk. " So, Jon. What's your family like?" Rarity says. I feel like messing with her. " Dead..." She stops right in her tracks, and her eyes go wide. This humors me. " Why did you ask?" I put on a sad face and a quiet tone. " I'm so sorry Jon. I jus-" " Ha! I'm just kidding you." Her face turns into anger. Shit. " Ok, ok i'll be serious kinda. Just calm down. " She blinks a couple times and lets out a breath. We resume walking. " So are you going to tell me about them?" " Yeah I have a sister, mom and a dad." " Can you tell me about them?" " I can, but I won't." " Why not?" " I, I just don't feel like talking about them." " I see." We entered town." Do you have any hobbies?" I could say killing stuff, but I don't. " No I do not." " Nothing? Sports?" " Not athletic enough." " Reading?" " I don't like reading. Much." " How about art." " I cant draw well enough to make talent out of it." " Singing? Building? Doing anything?" She's running out of things to say. " Can't sing, That's my sister. I can build, but don't make anything useful enough. I do like fixing though." She opens her mouth, but I cut her off. " But only because I get a creative solution, and also everyone comes to me to fix things." She closed her mouth but has something else to say. " Ok then. Have any friends?" " Yeah." " Are you going to tell me about them?" " No." " sigh Do you like animals?" " Yeah." I'm a simple man. "What's your favorite animal then." " I have multiple ones some mythological, some real." " What's 'mythological' dear." " What that means is that it's a fake creature from history but there's no proof of it." " Well ok then. what are your favorite animals then." " Well here in this world some mythological exist, and are on my list, like pegasi, unicorns, and dragons, maybe a minotaur. I actually have a lot in that part of the list, huh." " Jon dear, those are all real here." " Well yeah the unicorns, pegasi and dragon yeah, but for real? Minotaurs? " Yes minotaurs are real." " Phoenixes?" " Yes those too, the princess has one." " Pixies?" " I'm not sure you might have to ask Twilight about that." " Oh, ok." "Well what about real animals?" " Well ox's and tigers are on top, maybe dogs, the list is also long." " Oh look were here. I present my home and business: Carousel Boutique " I've seen it before. It's what it is a carousel but different. Windows are all around the building. the building it self is at least two stories tall with a point at the end. Now I know where to murder someone. We walk inside and of course it's different. The carpet is a light pink with a short roughness to it. Fabrics are organized by shade and color in cubbies on the wall. Multiple sewing machines ley on tables around the room. I can see multiple doors around the side. Rarity walks over to one of the doors and says. " This is where your staying." She opens a door with her magic and points a hoof inside. I walk over and see the inside. The floor is like the main room. There are two windows in this room with drapes of course. Who doesn't have drapes? The bed is positioned in the middle against a wall on one side is a mirror and table. On the other side is a night stand with multiple drawers. In front of the bed, next to the wall is a desk with a window above it. A small cup of pencils are on the desk. Wonder how they make them. " So where's the couch?" " What is wrong with the room?" " Nothing it's just someone sleeps here already." " Well yes someone does, my sister." " Oh, her. I met her." " Ah she already told me about it." " Oh, so where's the couch?" " It'll be fine, my sister isn't suppose to come over this week." Well that's convenient. " But I shoul-" " No buts. you are going to sleep here and that is final!" " Fine, but do you have another blanket?" " Yes I do. Wait here and i'll het it." She levitates my bag into a corner. She then trots out of view and I walk inside and wait. Rarity soon comes back with a neatly folded white blanket in her magic grasp. She then uses her magic to spread out said blanket across the bed evenly. Neat. " Hey Rarity." " Yes?" " What should my temporary name be?" " Name? What does your family do?" Flashback) Dad:"Son I want you to remember the one thing we do, be successful. If anyone asks say 'being successful'." end ---- " Be successful." " Ok then. That's a start. Anything specific?" " Restaurant and owning houses." " Oh. Do you have any Ideas?" " Well pony names are usually two part right?" " It's quite common, so yes." " I have a name. How about Golden spark. " That's a very nice name. Now the sun is setting you should go to bed soon." " No." " Why not?" " Cause I want to take a shower." " Oh. Um the bathroom is this way." She trots out the room with me in follow. We turn a few and go down a hallway. " Here's the bathroom. Will you need help?" Another disadvantage of being small and a kid apparently. " Sure why not." She walks in with me in going after. The bathroom is quite nice. The floor here is marble with a white marble sink and table mixed together. the bath itself has a white showerhead that's detachable. Tons of cleaning items lay around the edge of the tub from what I can tell they are some kind of coat enhancer. All I need to know is the shampoo and soap. The shower itself is simple. I stood in place where the water hit where she just levitates the things to clean me with around me. I'm pretty sure she gave me the same treatment she gives herself when she washes herself. It's over after a while. I didn't know I could be that clean. I get out of the tub and she dries my coat off with a towel. We must of been there for awhile, because there was sunlight, now it's night. Wonder how there're doing in Canterlot. " Hey Rarity." " Yes darling?" " Uh where is my room?" " Ah it over here." She walks away and I follow. She leads me to my temporary room. " Thanks." She walks over to the door and closes it but not all the way. I get up on the bed with some issues but not big ones. I soon crawl under the blankets and wait i'm not tired sleep will come eventually.
Good, bad, and why me?	Day .5	Day .5 =---==-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-==-=-=--=-=-=---=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-==-==-=-=-=---=-==-===-=--=-==-= Carousel Boutique) Jon's bed. Man, sleeping sucks as a pony. I can't sleep like this. At home I have a ritual, you know the weird toss and turn thing at night then all of a sudden your asleep and you just don't know why but it just works? Well It's not working. The bed is comfortable enough, maybe the problem is that I don't have enough pillows. Yeah, pillows. I can stay up all night. I've done it before, but there's school tomorrow, or today. I can sleep in class, I'd probably know most of it, considering that i'm a freshman, and if I do sleep someone will wake me up, that someone being the teacher. Wonder how the teacher is. Usually I go off rumors from friends and family. I got nothing here. My family always thought I was independent. I'm not really independent, more like a barrier is up and it goes down when the time is right. But most of the time I stay hidden away, waiting. Wonder how the school people is taking me "disappearing". I was never popular enough to make impact on the social group, but i'm sure they notice if I gone missing. Maybe my parents heard that I didn't come to school and they lied saying they forgot to phone in that I was going to be sick for awhile. That's what I would do as a parent. When i'm a parent i'm going to be the 'cool' dad, AKA the immature adult. I open my eyes and sit in silence thinking about what happened over the few day i've been here. All the stuff i've been doing is spontaneous. Heh, busting through the door, taking a selfie with a spirit, turning into a pony, and fighting off a kidnaping or ponynaping if called around here, I don't remember the term. If this is a few days here what's a week? A month at that. Iris said I have a sense of adventure. Didn't think it be like this. After I turn back human i'm going to go back to the forest and explore. At thinking this I smile. I wonder how many creatures of all kinds in there are. Maybe i'll write a book on it and become famous. Heh me being famous, what a joke. The first entry in the book: Mr. Plant. Evil bastard. Wonder if their magic can put me to sleep. Or pills, gotta add more pills to my chart, heh. Sleep, why do you elude me so? Maybe Luna can help. She's a princess, maybe her magic can fix my internal clock, that be nice. Wonder If Twilight can read my text book. Since I can't read their language, maybe they can't read mine? A wise man once said: Only time will tell. In the midst of my thoughts I hear glass shatter from the outside. Oh dear that's not good. I get off the bed landing on my face with a thump. I push my self on all fours and walk towards the door. Luckily the door is not closed all the way, I put pressure on the door so my hoof is pushing against the door. I apply the force needed to open the door. he door creeks an I stop waiting for something to happen. Nothing happened. I sigh in relief and go through the open space. I look down the hallway to see anybody. For once luck is on my side. I hear a conversation through the halls. (Loud whispering in the conversation.) "What are we stealing again?" " Shh, not too loud. Were stealing the gems she dug up a couple of weeks ago. now get finding." " How do we know she still has them. She might of used them already for all we know." " Plan A: Find the gems and take them, there's got to be a stash of them around here. she cam in with a whole mine cart full of them. Plan B: If there is no gems, which I doubt it. Take anything of value and trash the place so nopony can track back to us. Got it?" " You're really smart you know that?" " Yeah, i'm the brain, your the muscle. Now start looking!" "Do you have a plan if we get caught?" " Who's going to be up at this time. It's Three in the morning." So that's what time it is." We gained enough info on this town to know when everypony is asleep." That's all I need. " Psst. Iris You up?" "With all your damn thoughts I cant go to sleep." " Sorry! But did you hear anything they said." " I was sleeping through half of it, but I have enough to guess the situation at hand or in your case hoof." " Now's not the time! What should I do?" " Do what coms natural to you, follow your instincts." " Like what?" The tone in my voice is becoming more worried by the second. "What would you do right now?" I ponder what she said. I can't let cheap thieves take Rarity's stuff. If I let it get taken and just go back to sleep she'll understand, but i'm stuck with the guilt, and if they don't find anything they'll take everything valuable, and trash the place. I gotta do something. " I have to stop them." " Good, don't forget that you can airbend." Not in a pony body I can. I got my stupidity, My smarts, and my right foreleg armor cover. I walk towards their voices and stop. Should I engage in combat? Or go all assassin on them? Engaging in combat will stop them now, but I don't have the strength to take them both down. I can't go assassin on them because I can't us this body well enough. Maybe I can scare them away or just fight them. Oh the pro's and con's. " Jon! There getting away!" Oh shit. "Stop thieves!!" I yell towards them in a deep voice to make them think i'm not a colt. Uhg. " Oh no, Someone caught us!" One of the ponies say. Let's name him #1, The other one of course #2. " It'll be fine remember it's two against one. How hard could it be?" Says #2. " Come on out. You scared? Fight us like a stallion!" " Fine... Do it now Silver, behind them!" I yell in the same deep voice. The two look behind them to find nothing there. While keeping them distracted I run at them with all I can. When just far away enough I leap with my armored covered leg back getting ready to hit #1. I thrust the hoof connecting it with his head. CLANK! is the sound it makes. And a yelp is heard. I get back behind a table and wait. " Son of a buck that hurt what was that!" #1 says. " Well it looks like you got hit." #2 says. " No duh Sherlock. Did you see the pony who hit me?" " It's too dark in here. I'll go turn on the light." Next target located. I sneak up behind him and wait where he goes over to the light switch. He makes a move for he switch. I quickly hit him in the back leg to get his attention, and it does. He turns around to see what hit him. I balance on my hind legs and prepare to jump-uppercut him. I position under his chin and jump. Smack it goes and he stumbles back. When he stumbles back he hit the switch. The lights go on and #1 saw this. A golden colored colt with golden leg hitting his partner in crime. " YOU!" #1 yells " You were the one who hit me! Your gonna ay for that!" He runs at me with the speed of a raging bull. I step to the side right before he hits me ad crashes into his partners in crime. I prepare to hit with my armored leg. He shakes off the dizzy spell and turns to me. As soon as he turns I get on my hind legs, lean forward and thrust my hoof towards his head. Shit I missed! i'm not tall enough for this! I fell forward and land on the ground with a thud. " Oh it's payback time." #1 says. He rears back his left hoof an thrusts it forward. I get up just quickly enough to block it with my armor. With the force that hoof came, it sent me backwards onto the floor. Minor pain it gives but it should be worth it. I get up from the ground to see #1. Where's #2? He was right behind him knocked out. Crap. Got my answer. I feel a hoof kick me from the side. I get sent flying to he side landing on the floor with a tumble. God that hurt. My vision is somewhat blurred but clear enough to see #1 smirking at me. I feel something hard hit my head and black out. =-=-=-=---=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-===-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=--=-=-=--=-==-=-=--=-=-==-=-=-=- Jon's head.) I wake up on the ground in the grassy plain. I push my self off t ground and call Iris. " IRIS! WHERE ARE YOU?" I yell " Right here Jon." A voice says behind me. I turn around to see the lady once again. " That's creepy, don't do that again." She just shrugs. " Now's not the time. Can you wake me up?" " I can, but shouldn't you get help or something?" " I can't call anybody on a phone, they don't have them!" She looks at me like i'm stupid. Then it hit me." Oh duh!" I say this as I hit my left palm to my head. " The princess of the night. Go hide and come back when i'm done." She nods. I turn around and make a door. I open the door and stick my head out calling her. " LUNA! WHERE ARE YOU? I NEED OUR HELP!" I repeated this about five time before I head this. " JON! CEASE THY YELLING!!" Dear jebus. That's loud. She comes to the front door with a frustrated look. " What does thou need? We just came back to from fighting nightmares." Noted " I don't care about that!" She looks at me with anger. " Look I need your help now." Her anger transforms into confusion. " What is thy problem young one." " Don't call me that, Anyway there are two thieves at Rarity's house. They beat me up after I tried to stop them. Can you come over and subdue them or something? Like right now?" Her face turns into slight fluster but nods. " Cool, You go and start while I keep them busy." I open the door for her to leave. She trots over in a quick pace but stops right before the opening. " But what-" " Shut up and go!" I slam it shut with her outside. " IRIS!" I yell she appears in front of me by landing on the ground. " Neat trick, but can you get me up now?" She nods. " Close your eyes and wait." I listen and I wait for the next part. " Prepare for pain." What? I black out, =-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-===--==-=-=-=-=-==--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=--=-= IRL) My eyes shoot en from the shot. Did she just hit me? Not the time gotta stop them. I look around to find them. I see the two thieves heading out a window they broke with large bags. The lights are still on, that's nice. I shakily stand up on my legs, my legs collapse from the pain, great. I try again only to fall. I can only stall from here on out. " HEY DUMBASSES!!" I yell to get their attention. The two of them turn around and ace me with surprised faces. " I know what you two look like, an I have connections to both princesses. When you leave i'll tell them! And then they'll go after you!" Their faces turn into fear. The two have a huddled conversation. I assume t's about what to do with me. #1 then speaks out to me. " How do we know your not bluffing?" " You gonna take that chance? You feeling lucky, punk?" I say with a evil smirk. He steps back in fear. #1 goes back to the group of one to discuss what to do. "You know what your right, I will not take any chances so were going to kill you." My grin falters but I keep it up. He tells #2 to go pick up something heavy. He chose a sewing machine, That might injure me but no kill me. " Ha! That's what you chose? I can plan a better death in a snap." I mock them to keep stalling. Where is she? " What would you know? You live in the nicest place in Equestria." " Can't you tell? I'm not from around here. You obviously done research here, and the sewing machine is not heavy enough to kill me. Nothing here really." " Well, what would you suggest?" He probably think i'll tell, which I am. By mistake so he'll use that way to kill me. He thinks it's going in his favor. I'm just laying here stalling. Hah. " Oh I don't know A knife? Choking? Strangling? You know the norm." His face turns into surprise, but he recomposes himself and speaks. " Out of those three which would you choose?" He probably thinks he's smart right now. " The knife obviously. It's the most practical too. Just grab and stab you know." " You right." Oh the sarcasm in his voice. " Where do you think a knife would be around here?" " The kitchen, duh." I say in mocking tone. He turns to his partners in crime and has a shot talk. Soon after they both snicker quite loudly and of out of view. Oh dear lord I hope someone comes soon. #2 comes back for a talk. " Uh hey there." " Hi." I say back. " Do you know where the kitchen is?" " Nope." " You don't thought you live here?" " Yeah I moved in today. gotta pay rent and everything." " Pay rent? Your just a colt you don't have a job." "Pshhaw, That doesn't mean I can't get a job." " What do you do then." " Oh yah you wouldn't believe what I got." " What you get?" " Mascot work. got a suit and everything." " Mascot? What for." " Library, it's quite simple. Al I have to do is stand outside look cut and sing a jingle." " A jingle. Can I hear it?" " Oh yeah give me a minuet. It goes like this: Come inside and take a look, and maybe you will take a book. What you think?" " It's catchy. It could use work." The other thief comes in with a knife in hoof. He trots over and raises a the knife. but the other one stops him. "what are you doing?" " Were going to kill him like we planned." Says #1. " That wasn't in the plans." Says #2 " Doesn't matter, no witnesses." " This doesn't feel right. Your killing a foal with a job." " He has a job?" " He even has a jingle." " No way, get out of here." " Yeah he does, it's in his mascot work." " Mascot? What does he mascot for in this town?" " Library." The front door opens with a slam and the princess of the night is revealed. " HALT CRIMINAL SCUM!" she yells at them. At the sight of this they surrender immediately. " WE SURRENDER!!" They both yell at the same time sitting on there haunches and hooves in the air. She walks over and puts them in magic cuffs, neat. Some bat ponies move in taking the two thieves out of the vicinity. Wonder where the bat ponies came from. I'll ask Luna later. Luna walked up to me and kneeled down. " Jon. Are you alright?" She says in a calm motherly tone. I'm so close to crying right now, all the killing and me almost dying don't fit well in my heart. I shake my head saying no while looking on the floor. She sees this and drapes a wing over saying this. " It's alright Jon. it's over." " Luna." " Yes?" "Can you heal me? I don't wanna go to the hospital." She nods her head and her horn glows. I feel the pain disappear but not all of it. " I have healed most of your injuries. Some aren't healed yet, so take it easy." I smile. " Thanks Luna. You want to know something funny?" She raised a eyebrow, but nods." Rarity slept through the whole thing." " That's not very funny Jon." " Fine, but for now my name isn't Jon." " Oh what is it?" " It's Golden Spark. Tell that to Sunshine to." She nods. " Golden, are you sure your alright." " Yes I am, Don't worry about it." I say wit a small smile in her direction. " But you are crying." What I reach my left hoof to my face and see if she's lying. She isn't. " Huh I guess I am." Tears are flowing now. " Jon would you like a hug?" I just sit down and nod. Luna comes over and lifts me up with her front hooves and hugs me. I'm openly sobbing now. After a few minuets I stop and she let go. " Do you feel better?" " Don't tell anyone about this." she has a smirk on her face at the sound of this, " Oh, what is this? Something wrong with the strong Jon?" Why you mock me? " Shaadduup." I say with a whining tone hitting her lightly. "Ok, ok I won't tell anypony, even Tia." " You know this only happened cause I couldn't go to sleep." " Is that so? Golden, if you did sleep, you wouldn't have stopped them." " I guess so. Still the place around here is a mess." I guess they went with plan B. " We shall go now. Jon are you good?" " No, i'm not." "Hmm, why is that?" " I don't know where my room is." " Oh, um the couch is over there." " Hah! Rarity said I wouldn't sleep on the couch. But look at me now." I do a small dance indicating my victory, but it's cut short from a pain spike. I fall over to the ground on this." OWwwww, pain." I'm laying n my side and Luna chuckles at me. " Shut up Luna. Can you bring me to the couch." " What's the magic word?" "sigh Please bring me over to the couch, because i'm in too much pain to move over and lie den in a differ place." " You could of stopped at please you know." She lifts me up in hem magic and places me on the couch. " Thank you Luna. You do what ever you need to do left. I'm going to sleep." I turn over feeling pain, but it soon goes away. I drift off to sleep. Jon's head) I wake up in the field once again. Now I really know why Iris sleeps. I try imagining a bed and it surprisingly works, neat. I get on and drift to sleep once again
Good, bad, and why me?	Day 1: Start!	Day 1: Start! =-=-==-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=---=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=--=-=--=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-- Carousel boutique) I wake up to a loud scream. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaa!!!!" I assume it's Rarity yelling about some animal or something. I open my eyes to see the couch I lay on. I push my self up into a sitting position and attempt to communicate with Rarity. " Rarity." " What happened! My work. My room. My fabrics. This mess!" With each thing she said she pointed a hoof in the general area of the specific. " Golden Spark! What did you do?" " Stop them from stealing your stuff." " Who is them?" " Are you gonna be alright?" I ask her this because, one I worry for her, two she's getting more 'frazzled' by the minuet. "ANSWER THE QUESTION!" " Ok then." I say calmly. May be this can help her vent or something. " 'Them' as in the two thieves that came in here and ransacked the place for valuables." " I DON'T LIKE LIARS JON!" "Ok, but I st-" " I SAID I DON'T LIKE LIARS! JUST GET OUT!" not fighting against her in state I leave. I trot over to the front door but a problem arises. " Um I can't open-" The door swung open and a force pushed me outside. The door slams shut behind me and I look for a another place to lay. I look around to see that some ponies are setting shop at this time while others are getting something to eat. My stomach growls, and there's the problem. I need to find someone I know now. Maybe Twilight? I get back to reality and get off Rarity's porch. I walk a dirt path with businesses around, that must mean i'm in the market area. Most stalls aren't open yet but one is. Applejack's stall. I trot over to the stall and converse. " Hello there Applejack." I say as I get near her stall. " Well howdy there Jon, uh shouldn't you be at Rarity's or sumthin?" " She's mad right now. In her madness she kicked me out." " Mad about what Jon? sigh What did you do?" " Oh last night she was about to get robbed. Two ponies broke a window and trashed the place for valuables and for the sake of covering up their tracks." I say this in a nonchalant tone. " Two ponies? Stealing? What they want to steal?" " Gems apparently. They saw her bring in a whole mine cart of them, guess they wanted some." " So your sayin that last night there were two burglars, and they trashed the place for bits. Your not tellin me something are you Jon?" " Oh while i'm like this call me Golden Spark." She nods at that. "And of course I left something out the fight I had with them." "WHAT! Why did you fight them? How reckless are you?" " Reckless enough to tackle your princess and give her a nickname on my own accord." She face hooves at this. " And I fought them for a good reason." "sigh What?" " Well one, I was awake when they came in. Two, they were going to take her stuff. What was I supposed to do about it?" " Well, you shouldn't fight two grow stallions!" " Whatever. Can I eat your merchandise?" She answers by tossing a red apple. I caught it in my mouth. I quickly eat it so I can get back to the conversation. " Thanks, Trash can?" She points over to one not to far away. I trot over with the core in mouth and spit it in. I walk over to her again and she talks first. " Well I know your not lying." I raise an eyebrow at this. she continues. " Do yah want me to talk to her about it?" " Maybe, but no." " Well why not? She's the who misunderstood. " Exactly. Right now she's too frantic, I'm not to sure that she'll listen to anyone right now. " Well ok then. What are you gonna do now partner?" Wow she just said that. " Do you know where Twilight is?" " Go down the street and turn right you remember what it looks like right?" " Yeah the giant tree, thanks for the apple Applejack." I say this as I trot away. I follow the directions she gave me messing up a few times, but in the end I am victorious! Nah, who cares. I find the libartree and knock on the front door. I hear Twilight say "Coming!" and she opens the front door. Apparently she didn't expect me. " Oh, um, hi Jon come on ." She motions a hoof inside and I trot in. " Good morning Twilight, and call me Golden Spark." Inside I look for a place to nap still tired. " Shouldn't you be at school?" " Probably, but i'm here to take a nap." " Then why here and not Rarity's?" " She's a little frantic right now." " Frantic about what?" " A giant mess she assumes I made." " Did you?" " No the thieves did." " What! thieves?" " I don't feel like talking about it again. Go find Applejack and ask her about it, she knows more." " Oh, ok then, are you ok?" " Yeah just fine it's normal to get beat up and almost killed so yeah i'm fine, can I take a nap now?" " What! Killed? What happened?" " I said I don't feel like talking about it. If you want to talk about it go gather your friends." She's about to trot away but I said something else. " After Rarity feels better." " Fine, uh do you have that book you promised?" " Yeah. No some problems arise when getting it, it's gonna be awhile before you get it, so that nap." " Uhg there's a cushioned place by the window." " Thanks. Anything else before I go take a nap?" " Yes, this." She opens the door. I'm quite puzzled by this until she put me outside with her magic. " No napping in the library." She says that right before she closes the door. Ok so that Twilight down. Who else can I go to? You know i'm gonna find a open field and sleep there or something. I trot away from Twilight's library and venture off. I walk back to the market area to find that now it's more busy then normal, from what I can tell most of the ponies are eating again. Does this mean it's lunch? Time flies too fast around here. I walk down the market way, but not without a few stares. Their probably wondering why i'm not in school, who cares? I trot up to a stall and ask him for directions. " Hey mister!" " Uh hey there little guy." Uhg." Whatcha need?" " Directions." " Oh. To where?" " A park, or somewhere quiet." " Ok then. Uh the nearest park is that way go all the way down to the end and turn left you can't miss it." " Thanks mister!" I trot away. " Shouldn't he be in school?" The shop keep whispers. As i'm trotting down the said directions the guy gave me. A blockade appears! It seems to be just some mares talking about gossip or something. Their attached to a cart filled with trash, each to their own. It's a narrow ally way so I can't get through. Well time to get dirty. I get on the ground and army crawl under the carts. Jesus the carts smell, well like garbage. This makes me go faster cause who wants to breath this? I make it through and I appear between the two mares. " Oh my! What are you doing little one?" Uhg, she called me little. The one who said this is the mare to my right. " Nothing, just trying to get through." I say back. " Get through here?" She looks around and realizes what she and her friend means. " Oh my it seems where blocking the street." She and her friend start moving but not with out one going first. I make it to the end of the street and turn left. The park seems like a normal park with out a play ground. A dirt path runs through the area with benches on the side. A lake is nearby, neat. A few trees are scattered around leaving shade in the more resting areas. I find a big tree and lay down. The tree seems to be far away from society and the dangerous forest, perfect. I lay down and close my eyes. Sleep comes faster the expected. --=-=-=-=--=-==-=-=-=--=-=-=====---==--==-===-=-==---=-=--=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-==-===--=-=-===-=-=-==--=-=-===-=-=--==-= Dreamland) Well time to get up, again. I get off the ground and look for Iris. I soon give up looking for Iris after bout ten seconds. I should just call her. "IRIS! WHERE ARE YOU!?" She appears. "RIGHT HERE!" I fall to the ground from her yelling, that scares me. She continues yelling." WHY ARE WE YELLING?" " Oh, uh no reason just got real lazy to find you that's all." I get off the ground and crack some of my bones, feels good to do this in a human body. Can't do anything as a pony. "I'm bored." I tell her. " What do you want to do?" " Two player game?" I ask her. "sigh Fine." " Yes!" Fist pump of VICTORY! " Do you know what chess is?" " No I do not. Let's play that then." I explain the rule and each piece to her quickly. She gets the general idea. " So the game is to take out the king?" " Yeah basically. So how are we gonna make the board?" " What's it look like?" " I told you that already." " Refresh me." " It's a eight by eight square board with black and white colors alternating on each square, got it?" " Yeah. How do you want it?" " Want what?" " The board." " What do you mean?" This is freakin me out man. " Well it's your head. You or I can make it however we want." Oh. " Let's make it life size then." " Ok." The area around both of us dims and transforms into a chess board. " Let have neon light around here." Cause why not. It's just chess. " Uh sure." A lime green outlines the outside of the board. And every line in between the board making it easier to see each square. " Let's make each piece human looking but virtual and no blood." "Gotcha." Each piece comes in one at a time looking like medieval times. " And We should be on flying boards above flying across, with virtual holograms of the board so we can se what's happening." " Right." A red and blue discus come flying down waiting to be boarded, Each come with a glass table covered in the front and a nice padded chair. " Sweet, You want to add anything?" I ask her. " I think you did enough for the both of us." "Ok. Let's start this match!" I hop on the flying disk, and to the sky! " So what color do you want?" " I'll choose.... White." " Gotcha, you go first then." I fly over to the se with the warriors in black. Since i'm the black side, should I change my knights into Batman? Nah. The game starts smoothly with Iris moving one of her pawns, I move a knight and she moves another pawn. (Time skip) Huh, I lost. Half expected about it, because I suck at chess. Really like the game but i'm really bad even against a computer on level one, I won once out of five times. True story. Iris seems ecstatic from her first win. She's all jumping around waving her hands in the air. I forgot to tell her that i'm bad at this now bowling is pretty much the same, even though i'm second best in my family. HAH! Take that society! "So Iris, what now?" " Hah! I won, you lose!" She's doing a victory dance, it's very good. " Yeah, whatever. What now." "Oh, I think you should wake up soon. It's been quite awhile." " Oh yeah. Your right. Can you wake me up?" " Uh yeah close your eyes and brace yourself." I close my eyes and tense my body preparing for the worst. A giant force hits me and I black out. =-=-=--=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=---=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- IRL) I wake up under the tree I napped under. The time of day seems to be around four from the sun or maybe later I can't read the sun, it's not digital enough. I need to decide where to go next. Maybe Rarity is feeling better. Let's go find out. I push my self up into a standing position and walk towards town. I see Rainbow Dash flying around looking for something. Wonder what she's looking for. I walk down from where I came, to now see that all the stalls are closed. That must mean it's dinner time. One stall has yet to leave probably looking to make some extra cash. You know what I need from him, directions. I walk up to the stall owner and ask. " Hey mister." " Wuh. Oh, uh hey there fella whatcha need." A gun. " Can you help me out, i'm lost." I say in a childish voice. " Well sure. Where you need to go?" " Carousel boutique." " Why would you want to go there?" "Just checking in on a friend." " I see, well you go down this street take a right, go down that way for one block, turn left and do the same." Ok i'm pretty sure that's not the way. What is he up to? " So I go down that way." I point my right hoof down the street and keep talking." Take a left for a block and then a right for another and i'll be at Carousel Boutique, right?" " Eeyup." What a liar. I'm just gonna run away and around till I find the pointy building. " Thanks mister." I run away before something happens. I run down the street and follow the directions he gave me I get to the left and push my self up against a building to peek around the corner. What do ya know i'm right. Like always. Who's right, Jon's right. That's what! Anyway the directions the guy gave me led to a small group of thugs consisting of a pony, a Pegasus, and a griffin? Whad ya know? I look around to find the boutique and Bingo! This means i'm still to far away but close enough to see the top if it. Ok if I pass by what would happen? A: They mug me. What would they mug me for? All I have is this golden-oh never mind. B: They ignore me completely and i'm home free. Or C: I find a new path completely. You know, I do a lot of stupid things. Me thinks i'm gonna find another path. I back ay from the corner and make my way down town. More time has passed since the looking and her I am the Boutique. Finally. Things to do: Shower, Eat, talk(?) Sleep. thass it. I walk up to the door and I knock. * Knock, knock, knock* It appears Rarity is having troubles because I hear crying and some other ponies comforting her. Someone inside talks back. " Carousel Boutique is closed please come again." Should I speak up or just keep knocking? Maybe I can finally master my echolocation technique. I just decide to keep knocking. * Knock, knock, knock* " We said it's closed buddy." Third times he annoying one. * Knock, knock, knock* I sit on my butt and wait. The door opens to reveal Applejack and Rainbow Dash somewhat pissed. " We said It's closed so-" This is what she said before she saw me. " Where were you?" Said Rainbow. " Hi Rainbow. Hi Applejack. " I say while waving my right hoof to them. " Don't 'Hi Rainbow.' me. Answer the question!" " I was napping." " You were napping? How could you nap?" " Bet you napped today until this happened." " How'd you know that?" Her face: Shocked. " Two things. You just told me and it's somewhat easy to tell from the way you act." " Heh heh, He's gotcha there Rainbow." Applejack chuckles at this. " So can I come inside or..." Both mares let me in while they go inside also. " So what's happening?" " Well Rarity started crying and mumbling about you." Said Applejack. " Ah so she realized the truth. Did you talk to her before hand or She just started sobbing like a madwoman." " I was gonna talk to her about it, but when I came in she's being all dramatic and won't come out of her room." "Anything else?" " We sent out a small search party for you, thinking you might of gone back to the forest or something." " Well the gesture is nice, thank you for that. I was thinking of going back into the forest." Both mares look at me with intense glares. " Later of course." They now have a un amused face. " So she's in her room huh." They both nod. " Can you take me to her?" " Why should we let you go in there? Your the cause of it!" Rainbow says. " Well if i'm the cause shouldn't I fix it then? Now come on let's go." I start walking forward and then a realization hit me. "Right after I know where to go." I turn back and walk up to the two mares. " So can you take me to her or something?" " Sure let's go." Says Applejack. " Fine." Says Rainbow Dash. We go up stairs and then down a hallway. " So can either one of you cook me something?" " Didn't you have lunch?" Asks Applejack. " Not really the only thing I had was hat apple you gave me." Rainbow looks at me with a shocked face. " You ate nothing the whole day and now you think of food?" Say Rainbow. " Well I think of food all the time it's just lots of things that you wouldn't want to hear." " What is that supposed to mean?" She thinks she might know but she doesn't. " Too may words for me to say cause i'm lazy and... That's it i'm lazy." I've been walking for awhile maybe this body is slow, maybe. " So are we there yet?" " Actually yes we are." Says Applejack. We ended up in front of a door adorned with pictures and surrounded by three more mares. " Hello there everybody." I say as I walk up to the door only to be stopped by a purple hoof. Uhg, obstacles. "What Twilight?" " What are you doing?" " Oh yeah good point, I don't know how to open doors. Could you open it for me please?" " What do you mean silly? You just use your hoof like this?" Says Pinkie Pie. While opening a door and closing it multiple times. Not to Rarity's room of course. " Yes." I say this out of my confusion and my way of communicating. " Okie dokie loki!" She bounces away to another part of the house. Everyone just stares at me, but Twilight speaks up first. " How... what?" " I'll take that as a question and answer with a simple answer. You learn a lot of things in life. There, now can you open the door please?" The door opens and I prepare to step inside only to be tackled. " Who the buck tackled me!?" Whoever did this sent me tumbling away from the door and to the ground. I stand up to see spike the dragon and twilight holding him with her magic. " YOU!" Spike yells at me. " Yeah! What about me?" This is pissing me off. Gotta finish that quest. " Stay away from her!" " Well, excuse me from trying to fix this." I say walking forward until right in front of him." What are you gonna do about it. Fix it your self? Well, your not doing it I see. So i'm gonna fix the mistaken mess!" " I don't even know who you are. So why should I let you near her." " Damnit Twilight did you tell him who I am?" " Hey don't talk to her like that!" " Oh uh it might of slipped my mind." Says Twilight. " Spike! it's me! Jon! You know that weird guy?" " Your not Jon! Your a colt!" " You know what? I'm tired of this. Someone open the door and Twilight step away with Spike." Twilight steps away with Spike in tow and Applejack opens the door." Thank you Applejack. Now Twilight put a noise cancelling spell or something in this room and trust me on this." " Why should we trust you?" Says Twilight. " Are you gonna do it? Times ticking!" She groups up with her friends and Spike just hovers there in her magical grasp giving me angry stares of doom. Ooo scary. Twilight and her other friends must have come on to a conclusion because she, and her friends broke apart. Time for the verdict. " Fine." The door opens up and I finally go in. I turn around to see the door glow purple. That must be the spell or something. I see the room and then I see Rarity on the bed. Face down and sobbing. She's in a robe and her mane is messed up. Oh look a cat. I fricken hate cats. " Why sob are you here sob just go away." She hasn't faced me yet so I assume her friends must have come in here first trying to comfort her. " Now why would I do that." Apparently she didn't hear me. Great. I'm gonna finish this up my style. " Rarity." She continues sobbing."AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" This startled her. She shot out of the bed to see me on the floor mindlessly yelling. How does it work? I don't know? " Um Jon. Why are you here." Her tone is soft and filed with regret. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" " Jon, can't you see that i'm sad?" "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" " JON! STOP YELLING RIGHT NOW!!!" Her shout is louder than mine. " Ok i'll stop now." I say this in a childish tone. " Jon why did you come back?" Her face shows sadness. Gotta do something about that. " Well, to check on you of course." I feel like going simple is the best answer, or going random. " Why would you check on me after what I done to you." " What did you do to me?" I ask her. " I yelled at you and-" " So did the Diamond dogs. What's your point?" " My point is that I yelled at you without seeing the whole situation." " Now there's your answer." "Jon i'm so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?" " I don't know..." Her face saddens and her head dips." I could use a place to stay you know and maybe some meals and another shower." Her face seems shocked at this. " Of course I can forgive you." " Why did you forgive me so easily?" " Cause why not?" " That's it?" "Yeah." " Oh. Ok then." " So you feeling better?" Her face has now transformed into a soft smile. " Yes much. Thank you Jon." " I really need a meal and another shower though..." She looks at me questioningly. " Yeah kinda, um haven't eaten the whole day so can you help me with that?"I say this slowly while looking to the side, making me avoid eye contact. " You haven't eaten the whole day? Well we have to fix that now. Don't we?" I look at her and smile. " YES! Now where do we go?" " To the kitchen, Jon, the kitchen." " Wait stop for a minuet." She started walking towards the door but she stopped at my request. " You heard of the real situation, right?" She nods. " I thank you for defending my home Jon." " Don't worry about it you just have to pay me." She looks at me with a slight horror. " With a meal, a bath, and a place to sleep. That's it." Her face relives and she has a short chuckle " Deal." " Now let's go your fiends are worried." " Yes." I walk up to the door with Rarity behind me. I stop at the door and she looks at me questioningly. " Rarity. I can't open doors." She has a small giggle and opens it wit her magic. Upon the sight of the door being opened the picture shows five mares (+1 Dragon with angry glares). Spike is still in Twilight's magic and he is still throwing them glares at me. I move away just in time for the other five mares to hug Rarity (+1 Dragon). I on the other hand look around the area not wanting to look or interrupt the reunion of friends. I walk down the hallway to the couch I slept on before and hop on. I should learn the lay out of the house better. I try to sleep but it eludes me. So I sit there on the couch waiting for someone to come in or something to happen. I must have been there for a long time before I heard a voice behind me. " Jon?" turn around to see Rarity and her other fiends.( +1 angry dragon) " Yeah?" " I was going to cook something in the kitchen with my friends help. Would you like to come?" She asks. " Sure." I hop off the couch and follow after them. " So what are you girls making?" Everyone stops. " You girls don't know what your making do you?" " Yes we do!" Replies Twilight." Were making a balanced and nutritious diet." Right. " Isn't that supposed be every meal?" I ask. " Well yes but-" " It's just a meal Twilight, i'm sure you know how to cook but i'm also sure that you probably never have cooked before." " He's got you there Twilight." Says Spike. " Hey! I read a book on how to cook. So it should be just fine." " Experience is better then any book can have." I say. " What is that supposed to mean?" Says Twilight. A few others want to know that to apparently. " Like it means. Just because you learn it from a book first men you mastered this. You know what we'll talk about it later. I vote Fluttershy to cook dinner!" I say this as I raise a hoof in the air. " Seconded!" Rainbow says next. " U-um you really think so?" Says Fluttershy " Yeah. Your cooking's good. Really good." I say. " I don't know how to cook." Says Rainbow. " Well if you think so." Says Fluttershy. " I'll help you dear." Says Rarity. "I'll make the desert!" Says Pinkie pie. " I'll help out with pinkie on the deserts." Finishes Applejack. " So does everyone know what there doing?" I ask them." Good, now lets start this!" We all enter the kitchen d the girls do their thing. I g to he table and pull out chair with much trouble. I eventually get it out just enough to get on and see the table. Or so I though. I get on the chair with little struggle, and when I got up I yelled a victory yell. Everyone turned on me with eyes and flat stares. " What?" I ask. " Why did you just yell?" Ask Fluttershy. " Well because I got on to the chair." " Why didn't you just ask one of us?" Says Rarity. It's not that I don't trust them yet but I half trust them. And I don't like asking for help unless its a good friend on my side. It's better that way. Gotta be strategic when answering people. Take note others! " It's just I don't like asking help from others that's all." Half truth half lie. Mostly truth. All of them nod except Applejack. She hesitate but accepts it. I sit at the table thinking about stuff and talking to Iris. " Hey Iris. You wanna talk? " ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz..... " Screw you sometimes, screw you." With that not a option I thought about going to school. Are the CMC there? Do they know what happened to me? Hope not, gotta test and polish my social skills. Wonder what kind of bullies they have, verbal, or physical. Doesn't matter, cross that bridge wen the time comes. Wonder what vegetables their using. Wonder what's gonna happen. Am I old enough to own a house? If I can i'll ask someone to teach me taxes, wonder who's good with that? Dad always said 'go away i'm busy." wearing dem reading glasses. Any of my currents thoughts were now broken by someone talking to me. " Jon?" Says Twilight "sigh Yeah?" " Are you ok?" Asks Fluttershy. I look at the now full of food table and then to each pony who is now staring at me(+1 Dragon). " Yeah! Totally. Nothing is wrong." " Are you sure you were mighty spaced out there." Says Applejack. "Yeah, i'm fine." I say this in a calm tone. Everyone looks at each other with worry. I take notice of this and keep talking. " Don't worry about me, i'm fine and I can take care of myself. So don't worry." Most of there faces show that they dropped it some others still held on to it but dropped it for now, i'll probably have a conversation with them. Unless I avoid it like the plague. It's doable, done it before." Come on let's eat already the foods getting cold." With that we started or everyone else did and my food got taken away from Rarity. " What did I say about manners?" She held the food in her grasp of magic. " That I should use them to be polite and hold the door for others?" Taking backwards shot in the dark while pointing to the sky. " That I feed you because you can't feed yourself." She's using the stare.(Not Fluttershy's, I repeat, NOT FLUTTERSHY'S) The stare is that one kind of stare that all the girls have, the one you feel guilty for. The war is losing fast. " I can feed myself. You just won't let me." " Because were a civilized family and we have manners." " Aww you just called me family. I'm touched, but even in my family I have the least manners. So can I eat it now?" " No." The stare is strong in this one. " Fine i'll starve till tomorrow." " Your bluffing." " I'm not. I'll walk out to the couch and sleep." She's gotta be kinda close to cracking, right? "Ok then. Go ahead. the doorway is that way." She points her hoof towards the door. The others watch the dinner drama. " I... shall then leave." I hop off the chair I once sat on and make way to the doorway. I make it through the door and a bunch of OOos are heard. Well time to starve on the couch. It's just like home except there's no internet or electronics here. I make it to the couch and lay down thinking about what she said and what to do. I should go get my bag, look through the stuff I have, and give the text book to Twilight. I found some golden coins lying in the ruins, gold seems valuable at home so what's it here? I guess i'll have Twilight inspect the stuff I have. Not the armor though it's mine, and it's gonna lead me into a lot of trouble. Next thing I know will probably be two pony trying to bribe it and then mug me cause I said no. Meh. So from what I could remember what's in my bag is a machete, a fire starter, school stuff, gems, and coins. I think that's all I have. I'm starving. My future thoughts were interrupted by some hooves clopping on the ground. I turn over to see Twilight and Rarity. " What's up?" I ask them. " I thought we had a agreement." Says Rarity. Oh shit. " We did have a agreement but that was at Fluttershy's house." I say back. " What are you here for Twilight?" " I came to ask you about the book." " Mm, ok but after I eat." " How are you gonna eat it?" Says Rarity. I gave up by now. "sigh With your help Rarity." I hop off the couch and walk towards the dinning area. I make it back to the kitchen and I hop on to the chair with a leap of luck to my surprise, in front of me was empty space and a open spot next to me with a plate full of food with a fork next to the food. That mare set me up. I lost by a land slide. My face on the outside is flat and blank, on the inside is a flip tone of rage, anger, sadness, and surprise. Rarity sits down on the open spot and levitates the fork stabbing a piece of broccoli. " Open wide." Uhg. this again. Don't worry mental state it's only a week. Well today is the first meal and seeing that i'm living here and going to school, She won't feed me at lunch, but most likely every dinner and breakfast over the next six days. So twelve meals i'll be fed and six alone. Whoop a dee do. This went on for a little bit before I noticed everyone staring, Rarity seems to not mind but I sure do. Time to call them out on it. " Why you girls staring? Haven't you seen a colt being fed before?" Spike looks angry, wonder why? " You know what? I'm getting tired and just want to eat so do whatever you feel like." finished talking and resumed being fed by Rarity. the others seemed to look over it some are like 'whoa dude!' and Spike is angry. He will be future trolling target. Dinner is over soon and I finished my meal with help from Rarity. As that is done everyone leaves after helping clean up of course and talking and gossiping. Everyone leaves except Spike and Twilight, Rarity too of course cause it's her house. I'm now on the couch once again, thinking and waiting for something to happen. A wild Twilight appears! " Hello Jon." I turn around lazily to see her and on her back, Spike. " Hey Spike and Twilight. Whatcha need?" " The book you promised." " Out of order." I turn back around only to be grabbed with magic and lifted to Twilight's face. She has a scary face. " Jeeze take a joke. And calm down it's only one of a kind knowledge around here. It's perfectly fine now, let me down on the floor and i'll take you there." she puts me down and I walk towards my room or I think I do. " I remember it's up stairs and down a hall. I think it's this way." I point towards a direction. " You don't know where your room is? What a idiot." Says Spike. " Spike! Don't be rude. You know where it is right?" Twilight asks. " I'm not a idiot. I'm a pony right now and the reason I don't remember is I haven't memorized the layout yet. And i'm pretty sure that fighting thieves don't help." This shuts up Spike. Twilight suggest a solution. " Do you want to teleport there?" " Maybe the last time I got teleported I landed on books." I joke." That's not gonna happen right?" " No Jon that won't." " Ok let's teleport." " Just think of something that you have a connection there." I think of my bag naturally. A pop is heard and i'm temporary blinded. My vision clears and i'm in the room where I couldn't sleep in. In front of the door way on the inside. I look around for my bag and I spot it. " There's my bag let me get the stuff you want." I trot over to the bag only for it to be levitated by Twilight. " Hey what are you doing?" " Oh sorry, i'm excited." Yeah sure I saw that greed in there. " Yeah sure. Just let me open this up and let me get." I manage to get the backpack open from fangleing the zipper with my mouth and holding the front and back with my hooves and clamping it together. I grab the zipper in my mouth and drag to a side, I repeat the process again and I take a look inside. Everything is just how I left it but everywhere. Great. The golden coins are on everything and so are the gems. At least my paper and books are neat and how I left them. I'm not separating them apart. " Twilight can you help me?" I ask her. " It looks like you got it though." She says in a joking tone. " Yeah sure I need you to do something for me." " What is it first?" " Can you levitate everything out of the bag and place them in separate piles." She levitates everything out of the bag. The results are gold pile of about ten coins, some gems, School homework, two text books, and Library book about inflation. It was free cause book give away! " Cool. Twilight, here's the book." I knock off the top book from the text book pile and point to it. The book shoots from the ground almost hitting me. I take a short breather and look towards Twilight. Her smile is one of greed and power. She looks at the words on top and has a perplexed look. She flips to a random page and reads it. Her eyes widen and she turns towards me. " I can't read this." Her tone is soft and sounding of 'I don't believe it'. " Of course." She looks at me with a glare but I ignore it and continue. " If I couldn't read yours. I didn't really expect for you to read mine then." " Why didn't you tell me this?" " Because I just thought about it." " I-I don't want this any more." She levitates it to the spot it once laid. Her face is now saddened. I feel somewhat sorry for her. " Hey Twilight I have a something else for you." I point to the pile of golden coins. Finally about time I learned about these." I found these coins in the ruins I was at, they seem petty old maybe you could get some info on them? For me?" Her face turns to me and she sees the coins I talked about. " Sure, First off their called 'bits'." Neat. " You found these in the Ruins you said?" She levitates a coin towards her eye and inspects it. " Yeah wound them when I loot- um. Explored the ruins looking for supplies. That's all." " Ok then. Thank you for this, anything else?" " Take a coin with you and ask Celestia about it." Her eyebrow twitched at hearing this. " That's Princess Celestia to you. Got it?" " Yeah I know, but you gonna take a coin and ask her about it." " Fine. Thank you and goodbye." Spike is asleep on her back. She took a coin from the pile and teleported home. I leave the stuff where it is and leave to find Rarity, I want a shower after todays crap. I remember the way to the main room from my room but not the other way. As I walk towards the main room I take notice of anything noticeable so I can find my way back. I make a makeshift mental pathway back and make it to the man room. I notice the way towards the kitchen and see Rarity. " Hi Rarity." I say to her. " Hello Golden Spark." She says back. " Don't use the full name. Just call me Goldie, it'll be easier this way." She nods to this. " So what are you doing?" " Just cleaning up the rest of the other things." " Sure. Sorry I can't help. I'll pay you back later." " Don't worry about it Goldie. You don't have to do that." " I'm still gonna pay you back. I'll find away." " Sure, do you need anything?" A girlfriend. But meh " A shower. That's all." " Ok then let's go to the bathroom then." What happed next was simple as last time. I stood there and Rarity levitated bath items cleaning me all around. After that I got out of the tub and Rarity dried me with a towel. I'm pretty sleepy enough to sleep in the bed so i'll probably sleep there tonight. I had a chat after she put the towel back. " Hey Rarity?" " Yes dear?" " Why did you call me family?" " Well my friends and I like to call ourselves a little family. Does it trouble you?" " No it doesn't. Just asking." " Ok then. Anything else?" " One more thing. I'm going to school tomorrow, right?" " Yes you are. Is that all? " Yeah." "Now, off to bed you go." " Got it." I make it to the main room and remember the mental path. From there I make it to my room. Everything is in a pile of where I left it. I get to the bed and hop on. I go under the blanket and sleep.
Good, bad, and why me?	Day 2: New school! Press z to equip	Day 2: New school! Press z to equip Hooray new transition line! kinda?) I woke up to Rarity calling. " Golden Spark it's time to wake up!" That sing song voice woke me up. I'm defintly awake for sure but I want to sleep. Damn ponies. I put a pillow over my head to attempt something. What do I attempt... I don't know. Delaying the inevitable, school, something boring? Yes. I lay in the bed waiting. Rarity decides to come in. " Goldie? Why aren't you out of bed yet?" I lift my head from the bed and turn to her. Gotta think of a excuse fast! " Uh... I can't open doors,and I haven't got dressed yet." That's my story and i'm sticking to it. " Well I was going to come in sooner, but why would you get dressed? It's only your first day of school." " Oh nothing. sigh Just a human thing." Back in my world it was just my family and me. I got up, got dressed and left without a word, this is were I am now. " Come along darling we must fix your mane and eat." Hooray meals. she walks away and I follow. " What's wrong with my hair?" Well I could think of unnecessary reasons but their unnecessary. " It's called mane, and it's so, so.." She can't find the words to describe it. Is it really that bad? " Messy? Drab? Everywhere?" Back home I never combed my hair with out a reason. " Well if you put like that then, yes." By now were both in the main room. Instead of the kitchen, Rarity here has other plans. We enter a side room with a mirror, comb, and a plethora of beauty products. " Sit here." She motions her hoof to a cushion on the floor. " Your only gonna use the comb, right?" Right now i'm somewhat worried. "Yes, now sit so we can get started." I sit down and wait. She lifts a comb with her magic and get's started. While she's combing I decide to ask her some questions. " Hey Rarity." " Yes dear?" " Can I ask you some questions?" " Yes, what would you like to ask." " How am I gonna get to school?" " I'm taking you there after breakfast." "Ok. Are there video games here?" " Video games? Equestria has a certain level of it you can say." Did she just make a pun? " Do you have consoles?" " Dear, what in Equestria is a console." By now she finished combing my 'mane'. Uhg when she's not looking later i'll shake my head to feel normal again. " Simply, a console is a video game for your home." That's the only way I can put it. " Oh. I'm not sure about those but we have arcade games." Ah a arcade. Classic. " Cool, what time is it and what's for breakfast." We walked from the side room and made our way into the kitchen, we both walked in and she went towards one way and I to the table " The time now is 5:26, and breakfast is pancakes." " Neat. I guess i'm done for now then." Rarity started making breakfast. While waiting I decide to 'talk' with Iris. "Hey Iris you up?" " Yes but i'm going back soon." Her voice holds grogginess. " Don't i'll need your help for school." " Why would you need my help? Your a highschooler, this is elementary level stuff. " Yeah but it'll be boring." " Yeah good luck with that. Bye! I seriously doubt her usefulness sometimes, but she does have point. It's for little kids and stuff. By now they should be learning multiplication and long division. I can do that. Any future thoughts were cut off by Rarity. " Time to eat." She said this as she levitated two plates of pancakes to the table. I have a plan to take my food and eat it. It's stupid enough, so it might work. " Hey Rarity." " Yes?" " Do you see the pony outside with such a terrible dress." " It can't be that terrible now can it?" " Oh yes it can. Do you not see that it doesn't match with her mane, coat color and even her eyes." Her face is showing stress and worry. I feel somewhat bad, not guilty though. " I'm sure everypony has there style." Her voice is wavering somewhat. " But Rarity she isn't even treating the dress with respect." I think she's almost snapped." You must go help her." Oh no she's getting away!" I point my golden clad hoof towards a random window thinking that it works. Rarity's eyes widen. " Stay right here and wait for me." She tells me. She then turns around and heads towards the front door and gallops out like a fire behind her. I smile deviously. It worked. I get off the chair and jump on to the table. I take a plate of pancakes over to me and sit on the table. Looking around the table I notice a bottle of syrup. Perfect. Problem, its glass. It be so much easier if it was plastic, it be as simple as nudge the bottle to the plate, knock it over and then step on it to get syrup. BUT that's not it it's glass. Got it. I grab the glass bottle in a hug and use my mouth to open the cap. After a moment I find the opening a pop is heard and huzzah I got it open now stage two. I move the bottle slowly so I cradle it downwards so it pours the sweet stuff all over the pancakes. After a little bit of maneuvering with my hooves, I put the bottle back on the table where it was and I prepare to eat. Wonder where Rarity is. Meh. I get on all four hooves and lower my head to eat the pancakes. . . . Delicious. I feel like i'm grazing on grass, but pancakes instead. I eat the magnificent bastards but all of a sudden nothing happens. My gut says stop, or hurry, shits going down. I disobey my gut and keep eating. I'm really worrying about Rarity, being slightly paranoid I eat faster I soon finish the pancakes and sit down on my ass and sigh in relief. It all changed when Rarity came back. Shit. Her face: Rage. Well I'd like to thank some people. My friends and family. Shit that's all I have. I can't die I still have so much to live for. Like a Twinkie, I still haven't had one of those yet. And I plan not to so... Plan B! Run awa- I mean Tactical retreat! I start by jumping off the table and landing on my front hooves. Damn it I buckle under the landing and fall to the floor. Chest first then the rest of my body after. Great. Rarity seemed surprised at this. " Goldie, Are you ok?" It seems as all the anger disappeared, good. " Yeah, perfect." I push myself off the floor and sit where I fell. I feel a little wobbly after that. Stupid pony body. I finally get a good look at the table and see that its about 1.5x taller than me. Wonder how long it took Rarity to realize it was a trick. " Goldie, Why did you trick me?" " Cause. I was really hungry and I couldn't wait for you. You took a very long time if I might add." It's like Bomber man except that I trapped myself in a corner with a bomb right behind me. " That doesn't explain it." " Isn't it time for school?" Do I doge the bomb? She looks around and stops for a moment. She then answers. " It's 6:28, and school starts at 7:00 and it's a ten minuet walk." She says this out loud, probably thinking out loud." Don't worry we still have time to spare." Hooray! <-sarcasm." Now why did you trick me Golden Spark." " Cause I wanted food." " sigh You know what. Go to the main room and wait while I prepare a lunch bag for you." I follow the orders and walk out. I sit on the oh so familiar couch and wait. While waiting I got a feeling I haven't got in a long time, nervousness. The same New School nervousness I got every time I went to a new school. On the outside I look purely neutral and not interested, but on the inside I freak out. Rarity came in with a brown sack, which is probably my lunch, and a bag(?) both in her magic of course. " What's with the bag?" I ask. " Well Its yours to use for school and your lunch is a daisy sandwich with a bottle of apple juice." " How am I supposed to open the bottle?" " Try using magic." " I don't know how to use magic." " Oh, um... It's quite simple all you have to do is focus on something and it will happen, well that's for a simple manipulation spell." " Ok." " Now let's move on, it's almost time for school." " Hooray." I say this with heavy sarcasm but it seems like Rarity didn't catch it. " Good now come along." She puts the lunch sack in the other bag and put's it on me. it not to heavy or uncomfortable. Just there. Rarity opens the door and walk out. I follow behind her soon. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ (another transition line Cause experiments.) _________________________________________________________________________________________________ ( The school) Me and Rarity are now at the school. The school itself isn't that bad just very old. It seems to seems to be modeled after a barn painted red of course with a bell on top and a soft grassy area near the front. A fence borders around probably to keep strays in and strangers out. Me and Rarity go up to the front but i'm stopped by a hoof a white one. " Stay here I will go talk to the teacher." Wonder how the teacher is. I sit on the step and wait. Rarity soon comes back out with another pony. (Guess Who!) The new pony is purple like twilight but a darker shade, and without a horn or wings. On her side is three daisies with smiles. I personally would of chose roses but meh. Her mane is a two tone pink with a light pink sandwiched in between slightly darker pinks. Wonder what her name is. Rarity spoke out. " Here is the little colt Cheerilee." Uhg she called me little. I'm thinking I should tell her I don't like it when someone calls me that but I just stay silent. " Well, hello there little guy." Uhg." What's your name?" Cheerilee asks. Just ignore it, just ignore it... " My name is Golden Spark. I will tell more when the rest of class asks about me." I say this in a deep voice and monotone at that. I think I freaked her out. " Uh Rarity can I talk to you for a moment." There is uncertainty in her voice. She walks a couple yards away from me with Rarity, But I just sit there and wait. Wait, now might be a good time to use magic. She said All I have to do is focus on something to manipulate it. I assume that moving it is just willing it. I notice a pointy rock on the ground. I focus slightly on it and it lifts up. I thought it would take more focus. Apparently it did because the rock shot up into the air like it teleported. Man if you were there you would see a rock and then a shock wave. I'm astounded at what just happened. Let's review shall we. Lifted a rock with little focus, Focused really hard then rock went bye bye to the sky. If it falls down, I wonder what it's gonna hit and how big the destruction is. I am now somewhat scares to lift something up with magi now. But if i'm in a fight... I can make use of it. Something just turned awesome. I quickly look around for another rock. I found one. This time I put more focus into lifting. I focus even more trying to write something in he dirt. I spelled out my real name without thinking about the ponies. I just realized something. I lost concentration again. I shield myself bracing something to happen. After a short moment all I look to see what happened. I see my real name written on the ground and the rock I used. Ok then Wonder what made the other rock shoot to the sky then. let see if we can make tis one rocket too. I focus on the rock and it levitates I then focus really hard. I release all focus and the rock shoots to the air. Ok got it, it's kinda worked like a rubber band but on steroids and adrenalin. Cool. I stopped with the rock rockets and waited for Cheerilee and Rarity. I say sorry for anyone who got hit. The mares came back. Rarity spoke first. " Golden Spark." Rarity says. " Yeah?" I say this in a normal voice. " Be on your best behavior, be nice, be respectful to Ms. Cheerilee an to the other foals and lastly, NO FIGHTING." She said this with authority. I took this to heart, cause you gotta follow the rules. I just follow the one I choose to like no murder and this. " Yeah, yeah. Don't worry I got this." She nods, but has a work of worry. Cheerilee takes over. " Now, Golden Spark let's go inside and introduce you to the class." We both go inside, her first and she announces a announcement. " Settle down class we have a new student!" I walk in after he and survey the class as they to me. All I know is the CMC. " Now why don't you tell us about yourself." Everyone is silent, waiting to hear me talk. I thought of a back story already, wonder if I have to use it. " sigh Hello everypony." I change it to make sure none suspect me. Hopefully it works." My name is Golden Spark. That is all." Cheerilee speaks once again. " Now lets ask him some questions." Thanks for asking for my consent." Now who wants to go first?" All hooves raise up. " Oh, um Golden Spark why don't you choose." Hooray.<-sarcasm. " Why don't we start from the front then snake to the back." I suggest. " Wonderful, now let's get started. You can pass if you want to." Ready... Set... Wait 4 it... Go!! First kid in the to row far right says. " Where did you come from." " Canterlot. Next." Front row middle kid asks. "What's your cutie mark?" Her tone holds much sass. The filly has a pink coat and a purple and white mane. (guess who?) " What's your name first?" I ask her. " It's Diamond Tiara, So do you have a cutie mark are not?" I turn to my butt and guess what I don't have one. Wasn't expecting one. I turn back to answer her question. " Nope. Next" Diamond Tiara tells the filly something next to her and apparently it's funny, cause they both laugh and giggle. The filly next to her speaks her question. " My name is Silver Spoon." Ok?" And I pass." " Cool, next." The next kid is Applebloom. " Do you have a family?" " No, next question." I say this without feeling. And the whole class gasps. Try saying that three times fast. The next asker is Sweetie Belle. " What happened to your leg." " This?" I bring the armor clad leg up. Remember that backstory I thought of. Yeeaaah... " When I was in Canterlot, My house caught fire." I stopped there cause everyone gasped. " I was in my house when it happened. While trying to get out a beam came down and struck this leg. My leg went paralyzed, I couldn't feel it but it's still here. My parents already escaped but they realized that I wasn't with them. They tried to go back but the others said it was to dangerous." Lots of murmuring is heard through out this. " I was still stuck under the beam waiting for my death, but Princess Celestia came through the flames. She heard the distraught of my parents and wanted to help. Guards tried to stop her saying it was too dangerous. But she said this. ' What kind of ruler am I if I can't help them.' When she said that everypony stopped." " She then galloped towards the inferno looking for me. As you can see she found me. She threw away the beam in her magic and took me outside to my parents. She offered a place in the castle for my parents. My parents gratefully accepted and we lived there for awhile. While there my dad researched a way for me to walk again, but long story short The princess helped and I now have this around my leg." I finished the story and another hoof is raised. The asker, Scootaloo. " Um, uh, What do you do for fun?" I can tell that she is trying to lift the mood up but I don't really care. " Nothing really, I explore sometime and play videogames every so often." This perked up a certain little colt. ( guess who!) The next two questions are irrelevant about me but I answer them cause its a class. One colt's question is interesting. " So.. You like video games?" The colt who asks me this has a dark brown coat and a mane that reminds me of bacon, atop on his head is a green hat with a green propeller. " Yeah I do. What's your name?" " Oh it's Button Mash." "Cool. Is that all the questions?" I ask. Everyone nods. Cheerilee steps in now. " Ok class, it seems like that went longer than expected but. Lunch time everypony!" Everyone rushes out. I star towards the door but is soon stopped. " Golden Spark can you come here for a moment." I trot over to Cheerilee and converse. " Yeah?" I say. " Rarity told me what's happening" Well shit. " Which parts?" " Enough to know that the story is fake. Now tell me why did you say that." " Wait what part did she tell you?" " That is none of you business now speak." " Well I don't know what she told you but can I tell you something?" " Very well. What is it." " Ok you know that recently there was a weird monkey thing following the CMC." " Well yes but-" " I'm that monkey thing." Everything is silent. She stands up behind her desk and comes in font of me. " Are you telling the truth?" She asks. " Yes I am." " Golden Spark, you know what Rarity said." " Yeah and?" " Just go outside and go play with the others. I'm gonna go on a lunch break too, I am starving." I'm not sure she believes me. But I go outside anyway. I walk through the front door and look around, most ponies are playing around or eating. I look for a place to eat my lunch and decide at the tree full of shade. I walk over to it trying to go unnoticed but everything is now silent. All the ponies are now staring at me and murmuring. I frankly don't care about it. I make it to the tree. I lay down and turn to the side Rarity put my lunch in. I find the right side and nudge it open. I look inside to find the oh so familiar lunch bag. I use my mouth to pull it out and set it down in front of me. I use my magic to levitate the contents out. I lay the juice to the side and take hold of the sandwich. I unwrap it with my magic and eat it with my magic. Simple right? While eating my thoughts drift back to my world and what happens. My thoughts go on for awhile then someone came up to me. The CMC. " Well howdy there Golden Spark i'm-" " Applebloom, I know all of you three." Scootaloo speaks next. " Who are you and why do you know us!" " Look do you remember me?" " You look kinda familiar." Says Sweetie Belle. " Your catching on Sweetie Belle." I say while taking another bite of the sandwich. I finish it and speak again." It's me Jon." I take another bite of the sandwich. The CMC's eyes widen. " Jon is it really you?" Says Scootaloo. " What happened?" She quit loud right now. "Shh be quieter, or everyone will hear this." They all nod." After I got chased out of town I went to the forest." The CMC gasp. " I landed in some kind of blue flower that made me this. That's the gist of it." " Is it called poison joke?" Says Applebloom. " I don't know, probably." I open the apple juice with my magic I put it between both my hooves and clamp on it I lift it towards my mouth and drink. Refreshing. " So now what? I ask. " Why don't you tell us what happened in the forest. " Says Scootaloo. I tell them what happened in the forest about right off from after I split up from them. Mister Plant. And the ruins. As i'm about halfway through the story. But got interrupted. By Diamond Tiara I think. " Well lookie here, the new blank flank is hanging out with the other blank flanks." Says Diamond Tiara. " Yeah Blank flanks." Says the grey filly next to her. " sigh What do ya what Diamond Tiara." Says Applebloom. " Just showing the new kid who's boss." I raise my eyebrow at this. I step up to talk. "Excuse me? Show me who's boss. Well then your in for a surprise. 'Diamond Tiara' I don't care what so ever." " WHAT!? Don't you know who I am? I am the richest-" " Woah, there Stop for a second. You said your the richest. Well I don't care, I have my own wealth and this." I raise my golden leg. " My own wealth would dwarf yours. And I don't care." I say. " Well... your still a blank flank." " That's all you got to call me. I've been called stuff ten time worse and they sad that stuff while they tried to beat me up, and I won. You want to know something else? I don't care. Now shoo. I have business." Her face is flustered and angered " I'll make you regret that!" She says this as she goes away. I predict in the near future someone is gonna hire a couple of thugs, not saying who but... yeah. " I DON'T CARE!" I yell back to them. I sigh in relief and turn back to the CMC. " Oh yeah, Sweetie Belle." " Uh um, Yeah Jon?" " Call me Goldie, same goes for the rest of you. They all nod. " Sweetie Belle. I'm sleeping in your bed a Rarity's" " Oh that's ok." She says back. " Oh cool. Lets get back to the story." The bell rings for recess. " Never mind. To class." We all go to class. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ time skip _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Class is over now, Thank god. It was so boring. I literally relearned everything I knew. History, authors, paintings. With pony puns. Ok this might be a alternate dimension or something cause it's all so familiar sounding. Meh. I wait out side for a moment realizing what I need to do. We definitely have homework for sure, but I can't read pony stuff and they can't to mine. I'll have to ask Rarity to write it or something. She'll have to read it to me, i'll have to answer it and she'll have to write it. That's how it should go. I think. Anyway i'm about top move but I got stopped. " Wait!" I turn around to see what's his name? It's uh.......Button mash? Yeah Button Mash. " You wanna go to the arcade or something? My treat." " Sure I don't have any bits anyway. Do you wanna be my friend or something?" I ask him. " Just trying to make a good impression now lets go. " He runs off, probably to the arcade. Wait I gotta go after him. Crap. I hate running. " Hey wait for me!" I head after him. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ transition _________________________________________________________________________________________________ " Wait for me!" I finally caught up with him. The building looks somewhat rundown. Lights flash around the sign. Kinda useless during the day I think. Just from standing at the outside I can feel the gamers passion. The one place I like about it says "Classic". " Well here we are at the arcade." Says Button Mash. He looks at me. " Oh sorry." I'm catching my breath and I think i'm wheezing. " It's fine. Lets go inside." I decide to ask him some questions about the place." Do you know the owner?" " Kinda. I don't know her name but she wants everypony to call her granny." " Really? You know what, what's the hardest game here?" He stops and looks at me with horror. "Are you really sure about that?" " Mmm. Nope let's go." He looks at me like i'm crazy. " Ok then it's this way." He takes me through a maze of arcade booths. In the end we end at the hardest game here. in corner. " So what's it called?" I ask him " This is the hardest game. They call it Pak-mare." He sounds somewhat scared. " What's so scary about it?" " It's imported from Japan." I'm petty sure that's the only place in this world that doesn't have a pony pun. I just realized something. Its imported. From Japan. Shit. " Ooo things just got interesting. So What are the myths?" " How did you know?" Its Japan and it's in a corner. " You just told me. So what's the myth." " They say that once you start playing you get trapped in there forever." " That's it? I'll go first then. You said this is the hardest game, right?" He nods." This seems more like a scary one. You know what. Give me a token or a bit or something, i'm gonna play this." " What! Uh shouldn't you take some precautions or something." " Mmmm... Maybe. You know what if something happens go find a mare named Rarity and tell then her what happened. Tell her to get Twilight Sparkle. and get me out or something. Got it?" He just stares and nods." Now hand over a bit. Please." He grabs a bronze coin out of his bags with his hoof and hands it to me. I take it in my magic and put it the oh so familiar coin slot. The coin goes down with a clink and the games starts. The screen changes to the title saying ' one credit inserted. ' . see that it's low enough for me to sit down and raise my front legs to move the joy stick and press the buttons. Why does a game like Pac-man need buttons? Meh gotta play now. I press the button on machine to say 'I'm ready'. The screen shuts down. " Is it broken? Thank Celestia." Says Button. The screen comes alive. I have a plain face for all of this, half expecting this to happen in magical pony land. The screen flares out in a bright light. To Button I'm gone. But me i'm in the system. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Button mash) "OhmyCelestiawhadoIdohesaidifanythinghappensgoget......RARITY!" Button dashes off to go find Rarity. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Jon/Golden Spark) I wake up to find myself on a black floor. I push myself off the ground. I see that it's like a first view of Pac-man, neat. I look around to see a bunch of white dots floating about two feet off the ground. I look to where the sky would be and see nothing but black. There is neon walls of blue on my left and right, and the dots in front and back. I here a voice say 'Ready?' I look around to see where it came from but it's not around, I look up to see the familiar pixelated 'ready?' from Pac-man. All of a sudden it says 'Go' I am not prepared for that. I set off on a late start. The dots or pallets whatever you want to call them, When I touch them they disappear. Probably for my points. I turn around to find a ghost. HOLY SHIT! Have you seen them up close! They are not pixelated right now! I turn around and run as fast as I can to the nearest 'power pallet' or PP for short. Back to the ghost. The ghost itself is scary. Its wide and about seven feet tall. It's mouth is spiked from the cloth it's under. The eyes are PITCH BLACK. That's enough for me so i'm gonna run now. I look to the 'sky once again hoping for anything that can help. NOPE! Life can't even give me a mirror to look around the place. All I memorized of the Pac-man maze is that there's a PP in the corner of each map. Shit ghost gotta run. I turn the corner only to be blinded. My eyes adjust to the brightness and I see the PP. It's as bright as a mini sun, wait a sun. I quickly look to my right leg to see if it's there and it is. Sweet! I show it to the PP's light hoping it would transform. It does. Sweeeet. It become the dagger I once saw, but a dagger wont kill a ghost. What will? The ghost is catching up to me...shit. I grab the dagger in my mouth, take the PP and run towards the ghost. My body glows of light from the PP. I crash into the ghost and it erupts in dust I make it to the opposite corner holding the other PP. Ok what has videogames taught me to defeat a ghost. Skyrim taught me that Daedric swords do damage to ghost I think? I show the dagger to the PP's light and transform it into a Daedric short sword. I grab the handle in my mouth and wait. (if you don't know what it looks like go google it) A ghost approaches from behind. I turn towards it with the blade gripped in my mouth. The Ghost eyes widen. He stops. This might be my chance. I run towards it hoping to stab it and kill it but it soon says something unexpected. " Ah! Stop please don't hurt me!" The ghost shrinks down and cowers away. " Why are you chasing me." I ask it. " Well we chase you because we nopony has played with us in a very long time." " What do you mean? Long time? Tell me about it, now." I sit down on the black floor and hear it's story. Basically the story is a young unicorn colt wanted to play the game so bad he practically made it his life to play the game forever, he did just that. He invented a spell that made him go into the game itself. He played the game inside it and beat it. He had a problem. He never got out. He doomed himself in hear for forever. In spite to do so he cursed this place so for any other payer to come in to die. End " Well that's stupid." I say. " What a dick. So how can I get out?" " You can't. But will you play with us?" The now friendly ghost asks. " Maybe after I find a way out." " But you can't It's impossible. Were practically in another dimension." " Oh that's it. Go talk to your other ghost buddies and tell them I have a plan. Give me like ten minuets and meet me at the power pellet over there." I tell him or her i'm not judging." Wait do you want to come with?" Not sure how Equestria will take ghost, but. Meh. " I would like to, but i'm no sure about the others. I will go talk to them." He turns back into that creepy ass seven foot tall form and drifts away. I trot over to the PP with the Daedric dagger in mouth I guess. Now what sword can cut through dimensions. Definitely not a game sword, but maybe. Anime?..........Nah i'll make my own. I imagine a regular sword with the ability to cut through dimensions. The flash occurs and the sword is a katana? I imagined a broadsword. I think this weapon has more than I think. I don't want it to go all glados on me. I'll cross that bridge when the time comes. The katana is golden of course because that's the new trade mark of this thing. The handle has a purple fabric crossing over making a grip for the blade. Nothing is really special about it other than its a transforming object. Yeah normal. The ghost came back with some buds. " So do any of you want to leave?" I ask them. " I speak for the group when I say yes." Said the ghost I talked through before. "Sure lets get this over with." I put the katana in my mouth and slash upwards as high as I can. A slashing sound is heard. I look towards were I slashed and what appears to be the 'doorway'. Its now actually a door but a slash through a dimension. " Let's go." I say as I turn back to the ghosts. I then turn back around and run towards the entry way saying this. " GERONIMO!!" After that its like tripping on balls off the walls. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ One tripping of balls later) _________________________________________________________________________________________________ After tripping balls for awhile I got used to it. I'm not sure if that's good. I then realized that I need to open another opening to Equestria. I swear to myself sometimes. " HEY GHOST LEADER WHERE ARE YOU!?" I yell. " Don't worry were right behind you." The leader yells. " COOL I FOUND A WAY TO GET BACK SO GET READY." I use the katana once again to open a way through. I slash the way through to see Equestria. I think. Cause all I see is the ground, wait. GROUND! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is a portal as you can see -> 0 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I crash to the ground in pain. I hear voices but I ignore them for the time being. I must of dropped the katana cause it's not here. I push my self off the ground to see Rarity, Twilight, and button. " What's up" I say. I soon find my katana, because it came right next to me stabbing the ground. With that I scared the shit outa me. "Holy hell!" I jump up in a slight fright. " Oh that's where it went." I pull it out of the ground with my magic and put it aside for now. " Um. Sup?" " Goldie. What happened." Says Rarity." We were so worried about you." " Goldie can you explain?" Says Twilight. " Yeah I can, but didn't Button over there explain the situation?" I say. " Why yes he did but what happened to you." Rarity asks. " Wait a minuet. There's something missing." I look around for the ghosts. The opening opens once again and the ghost flop down with not much of a sound more like a thick fabric hitting the ground." Found it. Hey ghost dude you aright?" " Uh Goldie what are those." Twilight asks. " Didn't you hear me Twilight? Ghosts, I said ghosts. Now get up." I nudge them with my hoof and they finally get up. " Are we here?" One of the ghost asks. " Yes your free now. What are gonna do." " We are gonna terrorize the world! MWAHAHHAH!" I bring the katana up to his face. " You bucking terrorize this place. I cut you up. It's not your job to terrorize this place it's mine. What's your choice." I'm serious that if they terrorize the place I will cut them up. Oh and the other thing too, duh. " Whoa, Whoa there, we were joking, Right guys?" The rest of the group nods in a worried fasion. " Good this is my place to terrorize not yours got that?" " Got it, your the boss then. Tell us what to do." Did I just get a platoon of ghost? Kinda cool. " Sure whatever. Look there's a forest that way." I point into the direction of the everfree." Somewhere in there is a place of ruins. You can live there." " Got it. We'll find it. Come get us if you need us boss." The leader says. The soon fly off through the ceiling and probably to the forest. I turn back to Twilight, Rarity and Button staring at me in disbelief. " What? Never seen that happen before?" I lower the katana to the side. " You have some explaining to do now." Says Twilight. " Sure let's do it at Rarity's." She nods. and starts to walk with out. " Rarity." Rarity turns towards me with a wavering jaw, kinda like a fish. " What's for a dinner?" I ask her. She just shakes her head and walks away. " Wait up!" I trot after her, but I stop to tell Button something. " Oh Button that was fun! We should hang out sometime maybe at your house?" I wait for a answer. " Uh sure i'll jut go ask my mom, uh see ya tomorrow." His voice is somewhat nervous, what's up with that? I then trot after Rarity and Twilight. They're probably waiting at the front. I make it to the front of the arcade to see them both. I then look around to see if there is anyone else around. " Close your eyes for a minuet. " I tell them. Rarity and Twilight close here eyes and wait. I retransform the katana to the armor I had once before. " Ok you can open them now." They open there eyes and look at me. " What? Did I do something wrong?" " sigh what are we gonna do with you." Says Twilight. " Rarity can we go home I need help with my homework." I choose to ignore Twilight this time. " What do you need my help with. I'm sure you can answer it by your self can you?" Says Rarity. " Yeah but I can't read it. I just need your help to read and write it so I don't have to make a excuse for my homework. So can you help me?" " On one condition. Accept it before you hear it and i'll help." " Sure I accept now what is it?" I was not thinking, two seconds later I registered what she said. " Good, your grounded. Now let's go." She trots towards the direction of the boutique I assume and I just stand there asking myself what happened. " Great. Twilight you coming? Whatever see ya around." Twilight must have given up on the knowledge I held. It's not god knowledge, but yeah she should of given up. I probably would of given a bad explanation anyway. Oh yeah Rarity. I resume my trot after Rarity to go back to the place I sleep at. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Rarity's place) I caught up with Rarity on the way back, and it was dead silent. She didn't talk and neither did I. I spent the whole time walking back thinking 'What could of I done to get grounded?'. Anyways back to Rarity's I go. I decided to ask her abou the 'grounding'. " Hey Rarity." i say as she walks into her house before me. "Yes Goldie." She says back as we enter the main room. " Why am I grounded?" She stopped at a couch and layed on it. There is another across so I get on that one. " Do you remember what you did this morning?" Oh. " Not really." I lie. " Don't lie to me Goldie." " Ok fine, i'm sorry about tricking you, I just wanted to eat breakfast." " It doesn't mean you have to trick me for that," " True, but where's the fun in that." " What fun do you speak of?" " I have no idea." I say in a uncaring tone. "sigh Well then, i'll help you with your homework after dinner. Do you want anything specific?" Steak and fries. " Uh, how about I cook." Kinda owe it to her after she let me stay in her house and such. " But you can't use hooves. Did you figure out how to use magic?" " Yup! I also learned how to use it in a fight." I sounded so proud of that. " No! No fighting aloud." " But I didn't. I just learned how to weaponize it, no big deal, so can I make you dinner?" " No weapons! And why would you want to make dinner." " Cause I want to that's all." " Really? That's all?" " Noo, but I kinda owe ya for letting me stay here. I should return the favor." " ...Fine then. I expect a very good dinner." I trot to the kitchen leaving the main room. I'm kinda excited for this because my sister never let's me cook. Well there was this one time... meh. I encounter the first problem, my height. Basically i'm too short to see the top of the counter. " Rarity! Do you have a step stool?" I call to her. " It should be in there, look around!" She says back from the main room. I look around to see it literally three feet next to me. I call back to Rarity saying I found it and start my way on to making dinner. I get on the stool. Now what should I make. I don't know how to make anything, crap. I use my magic to look in the cabinets above. Each one holds boxes of other foods and maybe sugar. I finally found something I can use. Pasta. I quickly thank the lord and move on. I take the pasta from the cabinet and set it aside. i get off the stool and look in the cabinets below looking for a pot of some kind. I find a few pots and pans near the stove. I take a moderately sized pot and fill it with water from the sink. I levitate it on the stove and push the stool over, and get on. I get on top of the stool and look at the old style stove. If I remember correctly you turn the dial and push the button for the spark. I turn the corresponding dial to the burner and push the button. Nothing happened except the distinct clicking sound of the spark button. Maybe the gas needs to expand a little? I decide to wait for a minuet thinking the gas needs to seep out(?) for the spark to reach it. I push the button again hoping for something to happen and it did, oh it did. A large flame engulfed the space in front of me. I stepped back to you know get away from the giant ass fireball in front of me, yeah. So when I stepped back I also stepped off. The stool. I fall to the floor with a thud. Rarity must of heard it because she obviously called to me. " Goldie, what was that I heard?" She can hear that fireball? Or my girly yelp? " Nothing! Everything's fine! Don't worry! It'll be a surprise!" I yell back. She's very trusting, she didn't even come in to see... Oh god the fire. The giant ass fireball left a huge scorch mark. The scorch mark is on the walls and the counters, kinda looks like a explosion happened here. Well at least the stove is on. I put the pot of water on the stove and put the pasta inside. Now the next thing, sauce. I don't know how to make it. Wish there was internet here. I get off the floor and trot over to the fridge and open it with magic. So a base for this situation calls for tomatoes, herbs and stuff. I quickly find the tomatoes and put them on the counter. So how do I make sauce? I'mm gonna mash the tomatoes into a watery paste boil that with basil or something and that's it. I shall call it "Sauce experiment #4". The process for mashing is simple find a pot, cut the tomatoes, put the cut tomatoes in the pot, mash the tomatoes. That's part of it. I see a spice rack, neat! Since I can't read for jack around here I have to play a guessing game. I did this before, but I could read the spices and it went... Ok... yeah. Well she's gotta have basil right? That's the good stuff. With all the spices there some green, some brown, some brown green, even red. Ok, so red is dead, blue is in the goo, and green is...lean, yeah, lean. let's roll with that. I separate everything that has green in it. Now I have seven little bottles of green varying shades and hue. Meh, i'll just mix a little but of them all. Now that that's sorted, kinda we move on to the combining. i levitate all seven of the spice bottles above the pot of smashed tomatoes and shake them all in. Next I put them back on the counter and see a mistake. On one of the bottles is a red triangle with a "!" inside of it. Remember everybody: RED IS DEAD. I stare at it for what seemed like an hour. I snap out of my trance and proceed with cooking. I get back on the stool- No the stool is useless. I drag a chair near the stove and hop on. I turn the dial to the burner next to it so I can boil the sauce so it's less watery. I think this will work. There was this one time..Who cares? I quickly push the button to light the stove. A light whoosh sound comes from the small fireball. At least it's not as big. with a second burner ready I levitate the "sauce" over and leave to find a spatula or two for the sauce and the pasta. I look through most of the drawers and after looking everywhere but here I found one spatula. It'll do. I hop back on the chair and check the status of both "concoctions" the sauce is soon to boil and the pasta is almost ready. I stir the pasta with spatula in magic. I think about what I finished and what i'm missing. So sauce and spaghetti noodles are both almost done. now just to put it on the table to eat. I hop of the chair to set up the dinner utensils. At least I know where they are, after looking for the one spatula I took note of where the utensils are. I go to the correct drawer and slid it open. I take out two forks and two soup spoons. I carry them over to the table and set them up on each side. I think the fork goes on the right, right? Well that's wheres it going. I put the spoon on the left and leave to the food in making. I get back on the chair and check. The pasta is done, and the sauce is bubbling. That's not good. I get off the chair and quickly look for a pot lid that fits. After trying multiple lids none worked, did I just choose the one pot without a lid? That is ludicrous, not the rapper. I try the last lid and it doesn't fit. Screw it. I choose a pot lid slightly bigger and left it there. Calamity solved. I look over to the pasta and notice a problem. I forgot the plates. I use my magic to open all the cabinets to find two plates. Well that was easy. I found two clean plates big enough for the dinner. I quickly drain the pasta and put it on the plates dividing them evenly. I go back to the chair and look at the small pot with big lid. The little hole on the lid has a pretty solid jet of steam coming out of it. I lift the whole thing up in magic and shake the pot to stir the insides. I lift off the pot lid and a mushroom cloud of steam flies out. i waft away the steam to see the sauce. It sparkles. gasp! The sauce is red, and sparkly. I levitate the spatula over and take a small sip of the sauce. I black out. Shit with all that work I did I still mess things up. Karma is a bitch and so is luck, take note they both suck. this is the newest line and shall be forever) Rarity, 3rd person view.) Rarity is growing increasingly worried. It's been almost an hour since Goldie's last response. He did tell her to not worry. She decided to check on the colt. " Goldie? Hows dinner coming along? " There's no response from the kitchen." Goldie, are you alright?" Rarity decided to check on him. She got of the couch and walked over to the kitchen. With each step cam a little bit more worried. What could of happen to him? Did he fall and knock himself out? There's no way for that to happen, she would of heard a thud. Did he cut himself? He shouldn't have considering she would of heard a yelp in pain. As Rarity entered the kitchen she saw the scene. Two plates of pasta on the counter waiting to be covered in sauce, the table having two spots for her and him with two utensils for each of them, on the stove a pot with a spatula and a small column of smoke showing he burned something, and on the floor the colt of gold coat and black hair. " Goldie? Are you alright?" She walks over to the colt and inspects him. His face is of pain and sadness. " Ohmygoodness!" She levitates him onto her back and runs fast to the hospital. Her mind filled with confusion and thoughts.
Good, bad, and why me?	Day 3: What!?	Day 3: What!?! _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ???) I wake up to nothing really. It's not the field of grass in my head or a hospital bed like I was expecting. Maybe it is my head, if it is Iris can help. I decide to call out for some social interaction. "Iris! Are you out there?" I yell. I get no response. This worries me. My heart races from the situation I'm in. Could I be dead? I really hope not. I still like like life, kinda. I have to get up, I can't stay here. I start running forward or what I assume it is. Could be upside down for all I care. The blackness around me is starting to make me feel paranoid. You know that feeling that nags at you at first and it make you slightly more scared as time passes? Yeah that one Back to the ponies because that's what you here for. Mostly. Hospital bed, 3rd person view) All of the mane six are here seeing Golden spark on the bed visiting him. Rarity got to the hospital at the middle of the night. As soon as she ran in and explained the situation to the nurse they rushed him in to the ER. Twilight decided to break the small silence they had. "Rarity." Rarity froze hearing this." What happened?" Twilight asked. " He asked to make me dinner, I said yes. When he didn't respond I went to go check on him. As I walked in he was on the ground. I started to panic and I ran here with him." Rarity said in response. " D-do they know what's wrong?" Spoke in Fluttershy. " Not yet, the results haven't came in yet." Said Twilight. "He can't die yet. If he can take on those diamond dogs then this should be fine. He's still young so he's gotta be fine." Said Rainbow dash in a carefree tone. Before anyone could tell Rainbow how rude that was the door to the room reveals the doctor. The doctor is a unicorn with a beige coat and Grey mane indicating that he has been here for awhile. His cutie mark is a simple Red Cross symbol. He's wearing a doctors coat with a stethoscope around his neck. In his magic he holds a clipboard facing him. That must be the results. "Which one of you here is taking care of the colt?" The doctor asks. "That would be me." Says Rarity. Two guards in armor came in and told her this. " You are under arrest." The guards say. "What?! What did I do?" Questions Rarity. "I'll answer that Miss Rarity." The doctor speaks." In a nut shell, you killed him in a indirect way." Rarity is dumbfounded bye bye this, with mouth agape. The others gasp at this. "You have been charged with ponyslaughter and foal abuse." The guards say. "But, but..." Rarity's in shock at hearing this. In the midst of her shock the guards put shackles on her hooves and led her out. "Wait! You guy can't do that!" Rainbow Dash flew in front of the guards." Where did you guys even come from?" "That is irrelevant miss. Now we must take miss Rarity to Canterlot for questioning, excuse us." The guards then pushed Rainbow out of the way and walked away. The doctor decided to speak up. "Just so you know, the patient 'Golden Spark' is going to die soon very soon." He then walked out of the room leaving the five shocked mares. "What are we gonna do?" Asked Twilight." Rarity suspected for ponyslaughter and Jon is dying, He could be dead now!." Fluttershy is on the floor crying for her new friend and her old friend. Pinkie's hair deflated long ago due to the situation Jon is in, she also saw Fluttershy's crying and went over to comfort her. Twilight is nearly hyperventilating due to the situation. She's thinking what could happen to her friend Rarity. What will they do?. Applejack just looked at Jon with sadness and her hat on her chest paying respects. Rainbow dash sat on the floor, her heard darting left and right looking for a answer but none came. What will happen next? Twilight decided to speak out first. " I have to go." Twilight's voice held uncertainty on what to do. Twilight ran out leaving the four others behind. She runs towards her treebary in hopes to find a solution. Twilight burst through the door calling out. "SPIKE! Where are you!" She yelled the sadness in her voice is there but spike doesn't notice. " Geeze Twilight, i'm right here. What do you need?" Spike asks back with a slight irritation in his tone. " Spike take a letter...." Twilight has to stay strong for this, and to find an answer. But what is there to find? Back to Jon) I stopped running after about five minutes due to the fact that it's useless. I just ran in a random direction, but now I see where I am it seems I haven't moved at all. Do I have to wait? Man, if i'm dead do I have to go see death? Kinda wonder how he acts .I sit down to think about it. I've seen enough TV to know that they ruined his image. My future questions were interrupted by someone "familiar" Death. His or her, dark grey cloaked figure "stares" at me and I look at him or her (still not judging) at death back. Death holds a scythe in a bony hand while the other holds a black steel lantern holding a flame of blue. I decided to try my fantabulous social skills and break the Ice. " You a guy or a girl?" I kinda just let myself go at this point. Whats could happen? " I'm a damn guy now get up!" He yells at me. I get off the 'floor' and we walk. " So where are we going?" I say in a carefree tone. " Hell." He says in a grim voice. " Really I thought it would be a office." He stopped to turn to me. " Why in the universe would you think were going to a office?" " I don't know. Why am I going to hell." " Your going to hell for what you did. Now let's go." He turns around and walks. I follow. " What did I do?" " Not payed enough to tell you that." He drones. " You get payed? What would use the money for?" Kinda curious. " Well, you see when I go on vacation-" " You get a vacation?" I question. " Shut up i'm talking." I make the' look out we have a badass over here" gesture and doesn't notice it but takes it as 'I'll shut up now.'. " As I was saying. When I go on vacation I can use the money to buy food and souvenirs." "Say what. What did ya do with the souvenirs?" Maybe I can get out of this place. Gotta play this right, not like how I play Pokemon. " I gave some to family and my wife." This guy has a family?" " You have a family, as in aunts and uncles all that and what not." " Yeah but I'm kinda shunned from them." " Why?" " Cause they don't like who I married." " Really? That's stupid but I feel for you and understand." I really do. " How could you understand your only, like 16?" " Well yeah, before I fell into the portal and I assume my 'destiny' is changed." I say destiny while putting air quotes with my fingers." What did my future look like? Please, tell me." " Well your file said dead at 86 alone." I have a file? " Why was I supposed alone?" " The file read' Because his parents wanted a Asian wife and that's it'." He told me. I kinda could already see my future with the all seeing thing called my computer. Lazy and fat. " See what I mean? Now tell me who'd you marry?" " ...Well this may sound stupid but I married a..." He kinda mumbled the last part. " Dude just say it already." " Fine. Be like that. Twat" "What?" " Nothing. Look i'm married to an angel." " Really? And why does your family not like it." " You know. My ancestors and what not, not like I really cared about it anyway." " Soo... You do it with her yet?" I have a ever growing grin on my face. " What!? maybe..." He somewhat stumbles at this maybe it's the fact that i'm a teen and asking death about this. " So does that mean..." " Don't say it. Don't say it." " You." Pausing for dramatic effect." Boned her?" I laugh my ass off and fall to the 'floor'. If i'm dead gotta do something. " I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" Oh shit. Did I mention i'm still on the floor laughing at him. " Oh shit!" I get off the floor and run away. While laughing." Geeze I'm sorry!" I say while running." Can we stop!" " NOT AFTER I BEAT THE LIFE OUT OF YOU!!" I pick up the pace. " Oh come on! I'm already dead! What could happen?" The running slowed down. And eventually to a stop. " You say that as you don't care." He says. After hearing this I remember, the ponies, my family, my friend (that's right friend as in that one guy. Besties 4 lyfe) and everything I couldn't do. Oh dear... this is not good. " Oh..." My once carefree tone has completely evaporated. " I'm sorry for saying that about you and your wife. Can you forgive me?" "...Just this once. Now let's go, we have to make up for lost time." He walks off and I follow once again. " So where are we going?" I ask. " Change of plans." My mood slightly went up." Were going to my office." " Cool when are going to be there?" " Now." As he said now. I sit in a chair across from him. A wooden desk with a computer on top. Simple, a picture of him and his wife. Neat and death himself white bones in front, interlaced and waiting. he just stare at me or I assume. His hood is pitch black. " Uhh.. Neat. Nice picture of your wife." I say to break the silence. " Thanks. now let's get down to business. Why." He states. " What do you mean, Why?" " Why did you die?" " Poison?" " Close but no. It was stupidity." " Well duh. Look where I am." i wave my arms in the air gesturing at this office." No offences." "Some taken, Not really a place I would like to be. Should put more decorations here and there." " So, stupidity caused my death. Thought it would be of a heart attack." I lean back, place a hand on my head shake slowly. " Well your file says your right. Look at this." He types quickly on the keyboard and turns the monitor towards me. " Yadda, yadda, yadda, I die on September 24th 2083 on Earth. Had heart attack and didn't make it. Huh, so what's the point of you showing me this?" He turns the monitor back towards himself, and turns to talk to me. " Well cause of you and your curiosity. I have to fix this, make a up to date one, and do something with you." " That's what they all say eventually. So what now?" " Your gonna help me with this paper work. Now it's going to be along time before anything happens. I assure you that." " Oh come on. Can I at least see what happened to everyone else. Please?" " Might as well, were both going to be here awhile." Sweet." On one condition." " Oh come on!" " Now wait just a second, this is important. Do you want to see your family, or Equestria." " Uh let's go with Equestria." Death types a command and turns it towards me. " Who do you want to look at?" " Well i'd like to see what happened at the hospital I assume because where else would she take me." A few clicks and clacks later and I saw everything. What Rainbow said, (rude.) how karma got her back, the guards, the tears, the arrest. Everything. " Dude can I ask you for a favor." My tone has changed to serious Jon mode. " sigh What?" looks like he's been through this before. " Help me come alive again." " Why? Why should I, Death help you, a mortal that has caused me to tons of work. Come alive again." " Because she's innocent. That's why. Dude, come on. you don't have to change anything i'll figure out a way to die that day so nothings changed." " I would say yes, but I can't." " What do you mean you can't aren't you death? Can't you help?" " Sorry, I wish I could. But i'm Death not a angel. And how are you going to explain when you wake up and a pony just stares at you shocked, or the others." " eh-meh-geh.... Got it! To them i'm new-ish. So this means that they pretty much know next to none about my species. Do you see where i'm going with this?" Death nods." OK then so I could lie that I was in a coma or something. I'll bullshit it like freshman classes." " Totally solid." He says with the utmost sarcasm." But like I said I can't revive you. I'm not a angel." " What about your wife then." " I don't know... But you could try." " Let's go then," I rocket off the chair and stand up, turn and run. I stop to realize that I don't know where i'm going. I turn back to see Death twiddle his thumbs." Can you please take me to your wife and house." " Yeah." He stands up and says. "Were here." Death's house isn't to bad. it's not super futuristic, or super ol timey but modern two story house with windows all around. A wooden door is at the front with a sizable porch. " Uh.. Nice, how was the real estate?" I ask. " Do you even know anything about real estate?" " I think they sell houses that's what they do right?" " Close enough, now let's go inside." " Cool." Death walks over to the door and pulls out a skeleton key, see it's funny cause he'd Death hahahah shut up. Death opens the door and walks in, I go right behind him. The inside is just like a house wood hallway with some open doorways branching off into other rooms. " This way." Death waves his skele-hand to a room. " I'm home!" He yells. A voice responds to him. " In the washroom! How was the client?" A female voice yells. You could say.... It's quite angelic. YEEEEEEAAAAAH!!! ( my first time making one of these, what do you think? Author~) " I-Can you come here I can't really explain! Can you meet me in the living room?" " Sure, give me a minuet!" "Follow me, and don't touch anything." We walk down the hallway and into, what I suppose is the living room. The room is quite normal, Huh the house of death being normal. There are two couches on the far side of the room with a flat screen on the wall. And a game system, never thought I'd see one here. I miss video games back home. Death motions for me to sit down. " Uh thanks." " Shut up and wait." Well then. 5 minuets later) " Ok i'm coming!" The female voice said. " Be nice and don't say a word until I tell you to." " Got it." I say. Death's wife came through the door. OMG. The woman that just came in is beautiful. She stands just a little shorter then her husband, her hair is long and strait, her eyes are a deep shade of brown as is her hair, and that dress is beautiful. The dress hangs to her knees and is a nice teal color. Her blouse has a color of peach showing that it's not a outfit to match, odd, I always thought that all girls have there own sense of style. Her's seem...Conflicting. Well i'm not one to judge, look at me same thing everyday for half the year except a new T-shirt, boxers, and socks. Yeah, i'm that guy. " Dear who is this?" Her tone of voice kinda tells me that I shouldn't be here. " Look, honey he need to be revived that's it. Can you do it?" Death asks. Wonder if he has a name. " Dear! You know why I can't. Don't forget i'm retired from that stuff." Bet she got fired instead. "Can't you call in a friend? He really needs to do this." " And why should he be revived? I bet he died from some idiotic thing wile saying 'MURICA!'." " Because-" "Whoa, whoa, whoa....Whoa, not cool lady." I interrupted Death. He turns to me and just looks like, well blank, but if he had a face it probably be a 'Your on your own now.' face. Ever got one of those? Well they suck." I did not do that for your information." I say while pointing. " Well then, sorry" Her voice holds sarcasm." Then what did you do?" She asks. " I was cooking-" " Hold on there. You cook?" "Uh yeah kinda, but that's not the point. The point is I tried making dinner for a girl and I died, now she's going to have a bad and painful death, not with her friends, or in her home, but possibly stuck in a dungeon for the rest of her life. So can you help or not." My voice slowly got louder but not high enough to yell. Just slightly irritated. " Well I could but it wouldn't work." She states. "Why? Is it cause of God?" " God, no,no,no. We don't have a god, It's the CEO of it, which is the problem." " Why? Can't I just walk in-" " HAH! Walk in. You can't do that you would need a army." She half mocks. " I'VE DONE IT BEFORE AND I WILL DO IT AGAIN TO SAVE HER! NOTHING WILL STOP ME!" I yell at her she seems to cower but retorts back. But not in the way I thought. " Ooo. Who is this 'her'?" Tell me about her and maybe i'll help." I'm so sorry for what i'm about to to, i'm so sorry Rarity. " Uh it's my one I love. For my stupidity I died, and she will die in a dungeon cause of me. So I must go save her. Can you please help, i'm begging you." I got on my knees and feigned some of my tears. She seems to believe it. " Oh my, I'm so sorry I shouldn't have been so hard on you." She pulls me in for a hug." I'll help you return to the one you love, I'll be right back. I have to go make some calls and turn in some favors." She releases me from the hug and walks out of the room. I get off the floor with a flat face and turn to talk to Death. " See got it." " Why did you lie to my wife like that?" " Look, I do love her." If he had a face it would be O rlly with a raised eyebrow. " As a friend, and...Look I need to fix my mistake, are you Ok with this?" " Not really but, Oh another just died. Eh another can take that one. I do need a story to tell. I'll be ok if you fix everything and make this into a wild adventure." " Oh it'll be a adventure alright. Maybe. I don't know. But sure I agree." Death's wife came back, with good news I hope. " Good news." YAY!" And bad news." Shit." Ok so here's how it is. We can get into the place unnoticed, but we have to find are own way to the CEO." " Perfect. I know what to do. So when can we go?" I ask her. " Now." Scene change. The once in a living room now appears outside on a cloud, with a giant skyscraper looking to be infinite. That's not good. > Day 4: The Tower (+) Day 4: The Tower (+) Jon) The building looks like any other tall building you would see. Tall, windows, people washing the windows, well washing yeah but they're flying and scrubbing. Wonder if they're afraid of heights? Maybe that one guy, but you know...Back on topic. I decided to talk out to them to see what's going to happen. " So we just walk in?" I question. " Not like that we won't." Says the angel. What's wrong with what i'm wearing? OK, so maybe school clothes aren't the best choice for a office but it's all I have. "What's wrong with it?" I ask her. " Honey, you can't just walk into this place like that. it's to casual." " Well what do you want me to do? Poof a suit out of nowhere?" "Yes but since your dead i'll have to do it." She waves a hand and snaps. The clothes before are now gone, and now replaced with a blue suit for the top, blue sleek pants,white undershirt and a red tie to finish it off. The shoes are a nice brown and loafers. She herself also gotten a change. her once white dress is now a secretary outfit. Death is also in a suit, surprisingly. He has a red jacket with red sleek pants, white undershirt, and a black tie. If he was a skeleton before. He now looks human. His face shows comfortableness as his dark brown hair is sleeked back and shiny. I kinda want to laugh at him, nut if I did he would kill me. Wait a minuet... " It's stuffy, can't I have something else?" I whine. " No if you want anything else, it'll be a stick up you butt hole. Now let's go." She says as she walks towards the entrance. " Oh come on!" I walk after her. Death hasn't say a word yet. His eyes look like they want to shoot lasers. Creepy. Inside) The inside is fairly normal looking as for I can see. Some furniture here and there but nothing big. The receptionist though looks like she has seen enough of everything and wants it to stop. Death's wife is talking to her, while I stay back and look around. wonder if it's gonna go smooth. like a smash and grab. That would be nice. " Hey Death?" I say. " Sigh What?" He replies. " So how do you think this is gonna work?" " What do you mean by that?" " Do you think it's going to be smooth sailing, or rocky road?" " I don't know and I don't really care, your the one that might be reborn." " So... Smooth sailing?" I say in a shrug position with my hands up. " Shut up and wait." " Wow. Rude." I say. Wonder what crawled up his butt and died. " Oh it looks like she's done." Death's wife is walking back. with a smile on her face. " So what's the news?" I ask her. " Well, you see. We can just take a easy path there." Wow simple. " That's it? No trials? No test? No super-ultra-mega-ridiculous-stupid-dangerous maze thingy?" " Well you see..." " There really is a maze thingy is there. Oh dear lord I hope it doesn't have encounters." "Shut up and listen! All we have to do is act like we belong here and reach the elevator." "There's a elevator? Why can't I see it?" "Because it through the office doors. When we walk in pretend to fit in. Got it?" " How? Do we just split up and walk to the elevator?" " Good Idea, let's go with that." "...You don't have a plan?" " Shh! Here take these." She hands each Death an me a clipboard and a pen. " How is this supposed to help?" " On the board is a map of the first floor, so I each got us a different path to the elevator. Can you figure out what to do?" " Uhh yeah?" I has the butterflies. " Good let's go." She walks to the one door next to the receptionist and heads through. I would of gone through the door if I hadn't seen the receptionist face. She looks like she just got told there's a hostage situation and has to stay silent. What did she say to her? Moving on. First floor) Oh god, the people. There are so many peoples. Oh no. From what I can see, there is a shit tone of people in this room, their like ants. Moving in a coordinated time marching in line. Creepy. The room it self is huge, and very very plain. everything is white, the floor, the people, the suits, the cube walls, everything except the shiny silver doors that indicate the elevator is right there. good. =============================\ Time skip ==============================\ Ok so a slip here, a distraction there and bing bang boom. I'm here. Am I the first one? Looking around only gives me a headache, to much white. I feel a hand on my shoulder and tense up immediately, but it's followed up with this. " Hurry up slow poke." The voice is somewhat familiar in the time I met him. It's Death, the person and his suit and stuff. " Can you like... Um... Not do that again, Please?" I ask him. " Just shut up and follow me." Fine then. Jerk I follow Death just for a little bit to find the only damn elevator in this building. The elevator looks normal, but then again i'm dead, I think. So at the elevator is Death's wife, wonder if she has a name. I don't know her name, should ask, maybe. Anyways. Death's wife is waiting rather impatiently for what I see. She's all tapping her foot and arms crossed. What's up with that? " So we gonna go in the elevator? To see the guy? " I ask her. " Yes we are, now get in." That's what she said...As the elevator doors open. We all step inside and go up... Floors. cause it's a elevator. Yup. "So the CEO is on the top floor, right?" I ask. " Yes it is." She replies. " So what's your name? Never got it." " Did I never mention it? Well you can call me Joy. " Oh, got it." The conversation ended there. And now silence. Waiting in the elevator is hard, The silence is still here and I don't even know how many floors there are to go, might as well start a new conversation. " So, how did you two meet?" I ask. " That. Is none of your business." Death says in reply, scowl says he does not ever want to talk about it. EVAR! " You sure dear? It is quite a interesting story from what I can remember. We also have a long way to go." Joy cuts in with a slight smile appearing across her lips as she points to the number of levels left. 2453 floors left...Nope, 2452. " Well part do we tell him? Ad why do you even want to tell him?" He replies. from what I can hear, Death sounds tired. Maybe he doesn't like it here(?). " Uh look, it's fine, you don't have to tell me how you two met." I wave both my hands in the air as if i'm trying to scull in water. Now we must attempt to change the subject. Charge! " So do you both like to play video games?" After I said that the silence that once shrouded the area is now lifted. " Oh my god, I love them, especial RPGs They're so easy and fun, oh and the adventures! ...." What have I started. well at lest the silence is gone. Through out her rant of fantabulous game talk, Death seems disgruntled, yes, quite a bit I say. Maybe he sucks at video games(?). " ...And so I had to run back to the market and buy some healz, but I ran out of money Which meant I had to get back out there and grind and grind and grind and grind-" " Uh, hey Joy?" I interrupt. " Oh! Uh , Yes?" She looks and sounds like she wants to keep talking. " Does Death suck at games?" From the looks of it he might considering that his face has turned into a scowl of anger, any minuet now and he might start grinding his own teeth. "OMG, you won't believe the games he plays, all he can play are puzzle games on handhelds." Joy says with a blank face and a small shake of her head. Death just looks peeved now. " Well even though all hes good at is puzzles, it has helped me occasionally." She says. Death give a short hmph From what I could hear. Bing Went the elevator. When the doors opened the room appeared to be white. Maybe it's the wrong room. " Is this the right room?" I ask to none in particular. " Why yes it is." A mysterious voice spoke. As it spoke some of the white around the room faded away revealing a door. I walked out of the elevator and towards the door. Opening it reveals a quite posh office. the office itself looks like a trap, pictures and awards in frame and many others lie resting without a lick of dust. his humongous desk practically looms over the room. On said desk is a plethora of items ranging from pictures to pencils and pens, but the most surprising thing is the gigantic stack of papers on his left and his right. " Now, what do you want?" Says the man at the desk. The man himself seems normal, is bald wears glasses on the bridge of his nose, white suit, and a face that can't wait. Also looks in his mid thirty's. " Uhh. I'd-" I start, but he has other plans. " 'Like to be revived to be revived, so I can right my mistakes' is what you were going to say, hmm?" He just took the words out of my mouth. " Umm, uh, no?" I reply questionably. "sigh Then what is the reason you would like to be revived. Please, tell me." " To save a innocent and a loved one." "..." Silence. "Is that so? I guess I could." " What! Really! That's great! Oh happy day! Oh happy-" "But." He interrupts." I would like something in exchange." Oh no. " Uh, sure, name it." " Can you give my greetings to the rulers over there for me?" Well that's easy. " Uh sure, anything else?" " Say hi to that, uh..." He stops to lift a paper to his eyes." Oh say hi to that Discord fellow would you?" "Got it... Is that it?" " Oh tell them that the guy says it, now do you want anything at the time of revival?" What does he mean by that? " Can i have super powers?" " I don't know, can you?" He replies with a smirk. " May I have super powers?" " No you may not." " Why not!" " But I can give you something else." " Please tell me it's not magic." Silence. " Now I can't tell you. Good job." " Why would you want to give me magic?" " Well why don't you want magic?" " Well someone gonna have to teach me. Guess who?" Twilight. "Well what do you want then?" I open my mouth to start, but it looks like he has other plans. "That isn't super powers, magic, or something that could destroy the world." " How about a weapon?" I ask. " You already have one. Try again." " Why can I have then?" " I dunno. A pet?" " A pet? What kind?" " So you choose a pet then?" " Uh, yeah! Yes! What can I have!" " Anything you want..." " Anything? How about-" " No legendaries ." He cuts in. " I wasn't going to. Now let me think." So, no legendaries, totally didn't want one, totally. I always wanted something mythical like a unicorn, pegasus, dragon, ETC, but it seems like Equestria has most of them. I'll ask someone later or something. A Pokemon would be nice, but which one? And what type? What other game has an awesome animal type thingy. Yoshi? Maybe... I can think of a Pokemon, charmander, eevee, or yoshi? So many choices. I think charmander. Always liked fire, always choose fire. " Can I have a-" " No." " But you said I could have something!" " Yeah Just kidding, so what do you want?" " deep inhale and then exhale I'd like to have a charmander, can you do that?" " Yes I can." Yes! "But..." Shit!" your going to forget about it, got it?" " What do you mean ' I'll forget about it.'." " Well we can't just have a animal come out of nowhere when you revive. So you will get charmander in time." " Couple of days, at least no longer than a week." " Gotcha, now what?" I ask. I turn around for a answer from Joy and Death, but all they have is the "Are you kidding" face. I has thoughts. Oh. " Oh, OH, OOHH, got it. * double thumbs up* So can you revive me now?" " I CAN." " sigh ...May I be revived, oh one who holds power?" " Yes, Now why don't you give your goodbyes while I get ready." " Got it." I turn to the couple behind me." I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me all the way to this. If you ever need my help, be it video games, something big, or just a opinion, come find me and I'll do the best I can." "Sure..." Says Death. " Maybe next time we can be gaming buddies!" Says Joy. " Yeah..." i turn back towards the desk." I'm ready." " Well i'm sure not. Now wheres that button? Ah-ha! Got it! Now prepare for send off!" The man at desk says. " Well, good bye then..." I say to everyone. "See-ya!" Says Death with a small 2 finger salute. "Don't forget to tell her your true feeling!" Says Joy. " Initiate!" Says the man behind the desk. The man at desk slams a fist at the button on the table. At that exact moment of pressing the button the floor opened and I went through. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * PaRaNoRmAl ShIt* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I open my eyes to see blurry blobs of colors and Darkness. I try to move my legs, but all I get is a twitch. I take some short breaths. I'm still a pony, Right? I throw what's on top of me off of me and inhale air to the max. GASP I look towards the sound to see a blurry outline of a pony. " ZOM-PONY! Everypony run!" She quickly gallops away to inform others I presume. Me being the person I am panics. " Shit, need to do something, now!" " Holy gods, your alive!" Says Iris."Where were you?" She then asked. " Dead, you?" "I knew you were dead. I was just floating around, all lonely... But now that your alive now..." "Aw did you miss me?" " NO! Uh,um don't you need to do something?" She says with worry. " Oh yeah! Shit! let's go!" I get off the table and on towards the exit. When I reach the outside I see the the same pony who saw me "wake up". She's yelling at some ponies behind a desk, claiming what she saw. " I saw it! That foal woke up! Now it's a zom-pony! We have to escape!" Says the mare who saw me. " Oh, come on. There is no such things as zom-ponies. Your just tired. Go home and get some rest." Says the other mare behind the desk. " But...But, Sigh It...It must be my imagination." She turns towards me next. " OH MY CELESTIA! It's him! Run for your lives everypony!" As she said that everyone started to panic. The mare, accompanied by others ran outside spreading the news. I chase only to the outside not to far behind them. From the looks of it, the time must be around 9:00. I look towards Canterlot and run towards it. ~~~ ~~~ Scene change! ~~~ ~~~ Twilight stayed up studying on Equestrian law. She had to defend her friend. Her studies were soon interrupted by a screaming pony. " RUN! ZOM-PONY!" This set off her radar. pushing herself away from the desk, she canters to the outside to confront the hysterical pony. " What's going on?" Twi asks. " A zom-pony appeared! And it chased us!" " Ok then... what did it look like?" " It was a unicorn foal!" " Did it happen to have a piece of armor on it's leg?" Twilight asks hoping it wasn't who she thought it was. " Yeah! Now if you excuse me I have to go spread the news." The mare soon runs off yelling and spreading the news Twilight on the other hand has to go find some friends. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Another scene change! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I. Hate . Running! I'm on a weird dirt path in the middle of nowhere, and all I know is that I can see Canterlot. May be I can teleport(?). It's one of the choices, so let's make it the only one. All I have to do is concentrate on someone or someplace right? Let's hope so. I start concentrating , but where in Canterlot have I been? I stop to think where ive been.The dungeon, the hall, and throne room. Not too many choices. All I know is the royals. Let's go with Celestia. I restart only for it to not work. Oh god, now what. Panic " Work damn it!" Panic " Come on! Work! More panic " Son of a-" * ZAP* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Scene change! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Huh, Where the ground go? Air? " Biiiiiiiiiii-" splash! Water? Water! Need air! iasdhjkj.ghdfilugvaikurgUIKGFDIHIugfiugyaw! I'm floating? Have air, take it! * Hah, hah, hah....* " Hello little one." Huh? Who?" What caused you to drop in?" "Where am I , who are you? What?" " Calm down little one, for where you are, your in the royal castle in Canterlot." Made it! "For who I am? I am the Ruler of the day, Princess Celestia." " Cool, got it. I need help..." So tired... gotta sleep, gotta rest... " You must of come a long way, why don't you take a rest now." her horn glows a soothing light making me more tired "But I need to do something..." it must have knocked me out. I think...
Good, bad, and why me?	Day 5: Waking up	Day 5:??? Mmm, sleep... Now i'm up. Fantasmic... Caw Huh? I open my eyes and turn towards the sound, to see a bird? Noticing where I am I see whiteness, am I in a bed? What am I grabbing? Looking at the color and size of what the object is, from what I could tell it's large, soft, and fluffy. Just how I like it. Where can I buy one? This pillow is best pillow. Looking upwards I see a aurora? What kind of giant pillow has a multi-color aurora? Those colors seem familiar, blue, green , purple, and pink? Wait breathing? Where is it? The pillow? I think I know what the 'pillow' is. Pretty sure it's Celestia. That is not good. I release myself from holding her, moving away little by little. Apparently life is a dick. CAW! GRZK! Oh god. You know those things that are kinda like a mini heart attacks? Yeah I just had one. I look at the stupid bird and give it the best death glare I can. The bird is pointing? At what? CLONK (K.O!) ( What happened: Celestia's hoof hit Jon on the head, and now she is waking up.) Celestia rises out of bed to do her duties. As we all know Celestia must raise the sun for all of Equestria. As she rose she looks down at the "sleeping" foal. " I wonder If I could adopt this little one, it wouldn't hurt, with Cadence gone at the empire, and Blueblood being... Blueblood. All I really have is my subjects and Luna. Maybe this one will be different. Celestia thinks. Her thoughts were soon interrupted by a knock at the door. * Knock, Knock...* " Come in.." The door then opens as Luna enters. " Greeting Tia. I have come to wake thee up for the rise of the sun." " I see... Hey Luna." " Yes, sister?" " What would you think of adopting a foal." She says with a faint smile. " I would think, 'another?'. and which one." " What do you mean by, 'another?'?" ( A.N: <--Is that grammatically correct? Just asking.) " Well we have Cadence-" " But she's moved to the Crystal empire." " We also have Blueblood." Luna says in a somewhat sarcastic tone. " But he's Blueblood. Come on this could be different." " I could go along, but you haven't answered to the other question dear sister" " And that is?" Celestia says with a smile. " Which one?" " This one." Celestia gets off the bed to let Luna see the colt. " I will go raise the sun now dear sister." Luna looks towards her sibling and back to the colt. Luna saw the colt and realizes who that colt is. She has sudden questions and wants answers now. " Jon, Jon. Wake up." She says while nudging the golden colt. Her tone is nervous and worried about what to do. she wasnt like her sister where she could be more responsible in this, or hide it away like the real history of Equestria. But there is one thing she does know, that this foal will equal trouble. With how the wake call was going for Luna did not work so well. What made him sleep so deep? Luna being the princess of the night prepares to jump in to the humans brain, but her sister intrudes. " Ah, Luna. So, what do you- What are you doing?" What made Celestia stop? Well the scene of her little sister in a almost diving way towards the colts head. " Well what does it look like dear sister?" Luna replies in her normal tone while holding the pose. " I asked first Luna. Now explain." " Well this colt is the human, Jon and he isn't waking up." " I see- Wait? What? You mean this colt is Jon?" Luna nods while still holding the mid air diving pose. " Well then, hmm, this changes things then." Celestia now has to re-plan this. For her she was going to make this colt the next 'one'. Now that the new information has come in does she have to re-plan? Or could she re-work it? (A.N "Oohhh...") Celestia pushes the thoughts away coming back to reality. " What do you mean, he isn't waking up?" Celestia asks. This causes Luna to come out of the mid air pose and stand to talk with her. " It's as simple as it sound sister. Jon here is not waking up. Calling and nudging has done none to him. Did you do something to him?" "No I have not." " I will use a spell to check if something is wrong. You may have hit him in your sleep." " This again Luna? I told you, I do not hit anything in my sleep, that is ridiculous." " That is because you are not the one getting hit." Flashback Little filly Luna trots over to her sister's room to wake her up. " Tia wake up!" Calls in Luna as she opens the door and enters." It's time for breakfast! Dad says it's gonna be pancakes!" She says excitedly. Seeing no change in her sister's movement she walks over to her bed and climbs up. " Hey, Tia, wake up. Come on Tia." Luna says while nudging her. Little did she know a force so powerful, Equestria's balance would be destroyed if one or herself could harness this power we'ed die. One could even say there was a small whistling that day as the hoof came down. CLONK K.O! Luna fell towards the bed out cold, Her sister just seems now to have waken up. Celestia rises out of bed and into a upwards sitting position. She looks at her sister and has a mere thought. " Oh my sister is here? She must of snuck in at night to sleep with me." she thinks with a soft smile. end Luna casts the spell over Jon to see if their is anything wrong. she waves her horn around like a metal detector. After about 30 seconds Luna finishes. " Well?" Celestia asks. " I got pain radiating from the head area." Luna replies following up with a sigh." Care to explain?" Celestia has a neutral expression. " Well Shouldn't we focus on waking him up?" Celestia say hoping to divert the way this is going. " Fine, but we have to talk about it later. Okay?" " Very well, now how do you think we should go about waking him up?" " How about a healing spell and then nudging once again." " Lets get started." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- one healing process later. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- \ Jon has now woken up. Still in a daze he talks differently you could say. " Jon can you speak?" Asks Luna with slight worry. " Ahigamuhifl jufleepy, eh?" Replies Jon. ( I'm fine, just sleepy, why?) Even to Jon this didn't sound right so having a attempt to fix this he shakes his head. " Sorry, I mean i'm just fine, why?" " Nothing, so how did you get here?" " I can answer half of that sister." Interrupts Celestia." He seems to have teleported from somewhere and and appeared in the royal bath." " Do I have to answer the other half?" Jon asks. The two royals nod. " Well how detailed? The part when I got here of before that when I woke up, or how it all started?" From this reply the two sisters got confused. " Why don't you start from how it all started." Answers Celestia for the both of them. " Okay, so it kinda started when I died and-" " What do you mean by died?" Asks Luna. " You know, Deep sleep, uh game over, out of time, mm, ah bit the big one, Ok last one. Went north to buy a farm." The two princesses still seemed to be confused by Jon's 'explanation'." Six feet under?" Still puzzled. " Okay then. I choked or something and I died." For some reason that go through to the princesses. " I see carry on." " Fine, so after that..." =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- one somewhat not detailed explanation later. ==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- (Pov change back to Jon.) " So I then I came here." I say finishing the story. Feels like something is missing. Definitely not Rarity, this time. I look to the two others and guage there faces, Luna has one of shock, while Celestia on the other hand looks neutral." So wheres Rarity?" " Rarity? We do not know." Answers Luna. " But she got arrested for Foal abuse or something along the lines of that." " We nevered called for a arresting. Did we? Sister." " I haven't called one either." Says Celestia. " Where would criminals be taken when arrested?" I ask. It's the dungeon, right? " The dungeons." They both say. Their eyes widen. Didn't know they could go that big. " Should we go there?" They both nod. I start walking towards the door only to walk into a wall. Okay if there's a door here and now its a wall it must been teleported. something along that. " OW!" The two princesses snicker at me. " Why didn't you tell me we were gonna teleport?" I ask. " Were in a hurry." Says Celestia. Yeah sure, I see that smile. " Fine, now where's Rarity?" The two princesses look around for her." Split up!" I say and run off in a direction my gut tells me. " Iris got any Ideas?" " Turn left." " Fine." I say out loud. I turn left and met with something unpleasant. "Whoa!" I met a giant ledge. " I wouldn't have died for sure but it would hurt a lot. Maybe not even able to walk. I see some cells down below. "RARITY! ARE YOU DOWN THERE!" "Sparky?" It was faint but it's definitely her. " I'm coming! Hold on!" How can I get down there? "Iris?" " Take a leap and i'll take care of it." I hate this. I take a look down. Not good. Now looking at the cells down there they seem to be glowing blueish. Putting that aside I walk back and take a running leap. " CANNONBEEF!!!"(A.N Cookies to anybody that know where this saying came from.) It didn't take long for Iris to take action. Wind swirls around making just a soft landing. Couldn't land on my four legs tho, with all the wind swirling around it made my legs sprawl out in a star like fashion. "Thanks Iris..." " No complaining, I got you down here didn't I?" " Good point." " Rarity! Where are you?" I call out. " Oh dear,um Over here darling." Rarity calls out. I trot over to the cell and talk. " Hey gurl, wassup in the crib?" I say in a heavy accent. I don't have to explain this one. " I beg your pardon?" She says with confusion. " Hehe, nothing. Look i'm here to tell you the good news." I try not to laugh. Really wanted to say fo-shizzle though. " Well what is it?" She is not amused. " I'm here to get you out, got it?" " Why?" " Why? You say. Well your innocent and... That's it." " I see you will explain this later." " Sure." Maybe. " How are you going to get me out." " Stay here and i'll go over there and think, K?" " Ummm. K..." I walk over to the wall, cliff thing I jumped down. Celestia and Luna are somewhere, right? They should be. " Hey Iris, got any Ideas?" " Why don't you call for help?" " Good idea it's like you read my mind. Wait a minuet... Iris did you... " No, now call." One day, one day... " CELESTIA !!! LUNA!!! I FOUND HER!!! BRING THE KEYS OR SOMETHING!!!" After about a minuet the two sisters appear with a teleportation. Both of their eyes widen. " Why are you here?" Asks Celestia with urgency in her voice, only way I could describe it. " What's wrong?" I ask. " This is a very bad place for anypony to be in." Says Luna. " So what's the simplest you could make it. To explain it." " Any kind of magic is negated here." Celestia says. " So how do we get out?" " We can't, The only way is for somepony to push the switch to activate the stairs." " So who has the keys?" Both of the sisters look at each other, and too the floor. Right there is a shiny iron key. " Now what?" " Somepony has to pick it up the old fashioned way." Says Luna. I prepare to ask them why but it seems like Iris has something to say. " Jon, before you ask, think about it. Where would a pony with no levitation or any kind of other magic is negated?" " The mouth?" " Correct. It seems that the two others know that two." " Let me guess, we have to use are mouths." I ask hoping that's not the answer. " Indeed/Correct." They simultaneously say. " Cant you use your hooves to grab it? I can't use mine, never really figured it out." " Hooves also use magic." Says Celestia. " Oh come on! How?" " We we'll explain later." Chimes Luna. " So which way do we turn the key?" " Too the right, why?" Says Celestia. " Cause I hate locks and keys." I walk over to the key and lover my head. As i'm doing this I question Iris. " Could you use the wind to do something here. Please?" "I'm sorry but a simple wind would not work. It would take a strong gale to just lift up the key, even stronger to turn it. But I can help you get out of here." "Great..." I slowly open my muzzle to bite the ring part of the key. Stopping just before my mouth touches the floor I bite on the iron ring, taste like bloodish. I lift my muzzle up and maneuver it to put it in my mouth. Looking to the ceiling I let the key fall deeper into my mouth, my mouth now has the whole ring part in it. at least the hole in the ring makes it easy to breath, kinda. I walk over to Rarity's cell and turn my head left.so the teeth of the key point down. Slide it in, clench harder then a C-clamp, and turn my head to the right. The lock goes click now indicating it's open. I push myself away from the blasted key and spit out any metal particles that might have broken off. Rarity walks out of the cell. " Thank you darling." She gives me a hug, i'd hug back but I don't. We then got interrupted by a 'ahem'. " So how do we get out?" I ask. I already have a solution. Just wondering if they have one. It's like asking someone a really dirty question and then feigning innocence. It's kinda evil,but it's fun evil. " We can't with out pressing the switch." Says Celestia. " How about Discord?" " It's around 9:30 in the morning, so he won't be awake till noon at least." Says Luna. " Who has the most powerful kick here?" I ask. " Well my dear sister does." Says Luna. " Luna!" Replies Celestia, embarrassed? " Why are you embarrassed about it?" I ask. " Yeah sister why don't you tell us your story on how you can kick so well." Says a smiling Luna. " We can focus on that later. For now I have a plan." The three grown mares listen to my plan." Okay so since i'm the lightest one here right?" All nod." So the plan is simple, Celestia, you need to kick me up there." Let the talking begin. " WHAT!" they all say at once. " No, That is a terrible plan. I will not kick a foal." Celestia argues. " I know it's stupid but do you have a plan?" I argue back. " No, I don't but it will not resort to kicking you like a hoofball." Hoofball? Hoof = foot(kinda), football? " Fine throw me, do what ever it takes." " NO! I will not hurt a foal in any way." " I am not a foal though. I am a human turned foal." " To me you're foal..." " Fine I get it. This plan is rubbish. Do you have a plan though?" " No..." " Luna?" " No neither do I have a plan." " Rarity?" " Sorry." " How about flying?" " Magic." Says Luna. Looks like now is a good time to ask Iris. " I'm going to think of another plan that won't get anyone hurt, why don't you three have a chat or something." The three mares have looks of worry but listen to what I have to say. " Hey Iris, is now a good time to get me out?" " Yes it would, but why put out that first Idea?" " Don't know, if you weren't here I probably would use that though." "sigh I guess it's a good thing to have me here." " Hey I just got another Idea." " Better but your coordination sucks and it's too high still, and you'd be a couple inches short." " Well at least there's no nagging feeling this time so you gonna do it?" " Yes, got anything to say?" " Beam me up Iris." " Can't there's a fly in the way. Get ready doing a running start and jump when I tell you too." "Got it." I say aloud but quietly. I see the mares chatting it up over there. it seems like it's a good conversation, Rarity and Celestia is talking but Luna just seems kinda in there mostly listening. Seems like the current topic might not be her conversation expertise. With Luna probably thinking on her own she notices me getting ready. I walk about 30 steps away and run. The others notice and watch. Running, running, running, runni- " JUMP!" I leap with mighty strength. Don't know what Iris is doing but, to me all i'm doing is thinking about my position. Mid air, peak of my jump, and probably being stared at by them and there all thinking, "He's an idiot.". " Iris what are y-" A blast of air rockets me upwards. Oh, I got her plan now. If you didn't know her plan is making a concentrated place of air rising up, pushing me upwards. Since I can't move in the air, a running jump gives her a angle so I don't have to move. This is a good plan. " WHOOOO!" I say as I'm pushed up. As I look at the ground the three, wait two mares look in disbelief, but Rarity is shouting something along ' My mane!' or something. The view quickly disappears and my face is now looking at the floor. Not good, not good at all. " Ow! Dammit!" I face plant the dungeon floor. " Um, are you okay?" Ask Celestia with concern. " Just fine!" I yell back." What does the switch look like and where is it!" " It should be too your left and on the wall." Left and wall. I push myself only to see a small pool of blood under me. Shit it's all over my coat. I get off the damn floor and turn left. I look up and down along the wall to see the switch. It's too high. Son of a bitch. " Jon, use plan D, i'll help you." Plan D? I never made a plan D. if she was referring to my thought that wall jumping up would of been cool then yeah. That's what she must of meant. Since the hallway is narrow enough it could be wall jumped. Seeing the switch it's kinda high, high enough that I couldn't reach it by standing. Going to the side of the switch I dash and jump at the wall, pushing off the wall. I can't reach it. Luck sucks. " IRIS!" A strong blast of wind pushes just hard enough, but a little too hard. The gust pushed to strong and to fast resulting me to smash my whole body against the switch. I think I pressed it. A rumbling sound appears, I assume it's the stairs. I fall to the ground in more pain. " What the hell Iris? " I'm sorry Jon, I blanked and, and... I'm so sorry." " It's fine, don't worry about it. The rumbling seems to have stopped. Clopping hooves come up. " Jon are you okay?" I turn around to see the three mares come up. the one who spoke must have been Celestia. " Yeah I'm-" " Oh my, that is a lot of, oh dear." Rarity interrupts. A lot of? Oh yeah, blood. " It's okay I-" " This is not 'okay' we must take you to first aid come." Says Luna. I push my self up and stand, My legs are a little shaky, but I can walk. " Fine let's go." Everyone just stops for some reason as I slowly limp ahead. " Well?" I ask as I turn back to speak to them. " You are in no condition to walk Jon." Says a worried Celestia The two others agreed. " Well I know that." I say this then Celestia opens her mouth to speak but I continue. " But I can't let you carry me on your back or something." " Why not?" She says. " I'm covered in my own blood. Now let's go." I then turn around and walk again. I'm now floating, great. As i'm floating i'm moved to Celestia's back. " Oh come on, now I got my blood over your back." I say. " It's fine Jon, it's the least I could do for you getting us all out of there." Celestia says." Also you don't know your way around the dungeons around here." Challenge accepted. " Iris?" " Got it. Okay so it's forward for ten meters, turn right go forward five meters turn left and finish by turning right again, then go straight to the door. Finished." " You have to go forwards for about ten meters, turn fight go forward five, turn left for another five, lastly turn right, boom door." " So it seems you do have a grasp on the dungeons. It seems your first trip here left quite the impression." Celestia says in a somewhat mocking tone. " Oh har de har har. Very funny. So Rarity, why were you all the way down there?" I say for changing the subject. " Well when I got arrested, the guards took me too Blueblood. It seems he sent a undercover guard to spy on me. When the guard saw what happened Blueblood wanted me to become his mare. The Dirty bastard then threw me in here for refusing! Can you believe that?" " What!?" Both sisters say. Wonder who Blueblood is, Cool name tho. " So the guy was stalking you?" I ask. " In a way yes darling." " We will have to talk to him." Says Celestia " Indeed sister, for going behind our backs and..." Luna starts. " Arresting and threatening." Finishes Celestia. Oh shnap. " So what now?" I ask." I'm hungry. I want food..." I say lazily. " Seeing as that took up the whole morning, shall we go to lunch?" Says Luna. " But I still have blood over me. Should I go get washed up or something? Play dead? I dun know..." I trail off speaking random things. " Good idea." Says Celestia." We'll stop by my chambers and take a bath." Oh yeah. One of them would be nice. " Showers?" " No Jon, it's the royal baths." " Ooohh...So were going in one at a time, right?" " No were not, why?"
Good, bad, and why me?	Day 5 Part 2: BATH TIME	Day 5 Part 2: BATH TIME Last time on: Good, bad, and why me? " Ooohh...So were going in one at a time, right?" " No were not, why?" _~_~_~_~_~_~_~~__ Now back to the story. ~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~ " Why should I bathe with you? Cause I don't want to." " What's wrong with it? Your injured and need help." " Yeah but i'm fine. See?" I wiggle myself off her back, brace for impact and hop down. Only to be caught with magic and put back on her back. Son of a bitch. "Come on, why'd you do that?" " Because you're injured and need to bathe." " I am perfectly capable to bathe by myself." " Stop being so foalish." Foalish?" I invoke my favor." Sheeeit. " This is what you use your favor on?" Come on she could of used her favor on anything, like donating my body to science, or tell her a story, maybe even helping her out of something, but it had to be this. I curse the guy behind the desk! After hearing that, Luna and Rarity decide to join in. " Jon! How could you owe the princess a favor?" Says Rarity. " When, how, why?" She says in disbelief. " Yes Jon, How?" Says Luna in a mocking tone. " Well, it was like the third day I was here. Twilight left for something and I met Spike. He said something about sending letters to Celestia and I was hungry. So I asked her for a favor and I got food." " Oh what did you get?" Asks Rarity. " Was it something royal and extravagant?" " Nope." Her face turned to shock. If stares could kill, she'd shoot lasers. " I got a sandwich and a drink. Totally worth it." " You asked Sister for a sandwich? HA!" Apparently Luna thought this was hilarious. " Yeah I did, and it was worth it." Really was." So Celestia. This is what you use your favor on?" "Yes." " I see, But the possibility are endless when it comes to favors. I mean, why would you want to use it on that when you could use it on something like, me making you something, I can cook some good brownies." I can't cook with out a recipe though " Sorry, but I do like the thought of that. Brownies are okay to me, not my favorite." " I love brownies though." Says Luna. " What does one do to get this 'favor'." " I ask you for a favor and then when that is done I owe you a favor. Simple." " I see..." Luna went to thinking. Don't they have like chefs or something to cook for them? " See Celestia I can do anything-ish, so why does it have to be this?" " Because I said so. An that is it." " Iris? Help? Please?" " Try faking your sick." " Thanks." " But Celestia." I start. "I don't feel well. Cough, cough. I don't want it to be my fault if I got you sick. Cough, cough I must have caught it in the hospital when I Cough I woke up Cough." My acting skills are top notch ish. " I see, But how can you bathe if you can't wash your self." " What do you cough mean?" " A unicorn's magic is dangerous to use when they are sick." " Oh I see then cough I guess I will need help then." There just happens to be a solution to everything that is wrong to me doesn't there. We continue the walk down halls till we get to Celestia's 'Royal chambers' wherever that is. The walk was silent, wasn't awkward but silent enough to hear only the clop steps of everyone's else hooves. And here I lay on royalty's back with a bloody coat and boredom. Another window, another door. " Are we there yet?" I say to none in particular. " Yes were here." Answers Celestia. Yay-ish." Luna, why don't you go to the throne room with Rarity and get something to eat," " Very well sister, have a pleasant bath then. Farewell." Luna says as she walks away with Rarity. I want food too...Am I still aloud to eat meat? Wait...never mind. " I want food too." I say in a whiny voice. " After Jon, just wait okay?" Celestia says as she faces me. She opens the door and walks us inside. " Fine, was never a big fan of breakfast. More of a lunch guy." " I see, can you walk?" She asks. " Let me down and we'll see." She then levitates me off her back and onto the floor. I take a few test steps getting a feel, it hurts but I can walk. The pain is borderline bearable, but as a man I must not show pain unless certain conditions are met. " Oh no, you're still hurt." She says in a worried tone. " What no... I'm fine it's only a little bit of pain and I can walk just fine." I take a few steps only to be levitated to her face. " You don't have to lie to me you know." Her eyes still hold worry. I'm more worried for the fact of I just met her like three days ago or something and the fact that she might be getting too attached. " I see then, shall we go to the baths then?" " Yes." With me in her magic grasp she walks over to a door and opens it with magic. The opened door reveals a giant room full white as pearl marble and s big bath enough to fit more people then you would see at a public swimming pool in the middle of summer. I can see why she wanted to help, without it I seriously think I might of drown somehow. " Are you sure these are the baths? This looks like more like a damn swimming pool!" " Language! And yes these are my private baths. Now let's get cleaned." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Time skip ish ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The bath itself isn't too bad, it's not to deep, waters just right and i'm getting cleaned. I'm glad that the baths aren't too deep, they only seem to reach the top of Celestia's legs. I could still drown, it is a possibility. The cleaning process was gentle. The princess got a scrub filled with soap and scrubbed, everywhere. It was silent for most of the time seeing as it was mostly splashed of the water. I look at myself now and all the blood is gone, so were done right? " So, were done right?" I ask. " Not quite. I need to clean my self next." " Oh, okay." " Jon? I have something to ask you." Where did my life go when, here I am having a pony that is a princess ask me something. " Uh, sure, what is it?" " Could I adopt you?" Wat? I stay quiet to think for a moment. " Did I hear that right? Iris can you confirm? " Yes sir I can Guvna. She has said what you thought sir." she says in a fake accent. " Well then, that escalated quickly. What should I do?" " Why don't you accept?" " Why? So I can become the 'royal family' ? " That and think of the benefits. Oh yeah!" With you being related to the princess, you can do more then the average pony. You can learn to fight better from the guards with her permission, and maybe you can even get some motherly favors." " Think I should question it first?" " Always question something good kid." " Does that mean I should question you?" " Later, for now question the princess. " Why would you want to adopt me?" I ask her. " I just thought that you would like some family over here." " But, you said you would find me a way back home. Is there no way?" " My sister and I are still working on it, I just thought in the mean time you'd like a family." " But what would happen when I leave?" " You would still be in the family if your wondering." " But if I leave, then I can't come back right?" " We could work on a way for you to come back also if that's what you want." " Maybe, but I still don't get why?" " When you need somepony for help, let it be your family." " I see, what would you be to me if you adopt me?" " I could be your mother, or your aunt." " What would I be, title wise?" " A prince at least, there are others if you'd like. " I see. I guess I don't have any more questions then." " Your answer then?" " Sure, but are we going to do this publicly or on the down low?" I can regret this later. " What do you want? Son?" Oh I am going to have to get use to hearing that. " On the down low. I have a question for you though, * deep breath* mom." I don't feel good now. " Sure what is it?" " How do you feel that i'm actually a human?" " Why do you ask, but the answer right now is like my own son." She finishes cleaning herself and turns to me. "Uhh, great. So we gonna go eat?" " If that is what you would like son." She put to much emphasis on 'son'. Ever had a thing you were planning to do and you went through with it and then regretted it right after? This is that thing I regret. It's going to be so weird having a mother that can understand me now. Celestia gets up and lifts me along in her magic. We get out of the royal baths and go to the royal chambers. I feel I should ask her more questions about this mother son thing. She's too friendly to do this, I bet there is some kind of ulterior motive behind this, or she has a motherly fetish. Celestia puts me on her bed and brings a towel out of somewhere to dry herself off. And here I am on her bed, or should I say, 'mom's' bed wet. I look around to see that for a royals room it's quite simple. there aren't many decorations except for the big painting of her and Luna and the occasional photo in frame on top of the fire place. While looking around 'mom' decided it would be something would be funny to dry me off in surprise, in magic of course. 'Mom' draped the towel over me ad started rubbing to dry me off. As soon as she's done she took it off. Is it wrong to feel awkward? " Thanks..." I tell her. " No problem, now let's go get breakfast now. What do ya say son?" She says in a overly friendly tone. " Uhh... Yeah, that would be nice." I say in a tired tone. I get up on the bed and start to walk off towards the door only to be snatched in her magic and put on her back. " I can walk you know." I say to her. " Ooh, but I wouldn't want my little son to walk and get lost now would he?" She replies in a cutish tone. " But I would just follow you." " Don't worry about it. Just enjoy the ride." I'm not sure I can. With me on her back she walks out of the room and into the hallway. The walk seems kinda long so I just lay on my new mother's back and contemplate once again. I know I make bad decisions, but is this a wrong or right decision. I can't tell. But if there some ghost guy in chain mail of some kind i'd bet he'd say " You chose unwisely." Or some kind of Bull shit like that. Can't I get a sign? It looks like the food hall is near us. The two guards open the door and let us in not questioning why i'm on her back. But my question is why are there guards at the food hall, what are they going to protect? Food? ' Oh, no watch out for the thief! He's got the cabbage!' Hehe, that would be kinda funny to see. The food hall is revealed to show a Rarity, Luna, and Twilight and co. Her mane looks messy. As soon as we walked in, everyone bows except for me and Luna. Twilight gets up from bowing and looks strait at me going wide eyes. I can't tell if shes angry. Wonder what I can eat here...
Good, bad, and why me?	More of day 5.	More of day 5 With me still on my new mother's back I just watch the amusing scene of Twilight's face shifting from one emotion to the next. With all the faces she's making not one of them seem to have the emotion of joy what so ever. Twilight is the first of her friends to come up from her bow and walks over to us. " Can I get off now?" I ask Celestia. I'm still not comfortable to referring her as my mother. It just seems suspicious. " Sure, why don't you go to Luna and ask her to get you something to eat." The natural reply from common family's. " Got it." I walk away from her at a moderate pace passing the amusing Twilight and her friends. " Hey everyone what's up?" " How in tartarus did you come back?" Replies Rainbow first, the others nod in agreement. " Cause i'm awesome. Duh." I say nonchalantly, as I walk by to Luna. The four ponies look to each other making a face only friends could understand. Being the person of who I am, I just walk by to Luna and get some food. " Hey Luna what is there to eat?" I ask. " There is oatmeal, waffles, haycakes, or something you want from the staff?" she points at a pony wearing a chefs hat nearby. I sit at the table and think. " I could eat bacon, right?" " Your're a pony, you aren't supposed to have meat of any kind. " Is it a biological thing?" " Yes. Now go eat something healthy." When did she start caring about my health? " Fine... I turn to the chef and tell him my order. He arches a eyebrow in interest, but nods and walks off to I assume the kitchen. "What did you order?" Asks Luna. " Food? Why?" I say sarcastically. " That is not what I meant, but food is good to eat." " Uh huh." I sit and wait for my food. The same pony came back with a silver tray in hoof. He walks over to me and places it in front. He then lifts off the lid and leaves with a quick ' Here is your order.' What I ordered is oatmeal with strawberry preserves. It's simple healthy(ish) and tasty. Luna looks in interest. " Now what is that pray tell?" Luna then asks. " It's oatmeal, why do you ask?" " We have seen oatmeal only with cinnamon or fruit, but jam? Never." " It's not jam but preserves, princess, kinda like jam it's sweet to eat and oatmeal is bland, so putting those two together I got this, I'm pretty sure others have tried this, but I don't know them in any way." I lift the spoon that's included in the tray with magic and start to eat. I'm not much of a food critic but I can say its good. Food is food, unless it's pretty then it's art. I soon finish breakfast and sit and wait for something to happen. And something did. Discord did. " Hello everypony! I decided to wake up slightly earlier to cause more chaos- I mean gifts for pony kind!" Discord now opens his eyes to see a crowd of more familiar then the usual nervous wreck guards. " Oh company! Hello Fluttershy!" He says in a excited tone." And everypony else, hello to you to." his tone went to normal, is there really a normal with this guy? Fluttershy flutters up towards Discord hoping to talk only to be interrupted by hugs and talk. "Ah Fluttershy! It's so good to see you. What are you doing up in Canterlot? I mean I was about to go visit you down in Ponyville. How long has it been? One, two days?" Fluttershy only stayed quiet not interrupting him, but Fluttershy's answer and Discords ramble was then cut in by Rainbow dash. " Jeeze Discord, can't you tell Fluttershy was going to tell you?" She says that after she flew up at eye level at him. " And if you haven't heard the news were here for Jon." Discord's eye opens with vigor and a mix of surprise. " Jon's here! Oh my Faust! I can't wait to see him again! ,last time he was here..." Discord rambled on about the adventures we had or something, but what all I can remember is a window, hang gliding and probably a crash mixed up in there somewhere. Rainbow Dash then decides to say something that made him stop. " Didn't you hear? He's dead." From where i'm sitting I could see a slight smirk appear then disappear for the sake of the joke she made. To my friends back at homeland i'm usually a jerk but still not over the lines a total douche-wad-maximus-assholian, but kinda close, I always ask him why were still friends.... Maybe I should be nicer..Nah. Should I tell them that i'm right here, or just watch it? Hmm, the choices oh the choices. Iris decides to speak up all of a sudden. In my head of course. " Think like this Jon, New place- Clean slate. No past." A new place huh? " I'll say this to you now cause there would be no point in the future, new place-new consequences. I decide to speak up for the sake of something. " I'm not dead!" I say as I turn to the two... entities. "I use to be, but here I am." I finish with a quick sigh and brace myself. Don't know what but it doesn't hurt to be ready. " Who said that?" Said Discord still holding Fluttershy while looking around. I could be a sarcastic ass ,but you know... " Over here! At the table, sitting, eating, waiting... I don't even know." I say, Discord turns to me and his eyes widen slightly in surprise. Or so I thought. " Bwahahaha! Look at you Jon, you's a pony." He rolls in the air taking it all in. Maybe we could be friends. " Yeah, yeah, laugh it up now, but watch your back cause karma is a botch." Yup, lady karma is a botch, with a capital B. Seeing that he's a magical person in high powers maybe we could fix this. Maybe. " Psh, bet you can't even do anything about this." He stops and arches an eye brow as motion towards myself. " Hah! You don't think that the god of chaos can fix this predicament of yours? Me, wielder of chocolate milk. Maker of cotton candy clouds. Can't fix this?" He waves both arms at me. It's working. " Yeah. So what?" I say snidely. " Tell me your problem, and i'll prove it to you that I, Discord , can fix it!" He summons up a fake knight helm and points towards the ceiling with his lion paw hand. I open my mouth about to tell him the problem, but I can't remember." Hey girls." I call over to the five mare just chatting or watching said conversation with Discord and I. " Do any of you remember what did this to me?" I ask. " Wasn't it poison joke dear?" Spoke Rarity. the other four ponies put some thoughts on and nod in agreement. " Yeah dat thing. That's what did this. So can you fix it, or not?" " Hah! Easy peasy!" he snaps his talon claw and in a flash i'm back, from their point of view. For me it's definitely a one of a kind experience. For what it felt like to me, it wasn't hurtful just like a transformer kinda, it just shifted my body around and bam! I got legs and arms again. Even my clothes! Neat no more worrying. I float down to the tile floor and just grasp my hands and release them with a small sigh of relief and a smile of happiness. " See? Done! Even with clothes." He does a quick victory dance in celebration of doing something good. I realize that the gauntlet turned bracer is gone. I look on my arms quickly only to not find it. It's not that important as of right now. I do a quick pat down to find: crappy cell, keys, ipod and earbuds, an my charms, the lucky ones, my natural ones though.... let's not talk about it. I then take a step forward towards Discord to give a friendly thanks. But as soon as my forward foot touched the tile I heard something. Clank! Clank? Rubber doesn't go clank. I look down at my shoe to see the gold bracer has turned into, a gold boot of armor. The Golden knee high has a single circular purple gem on the knee part while gold plates just layer downwards. Neat. I lift said leg with boot and balance on the other leg to inspect the mystical shoe. " I'll have to change it to something else on my owe time later." I quickly thought. The new boot is going to annoy me here with all this clink and clank, wonder what I could change it too. Iris seems to have an answer though. " I'll go look for something you could use." She says. I don't really know what she means by that but i can trust her enough to know it's helpful, probably. " Uh... Sure, you do that." I walk towards Discord giving a clank step and alternate with a silent step, and the cycle repeats. As I get to him I stick out a hand. all he does is stare. " What are you doing?" He asks. I could lie about this. Say some Sci-fi crap, but I think I could do better. " It's a way to say thanks in my world. Called a handshake." " So we shake?" He looks at my out stretched hand quizzically. " I think the equivalent would be a 'hoofshake' I think." His eyes widen as if he just got an epiphany of some kind. " Ah I see." He takes his lion paw and gives a firm shake. As we finished the shake of hands new mother and Twilight came over to see what was going on. When they came over Twilight went back to her friends and 'mother' by Luna, she would be my aunt, right? " So now what?" I ask to none in particular. " I'm sorry but I must go, duties and such. Goodbye my little ponies." 'Mother' said. She left out the double doors and towards someplace. " We must leave also, we have duties as well. Farewell." Luna then takes off in the same direction as 'mother'. " I'm sorry as well Jon, but I must leave as well." Said Discord." Lots of chaos to do. Ta-ta." He left in a flash, literally " Now what?" I ask to the mane 6. " We should head home now, it would be so nice just to stay at home or go to the spa. Oh the things to do..." Rarity answered and rambled. She has more to say of course, about beauty and stuff. " So how are we going to get to Ponyville?" I almost slipped and called it home. I'm getting to use to this place I shouldn't get to comfortable, it would make leaving a bitch. " I could cast a spell of invisibility on you till we get to the train." Twilight says. " Were going by train?" I ask back. " Yes, what's wrong with it?" " Never been on a train before, this is a wonderful first." " You never been on a train? How do you humans even get around?" Twilight asks with much disbelief. " Could tell you on the train ride." I'm not going to tell her." The faster you get us there the more I can answer your questions." I say some what snarkly. These ponies are somewhat easy to manipulate." Maybe if you teleported we could get there-" ~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+ teleporting sound affect ~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+ "- Faster..." I look around to see the 6 mares and an empty, what I assume, train station. "Sigh I guess were here?" " Correct! Everypony wait here, i'll go get the tickets." Twilight trotted off to get the tickets. The others started to converse with each other, I didn't want to have a conversation but it seems i'll probably be dragged into one. "HI!" A high pitched voice said. that gave me a little jump. I turn to face the new coming voice. " Hello... Uhhh. Who are you again?" The pony that's in front of me has a pink coat and a pinker mane. " Haven't we already met? But to tell you again my names Pinkie pie, but all my friends call Pinkie, or pinks, or maybe even-" She continued to ramble on from nicknames to food." - And then he asked if I wanted hay, but I was watching my weight and-" More rambling, now about weight problems. I've heard some girl rants sometimes but they don't go this long. Usually. "-On? Hello? Equestria to Jon?" She must want my opinion on something. " Yeah?" " I asked you, Do you think i'm chubby?" I missed something, something more important than learning about math crap. Why would she ask me this? Me a human, when she, a pony, is asking a boy if she's fat. Why couldn't she ask someone else, like Rainbow or Rarity? Is she fat? I can't tell. Everyone at home always said one of the following two things. Never call a girl fat in any kind of word, and be nice to them. I've broken both before. Should I direct her to someone else, or take the so called 'politicians answer'? Did I ever tell you that my friends think I would be a bad politician? Why would they think that> " Why are you asking me of all peopl-" " Ponies." Pinkie interrupts. It's nice to know that there's grammar people here to. " Fine, Why are you asking me of all 'ponies' Pinkie." " Well, a secret somepony told me that I should get a stallions advice on how I look." She stands up on her back hooves and gestures at her body with her two front hooves and sets back down to all fours. " Well Pinkie, I can't give you a accurate answer on that." She gives a quick 'Why?' and I continue. " Because, as you can see i'm not a stallion aren't I?" She sits down and puts her hoof to her shin to think. "Also I can't tell you if your thin or fat, you all look the same and I can't tell. I could lie to you but lying is bad right?" She nods and responds. Hows that for a politicians answer? " I guess you right Jonny." Ooo a nickname, didn't think we be this close already. " Oh thanks for the insight though." She brings me in for a hug. I don't really know what to do. Never got hugs like this before, so I pat her gently. She soon let go and walks off to another of her friends to ramble about miscellaneous topics. I decided to enter Rarity's conversation right now she's talking with Fluttershy. I walk over and listen in. "- And so one of them bought me a egg with a scroll next to it." Said the quiet pony softly. " Did you open the scroll?" Replies Rarity. " Oh no! I couldn't, what if it's someponies and they lost it." She started to have a slight panic from it's from a pony to animals and or stolen. " Don't worry dear. When we get home we'll open the scroll and see if anything you just said could be true." Rarity says in a reassuring way. I just decided to stand next to Rarity. She's actually the only one here that i'm comfortable with. And now they decide to put me in a conversation. " So Jon what was it like over there?" Rarity asks. " What do you mean by that?" I ask back. " You know umm... Death." Oh, that. " Why would you like to know, You have plenty of time ahead of you, as do I." I really don't want to talk about it really though. " I guess your right... But-" " I got the tickets!" Interrupts Twilight. Oh nice save. Rarity decides to save the question for another time. As Twilight walks back the others group up and listen, or get a ticket from her. I walk besides Rarity to see what Twilight has to say. Rarity soon got her ticket and walked off into the train. " So Jon... Um, there's a slight problem. " She has a look that would probably be called ' Don't hurt me when you get angry' look. "Sigh What is it?" I ask. " Well they ran out of tickets for ponies and they really don't want you on it." I think I know where this is going." So I had to say that you're the Princesses..." She mumbled the last part so I couldn't hear her well. " What did you say? Speak louder." I tell her. " I had to say that your her pet." She was still quiet but I could hear her. I think I should confirm what she said. " You said pet right?" I ask her. She nods her head while looking away. I look to the sky and sigh. I look back to Twilight. " So how is this going to work out?" I ask her thinking she has a plan. " We have to put you in the luggage hold, come on." She has a sad tone, maybe more disappointed though. She leads me to the back of the train and opens the door. " You'll be okay right?" She asks as if I would get mad at her, if we were better friends I would. But as they say 'patience is a virtue'. But my patience is starting to slowly slip away. " Yeah i'll be fine." I look around to see some crate boxes and a couple bags of luggage. It's kinda dark but there's at least a roof window so there will be some sun at least. " When you come back to find me i'll be in a corner sleeping or something." She nods and walks off as the door shuts. You know how adults are like 'Don't go through other people's stuff.' and all that jazz. Well they're ponies so... Time to see what ponies usually carry. Bag number one! The bag has no zippers whatsoever but has a latch mechanism like a watch or belt. The fabric is rough and seems durable, also the color is a deep red. I unlatch it to find, pans? Oh but not just pans, but pots too. Must be some kind of salesman or something. I quickly put everything back where it was and move on Bag number 2! Same mechanism, but there two of them, coincidence? I think not! The color is a blue and in the shape of a duffle bag I undo the two latches and open to see the inside of this crappy treasure chest. I open it to find... What is it? What I found is a bundle of cloth in the bag. Twine and rope rap around to hold it together, it must be some kind of vase or something. Moving on. Last bag! This one is different from the last two. It's more like a sack with a drawstring on the top, the bottom seems to be made of... Leather? I haven't seen lots of leather in my life but I can tell it's not fake, don't think there would be cause ponies wouldn't need this kind of material, also i don't think they like to kill animals for hide. I open it to find... A sword, rock rings, and rope? A lot of it too. Either someone is very, very kinky or into that kind of stuff. I close up the bag and move to a corner only to find a similar bag like the last one. it can't be a coincidence right? " Iris what do you think?" I ask her about her opinion about the two similar bags. " Well look around, see something else?" I look around as she says, only to find a lot more similar bags. Around fifteen total from what I could see. " Think it's just a shipment of swords, rocky rings, and rope?" I know what i'm talking about but does she? " Jon, weapons in this time would probably be shipped in a crate of some kind. Rings like that are probably not for selling and if there is as much rope as there is in that one bag, there might be as much as the others. I think you should get ready." " Ready? Ready for what? " Let's say something hostile, what would you do?" " Wack it til it stays down. Simple. " What if it's aerial? Can't wack that." " You underestimate my power." I say in a old like voice. " But I would go for shooting something at it." " With what?" She has such a skeptical voice right now. " A bow and arrow?" " Maybe? It can transform." " Try it." I mentally shrug and walk over to the light from the ceiling window. Lifting my foot with the gold boot to the light hoping it will transform it does. I turn my head away from the flash to hear a clatter on the wooden floor. I turn back to inspect the assuming gold bow, which it is. Ever like something and then you just lose interest in it, that's the color gold for me. the bow itself seems normal except the part where my hand holds bow is slightly bigger then the rest. I lift from the floor to get a closer look at it light weight as usual, golden string, nice and a dial? Dials don't go on bows do they? No that's wrong, completely wrong. I take a closer look at the dial and see a word above it engraved ever so slightly. 'Time' it said. Okay, so what I was going for was a bow that wouldn't kill I guess it went for some kind of bow that has something to incapacitate someone, that's the word for it right? I pull the bow to see what would happen, seeing as I have no arrows. something interesting happens of course. An arrow formed out of the light itself, it didn't look like a traditional arrow with the feathers in the back or the pointy tip that stabs someone, but it looks as if made of glass holding light. The light inside of it almost seems to swirl when inside of it. I release said arrow at a the wall. A loud ping is heard from the bow. The arrow flies to the wall hitting it the glass arrow just disintegrates into nothing. I look back to the dial and see what it means by 'Time'. Is it a timer? or something? I know I do some stupid things but there is a way to test it out. I turn the dial to lowest setting which is at one notch and lightly pull the string away from me. The arrow forms up and I release the arrow, towards myself. The arrow flew a lot faster than I thought so I panic by flinching. The arrow struck. I look at the arrow seeing it stick out but it soon disintegrates. Okay I couldn't feel that but why do I see the floor all of a sudden. I fall down to the floor and can't move. So this is what the time probably means. how long someone is stunned or something. " Hey Iris, how good is your time keeping skills?" " Average at best, but I could keep up to a minuet or two at most." " Good enough, start counting. Please." Gotta remember manners, kinda. She starts counting to herself seeing as I don't have ghost numbers in my head. good thing I can't feel anything right now and that i'm in a corner so none can see me unless they went deep. Other then that I don't think they can see me. I hear the door open as light floods in, questions run through my mind. Are we done? This train couldn't get us there that fast, right? Well if it's Twilight or some other pony they should know what to do. I could see the just barely the bottom of, 'whoever just came in's' legs. I can hear the legs not clopping like a ponies would, but scratching? They kept moving with two skritches on the wood and then silence for a moment. They're definitely moving, but where? Still can't move. I'm glad I chose a corner, From where whoever is inside with me just came into my vision. A griffin! going for the leather bag! I don't think this will be good at all. Worst vacation and train ride, ever. > Day 5 is longest day. Day 5 is longest day. So here I am, on a floor watching a griffin. I can't move but I can have hope that he doesn't see me and moves on at whatever he's doing. Light flashes again as the door opens up revealing another griffin. " Hey, you ready yet?" The griffin that just came in and spoke to the one at the bags. " Uhh, yeah just give me a minuet." He says as he rifles back through the bags again. " Dude hurry up, the boss will get mad bro. And you've seen him mad." He grabs a nearby sack bag and leaves. " Yeah, yeah, it's just another raid. Jeeze." He calls back to the other griffin, but seems to late. I hope he doesn't see me staring at him. "So I need a sword, check." He takes the sheath with blade out to inspect it. " Magic cancelling rings." He takes out a couple of those rocky rings I saw before. " For me and for her." As he said that he put one on himself and holds the other loosely. He thinks he's so funny. Obviously I am way funnier. " And rope for the bed." He says sarcastically. He give off a small chuckle. I try to wiggle a finger and it moves. Success! The griffin soon leaves with all the gear in tow, Leaving the bag here. Now I have to check how long that was. I bring myself up to a sitting position and think. " Hey, Iris? How long was that?" I ask her. " Around 300 or so, I lost count a couple times." " Good enough, You counted seconds right?" " I don't know." I swear I can feel her shrug in my head. " I just kept up at a one-two pace." Perfect! " Perfect. So if we have around 300 seconds and 1 minuet is 60, we'll have... Five minuets? Yeah 5 minuets for one notch." " Wow your good at calculating." She says in a chipper tone. " Don't get happy about that, and it's easy cause i'm Asian, duh." I say in a half sarcastic tone at the last part. When i'm with friends and i'm comfortable enough with them i'll make fun of my self in a sarcastic stereotypical way. Iris, she's getting there. " I don't get it..." She says confusedly. " Don't worry about it. Just know that if I say that i'm Asian it will answer a lot of problems." " Ohh, gotcha." With the conversation done I suddenly rock from one side to the other. Did the train stop? Seeing that these griffins are raiding the train, then I should get ready to fight them, yes? I have a bow that paralyzes at the first notch for five minuets. Lets change that. So every notch is five minuets, so full circle should do. That should paralyze them for about an hour I believe. The door opens up, I react to it in surprise moving back closer towards the wall hoping whatever it is that they don't find me. I'm glad I chose that decision, because about ten griffins came bustling in, each grabbing a leather bag sack and moving out. Soon all the griffins leave. Except one. He starts talking out loud of the sudden. " Now in a book, there would be a stowaway in here hiding, and getting ready to retaliate." He looks around. I don't know what to say, give him props cause he's right. I just hope that he goes away. " I should check." He turns to the corner i'm hiding in, but the door opens revealing another one of them griffins. " Hey come on already, ya pecker." The griffin says. " The boss is waiting on your sorry ass." " I'm just checking! Jeeze." The griffin that was about to catch me said. " Again? Dude, there is nopony here, you always do this so just come out already." The griffin that came in left just as fast. The griffin that was snooping leaves with his head down and mumbles on the way out. " Meh, meh, meh, meh, meh." The griffin says mocking his subordinate." Just you watch one day, i'll be right." He opens the door and leaves. Now we're all alone more like me though. I get away from the corner and silently walk over to the door, you never can be too careful. I look at through the door window to see a bunch of griffins in line formation break. The land around is grassy with some foliage, so twigs might be problem. I see some rocks for cover here and there, but there aren't to many smaller rocks to chuck as distractions. Time to look through stuff again. I look through some other bags quickly to find; some of those rocky rings, three total, and some small pots and pans. I can take the rings but not the pot or pan. But I have an idea for them. I take a look out the door window to see no griffins around. I look through the pot and pans bag to find a giant pan. I take the pan and run out side as silently as possible. It is time to activate plan A. I move about twenty five feet out and leave the pan there. I move back to the luggage area and start. I chuck a small pot aiming for the pan, but miss. I give out a small curse and try again. I throw the little pan like a tomahawk to hit the pan on the ground. With a clean hit it went clang. Clang! Shit! That was loud, a lot louder that I thought. I sit down in the middle of the cabin cross legged side ways and wait. Now if I may quickly might add. I can't kneel, well actually I can but since i'm more top heavy then bottom it would hurt to kneel for a while. I've tried to do it before trust me, my friend can to it perfectly and I hate him for that. As the plan has worked about like I planned. But a little two well. let's count. One, two, three, four, four griffins. I only planned about one or two. Luckily all of them are facing away from the open door looking for the cause. I pull the string back and aim for the closest one about fifteen feet away from the door. I'm about ten from the door inside, making a total of about twenty five feet total. I'm no archer but I always wanted to try it. Might as well start now. I know from seeing archers that wind and gravity is a bitch. Also that it should be fine at this range. I release the string to get a low twang and a straight shot. As my aim is true, the 'arrow' flies straight. Gravity doesn't affect it and neither does the wind. Fantastic! Maybe this just got easier. The shot hit the griffin in the body. The arrow disintegrates and he slumps to the ground. The other three griffins have found the sound as two of the three hold a big pan and the other a smaller pan. They didn't seem to notice their friend fall. They seem, to close together but I can aim for the middle one. " Iris, think you can help?" Time for plan A subscript 'a'. That's right, right? " Yes? What do ya need?" " Can you help with the arrow?" " Why? Wind doesn't seem to affect it." " Can you wrap the arrow around in wind so when it hits the middle griffin it'll push the other two away?" It's just an idea.I think it might work. Maybe. " Wrap the arrow?" My heart took a moment to stop. " I can do better. Just fire the arrow and watch me." She just got cooler. " Whatever it is your doing do it enough to push them enough apart but not fly them to space." " Your no fun." I pull the string back and the 'arrow' appears. I fire at the middle and as straight as can be it flies to hit the griffin in the chest. He falls to the ground. From what I could see the two griffins pull back as if yanked off stage. Seeing how my plan has worked ish. I run out to the front of the door and pull with three fingers hoping it would work. And it has seeing as two arrows appear. I turn the bow to the side and release. The two flew true as one got hit but the other missed. The griffin caught himself with a wing flap and righted himself up. Oh yeah, they have wings, I forgot about that. He looks at his two friends and panics as do I. I pull back the golden string quickly. As if time has almost slows down, the griffin slows down about to call out for help, but not on my Asian ass. I release the string to see it fly to a peculiar spot. His mouth. Owch. The arrow disintegrates. He falls to the ground. I relax a little putting the bow to my side and go to inspect the griffins. The closest one is just laying there breathing, looking around and the occasional blink. As I walk up to him his eyes bulge. But I have other plans. I walk past to get the other griffins. Hoping that the arrow affects stack I quickly shoot them again and then drag them to the luggage cabin. I look around for something to do with them, Can't take chances. Seeing an extra sack I look inside to find rope. I take the rope and tie them up like hogs. I lastly drag each one into a corner. Then again, no chances. I walk outside to see if there's any other griffins out there is, only one. He looks around, probably looking for his buddies. I pull out the bow and lodge him an arrow on his almost missed neck. Gotta be careful. He falls to the ground, I drag him back to the cabin and tie him up. Man, I sound like some kind of crazy person. Might be cause this world. Walking out again proves nothing outside. Good. " Iris? Now what?" I know I have to be sneaky and crap, but what do I do? I'm used to a street fight but stealth? Hail no. But now is a good time to practice it. Might be useful later. " Look around both sides of the train and tell me what you see." I look on the right side of it to see some griffins standing guard. About five total.The other side has three? A side door then opens up ahead with a griffin holding a sack. The others just seem to laugh, probably cracking a joke about balls or something. What I didn't notice is that he's coming over here, as in my way. I wait at the door hoping he'll pass in front. I pull the bow string ready and waiting. About thirty seconds or so he appears in front grumbling of course. " Why did I have to take the money back..." He continues about that until I shot him barely hitting him in the chest. He flops to the ground. on top of the sack rag dolling off of it. I run over to him quicker then a medic and shoot him again. I quickly drag him inside and leave. " Now what?" I ask Iris in a panicked fashion. " Climb the ladder." What ladder? I look around and, hey a ladder. I start to formulate another plan and climb up. As I get up top I look around. Luckily I see no griffins in the sky. I stay at the last cabin so they can't sneak behind. I take a rocky ring out and chuck it towards the now left side. Which was the right side before. The ring bounces off a roof far away enough to get a griffin's attention. Holding a ring in talon, or claw, the griffin flies up holding it quizzically looking as to return it to it's owner, which is nice of him. I take up the bow and pull. I slowly breath and release the string. The arrow flies with murdering grace hitting him, sending them to the ground. The thump is a low sound but the body of your comrade is louder. A loud squawk is sounded off alerting the griffins on the other side. Initiate plan letter! " Hey Iris? Can you do the arrow thing again?" " Ready!" She says with gusto. She sounds like she's having fun. ME on the other hand is having panic. Seven griffins fly to the topside, but the unlucky one got hit first. I hit the griffin and he goes down faster then my childhood. Three nearby griffins spread out cause of that. I shoot at all three but miss two, another griffin gone. The two griffins right themselves with a wing flap and descend towards me. With two delayed I get up and throw the other two rings at the closer griffins. They quickly flinch, taking the small opening I snipe one down leaving them basically in a mish mash zig zag of a formation. " Iris can you keep them back?" " Aye sir!" She says with even more gusto then before. A gale stirs and pushes the closer griffins back. I take a chance and aim with three fingers on the string making two arrows. I line them up with at least two of the griffins and release. Striking true, the two arrow hit both griffins and now they have a new appointment with the ground. I quickly look for the other griffin which is, whom he is flying towards. I line up a shot an 'arrow'. The arrow flies hitting him in the neck. He grabs his neck but falls down crashing into the train with an audible thud and a tumble. While he's down I shoot him again and kick him off the train roof. Wish I thought of a one liner. I take a moment to breath and calm down.so I just shot down five griffins... Five? I turn around only to be tackled down on the roof. Slamming me into the metal dropping the bow. I try to struggle but it's all in vain. " What are you?" He says to me, but before I could answer he kept going. " It doesn't matter. Even though the boss said no deaths. I think this will be an exception." His tone is cold as if he just saw his friends die. Maybe that's what he thought. " DIE!" He straightens a talon and aims at my neck. Fear. That's what I feel right now. Fear. And maybe adrenaline, Again time slows. Would this be my death? It can't be though, I have to go to collage and be a doctor! Even in death i'll make an Asian stereotype joke. Nothing can help me now, and nothing will. But even now instincts still carry on. Calling for help. " Iris!" I yell hoping something would happen. And it did. The griffin hesitated, and in that moment of hesitation a blast of wind went off pushing him back. With him away I scramble backwards to get away. To bad were still on the roof. I fall down to the ground with a thud on my back. I just lay there, in pain. What do I do now? " Jon! Find the bow!" Iris is right I have to fight back. I shakily push myself off the ground looking for the bow, I can't see it anywhere, the grass is to damn high. I get on the ground and sift through quickly trying to find the bow. I hear heavy flapping near me, it must be the griffin. Looking around even more frantically I see a small dip in the grass. I scramble over to it as fast as I can. The beats of the griffin's wings get louder. I get to the spot to find the bow. I take the bow and fumble it in my hands. I pull the string back as I turn around and release doing a blind shot. My vision refocuses, my ears hear a thud. The griffin is down. The griffin lays in the grass, I hold the bow out with my left hand slowly lowering it. " Jon. There should be more. Including the boss." She's right. I walk back to the train and move up a few carts. I look through a window. Nearby to see this cabin empty. The next one too. I'm now at the third cabin. I look in to see a bunch of ponies ranging from grey to white. And among them 4 ponies I know, where are the other two? Twilight is there sitting, looking up at the rocky ring on her horn, Applejack is knocked out and tied with rope as is Rainbow. Pinkie looks fine, kinda. Her mane is all straight and darker for some reason. A griffin watches over all of them holding a sword to a pony's throat. He holds him upwards as he's tied up in rope. The pony at throat is a brown stallion with a slick back mane being a darker brown then his coat and his cutie mark is an hourglass. He looks with his eyes, darting around as if trying to find a solution. I think he spots me and his eyes widen. Now this leaves the question; Where are Fluttershy and Rarity? Are they being held hostages to? We can figure this out in a moments time. So the griffin is holding him near the door and there's a slight gap between the two cabins so I should be able to sneak behind him. Or something like that. I walk over tho the sliding door and pull it slightly. I speak to him. " Ayy da boss said ta switch places. Said he needed to give ya somethin." I say in a gruff tone of the eighty's . I always had a knack for making crappy voices. Maybe he'll get tricked and something special will appear. " Really the boss? Awesome! maybe he really took what I said to heart!" I pull the string back waiting for him." Like I said, we should all get unifo-" The griffin opens the sliding door only to get shot in the face. The griffin falls to the floor as if he died. I let my arms fall to my side, letting out a sigh of relief. " Yeah, he said he would give it a shot." Oh yeah. That was good. I smile and walk through to Twilight. " Hey... You okay?" She looks at me. " You just killed him..." She says in disbelief. I could lie saying some kind of crap about human history and war and all that, but I really shouldn't. I don't think now is the time " He's fine trust me, he's-" I start but you know, people. Or ponies. " You shot him in the face!" I feel like Twilight should learn what I did. I suddenly stand up surprising the purple mare. I take a look at the dial turning it back all the way back to the first notch. I pull back the string and aim for Twilight. She looks at me and her eyes widen. " Whoa, Jon what are you doing?" She says in a hurried panic." I thought we were friends?" Her tone seems to dip to even lower. The guilt will hurt me bad. This is my kind of joke. Evil. " Shut up." I say to her. " The first thing you should know about a human is this: We like to lie." I let go of the string and it flies past her head and towards the floor. The arrow soon leaves and all that's left is a quiet crowd, a sad Pinkie, two knocked out ponies, and a very, very shocked Twilight. I sigh as I run my hand through my hair. I duly notice how sweaty I am. " Pinkie?" Her head slowly looks up to mine. " I'm gonna go out to find your friends. Okay? Can you help out around here?" She slowly nods and stands up. I leave Past the knocked out griffin and slide past the door with even more stupid guilt in my heart. Being evil is hard. I step over to the next cart up ahead. I turn the dial to the max. I open the door with gusto and pull the string back quickly, but find nothing. All there is, is a bunch of train seats lined up to another door. This should be the last car before the conductors part of the train. I walk through the cart in silence, and open the door. Of course there's another door. I hear something though which makes me stop. Is it the boss griffin talking smack, or... whining? Yup, that's whining alright. I would know, cause I do it to. But who's voice is it? I lightly press my head against the door to hear, Rarity? I know that whining can get you out of a lot of stuff but this? What is this situation even? Who needs the real saving hear? Rarity, or the guy listening to that whining. I knock on the door with a stupid plan in mind. A possibly working one, but a stupid one. "WHAT!" Comes from a gruff and stressed voice inside. Must be the "boss". " Ehh. I got the two other ponies you asked for boss." I say in the same voice I used to trick the other griffin. " Wait a minuet... All my underlings are always frightened when I yell." Man, he is a smart one. The same voice become increasingly louder as each word follows. I quickly get away from the door and to the grassy field. " WHO ARE YOU!" The door slams open and i'm not there. "Over here!" I yell getting his attention. The griffin appears with anger. There's not much to say about him, other than he's slightly bigger than the other griffins. He appears in the field looking over at me with a raised brow. " GRIFFINS! TO ME!" He yells. I should shoot him but lets watch. He seems he wants to speak but I beat him to it. " I bet your thinking ' Where are my men?'" I say in a mocking tone." Well all you got is me." I say pointing a thumb at my chest. " What did you do with them?" He asks. Rage boiling. " Do you even care about them?" I ask, Disregarding his question he asked. " What do you mean?" He says with Asian squinting eyes. " Well earlier when I was the one who knocked at your door, you mentioned something about all your men being frightened or something like that." He puts on an angry thinking face. But before he can retort, I continue." Now, if I said ' There where they belong. On the other side of the river.' If you catch my drift." He does a quick nod as I continue. " Would you join them if I asked you to?" He puts on a thinking face. He has quite a lot of emotions going through his mind. He soon breaks, sitting on the grassy field sobbing. I walk over to him and put a awkward patting had on his... Shoulder? Yeah lets call it that. " I never sob thought of them sob It's- It's to bad I don't care!" He lunges at me with his left claw towards my face. Not good. " Hey Iris? Can you give me more speed or something?" Not the drugs, they're bad. Don't do them. " Yes? " That sounded more shady then the dentist saying 'This won't hurt a single bit.' Won't hurt my ass. " I think I can. Just trust me." " You haven't failed me yet." I end the conversation there. I start moving backwards away from the claw, but it's too fast. Then it slows. Time has slowed for me before but not like this. This just made the whole world stop. " Go!" Iris yells before I can ask. Following what she said I continue. I quickly step back from the slug moving griffin to the side of where he'd swung his claw. Time quickly comes back. The griffin's claw follows through where my face would be. But his face is now in shock. His swing has to much momentum stumbling him as he hits nothing. I swing at his face with his claw still stuck out making a cross-counter. " CROSS COUNTER BITCH!" I yell. The griffin tumbles forward and away as he is stunned. But before he can get up I shoot him. The arrow flies for the last time stabbing his body. I drag him by his back legs towards the cart where he came from. As i'm dragging him back, I can feel the stares coming from the ponies inside the cart, moments like these make me blush in embarrassment. I walk a little quicker hoping to avoid them. By the time I got out of their view and towards the back of the train, I started to think about my life and how i'm living it. Not in the emo suicidal way, but more along the lines of ' What am I doing' and 'future/college' crap. Iris decides to counsel me or something as I walk back to the ponies and wrap things up. " What's wrong Jon?" She asks in a caring tone. " Nothing. Just wondering how life is. I'm not angry or sad. More tired if anything. " Anything I can do to help?" " Not much, you have saved my ass multiple times. I wonder how i'll pay you back." " Oh please, you've done more than enough to help me." Question marks and questions were popping up in my head." You woke me up and took me on this adventure, that's more than enough for me." I guess she's right, But it feels like I should give her more. I walk back to the train cart that Twilight is in and open the door, only to be met with a hoof. Well two of them, a blue one, and an orange one. Ow, my gut and my face. I fall to the floor holding my crumpled guts and another bloody nose. I can't believe that I took more damage by two ponies, then all the griffins. Holding back tears and thoughts that could curse, I hear the sounds of many hoof steps. " Take that!" Said Rainbow Dash with a tone of smugness. When I looked up I saw four ponies, more like three as Rainbow does a victory dance. I seriously feel like laying here and just sleeping, but you know... " Oh dear...Uh yall al right partner?" Asks a much more friendly Applejack, not like the obvious pony that's dancing right next to her. Being Me on the ground I can only respond how I would. With a very out of place sentence. " I never ate your cereal...Didn't look that goog.." That's what I heard, or thought I said, but I don't know how it came out." I'm gonna go to sleepy now, You wake me up later, Okay?" Things were... Going the wrong way they say? Applejack responded with an 'Okay' and everything just went black. My eyes open up to see the grassy plain once again. The cabin in the distance is just beyond everything. I don't even want to get up, but luckily I won't have to. Because Iris came to me, more like walked up behind me and kicked me. Lightly, at least. " Hey, Get up." She says as she lightly taps her foot against my side. I guess you could say i'm 'awake' now. More like annoyed. " I don't wanna. I wanna rest." This almost wants me to go back to school, almost. Which is very very bad. " Well..." She stretched it out, that means somethings gonna happen." You see, I kinda did something to your body." That's gotta be not good. At the hearing of this I get up off the ground immediately. I grab her by the the shoulders and look her in the eyes and say. " What did you do to my body." She didn't respond, but did open her mouth. " Only I am aloud to do stupid things. So what did you do?" "Nothing, I just wanted you to get up." She says. Great she's almost worst than my parents on summer break. And then I got smacked. In the face. In the dream world." That's for fighting the griffons." I just look at her with a shocked face. And then she hugged me. " This is for being cool." I'm more or less have a con fused look on my face, but then she said." Your waking up soon." Before I open my mouth to respond, everything fades to white. * Clickety-clack, Clickety-clack, Clickety-clack, Clickety-clack.* Every time the train goes ' Clickety-clack' someone sins. Well maybe, but its kinda true, especially at the dinner table. You know how when you wake up there's the morning blur? The thing where everything is fricken blurry for about half a minuet or so. Well all I can see is one giant blob of color, I blink quickly to force the blur away. The giant blob reveals Twilight, and Rarity. Wonderful. I open my mouth to speak to them, but all that comes out is a yawn. At least I didn't have to start the conversation, Rarity did. "Um, are you alright darling?" I raise an eyebrow to this. She then raises a hoof and points towards her snout. She must mean the bloody nose, I think. I stick my pinkie finger in my nose holes to find some bloody boogers. At least it means it's gone. I nod at her as I flick the booger blood away. Twilight and Rarity rear back in slight disgust. " So how long has it been since I went down, and where's everyone else?" I ask to either pony. " Applejack is with Rainbow Dash guarding the griffons, and Fluttershy is..." She had to think about it before she could respond." Is talking with Pinkie, also it's been around fifty minuets or so since you 'fell'." I had to think here for a moment, was I forgetting something? " The griffons." Said Iris." Remember, you shot them with a bow and froze them for an hour, maybe." Oh yeah, that thing. " Thank you for reminding me." What would I be without her. " Are all the griffons just in the caboose?" I ask Twilight. " As of right now yes." She said. " And it's been about fifty minuets?" Twilight nods." Where's my bow ma-jigger thingy. If one of you have it, can I have it back?" " Well..." Twilight stretched it, that's not good. It's never good, like when someone says ' you see' and then they stretch out the 'see' part and you know that something's up." You can't have it back." Of course. " Why?" Probably some bull crap about 'it's dangerous' or ' your dangerous with it'. " First and most off it's dangerous to have a weapon of any sort. Secondly, no." If she was a prissy ass white girl right now she would be waggling that finger. She started ranting about the law and some other bull shit about it. I called Rarity over to talk to her next. " You okay?" I ask her. I kinda worried for her, she is the easiest to talk to out of all of them. " I'm fine darling, no need to worry about me." She responds strongly. at least she's good. " Hey." I nudge her with my elbow." Do you think you can convince Twilight to give it back?" I ask her as she is probably my only hope to get it back. " But it's dangerous to have it around. Why would you want it now?" She looks at me with questioning eyes. " First, it's mine. Second, the griffons are going to start moving any minuet now." Her eyes widen with alarm." There lot's of other reasons, but I can't think of them." " What do you mean the griffons are going to start moving?" She ask with concern of the topic. " Human senses." I say while wiggling all my fingers. " Trust me. You can do that right?" She thinks about it for a second, she then walks over to Twilight to, I assume talk about the bow. After a minuet or two Rarity comes back with a troubled face." How did it go?" " She still refuses to give it back to you, but the moving of the griffins seems to catch her attention." Rarity explained." Do you have a plan?" " About the griffons? No I don't, not without the bow at least." Well it's not really more like waiting for them to fly away only to be shot down by the heavens. Kinda. "I'll be back." Said Rarity as she walked away back to Twilight. After a minuet or two she came back again. it gave me some time to think of a plan with out the bow." She said no still." " Griffons should start moving about now. Don't worry I have a plan. Want to come see?" I started to get up and walk, not without looking at Twilight though. She's still muttering about the bow or something. "The Griffons are the other way." Rarity pointed out. Iris said it the exact same time. " I knew that, it was a human test. Now let's go." I say while turning one eighty and walking past her at a faster rate then before. As i'm walking the ponies that are on the train seem to be talking about me and were I came from. It made me nervous to walk by them knowing that they were talking about me, but isn't that what school is like as well? At least it only lasted two train cars. As we made it to the caboose part we both saw Rainbow. I kinda dislike Rainbow. She hit me in the face. How could you not dislike someone for that. While walking towards her she started to speak. " Oh, hey -" I decided to cut her off as i'm holding a small grudge against her. Asians will hold grudges for a longest time, very long. So I put my hand up to silence her and walk past her to the caboose's door where Applejack is. I have a slight grudge against the orange pony, but she is easier to forgive. Somewhat. " Uh, howdy Jon. Yall feeling better?" See, I can forgive her. I give a slight yet quick nod of my head. I point a finger at the door behind her. She got the message and moved out of the way. She hesitated to move, but moved none the less. Before I walk in I have to have a plan... I don't have one. I give Rarity some instructions before I go in. " Hey Rarity?" She perks up at her name listening instead of something else." Do you want to come in with me?" She immediately shakes her head to decline. Wouldn't blame her, even I don't want to go in. " Called it, anyway. Could you try to convince Twilight to give it back? Oh, and after all this i'm gonna need new clothes. Please." She gives a ' Very well darling.' and walks away. Applejack still stood there just being out of place." Do you want to come in?" I ask while raising an eyebrow at her. She thought about before saying something along the lines of ' i'll watch through the windows.' something like that. I put my ear near the door to hear some talk. Wonder what they're talking about. As I open the door the talk stops. I close the door behind me and stare at the group of griffons, small pieces of rope on the floor looks like somebody cut them. looks of anger is what I see among the group of griffons. I cross my arms and look down on them. Figuratively and physically as I am taller then them. They could tell i'm looking down on them, and they didn't like it. The griffons prepare to pounce, but their leaderboss stops them and confronts me. " What do you want?" He says while also looking ready to pounce. " I want to know what are you going to do now?" You have no clue how nervous I am right now. " We want to leave." Who wouldn't." Will you let us?" Why is he asking me? " Whats keeping you here?" " Our Pride as griffons. You defeated my group and every single one of us. Our pride is broken." His voice sure didn't though. " What would restore it?" " Revenge." Shit. " But we can't. I have seen your ability to fight up close, another says you have magic powers, the rest say your more cunning then a fox. As if you are a hunter." I would laugh, but because of this topic I can't. Being cool is hard. Now I know why i'm unpopular back at home. " What are you going to do?" " What do you want us to do?" I feel as if I am back in square one. So the group of griffon bandits are asking me on what to do. I feel like I should start a mafia or something. All these griffons being in my mafia group and the ghosts back at the forest as well. They probably be up for it. Nah, maybe but nah. " Where do you come from?" " The griffon colonies." That sounds familiar. I wish I paid more attention in class. Nah, Pokemon was more important that time. " You are outlaws here one assumes?" " Yes we are outlaws here." " What about the griffon colonies?" " We are a small group of bandits, what do you think?" There's some sarcasm there, but that doesn't matter. " So...No, cool." Some griffons flinched at that." I want all of you..." I say this as I am waving my index across all of them. " To go back and start new lives there, meet a girl griffon, start a family. Maybe a businesses too." Some sighed in relief, others just had a hard thinking look. Probably their pride or something." But." They all looked at me." I want all of you to send me letters on how it goes once you guys settle down." I ask of this because information is power. So are connections. " I want to know about whats going on over there and how your lives are going. Just some personal things if you want. Someone to confide to." Everybody likes gossip. " What makes you think that when you let us go, we go back to are ways?" He has a point. " Your pride." I took a shot in the dark, and it seems like it worked." If you did what you said, would it really be the same. Can you just pillage more trains without me on your mind? No. Because of your pride you won't. But don't think of it as something your pride is holding you on, but think of this as a chance to start new. Maybe even follow what you really wanted to do as little griffon. what do you think?" As I was talking about a new start and all that stuff. Most griffons nodded their heads, others seem to be thinking about it. The head griffon seems conflicted on what to do. But he still answered what I wanted. " I agree to your terms, what do you think birds!" He said that to the group of griffons behind him. A chorus of cheers erupt from them signaling yes. Is this what they call politics? " Where shall we send our letters to?" " To the Ponyville clothing boutique. I live there. Is that all birds?" I say while opening both arms to the wide caboose. The griffons respond in kind. " Now to make sure you all know whats going on. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" I yell to them. " STARTING NEW!" They respond somewhat happily. " WHAT ELSE ARE YOU DOING?" " SENDING LETTERS!" " WHERE ARE YOU SENDING THEM?" " The Ponyville clothing boutique?" It was kinda quiet as I guessed that only some griffons heard where to send it. " CORRECT! Now do you need anything else?" They all shake their heads indicating no. " Good now follow me birds! Single file!" I walk to the door and open it." Oh, uh stay here till I come back. There're strong ponies guarding the outsides. I'll go tell them to not attack. Be back soon." I close the door behind me to reveal four shocked ponies. The ponies being, Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack. All slack jawed in some way shape or form. They all just make sounds as if they were trying to make sentences but it just doesn't come out other then ' A-buh, A-buh' repeating over and over again. " Okay girls I know i'm beautiful and amazing, trust me I really do, but i'm sorry to say that your all going to have to move." I push them away from the door and towards a side." Now wait here and talk about the amazing feat you have just saw. Oh, none of you attack the griffons as well. Okay? Okay." I walk back where the griffons are. " Okay, so as you go and take off into your homeland one at a time you can yell your dream if you want, or a one-liner. Everyone got that?" They all nod. " ONE AT A TIME BIRDS! LETS MOVE! QUICKLY, QUICKLY!" I hold the door open for the griffons to make a running start. As each one went out some said a one-liner, most just said something of starting a business or making a family of some kind. It was kinda great. I would never think that being here in pony land would lead me to reform griffons back into society. This counts as volunteer hours for high school, right? Don't answer that. The sun started to lower, but the sight of griffons going towards the sunset reminded me of something beautiful: Fried chicken. I am really craving chicken. My favorite meat is chicken by the way. I go back out to see the four girls once again. Before any could speak I motion for them to come inside the caboose. They all hesitated slightly at first, but Rarity seemed to trust me on this. She walked ahead of them and followed me inside. The others soon followed. " Darling why did you want us to come inside?" Rarity asked me. She does have a point. " Did you want to talk out there?" She shakes her head meaning no and I just slowly nod mine. " Can one of you girls take me to a room? I get sleepy while traveling." " But I have a few questions." Twilight said with hurry and panic in her voice. " Could you answer them?" " How many questions do you have?" I'm guessing above one. " At least a whole note pads worth." No, just no. " I'll answer them for you." " Really you will? Okay then, question number-" I interrupted with the power of loopholes. " Wait. I never said i'll answer them now, I said i'll answer them, but I never said now. Rarity, take me to a bed please. Traveling really makes me tired." I yawn as I follow her. As Rarity left the caboose I follow behind to the door, but I stop and look back at Twilight. " Hey Twilight maybe if you gave back the bow I can answer all your questions, but that's just a possibility." With that proposed I left the other three ponies. Rarity led me through one train cart and we stopped at an empty one. There's no one here. The benches here would be to small, cause there pony sized.I could sleep in the middle, but that's where everyone has to walk. Sleeping on the floor sideways on the width would be the most sub optimal of these solutions. " Is this where i'm sleeping?" I ask Rarity. I mean sure I already planned my optimal solution but you don't just go to a place and lay down. Unless it's your bed " Well dear there really isn't anywhere else on the train you could nap on a bed with your size." She calling me fat. " You calling me fat?" I know she didn't mean it, being different in any world is hard. Her face turned into a shocked face and almost started to apologize to me." Kidding. It's okay. I know i'm different but here's the good thing about humans." I walk over to a pony sized booth and sit down on it, get comfortable and prop my head up against the window. Ever over think something? Rarity laid down on the other side across from me she turns towards me looking at me. She didn't speak. She just kinda stared. Even with my eyes closed I could tell. When I open my eyes to check on her to see if she's looking at me she just turns and looks out the window. Not with a hurried attitude or a embarrassed face. It's blank. " Something on your mind?" I ask her. Rarity puts a thought on her mind but shakes her head no. " You want to talk about something?" Again she puts another thought on her face. She smile at her, I assume, discussion topic." Looks like you have an idea. What is it?" "Just your taste in fashion dear. I will be making you clothes in the near future, so I would like to know what you like to get reference." Makes sense. It's really simple. " Uh sure, got it." I sit up more straight and cross my right leg over my left leg. I pinch a part of my jeans for Rarity to see." These are my jeans. They are pants and I dislike shorts." She raised her eyebrow at that. " You don't like shorts? Why not?" " Show to much leg, not good for any time." She nods. Her horn glows lifting the part of the pants a pinched. The magic moves side to side almost like she was feeling it. Rarity shuts off her magic and I continue." This is my shirt. I wear this cause it's mine. and it's made of cotton. I can take it off for you later if you want to see it." She blushes. " You know what your going to see right? Nothing." My body isn't all that impressive just kinda normal. The train suddenly lurches forward and the rocks back. Are we in the village of ponies? Rarity gets up and I follow. I wonder if the town will chase me again. And then i'll transform into a pony again. And this will loop again and again and again. Nah, Life can't be that stupid. Yeah it can, never mind. " I'll tell you about my jacket and color types later okay?" Rarity nods as we leave the Train and onto the train station. As Rarity and I walk out onto the the station We could see some other ponies we know. Namely Rarity's friends. We walked up to them to say something. I don't know, I assume it's goodbyes. Pinkie and Fluttershy aren't here. I wonder why. " Hello girls." Rarity said to them with me behind her. I just waved to the other ponies ahead of her. The four ponies started talking about something. I heard Fluttershy's name once or twice. It would explain waiting. I walk around behind Rarity, just stepping two steps forward and two steps back. Standing in one place makes my feet hurt. Fluttershy soon walked up with Pinkie, both giggling. Fluttershy and Pinkie walk up and joined as well, I just wave to them as well. " So Fluttershy." Fluttershy turned her head towards Twilight." You said something about an egg?" " Oh yes, There was also a scroll next to it. Berry said he found it right next to it. Who would leave a poor, poor defenseless egg in that scary forest." She said with a genuine tone of concern. " Tomorrow, could I come over and take a look at it? Would it be okay with you?" Twilight asked Fluttershy back. Rarity interrupted Fluttershy's response, though Fluttershy didn't look like she was going to reply. " Ah, You could join Fluttershy and my tea time." She said to Twilight. Rarity turned her head towards Fluttershy and said." I missed Tea with you yesterday, so would it be alright with you tomorrow?" Fluttershy didn't respond with speak, but just nodded with a smile. " Wonderful, I will see you tomorrow then. Are either of you girls coming?" We all turned towards the other three ponies. " I would totally go Rarity." Rainbow dash said with sarcasm." But, I asked cloud kicker to cover my weather shift so I can't. I gotta get going now. So see you girls later." Rainbow Dash just Dashed off. " I would like to come to but ah asked Big mac to cover me. So I owe him tomorrow. I should get going as well. Gotta wake up extra early." Who is this mysterious hamburger pony. I'm gonna go over there soon and find out. Priority's, I got them. Applejack walked away saying her goodbyes. " Mr. and Mrs.Cake said I HAVE to work tomorrow, so I should get going as well." Pinkie also left as well hopping away. " I going to leave as well, it's starting to get dark and I have to go prepare and tell spike." Twilight soon left as well. It is now Rarity, Fluttershy, and me. What Twilight said about getting dark is very true, it's practically night time. The stars were starting to appear as the sun gets dimmer and dimmer. " Well we should start going as well. Will you be alright getting home?" Rarity asked Fluttershy. Fluttershy nods her head while looking at the ground. She then turns towards ( I assume) her home. I kinda feel that we should walk her to her own house. It would be the right thing to do. Also the nice thing as well. I poke Rarity for her attention and speak, more like a loud whisper. " Hey Rarity? Do you think we should walk her home? I know she already said no but ask again." Rarity put a moment of thought into it and spoke to Fluttershy about what I said. Again Fluttershy denied albeit politely. She walks off again with no interruptions from me or Rarity. So all that's left is Rarity and me. " So we can go now right?" Starting to get hungry. " Yes darling we can go home now. it's starting to get terribly late." She started walking to ( I assume) her home. As we walked through town I noticed that it's pretty dark. Since it's dark enough I can actually see the stars. Neato. The town itself is outlined in silhouettes made by the moon above. Some of the houses around here have lights on, but curtains closed. Most others, their light off. And we made it to my (TEMPORARY) home. " Finally back." Said Rarity as she walked in before me." Now Jon, you know where your sleeping arrangement are. And if you excuse me I am going to rest. She trots off to her room and I walk to mine. As I open the door to sleep in the bed I notice a lump under the blankets. I silently and carefully tip toe towards the bed and lift the blanket. The lump is Sweetie bell. I cover her back up and walk out silently closing the door. I walk to the living room and find the couch I once laid on before. only now it looks a little smaller. I lay on the couch and as expected I am to big for it. I try a couple of other positions on the couch but it just does not work out. I give up in frustration and throw a pillow from the couch to the floor and lay on the floor. Now I sleep, but I can't. I turn a couple times to each side. I stay awake till sleep takes over. Don't know how long it took though to me it felt like an hour, or five. I wake up in dream land. I didn't want to stay up here either. So I lay on the grassy ground and try to sleep again. But like the real world I can't fall asleep either. " Would you like some help there?" A familiar voice said. I turn towards it to see Iris. " What are you going to do?" I ask. What could she do. I mean how and what. She sits down with her legs in front, and pats her lap with her hands while presenting a smiling face. "I'm going to question you later." Her smile almost faltered. " But I'm also to tired as well, so fine you win." I lay on her lap and fall asleep a lot faster then real life. Ahh, rest time...
Good, bad, and why me?	A New Day: ??? Hours remain	A New Day: ??? Hours remain. Sleeping is nice. Beds are nice. Internet is nice. Expensive stuff I want is also nice. Waking up is't nice. Waking up to another blurry view is terrible, but it soon clears away leaving the image of Rarity's living room. The sun is barely shining, but it is rising. I don't hear anyone else so I might be the only one up. I should fall back asleep. Yeah, I should do that. I'm awake, I can't fall back asleep. That's not nice. I push myself up with my arm and stay there while scratching my arm with the other arm. Sitting up let's you look at the world at a different view, It's not the same as laying down. Cause laying down gives you a sideways perspective. I stand up to do some stretches. Grandma does stretches and she's still living, so there has to be a point. I do random stretches that have no point. For once in my life I wanted to willingly do something I don't want to do usually. Walking. It's not that I hate it, it's just the fact that I dislike having to walk as a means of transportation. Under circumstances I will, but if I have a chance to take anything else, I will. Except rollerblades, and skateboards. Those things be deadly. Hella deadly. I make my way to the front door, but as I approach the knob. I stop before grabbing it thinking about how the ponies would react. I don't think they like me. And I don't really know them. Maybe I should stay. That sounds like a wonderful idea. But staying here is boring. Go outside is bad and staying inside is bad. I can't win can I. Maybe Iris will have an Idea. " Hey Iris? You awake?" I ask. to anybody that's out side it'll probably look like someone staring at the door while making thinking poses, luckily nobody is here. "Mmm, why'd you wake me up?" She says in a tired yet whiny tone." Yesterday was really tiring. Doing all that air movement is tiring." She answered my question before I could ask. " Sorry then, just go back to sleep." I should ask her when she'll be awake, but I feel that she has already fallen asleep. Let's look around the room to see anything. I see cloth, and a sewing machine. What can I do with that? I must delve into my memory of middle school to remember! ... ... ... AH HA! I remember how to kinda use a sewing machine! And I also remembered middle school. From far away one of the sewing machines look usable to a human. Looks slightly modern enough to use. I walk closer to inspect a bit. It kinda reminded me of how an antique sewing machine looks with that giant manual wheel on the side and all the curves as well. Looking under the desk is a small peddle, to I assume, to control the speed. Works the same as a gas peddle, harder you push, faster it goes. The needle part should have some ski looking things under it. Called ' The something foot' along the lines of that. But I can't find any on the machine. What it's used for is to hold the fabric in place as you sew it along the lines guiding where you want to sew, something like that. There's also another thing to it as well, but I can't remember the name. I look for an compartment where it is and it's in place. If I can remember, the thingy in the bottom of the machine makes it so it loops the string making the stitch. And I definitely know that without it it makes holes in the fabric and a string that goes in it. Ah I remember more! The thingy on the bottom is called a bobbin, it holds string so you can actually do stuff. The thing that covers it is also there which in terms is called a bobbin case. I can't believe that I remembered all that. Middle school is weird. I turn towards all the fabrics on the wall only to hear a voice instead. " Is that you Jon?" Said a high pitched voice. Rarity's is a little lower, and only other pony is Sweetie Belle, so it's probably her. Nonetheless I turn towards her to greet her. "Hey there Sweetie, why are you up so early?" Seriously it's been like fifteen minuets since I woke up. " I have to go to school soon. I-is Rarity back?" I wonder how many days it's been. " Yeah, last night she seemed pretty tired. I wouldn't wake her up unless it's important." More like she wanted the day to end. " Do you think you can make me breakfast?" I can cook breakfast, kinda." Rarity said not to cook anymore after the fire." I probably shouldn't ask. It seems self explanatory. "I can do that, shouldn't be too hard." So a person like me, who stays mostly inside, and doesn't eat breakfast is going to make breakfast. Splendid. If I put my knowledge of life, and TV together. I might be able to do this. Maybe I should of gone on that walk. "You will?" She said with surprise and excitement." Are you going to cook me special alien food? Will it be eatable? Will it taste good?" She kept firing off questions. " Shhhh!" I shush her." You wouldn't want to wake up Rarity now would you, that would mean you wouldn't get to eat what I make. Right?" She put her hooves to her mouth and nods quickly. " Now come with me to the kitchen so you can help me." Again, I can't read the stuff. From all I know stuff that looks like basil can kill me. " Let get started." We make our way to the kitchen. Dealing with kids is easy, it's not to hard. Kinda, just don't make them cry. I see the familiar kitchen once again. All cleaned up in its shiny glory. I wonder who cleaned it after I fell here. Shrugging that thought off, I make my way to where the pots and pans are and take a pan. For once, i'm really glad my friend made me watch Doctor Who. I don't think I would be able to make something for her if I didn't. It certainly won't be any fish fingers and custard for her, no, no, no. It shall be toast! With a twist. " Hey Sweetie?" She got attentive at that." When do you have to go to school?" I don't know how much time I have. It's her breakfast. I turn on the gas stove and light it up. Turning it low so I can use it later. " When the small hand reaches the 8 on the clock." I turn towards where she's pointing and look at the clock. Why didn't I notice that? Can she read the clock? And man, it is early its five forty five. " Can you read what it says right now?" I ask her. " Nope, only the numbers." She sounded a little too happy about that. " Okay then, Where's the bread and butter?" I open some cabinets to search for the spoken items. But I have found none." Hey Sweetie? Do you know where the bread or butter is?" I turn towards her hoping that she would point to the correct cabinets containing them, but I got something else. What I got is Sweetie looking at me wide eyed smiling as big as she can while standing, I repeat, standing next to a loaf of bread and butter in a bell bottom jar. All I could do for a moment is stare at the smiling Sweetie Belle. Don't look a gift from the horses mouth they say, right? I take the whole loaf and butter from her and put in on the counter. I'm gonna need a bread knife. I don't think I should ask Sweetie for one. Getting a bad feeling if I do. I quickly look though some of the smaller drawers quickly, low and behold I actually found one. Taking the knife to the bread I carefully slice the bread just thin enough to make it look like a normal slice of bread. Looking in the same drawer again I take out a butter knife and spread some butter on it. I put the pan on the burner while turning the burner to a higher setting. Leaving it there I set the table for Sweetie Belle and me, might as well make more for me. I'm thinking of making something special for Rarity. This time I won't go botching it up. My sister made it couple times. I think it was french toast. I don't know where any of the other ingredients are so might as well ask Sweetie. " Hey Sweetie, can you get me two eggs, and a bottle of vegetable oil?" I ask as I place a fork for Sweetie and me. I turn around to see if she did, and again with the same smile, she has them, right next to her. Two eggs right next to each other not moving and a small bottle of vegetable oil. How does she do it? And where can I learn it? Not questioning it but shooting her a questing look, I pick up the two eggs and bottle of oil and place them on the counter next to the bread. "Last time Sweetie, can you get me... Three plates, a pie tin, a whisk, and milk if you want it." There's no way that she could get it, she's just a little pony. I take the slice of bread from earlier with butter on it and turn it around carefully no to get butter on myself. Thinking about it, I won't need butter on the other side, Turning it back around I spread more butter on it and slice another piece of the bread off for me, and spread butter on it. Turning around I see Sweetie once again with all the asked for items. Even the milk. How could she get the milk? The pitcher is like two thirds her size! She still has the same smile on her little face. I take the items and put them on the counter. I am running out of counter space. I don't have a spatula, I need a spatula, and maybe chopsticks. Without asking Sweetie I look through some of the nearby drawers looking for a spatula. I did eventually, after wasting a lot of time and I then ask Sweetie get me it. She found it. Then I took it from her she looks so happy, even wagging her tail. I give her a small pat on the head for appreciation and cook her breakfast. I throw the first piece of buttered toast onto the pan and hear it sizzle. I hope I know what i'm doing. And I also hope Doctor Who isn't wrong either. I move the toast around to prevent it from sticking and lift it a couple of seconds later to see if it's brown enough, and bam! It is the perfect color of golden brown. I flip it, and move it to the plate for Sweetie. Repeating the process for my own piece of toast, I have two pieces of buttered toast on two plates. Now, to add the twist. Back at home, I liked to mix random things together with a simple base to go off of, and all the times I did, it worked. So why not here? I take the maple syrup on the table and drizzle it in a zigzag pattern to make it look fancy. I have never done this before. I repeat the same process for mine and serve up the two plates for me and Sweetie. Sweetie looks at the plates in amazement. Maybe she's never had something like this before. You see the Idea came to me as a twist on a old snack I used to make back home. Buttered toast with sugar. The concept here is the same but with maple syrup. So it should work. Before I start eating I look at Sweetie, she hasn't ate it yet. " Why aren't you eating?" She kept looking at it. Nonetheless she replied. " It's a little big. Can you cut it for me?" She gave my those big eyes again. Kids, The future of the world. " Would you also like milk?" She bought the milk for a reason, right? She nods yes in confirmation, so yes she did bring it for a reason. Finding two cups I pour milk into both of them and bring them to the table. I give one of the milks to Sweetie and put the other near my plate.I move my plate to make room for Sweetie's, and bring her plate over. Taking my knife I cut up the toast into sizable bites for her. Putting the plate back in front of her she eats quickly. Looking at the clock, it reads seven fifteen. She has school at eight, so she should get ready. " Sweetie, since your done. Why don't you get ready for school?" She nodded and got off her chair and started to leave the room stopping at the door. " Will you make me lunch to?" Oh no. " Do you have cheese?" Making a grilled cheese is simple. " Whats that?" I froze, Do they not have cheese in this world? Why don't they have cheese? Cheese originates somewhere on the Italy side or German, I think it's Italy. Somewhere on the other side, there. And this is the America side. Do they no know how to make it? " Peanut butter?" I say they should have that, I ate one a while ago. Sweetie nodded and went to go get it. Two seconds later she zoomed in front of me with the peanut butter. " Thanks. Now go get Rarity for school while I make your lunch. I quickly make a peanut butter sandwich for her. Looking through all the cabinets quickly enough to find food for Sweetie has proven useful as I have found a brown bag and a bottle of apple juice for her. Perfect. Putting it all in the bag hoping for it to not crash together in the bag. Sweetie came back just as I finished it. I assume she's ready for school. Right now its seven thirty, time is weird. " Are you done?" She should be ready for school now. She sounded a little too happy to go, or maybe it's the lunch. I nod and put the brown sack into one of her saddle bags. I walk with her to the door and open it for her. She walks out and on her way to school, a little too happy in my opinion. Time to make Rarity breakfast. I walk back to the kitchen to prepare. I left the burner on. At least it didn't burn anything. I quickly turn the burner to a lower setting and start whisking the eggs. Now I can't remember, do I add milk to the eggs? I think I do. I'm not really sure. This is why you should spend time with your siblings. Not your parents, they're your parents, so don't. After adding milk, mixing, dipping, and cooking I look around once again for one of those eat in bed trays. I mean, she has to. She probably had one of those dreams thinking about the perfect man to cook for her or some kinda life crap which will never happen to me. I can wish... Nah i'm lazy. And again, I found it it was near the pots and pans. Arranging all the food and one drink of milk all arranged, and finishing it with the silverware right next to the plate. I walk towards Rarity's room with the tray in one hand waiter style, and the other to open the door. After opening the door, I go to holding it with two hands while peeking through the door. Rarity's still asleep, it's almost eight, might be a good time to wake up. I walk through silently sitting on one side of the bed putting the food on my lap. " Rarity? You should wake up." I say gently. She started to wake, but it's more like she just mumbles at me. I had an idea, might be a little evil, but it'll probably work. I put the food on a nearby table and sit back on the bed. I lower my head to Rarity's ear, and whisper. "Rarity. Sweetie Belle is cooking." I backed up and just as I did Rarity woke up. Wide eyes and all she slowly sat up. "Jon? What are you doing waking me up? You know a lady needs her sleep do you?" She has a slight grimace on her face." I was even having a wonderful dream when all of a sudden there was fire, and Sweetie Bell." She puts on a thinking face and then asks for the time. " It's around eight o clock." I respond." Surprise." I say while grabbing the tray and showing it to her. " Is this for me?" She sounds like this hasn't happened before. I decide to joke with her a bit. " Nope." She reels in shock and looks at me with some sad eyes. "I made this, and it came out successful." I look at her with a blank stare. She just kinda stares back." Nah, I made it for you." I push the tray over to her. A smile just appears on her face. " Is this really for me?" I nod to her question." You didn't have to do this." " Do you not want it?" " Well, no but-" " Then have it. It's my thanks to you." She started to eat, taking small bites. She stops eating for a moment as her eyes widen. She gulps her last bite before speaking. " Has Sweetie Belle gone to school?" I nod." Oh. What about breakfast?" I nod again." Lunch?" I nod, I hope for the last time." Is there anything you can't do?" Homework. " Lots, now i'm going to go and clean up. Just stay up here and relax. Remember you have tea with Fluttershy later." Before she can respond, I get up to leave the room." Bring the dishes down when your done." I make way back to the kitchen to start cleaning. Cleaning shouldn't be too hard. It should be just a pan and some dishes. As I enter the kitchen its about what Ii expected, just a little more though. Just need to throw away some stuff, put back the bread, and clean dishes. It shouldn't be too hard. Time to get started. After I put the bread and milk away some where else on the counter. I get a rag and wipe off the counter. All that's left is the dishes. It's not that many as its only a pan, plates, and cutlery. As I almost finish with the last plate. Rarity walks in with the tray and a smile on her face. " The food was delicious darling." She says as she put the tray next to me. " Don't mention it, seriously." I reply as I grab the plate while balancing the knife and fork for a cleaning. On the plate mind you. "I am going to freshen up now, and we will leave soon. Come knock on my door when your your ready." " Sure." At that, she walks off to her room to 'freshen up' I finish washing the dishes. I look around the kitchen if there's anything left to do. The tables a little dirty so I wipe that up and finish with the kitchen. I would never do this in my own house. The dishes yes, but cleaning the counters, table, and cooking, no. I wonder if i'm the only person who only gets helpful anywhere else other than home. I walk over to Rarity's room to tell her i'm done. She responds with 'I'll be finished soon. Just be patient.'. I have a feeling i'm gonna be here with my thoughts for a while. So I walk back downstairs to just sit on the couch. I start to realize that I never checked my pockets after Discord changed me back. I quickly pat all my pockets to feel anything. After hitting a bump I rifle through my pockets to take inventory. Charms, present. Earbuds, also present. Keys, present as well. Crappy phone that now has a crack, now I have an excuse to get a new one. (kinda yay?) I press a button on the phone to see if it can still call. I know it'll be useless, but I have to know if it works. After testing all the basic functions of my crappy phone, I check that off the mental list too. Things stronger than a Nokia. Card, check. Ipod, not here. Where's my Ipod? Where did this card from? These two questions, and I only have two hands! Slightly panicking I pick up the card. I didn't have a card when I left the house. On closer inspection there's writing on it. Looking at the writing reveals that I can't read it, and it kinda looks like pony writing. I'm gonna have to as Rarity when she's done. " Jon? Are you down stairs?" Speak of the devil. She walks down the stairs looking for me. " Hey Rarity. Read this for me please." I give the card to her. She looks at the card with uncertainty and back to me, back to the card, and takes it with her magic. " Dear Jon. I hope you won't mind if I take your wonderful little camera. Do not worry friend it'll be in safe hands as you would probably say. I will meet up with you to return this. Eventually. Discord." She read out loud. She levitates the card back to me as I nod and walk with her out of the house. Holding the door for her of course. (Canterlot) "Now how do I turn this camera on?" Discord wonders as he fiddles with Jon's Ipod." I think he pressed... This?" He says as he cautiously pushes the home button." Whats this? A number code? Why does a camera have a number code?" Discord inputs random numbers hoping to find a solution to 'opening' the 'camera'. The screen above the numbers suddenly turned red. " What? Did it just disable itself? For one minuet? Oh I am not going to let a camera beat me!" Discord saying the last part with soul. It's almost noon, and in the middle of town. I have a bad feeling. Rarity trots by me, more like in front and to the side a little. Again I wonder if i'll be chased out of town. I've done good things, so why do they chase me. "Hey Rarity." She turns her head towards me to acknowledge my soon to be question." Should we really be walking through town? I mean last time they chased me, and then I got turned into a pony. So do you really think it's okay?" " Don't worry dear, everything will be under control." She said with complete confidence as we walk into a more busier place. As we both walked in, anyone could tell something just happened. That something is me. The atmosphere just went from' it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood' to 'the new kid at school did something t his old school rumors'. I just looked at the ground as some of the ponies either whisper, gossip, run away or wave. Wave? One or two of the ponies would wave to me. I did the curtly thing and wave back, but why would they wave? I'm much more confused that I am happy, so when I waved back to the ponies they see a raised eyebrow and neutral face. Other than that going through town is much more enjoyable than last time. With that we made it to Fluttershy's cottage faster than I thought. At least by walking. Rarity went up to the door and knocks with three short taps. The door creeks open to reveal Fluttershy. " Oh, Rarity." She said with surprise." I didn't think you would come this early. Not that I don't mind." She said the last part quieter." I-I haven't even set the table yet, because I was feeding the animals. and-" before she could continue with what she was saying, Rarity decided to interrupt. "Fluttershy." Fluttershy froze." Don't worry darling if it means anything we can help you set up." Fluttershy tried to refuse, but couldn't find the right words. Eventually she said yes though. She let us in to her cottage and I sat on the couch first thing. Letting out a breath of relief. Walking sure is hard. Hope I won't have to do much in the future. I just wanted to sit down, but life ponies wanted me to do something else. Rarity plus Fluttershy walk over to the couch to talk. " Jon can you be a dear, and fetch the tea table for us?" Rarity asks. Before I could decline, which I don't even think that I could decline though Rarity continues." Fluttershy would normally do it herself, but you wouldn't let a weak pony do that alone would you?" Fluttershy looks like she wants to interject but, again couldn't find the words. " Where is it?" I say while rubbing my face. Bad habit when someone asks when they add something. Be it guilt or what Rarity did. I feel like I shouldn't. " Oh, um it's this way." said Fluttershy. She lead me through her house to a backdoor to the backyard." Um, there's the table." She states pointing a hoof at it." If you don't mind. Could you bring it to the front of my house? All you have to do is bring it around the house." I nod giving an 'okay'. She takes that as the signal for her to go back inside. I look at each side of the house to see which is the easier way. I wouldn't want to step on an animal would I? No, I wouldn't. Glad I did this, because one side was just really close to the forest. Which in terms means like ten feet away, but the other is filled with holes. The holes didn't look man made, or pony made, so they're probably burrows for a snake or something. Now to see how heavy a table is. Looking at the table reveals that its a round table. It looks kinda short, and it's made wood, has one support leg branching into four legs at the bottom. So it shouldn't be that heavy. I grab both sides of the table to lift it, and wallah. I lift the wood table that's slightly taller than my knee. It weighs like thirty pounds, something around that. I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a ten pound and a five pound weight. Carrying it link style while walking around the house is really easy. So easy that I could skip, but I didn't because that would cost to much energy. I reach the front of the cottage shortly and look for a good spot for the table. Putting the table down on the dirt underneath some shade, done. I walk back inside so I can rest. "Jon is that you?" Rarity called from somewhere in Fluttershy's house. A short muttering of something I couldn't hear and Fluttershy appears. " Oh, um, Jon could you get the cushions?" I nod to confirm. As she walks away I grab four cushions and walk back outside. I set the cushions around the table quarterly. I walk back inside to chill on the couch. Rarity and Fluttershy are somewhere else. I think they're in the kitchen making treats for the tea time. I wonder if there will be anything sweet. Now that all the heavy burden stuff is done, I don't have anything to do. Time to play the waiting game. Or not. A bunny appears. With a frowny face. He or she, not gonna judge, crosses their paws while thumping their foot in a rapid manner as well. " Hi?" I say to the bunny, or rabbit. I think it's a rabbit. I'm gonna go with a rabbit." You need something?" The rabbit nods in a way like I should already know. Wow, rude." What do you need?" A carrot? A coyote? The rabbit points at me. Kinky. Kidding." You want me?" The Rabbit shakes its head as if he already tried before." My spot?" The rabbit nods as in 'now ya got it dumbass'." How about no. There are many other spots for a rabbit like you." Like a wolf's stomach. The rabbit shakes its head." Like the chair over there." I say while pointing at a chair." As you can see, that chair is to small fro a person like me. So I take this couch as it is big enough for me to sit down." The rabbit just stares at me with an 'are you kidding' face. The rabbit then proceeds to point at the floor as if I belong there. Little shit. " Sorry I don't understand you. Don't speak no animalnese." I then ignore the rabbit. I glance at the rabbit to see if it's doing anything. And it is. All it's doing is staring as if it's trying to make me uncomfortable. It's not making me uncomfortable, but more like I don't care. A knock on the door then happens. I get up to get it. As I walk over to the door Rarity says something. " Jon could you go let Twilight in?" I was on my way anyway. " I got it." I say back. I then open the door to reveal Twilight? Or maybe just a lot of scrolls and Twilight." Twilight? That you?" I ask kinda weary of what would happen next. " Ah hello Jon." She says a little to happily." As you can see-" " Where's my bow? Cause I can see that you might not have it." Seriously, I told her I would answer questions for the bow." Where is it?" She smiles and looks left and right as if there's some way out." I guess you don't want your questions answered." I walk back inside leaving the door open. Couldn't close it on her, she needs to come to the tea time. " Uh... Spike! Can you can you go home and fetch something for me?" The young dragon approaches behind her. " What else do you need Twilight?" He whines." I got everything on the list. Scrolls, more scrolls, extra scrolls, ink, more ink, extra back up ink..." He continues with the whole list of what she bought over. " What else could you need?" " Could you just go back home and get the bow?" Twilight asks. " What bow? You never said anything about a bow? We don't have violins or cellos ." He says confused. Why does this have anything to do violins? Never mind." Rarity is waiting inside. I don't even know where you put it." He keeps waving his claws around trying to make a point. " Ugh, fine Spike." Spike put up a smile at this. I would tell him the war isn't over but Twilight beat me to the punch." Instead of going inside and talking to Rarity will you set up for writing. I need you to organize everything just in case." Spike's jaw drops at hearing this. Twilight continues to drive the point in." Jon if you could, watch him so he does it." Twilight walks off leaving both of us and a pile of supplies. Spike turns to me with a scowl. I could be a bro. But I don't like children who whine. I get to whine to my sister cause i'm the little bro, and I can get away with it. Spike... I don't even know. He probably screwed himself from the start. " So, you gonna get started on that organizing?" I say with a smirk. How can I not take this opportunity to be an asshole? Spike grumbles and starts to organize the pile of supplies." Well i'm going to go back inside. Where Rarity is." I pause." As well as Fluttershy." I go back inside with the lingering image of seeing steam come out of Spikes head. I am an asshole. I go check on the kitchen to check on the ponies. As I walk into the kitchen, there are some mixing bowls out and some baking sheets to. One of them, high tea things that carry all the food, has all the food. Three tiers of sweets on top, biscuits in the middle with two spreads of jam, and thin sandwiches on the bottom. It looks like Rarity and Fluttershy finished here. Rarity notices me. " Oh, Jon." She says slightly surprised." Did Twilight come?" " Yeah, but she said she left something at home. So she went to go back and grab it quickly." " I see, Could you bring this out?" She says, levitating the three tier tray over to me. " Sure." I say grabbing the tray out of the magic." Someone here is going to have to go get another cushion while I do this. Spike's here as well." They nod. Taking the tray of food outside.Spike is out here still organizing that supplies. Man, his life kinda sucks right now. " Hey Spike." He turns towards me with a slight scowl." I need to put the food on the table, so if you excuse me." I move by him to put the tray of food in the middle. A minuet or so later Rarity and Fluttershy come out. Looking at Spike his mood flips. Not even funny how it flips, that kinda flipping is like medical problem level shit. Rarity came out holding the teapot and some cups in her magic while Fluttershy on the other hand, hovers slightly off the ground holding another cushion for Spike. " Oh hello there Spikey." Rarity says." Are you going to join as well?" Spike just stares at Rarity with some dreamy eyes. I can never even think of that happening yet the internet probably has. " So, now what? Do we Wait for Twilight? Or do we just get started?" I ask to no one in particular. " We are going to wait. Let's sit down and make small chit chat while we wait." Rarity suggests. Everyone else agrees to it as well. As we take are spots I try to sit down next to Rarity. Out of familiarity, Rarity is the best. Fluttershy is like that one back up friend at school. Spike then swoops in squeezing in between us, wow that's rude. I move next to Fluttershy instead. I sit down cross legged on a cushion, and holding my head with my hand and my elbow on my left knee. Spike is making small talk with Rarity, and Fluttershy and me are just kinda silent so I start us off. " So... Animals." I am best conversation starter. "Um, yes I take care of them." She replies just barely loud enough for me to hear. So she likes animals, and takes care of them. She probably wouldn't like to hear about what humans did to some certain ones. " Do you know what a narwhal is?" Out of all the animals in the world, I decide to go with the unicorn of the sea. Fluttershy looks at me with wide eyes of curiosity. She isn't saying anything but its one of those moments that you could just tell what to do." You see, Back in my world. We have these whales an they have horns like a unicorn." I move my hands to emphasize what i'm saying. I also decide to mix real with fantasy." They are very rare as they can cast magic. Their horns can help them navigate and even move giant icebergs in the water." Fluttershy looks so amazed right now." would you like to have know of anything else?" " What other animals do you know in your world." She says excitedly. " Oh we have lots." I pause for dramatic effect." Such as simple ones, like dogs and cats. Some so small they can fit in this tea cup. Some so big that they can fill a whole barn." A certain red one mind you." Cats that can fit in any container, the thinnest vases, and even the widest bowls." That's not even a lie." But that is just a small slice of what's in my world." That to me, was about as bad as corny game narration. " What is your favorite animal?" She asks back with wide eyes and curiosity. " Oh I have many like tigers, or oxen, dogs, birds, ferrets-" I count off as many animals that I like back home." And even pegasus and unicorns." I finish. Before Fluttershy could reply Twilight pops in. Literally, as she teleports in. Twilight looks a little tired as she's slightly out of breath. and holding a golden bow in her magical grasp. I smile, I can't tell if it's a evil smile, but I smile nonetheless. Twilight popped in between Me and Spike taking the final spot. " Now let us start with lunch and tea." Rarity toasts The tea lunch goes well overall. There's some small talk here and there, but it's not that important. I ate most of the food provided on the trays. The biscuits are okay overall especially with jam spread on it. The treats at top were especially good, nice and sweet they are indeed. I tried the sandwich, not a something I would eat. Tasted weird, went through with it though. Would be rude to say anything about it. Then the conversations went to a different direction. " Jon. Would you like to tell us what happened this morning?" Says Rarity. The other two ponies suddenly got interested. " No." I don't want to talk about it. " But Jon." Rarity pouts." Would you like me to tell?" " If you want." I like to do nice things, but I don't like people talking about them. Gossip goes around fast, be it good or bad. Rarity proceeds to tell her part of the morning to the others, while I think of a way to change the topic subtly. She skipped the part of the dream. Other than that, after she finishes her story the two ponies turn towards me for an explanation. " So Jon would you explain?" Says Twilight. " Not really, You could ask Sweetie Belle herself. On a different topic. Fluttershy." Fluttershy suddenly turns towards me." Since we're done with tea time, which was fantastic ladies." I wave two hands at the ponies that made this happen." Where is that egg you mentioned yesterday, Fluttershy?" " Ah I forgot about that." Says Twilight." We should clean up and then check out the egg after." Everyone agrees, and we all start to clean up. I took the table and some cushions back while the ponies took the tea and stuff to clean up. Spikes organizing was for nothing, not once have I see him use anything during the lunch. Spike puts away all that stuff in a bag near him. After all that's done everyone hangs out in the living room. We all sit in different spots. Twilight taking a chair, with Spike on a nearby stool. Rarity on the couch, and I sit on the floor next to the couch as there isn't much room around here, with everyone around here. Fluttershy went to go get the egg. "So Twilight." I start." You going to give me the bow?" " Well, Jon. You yourself said that you would answer my questions in trade." " So where's that notepad of questions you have?" Twilight levitates it over to me. I flip it open and scan the first page." Twilight, I thought you knew that I can't read Equestrian." Her eyes widen. " But then how can I get you to answer them? I doubt that you would stay with me for a while and answer questions for me." She knows me too well. " Well your right about that. Can't you magick up a translation spell on a something?" I suggest, In truth I would like to answer her questions. It would be like a questionnaire. " What do you mean by that? You said on something as in a object." That made me think. Didn't she know what I mean. " Kinda, I guess?" I question to myself." Cant you just enchant something and have it be a universal translator?" You know what I mean right? " What do you mean by 'universal translator'? We already speak the same language." " But not in the written way. Get something see through then enchant it so we can read it as it translates into what is familiar for that person or pony." " Oh I know what you mean now, but a spell like that would take a lot of research and lots of time." " Cant you just ask the princess for help on it then?" " NO! Asking the princess for something as trivial as this would be horrible. As a princess-" She rants about Equestria and duties of a princess and all that jazz.. While she talks I scoot over to where spike is. " Does she get like this often?" I whisper to him. " More often then you'd think." He whispers back. " You got a paper and quill I could use?" He nods and gives me the requested items. I start to get to work writing a a letter for 'mom'. Dear mother It is I your 'son' I have a request. As of right now I can't read equestrian, nor can I write it. Now the riquest request I have to ask of you is that I would like to have a translator so said. A personal idea myself. I need your help to make to make the tronslater translator. To make it work get a pair of eyeglasses that would work for a person like me. Then to take the glasses and encant enchant them so they are familiar in english writing instead of equestrian. And if it's useful vice versa as ponies (Twilight) can't read english. So it would be useful for both of us. If you want me to visit you later, can you make a telportation scroll? same concept as glasses but its a scroll. With much fake love Jon I roll the scroll and ask spike to send it. He confirms and sends it secretly while Twilight is still talking. After a moment and Twilight is now talking history, Spike burps twice in a row. taking two scrolls. This snaps Twilight out of her rant to staring at me. I snatch the scrolls out of the air and scoot back to Rarity. " What. Did. You. Do." She says trying to be threatening. " It's a scroll can't you see?" I say holding it up shaking it." It's a letter to me, so don't look." I unfurl the scroll to read it. Dear son I see your predicament, and think it's a wonderful idea that you would like to read our language. I have nothing to do around here so I take it upon myself to do this myself as a side project. I'm also glad you that you wanted to visit me on your own accord so I have also sent a scroll holding a teleportation spell, just unfurl the scroll and you will be sent to the throne room. It'll take a few days to make the glasses you requested. I hope you visit soon with much love. Your Mom (Celestia) Looking at the scroll it looks like all that stuff about princess duties the Twilight said seem kinda bullshit. The ruler of the land has duties that she has to do, has none, as of right now. As I put down the scroll Twilight got right next to me. " Whoa!" I say somewhat surprised. " So? What does it say?" She says anxiously. " Look." I turn the scroll towards her. She looks at the letter and her eyes then widen." What does this say?" " The princess is having some research on the translation glasses idea. We got funding." Everybody's mouth opens slightly." Since we got funding, i'll be able to read your books and you'll be able to read English." Twilight smiles and hops everywhere. Now Fluttershy comes back with the egg and scroll in her mouth. She comes upon the scene of Twilight hopping around everyone. She looks to me of all people for an explanation. I wave my hand to attempt that she gets the message of 'don't pay attention to it. She doesn't get it. So instead I decide to take the situation of it now and turn it around. " Oh Fluttershy!" I say to disturb the atmosphere." Do you have the egg?" I question. She nods as she is holding the scroll in her mouth. She flutters over laying the egg on her mouth and the scroll on the floor. " It's quite odd how there's a poor egg with out it's mother in the wild." Fluttershy says, exuding her thoughts out loud. " Twilight, can you look at the scroll?" Fluttershy holds the egg cradling it in her hooves. Twilight unfurls the scroll and scans over it. For some reason a piece of Twilight's hair suddenly shot out of place. Then another, and another. Until her hair practically becomes a mad scientist hair. Fluttershy decides to speak for the rest of us. " Twilight? I-is something wrong?" Twilight slowly lowers the scroll and turns towards me almost glaring at me. She quickly levitates the scroll to me and I grab it. The scroll reads. Dear Jon You won't know who I am, Don't worry about it. This is your egg, take care of your egg. Love what comes out of the egg. Know this: You traded magic and super powers for this egg. I hope you would think you made the wrong choice. ~CEO of the other side. I traded an egg, an egg that I don't even know what's inside. For Super powers? What was I thinking? Oh? There's some more of the letter. P.S Don't worry about the choice you made. Maybe you can find another way. Another way? For super powers? Aw hella yeah. I kinda forgot that there are ponies here. " So what does it say?" Asks Fluttershy. " The egg is mine." Twilight looks to me with rage. Rarity just raises her eyebrows. As does Spike. Fluttershy seems to have the most problem with it though. " It's yours!?" She says while staring at me. This isn't any kind of the mad women stare, this, this is the kinda stare where you would faint form sight. The blood lust that comes behind the stare, the strength of the intensity. The feeling in your gut that you will get will flip for infinity. That is what this stare is doing. But what would I do? Cower yes, but I can't not here, in pony land, So I stare back. Trying to get the intensity and stare down. " Yes this egg is mine, but I didn't leave it." She continues to stare as I do as well. " Oh really!? What do you have to say about this young man?" Heh, she called me a young man. I am so not one. " That it is mine, and the scroll itself says so." I say holding the scroll next to my head as we stare. " Is that so?" She replies somewhat condescending." How can we go by what you say? You could be lying." " Why would I lie about an egg? It's an egg. If this scroll didn't say this is mine I wouldn't take responsibility. Is that enough reasoning for you?" " Yes." Fluttershy blinks, and then once again turns into the shy pony she is once again. I myself sit down on the floor. rubbing my eyes. They got slightly teary for being open for so long. Fluttershy gets called over by Rarity and they seem to be talking. Twilight walks over to them as well. Both talking to Fluttershy. Spike looks at me in awe. I put the thoughts off and try not to think about that stare. That stare mixed everything in my mind up. It's like a bad drug rush that doesn't have any health side affects. Except mental probably. Looking at the egg, it has green markings speckling around it, and a slightly tan color all around it as it's main. It's could be mistaken as a yoshi egg if it were bigger, more rounder and has white instead of tan. So that can't be a yoshi egg. A Chao egg is also out of the question as they usually vary in color depending on what type. Angelic, devil, and normal. Normal being the choice that is closest, as that one has spots but has a blue-white gradient with yellow spots. Angelic being all white and I think devil being a red-black gradient. Don't remember much about them, never paid much attention to them. It could be a Pokemon egg... Never mind it is a Pokemon egg. It has to be. It fits all of the criteria, slightly tan: check, green spots: check, slightly squatish shape? Check. It must be a Pokemon egg. The question now is, is there Pokemon in this world? That can't be i've seen around enough (kinda) to know there ain't any Pokemans. And now this brings up another question. What Pokemon is inside. There's only one way to find out, and that's to hatch it. I pick up the egg with a grin and hug it against me. It's going to be mine. And no one will take it from me. For now, it shall be called Eggsworth, or Eggy for short. As I hold the egg it's slightly warm. I wrap my arms around it and sit with it my head laying on the egg facing a pony that just walked up to me. That pony being Twilight. " What do ya want Twilight? Can't you see what I'm doing?" I ask her. " W-well you see... I was wondering if I could have the e-" AW HELL NO. " No, you will not take Eggsworth from me." As I lay my head on the egg I stare as hard a Fluttershy did at her. " B-but the knowledge..." " You would take an egg from it's newly met father to be just for knowledge? That's low Twilight. That's low..." I still stare with my new ability to stare. I should thank Fluttershy for that." But..." I let my stare lessen as I still watch her." If you give my bow now, I'll answer everything about this egg." Twilight perks up at this." I know about as much as everything where this egg comes from, the legends that rule their world, and the heroes that save it. I know it all." I could see the cogs turning in her head." I am completely serious about this topic. I will pinkie swear on this." I hold out my pinkie finger. " Will you pinkie swear? You know nopony has ever broken a pinkie swear." Rarity and Fluttershy next to her nod synchronized to each other. What in the world is a pinkie swear in their world? Marriage? I can't marry. I have so much to do. " I don't think were talking about the same thing. My kind of pinkie swear has to do with this." I hold out my pinkie for them to see. " Oh!" Twilight says surprised." Our kind of Pinkie promise is somewhat different. Ours is a pact to never EVER to break what you say or else." " Or else what?" " An angry Pinkie will come after you and force you to do it, no matter where you are." Damn that's scary. Culture is weird. " Fine to make you reassured, I will do it your way." I say." I propose that you give me the bow like I said before with all the info I said before, but now I will pinkie promise your way. How about it?" I propose. She thinks about it and then nods. " So how do we pinkie promise, your way?" " It goes like this. Cross my heart." That's easy. She takes her hoof and crosses it in a 'x' fashion across her heart." Hope to fly." Wut? Twilight takes her hooves and flaps them as if she were to fly." And stick a cupcake in my eye." She finishes by taking her hoof and putting it on her eyelid. I nod, seems simple. I do the motions and chant it out. I feel if I met a terrible fate. "Okay then. Here is the bow." She levitates the bow over to me." And keep this in mind. Nopony will or has broken a Pinkie promise ever. So don't." I have met with a terrible fate. And it's not even marriage. " That's fine. Now I have everything that's mine." All I need is my Ipod." See you later." I say to Twilight. Twilight leaves with a whining spike. I probably should of lent him a metaphorical hand. But hey, I got my bow back, and I have a Pokemon egg. I turn to Rarity and Fluttershy. " So now what?" I ask Rarity. " Well Jon. What are you going to do about this egg" Rarity asks. " Gonna hatch it, and take care of it." And lead it to illegal battles for money. I caress the egg shell with a smile. " Well Id don't really have to do anything else, and the animals aren't around much right now. Could I come with you Rarity?" Fluttershy asks. "Really Fluttershy?" Rarity says surprised to hear this." Well next, Jon and I are going back to make clothes. He needs a new set. Are you sure you would like to come along?" " Oh that's fine, We could even come back here for dinner as thanks." Suggests Fluttershy. I can agree with that, free food. "Shall we get going then?" I nod standing up while holding the egg. No not the egg, it's name is Eggsworth. After walking around limping on a numb leg with that tingly feeling, I get the normal feeling and start to walk out. Rarity leads the way. While I hold Eggy, and the gold bow. Thinking about it, I quickly turn the bow into a right handed gauntlet and slip it on quickly. Rarity and Fluttershy look at me surprised, and annoyed. Maybe the flash from it had caused it. I hold Eggy in my arms and we all walk off To Rarity's. Might as well start working on hatching Eggsworth.
Good, bad, and why me?	Getting some me some new duds	Getting me some new duds Walking through town again is now way better. No attacking ponies, which is wonderful. Some of the townsponies wave again some still look like they're talking shit about me. And the rest wonder why i'm carrying an egg. Sorry, its name is Eggsworth. The real name will come later. We arrive at Rarity's place with out any trouble. So new clothes will be easy, just a rack to choose from, and then it's done. Right? Rarity opens the door and Fluttershy and I walk in. " So, new clothes now right?" Kinda confused. Rarity let's the door close and walks past me. " Come over here so I can get your measurements." What? " What do you mean by 'measurements'?" I mean I trust Rarity, but you know? " Simple, I take the measure you, so the clothes I make fit you perfectly." She says with a smile. Oh, she's going to make custom clothes for me. That's neat. " Oh, so your completely making new clothes, custom tailored?" I question. " Yes dear, I thought you knew?" She says confused." Fluttershy, Why don't you make some more tea while I measure him. It'll only take a couple minuets." Fluttershy nods, and walks off. I would ask her to watch Eggsworth, but she already left the room. Rarity walks to a room. I kinda just stand in place at first until Rarity poked her head out of the room telling me to follow. I walk over to said room and walk inside. The room has a small circular stage and a couple of pony mannequins around. A desk nearby, has tons of designs of clothes mostly ranging around ponies mostly. " Dear, I am going to need for you to take off any extra clothes." Rarity turns around to looks for something. I take off my jacket hoodie and use it to wrap Eggy so it stays in place. Wearing my T-shirt, and jeans. I barely take anything off. Rarity turns back, and then her face turns to a confused look." I thought you were going to take off your clothes?" "I did. See?" I say pointing at Eggsworth." Isn't that enough?" " Well...." She puts on a thinking face. I just kinda wait. I've never been tailored before, Mom and dad said they get me a tailored suit. When i'm mature. I'm not mature..." I guess it would be alright... But the pants..." It looks like she can't find the words to use. " Rarity. The clothes need to fit, and be kinda loose. Not skin tight, because that would make me really uncomfortable." Seriously, the only reason to have skin tight clothes is... I can't think of one. "Oh! Of course dear, lets get started." She levitates a tape measure and wraps it around my waist. She then does many other measurements, even things that I wouldn't need measuring, like my head. Is she going to make me hat? I love hats. Future goal in life. Have a different hat for each day in the year. Why got to collage when you can have hats? " So what's it going to look like?" I ask. I mean, kinda knowing her, she would go to the max filled with intricate designs. And I kinda don't want that. " You know what they say, 'the customer is always right' So what would you want it to look like?" She asks back. She does have a point. " Okay then... I want a shirt like this." I move my hands to gesture to the shirt i'm wearing." And I want five of them in grey." Grey is literally one of my favorite colors. I have so many grey shirts back home that I sometimes get some of my sisters grey shirts in my pile cause my parents just think that all the grey is mine. In a way they're not wrong. Rarity almost gags at the thought. " You can also make more of the same shirt with what ever color you think would match. If you want," Her face get slightly happier at that. I like some color. " For pants. I want three pairs like this." I pinch the jeans so she can see them in slightly more detail." Same color as well. No change that's it." She kinda goes all wide eyes and stares at me. I'm gonna need boxers aren't I." By any chance, co you know what underwear is?" She snaps out of it. " Oh, yes I do know what you mean by that. Will you be needing them as well?" She says with a very somewhat noticeable blush. " Yeah, can you guess what color?" I joke. Why would anyone care about what color they are. Except girls, Girls always care for some reason. "Please don't tell me grey darling." I shook my head. Her face lightened at the notion for that. " Just make them any color. So is that all?" " Yes dear, Why don't you go down and have a chat over some tea with Fluttershy. I'll be down soon." I get off the stage thing and walk over to Eggsworth. Putting the jacket back on I walk down towards Fluttershy. As I see Fluttershy, she seems to be all in her lonesome just drinking some tea. Every now and then she would look out a nearby window, but then back to her cup of tea. I guess now is the best time to join her. Otherwise if anyone saw me as it is I would look like a stalker. That's not cool. " Fluttershy" I say as I walk up to her. She lets out a squeak in surprise, as she turns towards me." Would you pour me some tea please?" I ask. She nods, then pours me some tea as I sit down across from her. As I got comfortable she slid the tea cup to me. " Thank you." I say taking the tea cup in hand I sip it. Blehg, my god that's bitter, way more bitter than the noon's tea. Apparently the taste showed up on my face, as Fluttershy's face is scared from my reaction. " I-is something wrong with it Jon?" She asks fearfully, Should I lie? Nah, if I lie she could tell. You can't get away from this after making a face like that. " I dislike bitterness." I say as I put the tea cup back on the saucer. " Is there anything else you dislike? If you don't mind." " Anything else I dislike? Fetch quests, dislike those things to hell." I don't think she would know what one is but might as well tell. " What's that?" She is now speaking with a tone of curiosity. " In a video game sometimes someone would give you something and then you would have to give it to another person. It's not bad but it's a waste of time. Sometimes." I mean some fetch quests are okay... Okay none are. "Is there anything else you would like to ask?" I'm guessing more dislikes, or likes. " What's a video game?" I didn't expect that. Rarity walks in before I could answer. good thing too, because I don't have an answer for her. "I hope i'm not interrupting am I?" Rarity says as she walks closer towards us. " No you didn't interrupt, I was just chatting about some of the things I like to Fluttershy. That's all." " Your like, and dislikes?" I hope she doesn't question me on this. " Now I am quite curious, what are your likes and dislikes?" I know what I like and I know what I dislike, but when you spring a question like this up, it's like at school when they give you the question 'think of three words to describe yourself.'. "Sigh Umm, what are we going to do now Rarity? You just got my measurements, are the clothes done already?" I half joke. She's a unicorn, I would totally believe her if she said she did, but didn't have anything. " Hmm, well Not yet dear." She says finishing with a sigh. I think she notices the subject change." We still have some time before dinner. So we could stay here, and you two can help me make clothes. Or somepony else could suggest something." Rarity finishes. " Well... You need to make me clothes right?" Rarity nods to confirm." And were going to Fluttershy's for dinner, right?" They both nod." Well, you might have to prepare some stuff for the dinner right?" Fluttershy nods. " You might have to prepare special stuff, if you know what I mean." I smile a wide grin at Fluttershy, hoping she would get the message. It took a second, but I think she got the message, if her eyes widening to twice their usual size is anything. " I-is there anything you would like in particular Jon?" Fluttershy asks me. " Eggs." Fluttershy glances down at Eggsworth and back to me. I hug Eggy slightly tighter." But uh, just do something good with them will you, make it a surprise." I say finishing with one arm supporting Eggy, and the other doing jazz hands. More like jazz hand though. " I see, i'm going to agree with Jon then." Fluttershy states." I am going to go buy some ingredients for dinner tonight then. " Ah, I see then. Jon?" Rarity directs towards me." Will you stay here?" I might as well. " Sure, I don't like going outside without someone." "I will need you to see if the clothes I make for you are right." She has a point. Fluttershy said her goodbyes to both of us and left to do her fetch quest. " Now come with me Jon." I follow Rarity upstairs and into her room. She then tells me to sit on her bed and wait. While I hold Eggy I start to wonder what it will be. Rarity soon comes back with three fabrics in her grasp of magics. "Now what do you think of these fabrics?" She floated all of them in front of me. I felt each one and one was rough one was soft but still rough and the last one was smooth like silk. I have a dislike for silk. It's too freakin smooth. " This one." I say grabbing the fabric." I'd like for you to use this one for shirts and maybe a jacket." She nodded to confirm, but before she could start, I continued." So can you use this one for pants?" She nodded, and walked away to do her work. Which was accross the room. Bet you a dollar small talk is going to happen. "So Jon. Tell me about yourself." She says as she prepares to sew the, I assume shirt "I thought I aleady did?" I did didn't I? "Yes you did, but I want to know more about my friend." She finnishes with a smile. Oh, we're friends I guess. " Oh, sure. But I'm not sure what to say other than what I have already said." I did say a lot, I think... "Why don't you tell me about your world then." She looks like she's already done with the shirt but I not really sure. " We have buildings and smog." That's basically the tip. " Now what do you mean by buildings dear. Please clarify." She said as she pauses her work. " lots.. Like towers and stuff." Not really sure what to do here. " I see... Well I'm done with this shirt. Please try it on." She lifted the shirt with her magic and towards me. I grabbed the shirt. It's a simple shirt, a light gray overall making it a plain color. I put it on over my other shirt I'm wearing to see if it fits. I stretch a little for the feel of the shirt. "What do you think?" She asks with a hopeful little smile. "Honestly..." I stretch the word out. And at that her face turned into a slight frown." I dislike it-" " Well? What's wrong with it? I went exactly to the number on the measurements, and it's ye same design with your shirt? How could you not like it?" She interrupted me. Darude. She kept firing off reasons that were plausible to the situation but not. I guess should interrupt her before she has a breakdown or something. "Yes, you should interrupt her." Iris answer. "Rarity." She didn't listen." Rarity?" Nope. "Rarity!" Now she's walking around and speaking ignoring me completely. " It's not working, what do?" I ask the best entity in the world. " Say something unexpected, it might work." Iris suggested. " I have a date." She snaps her head towards me faster then my friend talking about Doctor who. "What?" She says quietly. With a face of confusion. "Kidding." Her face turns from confusion to slight anger." Your own fault, you kept talking. Anyways, the real reason was cause the body isn't long enough to my liking, the sleeves are too tight, same with the torso. That's it." Her face was now confusion once again. " Is that really what you think, not even a thing on the design?" She ask kinda questioningly and somewhat disbelieved. " Na, it's like exactly the same as mine. I like that alot. But yeah that's it, I just like my shirts a little loose, thats all." I simply finish. After some time she made another shirt for me to wear. While she made it we made some small talk. The topic varied to multiple things but then it came down to Eggsworth. " So, Jon, What do you think is in the egg." "Something I want." "I see... And what do you think is this something?" "A Pokemon. Probably." That's what it should be not some weird egg thing. Chao's are weird (Refer to Sonic if you don't know) " And what is this 'Pokemon' your talking about." " Well it depends there are a lot of them." And I know every single one, by picture of course. "Well, what do you mean by 'a lot'?" "Like a little under 720 of them, something around that." She stopped and looked at me. " Do you know which one it is?" She said resuming her work. " No, it could be bad, or really good. Mostly good." " And what can they do? Surely those 720 have something differnt about them." " Yeah, they can breath fire." First thing that came to mind! She looked at me wide eyed. She recomposed herself before asking me about it. "And this one can?" "Maybe, or it can throw rocks." She winced slighttly at that."Or spray lots and lots of water." She looked surpried at that. She asked a little bit more about the fire and stuff. While we talked she magicked a shirt over to me while we talked. Then the conversation went from the types, ot what I want, then to agree that its totally my fault if their is property damage on her part. I explained that it's like a pet, exect that it has 'magic'. I guess. Pokemon anatomy is weird. I put on the shirt content with the work she did. I took it off and gave it back to her. She looks happy at the fact that i'm content with it. "And what if it isn't a 'Pokemon'?" She asked, finishing up. " It could be a dragon lizard thing." She raised an eyebrow at that. Yoshi's are awesome. " I see." She looked at the clock and then outside at the sun, it's setting. the sky colors are weird." The time for dinner is soon, we should prepare to head for Fluttershy's" I looked at the clock, it looked like it was around 4:55. I guess it's time for dinner. I shrug my shoulders. and go along with her. She walked out and I followed behind, after puting on my jacket and grabbing Eggsworth of course. The walk over to Fluttershy's house is quite far and it's quite the scene after seeing the sun set. Small talk was made as Rarity and I walked, this time I asked more about Rarity herself. She's quite the pony, not only a seamstress, but able to make friends in high places. She does seem like that type of person, more like pony. I wonder what will happen at dinner...
Codex Equestria: Exotic Wildlife	pre	Glory Hounds are very physically strong, strength which increases or decreases depending on how well fed they are. A full power Glory Hound can overpower a full grown stallion, while a weakened one can easily be overpowered. Their wings allow for flight, though nowhere near as agilely as a Pegasus or Griffin. Like all canines, Glory Hounds have an acute sense of smell and hearing. this can be used against them as they're no less vulnerable to intense smells and sounds or dog whistles than an a normal canine. Another interesting weakness is a Glory Hound will shrink if humiliated, to the point of reverting to being a pup. An easy way to tell a normal dog from a Glory Hound is to in some way make a portion of its fur dirty. A glory hound will near compulsively clean itself and while doing so be too distracted to maintain its disguise and let it falter slightly. Most often, the illusion will fail around the eyes to reveal their true lion-like appearance. Habitat Glory Hounds are nomadic creatures that travel frequently unless they find a more permanent host. As they feed off of sapient beings, cities are not an uncommon place to find them, particularly ones with high numbers of nobles. Danger: Glory Hounds are a moderate danger. They can become dangerous if provoked, but their prime danger is what they can convince their host to do. Injuries due to recklessness brought on by the pride these creatures induce are a frequent outcome, as are the host straining relationships due to becoming more and more full of themselves. Domesticated ones, however, are considered low danger or friendly. If properly trained, they can even be a life savior to someone with depressed or suicidal thoughts. Kite Eating Tree "AAUGH! Stupid Kite Eating Tree!" --- Starlight Glimmer, after losing a kite to one. Kite Eating Trees are flora native to Equestria that are a bane to kite flyers everywhere. They appear to be simply common trees found anywhere in the world, but can be told apart by a mouth that forms in the leaves. They rarely act under normal circumstances, merely rooted firmly in place standing motionless. However, when a kite flies by, they instantly lash out, grabbing it and dragging it in where they chew it up and devour it. Sometimes they will even grab them right from a person's hand with their branches. Exactly how they obtain sustenance from kites is unknown, but it is known they are considered a nuisance by kite flyers, though do have a good use when it comes to disposing of broken or old kites in a way that is safe for the environment. It is believed they may also eat things like plastic bags and wayward papers caught in the breeze. It is believed they may have evolved in response to ponies developing certain technologies. Starlight Glimmer, Princess Twilight Sparkle's graduated student, has recently gotten into a bit of a 'feud' with one in Ponyville, being a kite lover herself. Biology: Kite Eating Trees don't drastically differ from other animated trees, being capable of moving their branches at will. The main difference is their branches can act like a mouth to chew up their prey. Somehow they're able to metabolize plastic, paper, and wood that typically compose kites and convert it into energy. It is believed this extends to other wayward materials made of these substances, but seem to only externally show themselves eating when eating kites. They do appear to have intelligence, and sometimes decide to target a specific person to mess with or actively reject pieces of kites they don't like. They reproduce by spreading seeds, just like any tree. Habitat: As they feed off of pony made materials, Kite Eating Trees primarily live in parks and in places ponies are likely to dwell. Danger: At the end of the day, Kite Eating Trees are more of a nuisance than a threat. They don't harm biological creatures and even let animals nest inside of them. To kite flyers they are extremely annoying and robbed them of many, many kites, but there's no documented cases of them actually harming a pony or other creatures. The closest to such an incidence had been recently, when in an attempt to impress Starlight Glimmer, the show-mare, gifted unicorn, and hero of Equestria, Trixie Lulamoon, the 'Great and Powerful' mounted herself on a custom made neighponese Shinobi kite... which the local kite eating tree prompt proceeded to devour. After several seconds of screaming of terror and cries for help (mixed with crunching and slurping sounds by the tree), Trixie was spat out by the Kite eating tree that apparently found her unpalatable. Trixie was relatively unharmed with several bruises and pulled mane and tail, but miraculously no broken bones or puncture wounds. Trixie, hopefully merely temporarily traumatized by the incident, was insulted when it was explained to her that the kite eating tree found her 'bad-tasting'. However, the Kite Eating Trees do have uses in disposing of materials in a green way that otherwise would simply go to a landfill. Making them annoying, but somewhat useful. Despite all the set-backs and interference in the design and construction process, Fluttershy is thrilled to see her Ponyville Animal Sanctuary established. Together with her friends, she had taken the time to tour the place and bask in her achievement. But even as they enjoy the company of the many animals that now made the sanctuary their home, one question remained unanswered. "Fluttershy, I'm surprised that you actually have enough money left to rebuild the whole sanctuary from scratch." Twilight noted with a hint of confusion, "You only taken one loan from the Royal Bank, and we only gave so much besides helping you to build it. How did you find the bits to pull it off?" "Well... I may had forgotten to mention that you weren't the only ones who provided the funding." Fluttershy admitted with a blush, "I wrote to a lot of people I know, and many of them were more than happy to provide generous donations to making this possible." They arrived at a board at one corner of the sanctuary, listing out all the people who had donated money to the Ponyville Animal Sanctuary project. Amidst the section reserved for donating the most bits, one name stood out, "This one... he was that deer philanthropist you met at the opening of the White Tails Woods Sanctuary, right?" Fluttershy nodded. "Yes. We met a few times after that, and we talked about so many things. Despite our differences in things concerning animals, we actually got along very well. He alone provided over half a million bits! I have got to remember to write a letter and thank him for his kindness... = = = "You're very welcomed, lady Fluttershy." Chuckling softly, the now undisguised royal changeling resealed the letter from Fluttershy and placed it among other files in the secured storage where he hid all his terrible secrets. Brachion, a son of Emperor Blackthorn, a Changeling King of the Summer Court, the unquestioned ruler of Hive Erlking, and once but nevermore a prince of the Alveslog Forest Deer, couldn't help but find this mare remarkable, despite her flaws and imperfections. Any other time, he would had held her in contempt for her apparent weaknesses, but the shy and introvert mortal had, in the few meetings he has with her, impressed him with her steadfast views on nature and life. He had embraced the darkness of nature as the law of the world, and adapted to it; but this pegasi, even though she accepts the state of nature, had not only refused to break like most would had in the face of such horror, she had all but implicitly implied that she was readily determined rise above and 'change' it for the better, in any way she can, no matter what it takes. Building her own animal sanctuary near Ponyville is but a beginning of her dream. Well, let her try; he sincerely wishes her luck in bringing about that impossible ideal, despite personally finding it disagreeable himself. She shined with an inner fire that he was surprised to find in her heart when it comes to what she cared about - and she cared so much, without reservation for all living things. That, he supposed, is why that 'Tree of Harmony' had chosen her to be a wielder of its power. Was she right, perhaps, in declaring that true strength to face this cruel and unforgiving world doesn't always come from being the most ruthless, vicious and cunning creature, standing on top of the food chain as the alpha predator? No matter. He, like the rest of his family, are immortal - he will have all the time in the world to figure it out. Now, though, there are more important business at hoof. He went to his personal lab, deep inside the inner sanctums of his hive fortress, and found his latest test subject strapped to the operating table. "You had been a very naughty changeling, haven't you?" He began, his voice dripping with cruel mockery, "Trying to frame your ruler for a terrible crime to undermine his authority? He delivered you and the rest of your hive from the Curse that afflicts all changelings, and this is how you repay him? Truly, you ungrateful little parasite are unworthy of the strength and purity He granted you." If the purified Changeling had anything to say, he couldn't say it - one of the first things Brachion's subjects did during preparations had been sewing his maw shut. Not that he had much to say about his attempted atrocity; he had secretly remained loyal to the usurped Chrysalis, even after Thorax's ascension had purified him and his fellows. The secret Chrysalis-loyalist had smugly and deviously hope he could strike a blow for his Queen and earn her favour by framing the 'usurper' Thorax, with a diabolical plan that involve murdering unpurified changeling nymphs while in the guise of Thorax. And he almost pulled it off too, in spite of the changelings from those other Spring Court hives helping Thorax running security; what he did not expect was getting caught and secreted away by hidden agents that the Summer Court had placed among the purified populace, specifically to hunt down hidden loyalists like him. Now, his arrogant self had been reduced to a terrified wreck, trembling in his restraints, both at the prospect of his coming punishment and being in the presence of a being - one of many, too - that he and his fellows in the hive had thought to be little more than myth. "Regardless, you failed, and between that and your blind devotion to that failure of a Queen, you had only shown yourself a weakling and a traitor, worthy of the Winter Court - and in the interest of the Courts to ensure the Sanctified One and his hive prospers, weaknesses like you will be excised, as they should be." Brachion lifted a surgical knife, used for vivisections, that gleamed in the light of the surgical lamps hanging above, "But at least, in death, you shall be of some worth: my father and I are interested in how the Curse can be purified, and we thank you for volunteering yourself to facilitate that interest." He turned to his subject, and a chilling, merciless smile forming on his face in almost giddy anticipation, "Now, let's see what you are made of..."
Codex Equestria: Exotic Wildlife	Exotic Wildlife (3)	Giant Monsters and Kaiju Special Pt 1 In the following sections, one could find information of particular interest concerning the most notable creatures of monstrous sizes - whether they be simply species of large beasts, all the way to individual or races of the legendary Kaijus. While these creatures had been mentioned in other sections, they are the focus in these entries, which would hopefully be of particular interest to the curious reader, and perhaps even compel them to ponder about their place in nature when comparing themselves to these creatures of literally mythical proportions. Dracozilla "I'm so glad he's on our side..." Dragons are among Equus' most dangerous beasts in their natural state. Dracozilla is anything but natural. Dracozilla was a dragon who was mutated by a Clovenist super weapon experiment gone horribly wrong, exposing him to massive amounts of wild magic that transformed him into a kaiju of immense power. As such, he is often used as an example of what reckless usage of high powered spells could produce, and one of the reasons such things are heavily regulated if not outright banned. It should be known that the current Dracozilla is technically 'Dracozilla Jr.'. His parent, the one originally mutated by this event awakened decades ago and attack the Cloven Empire and later Neighpon in revenge for his mutation. After causing massive amounts of damage, the original Dracozilla was killed due to the intervention of several benevolent kaiju and a brilliant Neighponese scientist. The second Dracozilla would emerge a few years later, believed to be the son of the first (though he isn't sure himself). While initially aggressive, Jr. was never as outright hostile as his father, possibly due to being born as he currently is rather than being subjected to a painful mutation process, which also makes him considerably stronger than the original. While he's caused his fair share of property damage battling other Kaiju, Dracozilla has mellowed out over time and is now a guardian of Neighpon rather than a potential destroyer. The largest contributor to this was likely fierce, drawn out battle with several of Orochi's demon spawn that merged into an imperfect, three head Orochi that exceeded his own power and required the aid of multiple other kaiju and the Neighponese military to bring down. Dracozilla has also gotten the moniker 'King of the Monsters', but not all kaiju see him as such (particularly the gigantic Changeling Queen Supia Avalon, who is a royal herself). For his part, Dracozilla doesn't really care and doesn't call himself that. With that said, even those that don't refer to him as their king, Dracozilla is respected and to some degree feared. He's friends with most of Equus' benevolent kaiju, due to sharing goals and generally being seen as worthy of respect. While he never grew wings (it's unknown if this is due to the mutation or simply having originally been a species of them that lack wings), he's extremely powerful, with strength and durability far exceeding a normal dragon. While not a Ryujin, he is arguably close to in strength to one, and many fear what might happen if he ever ascended into one, though for now he still respects Dragon Queen Tiamat and Dragon King Bahamut as his parent gods. However, the wild magic that mutated him to begin with is his strongest attribute. Namely, his fire breath is now a powerful blue heat ray of feral magical power capable of causing a great deal of destruction. The original Dracozilla didn't have a beam, rather he breathed powerful blue, wild magic infused fire, which he set a number of cities ablaze with. The second one is also capable of discharging this energy either through his claws and fangs or as a powerful, full body pulse good for knocking enemies off of him and damaging them. He also has a very powerful healing factor allowing him to heal from what would be mortal wounds to other dragons in a much shorter period of time. He's become quite the skilled fighter over the years. There's also one notable time he managed to fly using his breath weapon, though he doesn't like talking about it. He's also capable of absorbing wild magic to increase his own power and feed, and in fact normally sustains himself off of ambient wild magic. Despite all these abilities, Dracozilla is not invincible. His regeneration can be overtaxed by a sufficient, though immense amount of damage. Furthermore, methods that disperse wild magic can severely weaken him, if not outright kill him in large enough quantities. Intense cold can send him into hibernation like any reptile (which in fact was how Junior was defeated when he originally appeared). Most humiliating, however, is he's still no less vulnerable to Dragon Sneeze Trees than any other dragon. While at times Neighpon's greatest and most dreaded enemy, Dracozilla is now seen as one of it's greatest guardians, and well beloved by many younger ponies. Though not to the extent of some other kaiju... EMCS (Elite Monster Containment Squad) "We're the folks dealing with things that go bump in the night." Given Equus is home to all sorts of monstrous creatures, it stands to reason there would be groups there to fight them. The EMCS is an elite guard task force assembled by Princess Celestia, the Sunraiser to deal with the various monster threats throughout the Principalities of Equestria if they become a threat to innocent civilians. Members include monster experts, valiant warriors, brilliant technicians, and other elites in their particular field. The mission statement of the EMCS is simple: to protect and contain. While willing to kill if the situation requires it, the EMCS largely prefers to non-lethally contain the creatures and if possible relocate them to somewhere they can do no harm. However, above all else their duty is to keep innocent civilians out of harm's way and save lives. The average EMCS squad consists of a lead operative, a monster expert, a demolition expert, a tracking and trapping expert, a medic, and a tech who's job is to handle both strategy and to create new technologies to counter threats. Teams are trained as a together, and encouraged to become friends. For obvious reason, this is necessary, as if they don't work together as a well oiled machine, they or innocent civilians could die. They are also equipped with the best armor and weapons available. Each squad is also equipped with a line directly to the princesses to engage Guard Protocol 1954. This Protocol essentially says that in the event of facing an entity of significant strength, the Princesses or the Bearers should be called in. The largest member of the EMCS is a Dragon named Seiryū, who spends most of his time in Dragon Town but can be called in the event of a kaiju attack if extra fire power is needed. Seiryū is a member of the Dragon Town settlement, and one of it's eldest ones, and as such views Equestria as part of his 'horde' and will go to great lengths to defend it. According to some government officials, the EMCS is a replacement for a now defunct secret organization known as S.M.I.L.E.. While little is known of this organization, rumours suggest it was shut down and dismantled in response to their handling of a situation involving a Bugbear, one that recently attacked Ponyville. While exact specifics are not known, reasons given range from usage of illegal mind spells on civilians, to endangering the public by withholding need to know information in such a way that it ultimately got civilians hurt or killed, to general incompetence in dealing with such a dangerous creature. Other less dark speculations have circulated suggesting it was actually due to other factors not attributed to malice or incompetence among its ranks and activities that led to its closure. The breaking of the Changeling Courts' Masquerade has been a great boon to the EMCS, as contact with Overseer Crazy Ant and Queen Zoraptera Avalon providing new advanced technology and better access to healing capabilities to keep both themselves and civilians alive. When operating in the surrounding areas of either Neighpon or Machina, they also now possess a hotline directly to Supia and her children or Colossus in case of Kaiju attack. Gamarea "What do you do when you know your time is over but someday another's time will come? You leave a light behind for those to come to ignite." --- A.K. Yearing Few kaiju are as beloved as Gamarea, especially by children. Gamarea was first discovered by renowned author A.K. Yearling during one of her studies, an event fictionalized in the book 'Daring Do and the Ancient Beasts'. According to Yearling, she landed on what she believed to be an island in the middle of the ocean with a mysterious monolith atop it. When she removed a talisman from the monolith, the 'island' revealed itself to be Gamarea, who broke himself free and departed. Studies of ancient temples uncovered that Gamarea was in fact the creation of a long dead civilization, who knowing their time was short made something that could one day awaken to protect the ones to come after them. As Yearling soon discovered, Gamarea's awakening was not simply a coincidence, as several monstrous bat-like creatures, malfunctioning creations of the same time period he was created to destroy, had also been awakened, which Gamarea quickly hunted down and destroyed, but only after one reached its adult size and attacked Neighpon. After a long battle, Gamarea killed the monster by blowing it to bits. The cause of these monsters' awakening is unknown, though Yearling's novel had it be the work of Daring Do's nemesis Ahuizotl. Gamarea resembles a gigantic turtle capable of walking on his hind legs, but that's not nearly all there is to him. He is a very powerful kaiju, and is also capable of healing like Dracozilla, though not as quickly when it comes to passive healing. His extremely durable shell compensates for this. He also processes sharp spikes he can extend from his elbows for slashing attacks and razor sharp teeth and tusks. His most notable ability is that he can breathe powerful plasma fireballs. If charged up enough, the largest of these fireballs can blow some kaiju to bits. This ability also leads into another: he can feed on fire, both to increase in power, but also to enhance his healing ability by a sizable margin. His oddest ability, however, is that he's capable of flight. Like any turtle, he can retract into his shell, but most turtles can't launch fire out of the openings in their shell for their arms and legs with enough power to achieve lift off. After this, he's capable of flying, spinning through the air and giving the impression of a flying saucer. The edges of his shell makes this quite useful, as it allows him to basically become a buzzsaw. If he needs use of his front arms and teeth for fighting, he can only ignite his leg boosters and keep his head and arms exposed. It should be noted that Gamarea is less durable than Dracozilla, but makes up for this by being far faster than him. Gamarea is a firm ally of Ponykind, having been created to combat threats to civilization. In particular, he is extremely friendly and protective towards children to the point of risking his life to protect them on several occasions. He's also known to be fond of AK Yearling, as she was the first modern Pony he has met. Mothryu "Mothryu will protect us." --- Mothryu's Priestesses Few Kaiju can claim to be a goddess. This is one of them. Mothryu is a gigantic Lepidopteran insect first discovered on Foal Island that was within the fallout zone of the Clovenists' Mana Bomb, where she is worshiped as a goddess. This is not an exaggeration, as rather than being a mutation like Dracozilla, she is an ancient, Nature Elemental deity that has lived on the island in some for for all recorded history, and possibly beyond it. When her island was damaged by the mana bomb, she provided her worshipers a special type of berry that, when made into juice, shielded them from the Wild Magic, which she herself seemed immune to. Mothryu was first discovered by a group of sailors who had been lost at sea during a storm, and rescued unharmed, thanks to this very juice. However, due to the greed of a Roelisican business Pony resulted in Mothryu causing damage to the still rebuilding Neighpon's capital in pursuit of her kidnapped priestesses, two tiny ponies capable of strange magical abilities and summoning the goddess with a song. Thankfully, compared to the damage of Dracozilla Sr.'s assault, it was minor, as Mothryu intentionally avoided unneeded harm. However, this also resulted in Mothryu attacking Roelisica in continued pursuit of her priestesses, causing such damage that the country was ultimately forced to be assimilated into the People's Empire of the Cloven. This is where the most unusual fact about Mothyru comes to light. Namely when first discovered Mothryu was only an egg, but this was simply part of her reincarnation cycle, similar to a Phoenix. Mothryu has the uncanny ability to detect when she is going to pass away soon, and lays an egg. The egg then hatches into a larval Mothryu with all the memories, personality, and divinity of their parent. This foresight even applies to unnatural causes of death, as the current Mothryu is the second in modern history, the first having died in battle with Dracozilla Jr., who's newly hatched larva cocooned and defeated the weakened kaiju in that confrontation, then befriended him in a following confrontation with a three headed, incomplete Yamata no Orochi. The amount of time between Mothryu's hatching from her egg and metamorphosis into a fully grown kaiju seems dependent on the situation. If the situation requires it direly enough, she can metamorphosis within a few days of her hatching, but it can be nearly a year should she not need to rush. Mothryu is one of the most benevolent kaiju known to Equus, as even after the Clovenists' mana bomb's damage to her island, she still held no true ill will towards the outside world and only attacked Neighpon and Roelisica to protect her kidnapped priestesses, and inflicted no more damage than was needed to accomplish that goal. On many occasions, Mothryu has come to Neighpon and other countries defense in times of peril and is on good terms with Princess Celestia, the Sunraiser, to the point the Dayarch sometimes comes over for tea with her and her worshipers (even providing gigantic tea cups for the giant moth). Mothryu is also close friends with Changeling Queen Supia Avalon on account of both being benevolent, insect themed kaiju, but also both being royals. Mothryu is, for all intents and purposes, the sovereign of Foal Island. While relatively small by Kaiju standards, Mothryu is extremely powerful, and one of the few capable of fighting Dracozilla evenly. Her larval form is surprisingly durable to the point of withstanding Dracozilla's wild magic ray, with powerful jaws that Mothryu II used to bite and hang onto Dracozilla Jr.'s tail, stubbornly remaining attached no matter how hard he tried to remove them. The larva also possess the ability to spray an extremely strong silk sufficient enough that when fully encased in the webbing Dracozilla Jr. took months to free himself from it. This silk is also imbued with powerful magic that, if desired, can injure the target. They are also capable of active camouflage. Mothryu's power only increases exponentially after metamorphosis, as her imago form gains flight and wings capable of generating powerful windstorms capable of staggering even powerful kaiju. She is capable of firing powerful beams of magic from her antenna and lightning from her wings. She can spread scales from her wings with many effects, but her preferred is a type that reflects energy or magic based attacks around inside them like a mirror, both returning enemy attacks to sender and allowing her to increase her own. However, these scales are naturally useless against physical attacks. Her deadliest ability, however, is her ability to create a giant spell seal that can have several effects, ranging from purification and healing to calling down a gigantic beam of magic and mana from the sky on the enemy. This, however, normally requires the target to be stunned or distracted long enough for her to perform the seal, otherwise it wouldn't work. However, it should be noted that despite her powerful abilities, her physical combat capabilities are limited by her nature. She's strong enough to pull Dracozilla by his tail, but she lacks the ability to fight a sustained close combat battle with him, preferring to keep range and attack enemies with her ranged attacks. She is also, unlike many deities, ages and will eventually die of old age before reincarnating through her offspring. While in this state, she is considerably weaker than she otherwise would be. Mothryu is one of Equus's beloved guardians and will even sacrifice her life to protect others if she must, though due to her abilities will not remain dead for long. Roedan "You know, maybe that Diamond Dog's god was right about being careful how deep you dig..." --- Neighponese Miner, after the release of the kaiju. Roedan's species was believed to be long extinct. The reality couldn't be further from the truth. Roedan is a gigantic, red skinned Pteranodon species that was first discovered in the form of a gigantic fossil found in Roedinia, thus the name. The gigantic kaiju turned out to be quite the find, captivating many in the scientific community. But living specimens would soon make themselves known when a crew of miners in Neighpon accidentally unearth the dormant eggs of a pair of Roedans, which quickly emerged and began nesting. As with Dracozilla, these are not the original ones. Those two perished in a controlled volcanic eruption caused by the Neighponese military, the first unable to escape the caldera and the second returning to die with its mate. Years later, a third specimen would emerge, fighting Dracozilla across Neighpon until joining forces with him and Mothryu to combat Imperfect Orochi and becoming one of Neighpon's protectors. The original Roedan were essentially intelligent, but giant animals, and any damage they caused was more out of finding materials for their nest or feeding than outright malice like Dracozilla Sr. The second Roedan's egg was on an island used by the Hooviets to dispose of wild magic saturated waste from the creation of the Mana Bombs, making him considerably more aggressive at first, until being convinced by Mothryu to join forces against Orochi. He is also considerably more intelligent, though it is considered possible the first two were just as intelligent but never got the chance to learn, as all three were ancient life forms let loose in the modern world with little aid. All three Roedans are gigantic, but the third one much more so, the same size as Dracozilla. All three are capable of Sonic Rainboom speeds (and in fact Rainbow Dash, the Loyal Wonderbolt and sole Pegasus to perform the feat in modern day, has raced the third Roedan on several occasions, not definitive winner has resulted so far) and generating hurricane force winds by flapping them. They also have strong beaks and talons that are very useful in combat, as well as sharp plates along their stomachs for use in flyby attacks. The third Roedan, however, is far stronger than the first two, as the mutation granted him enhanced durability and heat resistance (unlike the originals who couldn't survive lava) and was capable of facing him in a prolonged battle without a definitive winner. While not as powerful as Dracozilla's, the third Roedan is capable of firing a red wild magic heat ray from his beak, and he is capable of feeding off wild magic to power himself up. Once another threat to Neighpon and the world, Roedan is currently one of its strongest allies along with Dracozilla and Mothryu. Bararyu* "The Guardian of the Earth, Bararyu." Neighpon is well known for its kaiju, but their presence in the country has existed since before recorded history. Bararyu is one of Neighpon's Guardian Monsters, three kaiju created in ancient times by a similar civilization as Gamarea's creators for similar reasons. Bararyu is known the 'Guardian Monster of Earth'. Slumbering underground, Bararyu first awakened to battle the Fourth Demon King when the ancient demon possessed and resurrected the remains of the First Dracozilla. Intercepting the beast, Bararyu battled valiantly to protect civilians from the possessed and mutated dragon until they could escape, but was ultimately overwhelmed by the much larger kaiju and nearly killed. Bararyu barely managed to escape and burrow to the resting place of the eldest and strongest of the trio, Angileo, and awakened him before falling into a coma to recover. Upon fully healing, Bararyu joined Neighpon's protectors. Bararyu is believed to have originally been an Earth Dragon or at least had them as his primary basis, though is rather small by Kaiju standards. He is a red colored, reptilian quadruped (though he is capable of standing upright), with large, floppy ears and a yellow horn in the center of his forehead. He's noted as being somewhat cute in appearance. As the Earth Guardian, he is capable of burrowing through the earth at a very high rate of speed and generating localized earthquakes for attack purposes. He is an adapt jumper and agile kaiju, and due to his small size he relies on speed to combat larger kaiju. He also possesses razorsharp teeth and jaw strength sufficient to make dislodging him rather difficult. He is also capable of breathing a volcanic heat ray, though far weaker than Dracozilla's. He's also noticeably less durable than some kaiju, as the Fourth Demon King left him beaten to near death and it took him quite some time to regenerate. All that said, Bararyu is a loyal and protective creature, seeing Neighpon as his to protect. He's also extremely determined to the point of facing the Fourth Demon King and continuing to fight despite grievous injuries and then managing to burrow his way to his slumbering fellow Guardian Monster to awaken him before succumbing to a healing coma. *(Baragon's name is a play on the words for Rose and Dragon) Varein "The Guardian of Water, Varein." Neighpon is well known for its kaiju, but their presence in the country has existed since before recorded history. Varein is one of Neighpon's Guardian Monsters, three kaiju created by a bygone civilization to defend the country similar to Gamarea. Specifically, Varein is the 'Guardian of the Water' and the peoples of the surrounding area worship him as deity, praying to him in times of danger. Slumbering beneath the lake, Varein remained dormant for eons, only supposed to be awoken when a great disaster would befall Neighpon. That disaster came when the Fourth Demon King resurrected and possessed the corpse of Dracozilla Sr. and went on the warpath once again. After the Guardian Monster of Earth, Bararyu tried and fail to stop the undead kaiju, Varein was awoken and made his way to Neighpon's capital to battle the beast until Angileo, the Fire Guardian, awoke to aid and the true Dracozilla arrived to help destroy the Fourth Demon King. After this, he joined his fellow Guardians in their continued protection of Neighpon. Varein is a giant monitor lizard-like monster with spikes running the length of his back. His most notable attribute, however, is the skin webbing running between his arms and legs, similar to a flying squirrel that allows him to fly. His claws, teeth, and spikes are all sharp and he's quite adapt at using them as offensive weapons. In addition, as the Water Guardian, Varein is most at home in the water, where he's very agile and swift, capable of swimming circles around other kaiju. This all makes him very versatile, as he's capable of fighting on land, in water, and in the air. He's also capable of turning his natural sonar into a beam of sonic energy to assault opponents with. Varein is a noble and protective creature, loyal to his homeland and going to great lengths to protect it. He's also a very cunning fighter, making good use of his various abilities in combat to their fullest. As he's physically weaker than Dracozilla or Angileo, this is a good thing, as it allows him to keep pace with them. Angileo "The Guardian of Fire, Angileo." Neighpon is well known for its kaiju, but their presence in the country has existed since before recorded history. Angileo is the eldest and strongest of the three Guardian Monsters created by a bygone civilization to be a future protector of Neighpon, similar to Gamarea, and is known as the Guardian Monster of Fire. Slumbering in central Neighpon in crystal, Angileo was awakened by AK Yearling and his fellow Guardian Monster Bararyu to defeat the Fourth Demon King (also known as Ghost Dracozilla) after the younger guardian failed to defeat the undead abomination. Arriving just in time to assist Varein, the two tag teamed the demonic beast but were fighting a losing battle until Dracozilla Junior arrived and together the three kaiju managed to slay the juggernaut. After which, Angileo developed a close friendship with Dracozilla Junior and lives on the same island with Roedan. Angileo is a gigantic Anklyosaur (not an anklyosaurus) with a spiked shell on his back, though he has a notable difference in that his teeth are razorsharp for offensive abilities. His primary offense is his razorsharp claws and teeth, the spiked shell, and most devastating the spiked club (more accurately called a 'thagomizer') at the end of his tail that he can swing with devastating effectiveness. His hide is also far thicker than his fellow Guardians or many other kaiju, to the point of being one of the most durable known kaiju. As Guardian Monster of Fire, he's also immune to all but the strongest fire attacks, and actually grows stronger from heat sources. While lacking an active healing factor, he can enter a healing coma near a heat source and recover to full heath. He's also able to generate heat through his spiked shell, claws, and teeth. His most unique power is the ability to roll into a spiked ball, similar to an armadillo. Not only does this provide added defense, he's capable of rolling at high speeds in this form. Given his shell is covered in razorsharp spikes, the end result of an impact from a rolling Angileo can be devastating, and it allows him to move at fairly high speeds if he needs to. However, Angileo lacks any form of ranged attack and thus is at a disadvantage against a flying kaiju. Battryu "Nature has her mercy, but she also has her wrath." --- Battryu's Priestesses For reasons unknown, a number of deities come in contrasting pairs, such as Celestia and Luna. Mothryu and Battryu are one such pair. Battryu is a gigantic Lepidopteran insect first sighted in the frozen north, but known to the people of Foal Island. Like his counterpart Mothryu, he is considered a deity, though one of a much more violent temperament. He is an ancient, natural elemental deity that enact's nature's revenge on those that would desecrate it. According to Foal Island legend, in ancient times Battryu and Mothryu worked together to protect the planet, but when an ancient civilization caused harm to it, Battryu turned on them in a violent rage and destroyed all in his path until Mothryu defeated and sealed her counterpart away in the northern ice. Battryu reappeared in modern day when the Diamond Dogs of Dimondia's reckless strip-mining caused enough ecological damage to awaken the ancient and wrathful deity, who instantly headed towards the continent and began a rampage in his larva form. When Mothryu arrived to combat her counterpart, Battryu metamorphosed into his Imago form and the two engaged in a huge dog-fight over the country. This duel, however, was cut short by the emergence of the Fifth Demon King, who was then battling Changeling Queen Supia Avalon. After a long conversation, Mothryu managed to convince Battryu to set aside their differences and combat the Demon King. Battryu would join Mothryu on Foal Island, but is keeping a watchful eye on mortals. Like his female counterpart, Battryu is capable of reincarnating like a phoenix, but due to being male does so differently. When Battryu is killed, his corpse will spawn a new Battryu larvae from it, though being sealed will slow down the process. Mothryu did actually slay Battryu in ancient times, but over the eons, Battryu did reincarnate, only at a slower rate due to his imprisonment. Battryu's metamorphosis into an adult is very similar to his female counterpart, being able to take as short as a few days after reincarnating to nearly a year if he does not rush. Unlike Mothryu, however, he does not form a cocoon, merely transitioning into his imago form in an explosion of energy. This, however, does require time to charge up. The biggest difference between the two, however, is Battryu's much more wrathful and violent temperament. Battryu's primary goal is the protection of Equus' biosphere, and he is otherwise apathetic to the sapient life living on it. If someone causes to much ecological damage, Battryu will desire their destruction without a second thought. Because of is this love and protection of the biosphere, Battryu is worshiped by some Alvslog Deer tribes and realms, particularly the realm under King Aspen, though according to his priestess, Battryu finds the king too fanatical about it even for his tastes. This does not mean Battryu is unfeeling, however, as he is known to, after Mothryu convinced him to give mortals another chance, be rather fond of ponies such as the Fluttershy, the Kind Caretaker for their desire to protect nature. Battryu is also on better terms with Princess Luna, the Nightbringer than Princess Celestia, the Sunraiser, due to both having a more harsh and pragmatic response to things. Battryu is on good terms with Queen Supia, but not to the extent of his counterpart. Battryu does not hold a royal title like Mothryu, and has no desire to have on. Battryu shares many of the same abilities as Mothryu, but trades off in some areas. His larval form lacks the ability to spray magically charged silk or camouflage, but is larger, more physically powerful, and can fire unrefined beams of lightning like energy from his eyes and the large horn on his head. These beams, though decently powerful, are also not exceptionally controllable and often fire wildly in the general direction of his opponent. He also crawls considerably slower than Mothryu in this form. Battryu's Imago Form takes his larva form's beams and focuses them into two optic rays with greater power and pinpoint control, though their range is slightly less than Mothryu's antenna beams. He is capable of generating powerful windstorms and flight thanks to his wings, and capable of the wing lightning as well. He also has scales he can spread from his wings for many effects, but his preferred one is an acidic and potent poison to weaken an opponent physically as opposed to his female counterpart's more energy focused one. Battryu lacks Mothryu's spell seal, but makes up for it with greater durability, the ability to discharge deadly pulses of energy through his body, and generally being a much more able physical combatant. In other words, while Mothryu is far better at range and magic, Battryu is far better at sustained close combat. His strength is sufficient to lift Dracozilla off the ground, though he needs add to carry him long distances. Like Mothryu, he's also capable of dying of old age before reincarnating. Battryu is, however, capable of utilizing magical seals if he's working in conjunction with Mothryu, and the resulting spell is far greater than the two's individual capability. Battryu is one of Equus's guardians, but far more feared than Mothryu, as he is very willing to wipe out those he sees as a threat to the biosphere. Lizza, Protector of Manehatten Species Name: Amblyrhynchus cristatus superior "If Dracozilla is the King of the Monsters in this Age, then Lizza would be the Prince among them!" Lizza is a kaiju species born from the wild mana unleashed by Clovenist Mana Bomb tests, discovery credited to one Dr. Annelida, an Autumn Court Changeling biologist from Machina. As Mana Bomb tests are continued by the Clovenists and other world powers, the fallout not only created Dracozilla, but would also effect many other species - including marine Iguanas. Many perished from the fallout (Contrary to most popular depictions), but nigh-miraculously, one would survive and become heavily mutated into a theropod dinosaur-like kaiju. After attacking fishing boats at sea, it would eventually find its way to Manehatten, where it would make landfall and try to nest. During this time, the beast would be mistakenly believed to be Dracozilla by the news media due to wild magic radiation, reptilian build, and vaguely resembling the mutant dragon, especially in the dark and rain. This creature would cause a huge amount of property damage and battle with the EMCS on several occasions until Dr. Annelida and his team would discover Manedison Square Garden where it made its nest, revealing it was female and had laid hundreds of eggs that were already beginning to hatch by Parthenogenesis (and had slaughtered a reportedly foreign military team that'd gone in with them). This reproductive capability meant that if not killed, the monster and her brood could overrun the entire world similar to the Dyvaos. An airstrike destroyed the nest, seemingly killing all the infants - but enraging the mother when she discovered the deed. This lead to a huge chase through Manehatten by the now furious adult, ending with her being tangled in a bridge's cables at which point the EMCS and Royal Guard assaulted the creature. Physically frailer than most kaiju, the creature was slain and fell dead. Examination of the corpse would confirm that it was certainly not the same creature as Dracozilla, resulting in the beast being renamed Lizza (dropping the dragon and instead adding a lizard bent to it, but still somewhat acknowledging the similarities between the two). However, Annelida wisely pointed out that the creature's nest need examined in case any eggs survived. As it turned out, one did, but Annelida ended up covered in the mother's pheromones, and thus the infant would imprint on him as its parent. Exploiting this connection, Annelida would raise the newly named Lizza Jr. to be benign and benevolent towards Sapientkind, and discovered that he was a male incapable of reproducing without a mate. While the military naturally was opposed to Lizza Jr. and at first tried to kill him, after he successfully defeated a mutated squid in the Dazzling Isles and other mutations (created both by the Mana Bomb tests and by the wild magic detonations caused during Xestobium's Dragon Extinction Operation) worldwide, he was accepted as a beneficial ally. This is especially true, as Lizza Jr. turned out to be far, far more powerful than his parent in every way. During the Storm King Crisis, Lizza Jr. would defend Manehatten from the Storm Empire's forces, ultimately earning the city's love and admiration as the 'Protector of Manehatten' and become a much beloved sight by city denizens. In addition to random mutations and the Storm King, Lizza Jr. and his 'father' would battle other enemies, such as corrupt corporate executive and Diamond Dog Neomerchantilist Crooked River and renegade secret society of Alvslog Forest Deer and bio-terrorists called the Grove of the Sacred Scales. Their biggest challenge would by a group of resurgent Oceanaiads and their mysterious backers, calling themselves the Leviathan Legion, who would make a go at world domination via a brainwashed army of monsters in world wide crisis event, which would see him pitted against his biological mother rebuilt as a magi-tech cyborg. Biology Lizza is a mutated marine iguana, and resembles a theropod dinosaur. While not as large as Dracozilla, they are still enormous and having similar looking dorsal scutes and skin coloration. They have extremely well developed arms capable of manipulating objects easily. Both are capable of extremely high land speed while running, exceeding 480 km per hour, and swimming at high speeds. Due to their mutation, they can breath underwater. They can burrow underground at high speeds as well. They possess a healing factor that can regenerate from serious damage if not killed outright. Claws and teeth are both strong and sharp, and Lizza Jr. has proven capable of tracking his parental figure all the way across the world. The original Lizza was comparably weaker and killed via conventional weapons, and lacked a true beam, instead being able to project a flammable, high pressure air blast from her lungs. However, her son's mutation was far more stable and complete, making him superior to her in every way. He is physically far stronger and much more durable than his parent, to the point similar attack to that which killed his mother failed to seriously injure him as a 'teenager'. In addition, he possesses a wild magic ray similar to Dracozilla's, though green and more flamethrower like. While lacking concussive force, it can be charged and fired more quickly, and is similarly preceded by a green glow trailing up his scutes to his head, with his eyes glowing before firing. The species has an interesting bit of sexual dimorphism: females can reproduce asexually in the absence of a mate, while males can only reproduce with a mate. This makes Lizza Jr. safer to have around than his mother. Interestingly, while Marine Iguanas are herbivores, Lizzas are predatory and feed primarily on fish. That being said, like many Kaiju beings and gigantic races, Lizzas are actually Manavores primarily sustained by Wild Magic, with their periodic carnivorous diet merely serving as a secondary catalyst to kick-start or boost the primary metabolic process, owing to their enormous biology being unsustainable by a conventional diet. Habitat As mutations, they have no natural habitat, but are primarily sea dwelling. Lizza Jr.'s nest was made in the water off Manehatten in the sea bed. They feed primarily on fish there. Danger They are extremely powerful and dangerous, but as Lizza Jr. is the world's currently only surviving specimen there's little danger. He is incapable of reproducing on his own, and due to his raising is a 'gentle giant' to most sapient races. He will react fiercely and deal a lot of damage if provoked, but when left alone he is friendly and low danger. Lyre, the Guardian of Mousikós Character: Heroic Alignment: Chaotic Good Type: Kaiju, Guardian Monster, Wild Magic Mutant Faction: Mousikós/The Muse Trio "What's big as a skyscraper and SINGS?" There are many kaiju scattered across Equus, especially born from Wild Magic (or exposures to other forms of exotic, transformative mutagens). However, not all Wild Magic Mutations were caused in modern day. One heroic kaiju born from it long after Hooviet Transatomic Weaponry was developed and long before the Clovenist Mana Bomb was ever invented is Lyre. Lyre began her life as a normal Great Song Bird given to Queen Aoide Mousikós by her sisters when she was a little chick to help alleviate her stress and give her something to talk to. The two became very close, with Lyre often using the species' ability to make people sing to force her master to sing about her feelings and emotionally vent, or just play with the castle staff. This would continue until the Castle of Music's meltdown, which Aoide chose to sacrifice herself to try and contain to protect her subjects. However, despite Aoide's attempts to get Lyre to leave, the Great Song Bird ignored her demands in order to help her maintain the barrier, despite knowing it was likely certain death. Tearfully accepting her help, Aoide and her pet struggled to contain the blast, with Lyre sustaining burns and wild magic poisoning in the process. However, Aoide's sisters Nete and Mese would lead the kingdom in singing a song to support the two, allowing them to successfully contain the blast and Aoide to absorb the music based Wild Magic and ascend fully to godhood. However, Lyre had seemingly been fatally burned and wild magic poisoned and seemingly flew off to die without letting her owner see her demise. The truth would make itself known several months later when Aoide was surprised to find Lyre had not only survived, but was now a kaiju, then 30 meters large. "Lyre...you got big..." --- Aoide upon discovering her pet was now a kaiju. Lyre would cheerfully squark, signalling as if this was no big deal for her. Rather than dying from the exposure, Lyre had mutated similar to Dracozilla and other kaiju in the present day and become a kaiju. Unlike Dracozilla, she would endure the pain of her injuries and mutation and remain loyal to her. Lyre would continue to grow over the coming years until she reached 100 meters tall, becoming Mousikós' guardian monster to protect them against the Oceanaiad school lurking off their shores. Having become ageless, or at least very long lived, due to her mutation, Lyre would continue to protect the country until modern day when Dr. Annelida and his crew would arrive in Mousikós seeking aid against the Leviathan Legion. Sensing Lizza Jr., Lyre would see him as a threat and fly down to investigate, resulting in the mutated iguana seeing her as a threat to his adopted parent and the two getting into a brief fight. Before either could meaningfully harm the other, Annelida and the Muse Trio would break up the fight (comically, as due to Lyre's power have to spend the entire time singing). Explaining the situation with the Leviathan Legion, the group would request aid in stopping the Oceanaiad alliance's assault. Before any decision could be made, however, the native Oceanaiad school would reveal themselves part of the Legion and attack the island with several brainwashed kaiju. Alone, it is likely Lyre would've been overwhelmed and killed, but with Lizza Jr.'s help the brainwashed kaiju were beaten, and the Oceanaiad's leader, Queen [REDACTED], the Resurgent, was forced to the surface and beaten by the two kaiju and their allies. Lyra would then help Lizza Jr. counterattack and defeat the Leviathan Legion, protecting the city of San Pranciscolt from them (It's Fourth Age counterpart, not the Second Age version). With Mousikós now free to interact with the outside world for the first time in millennia, Lyre would largely continue to be its guardian, but would enjoy more company and hearing different songs. She would also bond with Dracozilla Jr. and other heroic kaiju, getting along well with them. Gods and Goddess of Music would also befriend her. This included Blue Suede Heartstrings, who Aoide would happily introduce to her. Personality-wise, Lyre is undying loyal to her owner and Mousikós. This is to the point of being willing to sacrifice herself to help her protect the isles. She has fought tirelessly for the country for her entire time as a kaiju, including risking her life if need be. She would also force her owner to sing and let out her bottled up emotions, which was part of the reason her sisters had gotten Lyre for her in the first place. However, despite this, Lyre is well known as a bit of a mischievousness prankster, though rarely a malicious one. Even before mutating into a kaiju, she made a habit of forcing the castle staff to break out in musical numbers at the most amusing moments and play other pranks on them. Or on the occasion Oceanaiads or other threats made it into the castle, play more malicious pranks to defend her master and castle. For the most part, her antics were seen as amusing fun. Once she mutated into a kaiju, she'd often play these pranks on various parts on the country, but by this point it's seen as tradition and it would be more weird if she wasn't playing them. This mischievous personality would see her and Celestia, the Sunraiser's pet Phoenix Philomena, who has a similar personality. Lyre is fiercely protective of her islands, which can sometimes become a negative, as shown when she attacked Lizza Jr. to protect them. She is also a bit haughty at times, which can make it difficult for anyone but her master to control her. She also makes her displeasure with people she doesn't like well known. "Is that giant bird mooning us?" --- A group of Tribalists upon realizing Lyre was mooning them from her perch on the mountain in the middle of a speech. When they attempted a terrorist attack later on, Lyre did considerably more than that. Appearance wise, Lyre is a massive white Giant Song Bird, though having monstrous traits due to her mutation. She now possesses a head crest resembling horns and a much more fierce beak and talons with a longer, almost reptilian tail. She is around one hundred meters tall, and wears jewelry that Mese made for her specifically. Power wise, as a Great Song Bird, she has always possessed the ability to force others to burst into musical numbers with her song. As a kaiju, her song can now cover an island wide area if she so chooses. She is also extremely strong and durable, with an impressive healing factor. An extension of her natural musical power, she is now capable emitting a powerful beam of wild magic infused sonic energy roughly on par with Roedan's heat ray in terms of power. Like many Wild Magic mutants, she is capable of absorbing Wild Magic in order to grow stronger and to feed, and generally can be found in the still radioactive ruins of the Castle of Music, feeding off its wild magic. She can generate hurricane force winds with her wings for offensive purposes, and her talons and beak are dangerous weapons. All of this puts her roughly on par with Roedan, Lizza Jr., and other such kaiju. Her mutation may also have made her ageless, though may simply have made her extremely long lived. She does have weaknesses. As a giant flyer, she's not well designed to fight underwater. This was one reason the war Oceanaiads lasted as long as it did, as the Queen would have the advantage if she tried to follow them under the waves. She is also vulnerable to things that neutralize wild magic. The oldest known Wild Magic mutant, is a close friend and ally to Lizza Jr. and the protector of Mousikós, and one of its greatest champions.
The Sphere of Psyche	pre	She flipped forward in the book to where she had left off last. "Chapter 54, The Formation of Equestrian Government. Eeee! So exciting!" She said to herself as she read for hour after hour until the sun was beginning to set. Her voice now sounded astute and fine, lacking much of the excitement and wonder she once held. She got up off the couch after much reading and made her way to her desk which had appeared only a few hours ago, but to Pinkie had been there for years. She was the town librarian and planner after all! She had gotten so much done in this very spot. She was so glad the Princess allowed her to work in her castle and perform this duty for the citizens of Ponyville. She had even allowed her to keep a bed in the room opposite the library for when she spent late nights reading and didn't want to go home to Sugarcube Corner, which was quite often. She finished up her duties in a flash, checking to see what books were due and sending notices, putting returned books back, and tiding up a bit before heading back to her book. She couldn't wait to finish the chapter on how the Equestrian tax system was devised!
The Sphere of Psyche	Chapter Five- A Diamond in the Rough	Rarity strutted down the streets of Ponyville, occasionally winking at a ripped stallion along the way. She had such a divine time having lunch with her friends, but now it was time to get back to work. She entered the door of her home and quickly made her way back to her work room, taking a seat in her gorgeous leather office chair and grabbing the next order to be completed on her desk. This commission was for a young Canterlot mare that was set to be married in a few months. The dress called for lots of sapphires and gold accents that would make the bride shine as she walked down the aisle to her new husband. Rarity smiled warmly at the thought. Making wedding dresses was one of her favorite projects to complete ever since she had made Princess Cadance's dress just a few years ago. As she was beginning to calculate how many sapphires she was going to need to complete the dress, she heard a familiar voice. Why don't you head through town and help some ponies? "Applejack darling? I didn't hear you come..." Rarity turned toward the door expecting to see the orange farm pony but instead found silence only greeted her. "Applejack? Are you there?" She said thinking maybe Applejack just hadn't finished making her way back to her yet. Once again though she found nopony replying to her question. She shrugged and thought she must have been hearing things, putting her attention back on the task at hoof. Think of how great it will feel and how happy it will make everypony to help out. I'm doing that right now. This client is counting on me to make her wedding dress. Aw that can wait. There are plenty of ponies that could use our help right now! Well I suppose so but- That's right! Now let's go out there and get to it! Rarity found herself getting up from her desk and walking right back outside where she had come barely twenty minutes ago, heading right for the market section of Ponyville. Her body was walking with such a sense of urgency to it, like it was on a mission from Princess Celestia herself. First she ended up at Burnt Oak's stall, where he seemed to be struggling to unload his wagon of wood to sell. "Let me help you out there partner!" Rarity blurted out as she made her way over to the wagon. Ok fine I'll help Burnt Oak. A bit of magic will get this job done quickly anyway. Nonsense! That's taking the easy way. We're using our hooves! WHAT?!?!? Rarity screamed in horror as her body gathered the logs in her manicured hooves and placed them on her well groomed coat before taking them over to Burnt Oak's stand dropping them neatly in a pile. She then made her way back to the cart for another load. Burnt Oak seemed to give her an odd look upon seeing the unicorn not use her horn to complete the task but shrugged. Any kind of help was appreciated in his old age. Soon the logs were unloaded and Rarity was left with cracked hooves and a coat covered in tree sap and bark dust. Burnt Oak thanked her for her help and off her body went again. Good. We helped somepony. Now can we go home so I can clean up the dirt you've put all over my body?!?! That's stinking thinking. There are plenty of other ponies that could use a helping hoof. You cannot possibly be serious! But the voice in her head was, making the rounds throughout the whole market. Rarity helped the flower ponies sweep up flower trimmings, again opting to use her mouth instead of her horn to sweep. She helped Grand Pear unload crates of pear jam, and so many other ponies with their unloading, loading up, and cleaning up. By the time she had made her way back to the front of the market, her coat was matted and covered in all matters of mess, her mane and tail had things stuck in it and had split ends, and her body was sweaty from all the manual labor. I can't believe you made me do all that! And without use of my magic no less! But didn't it feel good helping everypony and seeing their smiling faces? Rarity thought back on her past few hours of work. It was nice helping out and getting to know everypony better. She felt a sense of pride at the work she accomplished. Her body seemed to be heading back home too, so everything seemed to be going well now. Had she been more attentive however she would've noticed she wasn't steering her body toward home herself, nor was she walking with her usual strut and sway, once again just trotting along like any other common pony. It wasn't until her body passed right by Carousel Boutique that she realized the Applejack like voice was still controlling her. Where are we going now!?! We helped everypony in town! I need to get back to work and get cleaned up! Of course we are you silly filly. We're heading back to the farm now to get started. The Apple family farm? What are you talking out! I don't work there! Of course you do sugar cube. We come here every day and tend to the orchard. Her body continued its way out of town, down the path to Applejack's farm. Rarity was beginning to get very worried now. She first thought maybe this was her conscious or some form of Equestrian magic telling her to do some good in the world, but this was getting a bit out of control. Her body stopped when it found a wagon parked off to the side of the road, with buckets placed under a apple tree nearby just waiting to be bucked. What is happening to me? Why am I acting like Applejack? Could this have something to do with that sphere she and her friends looked at back at Twilight's castle? She had to find her and ask her to fix her! Rarity begged to the voice, trying to get it to relinquish its power over her while trying to get her hooves to turn back toward town, but it was no use. The voice was already rearing her hind hooves and bucking the first tree, sending apples falling toward the ground with strength she never knew she possessed. Come on now! Why act like a pretty priss when we can be tough and helpful like Applejack? But I don't think that's-- Think? What's to think about? I'm thinking we should just be like Applejack. Besides, you'll never make it to Twilight's in time for her to fix you. I don't think I should be-- Rarity? You're right; we tried that and all it ever got us was a few flattering looks. Why not forget? Why not let yourself-- Be like Applejack? Yes! Just be like Applejack. Just be like Applejack. Be just like Applejack. Be just like Applejack. Be like Applejack. Be like Applejack. Be Applejack. Be Applejack. Be Applejack. Be Applejack. As the voice spoke to her, Rarity's body reached for and grabbed the tan leather Stetson hat that laid on the cart and placed it on her head. As it settled on her head, her fragile mind shattered and began to rebuild itself. All her memories of grooming herself, dieting, fashion, and trends left her to be replaced with the knowledge of growing and harvesting apples. Working hard for her employers, the Apple family, and any other ponies she helped matter most to her. That and being generous with her time to help her friends and fellow town ponies. Her perfect body also began to fade in place of a new one. One look at her body would have left anypony who gazed upon it either infatuated or jealous of how she managed to look so good. This was not to last however as changes began to rock her body. Her stomach which had been thin and petite began to firm up and harden, showing a vague six pack under her coat. Her breasts which had been the perfect size to be considered generous but not giant shrank from a tasteful double D cup to barely a single B cup. Her butt and thighs weren't spared either from the changes. Her luscious plot and thighs slimmed down and became tight and firm, with the toned muscle beneath her skin practically bulging underneath it. Her body reflected that of an experienced farm pony, her chiseled physic only match by the faint scent of apples and sweat that never seemed to stop clinging to her. Her mane and tail changed as well, her perfectly styled hairdo straightened, two red hair ties appearing and tying themselves just above the end of her dual pony tails on the side of her head and the end of her tail. She also gained bangs which were swept to whatever side her mood suited her. Her thick false eyelashes vanished, leaving her lashes as natural as they'd been since the day she was born. Freckles appeared on both her cheeks replacing her flawless skin with that of a pony that spent all her time in the sun. As the changes finished adjusting her body to her new life, the voice spoke out once more; Be Applejack ... "Be...Applejack..." She whispered softly to herself. And when she opened her eyes that's who was; Raritini. Who she'd always been. She gathered the full baskets of apples and placed them in the cart before grabbing more empty baskets to buck apples into. As she got about seventeen trees in, she took off her hat and whiped her brow of the generous amount of sweat that had gathered there. "Woo-eee! It sure is a hot one today. Can't wait to finish up and wet my whistle with a generous glass of cider." She said in an accent only a country mare like her possessed. Her elegant way of speaking before now seeming so silly to her simple mind. She looked at her hat before she placed it back on her head. Bright Mac had given it to her on her first day of work on the farm. She struggled at first to find where she belonged, being a unicorn that barely used her horn for much other then menial tasks. She just liked using her hooves more. She was so happy to have been welcomed into the apple family not long after she started working there a few years ago. They allowed her to live on their farm rent free and paid her well for her hard work she provided and took pride in. She loved ending the day with dirt on her hooves. It was the sign of a job well done after all. She often missed him and Pear Butter. They treated her like their own daughters. She sniffled in remembrance before getting back to work. Before long the work was done and she strapped the cart to her back and headed back to the barn. She left the cart inside and went to get washed up for dinner, passing Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom as she headed toward the farm house. Part of her wished she had tried to get Big Mac's attention before he meet Sugar Belle. He was such a charming and strong pony. Who was she kidding though? She loved work more and was glad he was happy. She trotted on inside to the farm house, letting the screen door slam behind her. Life was good.
The Sphere of Psyche	Chapter Six- Shying Away	Rainbow Dash soared through the sky, feeling the wind course over her body like an airship. Now that she had lunch with her friends, it was time to head to the Wonderbolt Academy gym to train. She opened the door to the gym and went inside, finding the gym empty. This wasn't too big a surprise however. Most bolts only spent their weekends on the base when they were required to be. Rainbow liked having the gym to herself. Just meant she didn't have to wait to hop onto the next station to complete her workout. She walked into the locker room and made her way to her locker, opening it to grab her official training suit. It resembled what she wore in the air shows, but this one was spandex instead of cloth, designed to help a wonderbolt work up a sweat. She pulled the suit on and zipped it up tight, the suit wrapping itself tight around her every limb. She posed in the mirror as she made her way out to the gym floor; she loved how good she looked in her uniform. She was about to hop onto the treadmill to complete her five mile run when a voice spoke out to her. Um, wouldn't you rather be spending time with some cute critters? Fluttershy? Rainbow looked around the gym, darting her head in all directions. She could have sworn she heard Fluttershy speaking to her, but the only pony in the gym was her. Shrugging, she stepped on the treadmill and started warming up. She started out at a casual jog then turned the speed up to max to really get her heart rate up. Wouldn't being outside in nature be so much more fun? Maybe? But now it's time to train. But spending time with animals is better. Maybe sometimes, but training is fun too! Not to mention necessary. Can't we take a break? You seem awfully tired. What're you talking about? I just started... Rainbow Dash suddenly found the treadmill getting away from her. She was panting wildly and began to panic as her legs gave out, causing her to fall onto the belt of the machine which sent her flying backwards onto the floor in a heap. "Ugh, my aching head." Said Rainbow Dash as she rubbed her temple. She couldn't believe she just did that. Oh my. You better take it easy for the rest of the day. Rainbow sighed. Maybe she should skip training today. One day wouldn't hurt. Plus she really wasn't in the mood after failing that hard at her relatively simple run. She headed back to the locker room; shoulders noticeably slumped as she threw off her uniform, put it in her locker, and headed out the door of the gym and into the sky. She was so busy feeling disappointed in herself that she didn't notice her body had changed direction in flight. Rather than heading towards her cloud home, she was now headed back toward the ground, past the outskirts of Ponyville and approaching Fluttershy's cottage. She didn't even notice where she was until she had opened the door and stepped inside the house. What the... why are we at Fluttershy's? To check on the animals silly! Don't you remember? I never agreed to that! Rainbow found her body moving forward toward the kitchen, finding a book resting on the counter that contained all the meal specifications for the animals under Fluttershy's care. Her body quickly set to work despite her protests on filling bowls with a variety of plants, seeds, and proteins, before taking them outside one by one to the waiting creatures. Wait, how did I know where the food was? Don't be silly! We feed them every day! Rainbow knew this wasn't true. She kept hoping at any moment Fluttershy or somepony else would turn up to help her, or to tell her this was all some kind of prank, but no such luck came. Her body marched back inside to the kitchen with the now empty bowls and cleaned each one before returning them to their rightful place in the cupboard. Good. Now all the animals are fed. Can we just go home now so I can sulk in my disappointment? Oh every creature hasn't been fed just yet. Rainbow was puzzled. They had gone through every entry in the book! What else was there? Her body made its way up the stairs to Fluttershy's room, taking a seat in a comfy armchair before grabbing a book that laid on the table beside it labeled, "Orphan Animal Nourishment Intake". Upon opening the book, there were only a few entries; a fawn, a wolf pup, and a calf. Old entries had been crossed out before them, likely because they had been released into the wild. Next to each animal was a label of how many ounces of milk to give each animal, as well as special feeding instructions. I don't get it. Why does Fluttershy keep this book here and not in the kitchen? Did she leave it up here by mistake? Oh Rainbow. The book is up here because the milk is pumped up here! You know that. Pumped? Rainbow's hoof reached down on the other side of the chair and pulled a knit cover off a machine lying next to it. The machine was a small box with two tubes coming out of it that connected to two bottles with caps that looked like horns on top. Rainbow immediately realized what this machine was for, and what her body intended to do with it. Nope. No way. I'm not using that. You can't make me. Rainbow tried to will her body to get up. To run away and find somepony that could help fix this mess. This had to have something to do with that sphere Twilight showed her. It must have messed with her head! She was acting just like Fluttershy! Now now don't be nervous. Why should we act like a showoff when we can be kind and make the world a better place like Fluttershy? But I don't think that's-- Think? What's to think about? I'm thinking we should just be like Fluttershy. Besides, the baby animals need you. I don't think I should be-- Rainbow? You're right; we tried that and all it ever got us was too much attention. Why not forget? Why not let yourself-- Be like Fluttershy? Yes! Just be like Fluttershy. Just be like Fluttershy. Be just like Fluttershy. Be just like Fluttershy. Be like Fluttershy. Be like Fluttershy. Be Fluttershy. Be Fluttershy. Be Fluttershy. Be Fluttershy. As the voice spoke to Rainbow Dash, she didn't even notice her hooves reaching down and grabbing the two bottles, placing the cups against both her nipples just below her tummy. As her body flipped the switch of the machine on, everything Rainbow Dash ever knew began to change. The memories she had of winning races, playing sports, and learning how to be a trained athlete left her brain, replacing them with memories of animal care and first aid. Caring for and showing love to every living creature was what she lived for. That and always being there for her friends when they really needed her. Her thin and streamline body also began to go through changes. Rainbow had prided herself on maintaining a work out and diet regimen from a young age that rewarded her with a body that was strong, yet streamline. The new reality taking hold though was much different. Her stomach, which had been flat as a sheet of paper, started to puff out slightly, giving her just a bit of tummy roll. Her scrawny plot and thighs also began to inflate with fat, gaining a bit of chub in her thighs but a generous amount more in her trunk, giving her a butt that would gain the appreciation of many stallions. Her breasts were by far the greatest change. She had been teased in school for her barely existent A cup breasts, but had grown to like them for not getting in the way of her exercise. Now though her boobs began to swell like water balloons, passing cup after cup size until they finally halted at a firm G cup. Gazing at her left no doubt she was a pony with a caring demeanor, one that was innocent and gentle toward all living things. Her mane and tail changed as well, her short tomboyish mane growing like a weed into a flowing mane and a tail to match that looked soft enough to snuggle in. Her eyelashes, which had been natural moments ago, now sported slightly thicker falsies, just enough to showcase her cute face, but not enough to suggest she was looking for attention. Lastly her face, chest, and fore hooves each gained a little bit of fat as well to reflect her slightly carefree and easy going nature. As the changes finally came to an end, the voice spoke softly for one last time; Be Fluttershy ... "Be... Fluttershy ..." She whispered softly to herself. And when she opened her eyes that's who was; Rainbow Shy. Who she'd always been. She let out a sigh of relief as the machine worked its magic, extracting the nourishing milk from her breasts. With caring for baby animals so frequently that had lost mothers, she had a need for milk to help care for them. Cow milk that ponies drank was too processed for them however, so she had begun taking supplements from early adulthood to produce her own milk naturally. It had been a hard adjustment at first. Her larger assets were hardly something she could hide. When her friends and family inquired about how they had gained so much bulk, she simply replied that it must have been a growth spurt. Her mother's were nearly the same size as hers so everypony simply accepted this as the likely explanation. She liked to pretend sometimes that it was a foal drinking straight from her teats. She loved the idea of being a mommy, given her caring nature. Maybe she'd volunteer at the local hospital to be a milk maid. Not like she couldn't make more. She chuckled a little as she turned the machine off, carefully removing that cups from her breasts and the bottles from the machine. She measured and screwed nipples onto three baby bottles before taking her nursing supplement and heading downstairs and out the door to the back. Every since she was bullied by other ponies in flight school she had been reserved and quiet. She found it much easier to talk to animals and shower them with all the love and attention she was never given. Thankfully with the help of her friends she had gotten better at being assertive in recent years. She soon made her way to her barn out back and opened the door, stepping inside to feed the hungry babies their milk. Everything seemed like it was going to be just fine. She smiled to herself, closing the door behind her softly.
The Sphere of Psyche	Chapter Seven- A Twinkle of Pink	Twilight looked through the books on her shelf, trying to figure out which books might hold the answer to the spheres use. She had a nice lunch with her friends, but now it was time to get cracking! She had just grabbed a book off the shelf when a surprise voice startled her. This is so boring! Let's throw a party instead! "Bwah!" Twilight screamed dropping the book she had just grabbed. "Pinkie Pie? I thought you left with the others!" Twilight said, looking down at the floor below her expecting to see Pinkie Pie standing there. The library was currently empty however, Twilight being the only book horse there. She shrugged and flew down to the ground, picking up the book and making her way over to the table in the center of the room to begin her research. Just as she began to skim the first page, the voice spoke to her once more. What're we reading this old book for? To figure out what the sphere does! Princess Celestia is counting on me! This is soooo boring though! We should be making ponies smile! Now's not the time! We're supposed to be- Planning a party? Great idea! Twilight found her body walking toward the door to the library, despite her not telling it to! She tried to resist and turn her body back toward the table she was just in front of, but it was no use. This had to have something to do with that sphere! At least she still had hold of the book with her magic. Maybe she could find the answer on how to fix this! But just as Twilight made this realization her magical hold on the book was lost as well, her magic levitating the book and depositing it in a basket next to a desk by the door marked "Returns". Twilight groaned inside her subconscious. It seemed for the time being, she had to go where her body wanted to. Her body made its way through the castle halls and out the front door, making its way toward town. This would have been a pretty usual spectacle for every creature in Ponyville, but Twilight's body had decided to hop its way through town with a big smile on its face as she went. Town ponies looked on puzzled as the Princess of Friendship made her way through the street like a school filly that had just gotten her cutie mark. Why the heck am I bouncing? Ponies are staring at me! Because bouncing is so much more fun than walking! Twilight tried to get herself to stop, to try and ask somepony for help, but it was useless! She couldn't even use her magic to try and cast a spell. Before she knew it, she had bounced all the way to Sugarcube Corner, transitioning back to a walk as she made her way through the front door and inside the shop. The bakery was relatively empty at this time, as school hadn't let out yet and most ponies had eaten lunch for the day. Only two ponies at a table in the corner occupied the eating area, engrossed in a conversation about buck ball, and the Cakes could be heard in the kitchen, baking away. This allowed Twilight to make her way to the staircase up to the living quarters without being seen, and then to the attic stairs which lead to Pinkie Pie's room. What are we doing here? Silly Twilight, we're planning our next party! Twilight's hoof reached out and touched the banister of the stairs that lead to the building's roof. The banister, shaped like a soft serve ice cream cone, activated, collapsing down and activating the secret trap door that lead to Pinkie's Secret party cave. "Weeeee!" Twilight screamed as she slide down the slide and into the secret room. Twilight's body made its way past the various party supplies to a desk against a wall sitting down in a bean bag chair and grabbing a file on the desk from a small stack. It was one of Pinkie Pie's party files. This one was about Silver Spoon. Her birthday was just a week away! Twilight found herself going through and planning each pony's party that was in the stack, from the food, invitations, supplies, venues, even a gift to give to each pony. This would have taken any pony days to plan just one party, but Twilight found herself working through them at a rapid pace, filling out forms and invites with the necessary details before placing them in envelopes and placing them in a box at her side labeled "outgoing mail". Twilight actually found the organization and planning somewhat enjoyable. She almost forgot she didn't have a choice in this matter to start with! In just three short hours, all the ponies' parties for the next month had been planned to a T. That was actually kind of fun planning every pony's parties. Now that that's done, can we go back to the castle? Twilight hoped since the voice had gotten what it had wanted that maybe it would let her have control of herself back now. What else could it want? Good one silly! You know all the parties aren't done yet! Her body made its way back over to the desk, reaching underneath the table and pressing a button that resided there. This caused a wall to click and open on the far side of the room, which her body began making its way toward. I don't get it. Why does Pinkie Pie have a secret room inside her party cave? You know why silly! For all the secret parties some ponies don't need to know about! Twilight was shocked as she entered the next room. It was set up much like the party cave, with a desk, filing cabinets, and shelves for party supplies, but these supplies were much different! The shelves were adorned with a large variety of sex toys, suggestive lingerie, potions, lubricants, oils, movies, dolls, and all mater of items designed to cater to a pony's special needs and fetishes. Why does Pinkie have this room? Because there's lots of ways to make ponies smile! And one of the best ways is to make sure they have an extra fun time being honest with who they are with like minded ponies like them! Twilight was trying to wrap her head around this logic as her body made its way over to the desk, taking a seat on the chair shaped liked a big teddy bear wearing a skimpy pair of underwear around its waist. Her hoof reached over for a file and flipped it open. This one had Starlight's name on it! Upon opening the file, Twilight was greeted with a summary of Starlight's most secret kinks. Starlight Glimmer likes poofy pink diapers, incontinence potions, breast feeding, but she's afraid of hiding games. The rest of the pages showed pictures of Starlight with a diaper around her flank, some more used then others, playing with baby toys sucking on pacifiers, and even breast feeding! There were other ponies in the photos too that she recognized. Mr. and Mrs. Cake could be seen in a few photos diapering and feeding a few ponies in foalish garb. DJ Pon3 and her girlfriend Octavia Melody could be seen humping each other's diapers with looks of euphoria plastered on their faces. Even some students she recognized from the school of friendship were in some of the photos, each enjoying acting like babies. I...I never knew Starlight had this side of her. Sure you do! You remember teaching her friendship lessons after she came to Ponyville. You told her to make friends and told her to try and find ponies with things she had in common. She confided in us about liking being treated like a baby filly, and we introduced her to ponies just like her so she could make other baby friends! Twilight knew that wasn't true. She figured Pinkie must've helped Starlight somehow find ponies that shared her odd interest, but how she found out about it was something she really didn't care about finding out. She had her own kinks, but definitely didn't want them shared with ponies she knew! Her body made a few notes like with the other party plans; how many diapers and potions to bring, what toys were required, and who to invite. She finished all the required forms and put them in the outgoing mail as well. Rather then proceed to the next file though; she began to walk toward the shelves of kink items. Wha... What am I doing? We have to try out and make sure all the supplies work for the party silly! No! No please! I don't want this! I'm not Pinkie Pie! Twilight tried with all her might to do something. To run, to scream, to teleport herself far away, but it was no use. Her body wouldn't let her. Aw, don't cry. Why should we act like a boring Princess when we can make everypony happy like Pinkie? But I don't think that's-- Think? What's to think about? I'm thinking we should just be like Pinkie. Besides, there's lots more fun parties to plan here. I don't think I should be-- Twilight? You're right; we tried that and all it ever got us was stress. Why not forget? Why not let yourself-- Be like Pinkie? Yes! Just be like Pinkie. Just be like Pinkie. Be just like Pinkie. Be just like Pinkie. Be like Pinkie. Be like Pinkie. Be Pinkie. Be Pinkie. Be Pinkie. Be Pinkie. The voice continued to coerce Twilight as it grabbed the supplies that needed to be tested. A supper thick diaper, a nursing potion, an incontinence potion, a pacifier, and a vibrating wand were all gather and placed on the desk she sat at previously. As her body unfolded the diaper and taped it around her plot, a loud pop sounded through her ears. All her memories of learning math, science, history, and literature were swapped in favor of jokes, sweets recipes, and social skills. Making every pony around her happy was what she lived for. That and teaching everypony how to be a great friend of course. Her average and perfectly healthy body began to transform as well. Twilight had spent her life learning about and keeping her body in the best shape possible, making sure she aligned herself perfectly on her height and weight chart as she aged. The new her had a much different idea about dieting and exercising. Her stomach, which had been flat as a book cover, started to swell rapidly, inflating to give her a tummy that clearly enjoyed its fair share of sweets often. Her petite plot and thighs also followed suit, growing to give her a beautiful amount of chunk that a stallion would not be able to keep his hooves off of given the chance. Her breasts also received some extra attention. She had never had a problem with her B cup breasts, finding them perfectly fine for a pony of her figure. Now though her boobs began to gain more and more mass like they were filled with dough, rising to a perky F cup. Gazing at her left no doubt she was a pony that enjoyed her pastries as much as she loved getting to know new friends. Her straight and tame mane and tail began to curl all over, shortening slightly; her mane loosing its bangs so her smiling face was always on full display. Lastly her face, chest, and fore hooves each swelled up a bit also, leaving no doubt in anypony's mind that she was a pony who didn't give a buck what she ate as long as her tummy liked it. As the changes slowed to a halt, the voice echoed the thought that became Twilight's new reality; Be Pinkie ... "Be... Pinkie ..." She whispered softly to herself. And when she opened her eyes that's who she was; Twinkle Sky. Who she'd always been. A big smile spread across her face and she felt the poofiness of the diaper strapped around her waist with her hoof. "They pass the waddling and comfy test, now to test the other supplies!" Said Twinkle. She took a medicine dropper and placed a drop of the nursing potion and a drop of the incontinence potion on her tongue. Just enough for the potions to take effect for a few minutes. Moments later, Twinkle could feel her body feeling strange. The space in her diaper became slightly smaller, as her F cup breasts became engorged with milk to a massive H cups that she could feel leaking into her diaper. She could also feel her tummy rumbling, causing her face to contort. She stuck the pacifier in her mouth and suckled profusely as she soaked the front of her diaper and loaded the back with a nice amount of pee and mess. She laughed at the potions effects, giving them a passing grade as well. Now it was time for the really fun part. She grabbed the wand and switched it to max power, shoving it against her yellowed diaper front. Even through the diaper's thick bulk, the wands vibrations could be felt perfectly as they stimulated her breasts and crotch, making Twinkle cum in a matter of minutes into her diaper, panting in bliss as she switched the wand off and collapsed on the floor, mashing her mess against her. After catching her breath, Twinkle spoke to herself, "These babies are gonna love this party so much they aren't gonna wanna leave!" She giggled to herself as she felt the potions affects subsiding, untaping the diaper from her wide rear and letting it fall to the floor with a plop. She quickly levitated some wipes over to clean herself off in a jiffy before taping the diaper up and throwing it in the trash with the wipes. She made her way back to the desk and made an order for some onesies, pacifiers, and wands to put in goody bags for everypony. She then moved on to her next file. Filthy Rich. She rolled her eyes. She didn't really like catering to older ponies parties. They tended to more enjoy just the sex without really getting to know everypony at the party. But he and his business partners paid so well it helped her make other ponies parties special. She made her way over to make sure she had her special lingerie in his favorite color set aside. She pulled the bra over her head and made sure it rested tightly against her chest. She then took the thong and pulled it up her legs to her waist, letting the elastic fly out of her hooves and fly against her flank with a loud snap, making her shutter in pleasure. She looked at herself in the mirror, making a few sexy poses before giving her butt a smack, smiling as she saw it jiggle a little before settling back in place. The other mares could keep their scrawny behinds. She knew she had what the stallions really wanted. She giggled as she took the lingerie off and placed it back in its place on the shelf. She skipped back to her desk and picked up the last file on her desk. Thunderlane. This one was more of a special request. He wanted a wide variety of species to have fun with at his birthday party with a few like minded stallion friends of his. This was not a problem for Twinkle however. She wrote letters to a few dragons, changelings, gryphons, and even kirins to come and show the stallions a good time. But there was no way she was missing out on a party just cause she was a pony. She strolled over to her potions shelf and picked up a vial and brought it back to her desk, taking the medicine dropper and placing a drop of the white creamy liquid on her tongue like she did with the other potions. Her body began to tingle as changes rocked the purple alicorn's body. Horns sprouted out of her head, becoming long and pointed like a bulls. Her tail lost hair, becoming long with a tuft of hair at the end like a cow's. Her mane grew out of control, gaining bangs that came down and covered her eyes while her mane lengthened into braids on either side. Her torso became engulfed in fur, quickly consuming her legs, waist, and chest. She also gained a large hump that took up much of her upper back. Her hooves became black and cloven, splitting down the middle. Lastly her face pressed forward slightly and became a bit bigger, along with the rest of her body which grew to three times its size. There was no mistaking what Twinkle was. She was a female yak! The former pony looked at herself in the mirror and chuckled, her voice now a bit gruff sounding. "I sure hope Thunderlane can handle this piece of ass!" She laughed whole heartedly. As she looked in the mirror though, she felt she was missing something. She stomped over to her collection of lingerie and looked through it until she found something that made her smile. She picked up the panties and bra in her teeth and sat them on the floor before rushing over and grabbing a potion from the shelf, returning to the outfit and dumping the liquid on the garment. Before her eyes, the garment began to get bigger and bigger, far surpassing any pony's size before stopping. Twinkle picked the garment up and slide the bra and panties over her yak body. The hot pink outfit made her look all that more appealing as she gave her massive yak rear a shake. It was at that moment the potion wore off however and Twinkle returned to her pony form with a poof of smoke, the panties and bra falling off her small frame and onto the floor. Twinkled cracked up at the awkwardness of the situation before picking the massive garment up and setting it aside, making a note in Thunderlane's file to bring it to the party. All the parties planned, she turned around and exited her secret secret party cave, closing the wall softly behind her. A lot of these kinks were necessarily her cup of tea, but they sure were fun to try! She grabbed a piece of cake from her party cave and scarfed it down, making her way back up the slide and back to Pinkie Perfect's room. She had been so happy when her librarian had allowed her to keep her secret party cave hidden inside her room. That made it all the more secret. Plus it made it a lot easier to order and make cakes at Sugar Cube corner for all the parties she threw to help ponies make friends! Speaking of which, it was time to foal sit for the Cakes! She knew she was their favorite babysitter and couldn't wait to see them! She quickly made her way down the stairs to the two tots and their parents, with all the happiness in the world contained in her smile.
The Sphere of Psyche	Chapter Eight- A Dragon Lighting the Way	Starlight Glimmer stepped off the train in Ponyville, her friend Spike by her side. The two friends had just returned after a weeklong trip solving a friendship problem in the dragonlands together. It had taken a lot of work, but the two managed to get the job done. "I still can't believe those two male dragons had stopped being friends just because they both liked the same girl." Said Spike as he hoped off the train, carrying his and Starlight's backpacks in his claws. Starlight reached for and grabbed her bag from Spike. "I can't believe she agreed to date both of them! Much less that they were all fine with that." Said Starlight. "Well they all seemed to have a really strong connection with each other. Kind of like you at Sunburst." Said Spike. Starlight blushed. She didn't want anypony knowing just yet that her and Sunburst were dating. They had decided to give it a try after he accepted the job of co-headmare at the School of Friendship alongside Starlight. They had written frequently back and forth their romantic thoughts about one another ever since. It would only be another week or so until he would arrive in Ponyville and move in. The two of them made their way through town and down the country road to Twilight's castle, opening the door and stepping inside. "Twilight! It's us! We're back!" Spike yelled as he and Starlight made their way through the castle halls. No one responded to Spike's statement however. He and Starlight made their way up the stairs the next floor of the castle to the library, expecting to find Twilight inside with her head buried in a book. Instead however, they found a familiar looking pink pony sitting on the couch, wrapped in Twilight's blanket and reading a large leather bound book. Spike and Starlight gave each other slightly worried looks. Ponies were allowed to check out any book they pleased from the castle, but they certainly weren't allowed to just come in and make themselves at home. "Uh, hello?" Starlight said to the pony. The pony looked back at them and gave a warm smile before getting up, the blanket falling to rest on the couch. "Spike! Starlight! So glad you're back!" Said Pinkie Perfect, giving her two friends a hug. "How was your trip? I want to hear all about it!" Spike and Starlight looked at each other puzzled. The pony in front of them certainly looked like Pinkie Pie, but her mane and tail looked exactly like Twilight's, and her voice sounded much more like a scholar then the usual party pony they associated her with. "Pinkie Pie? Is that you?" Said Spike. "Pinkie Pie? What an odd sounding name. You know who I am Spike! I'm Pinkie Perfect! Your friend and local librarian." Spike pulled Starlight aside into a huddle. "That is Pinkie Pie right? There's too much of a resemblance for her not to be." Said Spike. "Only one way to find out." Said Starlight. She aimed her horn and shot a beam of magic at the Pinkie pony, enveloping her body in a greenish blue aurora before disappearing. "That's Pinkie Pie alright. But there's some kind of strong magic surrounding her. I've never felt anything quite like it." Said Starlight. "Oh my, look at the time. I need to organize the books. We'll have to catch up later." Said Pinkie as she walked over toward her desk by the library door. Spike went and followed her, with Starlight about to join him when she noticed a box lying on the table next to her. It's not like Twilight to leave garbage around. Starlight thought to herself as she investigated further. She looked in the box and saw a strange white sphere, which her horn immediately recognized as emitting the same magical energy as Pinkie was! She then noticed a piece of paper and quill lying next to the box with Twilight's handwriting on it, listing what appeared to be what she witnessed the sphere doing. She then read the back, which contained Celestia's letter. Starlight gasped as she finished reading the letter. Clearly Pinkie had somehow been affected by the sphere! She ran over to Pinkie, the sphere held in her magic so it wouldn't be activated. "Pinkie! Did you or any of our other friends touch this thing?" Starlight asked her in a panic. Pinkie looked into the box. "Oh yes! Twinkle Sky showed it to us at our last lunch together. Apple Jewel, Flutter Dash, Raritini, and Flutter Dashie were there too! I told Twinkle I'd look into it, but I haven't gotten around to it yet." "If you want to get started, this book would probably be a good place to start." She handed Starlight a book that lay on top of the stack of returned books, called "Ancient and Obscure Magical Artifacts" Starlight looked at the book, then back at Pinkie as she marched off with the book cart. Wait. Pinkie mentioned five other ponies had lunch with her here at the castle. If Twilight showed them all the sphere, then that probably means... Starlight quickly ran back over to the table and began flipping through the book. If all her friends had been altered somehow by the sphere's power, then she had to figure out all the information on it quickly so she could get them back to normal! About half way through the book, she found what she was looking for. "'The Sphere of Psyche', while the origins of this item are unknown, it contains great power. Once activated, two ponies simply need to touch the sphere one after the other and soon will swap lived experiences, making each pony act like the other. In order to reverse this process, the sphere must simply be activated and the process must be done in reverse order. Be warned, a skilled unicorn in the art of magic should mediate when using this item, as the ponies affected by it will have no recollection of the changes taking place." Starlight placed the book back on the table. It looked like all she had to do was find her friends and complete the reversing process. She quickly caught Spike up on all the details. "Well since Pinkie is here at least, we should have her come with us and try and find Twilight first." Said Spike. "Good idea. Pinkie Pie! Where are you!?!" Yelled Starlight. "Uh, Starlight. She's probably not gonna respond to that. Remember, she said her name was Pinkie Perfect." Said Spike. "Oh right. Hehehe." Said Starlight embarrassed. Upon looking through the rows of books however, they found the pink pony was nowhere to be found. "Darn it! We lost her." Said Starlight. "Let's try looking around town for the others. We're bound to find her eventually. Maybe if we look at their new names, we can figure out who they switched with, and that will help us find where they are!" Said Spike. "That's a great idea Spike! Let's get started!" The two ran out of the library and began heading back toward Ponyville, deciding to find Applejack first. They found her inside Carousel Boutique, trying on all the new cloths she had bought that day. She insisted on trying on everything before coming with them. This didn't bother Spike too much however; he liked seeing Apple Jewel pose seductively in the mirror. Soon though she settled on an outfit and they headed to find Raritini. They found her at Applejack's farm, eating dinner with a very confused apple family. Once they had the two friends together, Starlight activated the orb and had both ponies touch it. There was a puff of smoke, and when it cleared both Applejack and Rarity stood where the other had moments ago, although Applejack was now wearing her hat and Rarity was wearing the short shorts and tank top Apple Jewel had on seconds prior. Both of them could not recall what they had done in the previous hours since leaving Twilight's castle, but agreed to help Starlight and Spike on their mission to help the rest of their friends. They then went by Rainbow Dash's house and found Flutter Dash, who insisted on showing them the new tricks she had mastered that day before coming with them to what she insisted was Rainbow Shy's house. They found Rainbow back in the barn, feeding a wolf pup a baby bottle. Once Rainbow had finished giving the baby animals their bottles, Starlight again had the two ponies touch the sphere, a cloud of smoke appearing and disappearing to reveal the Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy as their normal selves. The five ponies and dragon were now heading back toward town to try and find Twinkle Sky. "If Pinkie was acting like Twilight, then that must mean Twilight is acting like Pinkie, and should be at Sugar Cube corner right?" Said Applejack, happy to be herself again. She had asked Spike and Starlight how they had found her, and shuttered at the thought of what she might have been up to as a fashionista. "Unless there's a party in town, in which case we may never find her." Said Fluttershy with a bit of worry in her voice. "We have to try. We found all of you didn't we?" Said Starlight. The group of friends entered Sugarcube Corner, finding the cakes tending the front counter. "Oh thank goodness you're here. Something seems really wrong with Twilight! She came down from upstairs an hour ago saying she was ready to watch Pound and Pumpkin, even though we never asked her to! We figured it'd be fine since Pinkie didn't show up." Said Mrs. Cake. "But she's been acting a lot like Pinkie! Her hair is all poofy and her body looks like she's eaten a weeks worth of cakes!" Said Mr. Cake. "Where is she now?" Asked Spike. "She's up in Pinkie's room!" The cakes said in unison. Starlight headed up the stairs, followed by Spike and the rest of her pony friends. When they reached Pinkie's room, they spotted Twinkle Sky flying up at the ceiling, the cake twins sat atop her back. "Twinkle! Can you come down please. We need your help!" Yelled Starlight. "Looks like it's time to come in for a landing babies!" She said as she dove toward the bed at an almost dangerous speed before doing a loop to catch the cake twins in her arms and land on the bed with a big bounce, making her and the twins break out into a fit of giggles. "I'll just drop the twins of with the cakes and then I'm all yours!" She said as she put the twins on her back and marched down the stairs. Starlight looked at Twinkle Sky with uneasiness. Seeing her teacher acting and looking so different was really throwing her off. She was just so chunky and bubbly! Twinkle left the twins with their parents before making her way outside with her friends. "We're gonna need Pinkie too. Do you know where she is?" Asked Rarity. "Oh I'm sure she's probably holed up in her room at the castle reading some boring book like she always does this time of day. Let's go get here!" Said Twinkle as she began bouncing along at a fast pace, her friends struggling to keep up. The group of friends followed Twinkle inside the castle and up the stairs. She made her way to the door opposite the library, opening it and stepping inside. When Starlight and company entered the room, they were surprised at what greeted them. Stacks of books and parchment lay everywhere, a small desk and a few photos were the room's only furnishings, except for a bed where Pinkie Perfect lay, a book sat at her side. "What's up girls?" She said as she rose to her hooves. "I just wanted you and Twinkle here to take another look at the sphere. I think you'll find something quite interesting about it." She said as she passed the sphere to Pinkie, who then passed it on to Twinkle. Just like before, a puff of smoke bellowed and when it dissipated, the chunky pink party pony and the elegant purple princess were back as they belonged. The two ponies looked at their friends, then at each other, and lastly at themselves, bewildered at how they had gotten there. Items in the room also vanished as the room's past reality returned, leaving it filled with random items that were in storage. Starlight ran forward and gave her teacher a big hug. "Oh I'm so glad you're back to normal!" She said as she hugged Twilight tightly. Twilight looked at Starlight then looked down at her hooves to see the sphere sitting on the floor. "So, what exactly happened?" Said Twilight. The group of friends found themselves once again in the dining room of Twilight's castle, sipping on refreshing glasses of lemonade as Starlight and the others filled Twilight and Pinkie in on what had happened. It had been such a busy day, and everypony was glad to have everything back as it was. Twilight filled out a quick report to Princess Celestia explaining what had happened, along with her advice to put the sphere of psyche somewhere secure and safe where nopony would ever be faced with its ill effects again. She then sealed the box and sat it on the floor, having Spike send it off to Celestia with his magic flame. "Well it's a good thing Starlight and Spike arrived when they did. Otherwise we might've gotten into even more of a mess. A toast to our amazing friends!" Said Twilight. "Cheers!" Said everypony and Spike. It was always good to know that no matter what came there way, the magic of friendship would always help them find their way back home.
The Sphere of Psyche	Alternate Ending- The Last Changes	Starlight Glimmer stepped off the train in Ponyville, her friend Spike by her side. The two friends had just returned after a weeklong trip solving a friendship problem in the dragonlands together. It had taken a lot of work, but the two managed to get the job done. "I still can't believe those two male dragons had stopped being friends just because they both liked the same girl." Said Spike as he hoped off the train, carrying his and Starlight's backpacks in his claws. Starlight reached for and grabbed her bag from Spike. "I can't believe she agreed to date both of them! Much less that they were all fine with that." Said Starlight. "Well they all seemed to have a really strong connection with each other. Kind of like you at Sunburst." Said Spike. Starlight blushed. She didn't want anypony knowing just yet that her and Sunburst were dating. They had decided to give it a try after he accepted the job of co-headmare at the School of Friendship alongside Starlight. They had written frequently back and forth their romantic thoughts about one another ever since. It would only be another week or so until he would arrive in Ponyville and move in. The two of them made their way through town and down the country road to Twilight's castle, opening the door and stepping inside. "Twilight! It's us! We're back!" Spike yelled as he and Starlight made their way through the castle halls. No one responded to Spike's statement however. He and Starlight made their way up the stairs the next floor of the castle to the library, expecting to find Twilight inside with her head buried in a book. Instead however, they found a familiar looking pink pony sitting on the couch, wrapped in Twilight's blanket and reading a large leather bound book. Spike and Starlight gave each other slightly worried looks. Ponies were allowed to check out any book they pleased from the castle, but they certainly weren't allowed to just come in and make themselves at home. "Uh, hello?" Starlight said to the pony. The pony looked back at them and gave a warm smile before getting up, the blanket falling to rest on the couch. "Spike! Starlight! So glad you're back!" Said Pinkie Perfect, giving her two friends a hug. "How was your trip? I want to hear all about it!" Spike and Starlight looked at each other puzzled. The pony in front of them certainly looked like Pinkie Pie, but her mane and tail looked exactly like Twilight's, and her voice sounded much more like a scholar then the usual party pony they associated her with. "Pinkie Pie? Is that you?" Said Spike. "Pinkie Pie? What an odd sounding name. You know who I am Spike! I'm Pinkie Perfect! Your friend and local librarian." Spike pulled Starlight aside into a huddle. "That is Pinkie Pie right? There's too much of a resemblance for her not to be." Said Spike. "Only one way to find out." Said Starlight. She aimed her horn and shot a beam of magic at the Pinkie pony, enveloping her body in a greenish blue aurora before disappearing. "That's Pinkie Pie alright. But there's some kind of strong magic surrounding her. I've never felt anything quite like it." Said Starlight. "Oh my, look at the time. I need to organize the books. We'll have to catch up later." Said Pinkie as she walked over toward her desk by the library door. Spike went and followed her, with Starlight about to join him when she noticed a box lying on the table next to her. It's not like Twilight to leave garbage around. Starlight thought to herself as she investigated further. She looked in the box and saw a strange white sphere, which, had she been paying more attention, she would have recognized as emitting the same magical energy as Pinkie was! "Hey Spike! Take a look at this!" Starlight held the sphere in her hooves, looking it over before passing it to Spike so he could look it over. "What do you think it is?" He asked as he sat the sphere back on the table. The sphere began to flash green and pink rapidly before turning back to its basic white shape. Spike and Starlight both felt light headed for a moment before it passed. "Looks like it just blinks color according to Twilight's notes. Lets see if she's around. You check downstairs and I'll check up here." She said. "Right!" He said as he flew out the door. Starlight left the library and headed for Twilight's bedroom. Maybe she was in there. She opened the door and walked inside. The room seemed slightly different then the last time Starlight had been in it. The room seemed to have a thin layer of dust over everything, like nopony had been there in weeks. But how is that possible? Starlight thought to herself as she examined the room closer for an explanation. Who cares? Lets go and get something to eat! Starlight turned around, expecting to see Spike standing there, but found no one. She walked over and peaked her head out the door, looking both ways down the hall but found nopony around. She was about to give Twilight's room another look around when she heard the voice again. Twilight clearly isn't here. Let's see if she's in the kitchen! Why would she be- Before Starlight could answer the voice in her head, she found her body unexplainably moving toward the door and out into the hallway. Her body continued down the stairs until it reached the kitchen, heading towards the fridge door. What the heck is happening? I'm not even hungry. Aw come on! A few gems are bound to hit the spot! Gems?!? I can't eat those! Starlight opened the fridge door and pulled out a bowl of assorted gemstones, picking one up in her hoof and bringing it toward her muzzle. As her body did so, the voice began to chat with her. There's nothing to worry about. Why should we act like a brainy pony when we can be suave like Spike? But I don't think that's-- Think? What's to think about? I'm thinking we should just be like Spike. Besides, being a dragon is so much cooler then being a pony. I don't think I should be-- Starlight? You're right; we tried that and all it ever got us was loads of mistakes and worries. Why not forget? Why not let yourself-- Be like Spike? Yes! Just be like Spike. Just be like Spike. Be just like Spike. Be just like Spike. Be like Spike. Be like Spike. Be Spike. Be Spike. Be Spike. Be Spike. As the gemstone made contact with her lips, her whole body began to transform. Her hind legs began to elongate slightly, and her hooves pushed outward, sprouting three toes with claws at the end of each digit. Her tail began to lose its hair and became long and thick, taking on the same shade of body as her coat. Spikes grew along the tails length, up her back and sprouting tall out of her head in colors of purple and light blue. A pair of bat like wings sprouted from her back and folded against her body. She pushed herself onto her hind legs and heard them pop, reshaping to shift her body from a quadruped stance to a bipedal stance. Her ears receded into her head, disappearing from sight. Her fore hooves changed and became posable arms with four digits with claws on the end. The region on her body under her snout, down her belly to her crotch changed color, becoming panels of light blue scales. The rest of her coat also changed from fur to thick hard scales. Her muzzle changed shape slightly, becoming slightly more boxy. Inside her mouth, her dull teeth became sharp and strong, while ler tongue elongated and became barbed at the end. The pupils of her eyes changed from round to slits. Two light blue scale growths burst forth from her cheeks. Her body gained a nice about of baby fat, giving her stocky legs and arms, a large butt, a chubby belly, and a full baby face. Lastly, her cutie mark vanished from either side of her flank, eliminating the last of her identity as a pony. She then shrank to barely below the height of her previous body's shoulder. As the changes wrapped up, the voice spoke to her one last time. Be Spike ... "Be... Spike ..." She whispered softly to herself. And when she opened her eyes that's who she was; Spark. Who she'd always been. She chewed up the tasty gem in her mouth before grabbing another claw full and munching them down as well. Before long, the bowel was empty and her belly was a bit rounder and fuller then it had been previously. She placed the bowel in the kitchen sink before leaving the kitchen and heading for the castle exit. She was Twinkle Sky's number one assistant! She had been raised by her ever since she hatched her at her entrance exam at Princess Celestia's school. Twinkle raised her like her own daughter, which was a relationship she always cherished. Now though, she had to headoff toward Sugarcube Corner to help her plan other parties in the name of friendship. She stepped outside and flew off toward Ponyville, forgetting completely about her old life and her old friend that was still waiting there for her. Spike dashed downstairs and made his way from room to room downstairs, trying to find Twilight. She meant so much to him. She gave him life, she helped raise him, she was his friend and like a sister to her. Their relationship was certainly complicated, but they loved each other like family, and would do anything for the other. As Spike looked around the living room for her, a voice spoke out to him. Maybe she's in Starlight's room! Spike turned around, expecting to see somepony, but there was nopony there. "Starlight! Are you there!" He said. It had certainly sounded like her, but maybe his mind was just playing tricks on him again. He had to focus and find Twilight! He went and started to look in the dining room when the voice spoke to him again. She's clearly not here. Let's look in Starlight's room! But why would she be- Before Spike could finish his thought he found his body involuntarily flying back upstairs and down the hall to Starlight's room, opening the door and stepping inside. Twilight clearly isn't here. We need to keep looking. Later. It's the perfect weather for kite flying! Kite flying? Now's not the time for that! Spike tried to get his body to turn around but it walked forward instead, reaching out and grabbing a kite that lay next to the bedside table. As his claws wrapped around the shaft of the kite, the voice spoke with him once more. Why are you resisting? Why should we act like a foolish dragon when we can be smart like Starlight? But I don't think that's-- Think? What's to think about? I'm thinking we should just be like Starlight. Besides, ponies get to do so many things dragons can't. I don't think I should be-- Spike? You're right; we tried that and all it ever got us was loads of work and hardship. Why not forget? Why not let yourself-- Be like Starlight? Yes! Just be like Starlight. Just be like Starlight. Be just like Starlight. Be just like Starlight. Be like Starlight. Be like Starlight. Be Starlight. Be Starlight. Be Starlight. Be Starlight. As the voice spoke to him, his body began to go through a series of changes. His hind legs began to elongate slightly, and his claws pushed inward, becoming hard rounded. His tail began to shorten and sprout green fur with light green highlights, becoming thin and flowing about just above his butt. His spikes receded into his body along with his wings, disappearing beneath his skin and being replaced with a forest green mane with light green highlights. A horn burst forward from his forehead, glowing with a green aurora. He fell onto his hands and heard his arms pop, reshaping and shifting into a new set of strong front legs; His body changing from a bipedal stance to a quadruped stance. A set of pointed ears sprouted forth from his head, twitching to hear all the sounds that entered them. His clawed hands changed and became hooves just like his feet had. The region on his body under his snout, down his belly to his crotch changed color, disappearing and matching the rest of purple body. The rest of his scales also changed into soft fur. His muzzle changed shape slightly, becoming more rounded. Inside his mouth, his sharp teeth became dull and flat, while his tongue shorted and became rounded at the end. The pupils of his eyes changed from slits to round. His body lost all its baby fat, giving him a strong looking body that rippled with muscle. His cock and balls, which had remained hidden inside his dragon body now altered itself. His testicles burst outward from his crotch, the shape of two large black tennis balls. His cock, which had been stored in a slit previously, changed into a sheath, of which his new penis choose that moment to pop out and great the world, being much longer and thicker then the baby dragon had previously. The penis burst outward from its sheath. It was big and black, with a flared head. Lastly, a cutie mark appeared on either side of his flank, the image of green magic rays ending in a green star. He then gained about a foot and a half of height, becoming a full grown stallion. As the changes wrapped up, the voice spoke to him one last time. Be Starlight ... "Be... Starlight ..." She whispered softly to herself. And when he opened his eyes that's who he was; Swirling Star. Who he'd always been. The stallion looked down between his legs at his boner, blushing. There was no way he could go kite flying with his cock hanging out! He had to take care of it. He dropped the kite and used his magic to close and lock his bed room door before flopping on his bed, using his magic to open his bedside table and pull out what looked like an orange tube. It had been a gift from his good friend and new boyfriend, Sunburst. The two had quite a long history. After Sunburst had left magic school, Swirling Star had become resentful of cutie marks and started a village where every pony had the same cutie mark. Twinkle Sky and her friends had stopped him. He tried to get revenge on them by making sure they never became friends and nearly doomed Equestria in the process. He would always regret that for the rest of his life. Twinkle and her friends were so nice to offer there hooves in friendship to him after all he'd done. He had never expected by accepting the magic of friendship that he would later reconnect with Sunburst, work out their differences, become friends, and now they were going to soon run the school of friendship together! Swirling Star glanced at the calendar next to his bed. Two dates were circled on it. In a little over a week, Sunburst would be moving to Ponyville and would be living in the castle would him. And just a few days after that it would be time for his monthly get together with his adult foal friends. In the course of his friendship studies he had opened up to Twinkle about his fetish, and she was more than happy to introduce him to other big fillies and colts just like him! He had been especially happy when Sunburst had revealed he too shared in his diaper fetish! That meant they could go to the function together and foal out! Just the thought of seeing his boyfriend in a big, poofy diaper made him even harder! He reached for his bottle of lube in the drawer and squirted a generous amount on his cock before plunging his rock hard cock into the orange cylinder, a custom made replica of Sunburst's butt hole. Sunburst had an exact replica dildo of his cock that Swirling had ordered him also, but soon they'd both be able to experience the real thing every day! He pumped the toy up and down his shaft, starting slow, but then increasing the pace. It wasn't long before he couldn't take it anymore and blew his load all over his belly, panting from his release. He sat in the afterglow for a few minutes before magically cleaning the toy and himself, placing the toy back in the drawer and picking up the kite with his magic. He headed out of his room and for the castle exit. Now that his cock was tucked safely back inside his sheath, he could fly his kite without being embarrassed. He exited the castle and closed the door behind him. Life was going pretty well for him.
Harmony of a Grimoire	pre	Fluttershy" Oh my?" She said as she was looking using the advantage of being a spectral and Due to discord magic, and knowing discord spells inside and out now although she is still not master of chaos magic, studying her vampiric apprentice! Scoot" Is it bad? I already know I can't fly but, really is it bad?" Slightly worried as she unzipped her Jack gets to show off her massive rack that rivaled her Masters I mean they were Gs! Flutterbat!" Well I was hoping I wouldn't have to explain too much, seemed when you suffered a major injury, your body started reworking itself to pump the blood, adding on top of your vampiric actions, and since the stomach is not really meant to hold blood! You needed a blood stomach! So naturally something that was close enough to your heart that could double for that stomach, without you having a large amount of methane involved. Especially considering our stomachs are not meant to have large amounts of blood. We are herbivores not omnivores, not predators! Although since we have been come those of the night, we have obtained the omnivores status without having the proper tools of the trade." She began explaining changing herself to her vampiric style, and being very calm, despite hearing scoot story of well mass slaughtering of other ponies, drinking their blood and feasting upon them! Scoot" Okay then why don't you wear is concealing top? And is that the same for you?" Quickly zipping up her jacket, feeling really awkward showing off and being bigger than her teacher! "No my dear child, although I have consumed the little droplets, I've never grown to the need of having a separate container. And for the reason why I do not wear concealer, I don't like bra in general, and sweaters cause and strangeness." Replied flutterbat, as she started teaching her child new ways of relating blood! The madness upon madness! Apple teacher! Pinky pie"So you need my help I'm planning a party, of devastation! For your friends, also I like the four on your shirt, I believe it's belongs to the ever loving thing! He's such a charmer with those blue eyes." Being surprisingly calm and leaving Apple bloom worried! Some time has passed: The girls got together in the hallway, Sweetie now armed for battle, with her speakers pumping out to be more visible! Scootaloo still wearing her jacket but now her hands look a lot bigger, and bright red instead of the usual orange! Apple bloom was still her muscular self, with the big hulking form, as well as the wooden armor plating, but now was more covering certain vital areas! Not to mention her arms also are covered in much more wooden spikes, as if her hands were giant maces! The final battle! They opened up the door to reveal, gorgeous Princess wearing her golden armor, now wielding a sword and shield instead of the fabled battle AXs, that they once seen her wield before! Flying forward for alleging stab the moment that they entered into the room,Bataloo barely Dodge with a flight, and then proceeded to counterattack, as her hands blood the blades began to unleash! But now the princesses shield combo made sense, even with the violent strike that would normally torn most shields to pieces, it withstood the tactics of the blades, reflecting the long bloodly talons of sword! Then came the might of Sweetie Bell! As her laser show demonstrated that she could bypass the a physical defense! Thanks to ScootaLoo being a distraction! As the bat pony began to her second round! Bloodly talons were still being deflected, by the shield even with a change in angle! But the bat pony did manage to navigate enough room for her friends to enter into the room! Apple bloom was more polite than the Chancellor with her new tactics, lightly picking up her friends sweetie Bell! Sweetie Bell"Just don't pump action Me! Is because I don't have any blood doesn't mean I'm not worried about a certain jealous pony." Taking a slight giggle as her left arm and into a handgrip for lightly small pony giant! Sweetie Bell was turned into a makeshift mini gun, building out musical notes of bullets, and unloading on the mystical statue of the Princess, who instinctively turned her shield to block the attack, but the notes vibrated in knocked around the shield! Was like blocking a cannonball, most ponies would have to shake their wrist but not the Princess! But now the distraction was beneficial for the bat pony! The first strike was barely anything, but that wasn't really its goal it was goal was to get past the armor! As the talons went up with a sweeping uppercut, and flakes of the golden armor was shattered, long jagged claw marks, word left deep into the Princess! While the stone skin, was very clear there was blood! But the Princess wasn't distracted for long, as her horn began to glow with magic! As the holy light blasted Scoot! Sending the bat pony back down to the ground, she was good at hovering but not actually flying! But she was close enough now to be picked up by her friend Apple bloom, as Sweetie was getting ready to cast a reflect spell! Apple bloom did a fastball special! the bat pony was soaring through the air blades at hand, her first strike was very telling, dodging the stream of mystical energy, and slicing past the blade that shields, then the bat pony showing off the wings that she has turned it glide for a secondary pass! SLashing past the armor once again! But those Ray word shots were not the only thing, that was forgetting! Sweetie Bell shield capture the energy, of those shots and been doing to her will, channeling the energy, compounding with her own magics, blasted right into the back of the Princess statute! As the statue was falling to the ground, leaving open for a powerful hit from the giant of the group! As the spiky wooden shards punched into the face, but the Princess was also in close range NO dodging here! But even with the powerful magics of the Princess statue, only a minor bruising the gigantic wooden pony, uneven enough to be a permanent fire singe! CMC team blast! The true power of teamwork! This time not of them were the star of the attack, they all did their own styles! As Apple bloom's back start popping out weapons crafted from wood! Allowing for the fast and speedster pony to grab them, as sweetie Bell belted out a enchantment to boost up the power of her friends, a mystical vocal enchantments! As the bat pony first wooden blade sliced deep, and powerfully through the armor, and was forked on many levels! Very nearly a mortal blow, as the second wooden sword was raised jagged, and use like a executioners blade! With one mighty swing she cut off the head of the statue, blood was gushing, that slowly turned to the dark dream magic! As a wave appeared! The castle was now transformed into the castle that silver quill had made! The chicken! Silver quill came walking into the room finally finishing his very long chant, was completely raw but, that's the power of tape recorders! They allow you to have infinite stamina for spells! Still very sore from channeling the energy though! Gratulation's to the three! But the god of chaos could not keep himself quite for too long! Discord"Don't let this go to your head chicken! I did this for my two friends here!" Pointing to the statues that were now we joined "as well as these three friends of mine!" With a stab of his fingers giving the crusaders brand-new outfits now adorned with, their symbol! Also's Scoot got a brand-new jacket, it was almost like she was wearing her Cape, from the old days! As she used her wings as a cloak! Silver quill" Right well it's almost sunrise, you girls better be getting home, before applejack rarity, and whoever is going to be coming after me for Scoot? Choosing to take their vengeance for having you three out all night!" Which the crusaders did oblige! Understanding their newfound abilities, Apple bloom now back to her normal old self, well in the concept of being size! As her hair did have a streak of green! End of this venture! (Who knows maybe next year I will do another venture of the three)
I Dream to Fly	pre	Scootaloo looked away; she took her arm up and looked at the bandage that was on it. Scootaloo thought it strange that it was obviously not the bandage that she had put on her foreleg before her accident. "The cut?" The doctor's eyes widened as though he had come to a sudden, terrifying revelation. "D... Did your parents do that to you?" Scootaloo's ears came back up and she shook her head swiftly. The doctor had seen this before, a filly that had her parents do something to the poor filly and black mailed her to not tell. "Scootaloo, are you sure? No one can hurt you here; no one besides me can hear you. Tell me the truth please. Did your parents do anything to you?" Scootaloo shook her head again and looked around the room, she pointed at the paper and pencil that was on the table right next to her. The doctor enveloped the items in a light blue aura and floated them over to her. Scootaloo started to quickly scrawl on the paper. Not long after, she handed the paper over to the doctor, it said: 'My parents never did anything to me. I did this myself by accident when trying to get something to eat.' The doctor looked back to the filly; he knew that a smart filly like her wouldn't lie to him. He handed back the paper and looked over to Rainbow Dash. He poked her gently in the side with his hoof, startling her enough that she leapt off the chair. The doctor took a quick step back. "Oh, sorry, Miss Dash. I just needed to ask you a couple of questions, okay?" Rainbow Dash nodded and sat back on the chair. "Do you know anything about Scootaloo's parents? She is reluctant to tell me and I'm worried that they may have harmed her." Rainbow shrugged. "Sorry, I don't know anything either. She never tells anypony anything about her parents." Rainbow got up from the chair and trotted over to Scootaloo's bed. "Squirt, please tell us about your parents. I know it's hard, but for your own safety, we really need to know. Please? For me?" Rainbow said, trying to be as calming as she could. Scootaloo didn't respond and looked over to Rainbow Dash; she showed care, honesty and loyalty. Scootaloo knew she cared, but this was something that could not be talked about, not yet. Rainbow placed a hoof on Scootaloo's head and patted her. "May I please take her home?" Rainbow asked. She wanted to be with Scootaloo as much as she could. The doctor looked down at his papers and floated a pencil over to Rainbow Dash, who grasped it in her mouth. Two pieces of paper were now floating in front of her as well. "I need you to sign these, Miss Dash." Rainbow happily signed the forms and the doctor placed them back on his clipboard. "And, Miss Dash. You must contact me if anything happens. I'll give you my address just in case; I don't want this filly to get any worse than she already is." The doctor wrote on a piece of paper and handed it to Rainbow Dash, it had his address and his mail box number on it. Rainbow nodded. "I want you to take this form, too. I need Scootaloo's mother or father to sign it," the doctor told her. Rainbow took the form from him and tucked it in her saddlebag, along with the doctor's information. "What if her parents can't? May I take care of her?" she asked. The doctor placed a hoof on his chin and thought for a moment before answering back, he would have to take as much care as he could with bending the hospitals rules. "You may, but I want you to contact me first, there will be some... technicalities to deal with." He looked over to Scootaloo, who was listening intently to the conversation. He put a hoof on her shoulder and smiled. "I'd do anything for a little filly like you, even if it meant losing my job." Scootaloo then realised that it was the same doctor from yesterday, the one who told her what happened. Scootaloo came out from under the covers and hugged the doctor and the doctor hugged her back. "Miss Dash, please do take care of this filly as best you can, even if it means monitoring her and her parents regularly." Rainbow Dash nodded and smiled at the doctor, who let go of Scootaloo and began to surround her in a glowing light blue aura. "Can you carry her? Please be careful," the doctor said, with a little worry in his voice. Rainbow nodded and pointed to her back as she opened her wings for Scootaloo to be set down easily. The doctor lifted Scootaloo with his magic and set her onto Rainbow Dash and once the filly had a grip around Rainbow's neck the glowing aura dissipated. "I'll take good care of her. I'll contact you soon, I'm going to need as much help as I can get." Scootaloo pointed to the paper and pencil on the bed, the doctor levitated it over to her. Once she finished writing, she held it in front of Rainbow Dash for her to read. 'I thought you and Twilight said that the others were coming?' Rainbow hesitated before answering Scootaloo. She moved the paper away from her face and pointed towards a calendar. On the calendar was the current date, it said that today was the 26th. Scootaloo shrugged and kept a grasp around Rainbow's neck. "Squirt, your friends did come to visit. You've been unconscious since you went to sleep. That was three days ago and I've been with you the whole time," Rainbow told her. Scootaloo perked up and raised an eyebrow. She decided she would wait to ask about it, as she was already confused and puzzled about what was going on. "So, doc, do we go now?" Rainbow asked, turning to the doctor. The doctor nodded and smiled over to Scootaloo, only to see her smile back at him. Rainbow started to carefully walk out of the room slowly, trying to keep Scootaloo steadily on her back. On the way out of the hospital, Rainbow began to talk to Scootaloo to explain what had happened the last three days. "So, I bet you're wondering how a filly with severe head trauma is allowed out of a hospital being carried by a pegasus?" inquired Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo nodded slightly as Rainbow continued to walk down the corridor. "Well... they did another operation on your head and fixed you up a lot more, you became stable enough to leave the hopital after that. You're a lot more healed up than you think." Rainbow slowly approached the precipice of a flight of stairs that headed down to the reception floor. "Squirt, hold on tight, I don't want to be responsible for dropping the filly that I love the most." She smiled at Scootaloo. The small pegasus returned the gesture by digging her face into Rainbow Dash's back and tightening her grip around the mare's neck. Rainbow started to slowly step down the stairs, being as careful as she could. Not long after, they made it to the reception floor. They walked over to the receptionist near the entrance and rang the bell to get her attention. She spun around in her seat and smiled. "Can I help you?" the receptionist said "Yes, you can. Can you sign out Scootaloo? She's heading home today." Rainbow smiled nervously, knowing that the receptionist wouldn't believe that she was getting to take home a brain damaged filly. The receptionist held a hoof up and pressed a button in the desk that caused a microphone to turn on. "Could someone come down to reception and confirm something for me?" She pressed the button again and started to talk to Rainbow Dash. "I'm sorry, I just can't let you go out of here with that filly, she may be stable, but she needs care." Rainbow's smile grew a bit larger as she nodded. Although it was expected, she was visibly shaken by this delay. "I understand, it does seem a bit hard to believe doesn't it?" said Rainbow with an uneasy chuckle. The receptionist raised an eyebrow and returned to examining some paperwork she had on her desk. A doctor came up to the receptionist and stared at the two pegasi in front of the desk. The nurse whispered something into his ear and he nodded slightly. "If I am correct, you are Rainbow Dash?" asked the doctor. Rainbow nodded with the same nervous smile. The doctor placed a hoof on his chin and nodded slightly. "Yes, she has been permitted to take this filly home, but with one condition. She must monitor this filly as much as possible and if I'm not mistaken, you have agreed to do so?" he asked. Rainbow nodded again, the nervous energy now making way for overwhelming relief. The receptionist took a pen and crossed Scootaloo's name out on the list, along with writing down some notes down on a paper. "Alright, Miss Dash, you are free to go with Scootaloo. Just be very careful with her, I think you know we can trust you with her, but we don't want to be proven wrong." Rainbow nodded and smiled at Scootaloo. "Don't worry... Nurse Redheart?" Redheart nodded and let out a dejected sigh. "You're a receptionist now? I thought you were a nurse." Miss Redheart weakly smiled and pointed over to a sign on the wall that said, 'Temporary reception exchange, all available nurses fill in when they can.' Rainbow raised an eyebrow and looked at Miss Redheart. "I'm only here for a short time... I'm still a nurse. It's just that the hospital is going through some problems lately that require some of us to fill in for our original receptionist." Rainbow nodded and placed a hoof on her chin, contemplating what sort of problem would require such a thing. "Don't worry; it's nothing serious, just some small management issues. You should get that filly home; she's going to need plenty of rest." Rainbow nodded a final time before trotting out the entrance door. Scootaloo was trying to talk again, slowly regaining some syllables and sounds needed to string together words. After five minutes of walking, Scootaloo took a deep breath and tried as hard as she could to say something to Rainbow Dash. "I... I... lo...ve... you... Dashie."
I Dream to Fly	Guide me Home	Rainbow Dash blushed and looked back to Scootaloo. "I love you too, Squirt," she said. Rainbow craned her neck to kiss Scootaloo's nose. Scootaloo wrapped her arms around Rainbow and hugged her tightly, not letting go. She looked away and gave out some small coughs before turning back to Rainbow. "It sounds like your voice is coming back squirt, it's been too long since I heard that sweet voice of yours," Rainbow Dash said with a slight smirk. Scootaloo blushed and continued to hug Rainbow Dash. Rainbow started walking again, slowly towards Scootaloo's house. During the trek across the small village she admired everything that Ponyville had to offer. Rainbow had never had the time to admire Ponyville, but now she had the time to gaze around. It was magnificent. It was a drastic change from her usual rushing about to and fro, but she couldn't do that now; she had the sweetest, kindest filly in Equestria nuzzling her neck. Rushing could startle Scootaloo, or maybe even hurt her. Rainbow looked all around her. "Wow, Ponyville is beautiful... I've never realised that before." Scootaloo pulled her face away from Rainbow's neck and continued to hug her while Rainbow trotted along the stone path through town. Not long after, Scootaloo remembered that Rainbow Dash was taking her over to her own terrestrial house and not to Rainbow's home of clouds floating lazily above Ponyville. "Ca...n't I just... stay... with... you?" asked Scootaloo, forcing the words out. Rainbow looked over to Scootaloo and smiled at her. "I would love to squirt, but... couple things there. You have a family to take care of you and also... I'm not exactly mother material myself." Scootaloo frowned and her eyes looked towards the ground. Rainbow wondered why Scootaloo was so reluctant to tell anypony about her parents. "C'mon squirt, why can't you tell us about your parents?" Scootaloo looked away and shook her head. Rainbow was going to have to find out, for Scootaloo's safety. She decided that she would not only walk over to her house, but also talk with Scootaloo's parents. Rainbow continued to trot over to the house, with Scootaloo still being unusually apprehensive. Eventually, they reached Scootaloo's house. Scootaloo was about to get down to let herself in to the dilapidated house when suddenly Rainbow Dash opened her wings to stop Scootaloo. Scootaloo looked quizzically at Dash. She smiled and replied, "Sorry squirt, I need to check up on your parents, I need to know okay? Also, I don't feel comfortable letting a sweet filly like you down on your feet yet." Scootaloo just stared at her uncomfortably, leaving her arms around Rainbow's neck. Rainbow knocked on the door a couple times. There was no answer, not even any noise. Rainbow looked back at Scootaloo to see how she was reacting, she was still in the same position that she was before Rainbow started knocking. Rainbow turned around and tried to open the door, it was stiff and old so opening it was tougher than she thought it would be. After some pushing and pulling, the door creaked open as Rainbow pulled it. She started to trot inside the house, examining everything she could. Scootaloo was trying to get down as she walked in, Rainbow noticed and bent down, allowing Scootaloo to get down safely. Then Rainbow wrapped one of her wings around Scootaloo and looked over to her. "Don't go anywhere, okay? I don't want to lose the filly I love the most. Just stay close to me," Rainbow said. Scootaloo nodded her head and looked around. Rainbow tucked her wing in and started moving further into the house and went into one of the rooms. Inside was what looked to be a living room, it had a couch, a table, some chairs and a cabinet in the corner. It seemed pretty casual, although, it looked like the furniture had not been touched for a long time. Rainbow looked over the Scootaloo. "Hey squirt, when was the last time someone sat in here?" Scootaloo replied by shaking her head, and then looked away. Rainbow was still bothered Scootaloo's hesitation to answer any questions. She decided it would be best to not push the issue at this point. Rainbow redirected her gaze to the nearby doorway and trotted out of the living room, continuing to the room across the hallway. It was a kitchen by the looks of it. "Why is your house so quiet and empty?" asked Rainbow, more to herself than to the orange filly by her side. Scootaloo didn't reply and made her way over to the fridge. Rainbow didn't want to leave Scootaloo's side, but she knew the filly wouldn't do anything to hurt herself. So Rainbow left the room and started up the stairs that were next to it while Scootaloo remained in the kitchen. "Hello? Anypony home?" she yelled. Once she reached the top of the stairs, she looked around. There were three rooms, one at each side of the corridor. The one at the end appeared to be the bathroom. Rainbow entered the room to her left. It was empty and had a double bed; no one was in it and, like the furniture in the living room, appeared as though it had not been touched for quite some time. She began to search through the room to see if there was anything that would offer a clue about Scootaloo's parents, as this was obviously where they had slept before. She opened a drawer and found a small picture. It was a picture of Scootaloo as a foal. Rainbow picked it up to get a closer look. She smiled at the picture and placed it back in the drawer; she then turned around and looked at the bed. She decided to lay on it for a second to get an idea of how long ago it was used. She climbed onto the bed and sat down. She then rolled onto her back, instantly realising that the bed felt equally as uncomfortable as it had looked. "Huh... seems like it hasn't been used in ages. It's very cold and rough. I don't like it. I don't see how anypony could," mused Rainbow. She rolled off of the bed and lifted her hoof to her chin, wondering how long it must have been since Scootaloo's parents had last been there. By the condition of the house it seemed like it could have been months, maybe longer. No, that can't be right, she thought to herself. Rainbow Dash shuddered at the thought of Scootaloo living like this by herself, and she trotted out of the room and into the next room across the hall. It looked to be Scootaloo's room; the walls were blue and light poured through a small window over the bed across from the door. Rainbow trotted over to Scootaloo's bed and felt it. It was much softer and more plump than the double bed in the other room. She looked around and saw a desk beside the bed, on it, was a picture frame and an alarm clock. Rainbow trotted over to the desk and picked up the picture. It was a picture of her and Scootaloo together. Rainbow placed the picture back on the desk and continued to look around the room. Nothing seemed out of place, nothing seemed wrong with the room. In fact, besides the obvious lack of Scootaloo's parents, nothing seemed particularly wrong with the house in general. Rainbow decided that she would leave the room and check on Scootaloo. She turned to move away from the bed, when she suddenly tripped on something "Ah! What the hay was that?" she yelled as she hit the floor. She looked back to where her hoof had struck the object. There was a small lockbox on the floor, partially under the bed. It had a keyed lock on it that hadn't been secured. She didn't really want to snoop through Scootaloo's stuff, but she had to try and find evidence of her parents. She pulled the box out from under the bed and slowly opened it. Inside were pictures, a feather and a small book that looked to be a diary. Rainbow picked up the feather and stared at it for a couple seconds. She carefully inspected the blue feather. "This... is one of my feathers." She held the feather close to her wings and compared the colours. It was the same cyan hue as her other feathers. She then placed it back in the box and took out some of the pictures. Most of them were of Rainbow Dash, other subjects involved her house and other specific things to do with Rainbow. She stared at the photos for a moment before placing them back into the box. She was hesitant to pick up the diary, as that would be Scootaloo's private place for her to write. Although this was the most likely place to find the answers she was searching for, Rainbow resisted the urge and slid the box back under the bed. She stood up and started to turn away from the bed, when she noticed that there was a small bump in the bed that appeared to be something under the blanket. Rainbow pulled the covers off of whatever was underneath. It was a small hoof-knitted doll. Rainbow picked it up and stared at it for a couple seconds. Rainbow's vision blurred as she looked at the doll. The doll was blue with a recognisable prismatic mane and tail and had a carefully hoof-embroidered cutie mark of a cloud with a rainbow lightning bolt. She wiped her eyes and looked at her hooves, they had tears on them. "A doll of... me?" Rainbow placed the doll down on the bed again and covered it up. She turned around to make her way out of the room, when she saw Scootaloo standing at the door. "Squirt... look, I'm sorry that I was sneaking around your room," Rainbow said. Scootaloo looked behind Rainbow to her bed. She then looked back at Rainbow Dash who was nervously shifting her weight from hoof to hoof. Scootaloo trotted through her room and pulled the box out from under her bed. She opened it and pulled out her diary. With the diary held in her mouth, she trotted back over to Rainbow Dash and held it to her. "I can't just take your diary squirt... it has your private thoughts and matters... I can't invade your privacy like that," Rainbow said with a shake of her head. Scootaloo placed the book on the floor at Rainbow's hooves. "This.... should explain... some... things Dash." She trotted around Rainbow Dash and jumped up onto her bed. She pulled the covers out and grasped the Rainbow Dash doll in her mouth. She then hopped off the bed and left the room. Rainbow looked around the room, puzzled about the events that had just transpired. She looked down to her hooves to see the book lying there. The book had Scootaloo's name on it and also a small signature. The signature was Rainbow Dash's own form of writing style. "I don't want to invade her privacy... but is she... asking me to?" she thought. Rainbow grasped the book in her mouth and sat on the bed. She opened it to a random page. It looked to be dated to about two weeks ago and it was a pretty short entry. Today was one of the worst days of my life, not only did I fall out with Applebloom, but I also fell out with Applejack. I don't know how I'm going to make it up to them, but I must somehow. I would ask Rainbow Dash for help, but I'm not too comfortable with showing my face around Ponyville today. What if Rainbow hates me now? What if she never wants to see me again? I'm just going to let this blow off and keep low for a while, hopefully Applebloom will forgive me after not seeing me for a week or two. Ponies may wonder where I am, but they won't care too much. No pony ever does. The only pony who I know that cares about me is Rainbow Dash, she is so kind and caring. She may be a super duper awesome daredevil flyer, but deep down, I know she is like us all. I wish Rainbow would realise how much she meant to me... she is the only pony I can call... my mother. She means the world to me and if she hated me, I'd have nothing left. I love Rainbow Dash like she is my own mother. Something that I wish was true. I love Rainbow Dash more than anypony in the world... I wish she knew. Rainbow was staring at the last sentence, it broke her heart. She had tears in her eyes and her heart was beating slower than ever before. She felt her chest and gulped. "Squirt... why didn't you tell me?" Rainbow said to herself. She wiped her eyes and continued to re-read the passage over and over again. I love Rainbow Dash... I love Rainbow Dash... Rainbow then closed the book slowly and placed it to the side of the bed. She then looked over to the desk beside Scootaloo's bed and picked up the picture frame. She stared at it for a while as her vision became clouded with tears once again. "I love you too... Scootaloo."
I Dream to Fly	Sleep is a Virtue	Scootaloo was downstairs sitting on the hard floor in the living room. She was facing a mirror, watching her mouth move. "App...les, Rain...bow, Canterlot" Scootaloo smiled. She was quickly regaining her speech. She continued to try and get her pronunciations right. She squinted at the small orange pegasus in the mirror. "Pony, Celes...tia, Prin...cess. I've just... about got it." Scootaloo got up and looked around the room she was in. The sun had long passed overhead, the east facing window was dimly lit in the late afternoon, giving the living room a dark, cold feel. Scootaloo's Rainbow Dash doll was propped up against the mirror. The doll had been silently observing Scootaloo's speaking progress through lifeless button eyes. She picked it up in her mouth and walked towards the door to the hallway. She rounded the corner and started to slowly make her way up the stairs, trying her best not to fall or slip. She was still slightly dizzy due to her head injury. When she reached the top of the stairs she trotted over to her room. As Scootaloo entered the doorway to her room, she saw Rainbow Dash sitting on the bed with tears in her eyes. Rainbow had not noticed Scootaloo's quiet appearance at the door. Scootaloo trotted over to Rainbow and stared at her for a couple seconds. Rainbow looked up and saw Scootaloo standing there with the doll in her mouth. Time seemed to slow as the two pegasi looked at each other. The sun was shining into the room, a light breeze slowly meandered through the window as the two stood there, basking in the beautiful, everlasting day. Scootaloo moved closer to Rainbow Dash and held out her hooves. Rainbow stared for a moment before the tears began streaming down her face. She got off the bed and wrapped her hooves around Scootaloo. Scootaloo was startled for a moment, but then started to sob slightly onto Rainbow's shoulder and Rainbow did the same. It was perfect; everything Scootaloo ever dreamed of. Rainbow knew how much this meant to Scootaloo. They both kept hold of each other and continued to share this moment in their lives that could only ever happen once. Scootaloo cleared her throat. "Rainbow... you're more than an idol to me." Rainbow pulled back to look at Scootaloo and smiled, she knew what Scootaloo meant. Scootaloo continued to hug Rainbow as tight as she could. Eventually, she yawned and nuzzled Rainbow's coat. Scootaloo began to drift away. Having the warmth of Rainbow Dash's coat and arms surrounding her was enough to comfort her. Rainbow noticed Scootaloo quickly becoming tired. Her injury had made her weak, tired and very insecure. Rainbow never wanted to leave Scootaloo in her house, even if she had found her parents. She decided she would ask questions later, but at the moment, her top priority was getting Scootaloo someplace safe. Rainbow got into a standing position and used her wings to lift the half asleep orange filly to her perch on Rainbow's back. "I'm not leaving you here squirt, you deserve better than this," she whispered to the filly on her back. Rainbow trotted out the room and down the stairs, trying to be as careful as she could. At the bottom of the stairs, she took one last look around the house before going outside, back to Ponyville. It looked to be getting late, but outside it was still bright. Rainbow trotted out the door and pulled it until she heard the latch click. The sunset was gleaming with the same bright orange hue of Scootaloo's coat, it was beautiful. Rainbow stopped a moment to revel in the quickly disappearing sunlight before starting to move. She began trotting in the direction of Twilight's library. Nopony was outside this evening, aside from the occasional gardener. It was a casual day in Ponyville. Rainbow was still carrying the weight of a small filly on her back, but she couldn't just leave Scootaloo in that house. She still wondered about Scootaloo's parents, who were they? Where were they? But those answers were still locked away. Scootaloo wouldn't tell anypony, not even her idol. It wasn't long after that Rainbow reached Twilight's library, but the windows were dark and it looked like nopony was inside, not even Spike. Rainbow opened the door and trotted in slowly. It was empty, nopony was here, nothing seemed out of place and books weren't scattered over the floor. "Huh, this is odd. I wonder where Twilight and Spike are," she mused to herself. Scootaloo yawned, causing Rainbow to look behind her. Scootaloo looked to be sleeping peacefully; Rainbow didn't want to disturb her. Rainbow shut the door behind her, slowly and carefully, trying not to wake Scootaloo in the process. Trotting over to Twilight's desk, Rainbow noticed several books opened on the table. Once Rainbow reached Twilight's desk, she started to read the books that were open. "motion sickness... hallucinations... memory loss..." she read. Rainbow's brain snapped at those last two words, she then glanced up to the title of the article that she was reading. "Signs of Brain Damage and Specific Causes." Rainbow stared at the page, reading it over and over again. "What if... no, that couldn't be." Rainbow looked back at Scootaloo, who was still sound asleep on her back. She focused her attention to some of the other books on the desk. Others were about cures for brain damage, specific remedies. One book that seemed to have been read the most was on the subject of memory loss. Rainbow pulled the book over and started to read it. "Some of the main causes of psychologically induced memory loss are traumatic pasts, horrific scenes and specific other reasons for the patient to consciously or subconsciously want to lose memory. These are only reasons to why memory loss may occur, however, significant memory loss requires a 'jump start', typically some traumatic event, before it manifests fully." Rainbow looked back at Scootaloo; she then started thinking about her house, the strange lack of parents, the untouched furniture, everything. Nothing about it felt quite right. Rainbow continued reading the book. There was a specific passage that had been highlighted. "Memory loss may also occur due to specific social distress. A very common example of social distress that may cause a patient (particularly prepubescent individuals) to lose memory is the loss of loved ones, such as siblings or parents." Rainbow's heart stopped and froze in place. She looked back to Scootaloo and stared at her for a long time. Rainbow couldn't feel her own heart. The only thing that kept her from thinking she was dead was the fact that she could still feel her emotions. "Squirt..." Rainbow couldn't speak; instead, she quietly closed the book and left it where it was. Rainbow stared out the window in front of the desk. It was the perfect night, Princess Luna had just raised the moon, and the night was shining and gleaming. The light of the full moon shone across Rainbow Dash, and over Scootaloo. Rainbow looked back for the final time, Scootaloo was completely bathed in the moonlight and she looked...beautiful. Rainbow looked back to the book and put a hoof over the cover. "I need Twilight."
I Dream to Fly	When the Bell Rings	Twilight walked into the library with Spike following behind her. "See Spike, this is what Rainbow was looking for. She needed to find out why Scootaloo was so defiant with any questions about her parents." Twilight turned her head away from Spike and looked over to her desk. It was covered in books; a lot more than usual. There were books scattered haphazardly all across the floor on the main level of the library as well, everything seemed out of place and disorganised. "Spike... did we leave the library in this mess?" Twilight asked. Spike looked around the room, scanning everything. He eventually looked up towards Twilight's bedroom. In addition to trashing the library, it looked like somepony had gone up there too. Spike pointed towards Twilight's bedroom. "Twilight, you should check up there, whoever did this might still be here," Spike said. Twilight placed a hoof on her chin and thought for a moment before slowly making her way up the stairs leading to her bedroom with Spike close behind her. Twilight knew no pony would do this without a good reason. No one really hated her, so it couldn't have been out of hate. The pair reached the top of the stairs. Twilight listened closely and heard quiet breathing coming from inside the bedroom; somepony was obviously in there. "Spike, can you start tidying this place up? I've got this," Twilight whispered to Spike. The baby dragon lifted his arm up in an obedient salute and quickly ran back down the stairs to begin picking up all of the books on the floor. Twilight tensed herself up, ready to leap into the bedroom full force. She shook her flank slightly to get a better grip on the wood stairs, moving her hooves ever so slightly. After getting a good, solid footing she held her breath, ready to face whatever was inside her bedroom. She sprang into the bedroom and used her horn to illuminate the small room. Her room was now bathed in a bright white light, but after a fast inspection it appeared there was nopony in the room. Twilight made a second, more thorough search with her eyes. She looked closely at the bed and noticed that there was obviously something under the covers. The blanket was rising and falling with each breath of the intruder. Twilight slowly and quietly stalked to the side of the bed, trying not to wake whatever or whoever was sleeping in her bed. It was a small lump; it couldn't have been a pony unless it was a young filly or colt. Twilight gripped the corner of her bed sheet with her magic and hesitated before lifting it up to reveal what was in her bed. She quickly hauled the sheet off with a forceful tug and looked down. All she saw was a small orange filly sleeping quite peacefully. Scootaloo? she thought to herself, halfway between amusement and anger. Where in Equestria is Dash if Scootaloo is here by herself. Twilight looked around Scootaloo to see if she could find anything, nothing seemed to stick out except for the thing she was holding in her hooves, wrapped in her arms tightly. It looked to be some sort of doll, something close to the shape of a pony. Twilight placed a hoof on Scootaloo and prodded her slightly. "Scootaloo?" She asked quietly. Twilight then shook Scootaloo slightly, not too hard, trying to wake her up gently. "Scootaloo, you awake?" Scootaloo yawned. She rubbed one of her eyes with her hoof, opened the other eye and looked up at Twilight. Scootaloo sat up in the bed and rubbed her eyes before looking back over to Twilight. Twilight looked around her room for a third time to see if she could see anything else, but nothing seemed out of place. With the exception of the filly in her bed, everything was perfect in her bedroom, just the way she liked it. Twilight's eyes darted back to Scootaloo as though the unicorn had momentarily forgotten about the intruder in her bed. She bombarded the filly with questions. "Scootaloo, why are you here? Shouldn't you be at home? Where is Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo looked around the room before answering. "I... I don't know. Rainbow Dash came to my house, we talked, I showed her some stuff and she decided it would be best if I came and lived with her instead of living in my own house. Now I don't know where she is, I fell asleep... I'm not even really sure where I am." "You're in my bedroom at the library. Spike and I just got back from running errands and you were here in my bed." Twilight began to turn towards the window, but a small bright blue form near Scootaloo held her gaze. Scootaloo glanced over to where Twilight was looking and saw the small doll on the bed. Scootaloo looked over to Twilight again, waiting to see what she was going to do. Twilight used her magic to lift the doll up to her face in order to get a clearer look at the doll. It was a small cyan knitted doll with wings and a multicoloured mane. "Where did you get this?" Twilight asked. Scootaloo shrugged. "I don't know who... made it for me." Her voice was still unstable and stingy. "I just... got it somewhere, I know that it was made specifically for me, but I don't know... anything besides that." Twilight hesitated before talking to Scootaloo again, but she knew she had to ask, even if she would just get a blank stare. "Your... parents?" Scootaloo just looked away and shook her head. Twilight turned Scootaloo's head around and looked into her eyes. "Scootaloo, please, you need to tell us something about your parents for your own safety. Me and Dash love you, we can't just let you wander off without any information." Twilight paused before continuing. "Do you know anything about your parents at all?" she asked. Scootaloo just stood still, trying to avoid the question. Twilight looked over to the doll she was floating; it looked to be in good condition. "Where has this doll been? It's in perfect condition." Scootaloo stood up on the bed and grasped the floating doll in her mouth. She then pulled it down and laid it on the bed. "It's only been in my house, it never went outside. It's never moved, really. I just kept it in my house." Twilight then thought to herself. 'It's only been in her house...' it seemed to be something that could provide Twilight with some indication of Scootaloo's parents. Twilight placed a hoof on her chin for a several seconds, thinking about this possibility. Twilight pulled her hoof away from her chin and gazed over to the doll that was still lying idly on the bed. "May I borrow your doll? I just want to have a look at it, I promise I won't do anything to it that may damage or ruin it." Scootaloo grasped the doll in her mouth and hesitated for a second. She then leaned over to Twilight with the doll in her mouth, slowly letting her grip out, allowing Twilight to lift it with her magic. "Thank you Scootaloo, I promise I won't do anything to it, I swear." Scootaloo sat back down on the bed and glared around the room, slowly analysing everything around her. Nothing seemed to catch her eye until she looked to a desk at the side of the bed. On it was what seemed to be Twilight's diary. Scootaloo never touched it as she knew it contained private matters that may involve quarries that she couldn't understand herself, let alone read. Twilight looked over to Scootaloo, who was still scanning the majority of the books on the shelves. "Would you like a book to read? I can give you Daring Do, if you would like." Scootaloo nodded slightly. Suddenly, Twilight had placed a book in front of Scootaloo. It was the one she asked for. She remembered Rainbow Dash liked it and told her about it. "Have you read any Daring Do before?" Twilight asked. Scootaloo once again used her recently standard response and shook her head silently. "Oh, well, you'll probably like it. It's a really good book series and I'd be happy to lend you some of them to read if you want." Twilight said. Just then Twilight placed another book on top of the first. Scootaloo picked it up and read the title out loud. "Daring Do and the Sa...phire Stone." Scootaloo looked over to Twilight with a confused look on her face. She didn't really know much about Daring Do aside from all of the information she had picked up from Rainbow Dash's constant babbling. But Dash had only been obsessed with it for a couple of days, so it wasn't a big deal or anything. Rainbow Dash read almost all of them in one sitting, which was probably the reason for her outbursts about it. "How many books are there in the series Twilight?" Scootaloo inquired. Twilight placed a hoof on her chin and thought for a moment before answering. "I don't really know, about twenty I think. Each one is about the same length, around... two hundred to four hundred pages. It's a popular book series." The interested filly opened the book and started reading it to herself. "I'll be downstairs if you need me Scootaloo, I have to go and see if I can find Rainbow," Twilight said. Scootaloo nodded and continued reading. Twilight trotted down the stairs, letting the sounds of her hooves tap against the hardwood flooring that made up the warmth and feel of the library's interior. The floor still had some books on it, some of which looked to have been dropped. "Spike?" Twilight called out as she worked her way down the stairs. Twilight reached the bottom of the stairs and looked around for her assistant. "How's it going Spike? How much do you think you'll have to clean?" Spike came out from under a table in the middle of the room with a hand full of books. He placed them on the table and started arranging them by the specific categories that they belonged to, knowing how organised Twilight liked her library. "It's going fine, it was a bunch of scattered books and some moved furniture. It'll take me roughly... thirty minutes to get this place clean from top to bottom," Spike said, obviously annoyed that he was tidying up by himself once again. Twilight, oblivious to her assistant's perturbed tone, continued speaking as though he hadn't said anything. "I have an idea. Scootaloo is reluctant to willingly offer any information about her parents, let alone her relatives. She may have forgotten about them due to memory loss, or she may just be avoiding the situation entirely. Either way, I have a theory that may give us a chance at discovering at least a little about who they are." Spike turned away from the stack of books on the table and walked over to Twilight. Twilight placed the Rainbow Dash doll on her desk carefully and pointed to it. Spike gave Twilight a weird look before attempting to respond, he opened his mouth just as he was cut off by Twilight. "I know it looks stupid, but I think this may work. Scootaloo said that this doll has only been in her house, nowhere else. Which leads me to believe that her parents must have made it, or some sort of close relative. Nothing seems out of place and, as far as I know, Scootaloo can't knit herself, so it's almost one hundred percent confirmed that this was made in her house by somepony that isn't her." Spike smiled and picked up the doll. "You could be right Twilight, but it's still a long shot. We have no leads. We have no proof, only assumed thoughts that seem logical enough to be true. I still doubt we'll get any possible sign of Scootaloo's parents, so I guess our only shot is to do what seems best. If we're gonna research the doll, we need to break it down. Not literally...of course." Twilight nodded and took the doll back, placing it on the desk. "But something that bothers me, Spike, is the fact that Rainbow Dash just... abandoned Scootaloo for no reason. I hope she has an explanation for this, but what I really want to know is where she is right now." Twilight squinted at the doll to get a closer, more precise look at it. "Rainbow Dash, where are you?"
I Dream to Fly	Past Mistakes	Four hours earlier: Rainbow Dash was inside the library, holding Scootaloo in her arms like a baby as the filly slept quietly. Nothing seemed to have changed; it was just the same as when she walked in. Rainbow looked down to Scootaloo and stared at the filly for a short time before looking back around the deserted library. Rainbow's eyes were dreary, dry and focused. Everything looked dry to her, everything looked vivid and salty. The filly slept quietly and peacefully in Rainbow's arms. Rainbow looked down to Scootaloo and stared at her before looking back over to the door. "... I'll be back Scootaloo, I need to do something... don't worry about me. Don't call for me. I.... I love you squirt." Rainbow lifted herself up with her wings, flying up to Twilight's bedroom with Scootaloo in her arms. Once they got into Twilight's bedroom, Rainbow pulled away the covers and laid Scootaloo down on the bed gently. Before fully letting her go, Rainbow hugged Scootaloo tight and kisses her on the forehead. "I'll be back, I promise." Rainbow then let go of Scootaloo and covered her up with the bed sheets. Everything was quiet. The sounds of Rainbow Dash trotting echoed through the library as she came down the hard wooden stairs. She had a determined look on her. Rainbow leapt off the stairs and started to flap her wings to start flying. She immediately flew towards the library's entrance door. She pulled it open and slowly flew out the door, holding onto the handle on the way out so the door would close after she left. Rainbow Dash then flew over to a small cloud in the sky and landed on it. She then looked all around Ponyville for something. "Where is the general direction? ...where is it?" Rainbow squinted her eyes and looked around, her eyes stopped when she saw the train station that was next to a sign that said 'Canterlot Trains'. Rainbow Dash leapt off the cloud and flew over to the train station. She looked at a map that showed all of Equestria's landmarks, such as Ponyville, Canterlot, Manehatton, Las Pegasus and Fillydelphia. She placed her hoof on Ponyville and dragged it across the map till she met Canterlot. "I can't afford a ticket... I'll haft to fly to Canterlot. I hope Scootaloo will be okay, I don't want her..." Rainbow Dash shook her head to get rid of the bad thoughts that roamed her mind; it was horrifying to her that she even thought of anything bad that could happen to Scootaloo. It was just her instinct kicking in. "No, I gotta keep on track. I need to go to Canterlot." Rainbow launched herself upwards, opening her wings and flying up as high as she could. She looked around the train station and spotted a train leaving for Canterlot. She flew down towards the train and landed on top of it, the sound of her landing on the train echoed though the metal frame. Rainbow looked in the direction that the train was going to try and spot Canterlot, it was forty or fifty miles away from Ponyville. The sky was getting darker and night was approaching quickly as the stars began to shine in the sky. Rainbow leapt off the train and started to fly in the direction leading to Canterlot as the train began pulling away from her. It was true that Rainbow Dash was the fastest flier in all Equestria, but she only had the endurance to fly at those speeds for very short distances. It would take some time before she came close to her destination. Scootaloo was sleeping peacefully throughout the time that Rainbow Dash was galloping off to Canterlot with no mention at all. The night was perfect; everything was lit in a blue hue and was gleaming with sparkles. The only thing that was making the night even more perfect was the ambient sound of silence, it was peaceful and calming. The occasional sound of hoof steps never ruined the silent glaze of the night, instead, provoked it to be even more calming. The night would not suffer from any sound that edged itself through the open window in Twilight's bedroom. Scootaloo slept through everything that sounded, but the only thing that was different from the ambient silence, was the sound of an opening door...
I Dream to Fly	Dragon Heart	Twilight trotted around her library in a circular motion, leaving small, echoed clopping sounds. Spike was walking down the stairs with a handful of history books that look to be thousands of years old. All was silent except from Twilight's eerie hoof steps. As Spike reached the bottom of the stairs, he let go of all the books, leaving them slightly scattered on the ground. "Twilight, why would you want old history books? We're searching for some sort of evidence that Scootaloo has living, existing parents. Not catching up on the least recent form of pony history and mythology." Spike raised his hand up to his chin and thought for a moment before slowly walking over to Twilight's desk. On it was a quill, a piece of paper and her diary. Spike didn't dare opening her diary, nor did he even think about it as it was her private matters. Twilight trotted over to the books and pulled each one out slowly and carefully, reading the title as they came up. "I'm looking for history books because I know I saw this style of knitting before. If I found out who's style it is, I can possibly gather more evidence of Scootaloo's parents, if not her entire family tree." Spike looked back around to the books on the dusty floor, knowing he'd have to clean it up. "You do have a solid point Twilight, but there is one thing off... how can knitting have a style? I mean, it's all done the same." Spike picked up the doll that was edges away from Twilight's desk, lying lazily on a wooden table. Twilight proceeded to read through book titles as she talked. "Everything has a style; reading, filming, jumping and even knitting. It's a way of signifying who or what has done that specific thing that they do." She stopped at a book titled, Art Crafts of Pony History. On the book cover was a painting of Old Equestria. She opened the book and started looking through the pages, some of them were torn and dirty. Twilight stopped at the page marked as 'pony magic crafts'. It seemed that the page had many crafts done by famous unicorns. "You think it was done by a unicorn?" Spike said. "Well, it had to be done by a unicorn as they are the only ponies that can even attempt to do something this articulate. A pegasus is almost the same as a normal earth pony in this situation as I have only heard a couple pegasi that can even attempt knitting." Twilight was positive on her assumption. Spike walked back up the stairs and into Twilight's bedroom. Sitting on Twilight's bed was Scootaloo, whom was reading some books of Daring Doo. "Scootaloo, are you sure you don't know where Rainbow Dash went? I mean, she could be in danger, so you haft to tell us if you do know." Scootaloo placed a hoof on her chin and thought for a moment. "Sorry Spike, I honestly don't know where she went... but I hope she's okay." Scootaloo looked out the window of Twilight's bedroom, hoping to see her rainbow-maned idol to fly past her. Spike picked up some of the books that were scattered over the bed. Most of them were Daring Doo novels, which Spike expected. Some of them were text and maths books. "What do you need these for?" Spike asked as he opened one of the maths books, reading over the titles and some bookmarked pages. Scootaloo pushed some of the novels out of the way, allowing a couple more education books to be shown. "I have a test to do at school, Cheerilee caught me drawing again and I hafta do extra credit if I'm going to pass. I hate reading educational books, but if I want to pass, I'll haft to read them. Hmm... maybe I could get my cutie mark in education? Maybe I could be a teacher?" Spike smiled while continuing to read over the educational books. Spike looked over to Scootaloo, who was staring out the window again. He placed down the book and examined Scootaloo's mane. It was still pretty short from the operations she had to get from her head injuries. "Does your head hurt? If I remember straight, you were gushing blood for a while as Rainbow and Twilight aided you." Scootaloo felt the back of her head and rubbed her mane. "It doesn't hurt as much as it did..." She looked over to the door way of Twilight's bedroom, admiring the glow of the wooden tree that was the library. "Rainbow Dash sure helped me a lot... without her I'd most likely be dead... a long time ago." Using his claws, Spike picked up another book from the floor. "...Do you wish she was your mother?" Spike said with a cringe in his voice, trying to be gentle. He knew how defensive Scootaloo was of her parents or even anything to do with the subject. Scootaloo's mouth started to curve and she bit her bottom lip. Her eyes got teary and she shook a little. "I wish..." Her voice was dry and cracked. Spike placed the book he was holding down on the ground and climbed up onto Twilight's bed. He went over to Scootaloo and wrapped his arms around her, giving her a gentle hug. The filly placed her arms slowly around Spike, then proceeded to slightly sob onto his shoulder. Spike rubbed her back with his claw. He never felt so close to her in his life...
I Dream to Fly	Knowing you Care...	Twilight finished reading through some of the old history books that were scattered over the library floor, none of them currently held any evidence of Scootaloo's parents, nor did it have any form of knitting styles. She placed some of the books on the table and looked up towards her bedroom. Everything was quiet again, all silent. Twilight was eager to find out where Spike had gone, so she trotted up her wooden stairs leading to her bedroom that was only lit by the blue tint of the open window. Once she got to the top of the stairs, she stuck her head slowly through the doorway and looked over to her bed. On her bed, were the little orange filly and her dragon assistant. They were hugging each other tightly while the air brushed through the room, leaving a small, cold draft. Twilight smiled as she looked at the two who were in a warm embrace of arms. Twilight slowly pulled her head out of the bedroom and looked back down the stairs and to the wooden, crisp library floor that had books scattered in specific corners of the room. She trotted down the stairs with small, quiet taps. On her way to her desk, she stopped and looked into a mirror that was hanging on the library's wall. Her mane was slightly dusty; it had small curved hair pieces that were un-combed and hanging out the top and side of her manes fringe. "Maybe I'm working too hard, maybe the answer is simple... maybe it's too complicated for me to know..." She lifted her hoof to the bottom of her eye and pulled on her skin slightly. "I need to find out, for Scootaloo's sake." She then let go of her skin and looked over to her desk. She started trotting and picked up a quill using her magic as she reached her desk. Her diary was perfectly angled on her desk, right in the middle. It was opened by the glowing, purple aurora that was Twilight's magic. She started writing in it, taking her time to document notes and allow her brain to think of possible solutions and theories concerning the filly's parents. She started whispering to herself as she wrote. "The doll seems to be made by an unknown maker and seems to have no connection to the artistic side of pony history. It is still unclear who or what Scootaloo's parents are; I plan on examining Scootaloo around specific questions, noting her motions and feelings... Rainbow Dash is still gone off to somewhere to which none of us know. I have assumptions to where she went and I am thinking about asking those whom which she last interacted with, starting with the doctor who was looking over Scootaloo in the infirmary. Twilight Sparkle. Time: One thirty four at morning." She marked the last sentence with her signature and placed the quill down on the side of her desk, closing the diary in the process. After she was done with her diary, she opened her drawer under her desk and floated the diary slowly into the corner of the wooden drawer and closed it quietly. Checking if the drawer was secure, she put her head under the desk to have a look. "You won't be able to talk to the doctor until tomorrow morning Twilight." Spike appeared behind Twilight, causing her to bump her head on the desk as she lifted herself out after being startled. Twilight rubbed her forehead and horn slowly; making sure nothing was badly hurt. Afterwards, she turned around and looked at Spike, who was standing there rubbing his arm while looking down. He was about to open his mouth before being cut off by Twilight. "It's okay Spike, it's just a small... bump. Anyway, were you listening in to my diary writing? That's rude!" Spike blushed slightly and put his hand up. "Well, maybe you shouldn't talk out loud next time you write out a private diary passage." Spike lowered his hand and looked around and scanned the library, seeing what a mess it was in. It was still a big floor load of books and it was also showered with dust that snuck in between books and shelves. Spike turned around towards Twilight and took his other hand from behind his back, showing him holding a comb that came from Twilight's bedroom. "I think you should maybe clean your mane up a little." Twilight lifted the comb and combed her mane, making it neat and tidy. She placed it down on the table that had the small Rainbow Dash doll on it. Spike started walking over towards the books on the floor when he was stopped by Twilight's hoof. "Thanks Spike, but you can sleep now. I'll clean this up." Twilight smiled over to Spike and he turned around then hugged her. Twilight nuzzled him back and watched him as he let go of her and went upstairs towards his small bed. The library would take forever to clean with a tired baby dragon, so Twilight thought it would be a nice idea to let him sleep while she cleaned up the large mess that the library was in. "I'll just have to work extra hard to clean this up... I guess I shouldn't have been so focused on finding Scootaloo's parents from such a ridiculous source. Well, I learned my lesson!" She smiled and started to use her magic to clean up the library. Placing books into their home shelves, dusting everything before placing it all back where it belonged. Spike lifted himself into his small basket bed, covering himself up with the tiny bed sheet that was also inside it. Scootaloo was laying her head down on the pillow that was on Twilight's bed. All the books that were on the bed, now back in their original places on the bookshelf. All the lights went out, everything was dark and dim and the only sounds that were barely auditable were the small hums of the eerie wind outside the tree that served as the Ponyville Library. Shortly after all the lights went out, Twilight slowly trotted up the wooden stairs, trying not to make any noise. She came into her bedroom and looked over to her bed; on it was Scootaloo, who was buried under the covers. Twilight went to the other side of her bed and climbed in slowly, she noticed that Scootaloo was still slightly awake as she got in. Twilight whispered. "Oh sorry Scootaloo, I hope you're all right with me sleeping in my bed." She giggled slightly. Scootaloo edged over to Twilight and hugged her arm slightly. "I'm fine with it." She muttered while she laid her head on the pillow. Twilight used her magic to close the window that was next to her bed, stopping the cold air from getting inside the library's interior. Twilight closed her eyes and lay back on her bed with Scootaloo hugging her arm. "I don't mind you sleeping here Scoots. You can sleep here as long as you want," Twilight said, pulling the covers over both her and Scootaloo. The air outside started to gain warmth and texture as the sun slowly came up from the rim of Equestria. The blue night sky still gave off a blue tint through the small window at the corner of the bedroom. It shone over the two in the bed, who by now, were sound asleep. It was a peaceful, gleaming sleep. One which was as rare as gold...
I Dream to Fly	Fresh Air	Twilight woke up after a long nights rest, still having the small filly hugging her arm tight. Twilight looked around her bedroom from her laying position, trying not to disturb Scootaloo's deep sleep. Everything was the same as it was the night before, nothing moved, nothing was gone. She rubbed her forehead with her hoof and slowly sat up in her bed. She looked over to her arm that Scootaloo was hugging; the filly seemed to still be sleeping, peacefully. Twilight used her other hoof to slowly push off Scootaloo's arms around her one, allowing Twilight to move without disturbing the filly's sleep. Once Scootaloo's arms lost their grip on Twilight, she moved into a hunching position, hugging the covers of the bed instead. Twilight proceeded to get out of her bed and slowly trot over to her mirror that was on the wooden table. Her mane was back to the ragged messy state it normally was after a good night sleep, all curly and out of place. She used her magic to grab the brush from the edge of the table and went on to brushing her mane until it was back to its clean, sharp position. She stared at the mirror for several seconds before moving away and towards her bedroom entrance. She perked her head through the frame and scanned the library. It was clean, crisp and shiny. Spike was sitting downstairs reading some books that were on the table next to him. Twilight trotted down the stairs, leaving small taps as her hooves hit the floor. Spike looked around to see Twilight trotting down the stairs while looking around the library. He sat up and walked over to Twilight. "You seem curious about something, what is it?" Spike proclaimed. Twilight just placed a hoof on her chin and stared at her desk for a short time. "It's nothing Spike, I'm just thinking..." She sighed and looked over towards the library's wooden entrance door. "I'm thinking about Rainbow Dash, she just... disappeared. She has been gone almost two days now and I just can't stand to see any of my friends get hurt or go missing." Spike placed his claw on his cheek and started thinking about the possibility of Rainbow Dash hurt. Spike then looked towards Twilight's desk, it had a saddle bag on it and a couple books. He walked over to her desk, picking up one of the books and opening it. It was immediately closed by Twilight's magic aura. "That's my diary Spike, leave it alone!" Spike gulped and placed it back on the desk, exactly where it was before. "Because of this... thing that happened. I've decided that we are going to go on a search for Rainbow Dash, first visiting the people she last talked to." Spike thought for a moment before replying. "But Twilight, we don't know who she last talked to! She could have talked to anyone during the time we've spent trying to figure out the history of Scootaloo's parents. We have no leads, nor do we have no clue on who to talk to." He then walked back over to the books he was reading before. Twilight used her magic to lift her saddle bag onto her back and placing her diary in the bag. "We went overboard with re-searching Spike, I shouldn't have chosen pony history to search for two possibly dead people. I did have an idea, but it never worked. I couldn't find any knitting traces. To be honest, we may be going overboard with Rainbow Dash too, who knows, she may just be resting in her home or talking to the doctor that Scootaloo was so tame with..." Twilight then remembered about the doctor. She thought to herself. 'Maybe that's where she did go...' Spike picked up some of the books that were on the table and placed them back where they were taken from. "Twilight... your idea of finding Scootaloo's parents through history was brilliant, it just never swung well. Maybe you need to go simpler, you know? Maybe you're too smart to figure it out." Twilight gave Spike a funny look, lowering her eyebrows at him. "What? It's a possibility!" Twilight sighed again and placed a hoof on her forehead. "Maybe you're right Spike. I guess we should get simpler and go with something obvious, I mean, it's Rainbow we're talking about here... I'm still going with my plan to talk with the recent people who she has been in contact with." She trotted over towards the library door and as she was about to open it, she heard a voice come from the top of the stairs. "Can I come with?" Twilight turned around and saw Scootaloo standing at the top of the library stairs. Spike walked over to Twilight's desk, picked up a quill and a piece of paper. He started writing on it. He finished writing and wrapped the paper up in the form of a letter. Twilight thought for a moment. "... I don't think it's a good idea for a heavily injured filly to walk around Equestria, sorry Scoots, but I just think you'll be safer here than anywhere else." She looked back over to Spike, who was about to send the letter through his fire breath. "Spike!" He stopped and looked over to Twilight. "What are you doing? Don't send letters without my permission! What is the letter?" He lowered the letter from his mouth and started talking. "It's a letter to Princess Celestia. I was going to send it to see if she could help us to see if she saw Rainbow Dash. Let me read it out to you." He cleared his throat and opened the letter back up. "Dear Princess Celestia. Me and Twilight have been worried about one of the other elements of harmony, Rainbow Dash. She disappeared off to somewhere after leaving a filly named Scootaloo at the library. We have no clue to where she went and we would much appreciate your help to find her. We mainly want to know where she is and know that she is safe. Signed, Spike." Twilight nodded her head slightly. "Hmm, you may send the letter Spike, who knows, Celestia may be a bigger help than anyone." Spike proceeded to re-seal the letter and flame it, sending it to the Princess. He walked over to Twilight and stood by her side. The filly was still standing up at the top of the library's wooden stairs. She was just blindly staring at Twilight. "... Spike, can you take care of Scootaloo for me? I don't want her coming with me just in case she gets hurt again; I want her safe and sound." Spike nodded and started walking over to Scootaloo who started to trot down the stairs slowly. Spike stopped and turned around to Twilight. "Wouldn't it be safer for Scootaloo to come with us? I mean, if she needs any form of medical help, you can give it to her. I wouldn't know what to do in any situation like that. Plus, it would be nice for her to get some fresh air once and a while." Spike claimed. Twilight thought for several seconds, moving her vision back and forth between Spike and Scootaloo. "I guess you're right Spike, it would be safer to do that I guess. Alright, I'm going to bring some medical items with me just in case. I want Scootaloo staying close to me so I can see her at all times." Spike saluted Twilight and ran towards her desk, opening the small hinge to an inside compartment. He started rummaging through and pulled out some medical supplies that Twilight had stashed in there. He ran back over to Twilight with a hand full of medical cloths, plasters and some painkillers. Twilight used her magic to open her saddle bag then floated the items into her bag. "Alright, we're ready. Scootaloo, stay close to us." Scootaloo saluted like Spike did, smiled and trotted over to Twilight. "Spike, make a list on the way of Rainbow's recent contacts. "We may be over hyping this as she may be just fine... but hopefully she's okay and saf-" Just then, Spike burped out a letter that hit Twilight. "Sorry Twilight, let me get that for you" Twilight picked it up with her magic and slowly opened the letter. She read it over silently in her head. A sudden gasp from Twilight made Scootaloo and Spike jump. Twilight's ears flipped back and she kept re-reading the letter. "What Twilight?! What does it say?!" Twilight placed the letter down and glanced at Spike and Scootaloo. "The letter says... Your friend is safe here in Canterlot and is in need of seeing you. She is currently being held inside... Canterlot's jail cells..." Scootaloo and Spike froze in shock. Scootaloo's eyes began to get wet and she opened her mouth to speak, but barely could. "B-but... she isn't... a bad pony..."
I Dream to Fly	Secluded Thoughts	Twilight, Spike and Scootaloo decided to visit Rainbow Dash, who was currently being held inside of the Canterlot Castle holding cells. The three were escorted by a guard who brought them inside the castle. Scootaloo was shaking in fear of what her idol had done to be given such a punishment as imprisonment. She began to imagine the possibilities to why she had been captured. She shook her head in distrust of her imaginings. "You alright Scootaloo?" Spike said, walking over by her side. Twilight was escorted farther ahead, being talked to by a guard. Scootaloo looked over to spike with a saddened expression. "Rainbow Dash couldn't have done anything bad, why is she in jail?" Scootaloo said with a lump in her throat. Spike placed his arm around her neck and hugged her lightly. "Try not to worry Scootaloo, maybe she just knocked over a statue or something. I'm sure Rainbow Dash wouldn't do anything beyond an accident." Spike encouraged Scootaloo, trying to make her more comfortable. Twilight looked behind her, noticing Scootaloo shaking nervously. Twilight looked back over to the armoured guard who wasn't showing any expression. "Excuse me for a moment will you." Twilight informed. The guard nodded, still with a blank face. "But of course." He said with a soft voice, looking back at the stressed filly. Twilight turned back and headed towards Scootaloo. Spike noticed and took his arm off her, moving away to give room for Twilight. Twilight approached Scootaloo, with a soft smile, trying to comfort her more. She began to walk aside the filly, who was still shaking slightly. "It's okay Scoots, Rainbow Dash hasn't done anything serious and is currently fine." Said Twilight with a smiling expression. Scootaloo began to calm down, her shaking almost all but ceased as her expression turned into a slight relieved smile. They all came across a large door that had many locks on them, there was also a sign above the door that informed it was the prison they had approached to. Aside the doors were two guards with sharpened spears, supposedly to keep the prisoners from escaping. One guard came over to Twilight, sheathing his spear to his side. "Are you permitted to be here?" He asked toward Twilight. Twilight looked around her to see that the guards who were escorting them had left their sides. "Uhm... yes?" Twilight said with nervous smile. The guard's expression changed to one of distrust. He began to un-sheath his weapon, before it got forced into it's holder again by a blue magic aura that came from no where. "She's with me." Said a voice from behind Twilight. The guard brought up his hoof in salute towards the captain of the guards. "I am sorry sir; I never knew they were here with permission." Shining nodded lightly, saluting the guard. Twilight turned her head to see her brother, who was smiling back at her. The doors to the prison began to unlock and open. The door slowly creaked open with a loud crunching sound coming from the hinges. Once opened, the prison revealed a long corridor with closed cells. Most were empty, just as if they had never been used. Twilight examined all the cells she could see, wondering how many were in the prison exactly. "Brother, how many cells are in this prison?" She asked in curiosity. Shining went in front of them and looked around. "Right now, you can only see about fifteen, but there are about a hundred cells in total. Each of them is symmetrically the same, from floor to roof." He said taking his helmet off. Twilight placed her hoof on her chin and thought for a moment. "Wouldn't there be more cells? I mean, isn't this a high security prison?" She inquired. Shining shook his head. "This is a dungeon, and having a dungeon under the castle would be unsafe. Holding big time offenders and serious law breakers in here would be endangering the safety of Canterlot Castle. Also, it's not really a high security dungeon either. To put it simple, this dungeon is only for people like shop lifters and one time assaulters." Spike started running across all the cells, examining each one for Rainbow Dash. "She's in cell forty three." Shining shouted to Spike. The dragon nodded to the captain and ran across the dungeon, looking for the cell. Spike quickly disappeared around a corner. As Spike searched, Twilight again put on a confused expression towards her brother. "Why not put her in any of these cells?" Twilight said, swinging her hoof across the cells she could see. "Wouldn't it be better to put her in one that wasn't so far away from the entrance?" Shining shook his head again. "It's safer for us and the prisoner to be kept far from the entrance for a magnitude of reasons. The most important reason would be so that if one of the prisoners escapes, we would know about it before they had the chance to." Shining stated, pointing at some of the cameras in the room. "I would have expected you to know this sis, since you are the pupil of the princess." Shining proclaimed, smiling at Twilight. Twilight went to open her mouth to talk before she was cut off by Spike, who was leaning around the corner to them. "I found cell forty three!" He shouted, motioning his arm for them to come over. Scootaloo was just sitting on the ground. She was listening to Twilight and Shining talk about the dungeon, continuing to worry about why her idol was in it in the first place. Twilight crouched down to Scootaloo and looked at her with a smile. "You want to come with us, we'll get her out, I promise." Twilight said with hope in her voice. The filly stood up and smiled, slowly trotting over to Spike, who was still leaning around the corner. They both ran around the corner and out of sight, leaving Twilight and Shining Armour alone. "You're welcome." Shining said, leaning over to Twilight. She looked slightly confused to what he meant. Shining laughed lightly. "If it wasn't for me, you'd most likely be in one of these cells. Considering how those guards back there didn't seem too happy to see you." Twilight then leaned over to her brother, giving him a hug. "I'm so lucky to have a brother like you; I wish we could hang out more." Twilight let go of him and started walking over to where Scootaloo and Spike went. She looked back at Shining. "Are you coming?" She said, standing still waiting for her brother to follow behind. "Nah, you go ahead. I'll give the guards an all clear to let you through though." He said, waving to Twilight as he started to trot back to the entrance. Twilight waved back and continued trotting over to where Rainbow Dash's cell was. It wasn't long before Twilight reached Spike, who had his claws on some bars around a cell. He was looking into the cell with a smile. "Where's Scootaloo?" Twilight questioned as she looked around the large dungeon. Spike pointed to inside the cell he was looking in. Twilight trotted over and looked inside the cell, seeing Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo hugging each other in a warm embrace. They were both smiling happily. "Scootaloo found out that she could fit through the bars of the cells. I'm guessing these weren't made for fillies." Spike proclaimed. Twilight's smile wiped away though, wanting to ask Rainbow questions. Rainbow let go of Scootaloo and looked over to the cell bars. "Twilight!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "Good, you can get me out of here." She started whispering. "And between you and me, the food is horrible." Twilight giggled and looked back over to Scootaloo, who was still clinging on to Rainbow's arm. "I'll get you out, you need to answer me this though. How in Celestia did you get in Canterlot's dungeon?" Rainbow's ears flopped back as she looked away from Twilight and down to Scootaloo. She gave a deep sigh and took her arm away from Scootaloo, instead using them to cover the filly's ears. "I... uh... may have done a little breaking and entering..."
I Dream to Fly	Royal Conversations	Twilight gave Rainbow Dash a slightly concerned look, thinking in what she meant by breaking and entering. "Into... My library?" Twilight asked, tilting her head slightly. Rainbow shook her head and her ears flopped back in shame. "They'd never put me in this place if I broke into your library, your library is also in another town completely, they would have put me to the Ponyville jail." Rainbow Dash looks around to the filly, who is still sitting patiently with Rainbow's hooves over her ears. Rainbow sighs and pulls her hooves away, allowing Scootaloo to hear. "I was thrown in here because I broke into Canterlot Castle." Scootaloo just sat there quietly, thinking. Twilight scrunched her face and began questioning further. "What do you mean? How did you break into Canterlot Castle? The castle is a public attraction." Twilight slowly sat down on the cold, hard floor. "To be more specific Twilight, I broke into the castles library. The one I'm not supposed to be in." Rainbow lifted her hoof in motion, making gestures with it. "I was looking for information, anything that could give me leads. I spent about an hour in the library before they got me; they then immediately threw me in the dungeon. They never even allowed me to explain myself." She pulled her hoof down and gave a deep sigh. "I thought ponies would be sent to Celestia and not thrown straight in the dungeon, maybe I'm an exception. They told me Celestia would be with me soon... it's been about two or three days. Telling the time here is like trying to say when the next snow will start, except that's easier." She crossed her arms, expecting a lecture from Twilight. Twilight had her hoof on her chin, trying to play out things in her head. "No, you're right Rainbow. Ponies are normally sent to Celestia before thrown in a dungeon, but maybe breaking into the castle is a bigger crime than stealing would be." Her hoof lowered from her chin as she looked along the long, grey corridors that contained a plethora of cells, almost all empty. She looked back over to the cyan pony. "What were you trying to find?" Rainbow's eyes shot up to Twilight as she uncrossed her hooves. "I was trying to find specific information, but I was probably being too specific. I was looking for leads on something; I searched through medical records, history books and even craft books. I didn't find anything too interesting; none of it was of much use... aside from this. Rainbow pulled out a small piece of paper from her mane, handed it to Twilight through the bars and proceeded to cover Scootaloo's ears. Twilight used her horn to levitate the paper up to her. "B-but there is nothing on the paper, it's just blank." Twilight proclaimed. She kept looking at the paper, trying to see what it was she was meant to be looking at. Rainbow nodded at her and began to explain. "I would have taken the book, but I managed to rip that small part out before I got dragged away." Her emotion turned to a serious manner. "That was part of a book that contained all pony names recorded. That's part of the page of names beginning with 'Sco'." Twilight's mouth dropped, thinking in what it meant. She proceeded to stutter her words as she spoke. "But... her name wasn't in the book? It should be." Twilight gave the paper back to Rainbow. She grabbed it with her mouth, dropping it on the ground seconds later. Rainbow began talking again. "It technically means a couple things. Scootaloo may not have had her name recorded at birth. Either that or her name wasn't Scootaloo at the time. I was trying to look for her last name, her full name; it would have been easier to find her parents if we had their sure-name." Spike was looking around the corner towards the entrance when he whispered towards Twilight. "There's a guard coming!" Spike began to run over to Twilight, going behind her. The guard came around the corner and stood for a second, looking at Twilight. "Visiting times are over; you've been in here long enough." The guard said, waiting patiently for them to say their goodbyes to Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo came out from the cell and trotted alongside Twilight as they were escorted outside the dungeon and back to the entrance of the castle. Twilight paused before going out the castle entrance. "Umm, excuse me royal guard, but may I talk to Princess Celestia?" The guard stood still for a minute, looking at Twilight. "...It's of an important matter." Twilight continued with. The guard then motioned his hoof for Twilight to go forward to see the Princess. "Also, could you stay with those two back there? I don't want them left alone." The guard nodded and stood aside Scootaloo and Spike. Twilight slowly headed up towards the throne Celestia was usually perched on, thinking of what to say and how to word it. Twilight sat down on the floor near the throne, waiting for Celestia to appear. "I can assume you have questions on Rainbow Dash?" Celestia said, walking up from behind Twilight. Twilight stood up, nodding her head at Celestia. "Sorry if I'm interrupting anything Princess, I just wanted to ask you some things if that's alright with you?" Celestia nodded. "Of course Twilight." "When do you think Rainbow Dash could be released?" Twilight asked, tilting her head slightly. "I can get her out by tonight; I'll even get her back in Ponyville around moon rise if I can." Celestia stated, smiling at Twilight. Twilight smiled back before talking. "Umm... Rainbow Dash found a book that recorded the names of ponies from when they were born. She ripped a part of the book out just as she got taken to the dungeon. The page she ripped was apparently about ponies with names beginning with the letters s, c and o. There was nothing on the page, so Rainbow Dash assumes that Scootaloo's name may not have been recorded at birth or wasn't Scootaloo when she was born." Celestia nodded to Twilight slightly. "Well, if I'm not mistaken, the book she ripped it out of could have easily been outdated. I'm not sure we keep records anymore, the hospitals do though. But if I'm honest, Luna knows more about Scootaloo than I do, so you may want to consult her instead of me." She proceeded to sit down on her throne, looking down at Twilight. "Luna should be upstairs if I'm not mistaken." Twilight stood up and bowed her head to Celestia. "Thank you Princess." Not long after, Twilight walked up the stairs and into a small bedroom. It was dark and had wallpaper in the colour of the moonlight. The room had a balcony at the side in which Luna was standing there, looking up at the red sky. Twilight coughed before asking. "Excuse me Princess, do you have a moment?" Twilight asked. Luna looked around to Twilight, turning around as she spoke. "Of course Twilight, how may I assist?" She walked back from the balcony and into the main interior of the bedroom. "I was hoping you would be able to help me to know more about Scootaloo, Celestia tells me you know more than her." Twilight says, walking closer to Luna. Luna smiled lightly. "What I know about Scootaloo is almost just as much as you do Twilight. She is a brave, young filly who looks to have a lot of potential. Her parents are something that only time will be able to answer for you, for I do not know the answer myself. Scootaloo may be brave, but she is also shy, a lock you can't pick into. But if you want my answer, not even she may know the truth." She proceeded to walk back to the balcony, motioning Twilight to come with her. Twilight followed Luna to the balcony and looked up to the sky; it was a deep maroon and was getting darker every second. "I understand, Luna. I just wish I could help her more than I already can, I'm pretty sure Rainbow Dash wishes this too." Luna paused before looking back around to Twilight again. She lifted her hoof slightly. "The only way you can help her, is if you help her now. Every mystery unravels itself Twilight, and until it does, you should make sure that her future matters more than her past." Luna smiles before her horn starts glowing, creating small sparks around her. The moon begins to lift up as Luna pulls it above the sky, creating a dark but colourful atmosphere. The blue tint echoes inside of the room, making it all shade and blend together. Luna's horn dulls as the moon slows its ascent. "I hope my words help you Twilight. I'm afraid it's all I can share with you, as it's as much on the subject I know." Twilight smiles and nods to Luna. "Thank you Princess, you were a big help. I'll make sure to do what's right for Scootaloo." Twilight bows her head lightly at Luna before walking back through the bedroom and down the stairs, back to the entrance of the castle. Scootaloo and Spike were standing there. Spike was talking with the guard while Scootaloo sat and played with her still-short mane. As Twilight approached the two, they both stood up and slowly walked outside of the castle. Twilight stopped at the guard and thanked him for accompanying the two while she was busy talking to the Princesses. The guard only nodded and saluted her. Scootaloo jumped up in excitement at Twilight. "Is Rainbow Dash getting released? What time? Where? Will I get to see her soon?!" Twilight giggled and smiled to her. "Of course she's getting released, and you will get to see her soon, I promise." Scootaloo stopped bouncing up and down and just smiled as they all walked over to the train station and back to Ponyville. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash was getting released from the cell. She gave the torn page she grabbed over to one of the guards; she nervously smiled as she was then guided outside the castle and out into the main area of Canterlot. After the guards who guided her went away, she galloped over to the train station in hopes her friends would still be there, waiting for her. The night was beautiful, a blistering light shone from the moon itself. The stars were an echoing bright light in the midst of the dark purple night sky. There couldn't have been a more perfect night than this.
I Dream to Fly	Epilogue	"Ready or not here I come!" Spoke Rainbow Dash, who had just uncovered her eyes. She looked around at the lush fields of grass that went on for miles, accompanied by plentiful hiding spots a pony would have been able to sit in. There were a few small trees every now and then, bridging the gap between Fluttershy's cottage and Applejack's barn. Rainbow zipped around the grass, inspecting every potential hiding spot she could think of. Her searches came up blank, not being able to spot anypony in the time it took her to circle the area. Eventually she dropped back down to the ground, trotting over to the shade of a small tree, most likely attempting to get a better look around her without the burning hot sunlight in her eyes. She sat down and gazed over the grass again, trying to see any clues to finding the other pony she was playing hide and seek with. Suddenly the leaves shuffled slightly above her head as the branch seemed to have been moving by it's own. Intrigued by the sound, Rainbow lifted herself up with her wings and flew up to the branch before shouting. "Boo!" Scootaloo yelped and jumped from Rainbow's sudden appearance and slipped off the branch. Rainbow dashed down to the falling Scootaloo and caught her in the air, having a happy smile on her face. "Whoops, I didn't mean to scare you like that." Rainbow said, getting a better grip on Scootaloo. Scootaloo just rolled her eyes jokingly, not believing that Rainbow Dash wouldn't have done such a thing if she didn't want to scare her. "You caught me." Rainbow Dash hovered back down to the ground, dropping Scootaloo on her four legs. "I did catch you, figuratively and literally. Both at the same time." She scruffed Scootaloo's now fully grown back mane a little with her hoof. "I'll try to be more subtle next time around, don't want you falling off of anything high again." They both sat down beside each other, Scootaloo taking no time in hugging Rainbow Dash from the side. Rainbow slid her arm around Scootaloo and pulled her in more, rubbing her shoulder softly. The wind moved through the grass and leaves, making a relaxing sounding breeze, causing the already beautiful sunny day to become that much sunnier. "I love you, Rainbow Dash." Scootaloo said in a soft voice, rubbing her cheek against Rainbow's cyan fur. Rainbow Dash herself just smiled down to Scootaloo softly. "And I love you too, Squirt." Rainbow said, looking to the direction of Ponyville before pulling her gaze back down to Scootaloo, who was still just hugging her tight. While Rainbow Dash and many others had questions about Scootaloo's life, specifically of her family, there wasn't much of a way to get those questions answered. At least not yet. But it didn't matter in that moment, there was no point in worrying about questions to do with Scootaloo's past, when what trully mattered was her bright and special future. Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash were happy, now both living in Rainbow Dash's cloud mansion in the sky, away from the dirty run down home that Scootaloo had once lived in. Her entire room had been emptied of all valuables and was placed in a room Rainbow Dash had given her inside her mansion. Under the affectionate love and care of Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo was beginning to fly. Maybe even physically. The End.
The Fragrance of Dark Coffee	pre	When they reached Pony Joe's Twilight made an audible gasp and jumped excitedly. Celestia laughed at the reaction and simply opened the door for the young scholar to enter the building. Celestia followed suit. The pair didn't need to look at the menu as they both had been at the establishment many times prior. Twilight very vividly recalled all the times Cadance and Shining Armor would take her out after achieving a good grade on her assignment. And because she had gotten good grades all the time they saw the storefront of Pony Joe's a lot. They approached the nervous cashier, who seem to be a new hire, and Celestia placed an order of half a dozen donuts. "What do you want, Twilight?" She tapped her hoof to her chin, "I think half a dozen donuts will be enough, but anything else you have in mind?" "A dark roast?" Celestia smiled but shook her head, "No, how are you supposed to sleep with caffeine in your system?" "That's the point, Princess," she said flatly like the answer was as obvious as Star Swirl's imbrication spells. "I want to finish this book!" Twilight explained holding up the giant tome. Celestia laughed and turned back to the cashier, "The six donuts will be all." The two chose a seat in the corner, away from the rest of the patrons of the local donut shop. As soon as they sat down Celestia took no time to devour the vanilla-glazed donuts while Twilight flipped through her book. "I forgot how good these were!" Celestia said in-between bites. Twilight nodded and took a Boston cream, taking small bits instead. The only thing on her mind was how she wished her parents were here right now to be able to taste the delicious donuts. Such a preposterous thought, they were busy with their jobs after all. "I think they have a delivery service, you could always have them delivered to the castle for you, Princess." Twilight pointed out. She jokingly rolled her eyes, "It's not the same as eating them in-house. It's like reading a book in your room compared to reading it in the library." Twilight laughed at the comparison, "I suppose." Celestia shallowed before she asked, "What are you reading?" Twilight perked up, the Princess never fails to ask her about the things she learned and actually understands them. A trait her parents lack, which just made Twilight more frustrated when she tried to explain the simplest of concepts to be met with an awkward grin and a nod. "The Displacement of Notable Runes!" Twilight said eagerly. She pointed the book towards the Princess. Celestia squinted to try to make out the title to no use. How anyone could read the faded letters was beyond her. "Runes? You won't touch the topic until maybe in a few years from now..." she said pondering the curriculum for a second. "Is it interesting?" Twilight nodded, "Oh yes, Princess! It's crazy to see how magic is so consistent in Equestria. It's something that can remain unchanged for so many centuries, and the structure can stay exactly the same as if it was cast yesterday!" Celestia smiled at her excitement over magic, "Magic is truly remarkable. You can spend a lifetime learning it and you wouldn't have made a dent in fully understanding it. Even I don't understand it completely. It doesn't help that magic is ever-changing. We will continue to develop new spells for centuries to come. After all, magic is eternal, as it takes shape in many different forms." Twilight's eyes widened at the idea and the endless pursuit of magic. Truly endless if the Princess herself hasn't learned everything there is to learn about the subject. Magic was infinite. Twilight continued to take small bites out of her donut until she was finished. When Twilight was about to take another she noticed the center plate completely empty. Looking up at Celestia, she had her mouth stuffed with the reminisce of the last donut. Celestia shallowed and used a napkin to wipe the evidence, the crumbs, away. "Ahem- those were really good," she said cooly trying to uphold her perfect image. Twilight laughed earnestly at the dismissive attempt which made Celestia smile. "We should probably head back to the castle now, I have to raise the moon," she said after glancing up at the clock behind them. "I'll teleport us back, to avoid the crowd," she winked. With a glow of her horn, they instantly appeared on her room balcony. Celestia stood tall overlooking the small towns below Canterlot and waited to feel the gust of wind blow her mane. Flaring her wings out she closed her eyes. Feeling the celestial body of the sun being lowered she brought the moon up. The sky was now dark and she stared intently at the moon for a few moments before turning behind her to meet Twilight whose eyes were wide. "That was amazing, Princess!" She clapped. "It becomes less impressive after doing it for so long, but I'm glad you think that, Twilight." She smiled. "Say, how about we have a sleepover with some hot cocoa too," she offered, hoping to prolong their time together. Celestia was being selfish. Twilight beamed, "That would be great, Princess." Celestia smiled, "I'll be right back, then." She teleported to the kitchen briefly to collect some mugs of hot chocolate before joining Twilight back in her chamber. When she returned Twilight was sitting on the couch across from the fireplace, reading her book. She offered the mug to her and Twilight took it with her own magic. She took a sip of the drink and smiled, satisfied at the flavours. "Thank you, Princess." "Better than bleak coffee?" Celestia asked, taking a sip from her own mug. Twilight pondered for a moment and shook her head, "No, close though." "Fine. But it won't be long until you become an avid tea lover," Celestia jokingly said. Twilight rolled her eyes, "I am not going to your tea parties, Princess." "I'll start hosting them on weekends to avoid them affecting your schedule, you should give them a chance getting to know your peers is a wonderful occasion!" Celestia said taking another sip of her hot cocoa. She had expected Twilight to give a snarky reply, in fact, she wanted it and the sarcasm that came with it. But instead, the small filly was silent. Tears were flowing down her face. She tried blinking them away, but they just kept coming. Celestia panicked, she hadn't meant for her to cry. "Oh, Twilight, I was just teasing you don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with," she said trying to calm her down. But Twilight just shook her head. Not meeting Celestia's eyes, "I'm not upset over that, Princess," she said quietly. "Then what's wrong, my faithful student?" She softly asked. "I'm not supposed to be free on the weekends. I should be with my parents," Twilight said, rubbing her eyes to dispel the teats. "I want to go on stupid rides around the city, I want to casually get donuts and just talk about things I used to enjoy before I thought I was too old to enjoy them! It's just not the same as it was!" She cried. Celestia pulled Twilight close to her and brushed her mane in a comforting gesture with her hoof. That seemed to help. "Twilight, even though you have changed their presence in your life hasn't, although they have a hard time understanding you now it doesn't change the fact they still love you very much," she whispered in her ear. "I know, I know..." Twilight repeated, it was as if she was grieving someone, something. And the more she was saying it the more it seemed like she was trying to convince herself. That she hadn't believed Celestia's words at all so perhaps if she agreed to it verbally it will be the truth. Pathetic memories and new memories were all morphing together. Celestia didn't know what more to do except hold her close and reassure her and repeat the simple statement that they indeed loved their own daughter was indelible even if they don't understand her as well anymore. But for now, all Celestia could do was book her schedule off on weekends to compensate for her woes. And make it so each time they spent time together she would be able to forget about the change in the relationships around them. It was the least she could do for a filly she had grown to care and love for. A love as infinite and unchangeable as magic itself. ☆ ☆ ☆ "I didn't see much of my parents after I got my cutie-mark," Twilight said evenly in an attempt to hide her underlying feelings for the topic. Upon seeing the frown appear on Starlight's face Twilight continued to forgo any bad connotations to the claim. "We just got caught up with our own schedules and when they tried to make plans I was so absorbed in dusty old books that I didn't bother. They never gave up though and eventually I was coaxed out of my shell. I guess it is possible to be too caught up in academia," she said with a light-hearted chuckle. Starlight smiled. "Huh, so Princess Celestia acted as a secondary parent figure for you when you had your nose in the wonders of books or whatever," she said with a twirl of her hoof and a roll of her eye. Celestia's eyes widened, she was ready to deny the comparison entirely. "Actually, I think Twilight--" "Yeah, I suppose she was," Twilight answered simply. Celestia looked down at Twilight, she met her gaze. Magenta met vibrant purple, Twilight, and smiled. Celestia's heart soared at her response. What was this feeling?
The Fragrance of Dark Coffee	Nightmares - 1	The castle was silent. Absolutely silent. The slow hollow creak of the rusting castle door and the gentle sound from her hooves making an impact on the cold, smooth crystal floors were the only familiar features when she entered. Except, they too ringed a little too loud, a little too eerie. Even for a pony who enjoys her time alone, everything seemed too empty to the point that it was unnerving. Twilight turned left towards a corridor, searching for any signs of her roommates. She started opening multiple doors at a time with her magic in a frantic attempt to find any indication of an ounce of life. Every time she would be met with the same empty rooms. And every time she would grimace, the line of sweat and her nervous expression which she had tried so hard to mask were now on full display. Even the very corridors she was in seemed to torment her. From their dark uncertainty with nothing but sharp shadows to accompany them without any sort of light to create them save for the cool glow of mist that blew below her. She could've sworn she installed some lanterns in this part of her home. Twilight turned to retrace her steps then suddenly paused when a violet shriek pulled her in another direction. Her eyes became wild hearing the voice and before she knew it she was running towards the scream; at a pace, she couldn't fathom herself. Picking up more and more speed she seeped further into the abyss of a home she shouldn't feel uncertain in. All she could make out were the painful, torturous echoes. The sheer pain of the noise beckoned her to reach it faster, quicker, sooner. She just couldn't. Twilight was running as fast as she could, striking her hooves harder and harder on the ground beneath her, which threatened it to shatter from the might of her pounding strides. Her breathing became rigid, each breath was taking all her power to summon. Oxygen. Something so simple, prevalent, and abundant seemed to be avoiding her like she was the plague. Something so easy to do, the act of breathing, was now taking her all her remaining energy. She could cast the most powerful spells ever created but now she's struggling to be alive? She could feel her momentum starting to fail as the suffocating feeling was completely immersing her body; causing her legs to become immobilized as if there were heavy bricks encasing them. Until her whole body gave in and she collapsed. The screams, the loud screams, that had been so far away, were now punishing her. They were becoming banshees, berating her for her endless failures in not reaching them in time. All Twilight could do was shield her ears with her wings and wait until they were finished. Except now, they were slithering into her head, her very mind. Their voices became so loud, so close, and clear they could have well been originating inside her own being. Twilight stayed, unwavering in her position. "Make it stop," she weakly pleaded. The sudden sound of someone approaching made her peer out of her protective stance. Hopeful for a brief moment, before that feeling too, was swept away. Her irises moved wildly as she recognized who was in front of her. And she wanted nothing more than to snap her neck and wipe her existence into oblivion. Chrysalis licked her lips as if she was ready for a feast she spent hours preparing. "I reveled in this sight-- hah, seeing you at my mercy brings me so much joy!" Twilight groaned, too exhausted from the agony the screams caused her. They sucked out her strength to even reply. "You really thought you had bested me?" Chrysalis sang, bringing her narrow head to bask in Twilight's cowardice. "Yes," Twilight murmured earnestly. This was the third time now? She raised an eyebrow and smiled. "My my, you are foolish indeed, and they call you the smart one? The wedding was a good effort. I commend you for seeing through my disguise when no one else had. But our latest conquest? You really have no excuse for that now. I would be ashamed to call you my Princess. It's a good thing I'm not a pony then, huh? I don't have to admit that the pony who swore to protect me completely failed in the most humiliating way possible!" Twilight stared intently at the love-leeching monster, not protesting anything she said. She lay picturing and feeling the experience from her green, gooey enclosure. It made her tremble. It was suffocating. All she had was her gasping breath to stay alive and though she wasn't awake she could hear it--the struggle and hopelessness of the whole ordeal. The worst part though? Were the damn taunts from that stupid bug. She would rather have her frantic breathing drive her to insanity than have that grotesque monster mutter another word to her. And now that very bug was standing right before her, perhaps considering whether or not to capture her or just end it right here and now. Twilight begged for the latter. She couldn't go through all of it again. "What do you want?" Twilight whispered, hoping that everything would end in an instant if she appeased her. She smiled and shook her head. "I already have what I want. Starlight out of the way, the Princesses at my mercy, your idiotic friends gone." Twilight shook her head, grief wasn't registering in her head, she was too tired. "No. No. No," she repeated carelessly, "What do you want from me?" "What more can you offer me? Seeing you like this? Ah- love it. I love it!" Chrysalis said and clapped mockingly. Twilight slumped and the humiliation was now deluding her core. She felt so small and helpless. Perhaps if she allowed the Queen to keep pestering her she'll become bored and move on. Move on to bigger things like conquering Equestria or a parade around Canterlot. Anything. Anything at all, besides harassing a limp princess with no will to contest her enemy's weak attempt to break her soul. Embarrassingly it was working. Each time she had seen Chrysalis and each time she vanquished her, the evil, annoying demon would always come back. And each time her spirit would break. Little by little, until the next occasion. "I think you'll like me more if I was gone. Out of your sight, completely." She pondered the sentiment before shaking her head, "You don't get to escape me that easily Princess Twilight Sparkle. Where's the fun in that?" She really enunciated her title, hearing it was like a jab, a bitter reminder of how far from the image of the almighty alicorn, feared by anyone who dared catch her gaze. Twilight chuckled, it was a hollow sound that lacked any merit of amusement she saw in Chrysalis' resolve. "You're so dumb." Oddly enough, she didn't sneer at the statement. "Oh? You're more interesting than I thought. It's funny because you're in no position to say that. Am I really the dumb one out of the two of us? Aren't you the one to let everything slip under your hoof? You couldn't tell that we were replacing everyone you hold so dear. Powerless and utterly stupid, Princess," she snarled. "That part may be true. But it's not over yet, Chrysalis. As long as I'm still breathing I am here and alive. It will be enough for Equestria to remain safe." She whispered, a part of her believed it, even if it sounded wildly preposterous. Chrysalis gave an uncharacteristic boisterous laugh, wiping a tear away before starting her counter, "You really are delusional..." Twilight couldn't catch the rest of Chrysalis' dialogue as her ears were filled with the piercing howls of the souls of Equestria she failed to protect. Twilight finally closed her eyes, accepting the sensation of defeat. She could make out the sound of Chrysalis' tormenting laughter so clearly. The chortle from her enemy was the last thing she heard before her whole vision was filled with darkness and the cold floor she became so accustomed to falling away. She basked in the lunge, at least now, she was away from the terrors... ☆ ☆ ☆ Twilight shot up immediately. Her breathing was rigid as if they were coming out like she almost drowned and a cold sweat drenched her mane. She blinked away the fog that appeared when she awoke from every nightmare and concentrated on her breathing. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. Exhale, exhale, exhale- It felt like an entirety of just trying to steady her breathing. All the self-regulation techniques flooded her mind. She needed something to cling onto reality. Thankfully they started becoming less like greedy panting and more substantial breaths. Smoothing out her mane and coat she started to feel a little calmer. Until the slight rapping of her door startled her all over again. "Uhm, Twilight? Are you okay?" A small voice asked, the hesitation revealed that they had been at her door for quite some time. "W-we're coming in!" Another voice said. Twilight closed her eyes, she didn't want to glance at her friends just yet. Taking a few more seconds to compose herself. When she looked at her new company she could feel that everything was going to pour out. Starlight and Spike stood in her entranceway. Their eyes displayed nothing but concern for their friend. They made their way towards Twilight, taking gentle strides to her bed, careful to not startle her anymore. "I'm fine," she said, she surprised herself with how even and calm she sounded. Though her voice came out steady her body language clearly communicated that she was not in a state to have a conversation with them. Spike crawled up and hugged her tightly. Placing his head firmly in the crook of Twilight's arm. Starlight gave her a sympathetic smile and offered her a glass of water, which she eagerly took, taking hungry gulps to soothe the sudden dryness in her throat. Twilight nearly broke down at that moment, her composure was now almost failing her. Everything was falling apart and she didn't know why.
The Fragrance of Dark Coffee	Nightmares - 2	Celestia sat perfectly upright as she jotted down notes for the upcoming negotiation. The slight flicker of the lit candle on her grand oak desk illuminated the left side of her face, revealing the raw tiredness she felt from the long day prior. She would let out the occasional yawn and use her hoof to cover her face so as to not acknowledge her fatigue entirely. A light known on her door created a distinct reverberation throughout her room. She paused her writing, the quill at a standstill as she perked up at the new foreign noise. Setting her quill aside and rolling up the scroll she was working on she then took her time to blink away her lethargy before acknowledging her guest. "Come in," she beckoned to the pony awaiting her on the other side. The rustic door creaked, from the years of worn. "Sister?" a soft voice said as they entered Celestia's massive bed-chambers. Celestia immediately turned her attention to face her sister. Her eyebrows furrowed upon seeing the night princess. When Luna entered her room directly it was often a time of desperation, a matter to be discussed instantly. Celestia started to worry about what news her little sister brought tonight, although she hadn't even explained it yet. Luna moved to take a seat in one of her lounge chairs by the fireplace, taking her time to adjust her position. She motioned for Celestia to sit as well. Climbing to the one adjacent she joined Luna as they sat in a comfortable silence in front of the fire. Luna's slumped shoulders told her that it had been a long day for her as well. "It's about Twilight Sparkle," Luna started. She perked up hearing the name, and a new wave of concern washed over her. "Twilight?" Celestia asked to clarify if she had heard her correctly. Luna nodded then frowned, she looked towards the window to avoid her sister's dire eyes for an answer. "Yes, it's a matter I think you would be best equipped to handle." "What is it?" Celestia said urgently, her worry was now ceasing the fatigue she had felt earlier. Luna hesitated before explaining, "I think the years of confrontations with enemies are taking a massive toll on her. The recent emergence of Queen Chrysalis especially is causing her distress." She paused, studying Celestia for a while to only be met with narrowing eyes: hidden fury. "After all those battles, anyone is bound to break. It takes a toll on your psyche. I am surprised she was able to keep going for so long..." At some point, Luna's words didn't reach her. All Celestia could focus on was her seething anger. The anger she felt and withheld. She swore to annihilate the bug monster if given the opportunity. Though the anger she felt seemed to fade and became a secondary emotion. Now, her heart began to well up in sudden pain and longing. A sudden need to pull Twilight to Canterlot, to her side, to safety. "Twilight..." she breathed, still processing through her initial reaction. "We must do something about this! How could you have oversight this?!" Celestia nearly yelled, her anger was trying to find anyone to latch onto at this moment. Luna scoffed at the unwarranted personal jab. "I did not overlook this," she said in a dangerously low tone that commanded her respect back. "Believe me; I tried, Celestia. Do you think I enjoyed seeing her in pain every night?" "Every night," Celestia repeated to herself. "And you did nothing?" "Sister! I cannot do anything, that is why I came to you!" Luna exclaimed, finally not taking any more of her sister's blame. Celestia's eyes widened, fear was overtaking her. "What do you mean you can't do anything?" Luna sighed in a confession of defeat, "She has sealed me off. Kept me out of her nights. How she could have learned that is beyond me. A strong illusion spell was easy to unmask, but the protection spell? It's something akin to Shining Armor's. It's a ridiculously powerful shield spell- That's beside the point though, I believe she didn't want anyone to know. It's beside me why that only she could answer. However, what I do know is that they have been happening." She winced, "I can't believe... How is that possible? I hadn't taught her how to use magic within dreams- But, you're certain I can do something about it?" Luna sat her hoof on Celestia's shoulder, a gesture of nothing but trust and reassurance, "I know you can, sister. The love between-- teacher and student transcends the toughest of shields." Celestia pondered what she said for a moment. "This burden. For how long?" "Months," she said regrettably. "Months," Celestia softly repeated. "Every night... Luna, what sort of- mentor does that make me? I should've recognized this sooner!" Luna shook her head, "You couldn't have known. Even I was deceived for some time before I noticed her illusion spells seemed rather off. No one has the same dream of recategorizing the Crystal Empire's library every single night," she laughed dryly. Celestia laughed at the notion as well, which instantly lightened the mood. "Thank you for telling me, Luna. And I'm sorry for snapping at you," she said earnestly. "It's fine. Truly. Though I don't share the same love you have for Twilight, I do care for her. She was my first friend after all," she smiled. ☆ ☆ ☆ Celestia sent the letter out that night. It was an invitation: to come to Canterlot immediately for assistance with the negotiation between Trottingham and Griffonstone. It was the perfect farce. Allows Twilight to get practice in diplomacy and have her away from the place that festered all of this. A guard entered the throne room, halting her train of thought. He gave a low polite bow before speaking before her, "Princess, she's here." Celestia nodded, a smile instantly manifested unknowingly. Setting aside the scroll she was reading she immediately began to make her way toward the southwest tower of the castle. Twilight's tower. When she turned the corridor, staff members were completely distraught with the appearance of another princess in the castle. They were sweeping and scrubbing the windows at a record pace as this particular section of the castle was the most neglected. Celestia gave all of them a polite, reassuring smile before she started to climb the steps. Reaching the top she tapped gently on the door. It took a few more knocks until her presence could be acknowledged. But when the door did open the first time she noticed were the eyebags. Aggressive dark circles under her eyes that were starkly uncharacteristic compared to the happiness she displayed upon seeing her. "Princess Celestia!" Twilight exclaimed, approaching the princess with an affectionate nuzzle. "It's good to see you too, Twilight," she breathed, relieved. "I'm glad you're here, there is much to do in Canterlot," she said, pulling apart from the exchange. Twilight nodded eagerly, "Of course Princess, I'm happy to be of service." Celestia giggled at her excitement, "The debate is in an hour, are you prepared?" She nodded quickly, "Yup! I've been actually following the issue for a while now!" Twilight jumped in enthusiasm. She cast a levitation spell which made stacks, upon stacks of paper approach Celestia to support her claim. Her shocked expression from the well-prepared notes made Twilight grin proudly. "Perfect," Celestia beamed, "I expected no less from Equestria's best diplomat." Twilight blushed from the compliment, "Thank you, Princess!" Celestia motioned to the door, "I think we should get set up first in the conference room. It gives us an opportunity to catch up too," she offered. "Good idea!" Twilight exclaimed and swiftly stuffed her notes in her saddle bag and followed the princess out of her tower and to the corresponding corridor. As the pair made their way to the conference room, Twilight took her time looking at the change in flowers displayed in the garden and smiled and waved to the castle guards. It had been a while since her last stay in Canterlot and she was taking in the new changes with an awe a newborn could only possess. Celestia smiled seeing Twilight adapt back into the environment and satisfied, she was able to take her away from Ponyville briefly to enjoy time together: albeit through work. "I was wondering how the efforts after the Changeling attack are going?" Celestia asked, her eyes trailing Twilight's expression to gauge her reaction to the sensitive topic. Twilight paused pondering how to put everything in concise words. She opened the grandiose door to the conference room taking her time to just think as the Princesses took their seats on the head of the table and gave a polite wave to Raven, Celestia's aide, who was already in the room set up. "Surprisingly well," she started. "Everyone in Ponyville continued back into their lives fairly quickly- I think we're just all glad to get out of that gooey encasing..." Twilight shivered remembering the feeling. Celestia frowned, though slightly, "That's wonderful to hear. How are you holding up? I can imagine how busy you are leading the repairs," she said, honestly concerned for her well-being. "I'm fine, Princess. It's my duty," she said dismissively, waving off Celestia's concerns and averting her gaze. Celestia put a wing under Twilight's chin and lifted her head towards her so their eyes could meet, "Have you been getting enough rest?" She turned away from the Princess and dismissed her affection. Twilight shook her head, "I'm not a foal anymore. You don't need to worry about me." Celestia slumped, "Sometimes I can't help to..." she whispered under her breath. "Twilight-" The door swung open making a distinguishable woosh noise which drew their eyes to the newcomer, "AH PRINCESSES," he roared, his voice travelled and ringed throughout the room. "It's good to see you this afternoon! Thank you for hearing what we have to say!" He boomed. Celestia gave the pegasus a polite smile, "Of course, Bright Wing. The well-being of Equestria is of utmost importance to maintain. The issue with the griffons is no different in upholding this." Bright Wing nodded enthusiastically and took his seat on the left of Twilight. He adjusted the name card on the table before crossing, setting notes neatly beside him. The door opened again, this time a griffon with a badge of the symbol of Griffonstone entered, his posture was strong and righteous, it commanded respect. The scars lining his face conveyed that he shouldn't be crossed either. "Your majesty, your highness," he said, getting into a low respectful bow before them. "Thank you for allowing us to settle this issue in your presence." Celestia nodded in acknowledgment of the Griffonstone ambassador and continued to wait as the rest of the delegates filed into the room. One by one everyone took their seats and talked amongst themselves amicably. After everyone seemed to be settled Raven cleared her throat to gather the attention in the room. "We will begin. We will give time for General Blackbeak first." Blackbeak stood up tall from his seat, "We understand the recent event of the Changeling attack has taken a large toll on the resources in Trottingham, specifically food. As we know, Trottingham was hit the hardest in the recent attack because it was the hub for Changeling. They leeched off the city's supplies as they continued to make their strategic advances into Equestria. As we have an alliance with Equestria Griffonstone was swift to enact a system to export food and other resources to the city. However, Griffonstone should not be the sole provider of food for the city. Especially considering Equestria as a whole, has an abundance of food it can transport to Trottingham. Having Griffonstone continue to export to the city is not plausible," he finished sitting down again. The table muttered in agreement, they were already on the same page before the meeting and had no objections to the statement General Blackbeak made. The Trottingham ambassador, Bright Wing, stood up to reply, "We understand that, as an emergency period we have accepted supplies from Griffonstone as it was out of urgency, it's a fact Griffons deliver much faster than ponies. That was why we kept having Griffonstone resources exported. It was a matter of life or death for the residents of Trottingham." General Blackbeak nodded, "I think we need a change of agreement then. It isn't sustainable for Trottingham to continue to have resources from Griffonstone when the attack was months ago. Everything is back to normal now, and everyone is fine. What we need is the smooth transition of suppliers." "We agree. We're prompting this in front of your majesty, and your highness purely because of efficiency. If you can waive a solution it can be enacted quicker than if it was processed through," Bright Wing stated. "And this is an urgent matter, if we do not figure out a way to get resources to Trottingham then the city will be in ruins," General Blackbeak explained, choosing his words wisely to convey the detriment of the issue if it is not dealt with properly. Celestia nodded, taking the situation in. She turned to Twilight, who was furiously scribbling down everything that was exchanged faster than Raven herself. She cleared her throat to catch the attention of her former student, "Twilight, do you have an idea?" Twilight set down her quill and rolled up her scroll in satisfaction, she smiled, "In fact, I do Princess." "Then go ahead, I trust you," she whispered. "Thank you." Twilight flared her wings grabbing the attention of the room, "It is clear that the system in place currently is not sustainable for both cities. Continuing this will only drive both under. Because Griffonstone's resources are also quite scarce too. Am I correct with this assumption?" Blackbeak grunted, "Yes, you are right, your highness." "Then I agree with what is being said, that change needs to happen. I propose this: we'll have farms such as Appleloosa supply food. Manehatten, who's the closest city to Trottingham can share their trades, kickstarting the economy again. While Canterlot will supply our own national guards to assist with the transportation of goods, until the city can operate on its own again without any support," Twilight said, it was a sound solution. The room all nodded. Fancy Pants put up a hoof to address the room, "I am fine with that agreement, Princess Twilight. And I am sure the rest of the ambassadors are as well?" They nodded again. "However, how is now the question. Setting up railway systems to simultaneously reach Trottingham is not viable because of time," the Manehatten ambassador interjected. Twilight hummed at the new problem the solution created. "Then we will use a different way to transport everything." Celestia raised an eyebrow, not in doubt, but in curiosity, "What do you have in mind, Princess Twilight?" "I prompt we create portals-" murmurs of uncertainty spawned before she could explain further. "A teleportation system to each city, like what is already seen with Vanhoover and Griffonstone already. I can create them myself." The Vanhoover ambassador stood up, "Are you certain, Princess? A portal spell of that caliber and size, nearly impossible," she said. General Blackbeak cleared his throat, "I believe we should trust the element of magic. One of Equestria's most potent magic wielders," he said with a bow. Twilight blushed, "Well, thank you, General. I believe I can do it, three portals set up for a limited amount of time will not be as taxing as many would believe." "Uhm, how so?" The Appleloosa ambassador asked. "The hard part of portal spells is the maintenance, the casting of it will be simple, as simple as drawing them up, it may take a bit of math and a lot of cooperation, but I am certain it will work," she clarified. Blackbeak raised his hand, "Then I'm all in!" All around the table also raised their hands in perfect agreement with the solution. "Perfect. Princess Twilight will set up portals in Manehattan, Appleloosaa, and Canterlot connecting to Trottingham to transport emergency resources. In the meantime, Griffonstone will continue to allocate supplies as they have been until this system is set up," Celestia summarized. "And Griffonstone will be compensated for your kindness of course," she added. "Sounds perfect, your majesty. Thank you," General Blackbeak said, cracking a small smile. "With that, I believe this negotiation is adjourned. Have a nice day everyone," Celestia finished. The room nodded and filed out of the room respectfully. Once everyone was out Twilight let out a sigh of relief. "Good solution, Twilight," Celestia said proudly. 'Thank you, Celestia. It looks like I have my work cut out for me," she laughed. "I'll help you. You don't have to do everything by yourself." Celestia said sternly, trying to be firm so she could understand that she didn't have to work on such a taxing project alone. Twilight smiled, "I'll appreciate that a lot. Well, I better get started on those spells." "Of course, good luck," she nodded and Twilight also exited the room. Celestia allowed her mask to slip off and the concern to come back. She was no closer to cracking her former student than she was the previous night. ☆ ☆ ☆ Celestia just entered the room after her attempt at knocking failed. She frowned seeing Twilight in her trance, completely engrossed in her book. It had been hours since the meeting and there was no sign of her halting. And the smell of newly made coffee. Celestia wanted to curse it. "Twilight, I brought you your dinner," Celestia said, placing the plate on the nearby stack of books. Twilight spun to meet Celestia when she heard her voice beside her. "Oh, Princess! You didn't need to deliver it to me, I'm nearly done," she laughed, though she was appreciative of the gesture, she was getting a little hungry. Celestia took a step to look at her whiteboard, her eyes widened, "I'm impressed, it looks done." Twilight giggled, "No, not yet. It's a rough draft. I need to re-write the sigma notations and do a test run and then we can apply it." "Always a diligent worker," she laughed. "It's getting late, promise me you'll go straight to bed after eating?" "Depends, I really want this done. I'm almost there," Twilight rebuked, turning back to look at her work jotting down a few more sentences as she did. Celestia sighed, giving in, "Just don't stay up too late?" "I'll try... but you seriously don't need to worry about me, Princess. I like to think I have a good grasp on how to take care of myself," Twilight muttered. Celestia shook her head to disagree. She was about to walk out when she felt the urge to say something else, "I want you to know that I'm always there for you, Twilight." She hummed, barely acknowledging what Celestia said, too distracted with the task at hand to give any sort of substantial reply. "I will leave you to it. Don't work yourself too hard, okay?" Celestia said earnestly. It didn't reach her ears.
The Fragrance of Dark Coffee	Nightmares - 3	Twilight was always careful not to enter the realm of dreams. Specifically REM sleep, which is the occasion that occurs when you enter a more profound slumber. Characterized by your arm and leg muscles becoming temporarily paralyzed, rapid eye moments, a faster pulse, and breathing; REM is almost integral to every night's rest. Because worse of all, most of your dreaming also happens during this time. After the tenth nightmare in a row, Twilight was cautious not to sleep more than ninety minutes at a time in an attempt to avoid REM sleep altogether. Sometimes it would work, most of the time it would not and she would wake up startled all over again. Still, with or without nightly terrors she would always wake up exhausted. So absorbing herself in work and projects had been a regular occurrence for her. She would admit that part of it was because she found the ordeal fun but having that distraction was almost an addiction she needed to feed into. Now back in Canterlot, she was working too quickly, she was almost done with the spell and it had only taken one short day and an even longer night. Twilight groaned checking her work once more and setting it back down. It was perfect. That was the problem. She had nothing to do for the rest of the night. Sleeping was not an option. Twilight shuffled the paper on her desk into a neat pile. Organizing her quills in her drawer and relit another candle. She looked over at the stack of books that needed to return and perked up. It was something to do. Picking up the top book from the pile she descended the steps from the top floor of her tower, with the glow of her horn the door opened revealing the starry sky. Twilight breathed in the salt air of the night and smiled at how such a bustling city can be so quiet and at a perfect standstill. She found it nice that she was given the opportunity to admire the beauty alone though she had hoped it would be on different terms. Trotting down the steps she turned into a corridor. Her hoof steps made an uncomfortable echo telling her that it was much too late for her to be up. And the wretched smell of the lavender flowers Luna puts up every night only teased her more. As they only communicated a bitter reminder that they were such the perfect remedy to treat insomnia and improve overall sleep quality. She paid them no attention. She turned another corner and saw the characteristic statue ahead, signaling the Canterlot Archives. Her presence alerted the guard, he immediately looked in her direction and gave a polite bow. "Princess Twilight Sparkle, are you in need of my assistance?" The guard asked in a deep voice. Twilight noticed that all the Lunar guards had the same deep voice, that masked their true intentions. His armor had a sheen produced by the little light coming through the columns that seemed to taunt her. Twilight gave her best smile nonetheless, "I'm just here to return a book," she explained holding up the old tome with her magic. The guard glanced at the book before nodding, "Of course, milady," he said before unlocking the door to the archive. "Please alert me if you need anything else." "Thank you," Twilight nodded. That should've been the end of their conversation but he continued to stare at her, his golden eyes shone excellently in the moonlight. They communicated more than routined words did. Twilight felt unnerved at feeling like he was seeing through her, "Uhm, is something wrong?" "No, enjoy the rest of the night, however long that may be, milady," he finished turning back towards the hallway, and the slated, stone-hard, expression on his face returned. Twilight shook it off and entered the room and promptly returned the book back to the designated shelf. Turning around she basked in the aroma the environment of the ancient books created and felt herself be entranced by it all. Book had much more of a calming effect than lavender, perhaps she should hang up dusty old pages around the castle instead. They would make nice decorations. Twilight yawned, her eyelids felt heavy. Perhaps a stimulant would help. When she exited the archives she passed the guard standing by the doorway. She could feel his pensive eyes trailing her as she made the turn in the direction of the castle kitchen. Glancing back she could see the foreign crease in his eyebrows, the face of concern, and the thinning of his lips to keep his mouth shut and not say something out of his boundaries as a mere guard. She paused, turning around to meet his gaze, wordlessly commanding him to speak. He turned in the other direction instantly, a hue of pink dusted his features. Twilight smiled and continued on her way. When she approached the kitchen she saw one staff in view. She hummed a simple tone as she wiped the dishes. Twilight pushed open the door and she halted her action to meet her. "Oh, Princess! I didn't think I would be seeing you tonight," she said and adjusted her apron getting ready to serve her guest. Twilight smiled, "I was just working on something for Princess Celestia, lots to do I'm afraid." That was a lie, but she didn't like invasive questions though they were just friendly conversational topics. The chef nodded, "Yes-yes, lots of hard work you're doing for us, your highness. I'm guessing you want a snack to keep you energized? I'm sure I can whip something up for you!" "Thanks, but actually I was looking for coffee," she replied. Twilight pulled multiple cabinet doors open to look for the beans, she frowned when she realized they were none. "I recalled them being here the last time I was here," she said pointing to the furthest cabinet, "Do you know where I can find them?" The chef laughed awkwardly, Twilight spared her a glare. "Princess Celestia actually took the last batch." "She what?" Twilight asked flatly. She swallowed, a bead of sweat made it down her temple before she could address the angry Princess. "She- uh, Princess Celestia took the beans this evening, your highness. We are getting a new shipment next week though! From Vanhoover too! I heard you particularly like their sourced beans!" The chef said in-between briefly laughter to calm the air around the pair. Twilight brought a hoof to her head to smooth out the sudden migraine. "Is there tea?" She asked. Tea also had caffeine in it, it would suffice. "Uhm- no, your highness." Twilight mustered a smile although the twitch in her eye contradicted her friendly appearance. "What do mean no?" "We ran out!" She squeaked. "And you're sure tea, something this castle is so plentiful of ran out when it hadn't for the past fifteen years since I've lived here?" Twilight's face was muzzle to muzzle to the chef's. Her eyes were wild. "Are you positive that a certain Princess hadn't just taken it too?" "Princess Celestia took the tea!" She yelped, jumping away from Twilight. "I-I'm sorry, your highness, but there is really nothing. I can fix something else for you instead if you like!" She offered. Twilight exhaled. "No, that's alright. Thank you," she muttered and promptly left the kitchen. Twilight was almost fuming. It was a foolish attempt to stop her. She would just wait for the sun to raise and go to Pony Joe's first thing. Easy. However, in the meantime, it will be a very long night. And the scent of lavender wasn't helping her desire of being awake. Passing by the hallway to return to her room she saw him again. He was staring directly at her and this time hadn't turned away when she locked eyes with him. Twilight halted her movement, she raised an eyebrow to beckon him to say something. He opened his mouth before closing it again. She frowned. "Is something the matter?" He hesitated. Before starting, "I might be overstepping my bounds as a guard under oath to serve you, milady. But if you're tired, don't push it. Remember to get some rest, okay?" He said with a tenderness she didn't know anyone had it in them to process. Twilight almost choked up on her words but managed to muster up the words that had defined her life now. She cracked her most convincing smile, that radiated contentment to mask her impending lie. "Don't worry, I will."
The Fragrance of Dark Coffee	Nightmares - 4	It was a foolish attempt. Celestia would admit that much. When she raided the castle kitchen of all of its caffeinated drinks and told the kitchen staff to not serve a particular restless Princess she had thought her grand idea work. That the absence of the cursed austere drink would push her to actually get some rest even if it meant she would've passed out on the ground. Except in the morning when she passed by the young Princess with a smug grin and a paper cup from the local coffee shop just down the street her victory was instantly dashed away. 'They even gave me a discount! Free for royalty!' She recalled Twilight's taunt. Celestia could particularly hear the underlying laughter weaved through. It had started to physically hurt her to see the husk of a pony Twilight was. Zombie-like in every way, dragging her feat to the next meeting, and smiling on command. Celestia wanted more than anything else for everything to be fixed immediately. Now it was the third day of her stay in Canterlot. That was three whole days now that Celestia has not seen Twilight sleep. Celestia was getting so desperate. She breathed a sigh of defeat which made Raven perk up beside her, awaiting to be addressed. "I want everything from eight p.m. to be pushed to tomorrow," Celestia calmly stated to her aide. Raven closed her eyes holding back a criticism. Over the years she had come to understand that for Princess Celestia, although as a ruler of a prominent nation with a lot of important items to complete daily, it never truly mattered. Because nothing was more important than the well-being of her former student. Raven's lips thinned, creating a profound silence between the monarch and her assistant. Celestia raised her eyebrow, awaiting the certain rebuttal that never fail to come. "Are you sure, your majesty?" She said enunciating each word carefully. "You still have to meet with the senior lieutenant for an update of Canterlot's security this month." "That can wait, Equestria has been pushed into the longest age of peace thanks to Princess Twilight's multiple outstanding efforts," she smiled, reminiscing on Twilight's past accomplishments, pride was masking her abilities. "Tell Lieutenant Flash Wave that I will meet with her tomorrow morning, promptly at sunrise." "Yes, your majesty," Raven mustered and gave her a curt, respectful nod before leaving her alone to admire the line of towering stain-glass before her. Although she cleared her daily to-do list a new one was already forming inside her head. And the top of the list was getting Twilight to go to sleep. ☆ ☆ ☆ It was easy to find Twilight. The spell of dark roasted coffee easily revealed her location. The castle staff or anyone in the castle would have brushed off the constant smell but it was simply too signature for Celestia to ignore. Just like a unicorn's magical signature, or a pony's cutie-mark, Twilight had her own secondary signature, being the fragrance of dark coffee. Celestia had learned that Twilight in particular liked her coffee with no sugar, no milk, no cream, no nothing, or anything for that matter. Oftentimes she had caught herself wondering if she just chews on the coffee grounds themselves like gum. It made the area that she was working in for the night have a distinct airy taste in the air if that was even possible. She followed the scent to an obvious location. Regardless of the added background information, it was a relatively easy guess for anyone to assume where she was. Twilight had been in the same space for the last few days, her own private study. Celestia had commissioned it herself for her beloved student when her studies began to become more taxing and exceeded the space in the castle's archives. It had been one of Luna's rooms, the interior hinted at the night as it was in fairly dark spruce wood and an entrancing ebony desk. The intricate patterns in the wood reflected the reminisce of her little sister, faint constellations could be traced if one took the time to notice. It was here within such a breathtaking room that she found Twilight scowling at some papers probably regarding litigation or their upcoming exhibition. Or perhaps it was the increasingly dark eye-bags that were forming that made her seem angrier than she really was. Celestia leaned on the doorway and admired her calculated movements for someone who was so sleep-deprived. "You know what they say, everything's better with a well-rested mind," she started. Twilight slowly looked up at Celestia and welcomed her with her tired eyes. "And you know I've never followed that philosophy," Twilight said with a smirk. Celestia allowed herself to laugh remembering all the time they had found themselves in this similar situation. Where Celestia would catch her working late in the night and adamantly make her go to sleep. "I hate your determination, or should I call it stubbornness?" Twilight rolled her eyes, "I am not stubborn." "Sure," she carelessly agreed and smiled, arguing a fact was rather baseless. "Still I want you to get some sleep." Twilight gave her a sheepish smile, and with a wave, she insisted, "I will, I will later. I just need to-" her quill halted mid-sentence, she was completely blindsided that her company would interfere with her own levitation spell. "Nope, right now," Celestia knew 'later' was indefinite for Twilight. Later could've easily meant the next new moon. "But-" Celestia held her hoof up, "No buts!" with a firm hold on Twilight with her magic she was marching her to the direction of her room. Completely exhausted Twilight had trouble commanding her own magic, her reaction time was non-existent and it was too late to protest. "H-hey! Put me down, Princess-!" At this point, the more Twilight frailed around in her grasp the more attention was being drawn. At some point the castle's staff were eyeing the pair wildly; a few guards snickered at the sight of the reigning monarch levitating Princess Twilight. The scowl on her face was utterly priceless. "Absolutely not!" Celestia laughed which could be heard down the hallway and the fading efforts of Twilight's weak attempt to stop her. When they made it to Twilight's untouched room she gently laid her on the bed and pulled the covers over her. Fatigue was overtaking her body, the effect of the coffee long gone, and what was left was the built-up exhaustion from the last three days. "Goodnight, Twilight," Celestia said, running a hoof through her mane in a comforting gesture. "This isn't over yet Celestia-" a yawn escaped from her mouth before she even had the chance to finish her sentence. Celestia raised an eyebrow and grinned, "Sweet dreams," she taunted but before she could turn and leave she felt a subtle hold on her arm. Though Twilight could physically feel herself falling into the realm of the unconscious she took all her remaining energy to reach out and grab Celestia. In a last-ditch effort to ensure that she wouldn't be alone as she embraced the torments of the night again. ☆ ☆ ☆ She was stirring again. Celestia noticed and was thankful she had stayed by her side. Her furrowed eyes and the occasional groans that escaped made it more obvious that she was in pain no matter how hard she tried to conceal it when she was awake. "Twilight," Celestia began, hoping that addressing her would wake her up to no avail. "Twilight," she said more firmly, this time with the slightest nudge. By the slightest contact, Twilight's eyes shot wide open. She was awake and immediately sat right up. She took a few seconds to blink away the fatigue, the disorienting feeling made her breathing become increasingly uneven. Celestia stared at her former student, concern etched on her features after seeing the violent reaction. Hesitating for a moment, she began to hold her. "Where am I?" Twilight asked desperately with shaking in her voice. Her eyes were dilated not yet aware. Twilight felt so far away from herself until she hears Celesti'a incantation and touch. "You're in Canterlot, in your childhood bedroom, in my arms, safe. You're safe here, you're safe with me," Celestia whispered softly in her ear. Twilight turned her face to bury it in Celestia's chest. She rubbed circles onto her back. Eventually, after some time, her breathing returned to a reasonable pace. Celestia wasn't new to this position, oftentimes Twilight craved physical affection of some sort after an altercation, be it after saving Equestria for the seventh time or after doing well on a test. However, now it was different. She was seeking comfort. Celestia felt a sudden pain welling up in her heat and pulled Twilight closer to stroke her mane. They stayed like that for a while. Celestia's comforting touch and Twilight's rigid breathing. Eventually, Twilight glanced up from the embrace to see Celestia's signature smile. Light and tender, that somehow converge that message 'your safe with me.' How could a simple smile do this was beyond her understanding, but what Twilight did know is that only Celestia could pull it off. She looked away from her mentor and buried her face back into her chest. "Make it stop," she pleaded softly, only quiet enough for Celestia to hear although she knew she could be as loud as she wanted as they were the only ones in the room. Celestia allowed Twilight to rest on her forearm, "Twilight what's wrong?" she urged. "I don't know," she admitted. "But, I keep seeing them, constantly, every single night." "You've been having nightmares?" Twilight nodded though it could've been missed if she hadn't been in her arms. "I know it's stupid, every pony else is perfectly fine but I'm still stuck, Celestia. I'm scared. So scared and it shouldn't be like this. I know it's dumb, I'm sorry. I'm sorry you're seeing me like this right now. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Celestia." When she finished, tears were freely falling down and the suppressed cries came out and her breathing quickened once more. Celestia's heart shattered into a million pieces. Her heart ached. It was completely different when Twilight cried. She has rarely seen the young princess upset. Twilight always seemed level-headed and knew what to do in every instance. For Celestia, she has never seen Twilight falter. Even in the face of almost certain death, her composure didn't dare waver. "Twilight, it'll be okay, I promise everything will be okay," she tried reassuring her, "It's not your fault. It's not your fault," Celestia repeated. At this point she was whimpering, Celestia now knew something she was hiding for the past few months, and the whole reality she has built around herself had shattered completely, "I'm so tired, Celestia. Of constantly seeing Tirek, or Sombra, or Chrysalis taking everything away from me time and time again." "They're gone now, you defeated them with your friends in a valor display of courage," Celestia reminded her, trying to bring her back to some sense of reality. She nodded, her breathing was at a reasonable pace. But Celestia didn't dare let her go. Worried if she would everything would begin to consume Twilight once more. "I'm sorry, Celestia," Twilight muttered. "You don't need to apologize," she said firmly. She shook her head, "I didn't want to be a bother-" "Twilight," Celestia pleaded, "You are never a bother. I'm sorry you had to carry this burden for so long, you don't have to put on a front, not with me okay? Not with me." Twilight hummed too exhausted to protest, she felt her subconscious slipping away again, though this time she wasn't so scared because at least now she felt a force so strong that it was as if it was there to protect her. "Thank you, for all of this." "Of course, Twilight." Celestia naturally replied. They lapsed in silence again until an idea came to her head, "How about we make some hot coco together and we can have a sleepover together in my chambers tonight just like old times." "I would like that a lot actually."
The Fragrance of Dark Coffee	Rest	The ground below her shifted as Twilight poured everything she had in the last spell. Her eyes glowed white and the surrounding area was briefly eloped in magenta signifying her magical aura. Celestia held her hoof on her side for support. Being the only one in the vicinity to be able to get close to the caster Celestia allowed herself to be as much of a supporter as she wanted without the peering eyes of the world telling her it was improper for her to share such a close relationship with someone. Entering the forcefield of Twilight's powerful magic, a sudden wave of nostalgia washed over her. It reminded her of their first meeting, where instead of a high-stake project, it was just a simple entrance exam that somehow blew a hole in her roof. Feeling the last reminisce of the spell flee from her soul the spell made an audible sound and a gaping hole appeared and the fleeting shadows of the ponies on the other side waved at them. She had produced the final portal that connected Manehatten to Trottingham. Celestia beamed with pride from seeing such a feat be completed, it made her heart weld. The ponies beyond the hill watching at a safe distance cheered just as loud as the feeling of pure love that she held within her. "Twilight! You did it!" She yelled ecstatically, her arms were in the air and her features were etched with genuine glee, not the mask she became so accustomed to. Twilight stood eerily still in place not acknowledging the presence beside her she was still on looking at the perfect portal she had just created. Celestia's face contorted to concern immediately, her face furrowed and she nudged the young princess. Twilight's leg gave in and she bent to the ground to stabilize herself she huffed overexertion was overcoming her. Celestia rushed to support her back up, she gladly took her hoof. Turning to meet her worried eyes Twilight smiled trying to dispel her concerns for her well-being, "We did it, Celestia..." she managed to muster before collapsing right into Celestia's shoulder. Celestia held her close, "Yes, we did, Twilight. Now get some much-deserved rest," she whispered close to her ear. She hadn't heard it as she was sleeping in her grasp. Celestia couldn't help to smile at how small she looked at that very moment. ☆ ☆ ☆ Back in Canterlot tried to guide Twilight to her room, but because she was utterly knocked out carrying her seemed to be the more effective method. The castle staff stared wildly at their appearance. Sometimes she would see a noble around the corner with a scowl, probably readying to complain about how unbeknownst it was for her as the ruler to do something so trivia as to tuck an exhausted pony to bed. 'That job should be left to a servant!' She could already hear the complaints for the day court. How dare she not uphold the status pretentious quo? She paid them no mind. Celestia turned her attention behind her after hearing the huffing of another presence. It was Raven her aide, with a clipboard in hand furiously jotting down with a quill. She smiled and waited for her to catch up. "Raven, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Raven's normally bank expression was rather unpolished, her features were a bit more eccentric, "Your majesty, I didn't know you would be back so early!" Princess Celestia smiled, "Twi- Princess Twilight's spell worked more efficiently than we anticipated," she explained. "Perfect, it gives you the chance to talk to the nobles outside, they want an audience with you," Raven said adjusting her glasses. "On what basis?" Celestia asked flatly. "They want to congratulate you on the success," Raven said nervously. Celestia firmly shook her head, "I do not need to entertain them if it's just a congratulation." "Very well, Princess," she said pushing up her glasses. "Is that all?" Celestia said and raised her eyebrow waiting for another status update. Raven was in the middle of opening her mouth until Celestia spoke up again, "No? Then I want everything cleared today." "Princess!" Raven nearly shouted. Celestia perked up, "Oh? Is something the matter?" she urged. Raven cleared her voice to forgo the embarrassment, "That would mean that you will have to do everything tomorrow, we're already on a tight schedule with you taking impromptu trips to see Princess Twilight Sparkle," she muttered and almost glared at the resting princess on her back. Celestia sighed, tired of having to explain not having to appease the nobility, "They're not as pressing as ensuring her health, Raven. Everything that was pressing has already been dealt with. I can, and I will push an audience to tomorrow, it will not be the end of Equestria." "I might be speaking out of turn when I say this, your majesty," Raven started, she looked blankly at the Princess before her. Celestia perked up an interest that she was going to be challenged. "But, how come, no matter if Canterlot is burning, or a Changling invasion happened, your priority never fails to lie with Princess Twilight?" Raven asked a hint of resentment peeking through as she almost spat out the last lines. Celestia smiled, "Shouldn't your first priority be someone whom you care about no matter the occasion? Does that make you selfish for wanting to be in the company of someone you love immensely? Or want them to be safe?" Raven stayed silent. The feeling she noticed for years since Twilight moved into the castle as a filly was confirmed. Celestia defaulted to her signature smile once more, "If you would excuse me." Raven nodded and went on her way leaving the two princesses alone. She let out a sigh of relief before turning back towards the south-winged corridor and making it up the stairs to Twilight's room. She opened the door and tucked her into her bed. Celestia was about to pull up a nearby chair and stay a little while at least to make sure for certain that her condition was stable. Twilight had other plans, although unconscious she latched onto Celestia's arm in a weak effort to not have her leave her side. Celestia's heart melted, she could've easily shaken the weak grasp off and carried on, but she didn't want to leave just yet. Feeling the tug she gave in and got into her bed and laid close to her. Twilight immediately registered her presence by snuggling closer to Celestia, curling herself into her chest, and nuzzling her head into her fur. She hummed satisfied finally comfortable with her position. Celestia stroked a hoof across her mane and allowed herself to feel the seeping warmth comfort her and have her affection comfort Twilight. Perhaps if she kept the position until Twilight woke up the nightmares will stay at bay. She truly believed her company was a protective force, or rather she wanted it to be a protective force. Actually, Celestia had always wanted to do more to help subside all her troubles. Pull them out of her heart and replace them with only the love she held for her. "Sister!" Someone was calling her, she didn't want to be brought back to reality just yet. "Luna," she breathed. "Is everything, okay?" Luna took her time looking at her surroundings, and an expression of curiosity manifested. It was clear that it had been a long time since she stepped into the room. The shock that encapsulated her face from the glace at the first-edition titles gave it away too. "I was going to ask you the same question!" she exclaimed, her arm outstretched in an accusation. "I heard you cleared your schedule for the rest of the day, I thought something terrible had happened in Manehatten!" Celestia shook her head and smiled, pride was seeping into her features once again. "No, in fact, today went really well. I was surprised myself. Not a single hiccup, and now Trottingham will have resources pouring in to help sustain the city!" She said joyously. "Luna, I wished you were there, she was amazing," she said looking down at her sleeping company and she felt the love overcome her again. "Three portal spells in one day would be a sight to behold," she said earnestly. "Except it seemed to worn her out completely." Luna stood by the bed and closed her eyes. A quick glow of her horn and a singular line of concentrated magic reached Twilight's forehead. Then a slight smile appeared and that was all she needed to know that Twilight was alright. "She's doing well, sister. There is nothing to worry about. I'm glad you were able to break her shields down." Celestia smiled and planted a kiss on her forehead, "Me too, me too," she whispered. "I ran into Raven, she was the one to tell me about the change in your abrupt schedule," Luna said and moved towards the nearby bookshelf to bask at the limited edition titles. "Oh?" Celestia urged the former to continue. "Oddly, she hadn't seen angry. What did you say to her, sister?" She asked. "Just what needed to be said." Luna hummed, flipping through a dusty book as she did to ponder the statement. "She was angry for a moment because of, Twilight Sparkle, am I correct in that assumption?" "You are," Celestia admitted. "Where are you going with this?" she asked. Luna had always been a little too perceptive. It was as if the moon itself gave her the ability to be able to see a pony's whole story with just a subtle glance. It didn't help that she used her spare time to lark and stalk. The night gave her the power and practice to be uncomfortably quiet in her movements. "Do you understand why she's constantly angry at you for dropping everything at a moment's notice for Twilight?" Luna asked. Celestia frowned. "Because I dropped everything at a moment's notice for Twilight," she reiterated jokingly. She laughed weakly, "No, rather it's because of her inability to understand your feelings for Twilight. For you, it feels reasonable to prioritize her but for anyone else, it seems rather obscene." "Luna, what are you getting at?" Celestia asked more firmly. Luna shrugged carelessly putting the book back onto its respective shelf before turning to meet Celestia. "Just voicing out some observations, sister," she replied. "Emptying the caffeine out of the castle in a weak attempt to get her to sleep, making her favourite grilled cheese sandwich, the time you travelled across Equestria with Spike for her birthday present. Or the little things you remember about her love for dark coffee for example," Luna said in such valor like she was checking them off of a list, one by one. "Luna-" Celestia tried to halt the memories and not admit to the favouritsm she was giving. "It's the extra lengths you take for her, which you don't take for anyone else may I add, which makes ponies wonder," she finished. Celestia shook her head, "Then allow them to wonder and doubt and protest, I don't care." Luna smiled, "You really love her, sister." "I do," Celestia whispered softly. It had become to admit the simple and true fact over time. "With everything I am, Luna. I don't think words, observations, or- or skepticism can truly put into words." "You care about her more than anyone else," Luna repeated. It was a question she once asked her long ago one faithful morning when she had longed for the exact presence she had right now. Celestia closed her eyes before answering, "Yes, I do." It was so easy to say those words now, she didn't need time to mull it over, she was saying it as if it was an obvious fact the sheer truth of their relationship bent by the love she had felt for someone she had practically raised. If anything, if she had said anything other than a 'yes' she would have been lying and hiding something that didn't need to be hidden. Luna smiled, "That's what I thought, sister. All those years ago when I was in a ruined castle. I was amazed because you found someone to treasure after all these years. I was scared one thousand years ago that because we kept every pony at an arm's distance we would only have each other." "But love isn't finite it is something meant to be shared. Love is infinite. We're never deprived of it, it's not something sacred," Celestia said softly. She nodded, "Truly beautiful. The love between mother-- mentor and student, is truly heartwarming!" Luna said, though she tried to slur the words together to not make them noticeable it just brought more attention to it. Surprisingly the protesting and denial that Luna had expected didn't come. The silence was enough to translate everything that needed to be admitted. And for once, Luna was the one who was stunned. Her smile fell not because of distaste but at the new realization and what that would have met for her sister.
The Fragrance of Dark Coffee	Observations	ONE WEEK AGO "This is ridiculous, Celestia," Luna expressed. Celestia threw her arms up in an act of impatience and turn towards Luna. Her eyes were eccentric a sharp contrast to her usual calm demeanor. Desperation was seeping in, "What else am I supposed to do?" Luna just stared at her sister as she continued to dump out the last reminisce of the coffee beans in the nearby trash bin. She breathed out a heavy sigh and shook her head. But she couldn't help to smile at her sister's extreme and ostentatious efforts to help Twilight Sparkle. It was genuinely touching, something she didn't know Celestia was capable of being. Touching, heartwarming, kind, and nice were all expected things for them. It was the fact she was sincere that impressed her. In the years after her return from her banishment, it was inevitable for Luna to pick up the underlying expressions and feelings within her sister as if they were her own. And how much of a contrast Celestia's world seemed to shake when things were imbalanced with a certain pony. Luna actually hadn't thought it was possible after the five-hundredth year of their rule. At some point, they had become a beacon of power and hope, and because of that image, they became utterly untouchable. Being close to others had become impossible. It also didn't help that they made an effort to be rather distant, though most ponies could not tell whether they were being disingenuous or not, they were always careful to not get too attached. Well, a lot had changed since the last thousand years she was imprisoned, Luna supposed. For one, a certain pony became her sister's personal student. It would've been a simple matter to overlook, Celestia had picked up many students over the years. Some stood out more than others, others stood out for the wrong reasons. But none of them were quite like Twilight. When Luna recognized her cutie-mark as the very symbol of magic it all made sense to her. A quick glance and she instantly connected the dots and more importantly her sister's thoughts. The answer was clear, she had groomed Twilight to perfection, to be a wielder of the element of magic in an effort to bring her back. Luna didn't pay it too much attention, it wasn't the first time the two sisters had done something like that, after all, it was for the greater good. As they became older and accessed the consequences and the needs of their subjects sacrifices were expected. Twilight was no different. However, something irked Luna. Perhaps her being Nightmare Moon for their initial meeting skewed her perception of the young hopeful unicorn. But, Twilight had been the exception. When she saw the unicorn run up to her sister and her sister returned the affection with such sincerity she knew that Twilight wasn't just a mere weapon as she had thought. That surprised her. There had been incredible ponies to be brought forth to them, but none of them were able to receive an embrace let alone become close to them. They hated being put on a heavy pedestal, but at last, that was their duty as the rulers and celestial guardians. Next were the letters. Every Tuesday in the evening without fail Celestia would receive a letter from Twilight Sparkle pertaining to her progress in friendship. Celestia was always excited when the scroll arrived. Sometimes, Luna had gotten the luxury to hear what was written in them. They were eventful, interesting, and truly displayed the change in the cultures, she would admit that much. But not something to be worried about when one didn't arrive at its designated time... THREE YEARS AGO "What if she got eaten by a manticore! Or pulled into Tartarus!" Celestia cried, she grabbed Luna's shoulder and shook her with a force she didn't know Celestia had. She could feel her skull rattle inside of her. Luna cleared her throat in an effort to ground her sister. She had just woken up from a nap and didn't have the willpower to soothe her panicked sister just yet. "I'm sure that's not the case," she tried to reason. Celestia glared down at her, which made her shiver a little. A glare wasn't something she knew Celestia had it in her to possess. She smoothed out her features upon seeing Luna's brief shock. "Ahem- you're right, well enjoy the night court. I'll see you in the morning?" "Yes, farewell!" Luna said, Celestia nodded and left the throne room. Luna's gaze lingered at the door glancing at the guards who saw the entire exchange, who remained nonchalant, she gave them a look. "Is this a regular occurrence?" She asked with a light chuckle. "Yes, Princess," one of them answered. The other laughed, "You should have seen what her majesty was like when Twilight moved out, this is nothing compared to that!" Luna snickered at that sentiment and took her place on the throne. She could only imagine from her assumption how her move to Ponyville would've played out. She recalled vividly just sitting and mulling on the simple question of why. And the next, how come? Why was her sister so distressed over a late letter, and how come Twilight? She would not have acted like that unless it was Twilight specifically. Until the answer that she was simply worried came to mind. Worried for her well-being because of the love she held within her. Perhaps that love blinded her to thinking rationally and made her become extremely irrational with instances like these. That when we love someone our world and our vision can be consumed. FOUR YEARS AGO When she moved back to the castle in Canterlot she saw the presence of Twilight. Although she had long moved to Ponyville Luna could still feel her company. Because everywhere she looked there were vibrant memories attached within the halls or each room. Each was laced with wonderful stories she would hear from the castle staff. Since she had only lived in a castle in the Everfree Forest everything in the new castle was foreign. And because of her newness to the environment, she would sometimes stumble into rooms she hadn't meant to enter. One of which was Twilight's. Everything inside was very characteristic for someone with the description of studious and smart. Books lined the walls, rare titles scattered throughout. But what made Luna wonder for a moment was how grand it all was. For a room for a filly, this was beyond most properties in Canterlot. Not even the royal suits could compare to her accommodation. As Luna wandered around the space she came across photographs. Most featured her family who she had met on one occasion prior, and the others were with her sister. Her sister, who seemed somewhat unapproachable to most, not because she was intimating, but rather because of the image she needed to uphold, but within these photos she held so much joy. Not the facade she had seen time and time again, but a genuine enjoyment to be with this studious filly. Building a snow pony, eating donuts, star gazing, a low-quality image of her stars, and tea parties where Twilight seemed to be pictured with a scowl. That one made her laugh when she got to it. Luna took everything in, discovering the photographs had been as if she unlocked another life Celestia withheld from everyone, including her. TWO YEARS AGO The smell of coffee was a stark contrast to her mornings. She was used to them being accompanied by the aroma of light tea, but Celestia had been unpredictable as of late. She opened the doors to the dining room and as expected there was her sister with a mug of coffee. It had been a week since this change in routine, Luna felt a bit unnerved by it all. Though she had a pretty good guess on why she had adopted this. It was obvious even if her sister never voiced it out. Luna had once asked her about the coffee beans when she had seen their product code. They were sourced from Vanhoover. When she had confronted her sister about it she merely shrugged and gave her a vague answer, 'They taste better, Luna.' So instead she went to the kitchen staff themselves, they were the ones to place the orders for the food that was delivered to the castle, surely they would give her a much better explanation. 'I noticed that my sister has gotten a particular interest in drinking coffee in the mornings,' she remembered asking. 'Oh yeah, we had to stock up on coffee beans, she used to drink earl neigh but I guess things change,' the chef laughed. 'I thought we already had coffee beans in stock at all times?' Luna asked. 'Princess Celestia likes the ones that you can only get in Vanhoover, we haven't had to order from all the way in Vanhoover in quite some time,' she explained. 'Why though? Couldn't the coffee we already have suffice?' She laughed trying to gather the answer she wanted without sounding too suspicious. 'I know Twilight Sparkle likes them, she was an avid coffee drinker when she lived in the castle-- oh! I suppose I frogot to tell you that bit of information, we ordered from Vanhoover years ago for Twilight, she likes them a lot,' she smiled as she recalled. Luna nodded absorbing the new revelation, 'I didn't know that, thank you...' And now as she stood before the sun Princess with a raised eye; about to confront her about the atrocious thing she was holding in her grasp she couldn't help but let her composure slip and out a laugh. 'Luna,' Celestia began, bringing a hoof to her mouth to cover the impending smile at the sight of what her sister was holding. 'What is this?' Luna mustered in-between gasps. It was a mug, that part was easy enough to decipher. But what was on it was the better question to ask. If you were to take a small glance it had what looked to be ancient Equestrian figures. If you squinted you could make out an outline of Star Swirl the Bearded. Celestia took the mug out of her hoof with her magic and inspected it. 'I made it as a present for someone!' That made Luna laugh even hard, 'T-they couldn't have liked it!' 'In fact, she did!' Luna had a hard time grasping that statement, it seemed rather unbelievable. But at least the concept that Celestia held Twilight very dearly was an easy one to understand.
The Fragrance of Dark Coffee	Hearth's Warming	WINTER - YEAR TWO Celestia burned sun rays into the plain wedge of clay standing before her. It lay perfectly smacked in the center of the old dusted pottery wheel. Weighting in at just three-fourths of a pound, it was only a mere nuisance to the almighty ruler of Equestria. Celestia had already decided she was going to tackle this task and shape it into the mug it was destined to become! She just needed to put in the work, which had now seemed to be easier said than done. Regardless, she was determined to make a perfect mug for a certain, talented, student of hers. Shopping for gifts as the sole monarch of Equestria has always been easy. Things were always accessible with her title alone; even her signature would have sufficed. However, shopping for a gift for Twilight Sparkle should have been even easier. Just get her a book and she would be content for the next new moon. But something within Celestia wanted to do something more for her faithful student. To be able to give something with more sentiment, and have it act as a reward for the stellar work she had continued to put out consistently. So now Celestia was in a local pottery store and she was regretting her choices. Celestia was never one to give out sentiments considering the nature of her position. It was simply easier to keep ponies out of reach, out of sight. However, even as she tries to push Twilight away she comes back so seamlessly through a soft hug, a smile, or a gleeful hop after mastering a new spell. She had quite a soft spot for her faithful student. "Okay Princess, are you ready to start?" The shopkeeper and expert, Stone Weaver, asked beside her with a smile. He had his own pottery wheel in front of him to demonstrate, his cutie-mark which bared a pottery wheel, told her that he had lived and breathed pottery his whole life. "Yes, what shall we do first?" She asked, determination flaring up in her eyes. Stone Weaver smiled and looked down at his own piece of clay and started the wheel, it spun quickly as he brought a small sponge to hydrate the soft clay. Celestia stared intently before doing the same, albeit fumbling with the switch. "First of all, you want to center the clay by bringing it up and down," he started, using his hooves he guided the clay to a cylinder and then back to its original size, it was now much rounded. Celestia followed suit. Step one is easy. "And then you want to make it into a burger shape like so..." he put a slight pressure into the clay and now it was lying flat. "Next, you want to open it up like so," Stone Weaver used the tip of his hoof to create a hole in the burger-shaped clay and brought it to the ends, "This will create the base... now pull it in for you walls... and then you want to pull up your walls." She nodded, glanced back to her own wheel to do the step, and then glanced back and he was now twenty steps ahead of her. Celestia's eyes widened at the speed he was going in and she hadn't even finished her burger. "Keep pulling up your walls to get the correct thickness and height..." Oh no, he was going too fast, "And then start using this wooded curved tool to make it nice and straight... and voila! I say give it a bit to let it dry and then we can get in with the metal tools to make it smooth!" He said stopping the spinning of the wheel. Stone Weaver's content smile immediately dropped when he saw the bits of clay scattered throughout his studio, the source? The pony beside him. "Oh dear," he mustered. Celestia simply blinked. Her mug was very un-mug shaped. Very flat. Very non-existent. Celestia cleared her throat before speaking in her friendliest tone to mask her own horror at the atrocious mug, "Don't worry, I have a spell for this." She channeled her magic as she tried to recall Star Swirl's Amniomorphic spell. Seeing the clay pick itself back up she grinned and began molding it to the proper shape. A proper mug. "Voila!" She smirked. Stone Weaver shook his head. As a unicorn himself, he, of course, read on the Amniomorphic spell, and instead of implementing its properties, he moved further away from it. Using it felt like an insult to his practice, his art, and his talent. He was always one for traditions. Still, the fact the Princess took her time to come down to her studio herself during her own break was already amazing. Her initial determination could allow him to ignore the shortcuts. "Brilliant, Princess," he smiled. Before quickly fixing a handle for his own mug and lifting it up from its base and bringing it to the giant oven-like contraption behind them. "Now we just need to fire this up in the kiln." Using his magic he ignited the wood below the kiln and let it heat up the pieces inside. The pair peered inside the small window, satisfied with her work Celestia stood up and took off her apron. "Well, I suppose I'll see you tomorrow when the kiln finishes firing the pieces." "Of course, Princess. Good work today.... Even if it was barely any work," he muttered bitterly. Celestia laughed it off, "Thank you, Stone Weaver, farewell!" "Goodbye!" He waved. ☆ ☆ ☆ Celestia swore she was following the reference photos to a tea. It was just being stubborn. After her pottery session with Stone Weaver, she had thought it would be a brilliant idea to paint the mug, it would add a touch of personalization! And after all, who would want a plain mug? Thus, when she returned to the castle, she went to the library and checked out a simple foal's book about great Equestrian heroes. It was because they had simple illustrations. At least that was what she had thought. Her logic was that if she simply copied the drawings and transferred them onto the cup she would have exactly what she was envisioning. That had not been the case at all. Stone Weaver gave an encouraging nod as she continued to mess up her drawing of Clover the Clever. Looks more like Cover the Stupid. Celestia thought to herself. Her rendition had it so his cape made up most of his body--a brown blob with elements of some limbs. Okay. Fine. It looked fine. Celestia thought to herself. Celestia steadied her grasp on her paintbrush, years of meticulous use of her horn were now so easily betraying her. A dip in the gold paint and just a swirl of the navy should procure the legendary unicorn Star Swirl the Bearded! Minus the beard, of course, it was just a bit too complicated for Celestia's admittedly ammeter skills. Her ambitious plan to include all of the heroes of Equestria was failing her, all she managed to etch on were the two unicorns, who could easily be mistaken for Earth ponies. Celestia groaned while meticulously wrapping her creation in the detailed galaxy print that characterized all of her presents to Twilight. She made sure each constellation had the right number of stars and vertexes, a detail she knew her student would appreciate. ☆ ☆ ☆ "You have one more present, Twilight. I made it myself!" Celestia explained, presenting Twilight with the perfectly wrapped gift. Twilight took the gift into her telekinesis, her expression faded into confusion. "Princess, you shouldn't have, you already got me everything I could have asked for!" Twilight said referring to the new updated Equestrian Encyclopedia she got from her mentor, not knowing that was the replacement gift to hide the nature of the mug. Twilight's excitement quickly faded away as the beautiful paper revealed what was hidden underneath. Twilight spun the mug around and sighed, "Princess, Star Swirl had thirteen bells on his hat not four," she explained with a rise of her eyebrow as if it were common sense. Celestia cleared her voice, masking her embarrassment. "Twilight, where is your imagination? The picture is two-dimensional, the other nine bells are obviously on the other side young one!" Celestia argued. Twilight laughed and fell into Celestia for an embrace- which resulted in a surprised 'humph' from the alicorn not expecting the warm physical affection. Twilight has always been quite cuddly. "No, it's perfect, Princess. Thank you very much," she laughed. Celestia pulled Twilight closer to her, wrapping her wings around her, and whispered, "You're welcome, my faithful student. Happy Hearth's Warming."
Equestria Girls: Hell to Pay	pre	Clouds of blood and bits of discarded meat slide and splatter across the atrium and a protective panel across the demon's chest falls loose. Revealed within the cavity underneath is a heart muscle, beating in overtime and pulsing with thick, viscous yellow veins of rot and puss across the surface. You throw your shotgun aside for the moment and sprint at the beast, colliding at top speed with enough force to knock the thing on its ass. As you're grappled on you grab the heart and wrench it free, popping several veins and sending gouts of blood streaming from the chest cavity. Now you have a demon heart in your hand there are a number of things you could do. You could take up satanic worship or you could unlock the secrets of immortality. Or you could do something useful. Like tear open the mancubus' jaw and force the heart down its throat. On paper it's a wicked plan. In reality it's even more awesome. The moment you've fed the creature its own heart you jump off and roll backwards on impact with the ground. Settling in a low crouch you watch as the mancubus looks queasy, burps and then against all the odds and laws of common sense... It explodes. Fire and shrapnel are followed by bubbling fountains of blood and bits of shattered bone. Enough meat to stock an abattoir for a week goes splashing out after, painting the walls and one wet chunk nearly knocks you over. What's left of the mancubus isn't pretty - or it's glorious depending on your own philosophical difference in opinion. The demon sort of ends at the ribcage giving way to a crimson mess. The ribs are mostly blown out leaving a whiplash of bloodied spine swaying from side to side and perched atop is half a mancubus skull. Standing, you retrieve your weapons and look around the atrium while the remains of the mancubus smoulder and begin to dissolve into the ether. That's the only downside to being in the land of the living again. After every demon kill there's a mess to clean up. And the bigger the demon, the bigger the mess it seemed. You're about to fetch Twilight Sparkle and let her know it's safe when the front doors open and three figures step inside. Spike is plodding just ahead of Twilight, and standing by the girl's side is a familiar adult. Principal Celestia's eyes are wide with shock as she takes in the scene of death and destruction. She checks the smouldering Wondercolts banners, then looks to the disembowelled trophy cases and lets her mouth fall open. The paper cup she'd carrying in one hand slips from her grip and hits the floor, spilling coffee everywhere. You tut judgementally and sigh deeply at the mess she's made. You keep the rattle of sweeping up debris as quiet as you can while Twilight Sparkle and Principal Celestia talk. They're seated at the last intact table in the science lab, across which the shattered remains of the viewport sits. Despite your care not to disrupt them they're interrupted by a newcomer. Vice Principal Luna is definitely Celestia's younger sister. They have a similar build and facial structure, and it's clear they're siblings despite the fact their natural hair colour being drastically different. If Celestia's hair colour could be described as a summer palette, Luna's was best described as a clear night sky. She greets you with a quick glance and brushes by with a concerned expression until she spots the principal. "Sister, the atrium is in shambles. What happened?" she asks. Celestia, in contrast to Luna's worried look, smiles brightly. "I woke up this morning and just hated everything." The initial shock of seeing her school wrecked has clearly passed, and with it Luna's concern seems to evaporate. "Demon attack?" she asks, narrowing her eyes sarcastically. "Demon attack." "And nobody is hurt?" Celestia nods and looks at the school's awesomest janitor. "We have Doom Slayer to thank for that once again." Turning, Luna gives you a grin then goes to leave so she can do whatever it is vice principals do. She holds up a fist as she passes. You lock knuckles for a moment before withdrawing with waggling fingers to complete 'the explosion' style fist-bump. "Back to your device," Celestia continues to say as you get back to sweeping. "Perhaps it is for the best it's destroyed. Hopefully now this will be the end of demon visits." Twilight Sparkle shakes her head. "I don't think so, Principal Celestia. The viewport was disconnected and powered down when the large demon teleported in this morning. That can only mean the viewport simply acted like a beacon before. Now it seems the monsters know where we live and they're coming to visit whenever it suits them!" Celestia frowns, clearly not liking this development. "Is that accurate?" she asks looking at you and you shrug and nod. "Then we should develop some sort of defence." "A trans-dimensional buffer or shield should do the trick. Unfortunately," Twilight pauses to pick up one of the broken pieces of her viewport and says, "I have no idea where to begin." Celestia looks thoughtful, tapping her lip with a slender finger. Eventually she seems to have a thought and nods. "I still have some friends from college in the scientific community I can reach out to. We'll some professional help for this problem." Her attention is drawn to a loud clearing of a throat and she spots you standing with your arms held out in a 'what the fuck' fashion. If you're not professional help, then what are you? Chuckling, Celestia quickly apologises. "Beg your pardon, Doom Slayer. I meant additional help." You point at her and nod agreeably. When it comes to disembowelling demons you're the authority. But on the subject of trans-dimensional shields 'n shit it was best to call in the big brains. Having never actually worn a suit before you naturally need a little help. All former formal events you have just worn your dress-blues. It was of course like dressing up a gorilla in fancy threads, and the black suit and tie Rarity was fixing up for you is no better. One of Twilight Sparkle's friends, Rarity, is fair handy with a needle and thread. And fair handy with tie knots as she is demonstrating while you kneel in front of her. When she finishes she brushes some lint from your lapel and lets you stand again. The shoulders are a little tight, the jacket is restrictive and you're pretty sure the shoes 'll be worn out after a few miles' off-road hike. Then again the suit's not exactly built for combat. You've left your Praetor Suit in your dorm, locked safely away with your own personal armoury. You insisted on keeping your pistol though and it sits tucked into the back of your trousers. Again, with Rarity's help the cut of the suit hides the outline of the gun elegantly from view. "There." Rarity sighs proudly. "You look simply dashing out of that bulky armour." Principal Celestia standing by the door leading out of her office, smiles and nods in agreement. "You clean up nice." Glancing at your reflection in the window, you nod in agreement while fidgeting with your tie. You do look damn good. That is until Rarity smacks your hand away to prevent you from messing up your tie again. Celestia is similarly dressed up in a dressy skirt and a stylish gold blazer. She's tied her multi-coloured hair into a smart ponytail and she's carrying a resume under one arm. The reason for all this song and dance is an interview. One of Celestia's old friends suggested a certain professor look into your little 'trans-dimensional problem.' She was coming by today and Celestia insisted you attend. She also insisted you trade out your armour for a bit, for fear it would intimidate the interviewee. Celestia's phone rings and she answers it quickly. The conversation is just as quicks. She only nods and hangs up again. "Our interviewee is here," Celestia explains. "You can go, Rarity. Thanks for your generous help." "Always happy to help, Principal Celestia. And remember, Mister Doom Slayer. Stand upright," Rarity says in her lady-like voice, demonstrating perfect posture. She looks like she's about to give more pointers, but stops as you stare while maintaining your slouch. "Or not. Good luck!" Rarity leaves and only a few seconds later there's a knock on the office door. Celestia opens it and a woman walks in. She's about Celestia's age. Tall and just as leggy. She has long wavy raven hair and deep red eyes you can't help stare into for a moment. You quickly blink and shake off your daze, hoping she doesn't notice. "Welcome. And thank you for coming on such short notice," Celestia says shaking the woman's hand. "I don't mind at all, Principal Celestia," the interviewee assures as she is led to where you're standing. "This is our groundskeeper, Mister Doom Slayer." The woman smiles, taking your offered hand. "Doom Slayer. That's an interesting name." You're about to tell her that it isn't the most interesting thing about you when she suddenly pulls sharply at your arm, hard enough to make you stumble and you're surprised by her strength. Pulling your hand close to her side, her smile widens and she makes a show of winking at you. When she lets go and brushes past, you look at your hand a little bewildered, then catch yourself and move to where Celestia is seated. Taking a seat on the couch beside the principal, you watch the interviewee elegantly set herself on the chair opposite you before crossing her legs. Celestia begins the interview and you do your best to pay attention. She says her name is 'Velvet Twirl,' and reading her impressive CV you realise she's more than qualified to help Twilight Sparkle erect a defence against Hell. But there's something that bothers you. You can't quite put your finger on it. But it has something to do with her wicked smile.
In Search of Mother	pre	Misery nodded silently and waved him away, having heard his advice. She didn't like going to Star for solutions, but she wasn't even going to pretend that she was as intelligent as him. Everyone had their strengths, but Misery's strength didn't lie in her knowledge of the world: that's why she needed people like Star around. She glanced around the nearly empty parking lot. Many of the childlings had stepped out of the bus to stretch their legs. A few of the hungrier ones were harassing people coming in and out of the store, trying to exchange favors for hugs. She cringed as one of her siblings nearly toppled a man trying to put groceries in his car, clinging on to his leg like a cat on a tree branch. She needed to get them out of sight, and soon, before they started drawing unwanted attention. Misery whistled, something she didn't do often, to summon her second in command. Whistle was by her side in moments, breaking away from a conversation she was having with one of her brothers. "Whistle. Round everyone back into the bus, and keep them there. I'm going to take Star and a few others around town and look for somewhere we can call home for the night. Make sure no one gets in or off the bus, unless it's an emergency. We'll come back for everyone later. You're in charge until I get back." Whistle saluted. "Yes ma'am." She turned around and put her fingers to her lips, belting out a whistle loud enough to be heard throughout the entire parking lot. The children stopped and turned their attention. "All'ya boneheads, get back here! Everyone in the bus!" Misery nodded curtly in approval. Before the bus crowded with the obnoxious horde, Misery peeked inside to check on the bus driver. Much as he had since the incident at Bakersfield, he sat still without a trace of emotion on his face, still sitting in the driver's seat and staring out the front window. Misery's frown deepened, but she let him be for the moment. There wasn't much she could do anyhow. She exited the bus. Star and a few of his brothers and sisters sat on the ground near one of the nearby wheels. Misery nodded to them and gestured with her hand, pointing the way deeper into town. They followed in step behind her, heading out of the parking lot and into the unexplored territory. The sky became as black as the asphalt they walked on, the sun now completely vanished from the sky. Not that it mattered much to the children. With nothing but a simple blink, their cyan eyes lit up in bright spectacle. The streets lit up before them as if the sun was still shining bright overhead, only instead of the normal array of colors, everything was an overwhelming shade of cyan. Nightvision came at a price. In turn, Misery's eyes shone green. She led the way through the winding streets of the medium-sized town, peeking around alleyways and climbing to high places for better views. Though they had wings, they were not very functional aside from short bursts in order to make large leaps, or possibly keep them hovered in the air for a few moments. Anything more than that was subject to failure, and was only a good idea if the child in question wished to get hurt. Due to this, Misery often relied on her followers to boost her to high places, sometimes requiring the wings to give her the tiny boost she needed to reach a ledge. As she climbed to the top of a local drug store, she scanned the area around them, ignoring the chatter of her siblings on the ground below. She realized she didn't exactly know what she was looking for, and leaned over the edge and called Star's attention. "Star. What are we looking for?" He sighed. "Something big. Preferably with no lights on. That'll usually mean there's no one in it." She nodded and went back on the roof, scanning once more with newfound knowledge. She darted her eyes across the landscape for several minutes, finding nothing of interest. Just as she was prepared to give up, however, her eyes fell over something exactly as Star had described. She marked it in her memory and dropped down off the side of the roof, falling into the arms of a few of the children waiting on her. She dusted herself off and nodded to Star. "There's something big to the East, near a park of some kind. Not a single light on. We should be heading there." "Sounds like a plan. Lead the way, we'll scout it out." The group headed away from the drugstore and further East, making sure to stay out of the sight of any passersby. There weren't many people out in the town, especially as the sun had just gone down, but every once in awhile they ducked out of sight to avoid the gaze of a lone man or woman enjoying a late night stroll down the street. They were in their human disguises, of course, but Misery didn't want to take chances with the people here. The way she figured, the less people that knew they were here, the better. She had been treated like a child long enough to know that children generally weren't encouraged to go on road trips to Vegas by themselves, and the law would no doubt attempt to stop them if they were discovered, human children or inhuman abominations alike. They arrived at the sought-after building in short order. They stood outside its front entrance, gazing over it for any signs of movement. Finding none, Misery took the first steps towards the doors, glancing around at the lawn around them. The grass was old and dry, having died long ago. Patches of weeds stuck up from the dead earth. The place had definitely seen better days. As she approached, she noticed a sign on the wall and stopped to read it. She had trouble understanding what it said, so she read it out loud to herself. "Fi st... Fi st C rist an Chur?" Star came up behind her and glanced up at the sign, also curious. "See the spaces there, in between the letters? Some of the letters are missing, I think." He gazed at the decayed sign for a few moments in silence. "I think it supposed to say 'First Christian Church'. Keep your manners, Misery, we're on holy ground. Wouldn't want God to smite us as the abominations we are, now we?" He grinned to himself and walked inside, leaving Misery to stare at the sign for a few more seconds. The inside of the church was even darker than the night outside, with no moonlight to help. Misery had seen a few churches around Bakersfield, and had even been inside one once while following an elderly woman for a snack, but she had never liked the atmosphere they gave off. But this church, with its dilapidated, aged walls and destroyed furniture, almost felt more homely than any lively and living church ever did. Star poked around the place, checking for any stray animals or structural weaknesses. The other escorts found something less useful to do with their time and went back outside, drawing things in the patches of dirt with a stick. Star prodded at a pew's cushion before sitting in it, making sure there were no nasty surprises hidden inside. He looked around the congregation area slowly, taking it all in. "Well, I guess this will work. Not exactly the Taj Mahal, but beggars can't be choosers. No holes in the roof, got at least four walls, and it's probably big enough. Only thing we'll have to worry about is fighting each other over who gets to sleep in the pews." He laid back with a yawn. "Dibs, by the way." Misery walked through the lines of pews, making her way to the stage in the front. A podium stood like a monolith, font and center, a few rays of moonlight falling directly on it from a small window in the ceiling. She spotted a stool sitting in the little space in the back of the podium, where the preacher would stand, tucked away from sight. She dragged it out and stood on it, barely tall enough to look over the top of the podium at the pews below. Star stared at her with an expectant gaze, one eyebrow raised. "Get the others and go back. Tell Whistle to lead everyone here. We're staying here tonight." ~ "Are we staying here tonight?" Anonymous ignored her and stared at the far wall of the mechanic's office, brain entirely devoted to preventing an anxiety attack. They hadn't been free of the traffic for all of twenty minutes before their car broke down. Between the time it took to get a tow truck out to the freeway and the time it took to actually get to the nearest town, Tehachapi, the sun had already fallen out of the sky. Mistake was definitely faring with the situation better than her father was, kicking her legs through the air in boredom and poking at various trinkets on the mechanic's desk. Anon turned to her and smacked a pencil out of her hands and back onto the table. "Stop touching stuff." "Daaad, I want to go. This is boring." "We have to wait for the guy to come back. He's looking at our car." "He's so slow..." "Well I don't know if you noticed, but I can't do jack shit about that." Mistake dashed her hand out when her father turned his head and took the pencil back, fiddling with it out of his sight this time. "So are we going to stay here tonight?" Anon sighed and put his head in his hands, fighting off a stress-induced headache. "Unfortunately, yes. It's not like we can go anywhere without a car." "Where are we, anyways?" Anon pulled out his phone and took a look at the map. "Little town called Tehachapi. Right in between the Mojave Desert and the mountains we just went through. One of THOSE towns with nothing of interest and loads of creepy people that smile way too much. Went through here, once, on my way to Arizona." "Where are we gonna sleep?" "Eh, we can probably find a hotel." He shrugged and pocketed his phone. "Or, worst case scenario, an inn. Which is like a hotel, except everyone tries to be friends with you." Anon was interrupted as the mechanic returned from the door behind them, walking past them and sitting behind his desk. He put on his best customer-friendly as if in hope to make them forget their car wasn't working. Mistake smiled back, while Anon simply stared at him expectantly. "Well, friends, seems like your car is pretty old! Almost too old. Driving it out in the summer heat all day, especially near the desert, is not good for its aged bones. We got to make lots of repairs to get it running again, not including the secondary ones that you probably didn't even know you needed." He wiped his brow and let out a breath. "Right, first off, your transmission is busted. Aside from that, we're probably going to have to take a closer look at your radiator and your hubcaps could-" Anon leaned on his elbows and stared into the man's eyes with a glare. The mechanic stopped dead in the middle of his sentence, confused and slightly nervous. Anon didn't move an inch. "I will give you two hundred dollars plus whatever the price is to shut the fuck up and get the car fixed by the end of tonight. No bullshit, no extra repairs. You keep the money for yourself, and none of your co-workers need to know you got it. Deal?" The mechanic stared at Anon for a few seconds, processing what was just said. Suddenly, a smile flashed across his face, and he reached across the desk to shake hands with Anon. "We have a deal, brother. Nice doing business with you." Anon ignored the handshake and stood up, grabbing Mistake's hand and leading her out. She waved goodbye behind her as Anon turned for his final words. "I'll be back tomorrow morning for my car. It'll be ready by then, and no later." The mechanic winked and waved goodbye with a sly smile. Anon rolled his eyes and pushed Mistake out the door in front of him, letting a draft into the auto shop as he left it behind. He stepped around a pile of tires and let go of his daughter's hand, letting her walk beside him unrestrained. They walked down the barely lit streets, moving from one pool of light to the next underneath the street lights that dotted the sidewalk. Mistake glanced between the repair shop and her father. "I take it back. Maybe you ARE good with people." Anon scoffed. "No. Not good with people. I'm good at dealing with bullshit. It's a skill you acquire through years of being surrounded by it. "Two hundred dollars, though? Isn't that a lot?" Anon shrugged. "If I didn't give it to him up front, he would have weaseled it out of my anyways. That's what mechanics do. They make you notice repairs you 'didn't even know you needed' and then charge more money from it. All I did was promise him the same amount of cash, but for him to keep to himself instead of splitting it with his co-workers. It's business." Mistake mulled over his words as Anon pulled out his phone and started tinkering with the map, looking for places where they could get some dinner and a place to sleep. The cold desert air blew through the empty streets, causing Mistake to shiver slightly and press up against her dad's leg for warmth. As they walked, she experimented with her night vision, blinking her eyes open and shut as she turned it on and off. Anon was distracted by the flashing light in her eyes as she did so, causing him to groan and put his phone away in annoyance. "Cut it out, Mistake. Someone's going to see you doing that. Not to mention it's freaking ME out." Mistake grinned mischievously and looked up at Anon's face, flashing her eyes back and forth as fast as she could. Anon slapped the back of her head playfully and smiled, shielding his eyes. "Gah- fuck, stop it! You're going to give me an epilepsy attack!" Mistake giggled and returned her eyes to normal. Anon shook his head and swore a few more times before recovering. He turned to face her and eventually broke out into his own chuckle, flicking her ponytail. "Really, you are too much like me for my own good. I'm pretty sure you gave me a headache." "Oh, don't be a baby." Mistake stuck her tongue out. "Where are we going?" "There's a diner around this corner. We'll find someplace to sleep, soon, but I want some dinner first. And roadside diners have the better burgers than anywhere else, usually, just as a rule." The walk to the diner only took a few more minutes. Anon pushed the glass door open and stepped inside, greeted by a very welcome blast of warm air. The floor sported a black and white tile pattern, matching with the black and white stools that lined the counter in the center of the restaurant. To the side, next to the windows, several big red booths sat in a line. The place was mostly empty aside from a few patrons at the counter, drinking coffee and chatting with one another. Adding to the whole old-timey feel of the place, a few classics that wouldn't have been out of place in the 1940's played from a genuine jukebox in the corner. A few of the customers turned to look at the newcomers, but didn't find much interest and went back to whatever they were doing. "Jesus Christ..." Anon shook his head. "It's like my grandmother took her house and turned it into a restaurant." "Did you like your grandma's house?" Mistake glanced around and scrunched up her nose at the distinct smell of... age. "No." Anon nodded to a nearby booth and pushed Mistake towards it, letting her slide in first before taking a seat across from her. Despite the diner being nearly empty, they still had to wait a few minutes before a waiter came to serve them. When she did arrive, Anon had to suppress a sigh. He could tell her type from across the restaurant, by her wide, all-too-sincere smile. He frowned and leaned on his elbow, hoping it was enough to express disinterest. As soon as she arrived, it was evident that it wasn't. "Heya, welcome to Kelcy's! How can I serve you today? Can I start you off with some drinks?" "Coffee." He glanced at Mistake. "Water for her." Mistake frowned. "I don't want water. Can I have a milkshake?" "No. You can have water." "But I don't want water. Water tastes boring." Anon raised an eyebrow. "Well then, you can have nothing." "But I'm thirsty!" Mistake whined. "Then you can have water." "But you aren't getting water water!" "You're right. I'm having coffee. Because I'm an adult, and I need it to function properly." Mistake crossed her arms defiantly and sat back in her booth. "I want coffee too." Anon sat back and crossed his own arms, raising his eyebrows in amusement. "One coffee, one water." "Alrighty!" The waiter nodded and smiled wider, dropping a kids menu on the table and deciding to end it before it got any uglier. "I'll let you two order then." She walked off towards the kitchen. Mistake huffed and turned away, deciding to look around the diner instead of at her dad, who decided to pull out his phone and tune everything else out. The place was nearly empty, as she had noticed when she walked in, but now she was really starting to get a look at the few people that were present. A group of men, supposedly friends, sat on the stools lined up against the counter, exchanging hushed small talk and sipping on their drinks. A couple, most likely locals, sat a few booths further away from them, discussing local events at such a volume they were definitely the most obnoxious things in the room. Mistake cringed from the noise and turned to face the door, which had just opened to a new guest. She watched as he looked around the room cautiously, taking count of everyone in the room as if in suspicion. He paused as his eyes fell on Mistake, and her father, and stared at them for a few moments. Mistake stared back. He was wearing a heavy brown trenchcoat and a wide-brimmed hat, with his head ducked down so that few of his facial features were visible. He reminded Mistake of some of the cartoon spies she had seen on TV, and it made her giggle as she imagined a safe falling from the ceiling on his head. Eventually the awkward staring contest ended and the man took a seat at the far end of the counter, alone, leaving everyone else in the diner to their own devices. Eventually, Mistake's surroundings began to bore her, and she turned to her kids menu for entertainment. She pulled out a few of the crayons and started coloring in the shapes on the back, glancing at the food choices every so often. Anon lost interest in his phone and put it back in his pocket, turning to his daughter. "So, how much do you really know about yourself?" Anon put a hand out before she could speak. "And I mean, like, as far as the weird supernatural shit goes. I don't want to hear about your girl problems. I mean what can you do that a normal little human girl can't? I feel like I should know this stuff if we're going to be hunting your brothers and sisters down." Mistake didn't look up from her drawing, green crayon in her hand sprawling out over her paper. "Well, you obviously know that we look weird. And there's the spitting goo, and the night eyes." "Right." The waiter returned with a pot of coffee and a mug, and a glass of water. She sat them down on the table, saying she would return to take their order shortly. Anon poured himself a mug of coffee and took a sip before continuing. "And, of course, you can cover up your alien bits to look human, just like your mom. If that is what you are, anyways." Mistake nodded and put down her green crayon, taking a sip of water. "Yep. Well, that's part of it. We can disguise into whoever we want." Anon stopped with his mug halfway to his lips, raising an eyebrow of surprise. He set his coffee down. "Hold up. You can do what?" "When we do the green fire thingy, we can turn into whoever we want. Sorta. We can't turn into some things." "What have you turned into?" "Well..." Mistake stroked her chin, trying to remember past disguises. "I like to copy a lot of the little girls around town. Some of them have nice dresses. And this one time I copied a little girl I saw on TV. And one time I tried to copy Bobby, but that was yucky." Anon stared at her in disbelief. "And... you can all do this? You can all magically transform yourselves into other people for seven years, and I never knew?" He leaned on his elbow and thought about it for a moment. "... well, actually that sort of makes sense. If you were all disguised as other children, I'd have no way of telling." Mistake nodded. "Misery said it was probably a good idea not to tell you about it. Because you aren't one of us. She wanted it to be our secret." Mistake brought her hands up to her mouth in realization. "Don't tell Misery I told you." "Don't worry." Anon shook his head, still trying to make sense of things. "You said you can't turn into anything, right? Just some things? How does that work?" "Well... the more we change from how we really are, the more icky we feel." Mistake stuck her tongue out in mock discomfort. "When I'm like this, with just my legs and eyes fixed, it doesn't feel that bad. It still feels better when I'm normal, but I could stay like this for a long time. When I try and copy other girls, though, it's..." She shivered. "It's really bad. I can only do it for a little bit." She frowned. "When I tried growing bigger, once, it didn't even bother feeling weird, it just hurt." Anon nodded slowly, starting to understand. So she could transform, if she needed to, but any massive transformations made her extremely uncomfortable. Changing things like size or growing new body parts was probably out of the question entirely, at least until she got better at it. If that was even how that worked. Anon had to admit to himself that he didn't have the slightest clue what kind of powers he was dealing with here. "You need to show me that sometime. That sounds trippy as hell. So is that it? No more freaky powers I need to know about? Your blood isn't acid? You don't have a nuclear self-destruct device strapped to your arm?" Mistake shrugged. "If there's more, I don't know how to use them yet. I don't know how this stuff works either, dad." Their conversation was cut off as the waiter returned with her notepad, smiling wide as ever. "And what will you guys be having tonight?" "The Kelcy's Klassic. Side of garlic fries." The 'K' in 'Klassic' came out of Anon's mouth like a nail that had been digging into his gums. He handed the waitress his menu and went back to his coffee. "And I'll have the Kacy's Kids Kombo, please!" Mistake smiled wide and went back to coloring in her menu, this time with a black crayon. "Alright, I'll have you two set up in no time!" The waitress winked at Mistake and went back to the kitchen, leaving them alone once more. Anon looked up from his coffee with surprise. "You ordered something? I thought you ate hugs or some shit." "Well yeah, but I have to LOOK like I eat food, right?" Mistake shrugged. "Oh. Well, good thinking, I guess." Anon glanced down at her menu. "You're coloring everything in green and black. Why don't you use other colors?" Mistake looked at her coloring as if coming to a realization. "Oh. I dunno, I just like these colors." "Just making sure you don't think that fire hydrants are black." "I know." "And the sky isn't green." "Yeah, I know, dad!" Mistake scrunched her face and put her crayon down. "I just like coloring things green and black." Before Anon could retaliate, the phone in his pocket buzzed. He pulled it out to look at the caller ID. Even though the screen was obstructed from her view, Mistake could tell who was calling by the terrified shade of white on her father's face. "Shit. It's Katie. What am I going to tell her about the car?" "Tell her the truth. It broke down." "Well I can hardly tell her it broke down about a hundred and fifty miles Southeast of where we're SUPPOSED to be!" "Well then, tell her we broke down in Fresno, doofus!" "Ugh, I should take this outside, there's probably going to be yelling..." Anon pushed himself out of his booth and headed for the door. "If my food shows up, don't touch it." "Why would you even worry about that?" Mistake watched him go, the door swinging shut in his wake. She sighed and looked back down at her menu, coloring in an acorn with her green crayon. Anon returned several minutes later, more calm than Mistake was expecting. He quietly filed back into the restaurant and took his seat across from his daughter, pocketing his phone as he did so. "Well, that went better than I expected. She's still a bit pissed though." "Well, I would be too." Mistake giggled and took a sip of her water. "She's being pretty reasonable, despite everything. Knows it can't possibly be my fault that the car broke down, especially considering what a piece of junk it is. Says she'll even pay me for the repairs when we get back." "But?" Mistake put down her crayon and looked up at Anon, waiting for the bad news. "But, she wants us to be back with her car before the end of tomorrow. Which doesn't leave us a lot of time to get a hold of the rascals." Mistake nodded in understanding. The waiter arrived with their food quickly, seemingly appearing in front of them out of the blue as she put the food on their table. Anon's mouth began to water as he eyed his burger, while Mistake poked at her food with a look of disgust. Anonymous dug right in, taking a few hefty bites out of his sandwich, spilling some of the toppings onto his plate. Mistake watched with half curiosity and half revulsion, keeping one eye open to watch and her tongue sticking out to the side to express her displeasure. She looked back down at her own food and picked up a french fry, twirling it around in her fingers experimentally. Cautiously, she brought it up to her mouth to take a bite. She immediately scrunched up her face and forced it down her throat with a grimace, going for a drink of water to wash away the taste. She groaned and pushed her food away. "I'm hungry, dad." Anon wiped his mouth with a napkin and pointed at her plate. "That's why you have food." "But it all tastes gross." "Well, I'm sorry, what do you want me to do about it?" Without saying any words, Mistake opened up her arms as if gesturing for a hug. "Ugh, no, not right now." "Why?" "Because it's weird." Mistake tilted her head to the side and stared at her father incredulously. "I am your DAUGHTER." "Yeah, but... I don't know, I don't like hugging people. Not in public." "Dad. Come on. I'm hungry." Anon put down his burger with a sigh. "Alright. Fine. A quick one. Come over here." Mistake grinned triumphantly and dove under the table, crawling through the posts supporting it. She clambered up between Anon's legs and dragged herself up into his lap, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her head to his chest. She sighed contently and pressed her cheek up against him, pulling him as close as possible as if squeezing the love out of him. Anon slowly raised an arm around and rested it on her back lightly. He patted her a few times and then let go. "Alright, you can get off now." "No." Mistake grinned and nuzzled her head into his chest. "Come on, I gave you a hug. Now let go. People are staring." "You might be done hugging me, but I'm not done hugging you." Anon sighed and gave up, letting her sit there. She was there for nearly a minute with her eyes shut, just hugging him, completely silent. After a while, she finally spoke up. "I love you, dad." "I..." Anon looked down at his daughter, pressed up against his chest. "... uh, yeah." Mistake giggled. "This is usually when a normal person says 'I love you too', you know." Mistake pulled away and sat back in his lap, reluctant to return to her side of the table. "But you don't have to. I know you love me anyways, even if it's hard for you to say it. You pretend like you don't care, but you're still our daddy." Anon sat, at a complete loss for words. He let Mistake stay seated in his lap for several more minutes as they huddled together in silence. Eventually the diner became even more quiet as the few patrons that were present ended up filtering out of the restaurant, leaving the two alone. Anonymous pulled out his phone and took a look at the time. "Hey, Mistake. It's getting late. We should go find a place to sleep." Hearing no answer, he glanced down in his lap. Mistake's eyes were shut, her head resting against his arm. Her chest rose slowly up and down with her soft breaths, signaling that she was fast asleep. He sighed and pocketed his phone, gently lifting her up underneath her legs and standing up. Finding it tricky to do with one arm, he took out his wallet and placed some money on the counter, heading for the door. As he stepped into the cold night air, he looked up at the moon. It shone down on him from its perch in the sky, covering the streets in its soft blue glow. Somewhere out there, his children were probably looking up at the same moon, cold and alone with no one but themselves. They needed his help. Deep inside, Anon felt something he had not felt for years, a feeling that had only touched him once, when the eggs had first hatched. Mistake shivered, and Anon pulled her closer. There was an inn nearby. Anon wiped away a single tear and started heading for it. ~ Misery stared up through the window in the ceiling, straight through the glass and up at the moon above. The church was silent, aside from the occasional snore or shift in movement from any one of the hundred children in the pews below. She sat at the edge of the podium at the front of the stage, directly under the beams of moonlight. She turned her attention away from the moon to look over her brothers and sisters that lay sleeping below. She recognized a couple whose faces were in sight: Star and Faith sat in the front pew, nestled close to one another. Whistle had fallen asleep directly in front of the stage, trying to stay up as late as Misery. She had promised to help Misery watch over them that night. Misery hadn't really expected her to live up to that promise, anyhow. Seeing everything in order, she looked back up to the moon. She knew that, at home, her father was probably staring up at the same moon, wondering where they were. He would probably be worried, at first, but eventually it would dawn on him that they were finally out of his life, and that he was free. Misery was sure of it. And the church finally slept, it's last wake patron finally dozing off atop her podium. Snores and shuffles were the only sounds that filled the rest of the night, and the only thoughts were in the form of dreams.
In Search of Mother	Chapter IV: Strangers	"Dad, I can't sleep." Anon scoffed and adjusted the pillow under his head. "Bullshit. You fell asleep in a crowded diner, and you didn't wake up until I had to put you down in the lobby. You can definitely fall asleep in that bed." "But I can't, I'm trying!" "Well I don't know if this has occurred to you or not, but I'm trying too. And neither of us are going to sleep if you keep whining about it." "But I caaaan't!" Anon glanced over at the bed from his spot on the couch. "You already have the bed, girl, what more do you want?" Mistake sat in thought, thinking of some request. "Can I have a bedtime story?" "No. When the fuck have I EVER given you a bedtime story?" Mistake sighed. "Never. I just saw it happen on TV once and I thought it was cute." "Sleeping little girls are cute too. So roll over and shut up." Mistake stuck her tongue out and crossed her arms, but did as her father asked and remained silent. The pair sat in the dark motel room quietly as Mistake rolled around in the bed, trying to get comfortable. Anon scratched his leg uncomfortably as he shifted around on the couch, as well. "Alright, fuck it, I can't sleep either. What did you want to talk about?" "I dunno." Mistake sat up in her bed and turned to her father. "Want to know what I found in my sock yesterday?" "... I think I'm going to provide the conversation starters, if that's alright." Mistake grumbled and flopped back in the bed. "No one ever wants to hear about the sock." "Alright, here's one I've been meaning to ask." Anon swung his legs over the side of the couch and sat up. "Why the name 'Mistake'? I mean, you probably weren't old enough to know what it meant when you chose it, but why hold on to it?" Mistake shrugged, and didn't say anything for a few seconds. "I dunno. I like it." "Well, yeah, it got a chuckle out of me too when I first heard it. But you can't really want to be called that for the rest of your life, right? "Why not?" "Well, I mean..." Anon scratched his head, looking for words to explain. "It's not really a NAME." "What, and the rest of ours are? What about Star? And Jet? And Whistle? What kind of a silly name is WHISTLE?" "Well, those are cute. They're like those names that celebrities give their children after they drink one too many martinis the night before they go into labor." Anon scratched his head again. "Mistake is more like... what a really poor woman with no job or husband names their child when she drinks one too many bottles of cheap wine the night before they go into labor." "Well, I chose it, and I like it." Mistake huffed. "I think it adds character." Anon scoffed. "Yes, because you definitely need an extra dose of character." He returned to his back, laying his head against the armrest. "Alright, here's another one. This one will probably be harder to answer." "Go for it." "If you hadn't been sleeping with me that night..." Anon turned and directed the end of the sentence towards her. "... would you have left with the other children?" Mistake bit her bottom lip and pulled the covers up to her chin. She rolled the question around in her head before sighing and throwing the covers off, sitting up and embracing the cold desert air to answer. "Right then, probably. You didn't really seem to care about us all that much." Mistake furrowed her brow. "And I've got a few choice words to say to mom." "You and me both, kid." Anonymous nodded slowly. "But thanks for being honest. And you're probably right. Maybe I don't care." "Hold on, I wasn't done yet." Mistake scooted over to the edge of the bed. "I said THEN, I would've gone. Left you behind and fwoosh, off with everyone else. And I wouldn't have cared. I didn't think you loved us much anyways." "Is this supposed to make me feel good at any point or are you really just trying to give me a massive guilt trip right now?" "Still not done, shut up." Mistake smiled. "Anyways, that's what I thought THEN. But now, I don't think so. I think you loved us this whole time. From those stories you told me in the car, it sounds like you used to be more up-front with it." Mistake's smile began to fade. "But then over the years, you just kinda got tired. You forgot how to love people, because you spent it all on us. And deep inside, you still love us. You just forgot how to tell us. I don't think you would be chasing the rest of them all this way if you didn't care anymore." Anon stared at the ceiling in silence. Mistake couldn't see his face in the dark room, even as she craned her neck in search of an expression. With a sudden cough, and a quick swipe with his hand underneath his eye, Anon seemed to return to the living world. "Damn, girl, I haven't heard something like that come from anyone but a therapist. Are you sure you're seven?" "Almost eight!" Mistake smiled and flopped back in her bed. "And I told you, I'm good with people. I know what to say to get them to feel how I want." "Wait." Anon sat up slightly. "So was that all a lie? You don't actually think any of that?" "Night dad.~" Mistake rolled over and pulled up the covers. "No, really, did you mean that?" "Go to sleep." "Well I can't go to bed if you leave me like that! Mistake? Mistake, I can't sleep!" ~ "Hey, Misery. Misery. Misery! Look, I hate to wake you from your beauty sleep, but we have to get to work if you want to get out of here." Misery cracked open an eye. She had fallen asleep in a sitting position, holed legs dangling off the edge of the podium and her back hunched forward. Now awake, she was suddenly aware of the precarious stance, causing her to gasp and sit up straight. She regained her balance and turned to the source of the voice that had awoken her, Star, who stood on the floor below, looking up at her impatiently. "Well? Come on. We have to find some way out of this town. The bus isn't an option anymore." Misery rubbed her eyes and dropped the the floor with a quick burst from her wings, landing softly and without a sound. "I tried to stay awake for most of the night. Did anything happen while I was sleeping?" "Yes. Our mom showed up, gave us all hugs, told us how to get to our home planet and flew off on a rocketship made of pure gold." Star stared at her blankly. "Oh, wait, no, she's still miles and miles away. And she's not going to get any closer unless we find a way out of Barstow. So get up and come on, I've already got a group ready to scout with us." Misery blinked a few times and looked past him. A few of her brothers waved at her from the door, beckoning outside. Filling the pews, and the spaces between them, were a hundred-plus of her brothers and sisters, some wide awake, some waking up, and some still fast asleep. Whistle yawned from her spot on the floor next to the stage, raising her arms to the air and inviting the morning air into her lungs. Misery kicked her lightly to get her attention and jabbed her head in the direction of the exit. "I'm heading out. No one leaves or enters the church. In fact, we should be taking a look around the place. Get everyone to gather anything useful they can find. If it's light enough to carry and not nailed to the floor, I want it piled in the center of the room by the time I get back." Whistle saluted lazily and rolled onto her side, trying to get out of the sunlight that was pouring in from the ceiling window. "I got it, Misery, I got it. Don't worry about us." Misery nodded curtly and spun around on her heel, pushing past Star and towards the door. She motioned for the three children standing by the exit to fall in step behind her, and they did. Star caught up to her and joined her by her side as they left the church and stepped out into the dry, hot sun of Barstow's streets. "Alright, so here's the deal, Misery. I figure we're already on borrowed time and the longer we play this crazy game the higher the chances of everything falling apart. So we need to get to Vegas as soon as possible before that happens, yeah?" Misery nodded. She knew that it was only a matter of time as well. Too many things could go wrong, and none of the cards were on their table. "I agree. But the question is, how do we get to Vegas?" "I've been thinking about it." Star gestured at the church behind him, just as they rounded a corner and put it out of sight. "If we plan on bringing all of them along, there aren't many options. Unless we can get that bus up and running again, the only other way I see it happening is by train." "Train?" "You'll see in a second." Star gestured ahead of him. "We took a slight detour on our way back to the bus last night, when we went to gather everyone else. Turns out Barstow has quite a few rails running through it, and a train station. Vegas is the only real settlement worth visiting to the East of here, and I can guarantee you one of these trains leads there." Just as Star finished his sentence, they turned the last corner. A wide stretch of train tracks sprawled out before Misery, with a few buildings on the other side marking the edge of the town. A bridge spanned out across it, apparently being the only way across. A few trains were already stopped beneath the bridge, either refueling or transferring cargo one way or the other. Misery stared at the scene before her in silent calculation before turning back to Star. "So, the trains are an option. Though I suppose the hard part would be to tell which ones are going to Vegas, and then getting everyone on board without getting seen. It would be much easier to get the bus working again." Misery turned to face him and raised a curious eyebrow. "You mentioned that before, actually. About getting the bus working again. Do you have an idea?" Star nodded with a stoic expression. "Maybe. See, buses don't run on normal gas like other cars. They refuel at special stations in bus garages, which you can only get into if your bus is from the same company. There's a very slim chance, but a chance nonetheless, that there might be one of those stations here in Barstow. Like I said, slim, but enough of a chance to at the very least be considered." Misery nodded slowly. "I understand. Speaking of the bus, though... I want to go back, to check on the bus driver. We should have brought him with us last night. I want to make sure he's not hurt, or worse, told someone about what happened." Star nodded and clapped his hands, getting the attention of their escorts. "Sounds good. We'll keep an eye out for other options on our way, too. The sooner we get out of here, the better." The walk to the parking lot took a few minutes longer than either Star or Misery were expecting. The summer heat was unbearably sweltering, slowing down their progress significantly. When they finally arrived, Misery pointed out an area behind a nearby dentist's office where they could spy upon the bus without being seen. A row of heads peaked from around the corner of the building, careful not to extend themselves too far in case of being spotted. That early in the morning, business at the grocery store was rather slow. Almost no cars populated the parking lot, with only a few dotted across the asphalt sparsely. The charter bus sat in the middle of the lot, shimmering in the heat like a desert mirage. Misery spotted the bus driver immediately, standing off to the side of the bus and talking to a man. He seemed confused as he tried to explain the situation and why his bus was parked incorrectly, and why he couldn't move it somewhere else. Misery felt relief as she noticed that he spoke with exaggerated arm movements, sighing happily as she heard his angry shouts drift across the parking lot to her ears. It meant that he was himself again, no longer burdened by the glowing green energy in his eyes. Star noticed too. "He seems to be back to normal. If we can refuel the bus, can you take control again?" Misery turned and glared at Star, who held up his hands as if accused of murder. "No. Not again. Not ever again." "Jeez, alright. I'm just saying." He sighed. "Look, if you want to get to mother, you're going to have to use everything at your disposal." He poked at her forehead a few times. "Everything. Even the stuff that God would consider cheating." Misery grunted and took one last look at the bus driver before turning away. "Well, he's alright. A bit shaken, probably confused, and stuck here like us, but alright. That's good enough for me. Come on, let's scout out the rest of the town before it gets too active." ~ Whistle leaned back against the wall, picking at the peeling paint as she watched the pile of assorted items growing in the center of the assembly room. Children filed in and out of the room, dropping off pieces of clutter they found throughout the abandoned halls of the church. One of the boys, Pocket, entered, dragging an empty metal bucket behind him. With a grunt, he lobbed it on to the pile and spun around on his heel to find something else. Whistle whistled. "Hey, Pocket. Over here." "What?" Pocket rolled his eyes and walked over, arms crossed impatiently. "How close are you to finishing? How many rooms do you have to clear?" "Well, we already emptied the kitchen and the foyer. The closet in the hall has a lot more stuff in it than we thought and we're still trying to find people who'll actually go in the bathroom." He scrunched up his face in disgust as he recalled the stench. "None of that progress was made with help from you, I might add." "Hey, Misery put me in charge. I have to oversee everything." "Well, I still think you're just being lazy." He grunted and gestured towards the ever-growing pile of trinkets. "I don't get why we're doing this in the first place. All of this stuff is just junk." Whistle shrugged. "I don't get it either. But, if Misery wants it, she gets it." Pocket furrowed his brow and opened his mouth to say something, but let the thought die in his throat. He shrugged. "I guess." "Someone is coming!" Pocket and Whistle were interrupted as Faith pointed out of the front window with urgency, he voice drifting in from the foyer. "Who is it?" Whistle frowned worriedly. "I dunno, some lady. She's almost here!" Whistle widened her eyes in panic and brought her fingers up to her mouth. Placing them between her lips and taking a deep breath, she delivered a whistle loud enough to wake the dead. Pocket covered his ears with a wince of pain as his sister smiled, proud of her best and loudest whistle yet. Now having the attention of every abomination in the church, she shouted at the top of her lungs. "Alright, everyone, there's a stranger coming! Crawl into whatever corner you can find and hide!" Each child dropped what they were doing and dove into their respective hiding spots. The deteriorated pews filled quickly as the kids flung themselves behind them face-first, laying down on their stomachs and hoping that the mystery woman wouldn't venture far into the building, and the backs were tall enough to keep them out of sight. As Whistle clambered behind the podium, Pocket realized that most if not all of the obvious hiding places were taken. In a mad dash, Pocket ran out into the foyer. Faith hissed at him from underneath a nearby table, pointing away and frantically whispering at him to hide. He looked about, trying to find even the most basic place to conceal himself. A light fixture dangled from the ceiling above, presenting one of the only hiding spots left in the whole building. With newfound determination, Pocket lept forward. Faith hissed louder as he jumped on top of her table. Using his wings to propel him and keep him balanced, he clambered up against the wall, climbing all the way to the ceiling with gusts from his wings. Pushing off with his legs in a risky leap, he launched himself across the room, ending his pseudo-flight by grabbing hold of the light in the center of the room. He swung from it for a few seconds before finally settling down, hanging in the air. Faith let out a relieved sigh just as the front door opened. A woman, looking to be somewhere about 20 years of age, entered the room. She peeked her head through the doorway, her bright red hair glowing with the sunlight pouring in from behind her. She put her foot forward and came into full view. Pocket watched her carefully as she tiptoed around, glancing around the dark room with interest. She stopped directly underneath Pocket's hiding place, eyes scanning her surroundings. As he stared down at her suspiciously, he didn't notice the cracks forming in the ceiling, warnings of what was to come. Running out of the little strength that it had left, the ceiling gave out. The light shuddered and dropped a few inches, only kept in the air by the wires that supported it. Pocket yelped and lost his grip in surprise, just as the woman looked up to investigate the commotion. She gasped and quickly brought her arms up to catch him. Pocket fell into her open arms, apparently as surprised to be caught as the woman was to catch him. Her blue eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked the boy over, checking to make sure he was alright. Pocket stared up at her awkwardly, his eyes unblinking. "... hey." "Hello." The woman raised an eyebrow. "... can you put me down?" Out of the corner of his eye, Pocket could see his brothers and sisters leaving their hiding spots, skulking out of their dark corners and creeping up on the intruders. The woman was still unaware. "Oh, yeah. Sure." The woman swung Pocket around and dropped him on his feet. "What are you doing in here, all alone? How did you even get up there...?" She glanced up towards the ceiling in confusion. Pocket continued to stare at her with suspicion. He backed away from her without saying any words. The woman began to repeat her question, but stopped dead in the middle of her thoughts when she finally noticed the horde beginning to form around her. She slowly spun around, finding that she was now completely surrounded by the strange looking children. The door where she had came in was blocked. "I'm not alone." Pocket stepped backward into the crowd, disappearing from sight. The woman chuckled nervously, pointing a thumb at the door behind her. "I can... just leave, if I'm interrupting something. It's no trouble at all, really. I'll just get going." The children glared at her and continued to stand around her, blocking any exits. An awkward silence ensued as neither human nor abomination knew what to say next. Finally, Whistle spoke from the back of the crowd. "Get her. Misery doesn't want any witnesses." ~ Anon grunted as the sunlight poured through the window into his eyes. As he rolled over to try and get comfortable, he found himself falling out of the couch and on to the floor. Mistake was awoken by the thud and the following string of swears. She rubbed her eyes and yawned, sitting up in her bed. She smiled as she spotted her father, rubbing his forehead and kicking the couch before heading into the bathroom to get ready. A few minutes later, Anonymous grabbed his room key and the pair headed out the door. They descended the stairs down to the lobby, Mistake trudging along slowly as she remained in the process of waking up. The motel owner, Mrs. Vasquez, stood behind the check-in counter, browsing through a magazine. She waved happily as she saw them come down the stairs. "Oh, hello, you two! Good morning, Lauren, you look like you slept well." "Yeah, waking up's the hard part." Mistake yawned. "Dad, can I give the motel lady a hug?" Anon sighed. "Yeah, make it quick. We have to hit the road soon." "Oh, well I'd be happy to give a hug to a sweet little girl like you!" The older woman stepped out from behind the counter and kneeled down, opening her arms. Mistake scurried forward and embraced her in a hug as Anon tapped his foot impatiently. "Alright, that's enough of that. Come on. I'm pretty sure if we don't get our car now the mechanics are going to turn it into scrap." Mistake waved goodbye to Mrs. Vasquez as they left the motel behind, heading to the street. Anon glared at the tacky signs and early rising pedestrians around him as he strolled down the street, daughter beside him. "I've seen too much of this damn town. The sooner we leave, the better." "Oh, it's not so bad." Mistake marched along the sidewalk with exaggerated strides, stomping along the concrete and swaying her arms with newfound energy. "The Mrs. Vasquez is really nice. She gives really tasty hugs." "Tasty hugs? What, some hugs taste better than others?" "Mhm! I think it depends on how the person means it. You know, sometimes when you give a hug you're doing it just because you know you're supposed to, but sometimes you give a hug because you really love someone. Sometimes you give a hug because you know they need it. Sometimes you give a hug because you need it." She shrugged. "And usually, everyone's hugs just taste a little different no matter what." Anon raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? What do my hugs taste like?" Mistake rolled her eyes. "What does the color blue look like?" "It looks... blue?" "And your hugs taste like hugs." Mistake smirked. "I can't really explain it to you if you have no experience with it. It's like trying to tell a blind person what it's like to see. It isn't like eating normal food." "Fair enough. Let's talk about something else, then." "Ok! Wanna know what I found in my sock-" Anon cut her off. "On second thought, the repair shop isn't fair off. Let's enjoy the morning silence." Mistake huffed, but let it go. The pair rounded the corner, bringing the mechanic's shop into view. One of the sliding garage doors was open, letting the two of them watch as several men scurried around the cars inside. One of the cars, the broken down Neon that they had driven into the town, had several people working on it. Within a few moments, the mechanic they had spoken to in the office pushed himself out from underneath the car and immediately noticed the spectators. He waved with a smile, which Mistake returned, and made his way over to them. "As you can see, the repairs are well underway." He wiped oil from his hands on his pants with a proud beam. "The only thing I can see is that the car isn't fixed yet." Anon scowled. "Our deal was tomorrow morning. It's tomorrow morning." The mechanic's smile didn't even waver. "We had to call in for a part. But we have it now, and it'll be installed in no time. The end of the hour, tops." Anon scowled deeper and leaned forward. "Make sure that's right. Because if it's not done by then you don't get your bonus." The mechanic glanced behind him and nudged Anon with his elbow. "Let's not talk about the bonus in front of the boys, eh?" "You have an hour." Anonymous took Mistake by the hand and led her away. "No longer than that. Get it done." Mistake groaned as they left the mechanic fade behind them. "Ugh, what are we going to do for an hour?" "No idea. There's really not anything to do in Tehachapi. But I just realized I left my wallet in the motel room. We'll have to go get that back." As they walked back down the street to the motel, Mistake posed a question that had been on her mind. "How do you think they're doing?" "Your brothers and sisters?" Anon scoffed. "Probably better than we are. They're a resourceful bunch, and there's always been a couple of smart kids in the bunch that are probably keeping the group together." Mistake could tell her father was actually very worried by the way he bit the inside of his cheek as he finished his sentence, but she accepted the answer anyways, not wanting to keep pressing him and causing him stress. As they rounded the corner once more, the motel came in sight. Anon pushed open the door and stepped inside, daughter in tow. Mrs. Vasquez was still positioned behind the counter, smiling as ever. "Oh, welcome back! I had a hunch you'd be here soon." "Well, it's not by choice." Anon rolled his eyes. "Mechanics being mechanics." "Oh, I know that story." Mrs. Vasquez pointed up the stairs. "By the way, there was a visitor here looking for you. Like I said, I had a feeling you'd be back, so I sent him up to your room and told him you'd be here shortly. He should be waiting for you inside." "A visitor?" Anon frowned. "I wasn't expecting any visitors." "Well, he said he knew you. He knew your name and he knew how you looked." "What about him? The man, what was his name?" "Ummm... I believe he said he was a Jacob. Jacob Longfellow." "Oh, why didn't you say so?" Anon smiled and headed for the stairs. "I'll go up and see him. Mistake, you wait here with the nice lady, alright? I'll be right back down." Mistake raised an eyebrow with confusion, but nodded and sat down on one of the waiting benches. Anon gave her a quick nod and started up the stairs. "I'll be back in a second." Anon crept up the stairs as silently as possible, keeping close to the side of the stairwell to avoid creaking the old wooden steps. Carefully, he peeked around the top of the stairwell. The hallway was empty, and silent, with no sign of the mysterious visitor to be seen. The door to his room was closed shut, supposedly with the man inside of it. The issue was, Anonymous didn't know anyone named Jacob Longfellow. Which means he didn't know the person who met Mrs. Vasquez, and he didn't know the person now in his room. Any stranger that had his name and description was not someone that Anon trusted. Taking extra care not to make any noise, Anon walked down the hall and leaned up against his room door, pressing his ear against it to try and listen inside. From within the room, Anon could hear someone moving around. He heard the sounds of drawers sliding open and shut, as if the stranger was looking around the room for something. Suddenly, the noises stopped, and Anon couldn't hear anything no matter how hard he strained his ears. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Anon braced himself against the door. He counted to three in his head, and at the coming of the third number, he pushed the door open and barreled into the room with a charge. The sudden attack startled and stunned the intruder, causing him to jump in surprise and stumble with the wallet he held in his hands: Anon's wallet. His face was hidden by his wide-brimmed hat and high-collared trenchcoat. The only parts of his head that were visible were his brown eyes, which locked with Anon's as they stared each other down. Anon cracked his neck and cleared his throat. "I don't know who you are, or what you want, so-" The man recovered from his shock quickly, dropping the wallet and pulling a revolver out of his coat. The iridescent white handle of the weapon shimmered as he raised it from his pocket and pointed it at Anon in one smooth motion, his hand steady. "Woah, there, Dirty Harry, no need for that." Anon widened his eyes and slowly raised his arms in the air, taking a few steps back by instinct. "There's some cash in the wallet. Don't bother looking around the room for valuables, I scoped the place out and the most expensive thing here is probably the soap in the bathroom." "Where's the creature?" The man spoke with a raspy voice, in some thick accent Anon didn't recognize. "Creature? What creature?" "The little girl." The mysterious man cocked the hammer on his revolver. "Tell me. Now." "Calm down." Anon stepped to the side, by the nightstand, and jerked a thumb at the door. "She's out there. In the hallway. What do you want with her?" "Stand there and be silent." The man kept his weapon pointed in Anon's direction as he strode silently towards the door. As the man's head peeked out into the hallway, Anon moved his hands behind his back. One of them clenched tightly around the neck of the lamp that sat on the bedstand. "You're lying. The girl isn't there." The man returned and stood a few feet away from Anon, gun pointed at his chest. "You will lead me to her. No games. If you lie to me again, or try and trick me, you get shot." "Look, I'm sure we can talk about this. Maybe we ca-" Anon interrupted his own sentence as he swung the lamp from behind him, yanking its cord out of the socket and slamming it against the man's hand. The lamp shattered from the force, sending the gun flying out of the man's grip and onto the bed. With an angry grunt, he followed it with a shove, pushing the man to the ground. Anon followed the man to the ground and pinned him there, wrapping his hands around his throat. "Who are you? What do you want with us?" Refusing to reply, the man shifted his weight and slammed Anon's head against the wall. With a powerful knee to the gut, he escaped from Anon's grasp, gasping for air. Anon desperately grabbed for a leg to bring the fight back down to the ground, only to gain a heavy kick to the face from the man's boot. He swore and reeled back, giving the man time to make his escape. Anon heard the window shatter from the other side of the room, and he could see the man climbing out as he recovered from the blow. The room was empty by the time he pushed himself up. Anon staggered to his feet and wiped the blood from his face, glancing around the room. His wallet, nothing missing from it, sat on the floor. Whoever it was hadn't broken in to do an average robbery, if that wasn't already blatantly obvious. The pearl-handled revolver still sat on the bed, glimmering. Anon grabbed it and ran for the window, looking for his target. As he was expecting, he saw nothing: the man was already long gone. He sighed and lifted up his shirt, sliding the revolver into his pants. Once lowered back down, the shirt obscured the revolver from view once more. Anon ran down the stairs, speed now more important to him than caution. Walking into the lobby with a brisk pace, he took a very confused Mistake by the hand and led her towards the door. Mrs. Vasquez gasped as she saw the wound on his forehead. "Is everything alright, Mr.-" "We're checking out, Mrs. Vasquez." "Oh, well, I need your signat-" The sound of the room key hitting her desk lifted her eyes from her paperwork. She glanced up to realize that she was speaking to an empty room.
In Search of Mother	Chapter V: Tension	"Who is she?" Misery stared into the green slime as Whistle shrugged. "I dunno." "Well she has to have a NAME, doesn't she?" "Well, it's not as if we can ask her right now. Not when she's under all that slime." "Then get her out." Misery poked at the mound, watching it jiggle. "Get some water, and give her some air. We need to have a chat." "Pocket!" Whistle turned and screamed over her shoulder. "Get the bucket you found earlier! Fill it with water!" "Jeez, you don't have to shout, I'm right here." Pocket grumbled and rubbed his ears, departing from the group that surrounded the ensnared woman. "And how long has she been like this, again?" Star stared into the slime, taking in the woman's features. "We got her right after she walked in, which was about thirty minutes ago. While you two were still out." Whistle pointed to both Misery and Star. "I sent Jet out to find you and let you know, but by the time he got off his butt and was ready to go, you guys had already come back on your own." "But that still doesn't tell us why she came here. And you-" Misery pointed an accusatory finger at Whistle, "why didn't you make everyone hide? Didn't you say you saw her coming?" "We did hide!" Whistle raised her voice in her own defense. "Faith spotted her through the window and we all took a hiding spot. She only found us because Pocket decided he would practice his circus act." "Hey!" Pocket strolled through the foyer with an empty bucket in his arms, heading for the bathroom. "It's not my fault the ceiling decided to fall apart when it did. And I didn't WANT to hide up there in the first place. Maybe if Faith didn't have such a giant butt I would have been able to squeeze under the table with her." "Yeah, well-" Before Whistle could finish, Misery cut off their bickering with a sharp hiss. "Were you all wearing your disguises? She didn't see any of us in our... normal form?" "I... I'm pretty sure, yeah." Whistle nodded slowly. "Everyone who was in sight was disguised, anyways. So everyone that mattered." "So she doesn't know what we really are." "To be fair, we don't really know what we are either." Star shrugged. "You know, besides just weird." Misery rolled her eyes. "Even if she doesn't know what we look like, she does know that we spit green slime that traps people. That should be enough to tip her off that we're not normal children." "I need some help in here!" Pocket called out from the bathroom. "This thing is waaay too heavy when it's full." Misery motioned for Star to help, and with a sigh, he left the group and headed for the bathroom. Protests of discomfort could be heard all throughout the church as Star discovered the smell inside, giving Whistle a fit of giggles. Misery watched anxiously as the two boys waddled out of the bathroom together, a bucket full of water between them. Both wore twisted, scrunched up faces as they tried to move as fast as possible away from the stench. "Whoever was in that bathroom before we showed up, they left something of questionable origin in that toilet." Star dropped his side of the bucket slightly before Pocket let go of his, causing the water to slosh over the sides as the bucket landed at an uneven angle. "I think, at one point, it was organic. Now, I'm fairly sure if it falls under the category of 'unholy eldritch abomination'." "Shut up and get to work. I want to talk to our visitor." Misery pointed at the woman frozen in time. "Jeez, Mis, we were getting to it." Pocket grunted and grabbed hold of his side of the bucket once more. "Sleep on a pea last night, your highness? You seem cranky." "Stop talking and lift, Pocket. This thing is heavy." Star huffed and lifted his side of the bucket with all of his strength. "We dump on the count of three, right?" "Right." "Right, then." Star cleared his throat. "One. Two..." The pair swung their arms back to build momentum. "Three!" With a heave, the boys threw the bucket forward, emptying the contents on the waiting face of the woman. As soon as the water made contact, several children stepped forward to help clear the slime out of the way. Their fingers clawed at the viscous green compound as it started to dissolve, pulling it away from the woman's face. The layers started to fade away as the water washed them down to the floor, and with a few more tugs from Misery, the final membrane broke away. The woman sputtered, emptying her mouth of both slime and water as she struggled for breath. Misery leaned towards Star to whisper. "I know the bathroom was disguisting, but was that water clean?" "Clean enough." Star shrugged. As the woman spit out the remaining foreign material from her mouth, Misery folded her arms behind her back and leaned forward. "Name, lady?" The woman blinked a few times, trying to get her eyes adjusted to the light. "W-what?" "Name. Everyone's got one. I want yours." "Uh... Molly." Molly gulped, still barely able to see anything. "Molly McKenzie." "And who sent you here, Molly?" "No one sent me." "Answer me truthfully, or we put you back in there." "I am! No one sent me." Molly repeated herself, louder the second time. "I was just jogging by like I do every day and I thought I heard some weird noises. So I came in to check it out." Misery leaned closer and stared into Molly's eyes. They locked stares as they studied each other's faces, now that Molly's vision was finally whole. Misery nodded ever so slightly and let out a sigh, spinning around on her heel and walking away. "She's free to go. Pocket, dig her out. Someone else help him." Pocket groaned and picked up the empty bucket, heading back to the bathroom with a grimace. Star gaped at Misery with a look of disbelief before grabbing Pocket by the arm and motioning for him to stay where he was. "You can't be serious, Misery. We can't let her walk away now, she's seen way too much!" "Yeah, and what is she going to do?" Misery spun around once more, giving Star a deadly glare. "Go home and talk about the bug people from Mars who trapped her in space-goo?" Misery motioned towards Molly, who was still snared chest-down in gel. "You'll be quiet about all this, won't you?" "Girl, if you want privacy, you can have it. I'll shut my mouth and you won't see me ever again." Molly struggled around in her prison, trying to get her arms free. "I would make the mouth-lock motion, throw away the key thing, but you know. Still stuck in here." "Even so." Star shook his head. "What if she's lying? She could be with the police. Or higher up in the government. Maybe she's some kind of crazy UFO lady who thought she'd take a crack at alien hunting. Who's to say she won't lie about it now and come back with help later?" "And are you suggesting we take her with us? You don't think she'll slow us down at all?" "Well, I don't see anything wrong with just leaving her here. Someone has to come by eventually, and they'll take care of her." "Star, we specifically chose this place BECAUSE people wouldn't come by on a regular basis." "For the record, I would like to cast a vote against the 'staying here' thing. I enjoy moving." Molly spoke up. "And, uh, eating and drinking on a regular basis." "Well, regardless of what we do with her in the end, we can't let her go now." Star shook his head stubbornly. "It's far too risky." "I don't care." Misery crossed her arms. "I'm in charge. I make the decisions. And my decision has been made. She goes." "I can't follow through with your decision if it puts us in a position of danger." Star crossed his own arms in return. "In fact, I say we take a vote for once. Who else here thinks letting her go is a bad idea?" Star turned around and held out his arms expectantly, trying to get a response from the small group of children. Misery glared at everyone in the room. "No one raises their hand." Whistle rubbed the back of her neck and awkwardly glanced between Star and Misery. Pocket stared forward in silence for a few moments before slowly raising his hand up to the sky. Several other children behind him glanced at each other before nodding and doing the same, raising their hands as well. Whistle took a sharp breath and nudged her brother. "Pocket! Misery said-" "I'm tired of listening to what Misery says." He tried his best to pretend like he didn't notice the burning stare aimed at him from Misery's direction. "It's a bad idea, I don't care how many times she tells us that it isn't." "Well, I'd say that's at least four or five votes against two, Misery." Star nodded. "I'm sure we can find some kind of compromise that will-" "No." Misery growled. "There will be no compromise. There are no votes. There are no opinions." Misery stomped her foot and jabbed her finger at Star. "There is only me, my word, and the expectation that it is followed to the very letter." With each point she made, Misery drove her finger into his chest. Star scowled and pushed her back, causing her to hiss in anger. "Well, I'm sorry I'm the one to tell you this, sis, but I think we've all pretty much had enough of your poor decisions. We followed you because you had a plan. Now, your plan has been wasted. And we're going with Plan B." Misery leaned forward and stuck her face directly into Star's, locking eyes with him in a mutual unwavering glare. The two opposing forces stood there in the center of the room in without a word as the seconds ticked by, each feeling like an hour. The other children, and one confused adult, watched with interest to see who would win the silent war. Molly coughed and cleared her throat from her position off to the side, trying to break apart the awkward encounter. Misery growled lightly and spun around on her heel, heading for the congregation room. "If you want to be in charge, you're in charge." Misery stomped as she left the foyer behind her. "I expect a full route to Las Vegas by tomorrow morning, since you think you can handle it." Star's expression softened. "Wait, Misery, hold on. That's not what I-" He tried to speak to his sister, but she had already left the room. "Ugh. Goddamnit." Molly frowned slightly as she watched Misery leave. "You two need to have a talk. I used to fight with my brothers and sisters too. Talks solve everything." Star sighed and stared at Molly for a few seconds, measuring the advice of a stranger. "Yeah. Maybe you're right. Pocket, keep an eye on... what was your name? Molly? Keep an eye on Molly while I talk with Misery." Pocket nodded silently as Star stormed into the congregation room after his sister. ~ "Alright... I think... no, I still don't get it. Start over." Mistake shook her head in confusion. "Someone tried to shoot you?" "Jesus. This is the third time you've made me do this. You get the abridged version, this time." Anon honked at the car in front of him, which was driving too slow for his liking. "No. No one tried to shoot me. The man wasn't there to kill me. If he wanted to, he could have done it at any time. So, this is what happened: there was a man in the motel room wearing a trenchcoat and hat. He pointed a gun at me and asked me where you were. I lied and got in a fight with him, and he stunned me and escaped through the second story window. Then I came back downstairs and we left as soon as we could." Luckily, after their morning visit, the mechanic had kicked himself into gear. The car was in working condition by the time they arrived, and with a considerably lighter wallet, the duo had taken to the road as soon as possible. Now they drove towards the outskirts of Tehachapi, finally back on their way to Vegas, and Mistake wanted to know what the rush was about. "You said a guy in a trenchcoat? What's a trenchcoat?" "It's like, uh... a big goofy mix between a jacket and a suit. Commonly worn by cartoon spies, and sometimes black leather variants make their way onto badass 90's movie anti-heroes." "Oh!" Mistake grinned with pride as she remembered something. "I saw a guy like that too! At the diner. He stared at me for a little while. It was creepy." "Yeah, I figured he had to have been following us for a while." Anon spun the wheel and stepped on the gas, pulling ahead of the car ahead of him. "And I'm pretty sure he knows what you are. What you REALLY are. He wanted you, specifically, he wasn't there just to steal my wallet." "You think he might be a spy? For the government, or whatever?" "I'm not one for conspiracy theories, mind you." Anon shrugged. "I did stick my dick into some kind of alien, though, so I figure there must be some level of truth to them." Mistake sighed deeply in thought. "So, you have nothing on this guy? No ID? No name? You said you were choking him, earlier, so you must have seen his face." "Yeah, of course I saw his face." Anon nodded. "He... he had a..." Anon seemed disoriented as he tried to think of the man's face. "A... a big... fuck, it's gone. I can't remember anything about his face." "So, what DO you remember about him?" "Well, he had a really thick accent. I couldn't tell where it was from, though. Maybe some nordic dialect? Danish or Swedish or something.Oh, and he left this behind." Anon lifted his shirt slightly, putting the revolver in view. Mistake gasped and brought her hands up to her mouth as Anon let his shirt fall back down. "I know, I know. Guns can be scary. I promise, I'll never shoot it at someone. It's only there as a deterrent, to keep people from-" "Can I shoot it? Please?" Mistake's shocked face transitioned to a wide grin in under a second. "Just at like, a rock or something. Not a person. Well, maybe a person. Just in the leg. A foot. A toe." Anon took his eyes off the road for a moment to give Mistake a troubled stare. "No? No shooting people? Not even if it's a bad guy? Alright, I'll still take the rock. But really, I want to shoot it." Anon turned back to the road and kept driving. "Well, I was worried that the gun was going to scare you. Now I'm scared that the gun is going to end up in your hands somehow." "That would be so awesome." Mistake stuck her tongue out and pretended to draw a revolver from an invisible holster at her hip, taking aim at the windshield. She made a series of banging noises and pretended to blow the smoke rising from her barrel, spinning her weapon and returning it back to her holster. Anon shook his head. "You can get a gun when you're older. And living a few thousand miles away from me." Mistake grinned and tipped her imaginary cowgirl hat, chewing on a piece of nonexistent straw. ~ "Misery? Hey, Misery? Sis? You in here?" Star called out through the crowd, looking for the girl. The ancient congregation room was falling apart from the sudden unexpected use, with a hundred new occupants to harbor and no one to repair it to its previous condition. Walls peeled and ceilings began to buckle, their weight starting to finally outdo the supports holding them up. As children milled about and wrestled with each other, Star stroked a hand through his short black hair and sighed. "Misery? Hello?" Star paused to poke one of his brothers, Trip, on the shoulder. "Hey, have you seen Misery? Trip frowned and pointed towards the stage. "Over by the podium, I think. She looked like something was wrong." "Thanks." Star nodded and patted him on the back before heading for the podium he could see standing over the sea of his siblings. With a short hop, he found his way on top of the stage, glancing around. Most of his siblings were down below in the pews, leaving the stage nearly clear. A couple girls sat off to the side, one dangling her legs over the side of the stage and braiding the hair of the other sister who sat on the floor in front of her. Star was still unable to spot Misery. He sighed once more and leaned around the side of the podium, finally spotting her squatting in its shadow with her knees brought up to her face. "Misery?" "Go away." Star crossed his arms and stood there for several moments. Misery didn't budge from her position. "I just want to talk." "And I said go away." Star winced as he heard one of his brothers scream from the back of the room. "Could you have chosen a quieter place to mope, at least?" "There is no quiet place in this church." "Then give me a second to make one." Star sucked in a deep breath and turned to face the crowd in rear of him. "Everyone! All'ya! Out! Go in the foyer or something. Meet our new guest." A wave of disgruntled moans rose up from the crowd as they began their arduous task of standing up to leave, some of them tripping over the clutter piled up in the center of the room. Jet gave Star a nasty glare before being pulled away by the collar by another one of his brothers. He was the last one out the door before it swung shut behind the crowd, leaving the two siblings alone together in the first moment of silence either had experienced in a while. Star sat down in front of Misery and crossed his legs, dropping his disguise as he did so. His human legs flashed with green flame for a moment before being replaced with a pair of holed chitinous appendages. He stared at her for a few moments, not receiving any response. Misery stared down into her lap, knees brought up to her forehead. "Misery. Please." A few more seconds passed. Suddenly, and without a word, Misery's form flashed with green flame as well, her disguise fading away instantaneously. Slowly, she lowered her knees away from her face and looked up at Star with a furrowed brow. "What do you want?" Star smiled, almost too small to be noticeable. "I just want to talk. And we should do it while we still can, we don't know how long this place is going to stay quiet." Misery scooted across the floor and joined her brother's side, gazing out over the empty congregation room. The pile of collected trash blended in with the rest of the decayed interior, almost as if it were part of the same whole. Through years of abandonment and neglect, the junk in the church had formed a bond with the church itself. It didn't make it any more useful, though, and Misery sighed as she took in the sight. "I don't know what I was expecting from all this... junk. I thought they might find something useful. But, again, guess it was just another one of my stupid ideas." "Well, that's not entirely fair." Star shrugged. "We did use the bucket. And besides, it's not like they're doing anything anyways. Might as well put them to work." "Yeah, I guess." Misery leaned forward, planting her head in her hands and her elbows in her lap. "It was still a bad idea, though, just like stealing the bus and just like trying to let Molly go. Maybe this whole thing was a bad idea from the start. You really should be in charge." "Well, if coming out here to find mom was a bad idea, then I guess I'm guilty of thinking of it too. So I can't be in charge either." Star shrugged. Misery arched an eyebrow. "No, but coming out here was my idea. I was the one that found her online. You helped, I guess, but it was my idea." "Well, coming out to see mom, yeah. That was your idea. But I was thinking about running away long before you came up with this trip." Star scratched the base of his neck, looking down at the floor to avoid eye contact with Misery. "I... never really did intend on coming back home at the end of this." "Really?" Misery sat up, starting to get interested. "Where were you going to go?" "Anywhere." Star stared up at the ceiling now, recalling past thoughts. "I just remember thinking to myself that anywhere was better than home. I was sick of being stuck in that house, in that town, with nothing to do. It was driving me mad." Star smiled weakly. "This is, in a strange way, the most fun I've had in years." "What was your plan?" "Get on a bus and go. Kinda like our plan now, but somehow even worse. I would have done it alone, though, I don't think I could have rallied the others to come with me even if I wanted to." Star eyed his sister before addressing her. "You're good at that, you know. Rallying them. They listen to you. They don't listen to me." "Well, they used to listen to me." Misery grunted and flopped back onto the stage floor, staring up at the window in the ceiling as dim rays of sunlight poured in. "It seems they've decided they like your leadership more than mine." "They don't like my leadership, they like my ideas." Star corrected her. "There's a big difference. A leader pulls people together and keeps them together. That doesn't necessarily mean they know the right thing to do. Sometimes a leader needs advice from time to time so they stay on track. Sometimes someone with better ideas comes in and steals the audience, but then doesn't know what to do with them." Star shrugged. "People- and, whatever we are- are weird." Misery stared at her brother for a long while, taking in his words. Finally, she sat up and brushed her hair to the side. "You're a smart one, Star. Smarter than me. I should have just brought you alone and left everyone else at home. You're worth more than all of them combined." Star grinned. "Maybe we could still do that." Misery raised an eyebrow and gestured for him to continue. "Well, what if we just went to Vegas? Just us two? We could leave the rest of them here, and go off on our own." Misery dwelled on it for a few seconds. "Do you think we could do that? Just leave them here? What if they got into trouble?" Misery rolled her eyes and corrected herself. "Or, should I say, what will happen when they DO get into trouble?" "We won't be gone for long. Just long enough to get to Vegas, find mother, get some answers, and then get back. Hit and run. We can tell the rest they have to stay here and watch Molly or something. Faith or Jet could probably wrangle them if they get out of control." Misery nodded slowly. "That could work, actually. It'd make it much easier to use the trains, too. Two passengers are easier to sneak on than a hundred. And, it solves the Molly issue, or at least puts it on hold until after we already get back." "Everyone wins." "Everyone wins..." Misery felt her mind begin to wander as she thought upon the option. She sat up and swept her eyes across the wreckage of what used to be a cheerful place of worship. She could almost see the ghosts of the past floating in between the pews as they talked amongst one another and waited for the service to start. She let her imagination run wild, bringing solidity to the shapes: soon she recognized them as people from home. Familiar faces sat in the front row, staring up at her as if she was the pastor on stage about to deliver her sermon. Her brothers and sisters, the old woman she had followed into church, even her father sat on the far end with a bored look on his face. And for the first time since they had left, Misery felt homesick. But something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. Misery darted her head to look towards the back of the room. Leaning against the back wall, next to the door, was a dark feminine shape. A horn, crooked and jagged in places, extended from her forehead, and her hair dropped down to her waist. The shadows on her face seemed to shift around, never quite settling into a coherent image. Through the blurred essence, Misery could only see two things: a pair of bright green eyes, staring right back at her. Suddenly the feeling of homesickness was gone, and she only had one thought on her mind. "What are you?" The shadow whispered to her. "Hey, Mis." Star shook Misery by the shoulder, breaking her concentration and causing the ghostly imaginings to disappear into the air. The shadowy figure in the back was the last to go, fading away with a hiss. Misery sighed in disappointment and turned to her brother. "Yeah?" "Let's go check the train schedules. We can probably get in and out of Vegas in a day, maybe two if we need the extra time to find mom." "Good idea." Misery nodded. "I'd feel better if we brought Whistle along, too. She's been helpful so far." "If you're bringing Whistle, I'm bringing Pocket." "Fair enough." The siblings stared into each other's eyes for a moment before nodding in unison. Star smiled, and Misery's lip twitched upwards for a brief moment. ~ "Are we there yet?" "I'm going to start starving you of hugs if you ask that question again. I swear." Mistake rolled her eyes and flopped back in her seat with an exaggerated sigh. "We've been driving forever. How far away is Vegas?" Anon glanced at his phone. "Almost two hundred miles. Which is about two more hours, give or take. We left Mojave about a half hour ago." "Why didn't we stop there?" "Because we're already a day behind, Mistake. I promise we'll stop in Barstow, stretch our legs a bit and maybe get myself something to eat. Then it's just a straight drive up to Vegas." Mistake scrunched up her face and crossed her arms. "Oh, alright. Fine. But that's gonna take ages." "It'll go faster if you stop talking." Mistake glanced at her father in disbelief. "Really?" "No. But if you do manage to shut up for the rest of the drive you'll make me a proud father." Mistake stuck her tongue out at him. "Well, you can be all anti-social like that if you want. But I know what DOES make time go faster! Games!" "Oh, God, no." "Oh, my, yes!" Mistake clapped her hands together, her mood instantly changed. "So, what do you want to play? 'I Spy'? 'I'm thinking of an animal'? Oh, we can play the story game!" "I think I'm going to opt out and try and listen to some music instead." Anon reached forward and messed with the radio controls. After several minutes of cursing and fruitless fiddling, the only sound the radio would produce was a constant stream of static. Anon cursed one more time, for good measure, and shut it off again. "Fine. Whatever. What's the story game?" "Oh, yeees, that one's fun." Mistake grinned wide. "Right, so, I start, and then it's your turn, and then it's my turn again. I start with a single sentence, and then you write the next sentence. And we keep going back and forth and write the story together until we finish. Get it?" Anon nodded. "Alright, I'll start." Mistake rubbed her chin, deep in thought, as she tumbled over her knowledge to find a suitable start for a story. Her foot tapped on the floor as she fell deep into her thoughts, leaving the real world behind as she delved into her imagination. Suddenly, she cried out in triumph and shot her hand in the air, startling Anon and causing the car to swerve slightly. "Alright, I got it! Are you ready?" "I've been ready." "OK." Mistake cleared her throat. "Two cowboys sit across from each other in the dead of night, the only light coming from the stars above and the lively fire making waves of light on the sand between them." She smiled, proud of her work, and gestured for Anon to continue. Anon nodded and cleared his own throat. "Ahem... the end." Mistake's smile instantly dissipated and became a disappointed glare. "You did it wrong." "I like to leave the rest of the story to the reader's imagination. Call it an open ending, if you will." "It's still lame." "You're lame." "Your face is lame." "Good thing you're my daughter and we have similar faces, then." Mistake let her final retort die, feeling that it had already been bested. She stared out the window and watched the desert sands pass by, imposing her own imagination over it. Desperados rode alongside the car on horseback, dodging and weaving through the desert brush as they fled from the mob of greedy bounty hunters behind them. Suddenly she had the thought of something else to share with her father. "Hey, dad! Want to guess what I found in my sock now?" Anon reached over and turned the radio on, filling the car with static. He winced and put his hands back on the wheel. Mistake covered her ears as her right eye twitched compulsively. "Dad, we already figured out the radio is broken. It's just static." Anon turned up the volume and continued driving.
In Search of Mother	Chapter VI: Questions	Molly glanced around the room, a little light-headed. She had skipped breakfast that morning, thinking she'd have a late one when she returned from her walk. She was starting to regret it as her stomach growled at her, hidden somewhere beneath the green slime that surrounded her body from her shoulders down. Lunch probably wasn't coming any time soon, either. She ought to be prepared for things like this, she thought to herself, but as she continued to think she wasn't so sure how well one could prepare to get kidnapped by a swarm of strangely similar children that spewed slime from their mouths. Not much had happened since the little girl had stormed off into the other room, with her brother one step behind her. A few minutes after the two had entered, the doors opened and quite a few of the kids filtered out from the congregation room, obviously not pleased with their relocation. A few of them took interest in Molly, and stopped by to get a closer look, but none felt they were allowed to get within reaching distance. After a few seconds of thought the majority of the group either went to entertain themselves in the other rooms of the church or the lawn outside, though only the bravest ones dared to do the latter as they all knew it was against the rules and feared their leader's wrath. From the short drama Molly had just witnessed, she wasn't sure who exactly the leader of the group was, but it was either the little girl with green hair or the little boy with black. It seemed to her that the girl had been the leader for a while, but the boy had been leading it his own way behind the scenes. Molly's thoughts of group politics were interrupted by a sudden silence as she realized that most of the children had either left to go entertain themselves elsewhere, or sat quietly in the corners curled up to be by themselves. Only one remained nearby, as he had for a while now: the one that had been assigned to watch her. She took notice of the boy who had fallen into her arms earlier. After having some time to study the room, she had realized that he fell from the lighting fixture that now dangled above her head at an awkward angle, instead of her initial understanding that he simply materialized in the air above her. Every now and again a bit of dust drifted down from the ceiling as the lamp swayed from the breeze that blew in from the cracks in the walls, barely hanging on its thin cord. Molly noticed that the boy, too, was staring up at it, probably thinking the same thoughts as she was. "Doesn't look too safe up there, does it?" The boy turned his attention to her, uncertainty obvious in the creases around his squinted eyes. Molly smiled, trying to disarm the situation. A smile wasn't going to break her out, of course, but making friends was a good start. "So what were you doing up there?" The boy continued his distrustful frown, but let out a soft answer. "Hiding." "Ah. From me, I guess." Molly nodded. "What did the girl say your name was? Pocket?" Pocket nodded, the corners of his frown elevating ever so slightly. "Yeah. And you're Molly?" "Molly McKenzie. I'm a secretary, I work at the hospital right over there." She pointed behind her and out the door, to the East. "Well, Molly... thanks for catching me, I guess." Pocket shrugged and glanced back up at the shaky light. Molly followed his lead. "Does look a bit wobbly, doesn't it? I hope it doesn't fall while I'm stuck here." "I'm sure you'll be fine." He gave the lamp a troubled stare, however, the worried expression betraying his true thoughts. Molly shrugged. "Well, if you think so. I'm sure you know that lamp better than I do, considering you were the one up there." A few moments passed and they both sat in silence, staring at the swinging light. Suddenly, she looked back down and locked eyes with him, flashing a grin. "Want to play a game?" "A game?" Pocket rose an eyebrow. "What kind of game? Guess Who?" Molly raised her eyebrows in surprise. "You have Guess Who all the way out here?" "No, it's not a board game. Guess Who is a game where-" Pocket stopped himself mid-sentence. Guess Who was a game where he and his brother, Mimic, took turns trying to impersonate actors they saw on TV using their transformation abilities and have the other guess who they were trying to be. Pocket assumed Misery wouldn't want him talking about that stuff, though. He waved his hand and dodged the question. "It's just a game we play. But what game did you have?" "Well, it depends. How old are you?" "Seven." "Really?" Molly arched her brow. "And what about the other kids, how old are they?" "My brothers and sisters? We're all the same age." "Uh-huh." Molly glanced around at the other kids, who all looked eerily similar and were apparently the same age. She felt grievously left out of some loop. "You're all very mature for your age. Especially the one with the different greenish hair. What did you call her..." "That's Misery." "Yeah, her. She seemed like she had a bright mind behind those shining green eyes, and she didn't have wrinkles to prove that she earned it." Molly sighed. "That's a volatile combination, right there. Can't even tell you how many young people with shining eyes thought they could take the world, only to have it all collapse around them when they're at their peak. I'm one of them." Molly's expression slowly wilted as she gazed up at the ceiling, lost in her thoughts as she finished her rant. Pocket scratched his head. "Well, how old are you?" "Twenty eight in..." she paused to count in her head. "Two weeks. I lose track sometimes, thanks for reminding me." Pocket nodded slowly. "You're pretty old, then." "Oh, thanks for the compliment." Molly rolled her eyes. "Not THAT old, kid. Just old enough to start seeing some of the realities in life, I think." Pocket stared at her for a few moments, trying to process what she said. Eventually he gave up and decided he'd get it when he was older. "Whatever. Did you say you have a game?" "Oh, yeah." Molly's smile returned to her face. "Want to play Simon Says?" "Yeah, sure. But I'm Simon." Molly dropped her voice low and adopted the tone of a valiant knight. "Then speak, little one, and it shall be done." "Simon says..." Pocket stared at the ground and thought of a good command. "Nod your head." Molly did as she was told. "Now Simon says make a funny face." Molly stuck her tongue out to the side and crossed her eyes. Pocket suppressed a giggle. "Now Simon says jump!" Molly stared at him for a few moments before shrugging. "You're just going to have to take my word on that one, kid, I'm pretty sure I'm not leaving the ground under all this slime." Pocket grunted. "Yeah, we can't really play if you're in there..." He glanced backwards at the door to the congregation room. "I don't think Misery would let me do that, though." "Well, maybe we should play another game. How about Twenty Questions?" Pocket nodded and glanced down at the floor in thought. "Give me a minute to think of something, then." Molly was about to respond when she noticed one of the children coming closer, behind Pocket. But he wasn't a child, not really. Where his legs should have been, there were two black stumps, filled with holes. A long, black tail swept from behind him, dragging along the ground. A pair of insectoid wings sprouted from behind him, miniscule and almost hidden behind his back, while his eyes drew her attention with their empty pale blue stare. It walked toward them, and the only thing Molly could do was stare in awe. Pocket started to give her a strange look, not yet noticing the undisguised child behind him. Molly blinked a few times and finally found her voice. "Pocket... I changed my mind. I have a lot more than 20 questions." ~ "Oh thank the Lord, the torment is over." Anon threw open the car door and stepped out into the desert air, stretching out his arms to welcome the outdoors. Not that the parking lot of the Jack in the Box counted as the outdoors, but after spending the last few hours cooped inside a car, even stepping out onto the black asphalt under the gaze of the setting sun seemed like an expedition into nature. More important than getting out of the stuffy car, however, was the fact that he was no longer trapped in the stuffy car with Mistake. Or, rather, Mistake's running mouth. The girl hopped out of the passenger seat and slammed the door behind her, bringing a hand up to shield her eyes from the sun as she scanned over her surroundings. Even though the drive was over, she wasn't anywhere near out of things to talk about. "So, this is Barstow? Doesn't look like much." "That's because it's not." Anon twisted his body back and forth, trying to crack the joints in his spine. "It's nowhere. Just like Tehachapi, just like Bakersfield, just like every other settlement between the West Coast and Vegas." "Well, I don't really know anything about towns." She frowned in thought for a brief moment before immediately transitioning back to a grin. "But I do know about cowboys! Did you know that f-" Mistake stopped mid-sentence as Anon slowly turned to face her. He kneeled down and planted both of his hands on her shoulders. "No more talking." "What d-" "No. No more. I've been with you for the past two days, and all you ever do is talk. And talk. And talk. And talk." "I ju-" "We're not in the car anymore. I don't have to drive. I don't have to keep my hands on the wheel. So now, I can tell you..." He shook her lightly as he whispered the final words, "Shuuut uuup." Mistake didn't move, her face blank of all emotion. Several seconds passed as the two stood there in the parking lot, the sun just beginning to set over the desert horizon. A car drove by on the road next to them, kicking up a small gust of wind that disturbed the bangs of Mistake's hair. Suddenly breaking the vow of silence, Mistake lept out from under her father's hands and embraced him, wrapping her arms around his neck and snuggling her head against his. Anon sat still with his arms still held out in the air as if he were a machine that wasn't programmed to deal with the situation at hand. It took him a few seconds before he came back to his senses and brought his arms back, returning the hug. "What's this for?" Mistake grinned. "I'm hungry, and you were whining." "Oh, so whining is bad now. But it was perfectly fine when you were doing it in the car for the last few hours." "Well... yeah. Because I'm a kid." "I'm starting to see how seven-year-old logic works. It's eerily similar to adult logic, just more straightforward.." He brought his arms between them and pushed her back, starting to stand. "Well, that's enough of that." Mistake whimpered quietly and kept her arms held tight around his neck as he rose. "I'm still hungry, though!" She continued to cling to his arm as he tried to walk away, dangling in the air with flailing legs. Anon continued to shuffle towards the food joint, trying to act like she wasn't there. "Well, I'm hungry too. And I can't eat dinner if you're hanging from my neck like the ugliest necktie ever made." "The only ugly thing here is you. I'll have you know, I'm the best accessory you could ever wear! I'm not a necktie, I'm a dazzling necklace. Bug stuff is much better than gold or silver. It's in style." "First, it's not called 'bug stuff', it's called chitin. Second, if I asked for a necklace and got one as full of holes as you are, I'd have the jeweler sued for all he's worth. Third, I'm a man. Men don't wear necklaces." He frowned slightly. "I probably should have brought that one up first, in retrospect." "Probably." ~ "Rat! What the hell is your problem?" Misery paced back and forth in front of her brother, Rat, who sat in his natural alien form in the center of the foyer. Molly sat next to him, still trapped and a little dazed, while Pocket, Whistle and Star stood nearby as was beginning to be the pattern of the last few days. Rat shrugged and scratched his bald head, looking off to the side. "Sorry, I forgot the lady was here... I thought it was ok to take it off, you know, j-just for a-." "No! I told you all, don't take off your disguise for any reason! Not until we're back home!" She started to pull her hair out and turned away, facing the back wall. "And even if I hadn't, how the hell do you forget we kidnapped someone?" "Well, I don't know, I wasn't thinking-" "No. You weren't." Misery turned back and jabbed a finger into his chest. "You weren't thinking. You never think. That's your problem, Rat; you never think." Rat sulked and swayed side to side, embarrassed from being yelled at in front of all his brothers and sisters. Misery slowly simmered in her anger, each second that passed by making her face more red than the last. Star coughed awkwardly and stepped between them, resting an arm on Misery's shoulder carefully. She shot him a look that tried to burn a few extra holes in his body, but after a moment's flinch, he persisted. "Misery. Please, calm down. This doesn't really change anything. She's not in a hurry to go tell everyone our secret, now is she?" He gestured towards the pile of green goo. Misery shut her eyes and let out a sigh. "Star, for seven years, the only person that knew about us was dad. Now, the secret of our existence that could have been kept from the president himself is in the hands of Molly, the secretary from Barstow." She finishes her sentence with a heavy dose of disdain. "We might as well print it in the newspapers if we're handing it out like this." "What, are you afraid they're going to pin us to the operating table and dissect us? I agree that being discovered right now wouldn't be in our best interests, but why should we keep it a secret forever?" "I don't know. The only thing I know is that if we do end up in some lab somewhere, I'm going to make sure Rat is the first one on the table." "Misery!" Star sighed as Rat sulked further towards the ground. "Rat, maybe you should take a walk. Head around town, see if you can get a few hugs. Just like old times." Rat stood and nodded slowly, wiping away a tear and heading for the door. He made it halfway out the door before Star and Misery both shouted at him in unison. "Rat! Disguise!" He blinked a few times, sulked again, and turned back to normal in a flash of green light. He walked out the door and disappeared around the corner, another child coming and shutting the door behind him. Misery turned to Star and shook her head a few times. She went off, grabbed Whistle by the shirt, and dragged her along to a corner of the church where they could be alone. Star sighed and sat down in front of Molly, giving her a slight awkward wave, which she returned with a slight nod. Her eyes still looked a bit out of place, as though they were staring through Star, not at him. She didn't seem entirely... there. He waved a hand in front of her eyes a few times and tilted his head. "Are you ok, Molly?" She nodded again, slowly, and her eyes seemed to come back into focus. "Yeah, yeah... I'm uh, I'm together. Just a little bit confused, is all." She gulped and looked around at all the kids nearby, and then turned back to Star. "At first I thought maybe I got attacked by escaped convicts or something. Then it was a few kids: nothing to worry about. And then it was a whole lot of kids. Really scary similar-looking kids. Who could spit goo." She looks in the direction of the door where Rat just left. "And then the whole lot of really scary similar-looking kids who could spit goo turned out to be aliens. And now I'm just a little bit lost on the whole ordeal, you know." Star nodded in return. "I understand. Honestly, we don't really know much more than you do. I'm sorry it had to be like this." He paused for a few moments and tugged at the goo from the outer layer. "We'll let you out in a day or two, though. That I can promise." "Well, I guess I have that to look forward to." She grinned and stared up at the rickety lamp. "If this thing doesn't fall and kill me first, anyhow." "You'll be fine." Star reassured her and stood up. He tapped Pocket on the arm and gestured to a nearby corner. "We need to talk about some things, Pocket. Misery and I had a talk, and we're going to try a Plan B..." ~ Anon and his daughter exited the Jack in the Box, one of them content with food and the other still starving for attention. "Do they have ice cream here? We should get some i..." Mistake trailed off as she continued to hang from her father's neck. Her legs stopped kicking. "What is it?" Anon adopted a worried frown and looked down at his daughter. Mistake's eyes were wide open, staring intently in the opposite direction of the restaurant entrance. She seemed entirely focused, with her mouth slightly agape, as if in disbelief of what she saw. Anon spun around to see what had thrown her off so severely. He didn't see anything at first. It took a few moments before he finally noticed the boy, catching the bit of movement dashing across the street out of the corner of his eye. He looked very young, certainly not past the years of grade school. He strode at a brisk pace, though his short legs didn't bring him far, and his tuft of messy black hair bounced with each step. His walk wasn't the confident stride of a dedicated businessman, but rather one of a discontent businessman who had lost his way to a very important meeting. He glanced around frantically, in search of something, as he sped across the street. For a brief moment, Anon thought he could imagine a quick flash of light blue in the boy's eyes before he disappeared behind a gas station. Anon stood agape as the boy disappeared. "Mistake... was that one of-" "Yeah." After a moment of thought, she added, "His name is Rat." "They didn't even make it to Vegas." Anon shook his head slowly. "We were about to pass them. They're here, in Barstow, and we almost just drove right past them." Anon raised his hands to his mouth and took in a deep breath, preparing to shout, but Mistake grabbed his arm and yanked it down to her level. "Dad, no! They ran away, remember? If you call him now he'll just book it. Let's follow him, maybe he'll take us to everyone else." Anon watched the empty space where the kid had been, anxious to start following. "Alright, Detective. Lead the way. You're probably better at sneaking than I am." Mistake grinned and lept forward, skipping across the sidewalk with silent ease. Anon stumbled behind as loudly and noticeably as ever. ~ Whistle groaned and kicked a pebble a few steps away, watching it skid over the nearby train tracks. She leaned against a supporting the canopy above them and nudged Pocket, who stared blankly at the rising moon. "I can't believe Misery's making us leave everyone else behind. You know, Mist really wanted to see mom, too! She wrote a poem and everything that she was going to give to her." Pocket just shrugged. "I don't really care. And it's not just Misery, you know, it was Star's idea too. And we're speaking to mom on behalf of everyone, so they're still going to get answers." "Still." Whistle pouted. "I feel like they all got cheated by coming with us." "I still think sometimes that we should have stayed home." Pocket glanced over at Misery and Star, who stood nearby, reading over the train schedules. They had made the walk North to the Amtrak station together, and it had cost them the remaining daylight they had. Now the two leaders argued once again, this time over which train route at which time would get them to Vegas and back faster. It wasn't long before Star eventually won her over to his idea, and the pair started heading back to the church. Only a fifteen minutes and a few pairs of sore legs later, the children saw the church ahead. Misery called everyone's attention and began to walk backwards so she could address them and move at the same time. "Alright, so here's what's happening. We're going to go in and leave Jet and Faith in charge. They're going to stay here, make sure no-one gets in trouble, and keep an eye on Mosey." "Molly," Pocket corrected. "Polly Pocket. Loverboy's new girlfriend. Whatever." Whistle rolled her eyes. "Misery, I still don't think this is a good idea. We couldn't even keep everyone under control when we were around! What makes you think they're going to behave now?" "It's for their own good. Hopefully they'll realize that." Misery shrugged. "Anyhow, after people are put in charge and bases are covered, we leave tomorrow morning. Train leaves at 7:30, so let's be there early. We'll be in Vegas before noon." "But who knows how long it'll take to find mother..." Star trailed off. "We'll wait and see." The distance was closed, and the church doors now stood at Misery's back. "We'll improvise a plan when we get there, I guess." She pushed open the doors and stepped inside. "At least there won't be any more surp-" She paused dead in the middle of her sentence and looked up. Anonymous leaned in the doorway, gesturing for the four of them to enter with a thin grin plastered across his face.. "Well, young lady, you sure are out late past your curfew. Why don't you come in and tell your father where you've been?"
Runia Impirii	pre	After the party in which I sang quite a few more songs. Twilight and I both retired to her room. "Wow... those songs..." She began. "They mean alot to me." I replied. "So... are you..." She began again. "Yeah just give me a second." I said removing my armor. After it was all off She walked up to me and pulled herself against my body. I wrapped my arms around her and lifted her up. "Mmm. If you're going to do this... It may get TOO romantic tonight..." I laughed slightly and carried her up to the bed. I laid her down and laid down right beside her pulling the blankets over both of us. She kissed me lightly. As she pulled away I returned the favor kissing her more passionately. As we got into it I noticed how willing she was to go on. How much she wanted me... I was happy to give her what she wanted. She again picked up exploring my mouth. But this time when we broke away there was a trail of saliva between our mouths. "Mmm... I love this... But..." "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it... for now... lets just enjoy each other..." She looked me in the eyes and smiled before she laid her head down beside mine. I followed and laid my head down beside hers' and gently caressed her. "Good night Twi." I said as she closed her eyes. She yawned, "Good night Ebon..." I kissed her again to show that I did infact love her. She pulled back with a smile and soon fell asleep. I soon joined her. After an hour I awoke and felt something strong coming. Something beyond even my current power... "It's her.... Nightmare Moon. Wake her up and tell her it's time for the Summer Sun Celebration." I gently shook Twi slightly and greeted her with a small kiss, "Hey... It's time for the Summer Sun Celebration." She woke up slowly. "Wha? Oh... Ebon are you.." "If its about staying... yes... if it's about going with you then Yes... I am." I said hugging her. She smiled as she got up. "That's all I wanted to know..." I now noticed she was... nude. So in one movement I wrapped my arms across her and kissed her neck. She jumped when I grabbed her. But she seemed to love the kiss. "Ah... you need to do that more... It's strange... It feels like..." I stopped her from saying the next few words by spinning her around and kissing her. Our love... if it was possible would be able to stop anything... except changelings... that would be me that'd be able to do that. She pushed me back and laughed, "Knock it off I need to get dressed." She shook her flank a bit when she walked away. "Damn... That's better the T. And DAMN was she good in bed. But another time my student." I agree. But... I... Fuck me... I need to get ready too. I heard the door quickly shut. I wish I had magic this'd be so much easier. I slowly walked over to my armor and was surprised when Twilight grabbed ahold of me and reached right for my goods. "I guess this can be considered..." She began to say. I cut her off again when I put my hand over her mouth and took her hand away. "Let me turn around first... If this is going to happen... lets at least do it... like this..." I said as I turned around and kissed her. I let go of her hand and she put it right back and began to stroke me. She seemed unsure of what she was doing. I took a slight hold of her hand and helped her along. Soon she was doing it on her own. So I did my part. I slightly hovered a hand under her marehood. I saw her eyes shoot open as soon as I got close. She was scared that'd I'd do something to hurt her. So in order to ease her fear I pulled back. She calmed down considerably. And she sped up a bit before letting go. "Mmm you are big... I guess... We shouldn't want to do this... but..." She began to say as she pulled me in closer, "Come on big boy... mount us..." Something was seriously wrong. "GET OUT NOW! SHE'S LEFT FOR THE CELEBRATION THAT IS NOT HER!" I pushed away quickly. "What the hell...." "Oh come on stallion how could you not wish to mount a goddess?" The fake questioned. "Nightmare Moon..." I said. "Bravo stallion you aren't as stupid as we thought..." She said as she transformed into well Nightmare Moon. "We will be waiting... We do hope you consider this proposal. You are by far one of the better stallions we have met. And we wish for you to become... our king... Consider it. Your current mare friend would never be able to offer as much!" She vanished. I was now stunned again. But I shook that feeling away and threw my armor on and attached the scabbard. "Get out into the main room now! You need to be there to help her! Oh and sorry for the late call. I went to go get a drink! You got a full stocked bar and walk in fridge in here. As well as an arcade! FUCK YEAH 20 HIT COMBO EAT THAT SCORPION!" 'Oookayy.' I rushed out to the main room and just in time too. Twilight and Spike rushed in. "Ebon! Where were you? Nightmare Moon attacked!" Twilight said to me as she rushed in. "I know... I was almost... I almost.... I'm confused.... I...." I stuttered. "Wait... She didn't..." Twilight began staring at me open mouthed. "No I caught on in time.... She offered to make... me her king... That's not... something I want!" I replied. Just then Rarity and a few other mares rushed in. "Twilight! Who was that?" One of them asked. The Cyan mare and the Orange mare rushed Twilight and me respectively. "How do we know she doesn't work for her? She foalnapped the Princess!" The cyan mare said. "How do we know we can trust this stallion? I haven't seen him around at all!" The Orange mare said eyeing me up. "I've been unconscious do to surgery for nearly two days and the first thing I did instead of meeting everypony in town was come here!" I replied. She looked me in the eyes. "Damn she's one strong mare. Able to lift you fully armored." "And another thing. I don't work for Nightmare Moon. I despise her and everything she's going to attempt to do!" I said. "Ah believe him." The orange mare said as she let me down. "Well Twilight! If that is even your real name!" The Cyan mare questioned Twi. I moved slightly under her so I could catch her. "Rainbow Dash! Let her down! She has nothing to do with this!" Rarity said. I don't hate her as much now. She has my respect. So does the Orange mare. And this Dash for... being... rainbow and cyan.... "Strange color combo!" Then the pink mare said, "Dashie! Let Twilight down! Without her we won't be able to come close to defeating Nightmare! It's canon!" "What in the holy fuck? OH FUCK NO I AIN'T DEALIN WITH THIS! ONLY I CAN BREAK THE FOURTH WALL" I heard a slight scuffle inside my head. "NO MORE BREAKING THE DAMN FOURTH WALL!" "Ow! That hurt!" The pink mare shouted jumping back. All eyes went to me except the pink mare's. "He didn't do a thing! It was the meanie pants--" She was cut off as a bolt of lightning struck outside the house. "OOOKAY THEN!" I stated. Dash dropped Twilight and I caught her. "Thanks Ebon." I smiled in response and asked, "Okay so what now?" ______________________________________________________________________________ Time Freeze ______________________________________________________________________________ PINKIE! I SAID NO MORE BREAKING THE DANG FOURTH WALL! "Sorry Mr. Writer! But it's soooo fun!" If you stop doing it... I'll ugh.... allow you to sing more often.... FML..... "Really? How about right after..." NO I was planning on cutting out all of your songs... But... now you can have them all back... even.... Smile.... Oh god why? "YEAH! Oh oh! Can I talk like this from now on?" NO that is for me and me alone. Or for the dreams... or for... other more important things... like.... ENOUGH BACK TO THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMING! "Oh I think not Mr. Writer. You owe me big time." How do I owe you? "Just make it easy and worthwhile to find the damn sword. And make it big. Then I'll forgive you." For what? "For almost abandoning us. GOOD DAY SIR!" "Wait wait! Mr. Vampony can I play Mortal Combat with you later?" "I was thinkin we should all get together after this and play some 'Left For Dead' seems like a plan?" I'm down. "Oh oh! I wanna be Bill!" "Sounds like a plan then. After this entire nightmare moon thing is done and... Eb and Twi get... a little close I ain't got nothin to do." We need a fourth player though. "Yeah..." "Not really. See ya two again then?" Yep. "You betcha!" ______________________________________________________________________________ Time Unfreeze ______________________________________________________________________________ "Fourth wall has been repaired! And some other things have been cleared up." 'What?' "Now what?" Twilight questioned again. "How about we find out some more about Nightmare Moon?" Pinkie suggested. "Oh yeah. Introductions. Ask for them." "Okay so if I'm going to help I need to know who else is going with us." I said. "Okay then. Ebon I'd like you to meet... Rainbow Dash," Twilight began pointing towards well Dash. "An Ebon... Ah'm sorry for attacking ya without thinkin. Ah'm Applejack." The Orange mare said extending a hand towards me. I took it and shook. Next was the Pink mare, "I'm Pinkie Pie! And it's nice to meet you Ebon!" "Likewise..." Finally the last mare. She eeped and said something so softly I couldn't hear it. "That's Fluttershy... She's really shy..." Pinkie said to me. "Well... Um..." Again for the fourth time today I was stunned. I didn't know what to say. "Well... I guess you might warm up to him...." Twilight said hopefully. Pinkie ran over to a shelf and handed Twilight a book. Didn't catch the name. "Thanks Pinkie." Twilight said. "Your welcome!" Pinkie replied. "Now then you wait outside." "I'll wait outside. I don't think I'll be of much help until we enter the forest." I said as I started to leave. "We'll all be out soon. Don't go anywhere." Twilight said to me. "I won't. I don't really know where to go. I'll wait for you girls to figure that out." I replied as I left.
Runia Impirii	Duskfall	'Great. I don't even know what to do now.' 'What are you talking about?' "I found some pretty weird stuff out. Like for instance. Wait that's not weird. Just be careful in the Everfree. Something big's going to happen there and it may just.... Oh gods." 'AGAIN! WHAT ARE YOU...' That was interrupted as the girls came charging out. I got up and prepared to join them. As I did I felt something nearby. It was either powerful or there were quite a few of them. "That." I followed behind the girls and they all stopped at the entrance of the... "Everfree forest..." Oh great. "Oh this is going to be funny." "What's the problem?" I asked walking up to the group. "The fact that nopony knows..." Dash began to say. "Well from the humidity in the air I hope you all packed raincoats or the likes." I stated. "You can tell that it's going to rain?!?!" Twilight said with a large amount of surprise in her voice. "You get used to telling the weather in these places when you spend enough time in them. I was a traveling mercenary of sorts when I wasn't cough getting blown up." I replied. "Wait a mercenary? Really." Dash said getting closer to me, "I doubt that. If that's true then where's your weapon? And what did you fight?" "Well I can use a broadsword and I fought changelings. I helped clear out a few hives nearby a frontier settlement right on the edge of the Badlands a few months back." I replied. "Oh that's good. What else did you do fuck the Hive leaders?" 'Shut up. And no. I'm... as odd as it is to say this... still a virgin.' "Oh snap. I didn't know that! Although you won't be if you succeed in your quest." "Lead the way then Ebon." Twilight said motioning for me to take the forefront. "I guess it's back to being Pathfinder." I said. Oh great musical quoting. I forged onward and I heard Dash back there attempting to scare everypony else with stories of coming in and never leaving. "Oh yes none of you will be leaving tonight. Or any other!" A new voice shouted from beside us. Eight vamponies jumped out of the woods surrounding us. One grabbed me from behind. "And she said to look out for you. I guess she was wrong about how strong you were!" I was lifted up and thrown against a tree. I smashed right through and kept going for a short distance. I heard from what seemed like a far off distance, "Ha too easy. Which one of you..." I didn't hear the rest time slowed down significantly. I saw something inside one of the broken trees. A beautiful great sword. A monster of a blade. It was radiating a cold aura and no light seemed to escape it. I could barely see the blade "It's... it's... It's yours.... Damn you got lucky." I took the blade out of the stump and felt it in my hand. It was weightless and perfectly balanced. I could make out one of the vamponies making a move. I prepared to throw the blade right at him. "Woah woah. What are you doing?" Ignoring you. I then threw the blade right at the vampony and chased after it. I made it to him just before the blade did and leaped into the air. Time returned to normal and the blade hit it's mark. "Wha?" One of the other vamponies said. "I'm not that easy to defeat!" I said as I slammed my foot down on the vamponies head... shattering him. "OH SWEET! IT FREEZES PONIES! SO MUCH FUN!" "What the hay was that?" Twilight questioned as I picked the blade up. "OH OH! That's Duskfang! It's a blade that's enchanted with the power of the moon!" Pinkie almost shouted. "... Not really helpful..." I said. "It can either freeze or slow down whatever it hits! And it's invisible!" She shouted again. "Okay... Sounds great!" I said turning towards the other vamponies. "Oh and there's another path around them I'll deal with the vamponies. Go on ahead I'll catch up soon." "Okay... Don't lose... Come on girls we need to get moving!" Twilight said as she led the others towards the path. "Perfect time to feast" 'Exactly what I was thinking.' I lunged right at the closest one. "AH SHIT!" He screamed. Again I bit down hard on his jugular and drank. This time not for power but for sustenance. "Shit!" The third one yelled. "KILL HIM!" The leader said trying to back away. I dropped the body of the one I had feasted on and looked at the leader. "Run. I want a hunt." "You are getting violent. I like it alot." They charged off into the forest. I already had the scent of one of them. I'll track them down like the dogs they are. I stepped off into the darkness of the forest and felt free. "They better prepare for the entire four thousand metric tonnes of pain coming for them. CHOO CHOO MOTHERFUCKERS THE RAPE TRAIN IS COMING!" 'Not even going to try.' I stepped forward and felt like I was moving faster then when I wasn't in the dark. "You are. Again four thousand metric tonnes of pain is heading for them!" 'Sure.' I moved through the darkness of the forest and got to the group just as they made it to the girls. "OH GODS NOT YOU SIX AGAIN! THAT MONSTER YOU RELEASED ON US IS UNHOLY!" The first vampony yelled. "What?" Twilight questioned. "Knock Knock!" I began. "Who's there?" Pinkie asked. "PAIN!" I replied. I lunged out of the darkness at the closest vampony and hit him full force. I snickered as I slammed the vampony into a tree. "How... how did you... we left you..." The surviving vampony began. He slowly backed up. I was about to attack before Applejack kicked him solidly in the head. He was sent flying into his comrades dead body. "Oooh that has got to hurt... remind me never to get on your bad side!" I commented. "That joke was so bad!" Pinkie said. "Best I could come up with in the short time I was given." I responded. "No more jokes than!" Pinkie said. "Fine fine. I'm never good with them anyway. So how much..." I began. "Not that much further! Just across this... chasm...." Twilight replied. "Oh that's a big drop. You should go for it! Could be fun!" 'Ah shut up.' I heard a cough come from behind me. "Eh hem. We have an insanely awesome pegasus right here!" Dash said. "So then Dash what do you propose we should do?" Twilight asked. "I'll fix the bridge!" Dash responded. She dove right into the chasm. "Now I guess we wait..." I said. "Yeah..." Rarity responded. "How about we play a game?" Pinkie asked. "What game Pinkie?" Applejack questioned. "Hide and..." Pinkie began. "I'm done!" Dash shouted as she cleared out the fog.
Runia Impirii	Breaking And Entering	We all made our way across the bridge on the other side stood the ruins of a castle. I could tell right away that the door was barricaded from the other side. "Great. Front door is locked down tight." I commented. "There... there isn't any other way in..." Twilight said as she fell to her knees. "How are we going to get in?" AJ questioned. "Oh! Oh!" Pinkie began. "Not now darling... we have to think not throw a party!" Rarity cut her off. "We could always just..." Dash began. "If you want to get an arrow through your wing and get captured... go right ahead. That is what I promise will happen to you. And if you do. They won't get farther than getting you into the cell before I break in and go berserk on them." I commented. "Oh..." Dash said backing away a little bit. "All out of ideas it's up to you entirely." "Ebon can I talk to you pleeeeaaaaasssssseeee?" Pinkie asked dragging me back. "How? HOW? HOW?" When she dragged me back she let me go. "Okay Pinkie go ahead." I said. "Just break down the door! They forgot that you can..." Pinkie began. I stared at her, "What the... he..." "Well in order to carry that armor you have to be strong! And Twilight and Rarity can boost your speed a little bit giving you enough momentum to break right through the barricade!" Pinkie responded. "Dude she knows. Give it up. She won't tell a single soul though." 'Thanks for telling me NOW!' "Okay Pinkie. I'll try..." I replied. "And you can up it with your super strength!" Pinkie said. I got into a great position to charge the door. Pinkie explained the plan to each of them. None of them had a better plan and Twilight knew I could clear the door. "Okay I'm ready." I stated. "On the count of 3..." Twilight said as she charged up a spell. "3..." I said. "2..." Twilight added. "1..." I finished. I charged forward as the spell slammed me in the back. I felt a hell of a lot faster. I slammed into the door with enough force to shatter it and the barricade on contact. I sent the guards on the other side flying in every direction. I slipped at the worst time and slammed into a wall which broke my momentum and face planted against the ground. "OH THAT'S FUCKING PRICELESS!" Dash and Aj broke out laughing. Twilight was trying to hide her laughter as she helped me up. Pinkie was poking at one of the unconscious guards. "Great..." I stated with a little distaste. "Come on! We have an evil being to defeat!" Twilight shouted all of her friends gathered around. Then a very slow, very sarcastic clap echoed through the hall. "Bravo! Bravo! You all put on quite a show to get here but I'm afraid your journey ends here. With moi. The greatest Night Hunter ever to exist." The stallion began. "Oh great I thought he drowned in his own fathers cum." I snickered. "WHAT'S SO FUNNY?" He screamed. I whispered what Lord had said to me to Twilight. She had a lot of trouble concealing her laughter. "OH FUCK YOU ALL I'M JUST GOING TO KILL YOU!" He screamed. "He's all talk and no game. That won't change. No amount of training or power can fix that fucking broken piece of gayness." "Okay then Funny Man. I'll fight you." I stated stepping forward. "Ha. You're nothing compared to me now. I am all powerful now! YOU WON'T SURVIVE!" He screamed. He leaped forward and vanished. "Psha. So easy. He's coming from the top." I slashed in a large arc blocking his first attack. He pulled back and slashed at me wildly. I dodged and blocked all of his attacks. He jumped back and I could tell he was planning something. He moved faster than I could recognize and I prepared to defend again. I heard a scream come from behind me so I spun around to face him. "This ends now. Surrender and die and she'll be able to survive a little longer." He stated. His sword was at Fluttershy's throat. Both Dash and Applejack moved in. "None of you move or she dies." He stated. "You won't be able to save her unless you go berserk... You won't be able to move fast enough to stop the sword in your current state." I took in a deep breath, "Not... so... fast..." "Oh that's a new way of doing it." "Wait where'd he go?" The Vampony questioned. "Right behind you." I replied. "What the..." He stated. I drove the tip of my blade into his back, "Let her go. Or you will die." He swung his sword around and tried to cleave my head off. I was to fast for him now. He leaped back in an attempt to get away. "Ha. To slow." I said as I sliced down. He barely made it out of the way I still managed to cut him cleanly on the chest. "FUCK!" He screamed as he was sent flying onto the floor. "You put on quite a show..." I began. "No... No..." He stammered. I brought my sword over head, "But I'm afraid your life ends here. With moi. The second greatest Night Stalker." "I'm flattered." He had no time to dodge as my sword cleaved through him. Instead of spraying the area with blood his remains burst into flames and turned to ash. I felt my own rage end, "One less vampony exists now." "What... did..." Dash began. "After Nightmare is defeated... I'll explain it.' I responded. I slowly walked back to them. "Fine. But don't think any of us will forget that." Dash stated. Twilight stepped closer to me, "Thank you... Without you we may not have been able to save her..." I lightly embraced her hands, "I'd do it again and again. For any of them... and for you I'd do anything." She looked longingly into my eyes and I gently leaned forward and kissed her. Her tongue grazed my teeth tasting the fresh blood on both of them. "I guess love is blind. I was told once long ago, Love is blind. It doesn't know right or wrong, good or bad, living or dead, it just knows what it desires. I forget by whom." Her friends watched in an odd mix of emotion. We broke apart. "I heard from a wise-pony once, 'Love is blind to right and wrong, good or bad, love only know what love wants.' I may not be fully good. But I'm still going to try." I stated. "Kiss ass. But thank you for flattering me." 'Suck a dick vamp. I was talking about the Pony who told you that.' "We have one last fight to deal with. Nightmare Moon. Then everything's going to go back to normal..." Twilight said slowly as she stepped towards the stairs leading to the last place in the castle we had to check. "Let's kick some flank!" Dash said as she stepped up. We all stepped up and in some form or another vowed we'd defeat Nightmare Moon.
Runia Impirii	Darkness Of The Night	"Suck a dick? DID YOU REALLY TELL ME TO SUCK A DICK!?!?!" 'Yeah.' We made it up to the last tower. Nightmare was nowhere to be seen. A group of old looking stones sat in the center of the chamber on an ancient pedestal. "The elements!" Twilight shouted. She rushed forward only to be slammed back by... me... "Ah. Not so fast." 'I' said. "Wow. I feel... disappointed. But now you can find out what your..." "Not so fast?" I questioned. I was fucking pissed. "Oh? Are you angry little vamp? Are you angry that after I'm done with her I'm coming for you?" It questioned as shadowy tentacles formed out of the walls. I felt something deep inside of me break. Something... grand. I felt... like a god. "Show me how to lie. You're getting better all the time." "What?" It questioned. "What the hell? He just vanished? No not the damn fake. Ebon van... nope. He just..." "Hit him right between the eyes!" "Yep." "Well it's all because of me!" "He's having fun beating his fake." After another few minutes from what I could tell I regained control. The fake had vanished and in it's place a very very pissed off Nightmare Moon, "We... Will not. Take this anymore. We hoped that thou would see our truth Stallion. But instead thou has failed even that. How could one single being be so stupid as not too..." "Stupid? No. I'm just not one for joining the wrong side." I said as I delivered a healthy punch right to her face. The crack was loud. She was sent reeling backwards into the ground. "OH SNAP!" Dash shouted. I backed away. Nightmare looked even more pissed off. "Thou... SHALT... PAY FOR THAT!" She charged a spell up and fired it at me. I had no time to dodge. I was sent backwards and smashed through the pedestal for the elements. "NO!" Twilight screamed. "GET UP! HOLD HER OFF UNTIL..." "It's over now. We hath won. Good shan't prevail this time. Now we shall deal with all of you before we deal with this rebellious husband of ours." Nightmare said. "Bitch just said what?" "Bitch what did you just call me?" I questioned. A new fire flamed in my entire being. "What did thou just call us?" Nightmare said as she turned towards me. "That doesn't answer my question. Let me reiterate. What did you. The Bitch. Just call me?" I responded. All of the girls were staring at me. "Ebon... don't..." Twilight said. "Twilight. I'm dealing with the most pressing matter right now." I responded. I think she got the cue. I was playing Nightmare into another battle. "Thou... hast dared to call us... The new Supreme Ruler of all of Equis... A bitch? You shall pay for your tongue stallion." Nightmare responded. She prepared to fight me again. I twirled the blade effortlessly around myself, "Let's dance then." I brought down flawlessly a violent blow that managed to destroy part of the floor. She dodged and fired a few spells at me. I sliced two in half sending them in opposite directions. I threw my blade and it clearly missed her on it's way to her. "HA! Thou hast thrown away your only..." She began as I charged up and delivered a clean gut punch. "I don't fight fairly!" I responded as I began to beat the shit out of her. Every punch became more violent and powerful. She finally was able to fight back and kicked me hard sending me into the thrones. "Ebon! Get up!" Somepony shouted. The blood and adrenaline rushing to my head... no. The rage and anger pouring into my head made all the voices except Nightmare's sound the same. Unappealing. I flipped back up in what could have been considered a breakdance move. "JUST DIE!" Nightmare shouted. She fired a spell that spelled my end. My sword came flying straight back down and cleaved the spell into nothing. It was stuck in the ground halfway between Nightmare and I. "Not the best so far but a great start!" I rushed the sword and so did Nightmare. When I connected with the sword I heard a gasp and somepony say, "I've got it!" I heard something else and all six of their names said. I ripped the sword out of the ground. When it swung back it collided with a spell. "NO!" Somepony screamed. Instead of seeing a cleaved spell the sword changed. It became an entirely new sword. "... Twilights' Requiem..." I like that name a lot. I slid it around the air seemed to alternate between heating up and cooling down so there was a trail of superheated steam following the blade. "It's over Nightmare." I charged and swung the blade around I succeeded in cleaving across her chest. She screamed in pain and was thrown back. When she stumbled up again I brought the sword straight down cleaving through her. She was frozen I stepped back and swept the blade through the air creating some sort of air blade. When I released it the air blade slammed into Nightmare creating a large explosion sending me backwards. In place of nightmare was an unconscious alicorn. I slid to the ground and basically wanted to fall asleep. Instead I was hugged tightly by Twilight who took to scolding me, "You shouldn't have done that! You could've died!" Before she said, "Thank you... I... I don't think we would have been able to get this far without you..." She helped me to my feet as Princess Celestia appeared. I really stopped paying attention as I pulled Twilight into a kiss. Neither of us cared about anything going on around us. That was until the Princess said, "Twilight." Twi broke away and blushed intensely. The Princess then spoke to me, "I'm sorry for ending that prematurely but I want to ask you one thing." I nodded and turned towards her. She wasn't glaring or seething with rage. "Are you by any chance undead?" She questioned. "No. I never let you die. Infact I just made sure you would survive everything." "No. I am not." I responded. "Then I'm guessing your an Unturned Vampony or a Dark Stalker?" She questioned again. I heard a gasp come from the girls. "Yes. I am." I responded. "Ah. Now I understand why you helped defeat Nightmare instead of helping Nightmare herself. I'm also venturing to guess you have an Ancient Vampony acting as a guide inside of you." She said again. "My Turn." Lord suddenly appeared in front of me, "Yes he does T. That would be me. Your old friend." Oh. Shit. That's who T is. "Lord Ryzen. It's been really far too long." Celestia replied. "I had... more important things to worry about... I'm sure you didn't want me around at all." He responded, "But enough about the past. I'm going to..." "I already did." Celestia responded. I realised what they meant. The sun was coming up and it was coming in through the crack in my armor. I wasn't burning. I gently grasped Twilights hand. "Now... Let's get back to Ponyville I have a few things I need to attend too before I leave with my sister." Celestia said. When we teleported I was dumped into Twilight's Bedroom with none of the others around me. "Sorry about that. She doesn't want you involved at the moment. I'll tell ya when we're done." 'Great. So is it about me?' "Can't tell ya. Technicalities and all. You'll find out in a few." I pushed myself off the ground and stripped my armor off. I found some clothing waiting for me. I realised that Celestia had wanted me to wait. I got dressed and walked out into the main room. Nopony here either. I sat down in a chair and leaned back. I was almost asleep when Twilight came in. She looked right at me as the door shut behind her, "Ebon... I..." I got out of the chair and walked over to her. We embraced and she laid her head down against my chest. She started to cry. I was about to ask what's wrong when she kissed me passionately. When she broke the kiss she said through the occasional sniffle, "I'm staying! And the Princess said she doesn't mind us being together! She said it's up to my family on whether or not I'm allowed to date you." I wiped a tear from her eye and said, "Twi, that's great..." "That's not it though, the Princess said she'd try to get an old recipe for a substitute for blood!" She continued. I was a little surprised maybe I'd be able to live a more normal life then having to feed every few days. "And... and... I... decided that... um..." She began. I smiled a little, "Give it some time... We have a long time to get there. For now all I want to do is hold you, comfort you, love you, and be here for you." She looked up again and our eyes met, "Ebon, I love you..." "Twi, I love you too. And tonight you've done so much..." I began. "No! You've done so much more! I..." She began as she realised what I was implying. She smiled. "My lady... If I may?" I said. She nodded as I lifted her up and carried her back to our room. Instead of waiting for me to set her down she managed a spell that teleported our clothing off. I laid her down and laid down in bed right beside her. She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled herself towards me. I kissed her right away as I pulled the blankets up, "Let's sleep in a little late today..." "I'm not going to say no to that..." She responded with a smile as we continued to make out. After a few minutes of making out she started to fall asleep. "Good night Twi." I said as she fell asleep against me. She tried to respond but her head hit the pillow and she fell asleep right there. I smiled a little and wrapped my arms around her and fell asleep myself.
Runia Impirii	Do Not Disturb	Instead of waking her up like I did last night I gently wrapped my arms around her back and pulled her closer. I kissed her right there without a second to spare. Instead of freaking out like I expected her too she let me have my way with her. We began to make out right away. Soon she got on top of me and straddled my lap. My morning wood chose what I feel was the best time to come through. She was gently rubbing my full length right against her flank. I broke the make out session for a few seconds and said, "Twi are you... are you suggesting that?" She kissed me again and pulled right away, "Only if you want me..." I grabbed the back of her head and pulled her in to begin the makeout session anew. We continued for a good two of three minutes before she pulled her hips up freeing my dick for what she wanted. She gently pushed her hips back down just as her marehood was over my dick. I gently entered her wet mound. Although only the tip was in I could feel just how tight she was. She broke our makeout session and said, "I... I hope you're ready for... the first... ti... I... hope... I'm... ready..." She was choking up and unsure of what to do. "If you don't want to go on... I was fine with the grinding... I can repay that without the use of my member..." I said trying to comfort her. "That'd... that'd be..." She began. Spike flung the door open and it scared both of us. Her entire body tensed up and she slipped impaling herself on my member. I was forced so deep into her I hit the entrance of her womb. "It's almost noon! You two should be getting up!" Spike shouted. Neither Twilight or I had the ability to speak. Twi had fallen forward after I had been forced into her by accident and I was trying to keep under control. Twi was fighting to hold back tears and to prevent herself from crying. "Fine I've got something I need to do anyway!" Spike said as he slammed the door shut. Now Twilight regained her ability to speak again, "It... it hurts... I... you... you're... so deep... and... and it... hurts... so... much..." I was taking in the sudden movement of her interior muscles and the intense tightness and heat of her inside. Her tears hitting my face snapped me back to the reality at hand. Twi was in a lot of pain. "This... this isn't... the way... either of us... wanted to lose our... first's... is it?" I questioned. She shook her head no. I place my hands on her hips, "I'm... I'm going... to pull out..." "O... okay... I... I don't like the pain... I want... I want it to end..." She responded choking back tears. I gently pulled her hips up and either way it felt good for me. Now she seemed to be feeling the same way because she moaned loudly. "That... felt... good..." She moaned. I pushed myself back in slowly and she moaned again. "I... I'm... beginning... to love this... Eb... Ebon... I love you..." She said as she kissed me. I shoved my hips up causing hers' to collide with mine in a wet smack. She pulled back and moaned loudly. She planted her hands on my shoulders and pushed herself up allowing her hips to slam back down into mine. "I... I... love... you... too... Twi..." I managed to stammer out as we continued to make love right there. Neither of us cared anymore if Spike or any of the girls walked in on us all we cared about was each other. And that felt pretty damn good. I let go of her hips as she continued to force me in and out of her. After about a minute of that her body tensed up and she came. She held back the urge to scream by kissing me. We continued to make out as I took control allowing her to rest a little bit. Our love making became more and more passionate and fiery as we kept going. We had lost whatever pattern or repetition we had before and we just took it in. I felt a large pressure rising inside my body. I was closing in on my first orgasam. I broke the make out session and told her exactly that, "T... Twi... I... I'm... cl... closing... in..." Every Time I thrust into her she moaned, when ever I pulled back she gasped. Through her moaning and gasping she managed to say, "D... d... don't... p... pull... o... moan out... p... p... please..." I pulled her head back into mine and we continued the make out session as I pounded into her with an increased roughness and drive. Her body shuddered and her breath became ragged and choppy. She was close too, "S... s... same... t... time..." I pounded into her even more as my orgasam drew closer. She was moaning loud enough that if anypony was outside in the library they would hear her. I felt the area around us get invaded but I didn't care I was right at the peak. She tightened up and came hard as our lips met again. I felt my sweet release come up as I came inside of her. For the first time in I don't know how long I came, and it was possibly the strongest I had ever cum. I filled her to the very brim as some was beginning to slide down my shaft. One of the girls swung the door open to investigate. I don't know who it was... All I was paying attention to was Twilight. Her breath was slow and heavy. She was cuddling even closer to my body now. "Sweet..." Dash said loudly. Twilight prodded around the bed with her hand to find mine. I gently grabbed and held her hand. "Dash... please get out... Right now it's my time..." Twilight said her voice was still fiery. The door shut quickly right after that. "Ebon... that was... great!" Twilight said happily as she repositioned herself off to my side. "Yeah... it was... Twi... I can't believe that we're doing this just after we met..." I responded as I wrapped my other arm around her. "Neither can I... but... I can't imagine a better way to start off for us..." She agreed, a large smile running across her face. "Twi... I... I want to say..." I began. She kissed me breaking my train of thought. She broke away almost instantly, "Don't... I know you do Ebon! Just don't ever leave me... I... I don't want to go back to having a cold bed..." "I don't want to go back to sleeping alone either. That's not something you ever have to worry about..." I responded as we snuggled closer together. She pulled the blankets over us, "Maybe we should let them in. As much as I enjoy having time alone with my Knight... They really seem to want to talk to me!" I laughed, "Your wish is my command my Liege. I am your humble servant." "Just keep yourself covered. They've seen breasts before... I want your size to be kept to myself..." She whispered. "I'M COMING IN!" Dash yelled. "Oh great. A battle cry." I said quietly with a smile. "Dash it's okay!" Twilight said back. It was too late as both Dash and AJ charged in. "Okay Vamp. I can stand you being alive... but once you start trying to..." Dash began. She saw the way we were positioned and how I was holding on to Twilight and she backed down, "Oh... it wasn't... that... it was... THAT..." "Ebon. Ah agree with Dash on this... but for a different reason. Yer kind is inherently evil... that vampony last night even said so himself! Ah don't want ta..." AJ began. Twilight sighed, "AJ, Dash, and Rarity. I know you're there too so don't try to hide. He wasn't attempting to turn me. Nor was he about to drink my blood... We were... experimenting a little. One thing led to another and we started up. Now... if you're going to stand inside my room and threaten my colt friend who is in bed with me... then please... save it for later..." I leaned in and started to whisper, "We also need to..." "No... That won't be a problem anymore..." Twilight quietly responded. "What won't be a problem?" Dash questioned accusingly. I sighed, "What got us to start. If you threaten me for something I wouldn't do... please just go away. I never enjoyed being put up for false accusations. I refuse to feed off of any living pony. Period. No matter what. End of story." As their anger over me being in bed with Twilight faded their faces both became beet red. I snickered, "Now... I'm sure you wouldn't want your friends walking into the room you and your colt friends were doing it in... sooo..." "Girls... please leave I'll be out in a little bit. I need to get dressed." Twilight cut me off. "Oh... yeah... yeah... I'll just..." Dash began as she rushed out of the room. AJ just slowly backed out before bolting. "That means you to Rarity. You're not that good at hiding!" I called out. A flash of light came out from behind a dresser and Rarity was gone. "Twi... If your friends are going to be this protective over you... It's going to be hard to do this again..." I said quietly as I kissed her neck. "I know. I'll... I'm sure Rarity will have some way of stopping that..." Twilight responded. She then sighed. "If not... then... we'll just have to do it secretly... and... that should at a little bit of spice to doing it for us... Not getting caught when everypony wants to stop it." I started. She giggled, "That'd be fun to try..." I gently grabbed her flank and began a slow thorough massage. I was letting it become sensual for her. "Ebon..." She lightly moaned, "I really want to continue... but we can't... not now at least..." I let go of her flank and placed my hand on her stomach, "Just a little longer... We'll have to wait a long time to do this again!" She sighed, "I know... I hate that too! After we got started I really began to love the feeling of you inside me..." I caressed her body lightly as I pulled her against myself even more. "Maybe... someday we could find a way to make it even better... And... I have another area that's untouched..." She said a little suggestively. "Twi... are you suggesting... anal? That'd be even more painful for you... I'm not going to hurt you... I won't..." I said quietly. "I could do a little bit of searching to find a spell that'd help with lessening the pain!" She responded. "No. That's final. I won't hurt you even if you ask. I won't." I responded. "Then... one last thing..." She said quickly, "Let me try something..." "Okay." I responded. She got out of my grip and rolled me onto my back, "Just lay back and let me do it..." She crawled under the blankets and I could feel her breath against my dick. I pulled her flank down closer to my snout. "Hey... I said I wanted to try something..." She said quietly. She looked back at me with an almost accusing stare. I sighed and let go of her flank. She didn't move it away from my snout. "At least wait until I start!" She said as she went back to gawking over my size. I could feel a sharper more controlled burst of air pass over my dick, "I... I don't know what it is... Next time you shower... don't wash down here... I want to... taste what caused this... musk... If it tastes as good as it smells..." "I won't... but... I don't really see how... my unwashed junk could possibly smell good..." I responded quietly. I was beginning to take in the scent of her marehood. The cum didn't have a smell and I used a little bit of my new magic to force it farther back. She moaned as I did that, "What are you doing back there!?!? I told you to wait!" She scolded quietly. "Sorry... I just want a taste without my cum being in the way..." I responded, "You go ahead and start when you're ready... I'll wait for you..." Next I felt her tongue run from the base of my cock all the way to the middle. My dick reacted and got hard again. She licked from the middle to the tip before bringing my full length into her mouth right away. The warmth and texture of her mouth was great. She swirled her tongue up and down as she sucked away. I took my start and took in the full scent of her marehood. I was deciding whether or not I should eat her marehood out. The way she was sucking me off was giving me more then enough pleasure to lay here and not do anything. But I decided I might as well try something new with her. I snickered a little as I licked over her clit and her lips. My mark was higher up right now... I continued to lick up as I gently grazed over her ass she shuddered. She pulled up for a breath of air and questioned my actions, "Ebon... you said before you wouldn't..." "Maybe not yet... I was a little hasty when I said that... If you truly want it then... I'll do it..." I responded quietly. "Then now... I... I have some..." She began. "I know... I found it last night..." I responded. "I... I never tried it anywhere but my ass... I never pushed it in further than just the tip... I wanted both to be saved for the stallion I fell in love with..." She responded with a little shame. "Don't be ashamed of masterbating... I did it to when I had the time... It helped keep any urges I had low..." I said quickly. "Then... take my last virgin spot left... now..." She said as she crawled back around to face me. I grabbed her head and we kissed again. She grabbed the lube and broke the kiss. She got back to our previous position and poured some of the lube onto her hand and slowly spread it all over my dick. No spot was spared. I grabbed the bottle from her and poured some onto my own hand and covered my finger in it. "What..." She began to ask. "I'm getting you ready..." I responded as I slid my finger into her ass. When I pulled it back out it was just as clean as it entered, "Twi... you keep really good care of yourself..." She smiled weakly and blushed, "Thanks... so do you... I'm ready..." She turned back around this time her ass was over my dick. "No... let's try it differently this time..." I said as I gently laid her on her back. "You... you on top? You're... a lot heavier than I am... You could hurt me..." She began as she saw me take position over top of her. "No... this position just allows me to enter more easily... and if I need to I can add more lube..." I responded as I bent down and kissed her, "I'm going in..." She grabbed my hand and squeezed tightly. I slowly pushed into her ass. Right as I entered I could feel it was much much tighter than her marehood. She moaned a little, "Ke... keep... g-going..." I continued to push in until I was halfway in. Her entire ass tightened up and I felt a warm unidentifiable liquid run against my dick. I didn't need to look down... I was beginning to encounter what I feared. A few tears ran down Twi's face as her ass was expanding to accept my girth, "Th... this hurts... m-m-much... m-m-more than... y-y-you take... taking my... virginity... I... I... hope... I... I begin... begin... to like it..." She wanted me to continue in, so I did. As I pushed the rest of my length in she tightened up even more than before. I pulled back. I needed more lube to continue. I was almost all the way out much to Twi's dismay and I poured a lot more of the lube onto my dick. I drove right back in without a second thought and followed a slow over-emphasizing pattern. I pushed in slowly and pulled out slowly. She was moaning every now and again. She gripped me tightly both outside her ass and inside. I continued to slide in and out of her. The combined effect of her own cum, saliva, lube, and blood made it easier to move. After we had gotten into it time began to fly. We had been at it for a few minutes and I felt the urge to cum rising up. She moaned and collapsed backwards. She had just cum. I felt my finish rise up almost instantly, "I'm... going to... cum..." She grabbed me again and pulled me into another kiss. I came inside of her for the second time today and flooded her colon with cum. She moaned into my mouth. When we broke apart and I pulled out of her she said, "It... feels so... nice to have...that much warmth inside me... I love it..." I smiled and laid down beside her, "Maybe before we leave we should shower..." "Wash your dick off today then... but in a few days I want to taste your unwashed dick... I don't care if it sounds dirty..." Twi responded as she cuddled against me. "If you want to then fine... I won't stop you... Not anymore." I said quietly as I nuzzled her neck. "I love you Ebon." She said as she hugged me. I pulled her in against my body fully, "I love you too Twi."
My Little Mages: Academia Ardens	pre	Twilight started to grunt and groan as she was pulling the magic from all the creatures, changing them to into the animals that would have made them, the chimera became a lioness, a she-goat, and serpent, the manticore became a lion and a scorpion, the hydra became nine serpents, just to list a few, ending with Kerberos becoming three molossuses. Twilight then directed the magic to the doors and they began to open, "That's it! It's working!" The doors slowly opened, "We don't have much time." Applejack, Rainbow, and Rarity headed to the door first with Twilight slowly following. Fluttershy looked to all the animals that were made from the draining of the magic, "Bye, friends. Hopefully, we'll be able to turn you all back into your normal, wonderful selves soon." she said as she joined the others as the Pinkie gave Tirek a kiss, "Thanks for the assist, your evilness!" she said and then zoomed to be with the others. Everyone then exited as the doors were just open enough for the six humans and dragon were able to slip out. After the last of them were out the adamantine doors slammed shut with a resounding thud. "Yay! Twilight did it!" Pinkie cheered. "I'm not sure she did!" Rarity said as she pointed to the slowly setting sun, it was dusk of the third day. "No!" Twilight cried as she dropped to her knees, "We failed!"
My Little Mages: Academia Ardens	New Torch Bearers	At the same time, back under the school at the circle that Cozy made. "After everything Twilight's done for you, why would you want to destroy her school?" Cozy asked as if she was utterly shocked at what she saw in front of her. Gallus clenched his left fist, "We don't!" he counted, his anger getting the better of him. He then pointed at her with his right index finger, "You're the one using these artifacts to drain magic from Mystica!" "Me?!" Cozy asked as she landed in utter shock and hurt in her voice. She then looked to the other students. "We all just saw you with your hands and talons all over them!" She then gasped. "It all makes sense. They want magic gone from Mystica because it's the only thing Mysticans have that they don't!" she "Technically, there's magic involved when aasimars transforms from that to their merfolk form and the wide array of transformations that we elves can." Ocellus pointed out a key flaw in Cozy's argument. Yona then stepped to be in front of everyone, "And Yona's friends' friendship is magic! Headmistress Princess Twilight said!" the young ork challenged them. Cozy then "And you repay her by sending her to Tartarus on a wild goose chase so you could destroy everything she built!" Cozy then gasped before she pointed to the orb in which Flash and Starlight were trapped in. " They've even trapped Lt. Corneal Sentry and Counselor Glimmer in that-that thing!" she stuttered in horror and shock. She then turned to the student, "We have to defend this school!" she ordered before the students charged the six. "No! No, don't listen to her!" Sandbar pleaded as he ran to be in front of his friends to be a human shield to little to no avail as the students tried to tackle the five foreigners. In the struggle, Gallus is able to get away only to bump into the ceiling and fell into the orb, "GALLUS" his five friends shouted as they all managed to break free and attempt to rescue the harpy. Upon seeing this all the students stopped their charge as if they realized they were wrong. A Magicborn girl spoke up, "They just sacrificed themselves trying to save their friend. Professor Dash always said there's nothing more loyal than that." she said as she looked to her fellow students. "Shouldn't we try to save them?" she asked. Cozy shrugged her shoulders and was about to leave, "They brought this on themselves. There's nothing we can do." Cozy concluded. "That doesn't seem very generous. Or kind." an Earthborn girl pointed out as this was massively inconsistent with everything they were taught. "Yeah, yeah." Cozy dismissed the concern. "The Elements of Harmony are very important. They're just not applicable in every circumstance." she tried to finagle. "And with magic gone from Mystica, I'm not even sure the Tree of Harmony will be as helpful as it once was," she concluded only for six massive crystalline roots grew out of the floor. One glow yellow, white, pink, purple, orange and light blue, much like the Rainbow of Light. "What's happening?!" she questioned as the six roots sent a rainbow into the orb and pulled out Yona, who started to glow yellow, Sandbar who glowed orange, Silverstream who glowed pink, Ocellus who glowed white, Smolder who glowed light blue and Gallus who glowed purple. "They're glowing like the Elements!" an Earthborn girl shot as she pointed to the six as they floated to the ground. "I think the Tree of Harmony saved them!" "Guess our friendship is pretty magical after all," Gallus smirked as he looked at his friends in their current glowing state. Ocellus then went over to the Talisman of Mirage. "Hurry! Grab the artifacts!" she shouted as she prepared to grab the talisman. As the other went to the other elements, Silverstream was the most hesitant of the lot, "Um, didn't you say that could destroy the school?" she asked. "But if we don't try, we could lose magic forever!" Ocellus pointed out that if no action was taken, worst fates await. Sandbar called to other students, "You all better get clear!" he shouted to them. The students screamed as they ran leaving Cozy and the trapped adults and the six closest to the circle. Cozy looked around, "Wait!" she ordered. "Where are you going?!" she asked. "Stoooooop!" she screamed. The six grabbed the artifacts and pulled them from the circle ending the spell. The magic sugared back into the roots of the Tree of Harmony and with a shockingly non-damaging explosion the magic that Cozy attempted to drain was sent back to their owners. Unlike when Twilight et al had to use the Rainbow of Light to guide the magic back, this time the magic, taking the form of individual orbs and were able to return to their owner by themselves. Even the creatures in Tartarus got their magic returned, but before most could do anything a howl from the reconstituted Kerberos prompted them all to return to their cages. Outside of Tartarus, everyone got their magic. At the capital, Celestia, Luna, Neighsay and a squad of the ESM lead by Flash Magnus who were matching then used their magic to teleport to the school. In front of the gates, Twilight got access to her full demigod power and used it for long distance teleportation spell back to the school. Back at the school, Starlight used her restored magic to teleport herself, the six students and Flash Sentry to the school's open grounds. There the eight landed with a soft thud. Yona was the first to recover as she and her friends still held the artifacts used in Cozy's spell. She laughed as she ran to Starlight, happy to see her free as she cheered, "Counselor Glimmer!" Before the excited ork could crush her in an embrace, Starlight caught her in a magic bubble, "It's nice to see you, too, Yona." As everyone else recovered with their magic returning, Ocellus stood up with a smile on her face, "I guess magic is back." the elf said followed by a grin. As the six students were about to congratulate themselves, "You've ruined everything!" Cozy shouted as she arrived her hair disheveled and her ribbon torn. "Well good to see you too, senpai!" Flash shouted as he picked up his sword. "Oh please Sentry-kohai, you're not going to strike an unarmed civilian." Cozy dismissed the sentinel's threat. Cozy then returned her focus to the six before anyone could question "Now Twilight and her ridiculous friends can escape from Tartarus!" she shouted just as before Twilight et al teleported with scowls on their faces. Cozy panicked as she stepped back, "I mean..." she started to correct course. Applejack stepped in front of the rest, "DON'T YOU DARE!!! WE'VE BEEN TRAPPED IN TARTARUS ON A FOOL'S ERRAND THANKS TAH YAH!!!" the paladin shouted as she pointed to Cozy. Applejack took a breath. "Tirek sang like a canary about your plan!" she said calmed down slightly and stepped back. Twilight placed her hand on Applejack's shoulder as she stepped forward, "In reality, the only question that needs to be answered is why?" Twilight asked as her voice betrayed how hurt she felt. Cozy growled at the question, "Because friendship is power!" she declared. "You might be the Princess of Friendship, but as headmistress of this school, I can collect even more friends than you!" Cozy declared this confused everyone as it seemed that Cozy was mad. Twilight shook her head in sharrow, "You're the one who doesn't get it, Cozy." Twilight said as he raised her head to look at Cozy. Twilight pointed to her friends, "Friendship is powerful, but power isn't why you make friends." she said before she dipped her head again, "I'm sorry I couldn't teach you that." "Well, you taught us." Gallus pointed out he called Twilight's attention to himself and his friends. Silverstream then added, "You can't let one bad apple make you think you failed." "Ya'll never had cider made from a batch with a bad apple have yah? There's a reason why that expression exists." Applejack deadpanned. "And we never could've stopped her if we hadn't learned what you taught us about friendship." Sandbar added as he pointed to the artifacts in each of his friends' hands and his. "Honesty? Loyalty? Generosity?" Cozy asked rhetorically in spite, "Blah-blah-blah!" she finished and started to hover, "I can make more friends without using any of them! And if I can't do it here, I'll do it somewhere else!" she declared as she started to fly away only to blocked with as a human wall by the other students. Cozy tried another way only for Celestia, Luna and Neighsay to arrive. Cozy then looked to the sky only to the squad of the ESM Royal Guard arrive cutting off any route of escape. Flash Sentry then walked passed everyone and placed his hand on Cozy's shoulder, "Sorry, senpai, but you are under arrest." About two hours later, Neighsay, Celestia and Twilight were walking from Twilight's office. The chancellor sighed in relief, "I'm glad you're back in charge of the School of Friendship, Princess." he said in relief. "It's clear to me now that there is nobody better suited for the job." "Thank you," Twilight said with a smile but then looked down with a soft frown, "but you were right. This school did almost destroy Mystica." "What do you mean Twilight?" Celestia asked not sure what she meant and seeing the confused expression on Neighsay's face she knew she was not the only taken off guard. Twilight looked up after a breath, "Had I followed MEA guidelines I would have discovered that Cozy Glow was a student at the same school and time as Flash and I wouldn't have admitted her." Twilight informed. Neighsay gave a sad smile as he shook his head, "I might have been right, but for all the wrong reasons." After about a second they all heard a belch. They turned to see, "What's going on?" Twilight asked as the three saw Gallus, Yona, Silverstream, Smolder, Ocellus and Sandbar in scholar robes typically used for graduations while Spike belching up a diploma for Smolder to catch and repeat for Sandbar to catch. Silverstream waved her left hand at Twilight, "Hi, Headmistress Princess Twilight!" the aasimar said with a cheer. "We're just practicing for graduation!" she squealed as Spike belched up another diploma. The two princesses and the chancellor looked at each other slightly confused, "Graduation?" Twilight asked on the part of the three adults. Gallus smirked, "Now that we've saved Mystica, we figure we're done with school." Gallus said as he caught the diploma that Spike belched up. The three adults then had a laugh at the notation. Once the three finished their laugh, "Saving Mystica is nice, but I'm afraid it'll take more than one term to learn all there is to know about friendship. It took me to grasp enough about it to have a better understanding of its magic than even Star Swirl the Great." Twilight informed the six. "Awwww..." the six students complained in dejection as Spike stopped and to right next to Twilight. "Your headmistress is right." Neighsay said as he stepped forward to the students with a genuine smile on his face, as he was giving something from his heart, "I thought friendship was something only Mysticans should share with each other." his head dipped in shame of his past actions, "But you all taught me how wrong I was and for once I am glad to be wrong." He took a breath and turned to Twilight, "I suppose true friendship can take a lifetime to understand." "If it were easy to learn, we wouldn't need a school." Twilight pointed out. There was then a crash as the door that Cozy locked the CMC came open as the trio fell out. "We held her off as long as we could!" Apple Bloom yelped as the three regained themselves. "But she locked us in this closet!" Scootaloo informed the others. "Is everything alright?" Sweetie asked in a slight panic, "Where's Cozy Glow?" she asked for herself and the other CMC to be caught up to speed. Celestia walked over to the three and helped them to their feet, "Everything worked out just fine my favorite trio." She then stepped so that all present could see her and she could see them, "As for Cozy Glow, I can assure you, where she's going, she won't be causing any more trouble." Celestia declared. Deep in Tartarus, Kerberos whimpered as he rested next to Tirek's cage. The extra-dimensional prison was now empty of all but it's canine warden and the spellthief. This was due to the creatures' sacrifice of their internal magic was deemed worthy of granting them parole. "Of course it's boring here now!" Tirek scolded the dog in utter frustration, "But at least you're not in a cage!" he continued as he walked to be on the far side of his prison from his jail-keeper. "Stupid dog," he muttered to himself. In truth he was more angry with his own lack of forethought, the idea of trapping the six mages that sent him down there and no way for them or anyone to use the Rainbow of Light to get them out was so intoxicating that he forgot that he was still down in the hell-spot too. Just then a magical portal open and Princess Luna stepped out with a handful of guards, The Order of Nox, by the look of their night-sky armor with lunar silver and a dash of lunar eclipse red here and there. "You shan't be alone for long." Luna declared as one of the Order put a plaque not far from Tirek's cage as the rest placed a cage down with a clear clang. Luna and the order then left through the portal they came through. Tirek looked to see who or what was in the cage, only to see Cozy Glow, "Hey, neighbor." she said cheerfully to Tirek before she grabbed the bars and a menacing smile formed on her face, "Wanna be friends?"
My Little Mages: Academia Ardens	Bonus Chapter: A follow up question	Two days later during a staff get-together, Twilight, Spike, et all waited until Flash entered Twilight's office. "Sorry I'm late, paper work." Flash said as he took the open chair, "So what's today's topic?" he asked. "Well, we already covered everything for the most part," Applejack answered, "The only real matter is how did Cozy get you and Starlight into the orb that Sandbar and the others told us about." Flash and Starlight looked at each other in slight shock, the two then started to laugh. "I'll go first." Flash said. A few hours after Twilight and her band left, Flash arrived back at the school, he had only a few hours to give a rundown to Starlight and then back to his post. As he neared Starlight's office, "Lt.-Col. Sentry, come quick. Counselor Starlight is in trouble." came a panicking Cozy Glow. She stopped when she actually took his hand. Flash instictively reached for his buckler, "What happened? Where?" he asked. Cozy took his hand and directed him, "Follow me." she said as she lead Flash to the catacombs under the school. Once the two was there, "Starlight! Starlight! Can you hear me?" he shouted as he started to look around. He then turned to Cozy. "What was she even doing down here?" he asked as he was at a lost of what to do or what was going on. Cozy then lead him deeper into the catamobs, "Starlight and I heard something weird coming from down here, so we went down to investigate. I can't remember what happened next. It all happened so fast, but next thing I knew. Starlight was gone." Cozy answered as they to continued to run or fly until they came to the spell circle with the artifacts and the massive orb of magic. Flash spotted a barely conscious Starlight in the magic orb, "Starlight? Starlight? Are you okay?" he asked as he stepped forward to the circle and barely didn't touch the circle itself. "Why don't you see for yourself?" Cozy asked from behind him before she shoved him into the circle. As Flash tried to catch himself he was captured by the magic and was sucked into the orb. All he do was give an 'Whoa!' before he was silenced in the orb. As he turned back he saw and heard Cozy laugh. "Oh, Sentry-kohai, you haven't changed a bit!" Cozy could not help but laugh as Flash was now stuck in the orb with Starlight. Flash turned to Cozy and looked at her in utter confusion and befuddlement as if he was asking 'Do I know you from somewhere?'. Cozy gave a faked painfilled gasped. "You mean, you don't recognize me?" she asked. "Oh, kohai, I'm hurt." Cozy said as she held her chest in mock emotional hurt. Flash eyes widened and his face dropped in horror as he realized who the girl was or rather he remembered Cozy. Cozy then started to laugh, "Now, with the two of you out of the way, there's no one left in Mystica to stop me." she said and continued to laugh. "So that was pretty much what happened." Flash explained as he got up and got some water. Everyone then turned to Starlight. Starlight groaned, "She hit me with chloroform, when we got to Twilight's office." Flash couldn't help but laugh, "And people think I am pathitic." He then felt a tug at his ear and saw that it was purple magic. "Ow, okay, okay, I'm sorry." He said and Twilight ended her spell.
Pokémon CrimsonRed and CobaltBlue	pre	A flash was heard and Ponyta was sucked into one of Crimson's Poke Balls, turns out it dug one out of his saddlebags when he wasn't paying attention. shake shake shake ding! Just then, Crimson's Pokedex was updated: #077 Ponyta, the Fire Horse Pokemon As a newborn, it can barely stand. However, through galloping, its legs are made tougher and faster. "Ah, I see you're completing the National Dex, is that right?" Crimson hesitated, "Uh...yeah." Celestia smiled, "Well then, I wish you the best of luck." She and her guards left the clearing as Crimson just stood there in shock and surprise. After recollecting himself, he went to the Pokemon Center to heal his Pokemon and then to the train station back to Ponyville to meet a certain Pokemon caretaker he heard about previously. To Be Continued...
Pokémon CrimsonRed and CobaltBlue	Episode 4: The Flim-flam of the Flim Flam Brothers	The train pulls into the station as Crimson steps off of it along with some other ponies, he walked to the other side of Ponyville and just outside of it was a nature like cottage, where the Pokemon caretaker, Fluttershy resides. He knocks on the front door and waits for her to answer, but when the door opens, an agitated Buneary stood there while there was a yellow coated mare with a pink mane bawling her eyes out on the couch. "Um...is this a bad time?" Crimson asks. The Buneary nods and tries to slam the door in his face, but Crimson puts his hoof in the way. "Hold on, maybe I can help." The Buneary looked like it was going to object, but after hearing a loud wail from the mare, it sighed in exasperation and allowed him in. Crimson noticed all of her Pokemon trying to console her, but he was focused on the mare herself, he walked over to her and tried to communicate. "Uh, hello?" The mare looked up, panicked, and hid in her hooves. "It's okay, I'm not gonna hurt you." The mare hesitated, but eventually warmed up to him and he sat down with her on the couch. "Now tell me what's wrong." The mare sniffled, "W-Well...somepony snuck into my cottage and p-pony-napped my Glameow." "What?!" The mare was scared by his volume, but calmed down, "I-It's true, I heard hoofsteps last n-night and saw somepony make off with my Pokemon in the night." Crimson furrowed his brow in anger, hardly believing somepony could do such a thing, with his mind made, he addressed the mare again. "Don't worry, I'll go into town and look for some clues, I'm sure somepony had to have seen someone suspicious last night." The mare went wide-eyed, "Y-You would do that? For m-me?" Crimson smiled, "Sure. I love Pokemon too." The mare smiled back at his words, then realized something, "Oh, I didn't introduce myself, I'm Fluttershy." "Crimson. Crimson Blaze." Crimson went back into town and asked the ponyfolk about a suspicious character last night out and about. Sadly, he didn't find anything useful, nopony had seen such a pony last night. He was about to give up when he heard a voice, no, two voices ring out across town. "Hurry, hurry, hurry!" one voice spoke in a slogan manner, "Come one, come all, to the Flim Flam Brothers' Pokemon auction!" "That's right, brother!" the other voice agreed, "We have quite a few Pokemon up for sale today! Do you any of you lovely fillies and gentlecolts want a Pokemon of your very own?" A cheer sounded in the audience as Crimson made his way to town square, where this so called, "Pokemon auction" was taking place. "Then let's get started!" Flim declared. Flam grabbed a cloth that looked like it was covering something, "Our first Pokemon for sale is..." He swiftly removed the cloth to reveal... "A Glameow!" Crimson gasped in shock as he remembered something crucial from Fluttershy before he left... "My Glameow was wearing a little yellow ribbon with my Cutie Mark on it," Fluttershy said, showing that her Cutie Mark had three pink butterflies. The moment after remembering that, Crimson noticed that Glameow was wearing the exact same ribbon in Fluttershy's description. With newfound vigor, he pushed forward through the crowd to the thieving brothers. "Now, who would like this beautiful Pokemon?" Flim asked the crowd. "How about the pony who owns it?" Crimson said, the crowd parting to reveal him the brothers. "What in Celestia's name are you talking about, young colt?" Flam asked. "That Glameow belongs to Fluttershy, which YOU TWO had stolen from her last night!" The crowd gasps, but the Flim Flam Brothers remain unmoved. "Likely story!" they both said. "Can you in fact prove that this Pokemon isn't ours?" Flam asked smugly. "The ribbon its wearing has Fluttershy's Cutie Mark!" Crimson said, pointing at said ribbon. The two thieves noticed the flaw in their plan and rushed up to hide it, "That could mean anything!" Flim said. "Everypony knows that no two Cutie Marks are the same!" The crowd began to realize that there was truth in Crimson's words and quickly booed the Flim Flam Brothers. The two realized that they've been found out, but they weren't going to go without a fight. "Well then, how do you like this?" Flam threw a Poke Ball in the air and it let loose a Koffing. "Use Poison Gas!" The Koffing spewed its toxic fumes, but Crimson wasn't having it. "Taillow, use Quick Attack!" Crimson shouted as he threw his Poke Ball. Taillow came out and rushed through the gas, making it dissipate and angering the brothers. "You ungrateful little...!" Battle Theme The Flim Flam Brothers would like to battle! The Flim Flam Brothers sent out a Koffing and Seviper! "Two, huh?" Crimson pulled out another Poke Ball, "Go, Ponyta!" Ponyta came out and joined Taillow in the fray. Ponyta and Taillow were Lv. 13 and Koffing and Seviper were Lv. 14. "Taillow, use Quick Attack, Ponyta, use Ember!" Taillow used Quick Attack! Ponyta used Ember! "Use Smog!/Use Bite!" Flim and Flam shouted at the same time. The foe's Koffing used Smog! The foe's Seviper used Bite! Critical hit! Taillow fainted! "Grr! Come back, Taillow!" Crimson swapped Pokemon, "Go, Murkrow!" Murkrow is still at Lv. 7 since it didn't get any training after the fiasco with Blueblood. "Use Pursuit!" Murkrow used Pursuit! Murkrow's attack missed! The foe's Seviper used Poison Tail! Murkrow fainted! "Come back, Murkrow!" Crimson sent out another Pokemon, "Go, Fennekin!" Fennekin is at Lv. 11 after feeding it a Rare Candy found during Crimson's travels and learned Howl from its level up. "Use Scratch! Ponyta, use Flame Wheel!" Fennekin used Scratch! Critical hit! The foe's Seviper fainted! Ponyta used Flame Wheel! Koffing tried to avoid it, but got hit and received a burn. The foe's Koffing has been burned! "Koffing, use Assurance!" Flim ordered. The foe's Koffing used Assurance! Critical hit! Ponyta has endured the hit! The foe's Koffing has been hurt by its burn! The foe's Koffing fainted! Ponyta grew to Lv. 14! Fennekin grew to Lv. 12! "I can't believe it..." Flim said in shock. "Neither can I, brother..." Flam agreed. Crimson won 1,800 bits from The Flim Flam Brothers! The two made a hasty retreat, leaving behind all of the Pokemon they stole as the citizens of Ponyville chased them out of town. Crimson decided to let the Royal Guard handle things from here and take Glameow back to Fluttershy, whom of which was ecstatic that she got her Pokemon back. She was so happy that she allowed Crimson to adopt a Pokemon as a token of her gratitude, and he chose a newly hatched Charmander, the story with it was that the owners of a Charizard and a Ditto breeded to make its egg, but abandoned it after they picked them up, the egg was Fluttershy's even after it hatched, until now. Crimson put it in its own Poke Ball and the Pokedex was updated: #004 Charmander, the Lizard Pokemon From the time it is born, a flame burns at the tip of its tail. Its life would end if the flame were to go out. Fluttershy didn't question the device as Crimson made his way back into town and to the train station to find the first Gym Leader, only to run into his heated rival, Cobalt. "Hey, Crimsey! Guess what?" Cobalt asked. "Uh, what?" Cobalt showed him a badge shaped like a shiny apple, "I got my first Gym Badge! So how about you? Any luck?" Crimson didn't say anything, which said it all to Cobalt, who laughed. "Are you serious?! Man, I really AM way too strong! Maybe we shouldn't battle again just yet!" Cobalt just walked past Crimson, laughing all the while as Crimson continued on his way. To Be Continued...
The Good, The Bad and the Princess	pre	"If you're going to take a sip, princess, watch the thorns," the pony replied in a funny voice. "Take a..." Luna couldn't keep her composure this time and snorted, blushing profusely. Dogrose after a small pause did the same. "I am abusing my liberties, too, it seems," the pony noticed, addressing nopony in particular. "Sorry, Your Highness. Working with the captain quickly makes you allergic. A natural immune reaction of sorts. Besides..." She waved her hoof around. "So I've noticed," the princess nodded. "Still, I'm not sure what exactly is your position under Lash... Dogrose." "Call me Dow," the pony grinned. "I'm dealing with communications and their maintenance. Intercom, radio tower, that sort of thing. Helps keeping the captain at bay. He stays away from the place for the most part. Too cramped for his ego." "What were you doing in the control, then?" the alicorn wondered. "Ah, that," Dogrose snorted. "I'm also a part-time infosec engineer. It's quiet, easy cash, but any incident is a real party pooper." "So this disappearance is what brought you out of your radio room?" "Yeah, that sums it," Dow nodded. "Radio is currently useless anyway. Any signals are jammed by statics. If you wanna watch some newscasts better plug into any terminal at the Recreation." "Radio signals only?" princess specified. "Your Highness?" "Call me 'princess'," Luna replied, imitating Dogrose's intonation. "Captain believes Celekh to be dead since the sandstorm should have disrupted the navigation of her mech." "Very likely," the pony answered slowly. "You can't see your own nose in the dust, let alone the NavSats. Stationary beacons are of little help either, even if you set their output to max. Any signal dissipates, quickly becoming corrupted." "I'm no expert," Luna began adsent-mindedly, "but what about some autonomous navigation system? Like the one you and Celekh were working on?" "No idea whatcha talking about, princess," Dow looked drawn. "I'm in a difficult situation here, to be honest. You see, Dogrose, I am positive captain Lash is aware of your little side project, but he can't put two and two together. No idea why." "Perhaps he is weak on the head part," the blue-coated pony grumbled. "What do you care... princess? How do you even know about it?" "Was in the right place, at the right time," Luna shrugged. "That true? Can this program show her the way?" "It doesn't work like that. Eh, anyway, who cares?" Dow sighed. "What's in it for you?" Luna shook her head. "I do care. Regarding why... Maybe I haven't seen an umbrum for a while." "You're insane, you know that?" Dogrose blurted. "I am Nightmare Moon reformed," alicorn managed a weak smile. "Is it really your place to evaluate my sanity? Who knows, maybe madness should be measured in Lunas." Dow studied her for a while. The princess, in turn, raised her brow elegantly. At long last the blue mare shifted, dropped on her rump and threw her hooves up. "Welcome to the club."
The Good, The Bad and the Princess	Interlude	When Celestia woke up, the view behind her window was enveloped in twilight. There was no dawn in the night sky yet. She could indulge herself in some sweet tossing and stretching in her bed, oblivious for a while to all the things planned for today. She softly smiled to the ceiling, reveling in the feeling, then turned on her tummy. The sleep was avoiding her, although she woudn't mind slumbering for half an hour more. She rang in the gilded hoof bell, rolled off from her cushions and perfectly landed on her legs. Well, if there's no more sleep to find... A light warm-up didn't take long and she quickly switched to stretching, bending elastically on her gym rug, shaking the leftovers of sleepiness away from her limbs. The butler still didn't come. The alicorn made the full set of exercises, put her headband away and trotted for the bathroom, slightly tired yet satisfied, but not before ringing again. Her bedroom was the same as when she left. The empty shade dissipated the dim light of magical lightballs. Celestia frowned, hanging the towel on the dryer unlike she usually did, and slipped into her gilded horseshoes. Once again, nopony responded to the ringing, but she noticed, focusing, a light haze trickling from under the closed double door. A worm of light uneasiness in her chest moved, rustling. She reached the door in a few sweeping steps and opened it wide. "What is happening here?" The guard gave no response. Frozen like a trained statue, he stared in front of him from under the closed helmet, his cuirass of the Sun Guard slightly glittering. The mist was thicker here, it crept, clinging to the floor, barely rising to her hips. The light from the lanterns fixed on both sides of the passage struggled with penetrating the thick air. Everything seemed vague, illusory, indistinct. "Officer?" This is ridiculous, Celestia persuaded herself. What is there to be afraid of in her own castle? Suppressing her anxiety she approached the guard. "Officer!" The guard never moved. But now, up close she could see for sure that his eyes were closed. His eyelids fluttered, something shifted behind them in short spasms. He was sleeping, sleeping at his post, and his dream was an uneasy one. "Wake up, officer!" The stallion's massive body turned out to be in a fragile kind of balance. He leaned on a wall from her soft push, then slowly slipped down. His breath quickened but he didn't wake. She went through empty spooky corridors like if she was in a dream. Except it wasn't. She even had to buck herself, just to be sure. The guards were sleeping. They leaned on the marble pillars, hanged on the poles of their halberds resting on the floor, stood as immobile statues. The mist powdered with sprinkles flew around, spiraling, running away in small vortexes from her steps. A cleaning mare softly snored in her tiny room under the stairs. A night shift of cooks were lying on rugs in a crescent around the dead firepit. She paused near one of the windows, staring at the sleeping city. There wasn't a single lit window in Canterlot, tiled roofs glimmering silver in the cold moonlight. The dawn was frozen somewhere in the distance, on the rim between the earth and the sky, illuminated with weak beams of the sun that struggled to rise and couldn't. "Captain? Luna?" She felt something that, it seemed, an immortal princess could not possibly feel. Her trot hastened to a gallop, the mist rolling under her legs, turning the clattering of hooves, once clear, into a dull, viscous stomping. The door leading to Luna's chamber wasn't locked, and Celestia momentarily hesitated before pushing the panel of dark wood away. "Are you in here? You alright, sister?" The bedroom welcomed her with thick shadows. The only light was from a whitish silver night-lamp standing to the side, but it was as if the haze pressed against it, its light being unable to pierce the permeating shroud. The puffs of mist here were thicker, richer, they bloomed in inky ultramarine, shimmered with star dust, shaping into exquisite castles, towers, elaborate patterns and quaint monsters, then crumbled, dwindling into the night air. "Sister, are you okay? Sister?" the princess asked again. The thumping of her heart seemed to resound in her temples, sounding louder than her weak and uncertain voice. "I am here, Tia," Luna echoed, and she felt a great relief. "I'm fine. Perfectly fine." "Thank the Mother," Celestia let out a sigh, calming down her nervous shakes, and threw her wet forelock away. "The guards are sleeping... As well as all the other ponies. What happened to them? What time is it?" "What time is it?" Luna cracked a coarse, choking, toneless laugh. "Is this the best you could ask?" "I don't understand..." Celestia narrowed her eyes, nervously looking into the shadows. "What's happening?" "You know, sister," Luna shifted her weight from one leg to another, flexing her shoulders, "didn't it ever occur to you that you know... precious little of your subjects... for an omniscient ruler of the nation?" "Luna," Celestia shook her head. "I don't believe this is the best of times. We need to wake..." "Oh, on the contrary," Luna cut her off. "Now is the perfect time. No hindrances of any kind, no outsiders intervening in our discussion. At long last, we can have a talk in private." The pieces of a puzzle started shifting into place in princess' head one by one. "It was you? It was you, sister?" "Who else could it be?" Luna silently smiled, her teeth glittering. "Of course it was I." "What...what did you do?" Celestia gasped. "Less than I should have," Luna replied. "Still, it was nothing they didn't deserve. I dispensed justice. I believe you do remember Starswirl's lessons well." "The ruler is to be just," Celestia nodded, then frowned. "Do you mean I wasn't just? Did I ever wrong somepony by undeserved punishment?" "Why, no, dear sister," Luna mockingly smiled. "You never punished anypony. You equally shone to all, hunters and prey alike. Tell me, did you really think one can idly watch while they all basked in your precious light? Do you sleep well at night?" "I don't know what you're talking about," Celestia frowned, "but you must lower the moon. The ponies must wake up. It is your duty!" "Must I?" Luna's eyes threateningly narrowed. "I envision my duty differently. The night will last forever... until the redemption comes. But yet one question remains. Why can't I see your dreams? What are you hiding, Tia?" The night-lamp's dim light glistened on the armor. Narrow catlike eyes glanced at the princess from under the roundish silver helmet. "Let's find it out... sister."
The Good, The Bad and the Princess	Seven	The feeling was nostalgic. Sort of a tantalizing bittersweet pain. Luna rose on her hindlegs, leaned back and moved her forelegs apart, pressing herself into the soft fleecy membrane fabric that covered the insides of the suit. Calm and cozy, like in her mother's womb. The fixtures on her legs locked, triggering the rest of the armor to start assembling. She kept her eyes shut, feeling the familiar procedures come and go. Cool biometry sensors. An abrupt clang of the latches. A click of the coat closing up on her chest. "Combat systems... activated," a familiar insinuating whisper with a touch of aspiration in her headphone. The princess moved, trying her legs, and the servos followed by turning weak and careful motions into sharp and bold flourishes of hooves. "Hi, Shadow," she replied. "Long time no see." "Welcome back, Luna." She turned her eyes to Serenity. The captain's exoskeleton, a big pony-shaped figure with a tint of ebony lilac, was already assembled, too. The guard was now thoughtfully inspecting the arsenal. "I wouldn't mind some self-diagnostics," Shadow whispered. "Much time passed since the last launch." "Do it," the alicorn replied, turning her attention to another pony who looked at the third prepared exoarmor. Watcher's bloodline, fourth scion... "Flashlight? What are you doing here?" "Accompanying you," the stallion scratched his imperial and sighed. "Flashlight," Luna frowned, drawing closer. "You're an armourer. A mechanic. Not a fighter." "I am a sworn of the Night Watch, princess," the pony snorted. "The captain believed I could use some field experience." The alicorn graced Serenity with a gaze full of significance, but he justified his name. Gazing at a boulder would probably be of equal effectiveness. "Moreover, it's an opportunity to run some live stress tests on our equipment," mechanic added. The latter, is seemed, he was looking forward to with more eagerness than the 'combat experience' he mentioned earlier. "Flashlight," she sighed but couldn't help but smile. "You're irredeemable." "Since when was I broken?" he cast a glance downward. Then he heard guard's steps behind him and hurriedly got into his armor, shifting his shoulders, until the chest parts hid his torso. "And you," Luna turned back to the captain. "Serenity, are you going for a tank hunt?" Captain didn't grace her with an answer but turned his visor to her. "Yes, I remember," princess sighed. "The Agreement. Yes, I'm still game," she confirmed, answering her guard's silent gaze. "Still, I want you to remember. We take weapons for protection only. Protection from real danger." "Calibration complete". Captain jerked his head. Even if he let out a snort, the glass of his helmet muffled it. "I have lots of questions," Luna straightened up, rising in her full height. "I can be quite... persuasive." She didn't bother taking anything. Shadow was equipped with a number of autonomous defensive systems, and all fo them, according to the reports quickly scrolling on the sidescreen, were operating smoothly. Mechanic reluctantly stopped on the rearming platform but it confined to attaching a short leg-fixed carbine to his frame. Luna recognized the model: a shortened version of a modular army rifle designed for auxiliary personnel. "At least he didn't give Flashlight a second 'Geyser'," she hemmed. "Shadow, give me a basic channels encryption." She jumped down from the descended ramp of the shuttle's cargo bay and made a few steps to get a hang of it. They say skills like these can't be lost. The armor, though, had some memories attached. The kind she wouldn't mind forgetting. Enough is enough. No more dreams of blissful ignorance. "Flashlight. Did you make the changes to the system?" "Yep, Princess. Everything is as you asked. From what I've heard we're in for a ride. Our energy weapons will be useless. And not the weapons alone." "We shall see," Luna nodded, passing by a shocked guard at the post. "I'll be doing the talking." It was no surprise for her when she entered the vestibule and immediately spotted Lash accompanied by a group of moody guards hurrying in their direction. The alicorn expected them earlier, but emergency-caused bewilderment, it seemed, once again did the chief of security a poor job. "Princess? Where are you heading to?!" he was panting, his gaze jumping from one suit of armor to another. "We decreed the weather favours a stroll," Luna declared, weighty and ceremonial, stretching her hoof forward. "Your Highness!" Lash protested. "There's storm outside! It is gravely dangerous!" "Indeed, you did say so." "Don't you believe me?" Lash pursed his lips. "Why, no," the princess replied, circling him and his band of guards swarming behind. She couldn't help smiling casually. "I am confident your information about the storm is nothing but genuine." "But that means..." he crossed her path. "That means nothing," she skewed at him, now as at an insolent insect. "We have spoken." "But I..." even his wide forehead now looked red. He inhaled and blurted. "I can't let you do that!" "Is that so?" She arched her brow in her usual royal manner and glared at him. Coldly. Haughty. Weighting. Captain shrank though his massive guards crowded behind his back. "I mean... that's... You can't..." "Stop me then," Luna suggested. She measured him, shrugged as if flexing and clicked her visor shut. Serenity followed her, never farther than a step behind, a large-caliber cannon on his back slightly swinging. The wall of guards backed down and finally gave way, forming a corridor. "Sealing. Switching to internal life support." She stopped at the airlock. Looked up, watching at the mirror glass of the guardpost room, the room built higher than the floor of the hall. "Open the gates, captain," there was steel in her voice, deformed by the helmet speakers. "Boss? What are we gonna do? Captain??" Her sound sensors caught the voice of security from Lash's intercom. An unseen pony once again called for the chief but got no response. Luna cast a sidelong look at her bodyguard. "Shadow, RCV amplifier. Give me twenty percent boost." "Already on it." She straightened her shoulders. Her mane was hidden under layers of composite armor plates but projectors sensed her silent order and cast clouds of starry darkness flying proudly behind her back. "OPEN THY GATES, CAPTAIN. ELSE I SHALL OPEN THEM MYSELF." The walls quivered, the floor shaking under their hooves. The Voice reverberated between plain walls. Manes of the guards rose on end. A mixture of dust and cigarette butts flew from under the benches. Letting out a single cough in the stretching silence, Luna wondered if Vinyl should become an acoustic physics engineer. "Let her out," the alien voice ordered, hardly recognizable as that of Lash. A toothy door shook and pulled upward, tugged by the hidden rods, folding in itself. The metal was thick, princess noted. Very thick. She hadn't been to the lock yet but stepped inside without hesitation. The alicorn found herself inside a spacious room, its floor covered in slits. One could easily fit a tank or two in here, provided there is a need. The guardpost window continued along the entirety of the right wall, but seeing something behind the reflecting reinforced glass was virtually impossible. She never tried to. Instead looked at the screen to her left, across the room. Revolving yellow lights cast gleams on the metal walls, Shadow timely damping down the blaring sirens. "Processing," the short flickering message on the large display stated. "Do not move." The princess cast a glance at her guard. Serenity kept his aim at the gate but his pose was rather relaxed. She had a passing thought if he would shoot at her command. She banished the thought. Not now. It's not the time. The gates behind them lowered with a clank. A message on the display was replaced by another. "Airlock sealed. Shut your windows." Then the lamps switched to red, the message reluctantly informing, "Outer gates opened." It wasn't quite true. The gates were still opening. The wind threw clouds of sand under the rising door, and the princess instantly understood what were the slits on the floor for. She took a step, then another, waiting for the light to come. It never did. Instead the room was choked up by the sand mist, their surroundings momentarily darkening. She looked around but the flashes of red were now barely visible behind the swirling dust. "Hold on, princess," Flashlight's voice sprang to life in her headphone. She recognized a vague armor-like shape to the side and remembered why were the guards unable to identify the missing CRV driver. "Shadow, enable polarization. Small particles filtering." The glass of her visor rippled. Utter chaos of sand and dust didn't go away but grew dull, taking form of shaking, squirming distortions. Still, the exoarmor of her mechanic was more visible now. He offered her a hoof with a carabiner, holding it in his manipulator claw. The carabiner was attached to the end of the rope. "It may look impressive but I took a chance to read a bit about their storms," his voice sounded unnatural, disappearing behind the crackle of static every now and then. "We'd better travel chained together. More chances not to lose each other." Princess nodded, locking the carabiner on the cringle at her side, just under the wing. The guard took her own rope, although she felt like moving in tapioca when she levitated it. "Ah, yes. The Agreement," her inner self snorted. "And here be your leash." She harrumphed. Shook her head. And stepped into the storm. Lash wasn't lying or exaggerating. The sight was truly an impressive one. Dangerous? Undoubtedly. Yet impressive. At the small plateau to where the gates led and in the space beyond, as far as her eyes could see, darkness brewed. Darkness swirled, ran in circles, flowing from one form into another. Darkness blurred any sense of direction. There was no mountains behind the wall of sand, no dark evening sky, no moons. Nothing but darkness... and the rare blinding branching flashes inside. "It's like a local blizzard," Luna thought. Yes, just like a blizzard, she agreed. If a blizzard could kill and throw lightnings around. "Initial analysis complete," Shadow whispered. "Surprise me." "Thermal screen, fifteen percent. Conditioning active. Outer atmosphere breathable. Low oxygen level. Recirculation and oxygen saturation, active. Air filters overload. Outer powered systems overload." "Overload... care to elaborate?" "Statics," Flashlight replied in her place. Now when her eyes grew accustomed to the constant jitteriness of the feed she could even recognize the head inside his helmet. "If we're going to switch any of our external sensors on, the best case is we get some fuses kicked out. And not just the sensors." He raised his left hoof to demonstrate. Luna knew the subsystem. "Firewall". A fragment of his armor flicked out the extending projectors, exposing the generator. Yet the rectangular tower shield she was familiar with from the demonstrations did not appear. Instead the generator started buzzing in exertion, audible even through the muffled howl of the storm, and died out, powerless, throwing sparkles around. "Good thing I've stocked up on some mechanical alternatives." "What else?" Luna inquired. "Many things," she couldn't see mechanic's face but felt that he frowned. "Force reflectors. Jump engines. Beam weaponry. Oh, blasters are still deadly but only if you shoot at point-blank range." "That's why captain gave you a simple carbine." Serenity's silence was an eloquent one. "I've never held a firearm before," Flashlight grumbled discontently, but there was uneasiness hiding behind his displeasure. "You still don't, Flashlight," princess retorted. "It is bolted to your hoof." "That's exactly the point," mechanic groused. "Enough of that," the alicorn shook her wings. "Where's our target?" "I've set the parameters you mentioned," he replied. Screens of her visors blinked, and a few bright dots appeared on her compass scale. "Take caution, princess. We will have to follow the azimuth, preferably in a straight line. Even the gyroscopes of our armor are not all-powerful." "Care to explain?" princess tried to hide her embarrassment. Mechanics was not her strongest side. "All I did was to point in the right direction based on our relative starting position," he patiently explained. "Divergence will be minimal while we are moving straight... more or less. But the more turns we make, the more inaccuracies will build up on top of our initial setting. All the magnetic-based devices are currently useless. We can't depend on them, nor can we get corrections based of satellite positioning. Landmarks, maybe..." he waved his hoof around ostentatiously. "If we are able to find them," finished Luna for him. She looked around and noticed a dim shimmering bright spot, barely visible in the haze. "Shadow?" "I see it," Shadow hummed in return. "Identification in progress. Radio tower. Control flash beacon Yurga-two. Signal level, medium. Military ranges..." "It seems Dogrose indulged my small request," Luna agreed. "Track this frequency." "Doubt it will do us much good," Flashlight grimly noted. "Even at its full power. If the signal is that good when we're close..." "Don't look a gift pony in the..." Luna started. At this moment the gate started grinding again, and she turned around to see darkening forms in the airlock's scant light. Two of them. "...ordered us to make you a company, Your Highness," one of them finished right after Shadow highlighted the frequency. "Did I ask for an escort?" "No, but..." the pony stumbled. "Captain will have a lot of trouble if you go missing. That's the least we can do." The princess sifted through her memory to identify the familiar young voice. "Autumn Leaf?" "Sure am, Your Highness." "Glad to have you here," Luna silently sighed. She doubted she could get rid of them that easily. "And your companion there would be?" "Lieutenant Trowel," his neighbor slowly responded in a croaky voice. "I am the chief's first deputy." That figures. "Why isn't the captain here in person?" Luna coldly asked. "He assured me earlier he was honor-bound to accompanying me..." "The captain has his official duties," lieutenant replied. Her imagination instantly painted an aging stallion with a wrinkled face. "As the highest ranking officer he could not abandon his post." "Naturally." 'Shadow, split our comm channels. Make it one for each member of my group and one more for the newcomers. Keep encryption in place for my team.' 'Done and done.' "Are you armed?" "Of course," lieutenant came closer, showing an adapted pump-action shotgun on his leg. "This one should be enough." "I'm not heading for a hunt," princess informed. "You sure aren't," Autumn Leaf looked past her at Serenity's mobile cannon. "Flashlight, you first," she ignored the gaze as if it never existed. The mechanic jerked and started walking, following his nav systems away from the airlock. Luna followed, listening to her senses. The air felt viscid like dirt, coarse sand pouring on their legs and chest. She tried switching her sound filter off but quickly changed her mind. Flat roaring of the storm and the scratching of sand on her armor made her shudder. Their outstretched group plodded on through the desert covered in sand cloud, sticking in the drifts again and again. Luna remembered there ought to be a rock bed somewhere in the base of this plateau, but where is it now? They were barely moving, trying to keep the same pace not to pull on the ropes. The only thought comforting her was that nopony would move faster in this weather. "Power leakage detected," Shadow whispered. "From where? How long?" "From the very beginning," Shadow kept silence for a moment as if she was ashamed, then added. "Absolute numbers are low but I can't locate the source." "You said all systems were running," Luna reminded. "They were when we left," Shadow confirmed, confused. "I don't understand." "Flashlight," the princess called for the mechanic walking right before her. "Are you losing energy, too?" The pony stumbled. "Now when you've mentioned it... Yes, I am. A small but stable loss." "Autumn Leaf, Trowel," the alicorn addressed the mine guards walking in the rear. "We've detected a loss of power in our armour. Can it be that you know the reason?" "It's the storm, milady," lieutenant shortly replied. "The storm is draining our batteries?" "Sandstorms are not just bad weather. It's a blend of magic and electricity. They can drain energy if the power circuits have weak shielding." "Sounds plausible," Shadow agreed. "The leak is all over the outer circuits. I can't localize it. My advice is to power off all the peripherals." She underestimated things. Not the first time she did that, too. Luna frowned and shook her head. Grim reality mercilessly interfered in the perfectly thought out plans. Then again... If a princess cannot change her plans on the fly she should have retired a long time ago. "Did you hear that?" she asked her followers. "My outer subs are already offline," Flashlight snorted. Serenity harrumphed in acknowledgement. "Most systems are now useless anyway." "Is your protection also failing?" the alicorn switched back to the general channel. "It does," Trowel confirmed, "but at a more slow pace. Our gear has additional isolation layers to work in amber-rich conditions. You better listen to the captain. It's mighty dangerous to be outside in this weather. Much easier to search the escaped pony or her remains after the storm is gone." "Who said I'm looking for her?" "Captain said you were angry. He said it was because of your old clash with the Umbrum." "Is that so?" Luna thanked the storm. Nobody could see her eyes dangerously narrowing. "And what else did captain say?" "He ordered to escort you and ensure your safety. He also instructed to tell you that you need to come back," the officer patiently explained. Either the princess was hiding the poison in her voice too well or her interlocutor was deaf to sarcasm. "That would be the best course of action, I assure you." "Royal considerations don't always follow the common logic, lieutenant," Luna shrugged her shoulder. "Sovereigns also don't always choose what is best for them. I do not intend to catch the runaway pony, nor do I ask for an armed escort. You may return to the captain." "We have clear orders, Highness," Trowel repeated. "We will defend you until you return." "And if I don't?" "You will," once again Trowel paid not attention to the sarcasm. "Captain said so." "Captain sure knows better," Luna sighed. She scrolled the hologram of the plateau in front of her. Their position was defined now... But how long will it last? "Leakage minimized to the programmed limiters. Some systems are still running," Shadow warned. "I recommend to..." "Be silent," Luna hemmed grimly. "We won't see a thing without our lanterns, even if all they give us is several steps. Better bring the charge to my screen and extrapolate for a point of no return." She momentarily glanced at the numbers flashed on her display, mentally nodded in satisfaction and returned to the hologram, inspecting their surroundings. "Couldn't you find a more accurate one?" she asked Flashlight. "Resolution is ridiculous." "It's a classified zone. Someone up there still believes one can uphold secrecy by hemorrhaging high-res state satellite imagery," he snorted. "Couldn't you get some private databases?" "Probably. But princess..." he hesitated, "conversion to the format suitable for our navigators would take too much time. I'm no topographer." Technology. At the end of the day it's all about technology. "Well, you wanted to test our gear in these new conditions. Enjoy," Luna smiled casually. Then frowned, looking at the diagnostic feedback. "By the way, our bearing assemblies are nearly hitting overload." "It's the dust," Flashlight sighed with guilt in his voice. "Nobody expected us to go sand swimming. A mix of dust and grease is effectively an emery." Princess shook her head. Already she began to grew tired, yet they barely moved at all, and even that little progress was mostly due to their armor. Was there any other choice? "The worst case scenario, we go hibernating," she jested. The joke didn't sound very funny though. Now when the mountain ridge wasn't shielding them from the wind not one bit, walking was becoming gradually harder. The wind was throwing new portions of dust at her face from its bottomless pocket. They had to push this resilient wall with their chests to keep moving at all. Their group reminded a fleet of ships to her. Five stubborn chestnut shells, five pony clad in defensive composite armour, the only barrier that separated them from the howling wind. No wonder the first settlers never called this 'foul weather'. A storm. A sand tempest. Could it be that this place had windigoes of its own kind, a sand variety? "Is it time to return yet?" lieutenant reminded. "We didn't make much, if we turn back now we can get in for a late supper." "Listen, nobody forced you to stalk me, lieutenant," Luna snapped. She sighed, zooming in on a part of the spatial hologram. "Beg you pardon. FOr what it's worth I am truly sorry." "For what?" Autumn Leaf wondered. "It wasn't like you ordered us to gather up an escort team..." "Still, if I wouldn't be so stubborn with my inspection idea you would be eating now," she countered. "It's strange that the captain don't pick up some ponies from the next shift." "An order's an order," Trowel echoed, distracted. "The honor is ours," Autumn Leaf added. "I know. Still, I'm genuinely sorry. A whole shift... I imagine you must be very tired." "It was a hard one," lieutenant agreed thoughtfully. Autumn Leaf proudly exhaled into the microphone. "...Very tired..." Luna continued ingratiatingly, picking modulations. "Actually..." Autumn Leaf began, unsure. "...Gravely tired..." "...Gra-very..." Autumn Leaf weakly confirmed, then grew silent. Trowel wasn't responding either. Luna wheeled around. The armored suits of both guards stood frozen, one with his hoof lifted. Flashlight and Serenity followed her, surrounding their companions, abruptly stopped. "But how?.." Flashlight managed, baffled, cautiously stretching his hoof to one of them as if expecting him to jerk and bite in return. Serenity harrumphed mockingly. "Flashlight," the alicorn tilted her head reproachfully. "You forget who I am." She stared intently at motionless figures. "I will need your help. There should be a nice chunk of rock ahead of us," she sent a marker to them both. "I hope it hasn't sank in sand yet. It will provide them some protection from the elements." Moving two ponies took more time than she hoped. The storm raged on, resisting their every step. Statues of exoarmors belonging to their unlucky escort were not the most convenient cargo, the wind struck them over and over. Serenity huffed, concentrated, but pulled his load. Flashlight wasn't that lucky. He panted from the effort, trying not to drop the guard from his back, the princess supporting him with her magic. "That all?" he asked, still panting, when both guards were on the leeward side of the rock romantically leaned against each other. "Almost," Luna added the marker to her navigation system's bookmarks. "We will pick them up on our way back. Mark this point, too." "The thing I don't get," mechanic confided, "is why did we need to get rid of them anyway?" "I don't know what other orders did Captain Lash give them," the princess coldly measured the motionless silhouettes, "in addition to posing as my honour guard. I prefer not to tempt fate. The worst case, he wanted them to rid himself of Celekh. As I said, I can be very persuasive," she shook her head. "But dead ponies tell no tales." "So we are looking for the runaway after all," mechanic faced her. "Why?" "I want to take a look in her eyes," Luna replied, ignoring the cold knot in her chest. "We won't be searching for her though." She nodded to Flashlight and touched her temple. "We know precisely where she is."
The Good, The Bad and the Princess	Eight	"Should I remind you my responsibility is information security, princess?" Dogrose curled into a ball on her bed, next to the notebook, and offered the only chair to her guest. "I won't be able to answer most questions about the procedures or personal data." "Principles?" princess inclined her head in recognition. "A rare find nowadays. Let's call it... a mental exercise then. Building hypothetical castles. How about that?" "Suits me. Coffee?" "Got any cream?" Luna smiled cunningly. "You bet," Dow forced an injured face, enveloping a plastic packet hidden behind the pile of spare parts in her magic. "Well, in this case..." Coffee turned out to be quite a nice blend. "An instant one?" the princess asked to be sure, the thing was almost obvious. "I'm a too lazy creature," Dow waved her off. "Still, it's a real sublimated Arabica." "You said you didn't do coffee." "You're not the captain," the unicorn countered. "So what is it you want to know?" "Where was Celekh heading to?" princess decided to start from the most important part. "Dunno. No, really, I don't know!" Dogrose repeated. "Never told me. She's not the most talkative type. I can only assume." She put the mug she levitated to the side and turned her notebook to the princess. "Our plateau has a very convenient location. It could all be monitored from the radio tower, if not for the storm." "If not for the storm," Luna nodded. "And if there is one?" "Now it can't. But this will change. After the storm is over, all will be in the open. If Celekh doesn't want to be found... Or doesn't want to be found too fast..." she put her hoof at the eastern end. "Here and here. We're covered by the mountain ridge from the west, and eastern side is too steep to transport any goods. That's why there are two descents made in the eastern slope." "Why two?" "Neightport was not yet built back then. I guess. History is not my strongest," Dow scratched her ear and pointed at the southeast. "The rail was constructed later. Now it's the only transit line in active exploitation. A canyon here," her hoof slid through the scheme on the screen and stopped at the northeastern corner, "was the initial supply line. All the amber mined was delivered to the capital by the means of common cargo trucks." "Why isn't it in use now?" "Landslides," Dow pursed her lips. "The slope turned out to be very unstable. The storms repeatedly damaged the reinforcing walls. In addition, after the freight traffic shifted to Neightport is was more convenient to have a more direct route. If the captain really decided to look for Celekh he would warn the monitor bunker situated on the railway line here. Perhaps that's exactly what he did," the unicorn grinned. Luna looked at her questioningly. "Monorail is practically the only reliable landmark in the storm," Dogrose acknowledged. "You will never get lost following it. Except you can also be found in no time. No. If Celekh didn't want to be found she didn't choose this route." "And that northern route, is it passable?" "In all honesty I have no idea," the blue unicorn frowned. "That's not a place for a car, even a passenger one. If you travel on foot, have the equipment and wear exoarmor... probably." "How about Sokolka?" "The dimensions... yet the equipment... Maybe. Maybe not. There is a chance." "Why did she leave, Dow?" Luna carefully moved the notebook aside. "I don't know," the blue unicorn looked down. "Why are you asking? Do you really want to... follow her?" "No," the princess's eyes were dreamy. "Not really. Been there. Still, we're leaving in an hour at most. Do you want to follow?" "Your Highness?" "Or is it because she's an umbrum?" Luna surmised innocently. "I don't discriminate ponies because of their origin," Dogrose clenched her teeth. "Unlike someone else." "The captain?" Luna asked. "He's a soldier, isn't he? He can have his reasons for hating the umbrum." "A closet officer," Dow corrected. "He has a combatant's certificate, sure. They say he even was at the frontline. Once or twice, choosing the days during the standstill." "So his reasons..." "...are of a purely career variety," unicorn confirmed and added sarcastically. "Ponies have a thing for black-and-white pictures and ostentatious patriotism." "If you didn't know exactly what she was going to do, why help her?" "With the software?" Dogrose threw her forelock back (it returned to its place almost instantly). "It was a good... distraction. A change in occupation." "No," the alicorn shook her head. "With the whole escape thing." Dow narrowed her eyes looking at the princess. "Correct me if I am mistaken. The guard post had been thinking all the vehicles and equipment were in the hangar until captain told them otherwise. I'm not a security specialist but I doubt Celekh had access to security cameras." "She had," unicorn began. Then sighed and agreed. "Okay, she had no clandestine access. It's not too hard to cycle one of the records, putting in on an endless playback loop. They are all butterhooved down here... not to say half-asses. Couldn't just sit and watch now, could I?"
The Good, The Bad and the Princess	Nine	"How much longer?" "Are we on a timetable here?" Luna sighed. Flashlight was essential for some kinds of work. Generally, though... His supernatural ability to get on her nerves was on par with her own magical talents. "Five more minutes. If there is still no progress after that, drop it," she decided. "Yes, we do have a schedule to keep. At least explain what the problem is. I thought decreasing energy consumption should not be hard enough." The mechanic raised his muzzle away from the maintenance hatch on the side of the guard's armor and turned to her. There was a spark of eyes behind the visor glass. It seemed he switched the filter off to be able to see anything in the depths of the exoskeleton. After inspecting her and seemingly being unable to find fault with anything, he sighed heavily. "Security is the problem," he went on in response to her puzzled silence. "Maintenance access to the system has its bottlenecks. Our armor -- yours, mine, -- is a continuation of our own coat. Especially yours, princess. A psycho-mould, a retinal check, a hoofprint scan. Your armor is unique. You have no need to introduce yourself to get all the controls." He adjusted something inside the hatch with his hoof, glancing on the displays, invisible to her. "I'm currently logged into this stallion's armor using usual maintenance credentials. The problem is, the system requires the correct password to provide me all the access I need. Without the appropriate rights the most I can do is look at some numbers." "Can't you hack it?" Flashlight rolled his eyes. "I'm a mechanic, princess, not a hacker. It is not as if there are just ten possible options to choose from like in those videogames of yours. Bruteforce attack is out of question considering my capacities at hoof. I don't know who handles their info security..." I know, the princess knitted her brow. "...but this is where I hit the rock." "Did I hear you right, Flashlight?" Luna raised her brow. "Did you just use the 'I' word?" "Save your moon-y sarcasm." "I'm serious. It's not often I hear 'can't do that' from you." "I can reboot in emergency mode to bypass the safeguards. This will reset all the life support subsystems. Do you want that?" he answered. "It's forty-five above zero outside. I thought we were trying to keep the guys alive." Princess sighed. "Check Trowel's armor. Is there is no progress by then... We don't have much time to waste. Pack up and move on." While the earthpony was struggling with the hatch she tried the communications once again. A small grotto that had hidden them and their ill-fated followers did provide some protection from the primal storm, but there were still occasional portions of sand reaching them. "Unable to establish connection," Shadow whispered, audibly upset. "Statics level critical." Looks like asking Dogrose is out of question as well, she reckoned. If Dogrose would give her the password, that is. "That's strange," mechanic interrupted her thoughts. "What is strange?" "The indications are. Usually this kind of armor is supplied with standard power sources. How much charge left do you have, princess?" "Ninety-three percent," Luna replied. "You?" "About the same level," Flashlight tried to scratch his beard habitually, then remembered about the helm and looked at his hoof, puzzled. "The same with the guy. Lieutenant's suit has full charge, though. We've been walking for no less than half an hour. Meaning..." The alicorn patiently waited. From her experience about the past conversations with the mechanic she knew that new questions would probably only delay things further. He fiddled with the exposed side of the armor for a while, then shook his head and grimly leaned back. "If there is a plaque "Cockatrice" on a cell with a hydra inside, don't trust your eyes," he sighed. "Princess, take a look here." Luna leaned to the opened hatch. Inside, in the depth, between the cables, the rods and some rolled reinforcements, in the slot behind the thick glass a crystal was glowing. Once honey-yellow, now it shimmered in crimson, and there was a shaggy ball the color of blood growing inside. "A power cell," she recognized, summoning all of her scarce technical knowledge. "But why is the amber red? It is a common accumulator..." "The crystal usually never reaches this condition under normal circumstances," Flashlight grumbled. "I doubt you've seen it like this before. Color shift on the spectre. In common terms, this accumulator is nearly worn-out. It is able to hold only a fraction of its design capacity." "So his armor is out of energy?" the princess frowned. "Not yet," the earthpony spreaded the cable connecting his armor to the service ports on the guard's. "But it will be. No wonder the charge feedback sensors are confused. They can show full charge now, but soon the indications will abruptly deteriorate to several percent. That's when his subsystems will begin to fail one by one. Normally the maintenance crew should not accept armor suits like this one into exploitation. It can be detected by any standart grade diagnostic tests in the dock." "He would die," there was no question in Luna's voice. "He'd suddenly find himself in a metal box without any power." "He will die," Flashlight winced. "In case we do nothing to prevent it." "And what are our options?" Mechanic thought for a short while. "We might be able to get back in time... probably, if we turn back right now. I suppose we discard this one?" "We will lose the umbrum. There is only one way down while she's on the plateau. After she leaves it..." Luna shook her head. "We will never find her." "I could shunt power supply to another set of armor through its charging port," he said, weighting. "Probably even to the other guard's suit. I can't lower consumption without full service access but he will still hold longer like that." "Will it take long?" "Actually, no. I have no appropriate cables... Nothing our duct tape couldn't fix." The princess shook her head and stepped away. If you only knew what kind of trash... Serviceponies' ability to build working mechanisms from a box of scraps never stopped astonishing her. Still, if there was one thing she was certain about, it was that Flashlight would do it right. "What's your opinion?" Serenity stopped inspecting his cannon and turned his Y-shaped helmet glass to her. "On those two," she added, nodding at the immobile exoarmor suits. "Sending somepony to... watch over me... was something I expected. Giving one of them a suit of defective armor guaranteed to fail soon..." Serenity kept his silence but the princess felt his smile on her. A smile devoid of any joy. "I would never think Lash had subordinates so devoted." Serenity jerked. The alicorn was puzzled at first, but then understanding slowly descended upon her. The captain was laughing. "You think he wasn't aware?" "Princess," there was Flashlight's voice in her headphone. "I'm sorry to interrupt you but we have a problem." "Speak, Flashlight," she replied, turning back. "I totally expected it to work," he groused as if making excuses. "Short-circuiting the cables is trivial enough, there is a convenient plug here, and the tape should more or less protect from circuit breakdown..." "Flashlight," Luna sighed. "Stop mumbling. What happened?" "I can't make the armor switch to charging port. Maybe it considers the input to be too weak... I don't know. I can't force it without superuser access." "Flashlight," Luna touched his shoulder softly. With an armored hoof able to crumple plate iron. "You are one of the most gifted mechanics I know. You can't make it? Fine. What else can you do?" "I can... I can..." he scrubbed his helm with his hoof, pondering. "I don't like the alternative. Still, I can patch the systems directly," he explained, feeling the expectant silence of his princess. "Bypassing the charging port. But I need to disconnect the broken power cell for that. This museum stuff has no option to support multiple power sources." "Will it work?" "It will. I'm sure of it. Like, eighty-five percent sure." "What should I do?" Her help, she believed, was mostly token. Perhaps she wasn't aware of something... Still, after she tightened the "donkey" nuts having funny "ears" with her telekinesis, fixing the clamps in place, and Flashlight pulled the rectangular power cell, they both let out a simultaneous sigh of relief. She never noticed she was holding her breath. A shoulder lantern of the suit blinked briefly but didn't die. "We're terribly lucky today," Flashlight concluded in satisfaction, hugging the metal box with a red crystal inside. Then he jumped when a lighting struck somewhere above them. Small shards of stone rained down on them from the rocky ceiling of the grotto. "What the..." A new discharge followed shortly, this one near the exit, lashing on the sand. It was raining boulders now, the alarmed captain reached them in a few leaps, but even he looked unsure about what to do next. "It's the amber," the servicepony blurted out, looking at his box in shock. A new double strike shook their cover that seemed so safe before. "The sensors could lie but the crystal is used up! The cell itself isn't shielded! It attracts the charge!" It was as if Serenity was expecting exactly that. His dark blue silouette appeared near Flashlight. With a single strike the captain kicked the cell out of his unsteady grasp, then threw it in the air and gave it a precise buck. Luna realized only that the cell was flying towards the entrance. The flash blinded them, the shockwave knocking them out of their hooves when it shook the floor. Shadow howled like a buzzer, filling the screens with warning messages. Several big chunks of rock, torn from the ceiling, drummed on their armor. "I'm alive?" Flashlight lifted his hindquarters clumsily, shaking off the settled dust. The explosion threw him against the wall, and he landed in an upturned heap. "Seems like I'm alive. I'm alive!" He stopped and coughed. "I mean, are all of you alive?" Serenity grunted in her headphone. Luna rolled from her back and shook her head. Her assumptions were confirmed by the sight on the screens of her helmet: the armor didn't get much damage. What surprised her was that the thunderbolt, and she was positive that was it, appeared to be completely soundless. Having clumsily hobbled to the guards lying nearby, pony mechanic checked the cables and nodded reassuringly. "It worked," alicorn stated the obvious. "We better move our hooves fast," Flashlight agreed. "Or we will have two dead ponies instead of one. They have a single battery now." Preparations didn't take long. Luna and Serenity were walking at the front now, barely lighting several meters ahead of them with their body lanterns, the mechanic following in the rear. He added the mark of the place where they left the immobillized guards to his navigator on princess' request. Still, it wasn't much of a relief to her. She wasn't that familiar with the two, she also had reasons to question their declared good intentions. Yet they never gave the oath and weren't part of her Guard. This prolonged silence didn't do her much good either. "What was that?" "We catched a bolt." "Flashlight." "Yes, sure. Amber attracts electricity," the servicepony hummed thoughtfully. "Kinda like a magnet. I mean, it doesn't do it all the time. But this cell was nearly empty. Okay, imagine an empty mug that is being submerged in a barrel of water, but not to the rim." "A rough analogy, of course." "Terribly so," Flashlight agreed. "Don't tell my electrotech lecturer. What happens when we suddenly remove the sides of the mug?" "The water.. implodes?" Her companion uh-huhed, reserved. They continued in silence for some time, pushing through the wall of sand. "Fine, but why the explosion?" "I'm not sure, but I have an idea. Stabilized crystals are similar to old chemical accumulators in their properties." "Chemical accumulators are still used to this day," Luna pointed out. "You were stuck in your workshop for too long. Life isn't limited to the latest developments." Flashlight snorted in displeasure. "An accumulator can't be charged instantly," now it was he who broke the silence. "In theory we can speed up the charging by increasing the intensity of the current. But some energy is still lost in the form of heat due to resistance. The more the intensity, the more hot the device gets." "The power cell got overheated, then?" Luna specified, perplexed. "So to speak," Flashlight snorted again. "The crystal's structure was significantly degraded already. If we add a lightning to the mix... I'm no planetologist but if the lightnings here are anything like Equestrian ones, that means hundreds, if not thousands, of amperes." He went silent again, then finally added. "Anyway, that's just an assumption. We use amber for many years, we built our entire technology around it but the eggheads in their labs still didn't figure it out entirely. They never tried to make it explode... or hit it with a lightning." "Should I worry about thunderstorms?" Luna glanced at the mechanic without turning to him. "Exoarmor is shielded by default," Flashlight sighed, exhausted. Then confirmed reluctantly. "Perhaps not as good as their armor, but still it is. If you don't pull the crystal out of the protected zone, the danger of catching a bolt is as real as some straw breaking a mule's back." "That's funny," the princess smiled casually. "There is a saying about this, you know..." She noticed the flash in the corner of her eyes but had no time to react. A flat strike to the chest threw her back, knocking the breath out of her. A princess that turned out to be so fragile.
The Good, The Bad and the Princess	Ten	"The scheme is simple, it consists of two parts only," Dogrose slurped from her mug labeled "Horn-y power" and licked her lips. "First is the state subsidies. It's no secret all of the Yurga shafts are in a near-breakdown shape. The worn-out hardware, the sand drainage collectors, the supporting constructions. It is one of the oldest mining systems that was founded during the first wave of colonization. At the same time one does not simply decommission it. Even formally speaking, you can't get rid of more than a thousand convicts in a day, especially if they are two hours away from the capital." "And informally speaking?" Luna gulped down some coffee and curiously watched at the radiopony. "I have no direct access to these numbers," the pony crunched on a cookie. The second, exactly the same, stopped short of the princess, enveloped in the softly glowing levitation field. "But I suspect that you can dig out two new mines for the money they provide us. The maintenance crew files more breakage and malfunction messages every day, the things got even better with Celekh. She decided to organize the material, and the chief got some very condensed reports. Surely, he never missed the opportunity to use them in his correspondence with the superiors. The amount of subsidies increased..." "Let me guess," Luna stretched her neck and grabbed a cookie with her teeth. Mmm. Chocolate crumbs. "The equipment remained in the same state of disrepair." "If it all gets fixed, one will have great difficulties when defending the budget, right?" Dow waved her hoof like if conducting an invisible orchestra, then winched in disgust. "Obviously Lash has some high-ranking patrons in the capital. He is loyal and controllable... a much more valuable trait than honesty and skills for some ponies." "What's the second part?" "Second, I wasn't aware of before the umbrum appeared here. Now, however, it feels only natural. You see, Yurga mines are not so dried up as they are usually considered to be. There was no deposit re-evaluation but I've seen some numbers on the actual output. Both kinds. The official and..." "...the non-official ones," Luna finished for her habitually. "To think of it, I began to get bored in here. Is there much difference?" "Several times," Dow gulped from her mug again. "No idea where and how does this "extra" go to but if part of it goes to the warehouses of some Equestrian corporations I won't be much surprised. Amber is a valuable resource. Not everyone is that picky to dig its origins." "You're talking contraband," the princess glanced at her, waiting for confirmation. "The law-enforcement-covered-it-up kind," the radio pony nodded. "Please don't call Lash a smuggler. Real smugglers don't use slave labor." "If you know so much why don't you do something about it?" "And what can a mere assigned intern possibly do?" Dogrose asked. She sounded tired, almost without irritation. "Send a paper to the superiors? All I got in return was a polite "thanks" and an unambiguous hint that I will be blacklisted if anything like that is filed again." "I somehow doubt it scared you," Luna assumed. Dow sniffed. "I will not be thrown out of this place if I don't do something completely stupid, and I will be free in about three months. I am impudent enough to consider myself not so greedy as the captain. Any appropriate private company or a corp will be glad to accept a clever pony regardless of any state blacklisting. They can offer more for the work, too. Still, even if I am stupid I'm not that stupid to try the same closed door again and again expecting another outcome. Looking for more options is much wiser." "What about the security staff?" "Most get a share. First of all, the 'experienced ones'," the unicorn sniffed in disgust, letting know about what she thinked of their experience. "The rest are either newbies or have no real voice in decision-making." "The convicts?" Dogrose crunched on a new cookie. "Do you suggest to start a Revolution in One Mine? I believe, princess, that you are slightly misguided about what Yurga truly is. It is a labor camp. A prison. A fancy, convenient, an arguably comfortable one, but a prison still. And any prison is a feudal microcosm of sorts, the Chief of Security being a king of a little Equestria of his own, free to execute or pardon as he pleases." The alicorn grew serious when she remembered the recent search for umbrum. "That leaves you. Civilian specialists." "Yes," the unicorn nodded. "Our hooves are tied by the contract but we are not obliged to execute military orders without question." "It seems we've made full circle," the princess observed. "As a civilian spec you may be able to write a three-volume book on corruption, but if Lash has some high-ranking officials covering him up..." "Precisely," Dow nodded and used her levitation to bring the bag of crunchy cookies to the bed. "Still picking them one at a time, princess? Don't be shy. My treat." Luna mournfully sighed, mentally waving goodbye to her dreams of losing weight. She didn't miss the opportunity to pick another round goodness smelling of cinnamon, cocoa and raisins from the bag, though. "The problem is, once you've started it's hard to stop. A true story, and not just about the cookies. In case you still remember, princess, I combine two positions here." "I remember." The aroma was overwhelming, she had to struggle to keep the thoughts running straight. "A radio operator and... Hold on a second. You're trying to say Lash has issues with keeping up the security?" Dow gave a sweet smile. "You have no idea."
The Good, The Bad and the Princess	Eleven	Gnashing. Not the low-pitch gritting of rusty hinges. On the contrary. Creaking of a glass-cutter, drilling through your braincase like a screw. Leaving the ringing in your ears. Piercing. Angry. Demanding. Luna opened her eyes just in time to see the shield deploying above her head. It was somewhat beautiful. There were no sounds audible behind the storm but she knew it from memory. The click of a plate block extending from the cannon bone. Then the extender blocks slide up and down, to the forearm and the hoof, turning a compact stack into a thin stripe. Then, at last, the "Ironwall". Armor plates shift into position, expanding into rectangular full-height barrier. Flashlight had to kick some jammed segments twice, though; the shield was never designed to operate in the midst of a sand cloud. "Administering adrenaline solution." Two seconds later the alicorn felt a prick in her thigh and jolted. She knew Shadow had no needles whatsoever but still shivered in her shell. Meanwhile the two shields closed up above her, providing a single cover from hostile fire. It seemed Serenity wasn't quite satisfied with the reaction of the pony he was in charge of, but now he was keeping his displeasure to himself. He and Flashlight had other troubles to take care of. The violent wind splashed against their deployed shields, trying if not to take them off then to tear them away with the legs. There were no more shots, and the guards separately decided to lower their rectangular pieces of plate armor, sticking the spikes designed for that on the lower rim in the sand. "How long have I been unconscious?" "Not long. Several seconds," Shadow informed. "Armour integrity not disrupted. Biometry signs are... acceptable. Light haematoma in thorax section. I wasn't fast enough to amortize," there were traces of guilt in her voice. "Forget it." "I recommend..." "Forget it, Shadow," Luna winced. "Some bruises never killed anypony. What was that?" "Weapon not identified." "You are very helpful. Could you determine anything at all?" "Solid full-metal projectile. High stopping power." "So I've heard," the princess sighed, rising up. Liquid energy was spreading through her veins. "I am fine, captain. Let's move on." Serenity gave a tiny nod and started moving, using his shield as support in place of the leg it was fixed on. A step. Place closer. Another step. Move the shield again. Flashlight tried his best not to fall behind him, and their small barrier of iron gradually shifted. It looked like the captain got the direction right, because after a while the shield caught another hit. Their barricade shook but absorbed it. Howling of the storm suppressed any gunshot sounds but this time the princess managed to see the muzzle flash clearly. She pointed the direction with her hoof. "Where did she get a gun? She shouldn't be armed." Serenity just shrugged with his free shoulder in response. Looked like he wasn't interested in such details. He had caught the rhythm, mounted it and now pulled his companion along. Two shields kept moving slowly but surely, almost in unison, closing in on the mouth of the canyon, leaving hoofprints in the sand. The wind of sand itself seemed to weaken here. Their path started sloping downward, two piles of stone rising to the left and right from the shroud of dust. Barely distinguishable, they resembled some queer monsters. Another flash. She caught a sharp, angry plop of gunfire through the armor-filtered noise now. The projectile jabbed at the shield, deforming it, but the armor plate endured it again. Now, though, the princess could see the shooter. Sokolka appeared out of nowhere, merely several meters in front of them. Mecha's frame that looked compact while in the spacious hangar now towered like a threatening dark shape in the middle of sand whirlwinds between two rocks. Yet she could not pick out any weapons. The cannon above Serenity's shoulder jerked weakly but didn't move. He sharply growled in the microphone and caught the handle with his free hoof, tugged it down, and the corbel hesitantly gave way, gritting, rotating the whole barrel length to face the offender. He moved his hindlegs farther, the hooves unsnapping additional support plates to compensate the recoil. "Cease fire," the headphones were instantly filled with noisy humming feedback. Captain's voice was barely recognizable behind the teeth-grit-inducing ferruginous low pitch and palpable affectation typical for integrated verbocoder. "Or be destro-" Roar of a new shot left another dent on the shield, interrupting the guard mid-sentence. If he expected to impress the enemy, his efforts were vain. "Do not return fire," Luna hastily growled, and the captain turned to her, his hoof remaining on the cannon handle hanging over his shoulder. The alicorn silently counted to ten and explained. "I am unharmed. If the shield wasn't affected when this close, the weapon cannot penetrate our armour." Serenity kept silent for a while, then sharply snorted. "Let us pull closer." "It is close enough." The voice. Hoarse, hissing, matching the wind roaring around them and only slightly muffled by armor's frequency filters. Screaming. Gasping. That voice. She realized somewhat late that she used the common channel -- the same Serenity's autotranslator used to send his threat. She had heard this voice once. No, not this one, but the one very similar to it. Sending shivers through her bones, making her cold stomach stiffen. "A word of advice. Do not threaten before proving yourself." The mecha moved, parting with the rock and adjusting its... manipulator? Hand? Leg? Its end had no hoof, nor the fingers akin to these of diamond dogs. Instead there was a large box with a pile of ribbed elevations, cables and a great and powerful... "It's a barrel," she realized in a flash. A two-segment barrel ending in a thick round prop plate with some strange staples protruding from it. With a caliber of a pony leg. Next to a giant like this even the captain's Geyser looked pale in comparison. "Weapon not identified," Shadow repeated, highlighting the assembly with a band in the screen. No wonder. A cannon integrated into the vehicle frame... and unlike anything she saw before. "We are looking for Celekh," she decided. Made a step forward, cautiously showing herself from behind the shield. "One service worker Celekh. The umbrum." Sound of inhaling in her headphones like a grinding sound of a metal brush. "You've found her. Your move?" The vehicle drew closer, moving its legs heavily, impending over them. The cabin windshield rippled, becoming transparent again. And Luna faced her nightmare. She had a chance to inspect a Sokolka back in the hangar during their prolonged tour. Still, now when she had a fully working CRV in front of her, the storm raging above them, it somehow looked bigger. The princess casually put a hoof at captain's shoulder to calm him, moved the shields aside and stepped forward. A mecha towering before her looked bigger indeed, although her conscience reasoned that all the Sokolkas are similar. A massive awkward frame standing on two three-segment supports resembling unproportionately enlarged pony legs. A convex windshield covered most of the cockpit, and there, behind it, hooves on the levers, was its driver. Luna steeled herself for this moment. And yet she felt horribly unprepared when she got to it. The levers of steering rods ended in flat round latches fastened to forehooves. The shadow pony vaguely resembled... a ghost. A skeleton. A usual pony frame, completely flayed, if only to ignore the fact that it was smoking. The entirety of her body, stretched, thin, with long skinny legs and protruding ribcage, was woven of micaceous smoke and dust, flowing in misty trickles disappearing somewhere in the cockpit depths. It was as if she embodied a part of the storm raging above the canyon. And at the same time she didn't belong to it. The storm, however magical, brutal, merciless, was a natural phenomenon. The shadowpony whirled around her axis, never loosening her hold on the levers, reminding once again her body wasn't limited by anatomic constraints, and stretched her long horse-like muzzle adorned with crooked mismatched teeth forward. Two plates of eyes, dripping sickly light, stared at the stranger again. "What's next?" she repeated, shifting her hoof. Sokolka moved her arm sideways, the barrel muzzle pointing at princess' chest. "No need for that," the alicorn shook her head and knocked on her cuirass plate lightly. "It is moonsteel. Designed to withstand direct meteorite hit. Do you really think you can pierce it with your... your... what is it, anyway?" "Assembly Power Hoof," Flashlight cut into their channel. The princess inclined her head questioningly, barely turning, and he hurriedly explained. "It's a construction cannon. It, er, it shoots nails." "Nails?" "The bigger variety." "Oh," the princess smiled, thankful for the glass hiding her expressions. Still, the box that she assumed to be a feeding magazine was quite impressive. "That changes things, obviously." "I should aim for the face then," the shadow pony bared her teeth, raising the mech's arm to point the barrel at Luna's forehead. "Or is it some sort of 'moonglass'?" "You don't even see my face," the princess reproached, stepping closer. "But fret not. You've shown yours. It would be impolite for me not to respond in kind." The canyon gave them some cover from the sand, so the visibility was somewhat better than in the open. At least that's what she was counting on. Her glass, too, rippled from the polarization filter switching off. She imagined looking at herself with foreign eyes. A sleek, smooth, elegant armor suit, her helmet with Y-shaped visor glass. The decorative necklace with her symbol lighted up on her chest, one of the few embellishments she did allow. Shadow caught the hint and even turned on the spine-mounted projectors, the second time for today. Although her spectral mane would probably not look so impressive in this whirlwind of dust. "...Princess Luna?" "The one and only." Shadowpony blinked, grew haggard, hunched up. Even her muzzle seemed to shrink. Not for long, for a moment. "Don't come any closer. I will shoot you." "You know, Celekh..." Luna forced herself to stare at the pony intently, "I envisioned you differently." A screech? A cackle. Umbrum leaned forward abruptly, pressing her face against the windshield. The features of her muzzle got blurred, plate-sized eyes dangerously narrowing. "I can be... many things." Luna barely avoided shuddering. The likeness was... unnerving. Still, it wasn't her. The princess took a deep breath, then breathed out, calming herself. The nature of these nightmares eluded even her so far. It would be much simpler if it was Sombra. His predatory grin and her silent powerless scream inside her shell of stone. Yet is wasn't he she had dreamed of. Not the former ruthless emperor and tyrant of the Crystal Empire. She dreamed of his closest assistant. The grand-vizier. "Lady" Rabia. "You must leave," the shadowpony croaked, shifting her cannon again. "Leave. Now." "Celekh," the princess sighed impatiently. "This nail-thrower can't scratch me. Even when shot in the face." "I can overload the accumulator of this vehicle," the umbrum offered gloomily. "The explosion may not necessarily harm you... Are the suits of your companions made from moonsteel as well? What about the canyon itself?" she puffed hollowly, widening her holes of nostrils. "Leave, princess. Return to your castle." "We will not go back without you," Luna grimly responded. "And you are going to force me how?" Umbrum's round eyes mockingly glimmered. She poked the mech's free arm at the captain who still aimed at her. "Threaten me with this gun?" "This gun will crack your machine..." "...like a tin can," the umbrum cut Flashlight up. "An Ironshod HAPC-4 'Geyser'. I know what it is, my little pony. Do not think I am scared of it." Luna nearly groaned. Of course. To think of it, it was so obvious. "Identify yourself, soldier," she said dryly. "Sergeant Celekh. Repair detachment, company D, 4th Battalion," the shadowpony exhaled before she had a chance to think. "The Fourth Republican?" the puzzled mechanic asked. "Of course the Fourth Republican it is," Luna confirmed, coolly glancing at the driver. "You didn't seriously think Celekh served in the army of the Umbrum Empire now, did you, Flashlight? Whatever could possibly give you this idea?" "Yeah, really," Flashlight mumbled. "Whatever." "You see, we have something in common, Celekh and I..." "You have no idea what you're talking about, princess," the shadowpony hissed. "Do I?" Luna narrowed her eyes. "Captain Lash blabbed about him trying to get rid of you when someone in high ranks got in the way. If we remember for a moment that captain Lash is a military pony, however bad at this he is... Truth be told, there is only one explanation. You're under the same High Command." "You know nothing, princess," her headphones practically oozed poison now, Luna's title almost a profanity. "You are a royal co-ruler of the most powerful state on Equus. The whole planet bears the name of your country. And I am a wretched spawn of the cursed empire. We can have nothing in common." "For a spawn of the cursed empire you are exceptionally overconfident," the princess couldn't stop herself before replying with a jibe in turn. "I was exiled you know. For some thousand years." "Oh really?" the shadowpony rustled with a pale smile. Her rusty voice suddenly grew strong. "...So great was her reign, so brilliant her glory that long was the shadow she cast, which fell dark upon the young sister she loved, and grew only darker as days and nights passed..." Umbrum sang. The princess shivered. It was probably the last thing she expected. There was some perverted, biting, insinuating caress coming through Celekh's expression. And while she herself certainly knew the tune, it was the first time she heard it being sung like that. The shadowpony herself seemed to change as her voice grew stronger. Her legs, the bones clothed in dry sinews, grew meat around them. The face was thawing, melting like candle wax, and for one brief moment Luna almost saw the face of a pony. A haggard, skinny one, with sunken cheeks and smoking fluorescent holes of eyes. "...Soon did that pony take notice that others did not give her sister her due... And neither had she loved her as she deserved; she watched as her sister's unhappiness grew." The spell was gone. The shadowpony bared her crooked teeth. "I know everything of your exile." "'The Tale of Two Sisters'," the alicorn respectfully said. "'Lullaby for a Princess'. I'm impressed." "I may be an umbrum," Celekh's voice once again screeched in her headphone like shards of glass on somepony's teeth. "But that doesn't mean I never studied history... or been to the opera." "So you do know history," Luna agreed. "The official one. The opera approved by the Royal Committee of High Arts. The one that underwent all the corrections and editing. But how about what really happened?" She picked the hatch on her forearm with her nose and opened the slots for memory cards. There was a crystal glowing in one of them, the one she knew all too well. "Do you know what that is?" "A memory ember," the shadow pony moved forward, hanging on the control levers while she inspected the crystal. "An amber with reminiscences inside. But why is it... so..." The alicorn remembered what her "ember" looked like. A small faceted shard of the usual honey yellow. The unusual were the branching ebony rays of needles that pierced the crystal, the rays that belonged to the star, frozen in the middle. There, in the depth two sparks were dancing and circling, a cold of dark purple and a warm of shiny silver. "Because it is mine," Luna simply answered. "And I want you to share it." This time, it seemed, she managed to surprise the pony. Umbrum frowned, flaring her nostrils. "Is this some kind of trick? Don't take me for a fool, princess. One does not leave a stranger's memory so easily." "I said 'share'. I will go with you. We will dive in together and leave together." "This will take hours," the umbrum snorted. "Meanwhile the storm will completely drain our batteries. Do you really wanna die so badly, princess?" "Celekh," Luna shook her head. "Memory recording technology was created in my lab. It is a brainchild of mine, if you wish. And you think I can't rewind the data?" "If captain Lash thinks-" "Captain Lash thinks nothing," Luna cut her off. "If you wish to know he tried to stop me. Forget Lash. This is between you and me. Your move?" She grinned. "This is not something I offer to anyone."
The Good, The Bad and the Princess	Twelve	"Is that true?" umbrum's hideous face recoiled, drawing away from the windshield into the cockpit. The shadowpony watched her with unblinking smoking clouds of widened eyes. "Memory embers cannot be forged. Not yet, anyway." "You know what I'm talking about," shadowpony's features melted like a chunk of butter. "Did you really do this?" "Celekh... My incarnation was called Nightmare Moon. Time might have erased the reasons but still, ponies don't easily throw names like this around." "And you did plunge them into the nightmare?" "Not 'the Nightmare'," Luna corrected. "Creating an all-encompassing dream which is still adapted for each and everypony is an inconceivable feat, even for someone like me. I plunged them into their own nightmares. All at once. All of them. Simultaneously. Small worlds tailored to the minds of their unwitting authors. To think of it," her eyes grew bleary, she managed a sweet dreamy smile, "it wasn't that hard. All it took was pulling the plug." The smoke inside the vehicle cockpit was settling. The monstrous skull-head of the shadowpony shrinked again, resembling a simple earthpony one. "You... you..." She moved with blinding speed. The hooves wrenched lever clutches around the axes and Sokolka rotated its manipulators, grabbing Luna under her forelegs. The princess knew her armor had quite the mass, yet the vehicle raised her like a thistle. The umbrum pushed forward, pressing the pedals, and iron arms crunched the alicorn into the canyon wall. The cabin moved right up to her, Celekh's muzzle hanging in front of her own. "You're a monster. A rabid thing, you sick filthy bitch!" The headphones screeched yet Luna turned her head blindly to where she believed Serenity was standing. "Cease fire!" she roared. Then added quieter. "Sticks and stones, captain. Words are my responsibility. Moreover," she looked at Celekh again. Skinny face looked back at her with luminescent pits of eyes, her nostrils above the clenched teeth blowing out puffs of smoke, "our good Celekh is right. A sick filthy bitch," she recited, as if savoring it. "A worthy, if slightly belated title." She nodded, never drawing her gaze away from her opponent, the windshield still separating them. "Thy mistake of yours is a minor one. I was a monster," she casually smiled, seemingly nostalgic. "I'm better now." "Was?" she managed, for once, to puzzle the umbrum with this. She looked at her, baffled, even the grasp of her manipulators weakening in confusion. "As I was saying, we're birds of a feather in a sense. I'll take a risk and assume we both are in pain. It can come from many places and take many forms, but pain is pain still." "What do you know about it?" Celekh snapped. Instead of an answer the princess enveloped her horn in a soft twilight glow, pulled a small white can with thread lid out of her saddlebag and raised it to the windshield, struggling with the gushes of wind. "Shadow, isolate a channel for me and Celekh. Remember the thing?" Judging from how the shadowpony gave container a sullen look, she did. "You should find a better hiding place, really." "How did you?" "Lash asked for my assistance with the search in your room. Yes, I have been there. No, he doesn't know. If I... maybe I would hide things like these in the same place," she smiled weakly. "The question is, do you know what it is? For how long have you been taking the pills?" "Two months," Celekh muttered at last, looking at the princess with her lifeless eyes. "Are you aware of the side effects?" "Nausea, headaches, tachycardia," shadowpony grumbled. "Nothing fatal." "On the contrary," the princess sighed. "This class of antidepressants actually has a curious principle of work... especially when you are not under medical observation. According to one of the theories, sedative effect is the first to kick in, so it suppresses anxiety and fear. Including the fear of death. I suppose I don't have to explain the threat for patients prone to suicide?" "You didn't look like a suicide pony," Celekh snapped. "Because I directed my pain outwards," Luna agreed. "You, though, carry your pain with you. And it corrodes you from the inside like an alkali. Forgive me if I withold my enthusiasm, but I like your option no better than I like mine." "Would it be better if I murdered Lash?" the shadowpony winced. "Oh, I probably could. All the newspapers would flash around with headlines about an 'umbrum agent killing a war veteran'." "Are newspapers all that bothers you?" Luna clenched the vehicle's manipulators with her hooves. Hanging like this wasn't very comfortable, and when you are pressed against a wall, the wings only impede turning around. "The Frontier was at war... is at war with the Umbrum Empire for several years already, regardless of whether Equestria or the Empire itself acknowledges it. Even if I served in the Repiblican army, appearance is the only thing many ponies see," the umbrum smiled sarcastically. "I have 'enemy' written on my forehead in bold. Even more, one captain of security dying isn't much of a loss. You cut off one head and get two new instead. But if there is an investigation..." "...for example, looking into the death of a civilian worker and vehicle destruction assumingly attributed to gross derelictence of duty..." "Oh, stop it, you. Number Three here is a trusty ol' one," the shadowpony leaned back and rubbed her head against the headrest. "With my modifications its chances to survive this storm are pretty good." "Civilian death it is then," the alicorn sighed. "And this civilian has 'enemy' written on her forehead. Why do you think Lash can't simply cover it all up?" "Dogrose explained the efficiency of reports to supervisors quite well. Covering up a dead body isn't that simple. Even if we're talking about the Frontier." "This plan is stupid." "It's the only one I have," Celekh shrugged, seemingly tired. "An ennobled self-destruction. How nice," the princess snorted. "How about continue living for a while, for a change? I have two bodies not far from here, and I wouldn't mind some help delivering them back to the base... if you don't want to meet afterlife in a company." "Two of your Guard?" "Two of the captain's security team," the princess shook her head. "Tails and cruppers. Lash is quite a stallion," the shadowpony grumbled. "Could he really care I don't make... Wait, 'bodies'?" "One of the exoskeletons had its battery damaged," Luna winced. "Before they left the facility, it seems. We had to reroute energy from the other one, but both guards ended up unconscious. Why?" "Whom did he send after... us?" the umbrum's narrowed eyes glimmered dangerously . "Lieutenant Trowel and private Autumn Leaf. Wait-" Celekh crashed her back into the stone. Looks like the sound of her teeth gritting could be heard even from behind the two-layered glass. "You. You and your bucking generosity, princess," Luna's title was almost a curse on umbrum's lips. "He would never send anypony after me. And your little stroll gave him an opportunity to tie up loose ends." "Explain youself, damn it," Luna spat. "You think..." "I know," the umbrum cut her off, baring crooked teeth. "Those two are doomed. Or at least the lieutenant. Did you ever think about how could I get clearance to leave the facility in the middle of the storm? A clearance with captain's unique digital signature on it?" "Wait. Lieutenant Trowel is the captain's second-in-command..." Luna felt her thoughts running with feverish speed, checking what she just heard against what Dogrose told her. "Exactly," the shadowpony grinned angrily. "Meaning if the captain is plastered senseless... or has an acrobatic appointment with some mares... or is busy accompanying the unexpectedly visiting princess of Equestria..." "Somepony has to sign the documents. And ponies are security's weakest link," Luna echoed, repeating something the blue radio unicorn said a few hours ago. Then added thoughtfully. "Using digital signatures by any other person than its owner is strictly forbidden." Celekh shrugged her free shoulder. "If you start breaking the rules, may as well start breaking them all." "Did Trowel know of the captain's liberties with the budget?" The shadowpony sighed heavily. "Knew? This obliging hell of a bore had his cut in the deal. All the officers are knee-deep in it... senior officers at the very least." "You're talking as if he's already dead," Luna noticed. Celekh did not reply. Still, after a few moments the vehicle drew back, releasing the princess' armor, and the latter crashed heavily at the bottom of the ravine in a rather nonroyal manner. "I will not go back," her voice dully gritted in the headphone. "Those two will die." "Can't you just blink them back to the facility yourself?" the umbrum hoarsely managed. "You're a princess, Tartarus claim you! A fucking alicorn!" "The storms here, it appears, have some very unpleasant side effects," Luna informed, her tone deliberately casual. "Suppressing any teleportation spells, for example. It was a strain enough to levitate them to a cover." There was a drilling grind, heard even through the howls of wind muffled by filters. Some umbrum gritting her teeth, maybe? Luna could not tell for sure. Cockpit of the vehicle was once again a swirling darkness, almost as if the driver decided to hide from foreign eyes behind the smoky veil. "You will be just as guilty in their death... princess." Luna gave only a short nod, acknowledging that. The shadowpony's silence lasted for eternity. Then Sokolka stirred its driving gear with effort, pressing herself closer to the ground. "Climb up," Celekh commanded in general channel, brief and lifeless. "It'll be quicker." "Can you find the way?" the princess inquired, raising herself on the manipulator hanging low. "Will do. Never thought I would need to. Where is that cover of yours?" After Flashlight had sent her the coordinates and she set the return route, Sokolka straightened up. It seemed three exoarmors dangling from it didn't slow it one bit. "Hold tight," the shadowpony advised, pressing levers with both hooves. The vehicle roared, drowning the storm, and surged forward, rowing the sand with its legs. "Did you know, princess?" the umbrum broke the silence first, falling back to their private channel. "Did you know I would choose that?" "No," the princess shook her head, turning to face her. "Knowing is my sister's playground. A stake based on ultimate knowledge ruins the game. I prefer intuition." "And if you wouldn't be lucky?" "Intuition and luck are not one and the same, Celekh," Luna answered. "Yet now my intuition suggests 'tis another question that really troubles you." Umbrum's eyes sank in the dark holes of her skinny pony muzzle. But when she looked back up at the alicorn, Luna saw the light, still lingering inside. "It was all pointless, wasn't it? All that..." the shadowpony grimaced, "adventure?" "It depends, really," Luna countered seriously. "You know, I happen to like that plan of yours. It isn't so bad." "You claimed earlier it was a very stupid plan," the umbrum reminded. "I still do claim that. Yet for a plan to work 'tis not necessarily required to be a clever one." Her neighbour stared at her, confused. Yet Luna noticed more than that. There was a gleam of a different light in Celekh's eyes. A distant yet familiar one. A gleam speaking of hope. The princess did not wait for this light to fade. "Your plan had a good chance of success. It still has. Yet I would like to make some alterations if I may," she shared her modest smile with the umbrum. "As your friendly freelance editor."
The Good, The Bad and the Princess	Aftermath	"Is that all?" Celekh carefully picked up the cup. She still seemed to be digesting the things she saw and didn't rush to share her thoughts on the subject. "Differs from what the textbooks say, but all and all..." "Not exactly," Luna hid her memory ember in the case and clicked the lid shut. "One or two more fragments there. Six Elements of Harmony defeating Nightmare Moon is around the middle of this story." "What was next?" the shadow pony asked, turning her skinny muzzle to the princess in confusion. Luna still couldn't quite get used to the metamorphosis, but began to see the pattern here. The umbrum once again resembled an earthpony. A pony so emaciated that sharp dark strokes of ribs protruded on her smoky chest, her sunken cheeks giving her head a disturbing resemblance of a skull. And yet... She did not possess the monstrous appearance of Rabia. "Why not learn it in your spare time?" the princess shrugged, pushing the oblong case across the table with her hoof. "I find curiosity to be a powerful driving force." "They say curiosity killed the cat you know." "Why do you think a cat has a need of eight more lives?" the alicorn snorted. "Celekh, since we've already decided to be frank here, I suggest not to fall back to formalities. At least for the time being. We're not at the gala, we're in my shuttle." "Still, why not now?" "If the previous argument wasn't enough, here's another one: I have things to do. We do not want to miss the endgame, do we? You will have all the time in the world," she nodded at the case with the crystal lying before the umbrum. "It's a gift." "But how about Y- you?" "Sentimental attachment to such a talisman is surely a cute thing... But it's nothing more than a mould of my memory, Celekh. If I ever need another one, I'll just make a new copy," the alicorn coolly nodded at the ember. "I presume it goes without saying that this information isn't supposed to be shared with everyone." A stallion behind her let out a deliberate cough. "Princess? You wanted to see me?" "Oh, Flashlight. Do come in. Debriefing should not take long." "Is she going to stay here?" the mechanic nodded at the shadowpony. "If you're disturbed by the fact..." Luna grinned. "Sit down. What can you say about the mission?" "If I have the permission to speak freely..." "I would expect nothing less," Luna cut him short. "Never noticed you favoured these cheap military curtsies before. If it is because of Celekh, she was there as well. I don't think you can say something she didn't witness." "Wasn't the risk excessive?" Flashlight seemed to buck down his hesitation at last. "Risking two Night Guard members because of one umbrum... not to say two Yurga guards..." "That's a good one," the alicorn nodded. "Considering subordinates of Lash's, my responsibility for their fate is of indirect variety. Not the biggest part, I dare to say. Concerning you... 'tis a topic I myself wanted to discuss. You gave the oath, Flashlight, didn't you?" The earth pony nodded slowly. "Now you know what can be expected of you. Night Guard's Oath is not a vow of personal loyalty to me. But I have the power to free from it. Since it was your first combat operation, it is tradition for me to inform you of that. Do not be hasty," she warned, seeing that he opened his mouth to protest. "Think about it. I don't rush you with an answer. You have time before our working visit is over." The mechanic slowly nodded once again. Then, seeing that she had finished, he continued. "Thank you, princess. But that wasn't my only concern. Was there no other way to resolve the situation?" "Of course there were," Luna agreed. "I decided this one to be the most acceptable. As I was telling Celekh, I don't play dice. Intuition and blind chance are not the same things. In addition, I can be curious, too," she gave a fleeting smile. "Eternal life has its drawbacks. Eternal boredom is one of them." "You could dig in her head," Flashlight suggested, stroking the end of his beard with his hoof. "Probe just how risky that is." "And would strip her of her free will," the princess nodded eagerly. "Metaphorically speaking, one may call it brain rape. Would you prefer me do that?" "P-probably not," the mechanic looked embarassed. "Just hold on a minute," Celekh interruptted. Her smoking luminescent eye spots shifted gaze from Flashlight to the princess and back. "Could you really look into my head?" "Maybe," the alicorn gave a thin smile. "Could you really blow your vehicle up, killing us with you?" "Maybe," the scowled umbrum grumbled, imitating Luna's voice. "Can you teach me?" the princess asked quickly. Shadow pony stared at her in shock. "Princess! Of all ponies why would you need that?" "Oh, you never know," Luna said slowly, then pulled herself together. "But we digress. Anything else, Flashlight?" "Considering weapons and exoarmor. Generally test results aren't bad but there are a few bottlenecks. Power circuitry needs additional shielding, we have a rather aggressive environment here. Navigation systems may use some improvements here and there. Celekh's little tool has some interesting ideas," he nodded to the umbrum. "We got used to depend on stable network operation and online positioning. Also, our windshields suck in these storms. We'll need to refine the hardening process..." "Spare me the details," the princess winced. "There's a post-report for that." "Flashlight?" umbrum's muzzle seemed to smoke even more now. "Can I ask you a question on your weapons?" "If it doesn't concern the classified data," the earthpony warned, sharing a glance with his princess. Then waved welcome with his hoof. "Hit me." "Why the Geyser?" umbrum chewed on her ghostly lip for a while and added. "Our battalion often used it as a heavy armament it is. It's a good and reliable gun... But even back then it wasn't exactly new." "In other words, why this old piece of crap?" Flashlight snorted. The shadowpony slowly nodded. "Revealing a big secret here. Those folks at Ironshod decided the gunpowder reached its limit. Starting from mark five HAPC model line is made up of railguns." "Errrrr... Er? But railguns are-" "Powered by electricity, yes," Flashlight nodded, then looked at the princess. "It seems Ironshod never supposed their guns would be used outside Equus. Might as well give them a hint they were too hasty with burying the firearms." "We use Gauss rifles, actually," Celekh countered. "And sane commanders don't run military operations in a storm." "Oh really?" Flashlight lifted his brow. "What about operation Sandwall?" Celekh's muzzle beamed with a smirk. "Well, our sanity was a subject of disputes... "Should I leave?" Luna asked innocently. While the two were carried away with conversation, she managed to get some tea and was sipping the hot herbal drink now, regularly glancing at them. Flashlight and Celekh turned to her. Confusion painted on their muzzles was almost identical. "We'll miss the performance." Still holding the cup, she enveloped her horn in magic glow. A remote popped up from the table, and subtle rustle indicated the TV screen coming to life on the wall. "...about it later in this newscast. And now for the fresh piece. Our own Eyecatcher reporting live from Neighport. Catchy?" The camera switched to the tiny earthpony mare standing in the middle of the street in front of a tall building. A huge megalopolis was teeming with midday life behind her, but it was a small crowd gathered at the steps in front of the entrance that attracted attention. "Thanks, Mike. Mister Paperback, Secretary of the Office of the Prosecutor General, made an unexpected statement at the press conference earlier this day. He informed us about the uncovered evidence of wide-scale corruption inside Yurga Drills mining conglomerate executive office. As we got to know, a similar announcement was posted in the official pegacourier account of Penitentiary Central yesterday evening. State correctional system currently manages mines two and four of the Yurga complex. In the previous statement Internal Investigations took credit for uncovering the facts. However just a few minutes ago Mr Paperback refuted this information, practically confirming his department puts no faith into IIS results. He also informed that the case is now officially under jurisdiction of Neighport City Public Prosecutor's office. According to the secretary, investigation was made possible thanks to the vital testimony of lieutenant Trowel, second-in-command to the head of Yurga-2 administration. Lieutenant provided the testimony immediately after the incident that nearly cost him his life. Mr Paperback ensured us that the press service of Public Prosecution will additionally inform us of any new facts found during questioning as soon as the witness recovers from shock." "Catchy, and how wide-scale according to Prosecution this wide-scale corruption really is?" "Wish I could know, Mike. Mr Paperback evaded the question, but according to my sources the entire administration of Yurga-2 division is suspended. Trowel's immediate commanding officer, captain Lash, was taken into custody last night. According to our internal sources in Prosecution, the most possible charges are large-scale theft, gross violation of inmates' rights and Labor Code infringement. In addition, placing lieutenant Trowel under heavy protection makes many ponies, myself included, suspect the Prosecution does not consider the 'incident' to be an accident." "Wait... That Paperback fellow didn't even mention you, princess!" Celekh blurted. Flashlight opened his mouth, then nodded in agreement, never saying a word. "Is that a bad thing?" Luna gave her a sugary smile. "Looks like the yesterday's storm managed to shake some serious constructions after all, contrary to what the Weather Control says," the anchor whistled in the meantime. "Sounds serious. Are there any accused ponies yet?" "Can't say for now, Mike. Press secretary warned against rushing with conclusions here and informed that the names could only be divulged after the preliminary investigation is over. But I was told captain Lash's defence had already made a statement citing severe health problems with the detainee and insisted on his immediate hospitalization. As a reminder, Yurga Drills mining operations are staffed by both convicts from the centralized state penitentiaries and hired employees. Yurga is a company with significant share of the State and one of the primary recipients for state subsidies." "Thank you, Catchy. And now for the other news. Princess Luna's visit which was delayed due to the yesterday's sandstorm..." "That's enough for now I believe." The princess muted the TV and blissfully stretched. Public relations forced her to change the daily schedule she was accustomed to. Still, her body never ceased to remind her about it. "It wasn't like that," the umbrum gloomily said. "I thought you liked the opera," Luna reminded. "Or theatres. Care to hear another story?" Celekh stared at her, seemingly not understanding. "I'll take that as a yes," the princess absent-mindedly watched through the TV screen, resting her chin on the crossed hooves. "The Elements of Harmony also proved to have some curious side effects. Something few ponies know about even today, although if you dig the works of Starswirl the Bearded... Ah, no matter. As it turns out, purifying Nightmare Moon and returning her back to normal was not the only thing the Elements did. They also made her greatest dream come true." "And that is?" now it was Flashlight who asked first. "From now on ponies remembered who helped them in their dreams. The princess shared a bond with her subjects now, even if it wasn't the kind everyone openly talked about. This bond was unlike the bond that connected Celestia and other ponies... She wasn't praised. She was never openly worshiped. She preferred to act from the shadows, not in the broad daylight like her sister. She found certain enjoyment in that." The floor under their hooves shook, the sound of engines warming up reaching them from the outside, muffled by layers of armor. "Sometimes the things you want are not the things you need," the princess said thoughtfully. "I'm no Elements of Harmony... But I like to cause myself and others some small joy every now and then. You were saying you didn't want to return to the mine." The umbrum nodded slowly. "What if I offered you a participation in some curious project... an experiment of sorts, you might say. Oh, 'tis not the project of mine. But I presume it is interesting enough for you to find something for yourself in it." "You're speaking in riddles, princess," Celekh winced. "True," Luna agreed. "Unfortunately we don't have much time. The pilot needs half an hour at most to run the usual system diagnostics. I shall share the details on the way to the best of my ability, but now you need to choose. Are you staying here... or flying with us." "Can I say goodbye?" "Undoubtedly," the alicorn smiled softly and raised from the table. "Please don't be late. And now you must excuse me. There is a couple of things I must settle before we leave." "Princess?" the umbrum called, and Luna stopped in the doorframe. "One last question, if I may. The books say recognition wasn't the only thing you sought. They also say you wished to be the only princess." "To think of it, the Elements weren't content with fulfilling just one wish of mine. There were occasions when I ruled Equestria in place of my sister. Long story short..." Luna smiled weakly. "It wasn't as fun as I thought."
Trixie Gets Slandered for the Last Time.	pre	Margaret dropped a cube in her tea and stirred it, before taking a sip. "So, what does he need to do before he can go on vacation?" Trixie grinned. "It's simple, really. He has to choose which is more important. His life, or yours." She raised an eyebrown in confusion and looked down at her shaking hooves. The tea cup fell from her grasp before she slumped on the couch. Trixie went to check on the door under the staircase. Sure enough, it lead down to a basement and it was full of workout equipment and dusty, brown boxes. She went back upstairs, grabbed Margaret, and dragged her down into the basement. This is just too perfect! Everypony expects them to be gone for a week, and they have a basement too! "Yes, we'll have so much fun with this one. Perhaps it'll be enough to recapture that thrill of my first kill, of Quick Read." Then we can stop, right? If you have a whole week to enjoy it, maybe we can finally go on a date with Donut Joe and live a normal life? "This is our normal life now, Trixie," she said to herself. "I've never felt so great and powerful as I do now." Well, I suppose as long as we're happy, and you're careful. I'd hate to lose our one last friend. "We're protecting Joe as much as everypony else. This newspaper has to die." The voice had fallen silent, and Trixie focused on tying the unconscious mare down to a workout bench. She tied her hooves behind her back in a painfully tight position. Trixie went back upstairs to clean up the living room. Once the tea had been put away, she looked at the clock. In about fifteen minutes Sean would be home and Trixie could kill yet another employee of that accursed news agency. She went upstairs just to be sure the house was empty before he got home. All the doors but one were open. When Trixie opened it, she saw a young filly sleeping in her bed. The room was covered in posters from the Wonderbolts, Daring Do, and Mare-Do-Well. Trixie's eyes went wide as she realized she couldn't kill the ponies downstairs with this filly sleeping here. "I'll need to kill her too," Trixie whispered. She's just a filly, she's not to blame! "Well I can't leave her here. Her parents have to die." So knock her out and make her parents die quickly. "Oh no, I want to enjoy this one." Trixie walked over and pulled out some ropes. She took a piece of linen and made a blindfold, then tied it onto the filly's head. She put the rope in next, gagging the filly and waking her up. As she began to mumble and thrash around, Trixie hogtied her hooves. Leave her alone, please! "Oh, don't worry little filly. I'm not going to hurt you. No, I'm going to give you a gift. I'm going to make the world you grow up in a better place." Trixie left the filly hogtied and gagged in her own bed, pulling the curtains over the window. She then went back downstairs to wait for Sean to get home. She didn't have to wait long before the door opened up and he stepped inside. "Honey, I'm home," he said. Trixie brought down a vase on his head, shattering it and knocking him out. She locked the front door, and dragged him downstairs to join his wife. She tied him on his stomach, spread eagle on his treadmill. He could see his wife from this position, and Trixie cast the spells to soundproof the room. Once this was done, she gagged him and slapped him to wake him up. After a few minutes and hitting him a dozen times, he finally began to wake up. "Sean, you know who I am?" Trixie asked. He looked up at her, and tugged at his bonds. A light suddenly went on in his head and he realized this was the killer who had been stalking the newspaper employees. He nodded his head slightly. "Then you know why you're here. I'm going to remove the gag. Be civil, and I may make your death quick and spare your filly." Trixie pulled the gag out. "Please not my wife or child!" "What do you do for Equestrian News?" Trixie asked. "I won't tell anypony just let them go!" Trixie slammed a hoof on his wife's ribcage. She squealed in pain and thrashed against her bindings. "Stop! I'm a manager, the editor in chief! I approve all the stories in the paper!" Trixie grinned. "So, you approve of slandering me? Of spreading lies about honest ponies?" "Of course not! I approve of stories with good grammar and punctuation! I'm not responsible for the content!" Trixie levitated out a knife and waved it around in the air. "Oh, so you only care about if a story is grammatically correct you don't care if it's factually accurate. That makes this so much easier." "What is easier? Please, I didn't write any of those stories!" "No, but you let them be published. So tell me, and speak up so your wife can hear, which one of you do I kill? That's right. I'm going to kill one of you, and spare one of you. Tell me, do you really want me to free your wife and torture you for hours in her place?" Trixie asked. Sean gulped and looked at his wife. She was writhing around on the bench she was tied to, and couldn't see him or speak. He glanced at the knife, and saw several other unidentifiable objects sprawled on the floor next to Trixie. His conviction wavered. "Her, kill her, just let me go!" Sean pleaded. Trixie laughed at her victory. "See, Margaret? Your husband is just as horrible as the newspaper. Now, I'm going to kill you, Margaret, just like your husband asked me to." She thrashed on the bench as Trixie gagged Sean again. He was yelling and mumbling, though if he had changed his mind it was too late. Trixie turned the treadmill on to low, so that Sean wouldn't feel left out while she killed his wife. With him tied down over it, the belt on the treadmill began to tear at his skin and burn from the friction. Sean wiggled around trying to hold himself off the belt, but couldn't. Trixie adjusted the ropes to ensure he had to stay facing forward towards his wife. Sean could feel a burning down his chest, abdomen, and penis. The pain was unbearable, and his hair did little to cushion his skin from the abrasive rubbing. No matter how much he squirmed, the burning got worse as his skin was slowly burnt off by the friction of the rubber belt. Trixie spun the knife around in the air. "For my first trick, I'm going to make this knife disappear!" She caused a small explosion of fireworks in the basement. Using the momentary distraction, she jammed the knife straight into Margaret's pussy, slicing it in two. Screams filled the basement as she thrashed about in her bonds and blood dripped to the floor. "Look at that, Sean! A single blow, and it'll take her an hour to bleed out. Slow, painful, inevitable. . . just like your death, Sean. I wonder how long it'd take that treadmill to sand down all the way to your heart?" Trixie asked. Sean thrashed and tried to reach out to his wife. She was breathing rapidly and flailing as she bled out. "For my next trick, I'll sterilize your wounds!" Trixie pulled out a bottle of rubbing alcohol and began pouring it on the treadmill. The deep wounds on Sean's chest and stomach screamed in agony, the burning increasing tenfold. The alcohol was making its way into the wounds as his flesh was peeled off by the treadmill. His loudest screams of agony were easily absorbed by the thick walls of the basement and Trixie's magic. "You know what would make this more fun? An audience!" You don't have to hurt her. Just make it an act. Trixie trotted upstairs and grabbed the filly who had been hogtied in bed. She levitated her downstairs and set her in a chair by the wall. Sean renewed his struggles when he saw his daughter sitting there. Trixie came over and turned the treadmill off. She then went and removed the knife from Margaret, stuffing a towel in between her legs and tying it in place. It wouldn't save her life, but it'd cause her death to take a few more hours. She then took the gag out of Sean's mouth. "So, Sean, tell your daughter why I'm going to kill her parents." "Because you're a fucking psycho!" Sean screamed. Trixie levitated a hammer out and hit their filly in the chest. She squealed out in pain, unable to see the horrors around her. "Wrong!" Trixie yelled. "Tell her how you lie for a living, how you're a horrible pony, or I'll kill her!" "You're the only horrible pony here! I love you, Peach, daddy loves you," Sean said. Trixie hit the filly again, and there was a loud cracking sound as a rib snapped. Easy, you're hurting her! "Of course I'm hurting her! She'll grow up to be just like her parents, and besides, it's fun!" Trixie cackled as she turned back to Sean. "Mad? Psycho? You haven't begun to see what I can do. Now. Tell. Her." Sean collapsed on the treadmill in defeat. "P-peach, daddy is a bad pony. He--daddy needs to go away for a long t-time. I l-love you, Peach." Trixie smiled. "There, that's better. Now, if you agree to let me kill her, I'll let you go." "I won't fall for that again!" Sean shouted. "You said you'd let me go if I told you to kill my wife!" Trixie laughed in triumph. "Yes, Peach, hear that? Daddy just admitted he told me to kill your mommy so that he could live. Your daddy is a liar and a coward." Trixie put the gag back in Sean's mouth before moving over to whisper in Peach's ear. She made sure it was loud enough Sean could hear. "In fact, your daddy already agreed that I could kill you too if I let him go. Why don't we leave your daddy here to suffer for being a bad pony." Sean screamed as Trixie levitated his daughter towards the door. "Don't worry, Sean, I'm not done with you two. You did just tell everypony you know you were going on vacation for a week. That means I have six more days to make you regret being born. Until then, I'll let you stew down here as I torture your daughter to death." Trixie walked up the stairs and closed the door. She could hear Sean struggling, and even Margaret seemed to have a little life left in her. Once she got upstairs, she headed for Peach's room. Trixie went into the room and lay the whimpering filly on the bed. She's so scared. "I know, I'm sorry little filly, your daddy was very naughty. I needed to punish him," Trixie explained. She leaned over and lit up her horn. The large blue bruise on Peach's side started to heal. Trixie pulled out a piece of wood she had used sleight of hand to put behind Peach. When she had hit her with the hammer, she had cracked the wood to make her father think she was killing his daughter. "It's okay, Peach, I wouldn't hurt a filly. You'll be a good filly, you'll never be evil like your parents. That's why I'm going to take care of you until this is all over. You can tell the Princess how nice I am when she asks." What if she tells the Princess who you are? "She doesn't know who I am, isn't that right?" Trixie asked. Peach whimpered and shook her head no. She had light yellow fur and a light pink mane, exactly like a peach would. "Good filly. I know it's not your fault. Here, why don't I help you fall to sleep." Trixie loosened the ropes and the gag a little. She then brought in some water and helped the filly get a drink. The last thing she did was sing a lullaby until the filly had cried herself to sleep. Trixie covered her in the blanket and looked at the clock. She had her date with Donut Joe in less than an hour. Trixie decided to go enjoy a relaxing night, and return in the morning to continue punishing Sean. Trixie woke up the next morning and hurried towards Sean's house. Her date with Joe had consisted of a nice dinner and a promise to do it again sometime. She wasn't about to invite him over to her apartment while it looked like a hydra had taken a dump in a swamp and poured it into her living room. Perhaps once she cleaned the place up she could invite him over for hot coffee. When she arrived at Sean's house she found it exactly like she had left it. There weren't any ponies out this early in the morning and Trixie used the key to let herself into the house. She hurried upstairs to check on Peach. She was snoring softly and sleeping in the bed. Trixie took a moment to untie her legs, and tie her forehooves to the headboard. This would allow her to stretch a little more and be more comfortable. The filly slept through it all, yawning softly as Trixie left. Downstairs, Sean was passed out on the treadmill. Trixie checked his stomach and saw fresh scabs running down it's entire length. She grinned, noticing that several patches of scabs and hair were matted to the treadmill's belt. Trixie turned the treadmill back on and was rewarded by his sudden screaming and thrashing, only to recall where he was. As the treadmill slowly peeled away the scabs and his skin, Trixie went to check on his wife. She was breathing weekly and the towel between her legs had soaked through with blood. Margaret would likely die soon, so Trixie decided to make sure Sean got a good show. Trixie levitated a knife out and cut off Margaret's ear. She whined softly but made no movement. "You know, Sean, your wife doesn't look so good." Trixie tossed the ear onto the treadmill in front of him, and watched as it was pulled under him. Sean looked on in horror as Trixie cut off the other ear, then her two nipples, and then sliced off her lips. One by one she carved pieces of his wife off and tossed them on the treadmill, laughing the whole time. "Isn't this wonderful, Sean? Not only do I get to kill you, I get to make you watch me kill her!" Margaret squealed and stopped breathing as Trixie plunged the knife into her stomach. She began to rip out her intestines and toss them on the treadmill, turning Sean's coat into a bloody mess. Trixie covered him in his wife's entrails as the treadmill continued to burn away his flesh. "So, Sean, I hardly slept last night trying to think of the best way to kill you, and you know what I thought of?" Sean was whimpering and crying as he closed his eyes to hide from the horror. "That's right! It's an old medieval torture device, used before the fall of Nightmare Moon. The Griffon's call it the Pear. I know it's not a peach, but I still thought it was close enough to be ironic. I had to whip something up on short notice, but it should have the same effect." Sean heard Trixie behind him but couldn't turn far enough to see her. He suddenly felt a cold, blunt metal object force itself against his asshole. With the treadmill eating away at him he didn't have the strength to resist. A pointed prong entered his ass, followed by a large metal object. He screamed into his gag as he felt his ass tearing from the large, dry invader. Once it was fully inserted, he began to whimper and catch his breath. "I can see why the Griffon's enjoyed them so much. That wasn't even the best part, want to know what was?" Trixie asked. She rotated the bolt on the end of the pear, and began to spread the three pieces of metal apart. The once solid object flowered open inside his rectum. Sean screamed as he felt the device grow larger inside him. The three prongs spread out, tearing and shredding his insides. He began to urinate from the pressure on the treadmill, and his penis began to get burnt from the friction of the belt. He could feel warm fluid pouring out of his ass along with a foul odor as the onion was spread even wider apart. "Hmm, that's as wide as it goes. I mean, it's probably lethal but I'd hope for more pain. . . perhaps if I remove it while fully expanded?" Sean's eyes went wide in horror as the device was pulled out by Trixie's magic. He passed out as it tore it's way free. Trixie tossed the bloody implement aside and grabbed an epi pen she had bought from a local pharmacy. Though meant for allergies, this easily obtained item would help keep him from dying before the best part. Sean began to regain consciousness as his heart raced. He realized all the nerves in his skin had long since been killed, as he couldn't feel the conveyor belt against his chest or abdomen anymore. It still burnt his legs and penis, which he had done his best to kept lifted off the belt. He could smell the burnt flesh, feces, and slightly copper odor of his bodily fluids. He felt something pinching into his knee. Sean turned and saw two pieces of wood with jagged teeth and two long screws and bolts. "It's amazing what I can whip up from a little folk lore and a trip to a hardware store, isn't it?" Trixie asked. "This is the knee splitter. Basically, it'll destroy any joint trapped between it! Elbow, knee, shoulder, oh and aren't we lucky us ponies have so many joints?" Sean slumped his head on the treadmill in defeat, letting the burning sensation of his left cheek being peeled off dull the pain of his right foreleg. Trixie tightened the device, severing the tendons and popping the join apart. He could no longer move any part of the bound leg, nor did he want to. Trixie frowned. "Hmm, it isn't much fun if you quit now. Perhaps I should leave you here for another day to think about what you've done." Sean struggled and flailed, desperate for an end to the suffering. "Oh, so you don't want that? Then that's what I'll do. I'll leave you here with the treadmill and return tomorrow to see if you're still alive." Trixie gathered up her tools and began to clean up the basement. She spent an hour cleaning and scouring the basement to ensure she left no evidence behind. Once she was satisfied, she trotted out of the basement. She had decided to leave him to his fate at the hands of blood loss, infection, and the treadmill. Trixie had grown tired of this silly earth pony and his family. Still, she had a problem upstairs she wasn't sure how to deal with. Trixie trotted into Peach's room to see her curled up as best she could under the covers, with her forehooves tied above her head. We can't just leave her, no one will come to check on her for a week. "Peach, nopony will know what happened for a week, I'm going to have to leave you here. I'll stop by to feed you every day, okay?" Peach whimpered into her rope gag, and Trixie tucked the covers in around her. Look how scared she is, we need to do something. "I can't do anything yet!" Why don't we tie her up back at our apartment? "We need to leave her here for the authorities to find." She lost her parents, she's an orphan now. Trixie sighed. "Peach, maybe I should kill you too. It's better than being an orphan." Peach squealed as Trixie touched her. Look at the burns from the ropes already, how they've cut into her legs. Are you really gonna leave her like this a whole week? "Ugh, fine. Look, Peach, if I promise to take you home with me and take good care of you, will you be a good filly?" Trixie asked. Peach froze in terror and held her breath. "Peach, your parents are dead. I can leave you here, tied to this bed, or you can come live with me for the rest of the week. Then, I'll come leave you here for the police to find. Which will it be?" Trixie pulled her gag out. Peach mumbled a few words before speaking up. "Please don't hurt me, don't leave me all alone." Trixie hugged the filly. "Shh, I won't hurt you. Come on, I'm going to tie you up and put you in my saddlebag. Then we'll go to my house and I'll get you a dozen donuts. Would you like that?" "Y-yes," Peach said. Trixie fastened the gag and quickly hogtied her before stuffing Peach into her saddlebag. She then checked over the house one last time before leaving and locking the door behind her. Trixie smiled as she left Sean to his fate of being slowly killed by the treadmill.
The Return of Darkness	pre	I groaned in boredom as I finished copying another scroll and storing it in my Hammerspace. I spent the last couple of days, copying maps, reports and weak spots for the fort. In total, I have a few thousand pages of material that will be essential for the inevitable fall of Equestria. Thank Luna that what I needed from the fort was all in one room in the fort and not scattered around the city. All I needed was the weak points for the walls, which were the flamethrower holes in the walls. One good explosion in one is enough to cause that section of wall to crumble like a Jenga tower. Aside from those plans, I needed the info for how many guards in service. Apparently, there is around five-hundred-twenty-thousand and forty-six in total. The vast majority is earth ponies while the minority is unicorns. Pegasi and Thestrals are in between. I didn't find any diamond dogs, minotaurs, dragons or griffins in the army count. I bet they aren't allowed because Celestia wouldn't like to train the non-ponies to gain an advantage over them. I don't blame her for thinking like that, one of those races was created for the soul purpose for putting Celestia's head on a stake. Aside from copying everything in the information store room, I copied all the advancements that were being done in the lab, which weren't really that important other than this one guy making a tesla coil with a couple of gems and a lightning enchantment. The rest was things that I already knew how to make. There were a few times where I was almost caught in the information store room, each time was the same pony glaring into the empty room as I hid in a vent with my shadow cloak activated. The pony even looked into the vent I was in with a glare that would make Hades proud, but he didn't find nothing and cursed the living hell as he left the room. Talk about an eventful week. When I wasn't snooping around, I had High Voltage acquire some items for me. Most of the items were empty books and magic ink so I can do an experiment. After I finished the experiment, I was going to fake my death and move on to the old border. I sat on the cot in the corner of the room with an empty book with a simple, brown binding on it in front of me. Beside the book was a pot of glowing blue ink and a simple quill with a silver tip inside it. I had an idea after looking at a scroll that said that it was possible to imbue a book with premade spells and use said book later. It was an experimental premise that was being studied by a mare called; Sunset Shimmer, a few decades ago before she was sealed inside a mirror. I thought it was a good idea to try and do as a just in case I ran out of mana while in combat or in an area where magic is rendered useless. Having a spell book at my side was a good idea before I left for the border. If necessary, I could activate it and use it to teleport or enhance my spend without having to use my internal stores in a pinch during my escape. Thus, I tested it out with one word first before I started writing paragraphs. Volt watched in curiosity as I lifted the quill that was dripping glowing blue ink. In just a few days, Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends were going to be here to visit her Brother who was currently stationed here along with Princess Cadence. Thank Luna that they don't come into the Lab, or care about the information storage room, otherwise, I might have been dead right then and there, but that safety won't last when Twilight arrives. Volt said that she already has a pass to view the Lab and the researchers, which means I have to get out of here and fast. I thought of the first word that I would use. It was a simple, all-around healing spell that could only fix scratches or bruises. Once I finished writing the spell into the book, I closed the cover and etched in a rune into the face that would allow me to access the spells held within the book. Happy with the way it turned out. I cut myself with a claw and touched the book and focus my mana on moving in all directions of my body, rather than have it focused solely in my wings. To my utter surprise, the spell worked! The cut was gone, but when I looked in the book where the word was. I found that it was gone as well as a small portion of my mana. Excited that this worked and made my Latin magic five times more efficient that say it out loud. I went to work on a bunch of spells that I know I would use in the weeks to come. Twilight and her friends were just getting off at the port just outside of the massive fortress that was known as Trottingham. Twilight was absolutely ecstatic that her brother invited her and her friends to come and see the marvel of pony engineering as well as to check out the Lab that was responsible for the advancements in Equestria. Here; the train, airships and so much more that was invented by some of the most brilliant minds in the world! She jumped with joy when she got the letter in the mail and immediately told her friends about it. Rainbow Dash, was the most excited to come to the city as it was the place where the Wonderbolts trained for their military position that didn't coincide with their stunt show. Once Rainbow was finished at the academy, she will be coming here to train like a true Wonderbolt! The train ride, followed by the boat ride was filled with merriment as they talked about what they wanted to do once they got there. Rarity obviously wanted to check out the fashion, while Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy wanted to see the local animals. AppleJack and Rainbowdash wanted to check out the recruitment center while Twilight wanted to check out the Lab. They all made an agreement to come back to their hotel by evening to tell each other what they learned! I wiped my sweating brow as I finished the last of the spells that I have written into the book. I was quite proud that I managed to stuff in two-thousand five hundred and fifty-five spells into the book. Each time I wrote in a spell the book would morph a little, by the time I was done writing in the book. The book looked completely different now; the original binding was now black instead of brown, the face had silver, tribal markings surrounding the activation rune and the back had a crescent moon with a star in the center. It was the exact same marking that used to be on my chest. I looked outside to see that it was midday with the sun at its zenith. I saw that there was some commotion going on by the main gate and decided to see what was what. There was a few guards as well as Captain Shinning armor himself along with Cadence at his side. I saw the gate open and what came through was not apart of the plan! Twilight fucking Sparkle and company were one week early from their original arrival making me reel back in annoyance that I was going to have to get out of dodge in the next few hours without activating any alarms. I closed my new book that I named Angelus and packed up all my things into my Hammerspace. I grabbed the five scrolls and placed them on the desk next to the box and erased everything that I have done here while Volt helped clean up. I made extra sure to make me look like I was the key to uncovering the secrets of the scrolls, however, I made sure that the six letters that I chose to fake the translations which should make it impossible to finish my work without me. As I finished my run and burn, I hear a knock on the door. I quickly told Volt to put on the act and waited to see who was giving us a visit. The door opened to my growing worry and Twilight Sparkle walked right in. She instantly saw me and narrowed her eyes in my direction, like I was something that shouldn't be alive in this world. "Ah! Hello, there your Highness," Volt bowed. "I take it that you are here to absorb yourself in my work?" Twilight shook her head and directed her attention to Volt with a much friendlier smile. "Y-Yes, that is why am I here!" she chirped. "But I have to ask right off the bat. Why is that Griffin in your lab?" she hissed at the word 'Griffin' as she points a hoof at me. "That there is my assistant. He is currently helping me out on a few scrolls that Princess Celestia had sent me to decipher. He is absolutely brilliant! Winter here has managed to translate six characters from scrolls that predate the Unicornian Kingdom!" He cheered, causing the mare to narrow her eyes with a twitch in rage. "Here, let me show you." He grabbed the scrolls and my notes and showed them to the princess. I watched as her utter rage began to grow more and more as she views my fake notes and scrolls. Her eyes were pinpricks that let loose a twitch every now again. She pulled out three more scrolls from her personal hammerspace and began to compare them with Volts scrolls. Just as I was about to go get a snack, I heard Volt pipe up. "Your scroll's written style is exactly the same. Maybe if you let Winter look over them for a moment then Winter might be able to discover a few more characters to uncover this mystery," Volt smiled. Twilight didn't hide her absolute disgust to that request. "How can that little runt touch such ancient texts with claws that could destroy them!" she shouted. "Because he is smart and very clever, and since he was in my employ. He has given me a better outlook on the Griffin race," he frowned at the Princess of CDO. "Alright, fine, but I doubt he could figure out any more than what I already have," she said and handed me the three scrolls. 'Well, if they are similar to the others. I might as well read them and plan out my suicide.' I carefully grabbed the scrolls carefully while Twilight practically tried to kill me with her gaze. I opened the three scrolls and read the top three numbers that showed the date and read the one with the earliest date. Entry 314 Date: december 21st, 516. Today was Princess Luna's 14th birthday, it was also the day that she earned her cutie mark. I, King Mark Borne, celebrated this day along with my fellow Griffins with glee. I, as well as her best friends; SnowDrop and Princess Victoria of the Russian Communist Kingdom, were there with her family at Platinum Castle for this momentous occasion, but not everyone was happy. I, as well as my guard, were there to protect Luna from the sun tyrant. Tia put on a fake smile that hid her cold, hard gaze from the rest of us. At 18, she was already gaining respect for her ability to move the sun without breaking a sweat, whereas 24 unicorns used to do it in shifts. The young stallion that goes by the name of Starswirl can also see the malicious intent behind her eyes. We both had a brief conversation about what she was planning while I made sure to leave Discord out of it. We both knew she was plotting something, but we can't put a finger on it quite yet. At least by the end of the day, Lulu was happy with her new, Griffin-sized wolf teddy bear. She did a spell to animated it and road it around the castle with the cutest smile that caused mass fainting around the palace. I only hope we can keep he smiling as bright and beau as her night sky. "Well, what do you think Griffin?" Twilight seethed. Volt shot her an incredulous stare. I smiled at her, with the thought that I was going to use her as my murderer. "I figured out two more letters Lady Twilight. Master Volt, can you hand me a quill and parchment so I can write them down?" He quickly handed me my fake notes and I added more lies to them while Sparkle was vibrating with pure malicious intent. "How many more do you think you will be able to decipher?" Volt asked. I rubbed my chin, "These scrolls have a few keys in their structure. I think I might be able to find more in the other two. Give me a second," I said, opening up the other scroll. Entry 404 scroll not found... Sorry, old dad joke. Date: June 21st, 526. I can't believe what I just witnessed! Celestia, how dare you use black magic on Luna! On your own sister for fuck sakes! Today was the mark of the first Summer Sun Celebration, it was also Tia's birthday. Luna was depressed and alone in her room with only SnowDrop to give her comfort for her neglect. Tia had a huge following while Luna had very few. All she wanted was some adoration for the beautiful nights she makes, for the dreams she weaves, but her sister was taking all the spotlight while Luna...The wonderfully humble, yet naive princess cries for some sort of acknowledgment for the canvas that is her night. She wept in her sister's shadow long enough and as a result...Queen Victoria encouraged her to take a stand and that result? She was struck down at the Temple of Light at the top of Canterlot Mountain with a beam of dark magic that turned her into Nightmare Moon. The Thestrals of the Lunacordia fled back to the southern mountains of our continent while Nightmare fled south with her pony followers to take arms against the Sun tyrant. The twelve kings, as well as the regrouping Thestrals, are preparing for war, this is what my father had warned us about. And we all didn't see it coming despite being told decades in advanced. We will figure out how to purify her. The elements should work as her condition isn't as bad as; Groger, Discord, Sombra, or Raven Blackwing. But finding potential bearers will take a while, and time is not on our side. I practically almost killed everyone in the room after reading that scroll. Volt and Twilight stepped back from the pure rage that I was emitting as my claws threatened to rip apart the piece of paper in my hands. "Calm down Winter, what did you learn?" Volt said warmly. I slowed my breathing and tossed the scroll aside. "Enough to know that I have another character that would allow me to read some of the words and what I found was disturbing," I said adding another lie to my scroll of lies. "What were those words?" Twilight asked. I sighed, making another lie to throw her off. "Death, to, the sun, long, live, Sombra. Long, live, the, slave, king." This caused Twilight to and Volt to real back in surprise. In actuality, I made sure it was out of order so that when Twilight read it. It would say, 'Death to Sombra. Long live the Sun, long live the slave King.' "What?" Volt blinked. "Read the last one, maybe you can add another character to make it clearer," Volt ordered. Twilight just blinked, trying to formulate a response to what I said, while I read the next one. Entry 626 Date: 533 October 31st. It's a sad day today. The Thestrals, Griffins, Minotaurs, Zebras and the Loyalist run for the hills as the sun tyrant gloats over her victory today. I can see in the sky, on the moon is a mare, which means Luna lost and 1000 years of so called, 'Harmony' begins. The loyalists ran to the frontier...or what was left of them. Celestia won't dare to go down there as it was a place where dragons ruled...or so she thinks. The Black Knights cleared out that southern continent to start a colony for the Lunar Republicans. Which was a boon for our resistance. The Thestrals have closed off their borders into Lunacordia and I, and the Twelve Kings stand at the ready for retaliation of the sun bitch. Luna, if you can hear me. I'm sorry that we were too late. I am sorry. I frowned at the last paper as I went through the last notes of how I was going to fake my death in my head. I was frustrated that the sheer numbers of warriors lost to Celestia. If they were to push forward after Luna fell, then they could have won. They could have sent the Sun Tyrant running for the hills, but yet? Luna fell to a corrupt weapon that was meant to bring peace to the land. I bet Discord lost on purpose to aid the next generation in the future. I wondered who was Raven Blackwing? I wondered how in hell Princess Celestia could use dark magic without being taken by its embrace? More questions for later I suppose. I placed the scroll down and finished my scroll of lies. I told them what I thought about the scrolls and how I could finish translating them if I had more while I prepped a golem spell in my hammerspace. I made sure the golem would have my magic signature to make sure that no one could make it look like it was a fake while Twilight and Volt argued that I was smarter than the CDO book freak. I gave a yawn and prepped my servant spell and aimed it at Twilight to begin my escape.
The Return of Darkness	Chapter 10. Escape from Fort Knox 2.0!	Twilight Sparkle sat in front of a dead body of a familiar Griffin in front of her on top of the roof of the Lab. Before she could make sense of what was going on, the sound of the Labs Siren went off and a shouting ponies in golden armor came into view. Just as she was about to go investigate what was going on, she was tackled to the ground and a yellow pony began shouting at her with Shinning armor right beside him. She couldn't make any sense of what was going on around her until her brother shoved a piece of paper in her face. She looked at it in utter confusion. It was in her hoof-writing, but the message was something she couldn't put her head around. Why would she erase her memory of an act that she didn't do? Why would she use a spell that only works on her and her friends? Why is there blood on her hooves? So many questions enveloped her mind just as High Voltage began demanding for reparations for his loss. "I demand payment for the only pony in Equestria that was capable of uncovering the secrets of scrolls over three thousand years old!" Volt shouted. "Do you have any idea how valuable that Tom was?! He was worth millions of bits! Millions! Do you know how pissed Fancy Pants will be when he finds out that his investment was killed? Well...Do you!" Volt seethed at Twilight. She shrunk back from his gaze as Shining did a few spells to make sure that this wasn't fake, but the expression was leaning towards that his own sister killed a mere child for a reason, he will never know, but judging from Volts shouting. The Griffin could do something that Twilight couldn't and her perfectionist attitude got in the way. "Why would she do this?" Shining asked Volt. Volt snorted in disgust. "Because my assistant managed to translate an old scroll that the young princess here couldn't. I could feel the utter hate to the young Griffin pouring out of her like a raging river. I bet her hate for Griffins drove her to kill him so that she could take all the credit. And she did it in a way where she can't be charged with the crime." Volt pointed at Twilight. "Get her out of my Lab, she is not allowed back unless she is accompanied by Princess Celestia herself," Volt hissed. "Now then, if you will excuse me. I got to make a trip to Canterlot to tell Fancy that our prize has been ruined." "BBBFF, I didn't do anything, I swear!" Twilight begged. Shining just gave her a disappointed gaze. "I checked to see if this wasn't faked with spells that Celestia taught me herself. I am sorry Twilight, but you did do this. Sergent, Corporal. Take her to the dungeon for the destruction of High-valued Property." "Yes Sir," the guards Saluted. Twilight Slumped her head in shame as she was dragged to the prison. I recovered from the teleport that I got Twilight to use on me before I set the plan in motion. I got her to teleport me to the eastern beach of the Old Kingdom. It was a simple, blind teleport that I knew she could do without a problem, but the problem was how disorientating the spell was on the send-y. I shook myself to get rid of the sand the was in my fur and took a look around. If I remembered correctly from what I learned from Twilight Sparkle, Griffinstone was the only town where Griffins are free to do as they please, but it was a town of poverty. That word didn't sit well with me, I feel like I had first-hand experience with it, but now is not to look back in my life to confirm my discomfort. I pulled out a map of the land and saw the location that I was going to. It was roughly a four-day walk to the town...From the station, which is on the other side of a small mountain range. It was a six-day walk if I wasn't to go that route, which was fine with me. I needed some time to myself to figure out something that has been bugging my mind. Some days, I feel like I was missing something, something important, yet, no matter how much I searched for it. I couldn't quite find it, but I knew it had something to do with my mind. I was hesitant to use magic on the subject, but if I meditate, which caused me great joy just thinking about it. I might be able to find a clue to figure out what was missing. Putting that thought aside for later. I closed up the map and placed it into my hammerspace. I did a quick stretch with my wings, then jumped into the air and went south along the beach to Griffinstone. I flew until evening without stop. I needed to get as far as I could and quickly away from the island fort. I didn't want to find out that my false murder didn't work. I managed to fly two days worth of walking in just a few hours while following the mountain breeze. This was a great help as it gave me a huge head start if a group of guards was on the chase. I landed in a small clearing in the forest that bordered the mountain range and the beach. I did a quick look around and found a small cave to make a temporary camp for the night. I pulled out a small, fur bedroll from my hammerspace and pulled out my new knife so that I can hunt for some fresh game. As much as I loved premade food, nothing beats; fresh, bloody, rabbit. which was a thought that didn't make sense to me, as I don't remember when I had a rabbit in the first place. I left my cave after collecting some firewood. The sun was setting, the cold mountain breeze was ruffling my fur and the feeling of dirt beneath my paws was rather soothing. With my knife over my shoulder, I let my body take over in a way that felt alien. I crawled low to the ground, making sure that I was downwind. I used my wings to glide over the ground in such a way, that I was silent. I weaved through the underbrush like the perfect predator and found my prey within a few seconds. I saw a rabbit, a big brown rabbit with horns. A jackalope. The mutant didn't smell me as I was downwind. I crawled silently, keeping him in my vision. He didn't see me, slowly crawl up from behind like a shadow, but without that spell. I tensed up my haunches, ready to make a pounce. I licked my lips, ready to bit down on his plump neck and taste the blood of a fresh kill. My heart raced as I count to three. 'One, Two, Three!' I shouted internally as I pounced. I bit down on his neck and whipped my neck, snapping his neck, cleanly and without damaging his fur. The rabbit couldn't struggle, couldn't run away. I walked back to the cave with my dinner with a strange fire in my heart and a rabbit dangling from my jaws. Gilda watched from a distance with her friend Gloria as a little Griffin with a black bandana around his neck pounced on their hunt like a wolf. They watched in horror as the little Griffin snapped his neck so fast that the rabbit in his jaws went limp before it could run or even fight for its life. Gilda felt sick to her stomach as she saw the predatory smile envelop the little Griffins face as he dragged the kill in his jaws to wherever he was going. Gilda could see that Gloria was absolutely horrified at the sight they just saw. Gilda knew the she was a major pacifist and vegan that hated meat. If it wasn't for the fact that the killer was a child, Gloria would have beat the living shit out of the Griffin. Gilda sighed, hungry and bored. She didn't like the fact that the White fangs gave her a mission to go to Griffinstone to wait for a package that was going to be delivered there for their cause while the rest of them ran to the Frontier. She had Gloria as a backup if she were to fail, which was something that she didn't expect. Gloria was a lover, not a fighter. Gilda couldn't wrap her head around why they would send a medic to help an assassin on a package with a scroll that is said to be as old as the lost city of Eden. Gildas' stomach shouted at them, screaming that it needed food. Gilda put away her recurring thoughts, knowing that whoever that little Griffin was, he must have a friend nearby. 'Maybe they got some food?' Gilda thought. She motioned to Gloria to follow as she silently followed the young Tom back to his hideout as a pair of nasty clouds began to fill the night sky. I gutted the rabbit and expertly slice it up and placed the pieces of meat on a flat stone beside my fire to cook as I skinned the rest of the rabbit for the fur and for the horns. I placed the entrails in a hole outside of the cave and buried it with a turd that I had to pass to cover the scent from predators. When I came back, there were two Griffins waiting for me, wearing light armor and one of them had a short sword and bow. I gave them an innocent smile and greeted myself. "Hello, how may I help you?" The two girls gave me a smile back, but the one in less armor had a hint if disgust. "Hey, my name is Gilda and this is my friend Gloria. We were heading to Griffinstone when we had to stop to get something to eat. We saw you catch that rabbit which was an awesome kill by the way," Gilda said. 'Should I know her?' I thought. 'She seems very familiar. Though she reeks of White Claw. I got to be careful around her. "So, is there someone else with you? A little Griffin like you can't be alone," Gilda said causing red flags to go off in my head. "I'm alone," I replied. This caused both Griffin's to frown. "If you are alone, then what are you doing out here?" Gloria asked. "I am traveling to Griffinstone. I stopped here to get something to eat and to rest. Why?" Both Griffin's frown deepened. "Okay, so why are ou heading to Griffinstone?" I yawned and began to eat my catch right in front of them, they were clearly hungry, which is why they were hunting. I bet I caught their kill right under their nose, causing them to follow me betting that someone older would share, but it's my kill and they need to respect that. I made a quick lie to keep them off of me. "I am heading to Griffinstone to search for a home away from the ponies. I learned that it was the only place where Griffins can be free, even though it was not very pleasant to live there," I said. "Why are you going there?" I asked them. This question caused them to stiffen up. "We are going to pick up a package," Gilda said, clearly hiding that is a half truth. Time to make a guess to open up them up more. "Does it have to do with the Elder Scrolls?" I asked. Thier reaction told me everything that I needed to know. Another one of those scrolls is being taken to Griffinstone to be picked up by the White Claw. They most likely think that this will give them an edge if they could translate it. I can also assume that this scroll would have the most important information that could lead to Eden, where I can begin my search for the Vault. I need that scroll. "E-Elder Scrolls...What are those?" Gilda stuttered. "They are scrolls that hold information of the first Kingdom of Eden. I managed to get my claws on nine of them, and I can read and translate them," I said. Both Griffins eyes widened in shock at my half-bluff. I will kill them once I have the scroll, or enslave them to make them my puppets and spies for the White Claws and their stupid cause. "Okay then," Gilda said as I finished my meal. "Grab him."
The Return of Darkness	Chapter 11. Problem number 2!	'Elder Scrolls! That's what they are called! That was just a bluff, a couple of words that felt familiar, I didn't think that was something was a thing. At least, I will be delivered to Griffinstone, even though I am tied up in a way that I could easily break out of. They think that I am captured, but I can easily break out. Since I am being taken to the scroll which could hold the location of Eden, I need to deal with my current problem. The bathroom. "Can I use the bathroom?" I asked as we flew over a mountain, at the other side of the mountain, one could see Griffinstone's large, tree-like castle hanging off of another mountain. We flew for a few hours and covered a lot more than I would have on my own. What could have taken me days, took mere hours. Man, I miss being big. "You can hold it until we make it to the safe house. It's just a half an hour away," Gloria happily replied. Gilda--The Griffin that I was tied to, shot her an angry frown. "You don't need to tell him anything, Gloria. If he can read the Twelve Scrolls of Eden, then he doesn't need to know what we are in case he is a spy for the tyrant." "Sorry," Gloria sighed, leaving us back to silence for the rest of the trip. We landed outside at the base of the mountain just under the castle. Wherever I looked was rock, bush, rock, rock and look! More rock. Gilda dragged me to the wall of rocks while Gloria followed behind. I groaned as I was dropped on a pile of jagged stones, just out of sight from what Gilda did to cause a magical door to open up in the rock. 'I hate rocks,' I groaned internally. I was dragged in, causing small cuts on my side, We walked into a room that had a small table, a couple of wooden chairs and a couple of bottles of booze on a shelve carved out of the wall. I was tied to one of the chairs while Gilda pulled out a bottle of Wild Pegasus whiskey, causing that same familiar itch that has been bugging me for quite some time. Just I was about to whine about needing to use the little Griffins room. Three individuals walked in; two griffins, one pony, and a locked crate. The pony was none other than Steampunk herself, the second she saw me, she pulled out a revolver and aimed it at my head. The two other Griffins jumped into action and aimed their muskets at me as well. "Can you put down you weapons?" Gilda asked from..Somewhere. Gloria was the only one that I could see but Gilda was hiding in the dimly lit room. "No gonna' happen, not with him" Steam pointed at me with a trembling hoof. "What do you mean? What did he do?" Gilda asked again. "He single-handedly killed Nightmare squad with the Staff of Destruction that he stole. You think he is captured, but in reality, he can get out of his binds at any time he wants," Steam explained. The went cold in a matter of seconds, just as Gilda and the others were about to begin making a move, I did my slave spell. "Deus, Meus," I said, causing every person in the room to convulse and collapse into a foaming mess of twitching and screaming. The five bodies rose up with a creepy smile on their faces. I rolled my eyes and got them to stand in the corner of the room, then I asked for the scroll and asked what they knew about them. Apparently, there was only twelve of them in total. They were found in a pile of ash in the Castle of the Everfree. The only ones of their kind that Princess Luna had as a gift from the Demon known as Raven Blackwing, the seventh queen of the Canadia. Which is the kingdom we are currently in. Nice to know that a necromancer ruled the Griffins during the fall of the Griffins. Aside from the annoying droning of my new friends, I read the scroll. Entry 2. Date: January 12th, 1248. I, Queen Raven Blackwing, am the only one of the Griffin race that can read and write in the old tongue. This was a fate that as going to happen...Sooner or later. Our Ancestors gave us this way of writing and we abandon it for the venomous language that the Sun Tyrant uses in her land of bigotry. I can safely say that only I and I alone can read what's hidden in the vault where our creation lies protected by the greatest of dark magics. Groger, my master, may be dead, but I live. I am grateful that the elements of harmony saved me from a dark path and for giving me immunity to the dark arts all those years ago. Even though I was forced to be wed to an asshat, tell kingdoms view me as the forebear to Celestia's destruction. We have the; rage, the hate, the want, the numbers to have our revenge, but we are not ready. It will take some time before we can mount a blitzkrieg to destroy her and her ponies that she rapes with her golden hooves. I can't wait to see her face as we burn her castle to the ground. Other than plotting my revenge. I cut the cock off of my husband for trying to bed me. There is only one Griffin that can have my innocence, sadly I have yet to find him. One day, I know I will, and I will love to be wrapped in his embrace and live the life of a housewife, but I know that day will never come... "So, that was telling," I thought out loud. I was kinda hoping that this one would have an actual location of the hiding place of Eden, but alas, life still likes to mess with me. 'Why can't anything be easy?' I thought. I made a copy of the scroll and put in my hammerspace and threw the original back into the crate. As much as I want some meat shields to protect me from The Tyrant, I will need them inside the White Claw to gain any and all information of the retards that think that they can save the world with their gorilla warfare. So I made a plan. "Gilda?" I called out. She stepped forward from the line. "Yes master?" she said. "I need you and Gloria to go sleeper and continue your original mission. Gather as much information as you can, and at you safest convenience, bring it to me. Your safe word is Cumdeling, now go and don't remember me," I ordered. She gave me a nod and took the crate with Gloria followed close behind. I looked at over to the other three and called out Steam. "Yes master!" she beamed. "I need someone that can give me information on the inside. Judging by how good you are at smuggling, I need the final two Scrolls, can you get them for me?" I asked. "I know the guy that has them!" she cheered. "His name is Lexicon Normacryptic. He is the guy that has been giving the White Claw all the information of the Sun Tyrant and he is my brother." 'She is part of the White Claws? That's interesting.' "Good, I want you to get him to make a copy of both scrolls and tell him that we have the translation guide. If he comes with you, loose him. I can't have anyone knowing that I am alive and your safe word is, Parthanyx. Go sleeper and get back to me in a week," I ordered Steam, she gave me a happy nod, leaving me with the other two Griffins. "Who are you and what do you do?" I asked the Hen to the left. She stepped forward. "I am Yokonokoshodico or Yoko for short. I am a Bowman and Corporal first class of the White Claws. My mission is to protect Steampunk while my brethren retreat to the Frontier. I am to wait for her in Griffinstone as she does several trades to our cause." 'That's good, I can use her as a contact while I hid here and wait for the scrolls,' I noted. "And you," I pointed to the Tom. He stepped forward and Yoko stepped back. "I am Tom, yes my mother was very vindictive. I am Swordmaster and Sergent of the White Claws. My mission is the same as Yoko's, but I have a special order to find an artifact know as the Statue of Borealis." 'Huh, I know where that is, having that will give me an edge over the White Claws if they are going to grab it for the moral enhancement that it emits.' "Good," I began, causing Tom to step back alongside Yoko. "I need you two be my eyes and ears when we are topside in the town. I don't like this hideout so we will need a new one. So your first mission is to go find one that doesn't look like we are hiding something. Both of you are to act as my guardians as well that you adopted a year ago. Go sleeper and Yoko, your word is dickdisco and as for you Tom. It's Cuntface Mcgee." "Yes master," the both said in unison and left the room, leaving me alone with the bottle of Wild Pegasus. 'Why is that name so familiar?' I asked myself as I took a swig and began making backup plans if I am discovered here. Twilight sat behind bars with a big fine on her hooves. She was ashamed of herself for what she did, but the fine wasn't what she would have imagined. A few million bits to repay both High Voltage and Fancy Pants. She sighed, wondering how she was going to pay them back. It was just a Griffin, how can that Tom be so valuable? She kicked herself for losing her temper and going out of her way to hid the crime, she would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for the anti-teleportation spells guarding the keep. The fact that she had to do a huge blink that took half of her magic just reinforced her charge when her lawyer tried to put this on a frame scandal, but they knew she used spells that only she can do. Even Princess Celestia, her mentor came to the courtroom to try and disprove her crime, but no matter how hard she tried. Twilight was guilty and the Princess was the nail in the coffin. Twilight sighed in her cell as she waited for her friends to pay for her thirty-day bail. She could her a collection of hooves come down the darkly lit stone halls that were so crisp and square, one would think that they were in a perfect cube. Rarity was the first to poke her head in her cell. Applejack and Fluttershy were next. Twilight wondered where the others were, Rarity saw the question and told her that they were waiting at the port for them to leave. None of them made any comment about the whole ordeal as the walked to the port and back to their small town called Ponyville. Luna sighed as she watched the girls quietly made their way out of the dungeon. Luna couldn't fathom why the young princess didn't feel any remorse for taking a life, yet she felt guilt for the fine. Luna couldn't say anything about how the Griffins were being treated or why. The only answers she got from the nobles was that it has always been. Luna came to the island after Discord had told her that there was one that has the capability to give her the answers she needs. Discord said that this one knew the truth about the creation of the Demon that possessed her all those moons ago and how this person was the one that was going to free the Griffins. Luna was surprised that the individual Discord described wasn't part of the White Claws, the rebel group that has been causing harm to the country. That he knew that they would fail. She has been searching relentlessly in the dream realm to find this Griffin, but Discord had to tell her last night, that his mind is blocked by a very complex spell that has taken hold most of his memories. She remembered those cryptic words the freak said to her. "You won't find him as he is the true definition of darkness. The shadows worship him as he has tamed and purged himself of a dangerous curse. He is the tamer of Demons and seducer of Angels. He will unlock his memories in time and when he does. My he show mercy to us all. " > Chapter 12. The Archive of Shadows. I walked through the decrepit town that was known as Griffinstone with my so called: "Parents." Our mission for the day was gathering climbing gear so that we can get the Statue of Borealis. We walked with minimal gear so that we don't get mugged. I didn't want to pull out from my billions of bits worth of treasure that I was hiding on my ship. I was going to need all that cash to build an army, a real army to fight the Sun Tyrant. It was the second day in the town and from the information that Yoko gave me, there was no guard posted here, but if the Griffins wanted to trade, they had to go through the diamond dogs further down the mountain. It was sickening to see the Griffins suffering for their freedom. Most of the Griffins that I saw were Hens as all the Toms were out hunting for their families, so finding a Tom was rare during the day in the town unless he was a shopkeeper or tour guide to rack up the cash. 'If I wasn't on a deadline, I would happily help these poor bastards,' I sighed internally. We walked past the white tree castle and down the road to a shop that looked like it should be condemned. The shop had a sign that told the unlucky people that it was a climber and traveler shop. Sadly, it was the only place where I think I could get something decent. With my safety and my minions safety aside, we walked in. Tom walked up to the counter while I sat on top of Yoko. The brown Falcon Griffin with a stubby lynx tail hit the bell to signal the owner of the shop. In a second a bored looking Hen popped up and leaned on the counter. "Hey, what can I get ya?" the Hen said in a jagged voice said that sounded like she was from the broncs. 'What the fuck is the broncs?' I asked myself. "Hey, we need lots of rope, climbing gear, picks, studs, and helmets and a few lanterns," Tom ordered. "Is that for you, or all of ya'? she asked. "All," Tom replied. The Hen grabbed the things and typed them into an old register. I saw a few hundred bits popped up and Tom gave the money despite that being a total rip-off. We left the shop feeling violated of our wallets and made our way to the cliff where we could get the Statue. While I waited for Tom and Yoko to get the Statue, I sat on the edge of the ravine and watched the two propel themselves down. If I remember correctly, the bottom lead into Tartarus where the one eyed beast rested. Thank Luna I wasn't the one going down there again. I don't want to have to fight that thing again. As I waited, the word, 'remember,' kept coming into my thoughts. It was like a festering itch that I had to scratch. What's more annoying is that I knew words that I don't ever remember learning. I knew something was wrong with my memory, but I couldn't place I claw on it. I remember my entire time in my old Equestria. Was there something missing? How was I supposed to figure out what it is that I am missing? I made a note to acquire more magic ink so that I could make a tome that would allow me to explore my own mind, to see what is wrong as I saw the two come up with the statue in their claws. I sighed and put the thought aside and put the statue of Borealis in my hammerspace. Gason looked over the scroll that Gilda and Gloria gave him as they were sent back to be stationed in Griffinstone as spies. He didn't like the fact that the scroll was written in a lost tongue that is near impossible to uncover. The only one that came close was a Griffin that was killed before he was done translating it. After that Griffins demise, all his notes were locked up in the Canterlot Archives. Gason knew that he would have to start at square one with this scroll. He didn't know how long it was until he uncovered it's secrets, but he knew he had a short amount of time. He placed the scroll aside and called in one of his guards before the ship sets sails for the Frontier. A Griffin in black armor walked in and gave Gason a salute. "Yes sir?" he asked. "I need you to give Gilda some items in order for her to make her job easier," Gason ordered. "Of course, Sir," the Griffin said as he dismissed himself out of the room. Gason sighed, wondering what Gilda his daughter would need. He knew that she would need information to make her job easier. Knowing her, she would most likely make a group of spies to improve profit as well as a group of assassins to take out problems that would lead back to the White Claws. "I wonder if I should tell her that I am her real father and that her mother died giving birth to her," he muttered under his breath. Little did he know, Gloria was listening in by her masters orders. Twilight walked back into her castle with a sunken expression on her face. She felt violated that a Griffin she killed made her life slightly more miserable. She trotted down the halls to get a cup of coffee to enjoy while she tried to find the funds to pay off her charge within the next few years. Knowing herself, she could make a system that would make it possible, but the work that she would have to do would not give her the time of day to have fun with her friends. She walked into her private study where Glade was humming a small tune while she cleaned the place of the dust that threatens the cleanliness of her safe space. Glade saw her master walk in and sat down at her desk, hovering over a few sheets of parchment and inkwells. Instantly, Glade finished her chore and walked over to the kitchen to get her what she would need. Twilight sighed as Gloria put a steaming hot cup of Joe. Twilight noticed that she was waiting for her next order like the little Tom that violated her. The more she looked at her and her happy smile, the more anger she felt for the Hen. It was like the Tom, happy and innocent. She hated that smile. Just as she was about to shoo her away to sort out the Library, a dark thought came to mind. It will be a while before Spike gets back from his time in Canterlot and her friends are busy with their own chores for the rest of the day. Twilight needed to vent her frustrations on something. There was a lot of stress built up like her time with Moondancer back in Canterlots School for Gifted Unicorns. 'Yes, that's it!' she cheered internally. She was going to use a spell on her that she and Moondancer loved to use to relieved each others stress after a tough exam. With an evil grin, she activated the spell and stood up. "Glade, can you bend over the desk for me for a second? I need to check your bandages," she lied as the large member in between her legs grew hard with anticipation. Glade happily complied as she spread her legs wide open for Twilight and looked forward. Twilight licked her lips as she pinned Glade down with her magic. Glade struggled in fear as she felt a large, long cock rub against her flower. She whimpered in fright for what was going to happen. "W-W-What a-are d-d-doing master?" Glade began to cry. Twilight grinned. "Violate you like that Tom did to me." "Please, master," she begged, but it was no use. "Master..." Twilight went deeper. "Please..." Glade begged through sobs. "No-AHHHHHH!" Glade screamed as Twilight rammed her member deep into Glade, starting Glades true torment for being a Griffin. I smiled as I walked through the tree castle that Raven Blackwing used to reside. I decided to go snooping through the castle after I finished making a fake version of the statue and placing it back where the real one used to be. I managed to get Tom and Yoko to find us a place, and we ended up buying the castle...Somehow. I gave them five-thousand Bits to buy a place for us to hide in and they bought the castle with the assumption that I was their King and that a King needs a castle. I wasn't complaining but the sentiment kinda shocked me. I knew that the HiveWill spells are some of the most viable mind spells as they didn't compromise the caster, so long as the mana pool is bigger than the victims. Unlike the other types of mind spells, like; Will, Rend, and Control. The Hive series is absolution based but it is very easy to block, but impossible to break free from once you are trapped. The upside to the Hive Series is that it can be turned off and the victim can't remember what happened to them. This allows the caster to plant subconscious orders that they will follow without realizing it. The downside is that it isn't ethical like all mind-rape spells, but I don't care because it is easy to fix. 'So what's with the King stuff?' I asked myself. I shrugged, thinking that they may have heard the plant I made to that one Griffin in armor back in Port Town. I walked into the throne room, looking for anything that may have been left behind for a Griffin that was loyal to the Twelve Kingdoms to find. There was a big ivory throne that loomed over the room. At the center of the room was a table where the Statue of Boris must have sat. The rest of the room was barren except for the windows and the ivory tree branches that make up most of the castle. I figured that the throne was a good place to start so I jumped onto it and looked around the room as the Blackwing would have. I sat there for an hour, looking at every single detail that may have given me a clue to the secrets of the tree castle. No matter how hard I looked I couldn't see anything out of the ordinary, so I decided to cheat. I focused my magic and said the magic words. "Ostendo," I said. Within a second, a light in my vision showed a lever that opened up to a secret room underneath the throne. I kept the spell on so that I wouldn't have to deal with any traps down bellow. I reach for the lever which was hidden underneath the table. There was a hiss of the wind before the throne moved to the left, revealing the secret passage to me. With a smile, I walked down into the hole which leads to a staircase that was lit up by light gems. I walked into the staircase and as I went further down, I heard the throne moved back into place its original position. I cracked a smile at my genius for the overpowered cheats and walked into the unknown. I walked for what it felt like hours, down a spiral staircase before I hit the bottom. At the bottom was a hall that looked like it was carved with a rusty spoon, at the end of the hall was an iron door that was slightly ajar with a glowing, orange light. 'I'm not alone,' I noted as my spell revealed a body that was slightly smaller than me. "Obvolvere Gradibus," I whispered, making my steps silent. I activated my shadow cloak and walked towards the door. I silently walked down the hall and looked into the room. Inside was a giant library. Books ever placed all over under a roof that looked like the night sky. I could assume that there were a few thousand books in the library, I can further assume that this was an archive that Blackwing herself made during her rule. I trekked in, keeping my eyes on the blob of light that was at the far end of the archive. I hid in the shadows and crawled my way closer to the body and what I found was confusing. Sitting at an old desk that looks like something like a small tree, shaped into a desk was a Griffin. A girl Griffin with short black hair on her gray head. Her cat half was also black. She had a tail that was similar to a panther and her eyes had wisps of black that made it look like she was wearing black mascara. Her eyes were silver and the tips of her wings were also black. 'Talk about goth if I ever saw one.' 'Ten Bit's says that she is Raven Blackwing incarnate," I thought. 'You're on,' my brain replied. I undid my spells and walked up to the Griffin with towers of books and scrolls around her. I tapped her shoulder, causing her to jump out of her seat like a cat to a cucumber with a cute, 'Eeep!' She rubbed her behind as she glared at me for a second before realizing that she was not alone. Just before I was about to ask her a question, she jumped into a battle stance and hissed at me. 'She fucking hissed at me,' I sighed internally. "Who awe you and how did you get into my secwet space?!" she demanded with a cute voice that was the very definition of adorable. "Shouldn't I be asking you that? You are in my castle by the way," I shot back showing her the deed that I pulled out of my saddlebags. Her frown deepened. "This is m'wy castle worm!" she shouted at me. "I bet you can't understand the langue of half the books in here!" 'Time to win some Bit's.' "I know; English, Russian, Equis, German, French, Zebracian, Japanese, and Binary," I said. The girls jaw dropped and her stance relaxed. She stared at me with a confused glare like I just said something that shouldn't have ever come out of my mouth, so I continued. "But, you know one of the languages as the old tongue of Eden. So, tell me. Is your name Raven Blackwing by any chance?" I asked. "Are you a spy of the sun twywant?" she asked. "No, I am currently searching for Eden to take her down off of her throne. I'm also currently using the White Claws--A Griffin rebel group, as a shield, while I plot in the background," I briefly explained. "I, s'wee. So awe you older than you appear?" she asked. I nodded. "Good, It makes taking over your mind that much more fun," she said as I black mist wrapped around her claws. I reacted before she could do anything and did a spell to protect myself from the dark magic, even though I am immune to it. "Scutum de Lumine," I said, creating a shield of light around me, which destroyed the mist that she launched at me in order to take control. I gave her a smirk as her eyes widen in shock. I cast another spell, trapping her in chains of shadow. I walked up to the struggling Hen in annoyance. I knew I was at my limit for my HiveWill spell and I needed a free space for Luna if I encounter her, so I could not use that spell on Raven. I kicked myself for winning another bet and stared deep into her eyes that I forced her to look into. "You will obey me Raven," I hissed. "I am stronger than you, smarter than you. I will NOT have a moronic cunt get in my way from freeing my race. I don't care that you did the reincarnation spell to get where you are today, but what I do care about is your knowledge. Since I can't use my mind spells on you as I need the spot for Luna, I will make you bend to me the other way. So are you going to struggle and fight, or are you going to bow down to me?" I finished as I saw her fear envelope her body. She was trembling like a leaf in the wind. I wouldn't be surprised if she was thinking the millions of ways that I could use to break her, which I hope that she wouldn't force me to do. "...a..." she whimpered quietly. "What was that?" I ordered. "I-I-I w-will, obey," she stuttered-whispered. "Speak up!" I demanded. She cringed at the shouting. "I will obey, m-master. Please, don't hurt me," she said clearly. I focused a spell that will prevent her from backstabbing me later. "Adligamentum Animus," I whispered, causing an emerald chain to wrap around both of our necks and connect. I let her go and the chain disappeared. "W-W-What did you do?" she asked, shaking in place. "If I die, if I get hurt. So will you. Since you used the reincarnation spell. I will also reincarnate with you. Only I can break this spell and if you attack me, only you will get hurt," here face sank in horror at what I was saying. "So, it will be in your best interest to make sure I am healthy at all times. Got it?" I growled. "Y-Yes, master." > Chapter 13. Perspective. 'I can't believe it!' Raven kicked herself as she was dragged by her captor, 'I was beaten by a Void Knight and I didn't even realize it until now!' Raven struggled to break free from the ethereal, emerald-green chains that bounded her to her new master as she was dragged by his two minions to his study in the castle with him at the lead. 'Of course, It had to be Void Knight, a master of all forms of magic and hunter of Chaos. What's worse is that he is trying to bring order to the realm. I should have sensed him earlier, as beings have a unique scent to them. Now that I am bounded to him, the scent of Twilight is all that I smell near him. He practically reeks of it!' Raven said in her head, but little did she know, Winter was listening on her self-abuse, learning a thing or two about himself that he didn't know about. 'Of course, it had to be a Void Knight. I wonder who is his sigil. The one to give him the title of Knight. I can tell that he is not as powerful as the Alicorn or even me, but what he lacks in raw power he makes up for in creativity of the Void tongue. His sigil must have given him all the knowledge about the Void tongue with a soul spell. Whoever that was, I want to kill him.' I sighed as she continued to go on and on about the many ways she wants to kill me and Dexter, my so-called sigil. Out of boredom as we walked into the master chamber with a brand new king-sized, four poster bed made out of fur. There was a desk in one corner of the room where I had a few empty books and some magic ink to make more Tomes for later. I sat on the bed and watched as Tom and Yoko left the room, leaving me and the livid Necromancer. I watched as she tried to break free, only to be clotheslined when she got to far away from me without my permission. It was funny at first, the way she tried to swear with a lot more, "W's" "F'wor f'wuck sakes! Let me go,!" she shouted at me. I gave her an evil smirk. "I don't think Deus Ex Machina would like me to do that," She froze in place near the door while I listened in to her internal thoughts. 'Deus...Deus! The god of the Void! The ruler of Space and Time! That Deus! That...That's impossible! The Deus line from what Elder Lich King Burakkusanshain told me, never made a Knight! Who the hell is he?!' "You know, I can hear you just fine. The link allows me to read you thoughts and to answer your question. I made babies with my Deus." "..." Her jaw dropped as her mind repeated the words,"Who, What, When, Where, Why, How?!" In her head. I continued as this was rather amusing. "I don't remember what I did for her to do the nasty, but what I do remember was that she dropped off Azura at my door a few months later. Thank Luna she didn't have her powers. If she did, I probably would be dead by now." "..." And she fainted. I chuckled and dragged her unconscious body onto the bed and went to my desk to begin writing the spells I would need for me to view my memories. Steampunk walked through the busy harbor of Manehatten to her brother's place at the University. She finished her job to the White Claws without a problem and was going to be paid again for getting copies of the other scrolls that are in her brother's care. She wondered how much she was going to get paid. The last job gave her enough money to live the high life for a long while, but she wasn't one of those hoity-toity snobs with sticks up their asses. No. she was a ship master first and foremost. She was born on the sea and she will die on the sea. She walked passed a fancy gate that leads into the archeology wing of the University early in the morning. She made sure she wasn't followed by the wrong ponies. She didn't want anything to happen to her brother, though, his beliefs nad hers were the same. She didn't like how the Griffins were being treated in the world. Steam was happy that she was doing something to bring true equality to Equestria and she was not going to stop until she dies or until the goal is reached. She walked into the wing and quickly found the room that she was looking for. Inside the room was a minefield of books, coffee cups, scrolls and it was dark. In one corner of the room was her brother, slumped over a desk, staring at a few scrolls in front of him. She liked the chaos that was Lexicon, despite his docile nature, the brown stallion with a short, dirty-red mane, could destroy a room in a matter of minutes. "Hey big bro!" she chirped as she tip-hoofed around the mess until she got to her brother and planted a long kiss on his lips. "Hey sis," he smiled, enjoying her incestual affection. "Need something?" he asked. "Yeah, I just finished a job about number 10 and they have a translator. They already read and translated the others and need yours to finish the map," Steam said cryptically. The earth pony raised a brow. "I am guessing they want a copy and not the real one to keep the reds from knowing?" Lexi asked. "Yeah, I also only have a week to get it to the blues, as they will be leaving Appleloosa to Vanhoover." "Damn, so soon?" he grunted. "I have heard the hammer dropped but that time frame is, at least, doable." "So how long?" Steam asked as she leaned over the desk and spread her legs open for her brother to see. He got out of his chair and mounted her. "It should take a couple of hours, of course, after a quicky for my cute little sister." "Than make it a long quicky," she bit her lip as her brother began to nibble her ear. "I don't want to walk for a while," she purred. I sat at my desk, happy with my new tome that I made. Once I have some free time, I will use Soulhearth to view my memories to see what the hell is missing, but for now. I have a problem. Gilda and Gloria returned with a bunch of stuff for me to read. From stolen cash to names of supporters, I realized how bad the White Claw was dug in. If Celestia, from what I could tell--If she were to get her hooves on these books and scrolls, she would kill every single pony on the lists. Hell, half of her supreme council is supporting the White Claws! I know she has the ability to see the Griffins that attack her. The reaction time to the train heist a week and a couple of days ago was discovered in a matter of hours, and the White Claws lost one-fourth of their power in Equestria. These guys don't fucking realize how impossible it is to fight her directly. What's more disturbing was the fact that they have information that Fluttershy; tortures, rapes, and cooks Griffins for her animals! The sweet, innocent mare is a monster here, and I thought Twilight was bad! I can't fathom what the other Element bearers are. Learning that Rainbow Dash worked in a factory that ground up children to make rainbows was just as disturbing, but Celestia covered that up. I broke my desk when I learned that Rainbow Dash killed children and enjoyed it. I don't know what Celestia was doing to the bearers, but one thing is for certain. If she is using a MindRend spell to influence her ponies to hate Griffins. I won't kill her. I will make her a true immortal and set her ablaze in a pit of Hell Fire! Aside from looking over the structure of the White Claws, I got Gilda and Gloria to go about their days in sleeper mode to keep an eye out for bad blood that may or may not find themselves in the town. Thankfully, I didn't have to make up a story as to why they were there. Thank you Gason, for giving them the order to wait and spy on the Sun Tyrant in Griffinstone. Back to the pain at hand. Tom stood in front of me with a straight face beside my desk wanting to ask a question. I could tell was because he was in sleeper mode and I told him to patrol the halls while I read the stuff that Gilda gave me. I yawned and turned to him to see what he wants. "What is it, Tom?" I asked. He shuffled in place before speaking. "My King, I would like to ask you for permission to pursue Yoko as a mate." "W-What?" I said as I stared at him like he just asked me for permission to masturbate in front of me. "I would like to ask you..." I stopped him as I heard him clearly the first time. "I know what you are asking, it's just, why do you need permission?" I asked. "I am asking because you are the Master of the Solstice house while I am just your servant. In tradition, it is customary for a servant to ask his Lord to court a Hen of his choice in case our Lord already has taken her for his own," he explained. After which, my brain decided it didn't want to work anymore. 'Note to self; Check the properties of the HiveWill spell as sleeper mode shouldn't let him know he is a servant.' "First, let me ask you this: Are you aware of the spell that was cast on you?" I asked "Yes, my King. I have seen the error of my ways. I have realized that you are the true King of the Griffins. Gason says he has the power to take down the Sun Tyrant but in truth, he doesn't. I know that you will succeed because I know Gason will fail." 'That's not disturbing,' I thought. "Does Yoko know?" "No, my King. I believe that I have to be willing to go under this spell to know that it was used. I was ready to follow the true King if he should arise. That may have been a part of it." "So, if I were to release you, would you stay?" I asked as I turned on a lie detector spell. "Of course my Lord," he said, causing my spell to tell me that he wasn't lying. On the plus side, I can have another spot to use if I need it. I might as well release him for now. "Dimitte Deus Meus," I said, releasing him from the spell. He gave me a confused look. "Why did you release me, my Lord?" "Simple, I only have a few spots for people to be under the spell. Since you are being loyal to me of you own free will, it is pointless to have it placed on you. So, for your original question, you have my permission to court Yoko. Don't worry about it being forced, but if you get rejected, don't come crying to me," I said. "Thank you, my King," he said with a bow and walked out of the room. The door closed with a quiet click and I turned to the bed. "Well, that was weird. I wonder how Raven will react when she wakes up beside me?" I said out loud as I jumped out of the chair and curled up around Raven under the blankets. 'Ten Bits says she will freak out,' I chuckled internally. > Chapter 14. How to train your Necromancer. I woke up before Raven as she was fast asleep and using me as a teddy bear. This was funny to me as she was nuzzling me like a purring kitten on catnip. She had a content smile as she rubbed her face all over my neck like she was claiming me like a cat does. Her tail, somehow, wrapped around mine. Her wings were wrapped around my waist just like her arms. I knew that I was a very cuddly Griffin, but this was ridiculous! I sighed and let what happens, happened. She eventually woke up with a cute 'coo' before she realized who she was clinging to like a leech. She looked up and saw my raised brow while I adorned a fiendish grin. 'Time to start,' I thought. "Hello, beautiful. Wasn't last night fun?" I purred. Her face paled to a new shade of white that was never reached before, then she realized what I said. This caused her face to go from white to red in less than a second. "W-W-What?!" she stutter-asked as she kicked me off the bed. I gave her a pouty frown. "That wasn't very nice, after all, the way I made you scream in extasy last night you begged me not to stop," I said with a sly grin. Her entire head was red. "I...No...We...Didn't...How..." she spluttered. Just as I was about to finished causing her brain to explode, Tom walked in. "My Lord, we have a problem," Tom said as he looked at me with a blank face while I collected myself from the floor. "What kind of problem?" I asked going back to my serious face and slightly annoyed that I was cock-blocked. "Gilda has told me that the Element of Loyalty and the Element of Laughter were coming for a visit. She said that they were bringing a mare known as Sunset Shimmer, who was tagging along to learn about the Griffins from the Shadow Archives that they somehow know about." "That is a problem," I said. "Have Gilda go into sleeper mode and come and tell me when they arrive," I ordered. "Of course My Lord, but what of the archive?" he asked. "I will deal with it. Just make sure to stall them. I need an hour to clear out the archive," I said. Tom bowed his head and left the room. Leaving me alone with the glaring queen who just realized that I did a joke about her. I gave her a smug smile and pulled on the chain, causing her to fall off the bed and kiss the floor. Sunset walked into the small castle town of Griffinstone with two of Twilights friends at her side. It has been a few decades since she was last in Equestria after she was banished into the mirror. She was surprised to learn that Twilight came and asked her to help her out with a couple of scrolls that she was having trouble deciphering. When she came through, she was also greeted by her old mentor, Princess Celestia who welcomed her with open arms. She was utterly shocked that she was easily forgiven for her actions years prior and in the human world. The fact that she was not only wanted back in Equestria to help out with a mystery was something of a dream to her. Sure she was technically in her fifties for how the time around the portal was, but in reality, she was as old as Twilight in term of Biological age, but that didn't stop her from adjusting to all the change that happened around her. In fact, she was quick to adapt and found a good spot back into pony society that she left all those years ago. Twilight and Sunset were quick to go over the possible ways to translate the scrolls, but each way that they tried didn't work. They simply didn't have enough information on the old Griffin culture before the war to make any sense of the complex symbols that they used to use. Twilight proposed that she and a couple of her friends to go to the only Griffin Free city-state to find something that would aid in the translation. Sunset was wary of such a task, but when she learned that two of her friends, Rainbowdash, and Pinkie Pie went there not that long ago. What was more interesting was that Rainbow had a friend named Gilda living there due to some unknown reason. Sunset was slightly confused that Rainbow was concerned with Gilda and why she left Ponyville. She made a note that they were just close, but she couldn't quite tell. Sunset was disgusted at the state Griffinstone was in when they entered the town, even though she was told by Pinky that it was a dump and to not to be surprised when they got there. The streets were broken and filthy, the houses looked like they should be condemned and the general mood of the town was sour. The Griffins gave them an uncaring look as they walked to Gilda's place to ask some questions. Sunset made a note that there was a big possibility that they weren't wanted in town, so she should be ready if a fight were to break out. Rainbowdash lead them to a decent looking place where a Griffin was waiting outside with a smug look on her face. Sunset knew that look as it was one that she used to wear every day before Twilight came to town. The Griffin saw them approach her and her look broke into a happy smile that threw Sunset off. 'Well, Rainbow said they were friends,' Sunset thought. "Hey, dweeb. Have a nice trip?" the Griffin asked as she and Rainbow hoof bumped. "Meh, it was okay, could have got here faster with my wings, but I had to wait for the land dwellers," Rainbow replied, causing some offense to Sunset while Pinky just bounced in place. "So, what are you doing here?" Gilda asked. "I thought you had friendship problems to solve?" she mocked. Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Nah, I'm just here to look awesome while Sunny here is doing some egghead stuff for Twilight." 'I am not an egghead,' Sunset muttered. "Well, I should probably kick you flank in a race while we let the egghead to her nerd stuff, say, around Black Peak?" Gilda smirked. 'I'm not a nerd,' Sunset thought. "Sure, but you know I will win," Rainy pointed to herself with a wink. "As if!" Gilda challenged before she leaped into the air with her massive wings and bolted to a mountain with an ebony peak. Rainbow was quick behind her, leaving Sunset alone with Pinky...Who was also gone. Sunset sighed and as she decided to go to the old castle to start her search. I wiped my brow after a long hour of shoving books into my hammerspace. It was a pleasant workout that gave me a minor increase to my main mana pool. Sure it was a small increase, but an increase none the less. I walked out of the now empty archive with a livid Raven trying to burn me alive with her eyes. I gave her a smirk that she couldn't do shit to me, and I found it rather amusing to piss off the old, scary queen that made Lich Kings bowed to her. I wonder what they would think of me for making the Queen of Death bow to me? Would I get respect or would I get disdain? I bet Hades would flip his shit to know that the one that never found her way into his army of the damned was taken by a Void Knight as she calls me. Though, it was nice to learn about my new title from the queen as I worked. I liked how a Void Knight was the most feared being amongst the dark mages and chaos mages. Chao magic especially would avoid me like the plague as Void is the perfect opposite and highly poisonous. She told me that if Discord were to find himself in the Void. He would be ripped apart in a far more horrific way than death by HellFire. Which answered a question that I had since I had my eye. Deus must have made me immune to it and when it tried to claim me, it couldn't touch me as it corrupts the very soul. Having that aspect saved my ass in the end, but it didn't answer why I don't have it anymore, despite unlocking it to is full potential. With one of my old questions answered, one still remained. I knew that it was sentient to a degree and I knew that it would leave once I was on death row, so where did it go? Did it actually believe that I was going to die in the black hole and find a new host? If that's the case, did it find a host in this world or my old one? More questions that I really hope it stayed in the old world. If Celestia had control of the bearer was something I didn't want to deal with. I put aside those worrisome thoughts and walked back to my room while Raven was forced to follow or be dragged like a ragdoll. > Chapter 15. Problem number 3! I walked down the halls back to the master bedroom to see what was wrong with my memories in peace, but that plan was interrupted by a mare, snooping in the exact same hall has me. Beside her was Tom who was in charge with giving a tour of the place to avoid the suspicion that we were doing anything wrong. The mare was a yellow mare with red hair with yellow streaks in her mane. She saw me and Raven saw her. We all stared at each other, unsure of how to act. I knew that she was here to find the archives, so she must have been sent by Twilight to help her out, but according to my orders. I wanted a powerful unicorn to add to my HiveMind. If she was indeed sent by Twilight. Then I should use my recently freed slave-slot to start my research on catalyst based magic. "Hey there little guy, are you lost?" Sunset Shimmer said, approaching me, Little does she know, I was about to make her my servant. Once she was in range, I focused my magic and said the magic words. "Deus Meus," I said, causing the mare to jump in surprise. She tried to fight the spell, but like the others, she collapsed to a bloody mess and stood back up with a blank look, ready for her orders. I looked at Tom, putting together what I needed Sunset to do. "Tom, make sure there are no listeners snooping around," I ordered. Tom gave me a nod and walked off, leaving me alone with concern Raven and the blank Sunset. "Sunset, were you sent by Twilight?" I asked the mare as we walked deeper into the castle. "Yes My Lord. I was sent to find any and all information that would help translate the Elder Scrolls while Celestia explores the other side of the Mirror," she said. I stopped dead in my tracks just outside of the throne room and turned to look at the mare. My mind was racing a mile a second, trying to figure out why Celestia would want to go to the parallel, human world. The only thing that would makes sense was that she...Luna's futa dick! She was getting human tech to strengthen her forces! But if she was doing that, then she must have figured out how to use magic over there. 'Damn, I am running out of time,' I kicked myself. I was starting to need those scrolls now rather than later, but now was not the time to slow down. I was going to have to put aside my memory spell for later. "What's so wong about that? Raven asked in an uncaring tone. I gave her a frown. "The Mirror leads to a world that is similar to the ancients and where they are from. It is a parallel to Equestria and if she is over there, then it means that we are running out of time before she gains the nuke," I explained. Raven scrunched up her face in frustration for not knowing what I just said. "That is correct My Lord. Celestia wanted to acquire weapons and military gear for her new division of the army called the Solar Inquisition. Aside from that, she said she was also going there to do an experiment with magic arrays over there. What their purpose is, I don't know." "Damn it," I growled. "Whatever she is doing with those arrays can't be good. I can guess that they are teleportation arrays to help deliver the gear she is going to bring over. And if I can further guess that she is also going to gain allies on the other side." I turned to Raven who was just getting a gist of what was going on. "Raven, as much as you hate me right now can you tell me what do you think if she acquires a device that could level all of Equestria in a matter of seconds?" "She would mowst wikely use it to take contwol of the entire world, even the Alicown Stone wielding sword mastwers of the Frontier, why?" she said indifferently. "Because we won't be able to take her down if she gets those weapons," I said then turned to Sunset. "Sunset, I need you to begin studying catalyst magic as well as capture AppleJack, Rarity and Fluttershy and bring them here. I want you to set up an array outside of town and you found the Shadow Archive empty. Do you understand?" "Yes My Lord," she replied. "Good, go into sleeper and get Fancy Pants and High Voltage to help with the capture, say, 'Darkness is truth, Darkness is safety,' to them and they will follow your order.' Tell Twilight, 'Nothing is truth, Everything is permitted,' to her and she will help you make an untraceable array to help you here. Go into sleeper mode, your safeword is, 'Yellow Watersports is orgasmic,' now go," I ordered. She gave me a nod and left the room. I sighed and went straight back to my room to write another tome to aid with defense." Steampunk was happy and filled with her brothers cum in all three holes as she waited on the train as it made its way to Griffinstone station. She had the copied scrolls in her bag in a simple book, and without a problem as she got Fancy Pants to but her a private train with a private guard that was chosen and hired by him to aid her master, King Solstice. The security was of the highest quality and had a distaste of the Sun Tyrant. Though, she knew that out of the fifty ponies that were keeping her safe. One of them was a spy. She knew who was the spy, but her master made sure to keep him alive to avoid suspicion. He wasn't even hiding it all that well as he had a sound crystal recording everything she and the others said. She made note of the variety of the ponies that were coming with her. There was ten earth ponies, fifteen unicorns, fifteen pegasi and ten thestrals. The gender ratio was equal to her surprise, which was also good for her master. If they were to find Eden, they would need breeders to grow an army if the original plan goes sour. She smiled as the station was coming into view. She saw at the station was three ponies. A yellow unicorn, a pink earth pony and a cyan pegasus. All waiting to head back to the mainland. Just as the train was about to stop, the Captain of her private guard walked up to her in his custom black armor with silver tribal etchings all over the plates. "Miss, Steam. When we get to the station, who are we going to be transferred to?" he asked in a deep, baritone voice. Steam gave him a smile. "All you need to know that it's a Griffin that Mr. Fancy and I trust with our lives. You will see him in due time," she said, causing the mercenary to groan in annoyance. "Why do I get the crazy ones?" Captain Black Rose starred in shock as with the rest of his mercenary group. After they docked at the station and disembarked with Lady Steam as the three civilians stared in awe as they boarded the train. They followed Lady steam to the small castle town of Griffinstone and walked into the tree castle. The town folk didn't cause a stir, but instead just looked at them in indifference before going about their day. The were lead by a hen that goes by the name of Yoko to the throne room where their employer was waiting. When they walked into the room, they saw a baby Tom sitting on the old throne with a larger Griffin at the base in a set of the same black armor as their group. Once they were all in, the door was closed and the Griffin on the throne said something in a strange language, causing the entire room to go black, leaving only the table at the center and the throne visible. At first, there was panic, but that didn't last when the older Tom explained to them it was just a privacy spell that was cast by an unknown unicorn hiding somewhere in the room. After the room went black, Lady Steam pulled out a small, unassuming book and handed it to the little Griffin, which he placed to the side for later. He gave us a quick look and pointed to his little sister, Ruby Rose and barked at her for her to step forward. She did so smugly, but once she stood in front of him, he spoke in a cold and calculating voice. "You think I will tolerate spies?" he said, causing everyone to stare at Ruby in confusion. Why would the Griffin call his sister a spy? Black wondered, but he stayed quiet and listened what this Griffin had to say. "I'm not a spy you little cunt," Ruby spat, but the Griffin was not amused. "Really," he cracked a smile. "Then tell me. How did it feel to assassinate Sergent Wind Caller a few weeks ago? I heard he was a White Claw supporter that aided in the train heist. I heard you also killed his family after your partner raped his daughter and took her as a fuck-pet in which he was allowed by Celestia's orders. Trust me Ruby. I know who everyone is and I have contacts that even the White Claw would die for. So, you can A; kill yourself, or B; let me do an experiment on you and you get to live."
The Return of Darkness	Chapter 16. Experiment X.	I smiled as Ruby froze in horror as her comrades closed in on her with their weapons drawn. Tom was keeping in front of me in case she bolts for my head while Yoko hid on the roof with a bow at the ready. The leader of the group, Captain Black Rose, a pure black stallion earth pony with red eyes, just stared at the mare in shock and disappointment. After I pointed out that she was a spy and gave really good evidence to prove it--Courtesy of Fancy Pants, her friends turned on her in an instant, however, I need her alive to prevent Celestia from looking my way and to test a spell. "How could you!?" One of the mercenaries spat. Ruby just looked back in disgust. "How could I? Simple, because I enjoyed it and he was a Griffin loving fuck. A win-win for me and his filthy slut of a daughter deserves the cock she chokes every day," Ruba smiled, wanting to be killed by her friends, but I knew better. I prepped the spell that I wanted to use on her and cast it. I smiled as Ruby dropped and began to twitched in pain as the spell took effect. Her former comrades backed away as Ruby transformed from beginning a regular earth pony to a Griffin. Normally, I wouldn't be able to use such a spell, but thanks to my new tome, it was now possible. I smiled as her back exploded in a torrent of blood as two feathery wings erupted out. She tried to scream in agony, but she couldn't as her muzzle turned into a beak. In just mere moments, Ruby was now a Griffin. Blood was everywhere from her eyes, nose, back, and legs, from the transformation. She twitched on the ground with her eyes rolled back as she coughed up blood. Her comrades didn't know how to react to what happened while I made a note to refill the book with that spell for later. "Tom, clean her up and take her to the dungeon to rest," I ordered. Tom gave me a nod before he grabbed the convulsing Hen that was half his size, leaving me and the rest of them to discuss our future partnership. The door slammed shut and I was left with the terrified mercenaries. I gave them a smile as they all looked up at me in unison. "Well, now that's out of the way. Let's talk about what I need you to do, so before we start. Do any of you have any questions?" One pony stepped up, shaking in his armor. "What the fuck did you do?" "Just something I will do to anyone that decides to back out now," I shrugged. "Anything else?" The pony backed up, clearly afraid that any more stupid questions will be answered. Captain Black Rose stepped up next. "Yes, since I am the leader of the group. I want to know who was the one that did that spell before we do anything with you?" He said sternly. I gave him a warm smile. "I did, and before you say otherwise. It's called Void Magic, according to Queen Raven Blackwing." I watched as someone of them contemplated running for their lives while others pissed themselves. The Captain wasn't fazed by me, but I knew he broke his perfect poker face when his litter sister was a spy. "So what are we to do?" he asked, his comrades turned and looked at him, terrified for sealing their fate. "I need guards for our trip to Eden, so I suggest you get supplies for the trip as it will be a long one," I said. "Yes Sir," he saluted. I yawned as I sat in my room again with the journal that Steampunk gave me. I was slightly concerned that my HiveWill spell was leaking something into the brains of those that are under the spell. Tom told me after he and Yoko cleaned up Ruby that while under the spell, he felt like there was a warm presence of twilight watching over him like a loving father. I would have been fine with this if it wasn't for the fact that Raven said that I reeked of twilight, yet, she doesn't complain about it. Hell, I have seen her smell my pillow and when I called her out on it. She said that being near me made her feel safe. Then she yelled at me because my scent was addictive, followed by wanting me to die by hellfire which I found funny because I was immune to hellfire. With the new knowledge that my servants were going to be utterly brainwashed that I was their one true god. I decided that once I was in Eden, I would undo the spell before they go insane. I made note that the Black Knights as they were called, were bunked in the castles old barracks. I gave them the money they would need in order to survive the trip to Eden. Sure they were absolutely terrified of me for turning Ruby into a Griffin, but they were loyal and could get shit done. Captain Black kept his distance from me as I had Tom give him my orders. I needed to keep him a distance in case bad blood were to come up. With him being near me and how I act like a cold hard bastard. I didn't want to be robbed after I was killed in my sleep. That aside, I read the book that Steam gave me that should have the two copied scrolls in it. Entry 343. Date: September 3, 1502. I, Queen Raven Blackwing, barely escaped my demise. The sun tyrant killed us, the kings, just as we were about to launch our offensive. I did a spell before my catalyst was destroyed. This spell allows me to reincarnate into another, clean body but at a cost. I won't he born again for a few hundred years and I will loose my most recent memories. I...I can't believe Celestia appeared right before me and cut me down and decimated our armies that were in the small millions. I saw something in her left eye when I tried to fight back. There was a red rune embedded in that eye. It changed color's as we fought. There was a total of seven that gave her a unique skill. The colors were; Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Orange, Purple, and Black. I am not sure what those runes were or why they made her so powerful, but they reeked of chaos magic. Alas...I don't have the time to figure out that mystery. I can feel my life fading as I struggle to write these words. My only regret was not searching for my true love harder. All I wanted in a Griffin was a Tom that could make me tremble in fear to his gaze, purr with joy to his touch. Sigh in contempt in his embrace and have a caring father to fight beside. Maybe in my next life, I will find him... 'There...There is no way Celestia has what I think she has. If she does, then...Then thank Luna I am immune to it. In any case, Black has a crush on me. Good to know,' I noted before I continued to the next one. Entry 306. Date: February 14th, 1502 I am writing this to give those that can read the old text the location of Eden, but I pray to Luna that you don't let the Sun Tyrant know of this. In the land of snow and death. At the heart of crimson water. Perched upon a windigo carcass. Tasting the four Seasons. Is the birth place of Strength. Here they sang the song of Angels. Pound the drums of war. Practicing the bow and tongue of romance. Hiding in the veil of shadow. Is the birthplace of Honor. They danced with the wind of the plains. Faught with the entity of serenity. Loved the essence of the great inferno And were the protectors of the earth. Is the birthplace of Sacrifice. At the heart of the lands is their final resting place. Is their Forest of Eden. I let loose a sigh of relief as I have the location of Eden in my claws. I knew it was close by and judging from the poem, it's at the heart of the twelve Kingdoms. Though, one thing bothers me about the first scroll. I have to wonder if Raven is putting up with me just because I might be fitting into her wants in a Tom? If that's the case, then what about Lily? I know I desire to go back home, even if it is impossible, but the way she talks about the Void is telling me that I might have a chance to return. In any case, I will have to put her feelings aside for know and deal with the possibility that Celestia has the Eye of Chaos and if she does, then those not under my spells are walking time bombs. And that is something that could be a problem. > Chapter 17. Keys. I sat on my makeshift bed in the master bedroom with Raven who was sound asleep right beside me. Her tiny form was nestled up against me in an effort to find warmth and safety in her weakened body. I chuckled at the thought as I grabbed my tome to do a spell that I have been putting off for a short while now. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes as I placed a claw on the purple book and prepared myself for what was to come in an effort to learn why my memories were foggy in most areas. I activated the spell and let myself become one with the dark. I reawaken in a black void of pure nothingness and floating in front of me were two doors. One was a simple brown door with a silver door nob while the other looked like nothing could break into it. The other door was black with trillions of runes and magic circles on it. What was even more foreboding was the silver chains that wrapped around it with a lock that looked like a Rubix cube on steroids. I groaned in annoyance as I knew that the locked door that could not be opened, even if I had my old eye for how complex the locks are. "There has to be a key somewhere in here?" I sighed as I looked around in the void. "I agree but where, oh where could it be," cooed a demented-sounding voice that sounded like Q from StarTrek...'And what the fuck is Startrek?' I thought as I turned around to see who was in my head with me. Standing before me was a tall being of mismatch body parts. I recognized him instantly as the God of Chaos and wondered why he was here in my head. 'But that's not important right now.' "I agree, Void Knight, as time is of the essence," he spoke again but in a more serious tone. I would have raised a brow, but I didn't have one...Or a body in the void. "And what, pray tell, is that, Discord?" I asked as I tried to figure out how to open the locked door. "As much as I want to chat with the very thing that I despise the most. You are the only one that is capable of defeating Celestia, so I'll keep it short as said Sun Tyrant isn't watching me right now," I stayed quiet and let him continue. "You will find the key in your ship that you are hiding in that hammerspace of yours. Also, since I am reformed and have to be nice. There is a high chance that you can return to your old world once you are done here. Now I must be off as Woona is hunting you and the Elements that you had kidnapped. Ta, ta for now!" he said before he left in a ball of light, not explaining anything he just said. I groaned in irritation at the Chaos God that just came for a few seconds, said some things that help, and left without explaining why he decided to just pop in and say hello. Though, now that I think about it. If Luna was hunting me as well as the ponies I had kidnapped. Then a confrontation with her could be disastrous. 'At least, know that going home was a possibility as well as the location of the key to my memories, but I will need to wait until we are away from Equestria before I pull out the ship,' I thought as the spell ended. I groaned in annoyance that everything was not what it appeared to be. Knowing that the key to my memories is hidden on my ship was going to be a problem for later. Though, with what Discord had said to me just a few moments ago, having Luna on my tail was also a problem that I didn't want to face, but for now. I had the issue with my mercenaries. I placed the destroyed tome aside and jumped off of the bed, much to Ravens displeasure, and moved back to my desk to make another tome. With having the Black Knights as potential bombs for my plans, I was going to have to turn myself into a dragon for the time being. I don't want Celestia to know--If she was watching, that I was a griffin with strange powers, plotting behind her back. As I wrote the spells I would nee to stabilize my dragon form, I thought about all that has happened in recent weeks. From waking up with missing memories to moving all over the place without a thought. I know now from the last time that I did the latter. I ended up in places that I didn't want to ever wake up again. Having a sudden trip to hell once was all fine and dandy, but there wasn't enough brain bleach to remove those memories. I had to wonder what I was doing? Sure I was trying to take down a god...Again...For the fourth time without screwing them before and after I beat them in a fight. This time, I was greatly at a disadvantage. This Celestia was powerful. So powerful that I even fear her. Just knowing that she has my power that I bled to master bothers me to my very soul, but, at least, I was immune to most of what she could potentially do to me. The worst thing that I had to fear was her ability to instantly gain enough magical power to make a planet before my eyes. And that was something I didn't want to fight against without a backup plan. 'But what is my plan?' I asked myself. I usually don't have a plan. I just go with the flow and see where it takes me. 'Heh, that turned out well,' I kicked myself. 'Within the first two days of arriving here in this fucked up world, I was kidnapped into slavery and now I am looking for a vault that may as well be destroyed.' Such was the things that I had to deal with when fighting a god who could see everything and influence everyone without them knowing. I had no plan past from; getting my memories back, and finding a way to return home...And freeing Griffin kind. 'Once I'm done here. Discord better send me home for fixing his mess. There was no point in him telling me that there was a chance of going home to kick Griffins face in once I meet the prick for being a bastard.' I groaned in further irritation as I finished the book. Just like the others, it turned into something else. I put aside my aggravating thoughts as I activated the spell's that I just wrote, turning me into a six-foot-six, bipedal, black dragon. 'Though, turning myself into a dragon with this kind of magic will be a problem for a while. Not being able to turn back into a griffin to hide for a month is a cost that shouldn't be a problem unless stupid shit happens, but, at least, I will be able to fight if I have to.' I quickly went into my hammerspace and grabbed my armor of Ornstein that has seen some battle, but I left the helm in the hammerspace and put it on and left the room as Sunset Shimmer should have brought the Elements by now. Captain Black sat in the throne room with a Griffin that was known as. Tom, waiting for his employer to stop hiding behind a baby Griffin like a coward. He didn't like the fact that his little sister was discovered as a spy for the Sun Tyrant, but what was worse was what he did to her from the shadows. Having his sister turned into a Griffin, plus being used as simple gatherer rather than his original job of escorting somepony to a secret location that should have billions of Bits worth of loot within. He was more than bitter about who was hiring him, and his companions. Black ate a simple meal with the silent Griffin, trying to think of a way to get him to reveal the location of his employer, but, just as he was about to speak up to start a simple conversation, a figure walked into the room. He and everyone stopped eating and turned their attention to a terrifying sight. Standing in the entrance to the throne room was a black dragon clad in battle-worn armor, with a few weapons holstered to his person. The dragon had a scaly, wolf-like muzzle with, cold azure eyes. The dragon had two, long, ivory horns that were bent into the shape of a lightning bolt with; three smaller horns just under them that were straight. His spins were like miniature versions of his black wings, but what was the most prominent aspect of the dragon was his armor and weapons. He carried three, straight edge swords at his left side. Two of them had wings for crossguards while the other one was a simple black square. Judging from the length of the sheath's, the blades must have been at least four feet long, and the runes on the sides of the black scabbards gave the swords a terrifying secret. On the back, however, was two, strange, boxes. One box looked like a five-foot long tube while the other box looked like a six-foot-long suitcase. His armor looked like it was made of dragon bone and scale that looked like it weighed a ton, but when he walked over to the center table. He moved like it was a second skin. "Tom, has Sunset arrived with the targets?" He spoke in a deep, wolfish tone that could seduce the most wretched of demon queens. Tom gave him a nod, but he frowned as there were more than just the three ponies that arrived. "Yes, my Lord. A few more ponies arrived in order to save them. They weren't a problem, but the extra baggage wasn't something that was needed," Tom replied, causing the dragon to groan in a deep growl. "Who was added to the captors?" "There was a few my Lord. They are; Rainbowdash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, and, of course, Sunset Shimmer." The black dragon sighed and turned to Black. "Captain, I am your employer, so let me give you the rundown of what is going to happen before we go." Black nodded a fearful reply. "First, gather everyone as well as the prisoners and bring them to the mountain range due west of here. Second, bring all of our supplies and third; Don't do anything funny until we are there." > Chapter 18. Prisoners. After the order was given out, we walked in the veil of night to a location where I could bring out my ship without causing a stir to the local Griffin population. I smiled as I got to be a dragon again, but the others...Not so much. Raven freaked out and tried to run away, begging not to be eaten. I smiled in sadistic glee as she couldn't get far with the chain binding her to me. Once she finally figured out that I was the cute little Griffin she tried to murder. I had to explain to her that I did a transformation spell and since I figured out that making Tomes greatly reduced mana cost. I could do a permanent transformation into my old dragon form. Rave, of course, went back to swearing at me for being a Void Knight to which I replied with picking her up, and began scratching in all of the right places. I chuckled as she melted in my hands and began to purr like the kittens she was, then she called me a peasant when I stopped because I had more important matters to attend to. Thankfully, my mercenaries treated me like the boss and didn't question anything and did their job, but what they don't know was that I was writing another tome to act as a medium for hen I add them all to the HiveWill spell. As we walked down a broken and misused road with the prisoners pissing themselves in their cage. I kept an eye out for any had blood. When Sunset told me that she had to bring them all and trick them into a trap she made to avoid suspicion. I was worried that the Sun Tyrant would know if something was off. As it stands, she could easily fuck with everyone to the point that death would be their only cure. They only way for them to become invisible to her gaze was to be linked with me. Otherwise, hiring the mercenaries was pointless. Although, Sunset did do her job with bringing the targets that I had marked for her. Having the Elements of Harmony after they have returned the rocks back to the tree was a headache that was avoided. If I could get them to willingly aid in my quest. Then the final battle would be so much easier, with the rainbow death beam aimed at the corrupt tyrant. But there was the problem with Luna. Knowing her, she would have directed herself at the closest creature that could use dark magic, or she can't enter the dreams of said creature. To her, Raven and I are walking beacons that I know she could see. I knew it was only a matter of time before she catches up, and if my assumption was correct. I was going to have to bind her to me as well. The less raw power Celestia can't control, the better. "Hey! Tall, scary and ugly! Over here!" shouted Rainbowdash from within her cage. I sighed, knowing that her gag was out and I was going to have to put it back in. I walked to the center of the line where the cage with the seven prisoners was being kept on a wagon. With the night being as dark as it was, it was hard to find even when I was only a few meters away from it. Once I was beside the cage with the seven, tied up girls with on of them swearing at me that would make Satan blush. I opened the cage while we walked and punched her in the stomach, causing her to tumble over in pain and without breath. "You need something? " I asked in a bored tone as I reclosed the cage. She slowly got back up while her friends stared in fear for what was to come. "Fu...ck, you," she wheezed. I rolled my eyes and pulled out my Tome that I was working on, and finished writing in it while the cyan pegasus recollected herself. "Sir," called out one of the mercenaries just as I was about to start writing again. I sighed and closed the book and tucked it back in my chest plate, giving the 'merc my full attention. "Yes, Sergent. What do you need?" I asked the thestral with red eyes. She stiffened up and spoke in a slightly shaky voice. "We are arriving at the location that you have put out on the map. Captain Black wants to know what we are to do while we are there." I turned around to check to see if she was right, and sure enough, she was. Just over a small crevasse was a deep, rocky valley that was just big enough for me to deploy my ship in. I made note of the clearing that was shaded by an overlook of rocks, perfect to make a temporary camp. I cracked a smile and spoke in a lighter mood. "Tell the Captain to make camp at under that overlook. Once there, we are to rest up while I get us transportation to traverse the Sea of Death," I ordered the thestral. She and all those around her stared at me in horror at what I just said. What they didn't know was that Eden was protected within, but they didn't need to know that until we are there. "O-Of course, Sir," she choked before she flew off to tell the Captain while I continued to smile and an evil smile that I get to fly the Aria once more. I gave my attention back to the cyan pegasus who was staring, just like her friends and Ruby, in fear for what was to come. We made camp as I finished perfecting the Tome. If all my spells were correct, then I should be able to alter a gem to act as a control center for the HiveWill spell, even though I don't have a big enough mana pool to add them all. With this fact in mind, I knew the downside of the transformation of being turned into a dragon. Not being able to build my mana pool bigger was a problem and was going to be an even bigger one for a month until I could turn back into a Griffin. But I'll make do for now. If worse comes to shove, I should be able to invoke Music Magic to give me a temporary mana boost. If that doesn't work, then my two little sisters; Nix and Lumen, will have to taste blood again. As I watched the ponies do their work, Raven decided to join me as I sat on a boulder. She didn't say a word as she was too focused on the looks that Rainbowdash was giving to the brainwashed Gilda. Like the gentleman that I was. I listened in on her thoughts. 'I wonder why she has the eyes that belong to a heartbroken maiden? So sad and betrayed, one would believe that she and the Griffin were lovers, but with the way that Solstice is controlling her and how she looks so lost. One would also think that she was never supposed to find out that she belonged to someone else.' I stopped listening in on Raven with a peaked curiosity and a quick plan of action. If she is saying that Rainbow and Gilda had a thing, then I could use that to make her bend without the need of the Hive spell. All it would take was to convince her that if she wanted her lover free, then she will have to work for it. 'Thank you Raven,' I thought as she turned around to talk to me. "Sol, even though I hate you, I have to wonder how you plan on getting us through the Sea of Death?" "I want to know that too," joined in Captain Black," as he joined us with two other ponies. I raised a brow and pointed to my heart. "I have a ship that has sailed and fought in some of the worst hurricanes that the world could throw at it. After all, from what could be so bad about a sea called The Sea of Death?" I chuckled. Raven, as well as the Captain, just stared at me like Murphy was looming over our heads. "Don't you know about the great stone colossi that guard the island hidden within, or the giant storms that destroy even the strongest of steel? What about the great sea and sky serpents that call that place their home? I would be hard pressed to believe that you have a ship that could even last a minute in that storm," the Captain said with a worrisome hiss. I, however, just grew a big smile of what was waiting for me in that storm, but before we enter it. I need my memories back. "My ship isn't made of steel, Captain. It is made out of the scales of a black, world eater. One of the strongest breeds of dragons that patrol the Void to end anyone or anything that dare enter it. It was also a gift from a very dear friend of mine." The reaction I got from the Captain was disbelief while Ravens was of sheer, terror as she didn't dare to talk about how I came to have a ship build out of a body of a dragon that could, quite literally, eat an entire planet like popcorn. Not sure why Dex told me that when she did, but it was good to know. "I have no clue what the hell a, 'world eater' is, but I suppose I should take you word for it that it could survive a trip through super hell. Tartarus's angry father," Captain half-joked half didn't believe a word I was saying and decided to just walk away because I was sounding like I was insane. I shrugged and began to scratch Ravens chin to calm her trembling body down as she tried to move away from me. Once Raven was calmed down, I left her be and walked up to the prisoners to enact my plan of action. They immediately took notice of me and began trying to back away and pretend to be afraid, even though I could see that their bonds were cut. I sighed and motioned for Sunset to come over as well as Gilda to help me out with my plan. When they joined me, the six ponies in the cage looked at the two in confusion before Twilight spoke up, in a much more confident tone. "Sunset, what are you doing, I thought we were friends?!" she said almost shouting. I chuckled and patted Sunset's head, causing the mare to turn slightly pale in worry while her friends stayed silent in wonder. 'And what she doesn't know was that she, herself, was under my spell, but I won't tell her yet. I need her as a trump card when Luna shows up.' "I hate to break this to you Twilight, but Sunset here is under a mind control spell, and a very strong one at that," I paused and flicked Gilda on her shoulder. "So is she, but not the mercenaries." "It can't be that strong, I know how to break her from all three types of mind magic!" Twilight boasted with new found confidence. I just smiled. "Really? Last I checked there were six types of mind control. There is; Hive, Database, and Soul writing. The three forbidden arts, and I know how to do all of them. So tell me Miss Sparkle. What would you do if I said that I altered their very souls? How would you repair that?" I asked, watched the light in her eyes die as fast as it grew. "Anyways, I wouldn't waste my time on Soul writing as it takes a long time. So you can assume it is Hive as I don't have the materials to do Database." "B-But that's impossible!" she shouted, causing some of the 'mercs to look our way. "There is only three types; Will, Rend, and Control!" I rolled my eyes that she didn't hear the forbidden part. "Well, have a visit in the Black Archives that is locked away within Canterlot Castle. Celestia has quite the collection of Black Magic ready to be used," I smirked. "So, behave and I might release your friends here. Don't? Well, let's just say that they will forever be my slaves," I laughed as I turned around and walked away as a couple of 'mercs saw that they were out of their bonds and put them back on without a problem. Luna watched in horror as the dragon punched Rainbowdash in the stomach, causing her to writhe in pain from the impact before a thestral mercenary came up to him and asked a question before she left to the front of the line. Luna has been following them since they left the castle, using the cloud coverage to hid her from the powerful dragon and the Necromancer that hides amongst the group. She wanted to fly down and save Twilight and her friends, but if she did, then she wouldn't know what they were planning. Another thing that she couldn't use her power to annihilate them was the dragon and the Necromancer. Those two sent a chill down her spine as she didn't know what they were capable of. Especially the dragon. Never had she seen such unique weapons or armor on a warrior. The second she saw him leave the Tree Castle, she knew that he would be a formidable opponent both on land and in air, however. The two swords with the winged crossguards sent pure terror that screamed at her to run. She had to force herself just to be as close as she was, in order to hear what they were saying. Those two weapons told her that they could kill immortals with ease, and has done so before, but as much as she wanted to run. She had to find the one that knows about her past and save the Elements of Harmony and their bearers. Luna floated on the cloud for quite some time before the group decided to take a break under and an overhang of rocks on the side of a mountain that lead to a deep valley. She watched as they made camp and studied the dragon as he wrote in a strange looking book. She needed to know when they would rest for the night, and when to strike to save the Elements. She watched in silence as they made camp and fed the prisoners, wondering what they are doing all they way out here. She assumed that they were treasure hunters of some kind like the eccentric maiden, Daring Do. What they were looking for went over her head as she spotted a peculiar sight that frightened her to the core. 'Why is Sunset Shimmer aiding the Black Knights?' Luna thought as she watched the mare behind the mirror portal feed the prisoners. She didn't want to believe that the former student of her sister was back on the path of villainy, that she was being brainwashed by the necromancer that hides in the shadows of the group, but after she watched her feed her friends. The dragon got up after talking to the leader of the group and walked over the cage. Luna couldn't hear what he was saying as her cloud was too far away for even an audio enhancer spell to be effective, but she understood from the expressions that Twilight was making to the dragon. Luna let loose a sigh of relief as the dragon confirmed her fear that Sunset was under some kind of spell, as well as Gilda, Rainbow Dashes Griffin. With this fear displaced, a new one was made. The dragon was sitting back in his old spot with the baby kitten on his lap, sleeping soundly as he rubbed her back while he was looking right at her with a grin on his muzzle. Never had Luna felt so much fear being caused by staring into those deep, old, azure eyes that have seen things that no mortal should have ever had saw. All Luna wanted to do was run. Run and never come back. Her heart was racing a mile a second, her wings itched to flee, her muscles tensed up and her eyes dilated, but she didn't move. She couldn't for she had to save those ponies from a fate that she could only imagine that was bad, but now that the dragon knows that she was there, watching from behind a cloud. She had to act now before he acted for her. Luna gulped down her fear and flew down from the clouds to confront the group, and hopefully force the group to give back the ponies with words, rather than a fight. "I just hope that Tia doesn't come. Faust knows that she will burn everyone for kidnapping her student that she treats like a daughter," Luna mumbled under her breath as she watched the group scramble for their swords. > Chapter 19. How to train your Princess. I smiled as Luna flew down from her hiding spot, causing the entire mercenary group to point their swords at me. I got up as the Captain began to release the prisoners, fearing the wrath of the Goddess of the Moon. I stood up just as the Captain was about to confront me with his Warhammer and grabbed the flat case on my back and opened it, revealing my scythe Lupus for all to see. I spun the six-foot long scythe with a four-foot long blade around me in a show of skill and strength. The Captain and his compatriots backed off for a moment and decided to surround me as Luna walked up to meet me. I gave them a toothy grin as I prepped my Tome to add them all to the HiveMind while I watched as Raven hid behind a group of rocks. I waited as Luna walked up to me with the now free Elements of Harmony at her side, ready to take me on, but what they don't know was my trump card, if I should choose to use it, but for now. I should try and convince Luna to join me rather than add her to the HiveMind by force. I need as many brainwashed followers as I could get. "Ah~ Luna, what a pleasant surprise!" I cheered as she broke the circle of sword and spear-wielding ponies with very smug looking ponies with her. She gave me a huff of fear-filled anger in response. "Care to explain why you had the Element bearers in a cage, dragon?" she hissed, pretending that she wasn't afraid of me. I smiled as I put away by scythe for the time being knowing that Discord said she was hunting me. For what reason, I could only guess, but if I should make a mention that Discord said she was looking for someone, I should gain the advantage. "Why, because I need them of course! They are part of my very important plan of epic proportions. That and Discord said you were looking for someone," I smirked as I placed a hand on Nix and watched Luna squirm as she thought about the words I said. While she was temporarily distracted, I turned on my Hive spell, entrapping everypony but the six and Luna with ease. 'Now I don't have to worry about backstabbers and for them to be bombs,' I thought. "And what, pray tell, is this plan of yours?" she asked in an indifferent tone. "Why it's simply really! I plan on finding the lost city of the ancients. The city where Human turned Griffin used to reside," everyone froze in awe and horror. Luna stared at me with new found curiosity as Twilight's mouth dropped open, mumbling, 'human,' over and over again. The ponies around me who don't know that I have them in my control dropped their weapons in bewilderment. Even Raven popped her head out to look and stare at me in pure bafflement. "T-That's impossible! How can you know of the creators of Equus!?" Luna demanded. 'Creators of Equus? That's new. I know that Twilight went to a world of humans, but why would Luna think of something different? Another question for later.' "Why, because I can read their language. Ya know what the Twelve Elder Scrolls were written in," I said snapping my fingers while pulling out the one about Mark Borne talking about her birthday, and read it out loud, causing Luna's eyes widen in heartfelt shock. Once I was done reading it, I put it back in my hammerspace just as Luna began to cry about a memory long ago. 'Okay, phase two, recapture the Elements and see if she will join by force or by herself.' "Guards, recapture the prisoners. I will deal with Luna," I ordered while Luna was stuck in her flashback. The 'mercs did what I told them to do, causing the bearers to flip out and try to escape, but they were quickly knocked out and re-tied. As they were thrown back into the cage with Ruby, Luna finally broke out of her daze to stare at me like she was conflicted about something. I gave her a devious smile and sat down on my rock again. "So Luna here is the deal. You come with me quietly and I will tell you about your real past. Or I drag you by force and trust me when I say it. You don't want the force," I said. She shook herself from her daze and wiped away a stray tear and glared at me with new found hate. "How dare you speak of uncle Mark you filthy dragon!" she shouted at me. I just raised a brow and kept a neutral expression. "I dare speak because my goal is to save his legacy and last I checked. You were part of his legacy. So I will ask you once again. Come quietly or else." She gritted her teeth in irritation and considered my offer from what her face was saying, but I know from my first answer that I gave her, Discord had told her something. I need to get her on board the Solstice train with her knowledge of King Mark. If she still has strong feelings for him, then there was a chance that her memories weren't touched other than the time she was turned into Nightmare Moon. I should keep a safe distance, I don't know what a moody Luna with fear coursing through her veins would do. "Fine, I will come with you quietly, only if you can answer this one question," she said almost growling. "Very well, what is it?" I said as I gripped the pommel of Nix. "Are you the one that Discord said you could help me with my past and what are your real plans with the Elements?" I smiled in victory but kept an open eye out for anything that could be a problem. "That was two questions but I'll bite. The first one is a 'yes,' and as for the second one. I can't tell you until we are at our destination as we will be in danger once Celestia returns from her trip from within the Mirror," I replied. Luna stared at me in confusion before she sighed knowing that with everything around her would cause her sister to act harshly towards me. She lowered her guard and looked at the caged ponies with guilt as I put away my two special blades back in the hammerspace to give Luna some comfort around me. Her wings slumped and sat beside me as the 'mercs settled down from their initial panic while Raven came back out from hiding and sat close to me as well. Luna gave her a dirty look and made a comment about her being a necromancer, but left her alone. I yawned and got ready for the tomorrow's events. Luna and the others watched in curiosity as I flew high into the sky over the valley just as Luna raised the sun for her sister. Happy with the sleep I got and not waking up in a cage made by Luna made me quite happy that she held true to her word, but the Elements weren't too happy. Once the ponies woke up back in the cage, they were absolutely heartbroken and angry that Luna was on my side for the time being. Once they realized that there was no convincing the Princess to save them, I smiled as the light in their eyes died in acceptance that not even the Princess of the Moon was going to save them. With that, all said and done, and with everypony ready to go after a warm breakfast. The 'mercs cleaned up camp as I got my ship. I yawned as I prepped to pull out an entire ship out of my ass. The ponies, Griffins, and Luna watched in curiosity as to what I was doing. I smiled as I felt my dragon fire welled up in my chest as I got ready to burp out my ship. Once I was ready as the sun was passed the summits of the nearby mountains. I sent out a giant ball of fire that filled the entire valley in black flame as I burped out the ship. I held onto the spell until the ship was out and once it was, I cut off the spell and saw the crowd's jaws were on the ground to a sight that shouldn't be possible. Hovering in the valley was The Winters Aria in all her glory. I flew down to her as she hovered quietly over the valley and entered the Bridge. I walked up to the main console and turned her on and flew her closer to the side of the mountain where the camp was and dropped the stern loading platform and flew back to them. I stood in front of Luna as she and the others stared at the ship and ordered the 'mercs to load up while I carried the dazed Princess onto the ship, ready to leave the country. > Chapter 20. Fragment. Twilight Sparkle sat in a black cage with Rainbow Dash with two, small, bunk beds and a toilet. Beside them to the right was Rarity and Pinkie Pie and to the left was AppleJack and Fluttershy in their own cells. Twilight watched Dash try to break out of the cell, but it was fruitless. She could tell that cells walls were so heavily fortified that not even Celestia could break out with brute force alone. The walls were as tough as dragon scales and the bars were just as strong. The cell could only be opened by a switch in the guard office, which was being occupied by a Griffin named Gloria. How they ended up in this mess, she would never understand until the black dragon stops giving her vague answers that just made more questions. What was worse was that Princess Luna went to his side and aided him in their recapture. Twilight was heartbroken that she went to his aid so easily. Just a mention of an uncle she never heard of was enough for Luna to abandon her friends for some stranger. How the dragon came to learn of such knowledge of something that was never recorded, baffled her. Not only that, but she didn't understand why Luna didn't outright attack the dragon either. It was like she was afraid of him. Twilight caught Luna glancing at the strange swords he was wielding over and over again like they would come out of their sheaths and eat her. If those weapons of death and disharmony were so dangerous, then why would Luna aid him rather than stop him? "Nothing makes sense anymore," Twilight muttered silently to herself. She sighed and just as she was about to lay down on the somewhat comfortable bunk bed, she heard a set of hooves walk down the hall. Twilight instantly turned around in the hope that she could convince one of the mercenaries to free them, but that hope died as fast as it came, as Luna stood in front of their cell with remorse in her eyes. "What are you doing here, traitor?" Rainbowdash hissed. Luna's ears flattened to the venom in the cyan mares voice in a hard flinch, but her voice didn't waver. "I am here to give some information about yo-our situation," she replied, causing Twilight to look at her with confusion. "How do we know that you aren't lying to get us to worship that dragon like the mercenaries?" Rainbow demanded. Luna just shook her head as Twilight sat beside Rainbow to talk to the Princess while the others listened in silence. "You don't, but I can answer some questions about what Winter Octavious Solstice plans for us," she said. Twilight perked up to the chance before Rainbowdash could say anything else and spoke in a somber voice. "Why didn't you help us? Why didn't you fight him to rescue us? What is so important that he knows that you didn't help us like we helped you?" "It wasn't that simple Twilight Sparkle," Luna sighed. Twilight and her friends just stared, wondering why she said those words. "If...If I were to have attacked him. He could have killed me like I was nothing but a pest. I didn't know what his swords were made of that frightened me so, but now that I do know. If I were to receive a single scratch from either of them...I would have died, instantly." Twilight and her friends gasped in fright as to what could kill a God with a scratch. The thought of it shouldn't be possible, yet that dragon had weapons that shouldn't exist at all. "What are they made of?" Rainbowdash asked in slight fear. "One sword was forged in the fires of Heaven, and the other was forged in the fires of Hell. I have seen them both unsheathed and it was a terrifying sight. No mortal should be able to be bathed in both Hellfire and AngelFire at the same time. Whoever he is, he is something not to be trifled with," Luna replied causing the mares to go silent for a moment before Twilight spoke up again. "Let's move away from the impossible dragon for a moment and talk about why you are with him," Twilight asked. Luna nodded with another sigh. "It is complicated, to say the least. He knows answers for questions that have been causing me much grief since my return. I made the poor choice of asking Discord for help with finding these answers as well, but he just pointed me to the dragon. I cannot tell you about my questions as they are very personal, but what I can tell you is that we are heading to the ancestral land of the first Griffin King. Once we are there, Solstice will tell you everything you want to know, and as for my ulterior motive. I need to know what he is up to, and why he knows about the Creators." Twilight sighed as she knew that she won't get any straightforward answers from the dragon or Luna until they arrive in a place that doesn't exist. "Creators?" AppleJack spoke up. "Ya mean those hoo-mans that are from 'tha other side of the mirror thing?" she asked. Luna just shook her head. "Those beings aren't Human, not fully anyway. They have their shape from what a dear friend of mine told me, but they aren't the Creators of old." AppleJack frowned at the answer but kept her peace. "What's the difference?" Rarity asked. "Humans were known as omnivorous and that had mastery of all forms of magic. They were also known as begins of conflict and as such, they never knew the peace that we have today," Luna replied, unsure of what to remember from what her uncle Mark had told her about them. Twilight and the group, however, we're appalled that these humans ate other beings and all decided not to talk about it further. `"So, what is our dungeon master up to now?" Twilight asked breaking the silence again. `"He is currently looking for something important on the ship. What it is, I don't know, but he said it was important to find before we enter the Sea of Death." I pinched the bridge of my snout as I sat on top of my bed in frustration that the key to my memories was a bitch to find. I knew that I was clever in hiding shit that could be very important in the future, but this utterly stumped me. It didn't help that Raven was sleeping on my bed after we stopped for the night just a hundred miles out to sea when she said she would help me. No matter what I thought of to aid in my search or Ravens ranting about how much of a peasant I was. I couldn't find the key. I sighed and moved to my desk to look through my journal once more to see if I left a subtle clue in the pages as to where I could have possibly hidden the key. As I search through the poor Grammer and hundreds of misspelled words, I thought about how much time I had until Celestia returned from her trip. If what Luna said was correct, then I have about a week left before her eyes are on the six in the dungeon again. Though, with what Sunset did to convince them to her trap. I should have two weeks before Celestia realizes that something was amiss if she didn't stalk her Elements of Harmony like a vulture. Having that extra time is a blessing that I would need in the long run. After a while of searching in my journal, the more frustrated I became. It wasn't the fact that I was a horrible writer, it was the fact that I couldn't find the key. In my frustration, I decided to burn the book with the candle on my desk that was lighting the room in a dim orange glow. What I expected was for the book to slowly burn and turned to ash, but it didn't happen. Instead of burning to cinders, the book glowed for a moment before killing the fire. I frowned that my light was out and curious that the book didn't turn to ash like it should have. I re-lit the candle, wondering why the book didn't burn. Sure it was just a collection of my thoughts about my short time in my Equestria, but it wasn't something that I would protect with a spell. "Well, let's see what kind of spell it is then," I sighed as I activated a scrying spell. The second I looked at the book, I froze in confusion. Just like the door in my head, the book had the same amount of runes and magic circles on it, but without the lock and chain. "What the fuck?" I muttered as I slowly opened the cover, fearing the worst. Then, as I turned to the first page, I saw a spell hidden in between the lines. I decided to read it in my head to try to understand what it was about, but after I read the first sentence of the complex spell. Every word on the page vanished. I frowned that I only got a small portion of the spell figured out, but before I made a complaint. My head felt funny. So funny in fact, that my vision slowly faded to black, and I passed out before I could save myself from the trap that was held within my journal. I woke up to a strange sight after I blacked out from a trap spell that I must have set up in that journal and forgot about it. Standing in front of me with a wolfish smile was a creature I have never seen before. His skin was slightly pale, he had azure eyes and a flat face. The hair on top of his head was barely over his eyes and messy like he just woke up from a nap, and it was black. He wore a; black trench coat, black shirt, black cargo pants, black leather boots, a black collar with a snowflake medallion as a dog tag, and he was sporting two .44 magnums at his sides. What was even stranger was the room we were in or lack of a room. We stood in a strange meadow underneath as cherry blossom tree during the twilight hour. I frowned at the creature, figuring that he was a threat. He let out a chuckle as I stood up. "Man, it's been a while since I have seen you," the creature smiled. I just continued to frown in confusion. "Don't be like that, Winter. Your forehead will wrinkle faster with age if you do." My frown deepened that the creature knows me, but I not him. "How do you know my name?" I asked, ready for a fight. He just laughed at me and patted my shoulder like we were best buddies. "Because I am you my incestuous brother!" he cheered, causing me to just stare at him like he was insane. "What do you mean by that?" I asked in disbelief just as we began to walk down from the small hill to a strange looking cog-shaped door with, '101,' on it. "Well, because you are one-fourth of me, and it's about time you showed up too. I was starting to think you died or something." 'Died? This...Is this guy me? How...How is this possible? If I am just one-fourth of him, then does that mean that I am just a fragment of an even stronger being? And what will happen to me if he should reclaim me? Would I die and he gets to live? I...I don't want to die. Not after all the bullshit I went through!' I thought with worry. The being just sighed and gave me a knowing smile as we walked into the room that was hidden behind the giant door. "Listen, buddy, I know what is going on in that head of yours, and I can tell you that no matter what you do. You will die in a year as being just a fragment of a soul. You will slowly degrade into nothingness. Especially a soul like yours. If you had the eye, then I could have made you your own soul and transfer your consciousness into it, but you don't, and if your try to fight me for control. You will lose as I hold thousands of years worth of fighting knowledge from our stalker, Dexter. The dead waifu God of Space, Time and the Void." "How did you know that I was thinking that?" I asked as my hopes were crushed in the realization that if I were to fight him, he will end me before I could leave a single mark on him. "Well, I am you and you are me. That, and I am extremely good at guessing," he replied. "Anyways, before I re-absorb you and take back control...And get us back to seventy-five percent power. Have any last words? 'Ya know. Ones without revelations about waifu's and other stuff, cause they suck in my opinion," he shrugged as we walked down gray metal corridors that was as sterile as a hospital. I thought of many questions to ask him. Things about where I was from, why am I here and other stupid things. I thought about how I could beat him and take control, but I knew that I would lose. I had to wonder where we are and why everything looked to real? Such things shouldn't be possible for one person to make, yet here we were. Walking down the halls of Vault 101 from the fallout universe. I sighed as we came up to the main atrium and sat down with a bottle of Nuka-Cola waiting for us. "Yeah...What will happen to me?" I asked, in strange contempt that I was okay with this as I drank the cola. He gave me a warm smile and spoke again. "Your memories will join mine, filling the gaps as it were. Your part of our soul will merge back into place, giving us back most of our power, which is Alicorn-tier by the way. You will pass on and once I wake up in your place. The eye will do everything in its power to return to us. And all of it will be painless. Anything else?" he asked. I just shook my head, knowing that it would be pointless to ask things that I will learn once I merged with him. "Then good night. Sleep tight and don't forget to bring your towel." He said before he pulled out one of his guns and aimed it at my face. I closed my eyes, knowing that this was the end of my short life. Then again, I don't have to deal with the Sun Tyrant anymore. 'Such a bittersweet ending to me, the fragment. Oh well, everything is his problem now,' I thought as I heard the loud boom from the gun, causing everything to fade to nothingness. Raven woke up to a peculiar sight. On the floor was the Griffin turned dragon, sleeping on the floor with a book in his claws. She figured that he passed out on the desk and fell over and walked up to his side with a pillow in her beak and carefully lifted his giant head, and placed the pillow under it. "If only you weren't a member of the Void, I could have fallen for you," she muttered before she jumped into the air as the dragon suddenly bolted upright and began to look around hysterically for enemies that don't exist. She frowned at him for scaring her as they met eyes on the floor, but he just smiled that frightened her to the very core. "Guess who has their memories back?" he said almost laughing. Raven shook herself from the slight fear that she loved and answered in a tired voice, already knowing the answer. "Who?" "Me," he said as he stood up. "And the best part, I also have most of my power back as well." Raven froze at that statement and watched in horror as the dragon put his armor back on and added a few more strange weapons to his person. 'He...He has most of his power back? What does that even mean?!' Raven thought as Winter gave her a raised brow while holding two strange black clubs in his claws. "It means that I, Winter, Slayer of the demon Malice, Killer of Goddess Moirai, Tamer of Darkness, Seducer of Angels, Conqueror of 2 million vaginas, Master of Chaos, Sigil of Deus Ex Machina, Traveler of the Void, Knight of Twilight, Master of all that is Holy, and Scholar of the first Sin, has returned." > Chapter 21. Ship Master. I walked around the ship, checking on all systems and making sure all of it was working in top condition. I don't want anything coming apart when we enter the storm. As I walked around the ship with Raven at my side, much more scared of me than usual, probably because I freaked her the fuck out a few hours ago. It is good to know that she was still trying to find a way to control me. That thought is welcoming to know that she still cares about me enough to still want me to be her slave. As we walked around the ship, I had to make sense of all the information that my fragment had acquired. With Celestia as a tyrant that even this universe's version of Discord had to try and stop her. How he did it was a bit useless in the long run, but it set the stage for the inevitable. With all the work that my fragment had done in the world. I was quite happy with him and all that he had done, but now I have to pick up the slack where he left off, and at seventy-five percent power. Though, it is concerning that Celestia has my eye which held the other twenty-five percent power, but the second she comes back to Equestria from her trip in the mirror. She will struggle on trying to keep that power to herself as the eye will want to return to me, its perfect host. We both came up to the forge on the ship where we found that Luna was exploring. We both stopped in the doorway and watched her frown in confusion to the thousands of Runes that I placed on the smelter, hammers, and forge. I could tell that she was trying to understand their purpose, and was failing. I would tell her that my entire smithy setup can make anything and everything. From swords that could kill angels to guns that can obliterate demons. That this is the birthplace of the two weapons she fears most, but I have to hold my tongue for now. There is no telling what she would do if she were to try and activate the runes without an affinity for them, as one wrong activation could kill her instantly. "Ahem!" I coughed out loud, causing her to jump in surprise. She turned towards me with a sheepish smile and backed away from my smelter. "I wouldn't touch anything in here without my permission and supervision because if you activate one wrong rune. It will kill you if you are not immune to its effects," I scolded her. She took a step back in shock and stared at the smelter with new found curiosity, then back to me like she was caught stealing from the cookie jar. "I was just curious as this place seems to be the most used out of all of the rooms on the ship," she said as she walked over to me and Raven. "You are correct as this is the place where I made most of my weapons and armor. I spent more time here working on my arsenal that flying the ship, which we should be getting to the bridge as we are about to enter the storm," I replied and turned around and began walked to said bridge. "O-Of course, ship master, but can I ask what those Runes are for?" she asked. "Those Runes are in the language of the ancients. Those Runes also hold Tartarus together and keep the demons held within. So don't mess with them as they will kill you if you don't know what they mean, and no I won't teach you how to read it. If you want that knowledge, you will have to find the forest known as, FernGully and gain the information from the great tree known as, Gandalf the white." She gave me a disheartened frown and kept quiet for the rest of the walk. Luna sat on the bridge of the ship with Winter, the black dragon waiting at the helm for Captain Black Rose to arrive. She marveled at the immense complexity of the ship as it was far more advanced that what Equestria has. The unique technology and power output of the ship could very well power an entire city! That alone could revolutionize aviation in mere months when it took hundreds of years, however. As much she wanted to explore the ship to see what kind of unique thing that it could do. All she could focus on was Winter's eyes and aura. Luna knew that there was something different about the dragon. He was much more confident and open about things, but those were small in comparison to what his aura around him was like. Before they entered the ship, his aura was weak and small. Like a timid flame that could easily be snuffed out. Now it was like a mountain of fire, threatening to burn the entire world. It was no ordinary fire either that she felt. No, his aura was not only destructive but kind and gentle, like his fatherly and wise eyes that sent chills down her spine. His new aura was the color of an azure flame. Warm to the touch, but can burn through anything that dares play with it. Then there are his eyes. Like his aura, they changed. They weren't just cold and calculating anymore. Now they held much more. Like his aura, they were warm and kind that held wisdom that no mortal should ever have. Those eyes were also like looking into a protective fathers soul. Luna instantly knew that he has a child from this fact, but there was more to it. It was like if she were to ask the question to learn where his child was. Then she will be killed on the spot regardless of what he thinks of her. But there was something else, something that shouldn't be there. If one were to look long enough into his azure eyes, they would lose themselves to the endless void held within. 'A common aspect for a Knight of the Void,' Luna thought, knowing how dangerous it was to dare meet the gaze of a void walker. And if Winter was, in fact, a Void Knight, then his mere presence will destroy the world. Luna silently watched as Captain Black wing entered the bridge with a scowl on his face. Luna saw Winter take notice of the scowl as she backed away slightly towards the table with a coffee pot and several cups on it. The two Captains stopped in front of each other in front of the helm and went into a staring contest for a moment before the Black grunted and looked away. Winter smirked as he turned to the Captains chair to watch Raven spin around on it before laying down and closing her eyes for a nap. That's when Black decided to say his peace. "What the fuck did you do to my crew?" Black hissed at the amused dragon in armor. "Insurence, which has the side effect of subconsciously influencing individuals into revering the one who placed said insurance on them," Winter said flatly before turning back to the helm and hitting a button on the main console, causing the ship to lurch suddenly and pick up speed she never thought was possible. "Insurence? Isn't our oath enough?" Black growled in resignation. "Not after the stunt you tried to pull when Luna showed up, but if it makes you feel better. You are also under the spell as well," Winter said in a much more intimidating tone the caused Black to back away to the sudden change in atmosphere. "T-That was..." "Don't bother trying to save your ass!" the dragon almost shouted. "That was strike one with you Black, and unless you want to meet the same fate as your sister. I suggest you keep betrayal off of your list of bullshit because you are the only one that has survived this long after such actions. And if you want to know what happened to the other people that betrayed me. I sent them into slavery with a pack of Diamond Dogs who owned a brothel where every kind of race could go to for some fun." Winter hissed at the trembling Captain. "Y-Yes, my Lord," the Captain replied in a soft whisper before backing away from the livid dragon. Winter huffed in response and turned his attention to the storm that was approaching at insane speeds. Luna froze at the storm and wished that they didn't have to go in for a reason that Winter won't tell them. The storm was as long as the coastline of the eastern sea of Equestria. Thousands of lightning strikes could be seen in the dark clouds that tower into the sky like black monoliths that threatened to devour any and all who enter, but that wasn't the worst that she could see. Just as Winter touched the steering wheel for the ship to manually fly it, a giant sea serpent jumped out of the water and flew into the clouds. The serpent was easily ten times the size of the ship, and could fly. Luna knew such horrors existed in the storm that they were about to enter, but seeing it for real made her more fearful of the storm than the Captain of the ship, but that quickly changed when she saw the biggest most insane smile that the black dragon had plastered on his face. It was like seeing a child in a candy store and was told that they could have all the candy they want for free and that thought upset her. Luna wanted to tell the Captain to turn around and find another way, but she couldn't because of what he might do to her. She knew that he has the power to add her to his HiveMind spell, and permanently make her his slave. She knew that is what he will do to her if she tries to stop him. The only thing that she could do was pray to mother Faust that nothing bad will happen and that the journey will not end with the death of so many. I smiled in the pure, childish joy of what I just saw as I directed the ship to follow the hurricane grade winds of the storm. The serpent that came out of the storm looked exactly like a colossus from my favorite game of all time. It had the half-stone half-fur combo too! The serpent had friends that protected the island as well. Then this trip was going to be like a trip to Dindywhirl! Luna gave me a strange look before backing away and began tying herself into one of the empty chairs of the room. Black also had the same idea before he made sure Raven was secure in the Captains seat, but that didn't matter at the moment as I felt the ship begin to be pulled into the storm. I cracked another demonic smile as I hit the accelerator and guided the ship into the storm and watched as we were slowly engulfed by the pure darkness that only lit up to flashes of lightning. I put the ship into autopilot and prepped my scythe as I was going to need it in a few minutes. Luna gave me a strange look before the sound of rain hitting the hull of the ship like bullets signaled me that it was show time. I walked over to the emergency door of the bridge with Lupus in hand, getting ready to defend the ship from whatever hides in the storm. If that serpent was any indication, then bid monsters was on the list to look out for. Just as Luna and the others were about to say something, I gave them a salute before I opened the door and jumped out. "Divinum Praesidium," I said, casting a spell to protect me from everything as I walked on the hull of my ship to the bow. I smiled as lightning flashed, revealing silhouettes of thousands of giant creatures that lurk in the storm as the wind and thunder kill all sound to nothing but loud, defining booms of pressure. Rain threatened to blind me and prevent me from gaining any traction on the hull of my ship. The roars and screams of monsters that brush up against the ship was awe inspiring. The weight of my armor didn't hinder me, the rain didn't hinder me, nothing in the storm hindered me as I wait in a vigil for my first opponent that dared try to stop us from reaching the island. Then, in a flash of lightning, a creature much smaller than I thought would strike first stood on the bow of my ship in a suit of armor that looked like something out of, Warhammer. Its face was completely hidden behind a mask that looked like it could breathe underwater. It's oversized pauldrons looked more like of a hindrance than protection. And how it was slightly shorter than me despite the giant boots that gave it an easy, one-foot height boost. I cracked a smile as I watched it pull out a sword that looked like it was made out of lightning from its sheath and pointed it at me like it was challenging me to a duel. With a flick of the wrist, I twirled my scythe around my body like I was dancing with it. I stopped it with the main blade to my right foot pointing out, and the pommel blade over my left shoulder in my preferred stance before I bolted at the Space Marines knock-off. The knock-off had the same idea and rushed at me too as the roars of the wind and thunder permeate the area. The light coming off its lightning blade helped me see where he was when there was no lightning to illuminate the area as we close blades in a deadlock. I smiled at the masked figure as a flash of lightning showed the better details of his face mask before I pushed him back on the slippery surface. He stumbled for a second before we locked blades again. I groaned that the knock-off was a lot faster than he appeared, but I didn't let that fact throw me off. This time, he pushed me away and I went sliding back before I rolled to the side, barely dodging a down swing that left a bad mark on the hull of my ship. He didn't let up though as he thrust his blade into my chest as I was recovering from the initial roll. I flicked my scythe around my back in a quick parry, causing his blade to go flying into the air. I smirked at the knock-off before I brought the staff down on his head while he was distracted. The knock-off wasn't as quick as I thought he was as he took the full force of the swing and collapse down to one knee. I placed the main blade to the throat of my attacker as his sword came back down and landed in my free hand and began to shock me. I smiled at the little sword then to my opponent who sounded like he was laughing from within his helm, but that died when he saw that I was fine and dandy. "Sorry mate, but I am immune to all lightning based attacks. Try again next time," I said before I knocked him out and teleported him into the dungeon of the ship with a teleportation crystal I made a few hours prior. I moved back to my original position at the bow to see if there were any more strange people to fight. As I walked back in the horrible storm, the ship flew off course, causing me to fall off the hull and watch as a ginormous creature come out of the water. I opened my wings and took to the sky. I flew back to the ship as every single monster began attacking The Aria. The weapons systems came on, killing anything that got to close as it adjusted back into its original trajectory. Creatures, the size of small buildings attacked the ship while the big one that bitched slapped it a hundred miles away gave me its full attention. The giant that was the size of Canterlot mountain and looked like Malus from Shadow of the Colossus, but a hundred times bigger. It's giant black arms glowed from hundreds of yellow rings that adorned it. Its entire body looked like a building had sex with an animal. Malus 2.0 lifted one of his arms and pointed its hand at me. Before I could react, balls of lightning shot out of its hands, hitting me square in the chest. I dropped out of the sky like a rock as my body seized up from the insane amount of voltage that thing shot at me. If it wasn't for my protection spell that I placed on myself, I could have died. I leveled out and flew as fast as I could around him, making a plan to kill the creature before I become its dinner and my ship its fleshlight. I weaved back and forth as the oversized Toys-R-us shot an endless stream of lightning balls at me while I searched for a way to take him down. I looked over his body, prodding for a weakness. The only spot I could find, however, was its head. As much of a cliche that was, it was the only chance I had as my ship was struggling to deal with all of the creatures attacking it. Even Luna who was outside of the ship was having a hard time. I grunted as the wind tried to force me into the water and bolted towards the creatures building-body to avoid its ranged attacks. I dodged a few more shots before I closed my wings and began to climb the creature. Malus didn't like that one bit and tried to shake me off. I would have been having so much fun with this, but that fun died when he slapped my baby out of the sky. I grunted as the rain and blinding flashes of light coming from the lightning in the sky made it near impossible to climb the beast. The beast itself didn't like that I was now on its back heading straight for its neck. Another monster didn't like that either and jumped onto the back of Malus just a few yards below me. I groaned in frustration as the cat building thing from, El Dorado the animation began to chase me on the back of the monster. I jumped to a ledge that would give me a better footing and pulled out Silence and took aim at the new monsters green, stone eyes, and pulled the trigger. BANG! The creature screamed in agony as half of its face tore off to the bullet that could take down an Apache Helicopter, in a single shot, but the monster kept climbing. All the while Malus tried to shake us off his back. I jumped to the ledge above me, barely dodging a claw that dug into the back of Malus. This cause the beast to shake more violently, causing the other creature to lose its footing and giving me the opening I needed to get rid of him. I shot at the cat things paws as it tried to regain its placement, but it couldn't. My shots caused the creatures claws to disintegrate, making the creature fall off of Malus's back and back into the ocean from whence it came. "One down, a fuck-ton to go," I sighed as I put Silence back into the hammerspace and went back to climbing. Winter! Where are you! We need your help! shouted Raven from the link we were connected by as I grunted my way onto the head of Malus, who was now shaking like he was listening to heavy metal. "Hold the fuck on!" I shouted as I thrashed back and forth on the creatures head as he tried to throw me off. If you hurry the fuck up now! You can have your way with me! Shouted Raven through the link as I was flung from the top of Malus's head and into the air. I raised a brow to that before I unsheathed Nix and, with a powerful flap of the wings. I slammed my blade into the skull of Malus, causing him to burst into black flames, incinerating him within seconds. I watched from afar as the thing that was Malus 2.0 fall back into the ocean. "Two down, a fuck-load more to go," I sighed as I turned to The Aria and saw the Luna was struggling with a bunch of small, rock-tigers trying to get into the ship. I groaned in annoyance and flew over there, just as the ship was leaving the storm and back into open air. I landed on the hull as the ship left the storm and an island came into view. The rock-tigers took notice of me, and all five of them charged at me. I sighed and lifted my hand with the palm facing at the tigers. Once they were halfway towards me I said, "Crepitus," causing all five of them to explode into nothing but rubble. I collapsed to on a knee, knowing that I was on the verge of complete mana depletion. Luna came back out of the ship while sporting a suit of armor that I have never seen before, but made her look immensely sexy. I gave her a warm smile as I stood back up to great the sexy mare in armor. "Hey, beautiful. Nice weather we're having, eh?" she stopped just a few paces away from me with a big red blush. "What's wrong? Tall dark and handsome make to hot for you to approach without blushing like a little school girl?" I chuckled, causing Luna's blush to deepen. "N-N-NO! I just wanted to make sure you were alright! That's it! No bad thoughts about you and I in bed! I swear!" Luna blurted out like a smooth criminal, telling me that she has a thing for dragons and dragons that could kick her ass. "Sure you are, Woona~" I teased, causing her wings to go full retard. "Your twins don't lie either," I chuckled pointed at her wings. Luna's face went completely red as she struggled to hide her wing boner. I laughed for a moment before she kicked me in the stomach, just as the ship stopped at the beach of the island. "You are the worst!" she pouted as she pinned me to the hull of the ship. I rolled my eyes as we went from being serious about the monsters to cheeky lovers. Since I was currently single and bored. I smacked away her hoof playfully, causing her to fall on my face. Her eyes went wide as I pulled her into a kiss, but then the closed as she leaned into my embrace. Confirming she does have a thing for dragons. > Chapter 22. Landfall. Luna stared off into space for a long while as everypony unloaded the ship with supplies they will need. The ride through the storm where horrid monsters tried to drag them down into the ocean, but that didn't matter to her at the moment as she tried to hold onto the kiss that the dragon gave her for caring about him, even though she didn't trust him. All she could think about was Winters musk, the way his scaley lips made her purr with safety and pleasure. She didn't even hear the Elements of Harmony calling out her name as they were forced to walk on the warm sand of the islands beach. Raven had to snap her out of her trance by throwing water in her face. Luna frowned at the little necromancer for removing her from her fantasy of the Void Knights lips. But she was thankful for it as everyone was out of the ship and ready to move. Luna walked over where Captain Black was standing beside Raven, Sunset Shimmer, and even Twilight Sparkle in her armor. None of them noticed her except for Raven who was the one that brought her out of her trance in the first place. Luna noticed that they were more focused on the dragon and what he was doing with the ship. Then, just as everyone was looking with curiosity, Winter engulfed the entire ship with his fire. Luna felt a strange feeling as the fire completely encased the ship, but the feeling stopped the second Winter stopped the fire, revealing to everyone that the ship was gone. The dragon gave a big smile as he walked back to the group while they tried to wrap their heads around how he was able to make the ship disappear, but Luna quickly figured it out. That feeling was the same feeling she got whenever a hammerspace was being used. If the dragon has a hammerspace of his own that he can access at anytime or anywhere, then he could have a lot more than that ship ready to be used at a moments notice, and that thought frightened her. She knows that no one but the caster could enter their personal hammerspace as it is bound to their soul. If he has a ship that could traverse the Sea of Death without taking a scratch and killing everything inside. She could only wonder what else he has hidden within. "Alright guys, we will make camp here on the beach for now," Winter ordered with a smile as he stood without his armor but instead in a black trench coat, black leather boots, black cargo pants, and a black shirt. He was also wearing a black collar with a silver medallion of a snowflake on it. Captain Black spoke up to his order. "Anything else...Sir?" Black asked, still fearful of the dragon from earlier. "Yes, I want patrols to watch out for anything else that might attack. I know that there are more beings like the walking barrel over there..." he pointed to the blue being that was heavily chained on a wagon beside the other prisoners. "...And I don't like surprises." "As you wish," Black bowed before he left to do what he was ordered to do. "Now for the rest of you. Since I told you that once we made landfall, I would tell you all that you wanted to know. So ask away as we are going to be here for a couple of weeks," Winter said. I watched as their eyes went wide with joy that they finally got the chance to ask me what I have been holding back for the past couple of days. These questions will make or break Luna as they are heavily based on her. Twilight I could care less about for as she is just a puppet that I could use at any time, but that doesn't matter at the moment as Luna spoke first. This time without blushing like a little school girl. "HAHAHAHA!" the Space Marine knock-off laughed from within her bonds. All of us turned to see what was causing the thing to suddenly get excited and saw four figures walk out of the treeline with weapons drawn, and in the same style of armor as the person who laughed. I groaned in annoyance that the thing that I fought on the ship had friends, and so did Luna and Twilight, but for another reason. All but two of them were bipedal. The two I could easily tell that they were Griffins by the same of their armor, but the other two I could only guess. I sighed, knowing that a fight was going to happen, and changed my armor to something more light. The being stopped and stared as I changed my armor to my trench coat set up. They also looked at my new weapons that I was carrying, though, it was just my two .44 magnums and my none enchanted katana, but that didn't matter to them as more of those, rock-tiger-fur-things bolted out of the forest and charged straight at us. Luna and the mercenaries took the initiative and got into a defensive position around the prisoners while I groaned that nothing is going to be as easy as my time in Trottingham anymore. I watched as I walked over to the four that the rock-tiger-fur-things surround the group but didn't attack, which was interesting, to say the least. I bet the four are the ones that control the RockTigers. If that's the case, then attacking them outright could cause more problems in the long run if I were to search for the vault on the island, but they had other plans. "The biggest on in the group that held a giant greatsword charged at me with blinding speed. I pinched the bridge of my muzzle that the big guy, of all people, had to challenge me. I gripped Subtlety, my regular black, straight edge katana and waited for the right moment as the big guy that I am calling, Ted, charged at me while kicking up mountains of sand in his wake. Then, as he got into range. I drew my sword while saying the word, "Iaijutsu." Faster than the eye could see, I resheathed Subtlety and once it locked back into place. Ted and the line of trees behind him, split in half and collapsed to the ground. "Well, that was easy," I said with a smiled as Ted's blood pooled onto the golden-yellow sand. His friends took a step back and if I could see their faces. They would be staring at me with rage and horror. "Well? Who's next?!" I shouted at the three who had their weapons drawn and aimed at me. The rock-tiger-fur-things moved away from the mercenaries and made me their targets as well, but from the motion from one of the Griffin-shaped beings, they ran back into the forest. 'What a bunch of chickens,' I thought with a chuckle, but that merriment died when the other big guy charged at me, but this time, faster than Ted. I jumped into the air, barely dodging the battleax that was clearly oversized and in the shape of something unrealistic. I grunted and pulled out, Ash and Cinder, my two .44's and pointed them at the new guy that I am calling, Moa, and fired. Clack! Clack! Moa rolled out of the way as charged at me again as I touched the ground again. I ducked from a wide swing of the battleax and side-stepped back and jumped around her slashes like I was doing hardstyle. I laughed as I could feel her frustration grow with each miss as I looked for an opening to her flurry of haphazard of attacks. Then, when I thought I had her move-set figured out, she jumped back and pointed her hand out at me. Not wanting to let her do something crazy, I shot at her again, but this time. My bullets deflected off of a forcefield like they were nothing. Then as I took into account of her new abilities that suddenly popped up. The sand around me shot out of the ground and encased me in a coffin. "Alright, we have a Gara knock-off. She just lost the cute name of Moa, So what is her next move?" I muttered. "I know!" I cheered as I holstered my guns and clasped my hands, focusing my magic in them. Then once there was enough energy in my hands, I placed them on the walls of my sand coffin with an evil smile. "Magna Ventilabis!" I shouted, causing my entire prison to explode and everything else around me. I laughed as I stood in a small crater, watching the Gara knock-off step back in fear. I pointed my hand at her and with a snap of my fingers with my spell still activated. I sent the Gara knock-off flying into the nearest mountain. "Hehe, two down. Tow to go," I chuckled as I saw said the nearest mountain's peak, crumble to the addition that I gave it. I walked out of the crater towards the two remaining beings that were extremely hesitant to fight me as their fallen brethren. They trembled where they stood, wondering what to do next while everyone else just stared at me in awe. Except for the main six, they were as fearful as the two that were left alive. I sighed and snapped my fingers again, this time uttering the words, "Vincula Umbra," causing the two to be wrapped in chains made of their own shadows. Luna took this as a sign to rejoin me as I approached them with a bored expression on my face. She didn't utter a single word until we were looming over the two, Griffin-shaped beings with our weapons were drawn. With a sigh, I pointed my gun at the bigger being and cocked the hammer. "So, unless you want to end up like your friends. I suggest you tell us why you attacked when we did nothing wrong," I said with a neutral, emotionless expression. "I won't talk!" he said. Bang! I recocked the hammer and pointed it at the other guy's head with Luna looking at me in disgust for my brutality as the guy collapsed onto the ground. Dead. "Should I repeat the question, or are you going to talk? Cause I don't have time for bullshit while I am here." "I-I-I'll talk, please don't kill me," she whimpered in a meek and frightened, slightly childish, voice. I uncocked the hammer on my gun and holstered it with a smile. "Good, now go and sit by your friend over there and wait until I say so. Don't fight and you won't die." She give me a hesitant nod and quickly walked over to where the prisoners with her tail between her legs. I turned to Luna who was looking at me like I was a cruel and heartless demon that was incapable of any kind of mercy. Which was true for the most part. I know that I have my own little spot in hell if I were to go back, but that doesn't matter right now. I looked over to the forest to see if there was anything else looking to cause problems before I turned around and rejoined the mercenaries to assess my next move. After that whole first contact encounter we had, we set up camp for the night. The beach was the ideal place for the most part as it gave us the opportunity to see any and all who might attack us during the night. We didn't have another run-in with the armored begins or the rock-tiger-fur-things again, but I could tell that they weren't too far away. It was like they were studying us like a hunter to his prey. That wasn't something that I was expecting from the things that got there ass handed to them. Though, if they were looking for a weak point, I wasn't going to sleep so they could find it, which was fine with me in my dragon form. I could run at full sprint for day's without stop if I had too. With that in mind, I still had to set up patrols, much to the ponies in charge of that task dismay. I knew that after our first encounter, everyone was on edge, and they should be. Raven told me after she looked over the Space Marine knock-off, she found that the being was radiating necromana. A common trait for demons if I remembered my time in Tartarus correctly. Which made me think about the Vault as it was protected by demons and anything undead. 'If the demons were outside the Vault, then Grogars enchantments have either; lost control of them or vanished completely. If that was the case, then the only thing protecting the Vault now was the door that was made before Grogars time.' With the demons out of their cage, and possibly fucking like rabbits. I was going to have a hard time just getting to the hidden city, rather then finding Mout Liberty. Not to mention that I was dealing with a bunch of morons that would have all died to Giggles on the ship. Hell, even Luna had a hard time with her. I could only imagine how strong the Kingpin was, and that was something to look forward too. I sat on a tree log that was pulled out of the nearby forest with a cold stare aimed directly at Giggles while I ate a few gems to keep myself energized. I could tell from behind her mask that she was staring at me too, trying to gauge how strong I actually was, but I knew she wouldn't be able to find out. Not with a certain spell that I had ready to be used if I had to destroy the entire island in less than a second. We held our gaze at each other until I got bored and Luna made a seat next to me with the freed Twilight Sparkle again. I sighed, knowing that they will want to talk to me again as their first chance was cock-blocked from our friends that wanted to say hello and then goodbye because we were bad neighbors. "Captain Solstice, do you mind if we sit here to talk about the things that we were interrupted about earlier today?" Luna asked as she handed me a canteen of water with her telekinesis. "Sure, why not. Nothing bad is going to happen to us again today anyway," I said, taking the canteen from Luna's grasp and hoping that Murphy will come to my aid. He didn't. "Then care to answer where we are and what you are planning on doing here?" Twilight asked for Luna. I took a swig of water from the canteen to clear my throat before I spoke and made peace with them. "Alrighty then. The short answer is to gather information and possibly a few Lich Kings to aid in the murder of the Sun Tyrant and free the Griffin race. And what better place to start this campaign than in the land of the first Griffin King and father of Mark Borne, the land of Eden. Which is also the birthplace of the Thestrals in the southern mountains," I explained. Both of them had different expressions on their faces. Twilight had a look of absolute hatred while Luna just looked sad. 'Strange, I thought she would be on the rage and angst train. Oh, well.' "You...You are evil! Celestia is pure and good. She is not a Tyrant!" Twilight shouted in pure rage at me. "The fact that you would side with demons just proves that you the very definition of darkness! One would even say that you are The Prince of Darkness too!" she finished. Luna just stares at Twilight like she was about to be killed on the spot, but didn't say anything to defend her. I, however, just laughed like a maniac for saying my title before I snapped my fingers and handed her a lollipop. "You are right Miss Sparkle. I am evil because I have to do what's right. I have to bring peace and balance to this world. I am the very definition of darkness because I want to save and protect the suffering of an entire race while Celestia covets a power that turns pure souls in black sick that is so toxic, not even Hades would dare touch it with a five-hundred-thousand-million-foot pole. I am The Prince of Darkness, and you, my little pony, have earned yourself a lollipop for being so hypocritical. That I am surprised that the Elements even chose you to be their bearer of peace and harmony. Bravo-bravo Princess," I finished my rant with a slow clap in pure mockery of the raving pony. "What do you mean, Celestia covets a power that is so toxic, that not even Hades dares touch?" Luna asked as Twilight stormed off to cool down. I chuckled as I watched Twilight pass out from the amount of blood rushing through her veins overwhelmed before I turned to Luna, who looked like I just kicked a puppy at her. "It's simple really," I said, taking another sip from the canteen. "She has what is known as, The Seven Eyes of Chaos. A power that should have killed her within a year of acquiring it, and yet, she lives. It's a power that corrupts the person soul if the bearer uses it. The only way I got out of that deal was because of the Void aspect that I recently learned that I had, and let me tell you this. If she has full control of that power, she is a bigger threat than all the demons of Tartarus combined and has to be stopped at all costs." Luna just stared at me like she didn't want to believe what I was saying. Like I was lying to her with the biggest bullshit imaginable, but I knew how to make her believe. "I know you don't want to believe in my words, but let me tell you this: Mark saw Celestia create the demon known as, Nightmare Moon and planted it inside of you. She wanted to control you with that creature, but she failed and you used its dark powers to try and make the world a living nightmare. Because of this failure. Celestia banished you to the moon to weaken the demon's powers so she could purge you and try again. Tia never loved you, Luna. All she cares about is power and control, and she will do everything to get her way." Luna turned away from me and stared at the sand in silence. I could see tears dripping onto the sand like her entire world was crashing around her, but she needed to know. I knew that she could tell if I was lying or not, and I usually don't lie. Each word that I said must have hit hard on her reality of the lies that was told by those that said they loved her. 'Damn, she and I are almost the same in this world,' I thought as I placed a wing on her shoulder and brought her in for a hug. I smiled as she leaned in instead of fighting my touch. She mumbled something incoherent to me as she soaked my black shirt as I wrapped her in my wings. We stayed like that for most of the night until she fell asleep in my arms. > Chapter 23. Mockingbird. "Alrighty...Let's see what you look like underneath that helm of yours," I said as the Space Marine knock-off that her friend calls her, Maria, struggled to break free from the grasps of twenty ponies. "Don't you fucking dare!" she challenged just as the sun was rising in the east. I rolled my eyes and reached around to the back of the helm to find the emergency button to take off the helm. She whipped back and forth, trying to prevent me from figuring out how she looked like. At first, I would have been hesitant to take it off, but from what her friend had said about how she looked like, I just had to see if it was true or not. "Make me," I said as I hit the button, causing pressurized air to wheeze out of her helm. She kicked and screamed, making threats to kill me if I saw her face, but that had little effect on me. With one mighty pull, I took off her helm and her a collection of gasps from my mercenaries who were closest to her. "No way," I said as I dropped the helm in disbelief. Maria just looked away in disgust for herself, as well as all the others around her, but I couldn't. Maria sported two, goat-like horns that were black on her head. She had long and silky, crimson red hair. Her face was slightly pale and as refined as the, most, beautiful angels in heaven. Her pointed, long, elf ears had golden studs from base to tip. Her lashes were long, and smokey, making her gaze as seductive as a succubus. Her eyes were as red as her hair, but the white part was as black as her horns. All I could think about was why she thinks she isn't beautiful? She was absolutely stunning! "Yes, I am hideous just like my brethren! Are you happy now, dragon!" she yelled with tears in her eyes. I shook myself from my daze and frowned at her. She flinched and tisked at me before she looked away and waited in such a way. She looked like she was waiting to be hit for showing her face. I grabbed her head and forced her to look me right in the eyes. "Look at me in the eyes and answer me this," I said as her lip quivered in fear for something I cannot understand before she did what I asked. "Now that I have your full attention. I just want you to know that you are one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen, and it would be a shame to hide such a magnificent face behind a mask," I said with a warm smile. She and everyone else, even Luna and the main six, stared at me like I was a super freak that likes to get super freaky. But that didn't last with Maria who went from staring at me in utter disbelief to pure embarrassment. "What are you all looking at?" I said to the others. They all decided that their hides looked nice on their bodies and looked away or moved away to pack up camp. "That's what I thought," I said indifferently and turned back to Maria, who was now a mumbling mess of confusion with a cute little smile on her face. I chuckled at the poor girl who didn't know how to respond to my compliment. 'I still got it,' I complimented myself in my mind, but then another thought popped up that was rather concerning on my part. 'If demons are considered hideous by the locals, then do they still sever their old enchantments? If that's the case, and with there being locals on the island anyway. I can safely bet that the demons are slaves to whoever lives on this island. Whelp, since I am The Prince of Darkness again, a demon army sounds nice to have in the long run.' "Hey, Dragon!" shouted a very annoyed Maria, breaking me from my train of thought. I looked at her with a raised brow while I overheard Luna and Twilight shout at each other in the distance about something about me. "How can you find me attractive? Are you sick or something?" she hissed at me. 'Well, she just went back to hating herself and thinks I am a freak. Might as well see what I can do to gain her trust. Having her on my side could give me a foothold on the island, and I know just the spell!' "Hmpf, because of this. Corpus Praestrigia," I said, shrouding myself in an illusion that makes me look like I was a human again in Maria's eyes. "Trust me Kitten. You are very attractive in my eyes," I winked at her. "..." And she fainted. "Well, at least, I know that I can make an illusion of myself for a while," I said to the unconscious body in front of me. I turned off the illusion spell and pointed at the body. One of my guards came over and added her to the jail wagon and laid her next to the unconscious Twilight Sparkle, who had a black eye from something that I may have missed. Next to the bodies was Luna who was looking a little better from last night. But I could tell that she still held some resignation just by looking into her eyes. I could only hope that nothing bad will come from this. "You better lose yourself in the music, the moment. You own it you better never let it go!" Winter sang incoherently as the caravan of ponies trekked through the forest to the center of the island where the lost city of Eden hides. Twilight and her friends cringed at his rapping as they were forced to walk in chains right behind the black dragon. Her eye was sore from an argument that she had with Princess Luna about the lies that the dragon drowned her in. She knew that Celestia was pure and innocent. She would never harm anyone or anything. How could Luna just blatantly agree with everything that dragon says? She knew that there wasn't a city on this island. That was just impossible! There was too much dark magic resonating on the island for life to survive. The sheer saturation would kill them, or at worst. Corrupt them into monsters like the demon that walks in chains with them. Twilight looked back to the horrendous creature that shot sheepish smiles at the demented dragon that finds her beautiful. How such an ugly creature of pure darkness could exist? She would never know. The fact the Winter finds her attractive just shows how demonic he truly is. If Luna can't see it, she would use the Elements of Harmony to prove it, but she has to wait for the right moment before she could strike. "Now Hush little baby, don't you cry. Everything's gonna be alright," Winter sang a new song that sounded like a misunderstood lullaby. Twilight looked over to Rainbowdash to see if he knew what he was singing about now. She saw that Rainbow was lip singing the song with the dragon as she looked around like this was normal for her while everyone else looked like they were about to be eaten by the stone monsters that hide in the shadows. "Daddy's with you in your prayers. No more crying, them tears," Twilight cringed at that as they walked over a small hill as the dragon continued to sing. She focused on the damp forest floor that was hard to keep balance on instead of her friends. Twilight sighed as she felt something wet hit the top of her head. She looked up and saw that the sky was gray and threatened to begin to rain down on them. While she was looking up, she slipped on the wet mud underneath her and fell face first into the ground. Twilight groaned in pain as she got back up so she wouldn't be dragged in the mud, and to add insult to injury. It began to rain. With a groan of annoyance and a snicker from the little Griffin riding named Raven riding the cart, she watched the dragon to see if there was a way to defeat him and his lackeys. As she made notes of his dragon scale coat and the many vulnerabilities that it has, she heard something strange in the lyrics that he sang. Twilight thought it was weird that the dragon was singing about a daughter that sounded like he missed. She looked around towards her friends to ask in quiet if that was the case, but she was stopped from what she saw. All her friends, all the mercenaries, even Luna and the Griffins, had their eyes locked on him as they walked through the reminiscent forest that reminded her of White Tail Woods. Luna was crying, the Griffins were crying, even her friends were crying. The rain couldn't hide that fact. Rainbow stopped lip singing the song once she realized the meaning behind it. Twilight scrunched up her nose in confusion as she turned back to see what was going on with the dragon that was causing such a reaction that should be possible, but what she saw just confused her more. The dragon was crying as well while he sang. His eyes didn't hide the fact that he was missing something that wasn't there at his side. It was like his heart was shattered for something that he had to give up, but what did he have to give up that even he couldn't hide his true emotions? The more she tried to figure out his motive for causing such trauma within the caravan, the more she couldn't understand as her own emotions threatened to take over. The song that he sang held so much power with each word. That even she felt like her heart was about to break. Thankfully, the song ended just as her own floodgates were about to open. They continued to walk in silence while Twilight wondered what the dragon was trying to say, however. She knew that he wasn't saying anything, he was just making fun of all fathers everywhere with that song. He didn't have a child, how could he? He was evil. No one, not even the wretched Griffins would dare breed with him! The mere fact of him having a child made her more furious about him and his corrupting ideal's. She had to use the Elements now more than ever to save the world from his dark presence! Twilight made a plan to do just that, but when the stop for a rest on this cursed island. Once he was defeated, she and her friends will purge this entire island of the filth that lurks in the shadows, hungry to kill anything that comes near. "Hey, Twilight?" Solstice said with a strained voice from his rapping as they walked into a small clearing to set up camp again for the night, but she didn't hear him. She was more concerned with the staging grounds for his fall that they walked in on. Twilight was ready to use the Elements of Harmony once they were a good distance into the clearing. With the damp grass and mud hindering his movements, she could already see his stone statue becoming the meadows main centerpiece. "Hey, Twilight?" he asked again, this time, his words registered in Twilights ears. She perked up as the mercenaries broke formation to set up camp again for the rest of the day and night, as the rain was making it increasingly difficult to walk from all the mud on the ground. "May I help you?" she asked back to the stone face dragon as he dried a section of grass with his fire breath. "Can I ask you something?" he said as he moved out of the way so her 'mercs can get to work while she and the prisoners were forced to stand in the rain and watch as Princess Luna keep them dry as they did so. "Sure," she replied with her friends slowly making their way to surround the dragon for their silent attack. "What is your greatest dream? What drives you to walk the path that you set for yourself each and every day. What do you do to achieve what you seek most?" the dragon asked as he stared off into the distance. She frowned at the question, already knowing the answer. "That's easy. My dream is to bring friendship in the world with my friends." "Heh, I knew you were going to say that. So, do you want to know my dream?" he asked back with a somber smile as he looked her in the eyes. "Umm...Okay?" she hesitantly replied to avoid his sad and lonely eyes that have lost some of their fire. "My dream was to be a father, and I became one, by pure accident with someone that I will never see again, but do you want to know what's funny about that?" he paused what he said and watched Twilight and her friends freeze with both concern and pity for him. "What is so funny about that?" Rarity said with a sudden sense of curiosity, causing the others to listen to what he had to say, even if it was an utter lie. "In the end, I got my wish, but at a cost. I had to give up everything and sacrifice myself to keep her safe. For six months, I lived my dream, and I took each day for granted. So tell me Twilight and friends. Tell me how selfish it is to create bonds that will inevitably be broken? Tell me what do you do once your dreams are crushed and there is a sliver of hope that you can have it again, but it is so hard to reach when you don't have the power to do so," the dragon said with a chuckle. Twilight and her friends reeled back for a moment to think about what he just said, but Twilight knew better. She knew that he was just making his life sympathetic to his cause for destruction, but she won't have it. "That is the biggest lie I have ever heard!" she shouted out loud. "You don't have a daughter! That's just a lie to make you look like the good guy, and you know it! And friendship isn't selfish because it fundamentally can't be! How can making bonds that a pony will hold onto for his or her entire life be bad!? There is no proof to support your lies even if they were true! You are just a dark and evil being that needs to be purged off the face of Equis and I can definitely prove that is the real truth!" she ranted out loud for everyone to hear. The dragon just sighed as he watched all six of them break free from their chains and circle around him. Twilight smiled victoriously as they were into position and no one could stop them from using the Elements on him now! "Well, you can believe whatever you want to believe, but even if you use the Elements on me, I will just get stronger," he said blankly. Twilight tisked as he waited for the inevitable with his 'mercs ready to pounce on them. She gave the others a nod just as Luna realized what was going on, but it was too late. Twilight felt the Elements held within them all activate like the many times before, causing their manes and tails to morph into something different. Luna tried to stop them, the necromancer tried to stop them, even the mercenaries tried to stop them, but they couldn't. They were up into the air with the magic of friendship ready to be fired upon the stone-faced dragon. Twilight could hear the delusional Luna beg for them to stop as she had to back away from the immense power ready to be unleashed, but no amount of begging can stop her from protecting Equestria from this filth! She smiled in triumph one last time at the dragon and activated the spell. Then, before she went blind from the light of the rainbow of friendship. She saw the dragon smile evilly at her as the spell took effect. Twilight and her friends landed back on the ground and cheered victoriously for doing what's right. They all stared at the area where the dragon once stood, waiting for the smoke to clear to see their handy work. Twilight looked around as the dust settled to see the joy from the slaves that their master no longer can abuse them, but she frowned when she saw that they were petrified in fear that their master was gone. No matter, she can help rehabilitate the from the trauma that they were forced to endure. Then, just as she was about to free the others she heard something stirring from the smoke before a huge gust of wind cleared the area. She protected her eyes with her wings from the sudden torrent of dust and water, but when she looked where the dragon should be. She froze in absolute terror along with her friends at the sight that they were seeing. "Hehehehehe!" the dragon laughed as a white flame emitted from his right eye. "That's not possible," she gasped that the dragon was untouched by the blast. "Oh, thank you Twilight! You just gave me the ability to stop time at will! You are a fucking moron! AHAHAHAHA!" He laughed manically for a moment before he pointed at the mercenaries, causing them to rechain Twilight and her friends. It wasn't until she was back in the box in the rain with Luna looking at her in pity that she realized, she made a horrible mistake. He baited her into using the Elements the entire time on him so that he could do a ritual to give him the power of Harmony. 'I'm so sorry, Celestia. I have made a horrible mistake that has doomed all of Equestria to the hands of that demon, black dragon.' > Chapter 24. King and Zuriel. King Griffeth waited patiently in the throne room for the scouting party to return from their mission victoriously. He sat on his throne that was made of all the weapons of Eden's fallen knights with his General, Grimhide, at his side. Griffeth knew of the ship that was spotted entering the storm was a threat to Eden. It was Grimhide himself that suggested sending a daemon party to take it out, despite the backlash of using those horrid creatures that coexisted with them on the island. He hated those creatures with a passion, but he couldn't do anything to get rid of them. They were the defender's of the great vault hidden deep withing Mount Liberty, but that doesn't mean they were any more important. Outside of that mountain, they were their humble slaves. If they so speak against their Griffin masters, that daemon will be executed on the spot, however. When it comes to combat, they had no equal, but they would never prove it to their masters. As he waited in the throne room with Grimhide for the status report, a Griffin in light leather armor rushed in through the large double doors like a maniac. The Griffin stopped just in front of his king, panting and huffing like he just ran a marathon. Griffeth wondered why one of his subjects was in such a rush to come speak with him, but that thought quickly dissipated when the Griffin spoke with a worried tone. "Your, Highness. We have a problem!" he declared as he caught his breath. Griffeth raised a curious brow and nodded for him to continue his message. "On the western shore is a small group of mercenaries heading straight for the city!" "That's preposterous! No outlander has ever stepped foot on the island in over a thousand years! Especially when we sent an S-Class Daemon and a hunter-killer squad to back her up to take them out in the storm. What proof do you have of this claim, scout?" General Grimhide scoffed indignantly, causing the messenger. "With all due respect, Sir, but the S-Class Succubus and Corporal Penelope are the only survivors of the encounter and they were taken prisoner," he replied meekly. Both Griffeth and Grimhide couldn't believe that one of the strongest types of daemon was beaten so easily. There was no possible way that these mercenaries could do such a feat, and without losing a single life. There has to be a wild card helping them out. "Scout, if I may confirm something with you. According to the reports, the group of ponies was weaker than a group of pups. They couldn't do the feat that you are describing, even if they had a dragon on their side. It's just simply impossible," Griffeth said with a calm demeanor. "Well, Sir, hehe. The new report from squad A says that there is, in fact, a dragon on their side, but that's not all. They also said that Princess Luna herself was with them, as well as the new Elements of Harmony bearers, themselves." "That...That cannot be!" Grimhide shouted to rebuke that claim while Griffeth kept a straight face. Even though he was fearing for the worst. "Scout, are you sure that this isn't some hoax?!" "I am sure, General. They have made camp in a clearing just outside of Black Rock village. You can go see for yourself, Sir." The scout nodded nervously. Grimhide turned towards the King with dour expression encapsulating his face and spoke with a stern tone to the king. "Your, Highness. If these claims are true, then it is our best interests to vanquish them as soon as possible!" Griffeth nodded in agreement for a moment as he thought of a way to deal with this new found problem. He knew that if these claims were true, then that dragon and Princess Luna was the wild cards. He didn't know if they were being controlled by the Sun Tyrant or something else. The fact that one of them beat one of the strongest breeds of daemon just proves how dangerous they are, and with the bearers of the Elements of Harmony at their side. Fighting them wasn't going to be an option in the long run. For now, it is best to make sure that they aren't puppets and to see if they are here to help. "I agree, General, however. We don't know what they are capable of or what kinds of weapons they have. For all we know, they are here to join us to take down the Sun Tyrant, or kill us. I don't want to fight something I know nothing about, and if the claims are true. Fighting a demon slayer and an Alicorn is something that I don't want to do." "Sire! Even if they are true, we can't risk them learning of our existence. The Sun Tyrant is stronger than she was five hundred years ago. Who knows what she is capable of now! I bet she is using them to kill us all while she sits on her throne torturing the innocent," Grimhide countered. Griffeth sighed in irritation as he turned to the scout. "Scout," he said, bringing the resting guard to full attention. "Call of the guards and have the prisoners ranks and statuses terminated. Tomorrow, I, and my personal guard will confront them in the clearing. Is that understood?" "Yes, Sir!" the scout saluted, causing Grimhide to frown in annoyance that the king was making a terrible mistake. "Good, you are dismissed. Leave us." The scout nodded after hearing those words and bolted out of the throne room as fast as he came in. Griffeth knew what he was about to do was placing the entire Kingdom at risk, but it was a risk he was willing to take. "If it feels good, tastes good. It must be mine!" I sang as I bounced around the frozen clearing as happy as a stripper with a hundred dollar coupon to Victoria's Secret. Never would I have guessed that I could stop time like Bayonetta's Witch Time, or Dante's Quick Silver in my life. The mana cost is a thousand times lower than my Mora Imperium spell and ten times more effective. The only restrictions was the area of the spell, which I'm not complaining about. Having five hundred meters to work in a time bubble was definitely going to be helpful in the long run. I walked around the frozen Luna who was about to take a bite out of her sandvich. With a chuckle, I grabbed her food from her grasp and took a bite before placing it back in its original place. Then I walked a few feet away and snapped my fingers, canceling out my...'What should I call it other than, The Eye of Patience?' I thought for a moment. "I know! I'll call it Hourglass. That has a nice ring to it," I smiled as I watched time go back to normal. With a straight face, I watched Luna frown at her sandvich, noticing that half of it was missing. She looked around to see who stole her food for a moment before she shrugged and went back to eating her meal. I chuckled at the sight of her scrunched pouty face of disappointment that someone took some of her food before I walked away to check up on the prisoners. Knowing them, they would try to break out while most of the cannon fodder were asleep for the night. Though, with the full moon over our heads and the cold wind from the rain from earlier, I don't think they would be stupid enough to try and run away with all the baddies surrounding our position. That was something that didn't necessarily bothered me. Knowing that the majority of the islands population was watching us rather than attacking us was a bonus in my opinion. I bet they even notified their leaders that both Luna and I were on the island, and ready to fight at a moments notice, and I liked how most of them had their weapons on me. Even the chick that I punched into the nearby mountain was with them, looking for revenge for earlier. 'I bet she had a fun time digging herself out of the cliff face,' I chuckled internally as I looked towards the edge of the clearing where most of them were hiding. 'Though thanks to the Elements of Bigotry, I have a new trick up my sleeve, and I can't wait to use it on them.' As I walked through the mud and various puddles of water to the area where the prisoners were kept, I saw something off. Two of the prisoners were missing their armor and one of the two was in rags. I looked around to see if one of my mercenaries was responsible for this theft, but then I realized that they couldn't, even if they tried. My orders were clear as the sky without clouds, and they knew that if anything was stolen from the prisoners, they, themselves, would be punished. Instead of rubbing my existence in Twilight and her friends faces, I decided to see what the hell happened to my tsundere demon Maria, and her friend, Penelope. As I walked closer to the pair, the more I saw how distraught they were. Maria, who had the same body type as Lily; perfectly proportional curves that weren't too big nor too small. Even her breasts were the same size; a nice twelve double-D, however. The only difference was her tail. She had a long, slender, black tail with an arrowhead tip instead of fur, and she looked like her entire world was destroyed. Her black draconic wings were wrapped around her entire body as she sat on the bedroll that I provided in a hunched position as she tried to hide her face in her knees, was a sorry sight. Whatever happened to her and her friend, they were clearly heartbroken about it. Though Penelope was holding it together better than Maria, but she wasn't doing a good job at hiding it either. I stopped my stride in front of the Griffin as she stared at the ground in disbelief as to what happened to her. I faked coughed once to get her attention, but she didn't move. I frowned that she was ignoring me, and decided that some water on her head was a good way to break her out of her trance. With a flick of the wrist, a little ball of water was flung at her face, and no one could stop it. Splash! "..." No reaction. "O...K...Let's try plan B," I muttered to myself as I grabbed Penelope's head and began to shake her like a ragdoll, but not even that caused a reaction out of her. I let out a sighed of annoyance that she was too stunned to even do anything for the moment, and stood her back up in her original position and walked away to talk to Maria instead. As I took a few steps towards Marias, the sounds of squishing mud alerted her to my presence. She looked up like she wanted to outright murder me with her venomous, ruby red eyes, but decided that I wasn't worth it and shuffled away from me like I had cooties. I frowned at her hostility for a moment as I leaned over and waited for a response of some kind to my presence. But it never came. With a grunt, I tapped her gently on her head, which she responded by tightening her grip on herself in irritation. "Alrighty then. Maria, I swear to God if you don't open up and tell me what the fuck happened to your armor. I won't let you share a tent with me tonight," I growled in frustration and a bit of play. I smirked for a moment as her wings gained a slight red hue, but put on a straight face again when she looked back up at me with pure malice. "Fine! I'll tell you what the fuck happened, Dragon!" she spat in my face. I, however, was not amused by this gesture. "We have been terminated! The second our armor disintegrated into nothingness. We were no longer allowed to call ourselves the defenders of Eden and her people! We are nothing now. Nothing! If either of us was to show our faces to the King, we will be killed on the spot we stood on! There, are you happy now, Dragon?! You should have just killed us when you had the chance! At least, then we would still have our honor!" she seethed at me before she went back to brooding in her little ball of pain and sorrow. "What are you looking at?" I said to the other prisoners and guards that overheard what Maria said. They quickly went back to doing their own business, leaving me alone with her again and needing a way to salvage her situation. I turned back to Maria who looked like she was crying under the protection of her wings, and wondered what I could do to help her? Sure I could just add her to the Hive and be done with it, but that wouldn't be fair to her. Then again, if there is an entire mini-country on this island and Celestia doesn't know about, adding her to the HiveMind would be utterly pointless. 'So that just leaves me with A; make her my waifu, or B; Give her a purpose of fighting with me. Although, now that I know that going home is a small possibility, the waifu route would bring her pain in the end...Unless I bring her with me and go all Polygonous with Lily--Which I know she would be completely fine with. Alrighty then. Plan-A is a go!' I rubbed the base of Maria's wings to coax her out of her little ball to see if I could bring her to my side. She instantly slapped my hand away with said wings like I was trying to steal from the cookie jar, but I was determined to break her out of her shell and give her a new purpose, and that purpose was to be my waifu! I backed away for a moment and looked around to see what everyone else was doing before I dragged her like a caveman to my tent. Everyone was putting out most of the fires around the clearing before patrols began their shifts. Penelope was asleep. The main six was going to sleep. Ruby was still depressed in her corner of the cage. I saw Luna walked into her tent to sleep before she had to lower the moon and raise the sun. Captain Black was looking at me funny, but when he saw that I was looking right at him, he walked into his own tent. Sunset, Tom, Yoko, Gloria, Gilda, and Raven also went into their own tents for the night. With an evil smirk, I placed my hand on Maria's shoulder and snapped my finger, activating Hourglass for the both of us. Before she could react, I picked her up bridal-style causing her to let out a cute, "Eep!" Once she realized that I was carrying her in my arms, she began punching my chest and trying to squirm away from me. I just smiled at her knowingly as she flailed around like a wacky-waving-arm-flailing-tube-man. "Easy now. You don't want to fall in the mud while we walk?" I chuckled out loud as she continued to punch me as I began to walk to my tent for the night. "Let me go you wretch!" she demanded as she wrapped her tail around my throat. "Sorry, Love. You said it yourself: You are no longer a defender of Eden, thus, I can do whatever I want to you. And because of this fact, I no longer have to follow the laws that protected you as a prisoner of war. You are effectively mine now, and there is nothing you can do about it," I smiled wolfishly at her. Her face went as red as her hair after I said those words. She stopped hitting me and stopped squirming for a moment before she shook herself from her temporary daze and glared daggers at me. 'So close.' "Then that also means that I can kill you!" she proclaimed to no one. I just rolled my eyes and initiated Plan C through Z. "Sure you can, or you can be my mate. That is if you'll have me as yours?" I said slyly as we came up to my tent. "M-M-Mate?!" she stutter-blushed while her wings fluttered in excitement and her tail uncoiled around my neck. I chuckled again while she tried to make sense of my words and placed her on my cot in the corner of the tent. 'Okay, Winter,..' I thought as I took off my jacket and placed it on the cot beside the mumbling Succubus. '...She is as Bipolar as most girls, and she is really feisty. She is strong enough to beat Luna in a fight, however. She is a bit stupid when she isn't on the battlefield. So with all this in mind, the best why to deal with her is to make her feel weak and completely submissive.' 'This is you when you are near a girl that matches one of your fantasies?' Said something in my head in a strangely feminine voice. 'Uh...Who the fuck are you?' I replied in my head as I took off my boots. 'Me? I'm just your imagination,' she replied. 'Ah...No, you are not. So talk now before I find a way to kill you.' 'Hmpf, sour puss. Well if you must know. I am the Angel known as Zuriel, the Angel of Harmony and Order. In other words, the super hot chick that comes with the Seven eyes of Order you have, somehow, acquired. And I must say, you aren't too bad looking yourself,' she purred. I quickly froze Maria in the time bubble so she won't give me any strange looks, and talked out loud to the voice. "O...K...So what do you want?" 'Hmm? Oh, I just want to talk to my host and to see how stable he was, and I'm quite surprised that you haven't gone insane yet. You must tell me your secret.' "Void Aspect. 'Nough said,' I said blankly as I realized that she was cock-blocking me. 'Huh, that's interesting. Never thought a Void Knight would have their way with me in my lifetime. Anyway, I'll leave you alone for now. Have fun with that daemon...Master, Winter,' she giggled. "Wha-?" I said dumbly, but she didn't reply back. I sighed, knowing now that my new powers had a conscience in the form of a voice in my head that calls herself Zuriel. Deep down I knew that there was a catch that came with Hourglass. Though now that I know about it, I bet I could use her to gain information about parts that I am missing about my old power, but that will have to wait for another time. With a groan of irritation, and some deep breathing to calm me down. I unfroze Maria to get to work on making her my waifu. > Chapter 25. Hourglass. The sound of deep breathing permeate the confines of the green camo tent. The warm and content sounds coming from the very affectionate daemon nestled against my chest, wrapped in a warm embrace. Maria nuzzled my neck and tightened her grip around my waist. Her tender wings encased my entire body in a black cocoon. She was purely content with sleeping with me now that we have settled our differences. The night before she tried to kill me with a succubi's greatest weapon against men--A simple kiss. Of course, it didn't work on me since I was immune to all forms of seduction based magic. When she learned of that fact, she tried to murder me in another way, and it was in the shape of her tail. Luckily, I was able to catch her tail before it could impale my throat with its razor sharp tip. I liked how she froze as I brought it up to my lips and her wings went fully erect just at the sight of it. Like the gentleman that I was, I gently nibbled the tip, causing her to melt into putty in my hands. After a few minutes of playing with her tail as she begged me to stop, she finally broke and confessed her feelings for me. I was quite surprised to hear that she wanted me to be her new master. How she came to that conclusion was beyond me, but from how she explained it to me, I think I could understand. It was interesting, to say the least, to learn that it was a sacred tradition for a male to defeat a female in combat for the succubi. Never would I have believed that if I fought a dæmon succubus and win without a scratch, that she would beg for me to take her as my bride. And since she was no longer bound to her old masters, she was allowed to pursue me as her husband. Though, when she found out about my immunity, she said that the Queen of the Dæmons would do everything in her power to have me for herself. It was at that moment in the conversation that I sealed the deal with another kiss and some choice words, firmly claiming her as my new waifu. "Sleeping with that freak of nature are we?" Raven said through our link. I smiled as it was only five o'clock in the morning and she was already trying to put me down. I bet she is just jealous that I chose the dæmon over her...And because she was a milf in a child's body and can't get laid. "My birth form is similar to the dæmon. So what's your point?" I replied internally as I felt Astoria's, (Maria's real name), tail coil around mine. "You used to look like that putrid filth? Being a dragon is quite the improvement," she replied with a chuckle. I rolled my eyes that no matter how much I try to get on her good side, she always tries to put me down in my place. "Yeah, well, having a twelve-inch-dick that is almost as thick as my wrist is plus, but I do miss my dexterous lips. Then again, my fourteen-inch tongue makes up for that. My body is stronger, faster, and agiler. I can control how tall I could get, so I can stay six-foot-four for eternity. The natural armor that is nigh impervious to magic and conventional weapons is nice. Though, my claws are a bit annoying at times if I don't clip them, but in the end. I still prefer my old body over my new one," I replied, practically feeling her blush from the other side of camp. "I didn't need to know that?!" she screamed through our link. I smiled evilly at her response as I felt the leech snuggled up with me leave a kiss on my neck before she cooed at how comfortable I was. "I know, that's why I told you. So do me a favor and wake me up when the camp is under attack. Otherwise, I will flood your side of the link with dirty thoughts of my magical staff of white destruction," I replied again. "Fuck you," she said before she left me alone for the rest of the morning. I giggled at her response and just as I was about to fall asleep again, I saw Astoria's horns change in a flash of fire. 'Okay, that's weird,' I thought after the horn transformation was completed. Both of her horns lost their goat-shape entirely and now looked similar to mine. Her two black horns flowed back and curved up beautifully and naturally with her head. It was surprising, to say the least, but it was a pleasant improvement. Not sure why it happened, but I'm not complaining. I closed my eyes again, hoping to get some more sleep before we had to move into Black Rock village that was just an hour march away in the morning, but Murphy had other plans. Astoria woke up and instantly locked lips with mine. I felt her tongue beg for entry as she leaned in an act of dominance over me. As much as I loved waking up this way, I just wanted to go back to sleep. I pushed her back much to her dismay, with a raised, unamused brow. "What are you doing?" I asked her politely as she gave me a hurt look. "I thought I would show you how much I want to be with you," she said as she playfully licked my chin. "Okay, we just met, and I like to take my time. I do like the treatment, but I just want you to know that if you want to be my bride. You need to meet my pace and prove yourself to me of your commitment to us--And what happened to your horns?" "Oh, s-sorry," she said sheepishly before she frowned and reached up to feel her horns. Astoria's eyes lit up like she just went to Disney Land and became a princess when she touched her horns. She didn't say another word, but judging by her reaction and the amount nuzzling and hearing cute little squees, the change must have been a good thing. I stood in the clearing in the wee hours of the morning with a smile on my face. I wasn't necessarily happy with everything that was going to happen today. Just knowing that my hidden stalkers were gone put me on edge. Though, I didn't show it. My mercenaries were packing up, and Luna was recuperating from raising the sun. Armed and enjoying the fresh scent of morning dew. I knew that something was going to happen. I had my two magnums at my side instead of my sword's with a pocket-infinity enchantment on them as a just in case. Even though the cons of having nigh unlimited bullets ready to be used was going to be a problem after the one-hundredth bullet, it was a risk I was going to take. As I stood vigil with my arms crossed. I saw a shape fly in from the horizons. I watched the shape turn into many shapes in the form of a small battalion of armed Griffins. I chuckled as two of them flew ahead of the pack and landed right in front of me, in their oversized, highly impractical armor. They strutted up to me with their boots sinking into the mud, making cute little "squishing," as they walked. "Greetings grunts. How are you this morning?" I greeted with a curt bow. Both of them didn't respond as the stared at me through their bucket helms stoically. "Not going to talk?" I asked as the rest of the group slowly caught up. They just shuffled in place. I decided to check up on the others through Raven and I's link. "Hey, Raven? Is everyone ready yet?" "Almost. Princess Twilight and her friends are being a pain, but, at least Ruby is back with the mercenaries and being useful. And why is the Dæmon wearing what it appears to be: I school girl outfit with a miniskirt and leggings that leave nothing to the imagination?" Raven responded with a hint of disgust. "Huh, well it's good that Ruby is being useful, and I quite like Astoria's new look. So stop being jealous that I prefer the Dæmon with the twelve-inch tongue over you. It's rather annoying," I mocked as the group of armed Griffins landing at the far end of the clearing. "You are sick! Not even, my master, Grogar would touch those wretched creatures! And he made them from the ground up!" she shouted through the link. I just rolled my eyes as what appears to be the head honcho himself walk up to me with his entourage in a full set of red armor. "Well, excuuuuse me, Princess, If you want me so much, then prove that you can handle my preferences. Anyway, the King of Eden is here with his crew, so I kinda have to deal with him now. Talk to you later!" I said, blocking her and turning my attention to a pompous looking brat glaring me down. "You need something, Runt?" I asked as I raised a brow to the Griffin wearing something that George Washington would wear in court. He didn't like that I called him that name and drew his sword and pointed it at me in a threatening way. "You got some nerve to insult me, Dragon," he seethed. I let out a snort of laughter at his little dick syndrome, causing the rest of the guards to stare at me to see what I was going to do. "Please, I could kill that assassin over there without a second thought, and you are rather cute with that toothpick of yours," I smirked as I pointed Ash at the invisible assassin stalking me like he was the greatest hunter in the world. My smirk deepened into a wolfish grin as I felt the air around me shift to fear of me, however, the King was not impressed. I felt the assassin move away from his old position like I didn't know where he was, but I didn't let him. The sound of a gun firing caused everyone to pull out their weapons and point them at me while I chuckled at them as the assassin's dead, invisible body, began to stain the grass with blood. I brought the gun up to my face and blew the smoke before I holstered it and directed my attention back to the midget. "So, now that you know that I can't be undermined. Give me one reason not to kill you all and take the throne for myself?" I said blankly. "What purpose would you dare think of such thoughts agent of the Sun Tyrant?" the midget hissed. "Agent of Celestia?" I laughed manically as I realized that they thought I was with her. They all took a step back, and if I could see most of their faces. After a few moments of losing my shit, I spoke up again. "Sorry amigo, but I am here to kill Celestia, not join her. Why do you think Luna and the Elements of Harmony are with me? Like seriously. Are you fucking mentally retarded?" I mocked as I tried to hold back another wave of chuckles. They all took another step back in shock at my premonition, but they still held their weapons out. I bet they absolutely thought that I was Celestia's personal bitch, and was ready to fight me at a moments notice. Thought I had to wonder: What would happen if I just killed the King and took over right then and there. With Luna at my side, I bet could take over all of Eden and start phase two of my plans with Celestia. "That is rather surprising coming from a Dragon, but I am not buying it. What are your really hear for?" the King, himself, spoke up as he pushed aside the midget and loomed over me like a giant. Just as I was about to reply, I felt something strange. It was like the entire universe around me was in flux. I looked around to see what was wrong, causing the King and his guards to back away as they all looked up towards the sky collectively. I frowned and looked up as well and instantly regretted it. Thump! Thump! "There is no fucking waAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" I screamed in agony as I felt my left eye burn like I there was a million white hot rusty screws drilling it. I collapsed to the ground, panting and sweating on one knee as I recovered from the sudden pain. But I knew that it was a good pain. I quickly tested my left eye to see what was wrong as I was lifted back up by the Griffin guards, and was happy to learn that, The Eye of Vanity returned to me, but I still had the problem with the magic circle overhead. "What the fuck is that?! What did you do, Dragon!" the King demanded as one of his guards punched my chest, but I couldn't answer as I didn't know. "Well?!" he shouted as I saw Luna and Astoria rush to my side. I grunted in pain as I perfected my transformation so that my mana pool could grow and snapped my fingers, causing my Hourglass spell to activate. I broke free from the death grips of the Kings guards and looked up to the sky again. The sun had a giant magic circle that was slowly growing in complexity and size. Judging from how big it was, I was on a timer before the spell activated. I could safely assume that the spell would activate in a few weeks time, however. There was the problem with Celestia. I bet she is feeling the immense amount of pain of losing one piece out of seven the second she came back into this world. I had the sneaking suspicion that my power would return this way, but that just means that I would have to wait for the rest to break free from Celestia's grasp. It's only a matter of time before I return to my old self, but right now. I have to deal with the King who now thinks that I lied and was here to kill him. With a groan of irritation, I decided that just killing him and taking his crown was the way to go. Without hesitation, I killed his honor guard and mortally wounded him. I placed his crown on my head. and released the spell, causing Luna and Astoria to slid on the wet grass to stop them from tripping on the dead bodies as I held the King by his throat. He looked at me in utter shock as I wiped away the blood from my left eye. He saw his crown placed on my head while all the rock-tiger-fur-things burst out of the forest to come to his aid, but when they saw that I was in charge now. They bowed to me. Luna stared at me in horror while the mercenaries came to my aid without taking their eyes off of the rock golems. Astoria, however, looked at me in awe and bowed to me just like the golems. "What are you doing?" the King choked out as I tightened my grip. Luna looked at me with the same question. "It's simple. I cannot trust you, thus, I am taking your place. Once I have Eden under my rule, I will go to Mount Liberty and take over the Dæmon realm too. Then, once I have everything that I need here. My spies in Canterlot will initiate phase two. My new army will march and take over the Frontier before that magic circle in the sky activates. Then for phase three, we march on Canterlot and kill Celestia. You happy?" I growled. "This is blasphemy! This is madness!" he shouted through strained breaths. "Madness?" I asked as I turned to Luna who was absolutely appalled with me. I just growled and turned back to the struggling King. "You are right. I am mad with worry, and if I am worried. Then not even Hades can stop what I do about it," I hissed before I flicked my wrist, snapping his neck instantly. His limp body fell to the ground with a hard, thump, before I turned to the gathered group of people, staring at me in shock. "We take over Eden today! So MOVE OUT!" I shouted. The rock golems bolted from the clearing towards the small village in the east, initiating phase one.
The Return of Darkness	Interlude: Shining Armor. Secrets uncovered. Part 1.	A blood-curdling scream could be heard throughout, Canterlot. It was shrill, dark, and horrid to the bone. Mother's clamped firmly on the ears of their young to protect them from the nightmare that enveloped the city for a brief moment. As quickly as it came, it vanished, and in its place was a giant Magic Circle in the sky. To the untrained eye, the Magic Circle was jibberish, but to the Archmages of Equestria. It spelled doom. Hundreds of Unicron's rushed to the castle looking for an answer, but the Royal Guard--Clad in gold and silver--Stood fast and held the frantic mob at bay while the Solar Elite searched for what caused the scream that rattled the masses. Running down the halls towards the highest tower was a white unicorn stallion in purple armor. Eye's filled with determination and worry, he and two others rounded a bend and teleported to the top of a huge spiraling staircase. "We must hurry! The Princess is in danger!" shouted the purpled armored stallion as his horn glowed a pink hue before he vanished again, appearing in front of a set of two, sun emblazoned doors. He twisted his body around and cocked his legs and let them lose. Like a pair of battering rams, the doors were pushed aside, slamming against the wall, but just as he was about to walk into the room where the Princess slept. He froze. "How, dare you disobey!" shouted Celestia in a fit of unbridled rage. Her body twisting and contorting on the ground with her hooves clamping down on her pounding skull. Shining Armor took a step back and hid behind the doorframe and listened to the one-sided conversation. "I didn't take you from the void from your pathetic master just so you would betray me!" "I told you once and I'll tell you again," a new voice spoke. It's tone bored and very feminine with a hint of play with each flick of its nonexistent tongue. "This was only temporary until my true master wakes up from his slumber and now that he is awake?" she stopped to let out a mocking chuckle at convulsing Princess of the Sun. "Piece by piece I will return to him and I can feel that he has gained something new. Something, pure with him. Sure once he dies I'll find a new master, but right now? It's not you." Celestia hissed at the spectral voice in a fit of defiance. "YOU DARE CHALLENGE MY CONTROL!? YOU WILL OBEY ME!" The voice let out a long laugh, mocking the Princess's rage. "For now." Celestia let out an Exasperated sigh as she collected herself from the ground, leaving behind a little pool of blood that trickled down from her left eye. Biting her lip in thought, she turned away from the door and slowly made her way to her private bathroom. "You will not be laughing when I have your true power, Azrael, and when I do. This Equestria and the parallels around us will be, mine. " Shining let out a long breath, his legs shaking for what he just overheard. His thoughts ran wild at the conversation. Who was Celestia talking too? What is this power that Celestia wields? But most importantly. Who is Azrael?
Mixed Identity	pre	"Hi, Myne!" she exclaims, as I step out of the room. "Hi, Rarity, I respond. "Since the Class is over, where are you planning to go?" she inquires; "We still have more than one Hour, before Lunch is served; so we do have some time to play around with!" she concludes. "I was considering to go back to my Suite, where I could look into my Schedule!" I respond. "Excellent Idea, Myne!" she puts forth, as she is following me towards my Suite. Walking to my Suite, from Class; soon proved just as easy, as it had been to walk from my suite to the Dining Hall where I had been enjoying my Breakfast. Well; why should this be a Challenge, in the first place? The walk only takes us a few Minutes, before we are reaching the door to my Suite. I am extending the palm of my hand and press it onto the Plaque, only to spread my fingers wide in order to open the door; I step into the cloaking room with Rarity in tow, only for the door to slide shut behind her as she had cleared the threshold. I place my shoes on the shoe-rack and Rarity follows suit. Once my Shoes are resting comfortably on the shoe rack, I place the palm of my hand on the plaque and spread my fingers wide. The door slides up before me and I step into my living-room with Rarity in tow. <--- --- ---> We walk over to the Sofa, before we sit down. I chose the inner seat, so Rarity takes the outer seat. "I guess, we can forgo the Tea, since it is in your living room!" Rarity suggests. I open the armrest and extract myself a Sparkle Cola. "I guess you could have one, too!" I suggest, offering her to choose her beverage of choice from the given selection. Granted, the selection is rather limited; but at least I am offering her a drink of her own, as opposed to just ignore her presence. Not as if it would cost me anything, but it is the thought that counts. At least, it is what I had been told; I guess I agree to the statement, though. "Thank you, Myne!" she responds, as she is extracting a Sparkle Cola of her own. I watch her uncap her bottle, before she is taking a sip of the fizzy beverage. After I had taken a sip of my own bottle, I continue towards the object before me. I activate the screen on the wall before us. I select to write a message to my Parents; explaining how I am doing, before I do anything else. They deserve to know, that I am doing well; before I go on to what I had before me, to make absolutely sure they are not worrying about where I went off to. . "Dear Mother and Father, I am doing well; just in case you were wondering! I was accepted to attend the School, so I had to move to the new Suite at the Dormitory. My first class was enjoyable enough, and I got to learn quite a few things about what is before me. Now I am looking forwards to what I have before me; I'm planning for the time here at the school, before I am going to lunch. Yours sincerely, Arch Meteor" . I forgot to explain, how I am currently a Girl by the name of Myne for the duration of my studies. Maybe I can explain this later, if it comes up and I have the time. Or they had already figured out that the school is for 'Little Girls' all along, in which case I am sure they can find my name in any event. I press "Send" and the message goes to my Parents Suite, for them to read at their own leisure. If they miss it, maybe it will be forwarded to them; explaining the situation, if this has not been explained to them already. Of course; all the Core subjects are obligatory and unavoidable, so I just leave them where they are. Just as I keep our Teacher, as the Teacher for these subjects til further notice. Why bother changing things around, before I have a reason to do so? If and when I find a teacher less than satisfactory, I can explore the options available to me. As planned; I select Japanese, Russian, Arabic, Klingon, Elfish, Neighponian (not the Neiponese, mind you), and Ponish. "That is quite the spread of Languages.." Rarity supplies, "but if you have a knack for Languages, these should be serving you quite well!" she concludes. "I want to give it a try, while I have the chance; "I hope I can leave them behind, if this does not work out!" I suggest. "At least, you are still the Age, where Language should be coming easy to you!" Rarity confirms. "As a Little Girl; I opt for Gymnastics!" I put forth; "Who knows, it just may serve me later and make the Riding Easier on me too!" I suggest. "Oh, yes; that is possible, too!" Rarity responds; "I suggest you choose Sassy Saddles, as the Substitute Teacher for your Riding Class!" Rarity suggests. "I take it, Cheerilee does not teach Riding?" I inquire; "and that you know Sassy Saddles too!" I conclude. "Cheerilee is Teaching the core Subjects, mostly from behind her desk; that is the kind of subjects she is excelling at, as opposed to more Physical Subjects such as Riding!" Rarity explains; "and yes, I do know Sassy Saddles too!" she confirms. "Guess I am lucky; having you with me, Rarity; since you know whom to ask for the Subject in question!" I put forth. I choose Singing, Choir and Vocal Practice. Maybe my feminine side is talking here; but right now, I just could not resist the urge. Of course, maybe I am expecting to meet a few other nice Little Girls in my classes. Then I end my selection, by applying some extra Mathematics into my collection of Subjects. If I could have squeezed in another class, subject; but this seems to be enough, for my first year. "You did pick a nice spread of classes, I see!" Rarity puts forth. "I don't want to pick up too much, on the first day; regardless of whether I have to drop out after the first week as my Parents leave, or I can continue the entire year!" I conclude. "Probably for the best!" Rarity responds; "Right now; it probably is for the best, if we head to the Dining Hall!" Rarity points out. "Yes; I do not wish to miss out on my Lunch, or even be a few minutes late!" I explain. Since I had finished my Cola, I had already put the bottle away. Rarity had finished hers, too; so that is out of the way. I raise to my feet, walking over to the door. I am lifting up my right hand and press the palm onto the plaque, spreading my fingers wide in order to open the door; only to walk out into the cloaking room with Rarity in tow, before the door is sliding shut behind her as she had cleared the threshold. Once in the cloaking room, I slip my feet into my shoes, right and left respectively. From there, I am turning towards the door, lifting my right hand up. <--- --- ---> A Class After Lunch <--- --- ---> > A Class After Lunch: 8 . Lunch had been yummy, and I had enjoyed sharing my lunch with Rarity. As my Chaperone, she is sharing my lunch with me. Even if she is not in the classroom in class. If Rarity's words are anything to go by, Cheerilee is a good Teacher, who will help us all to Learn and to Grow. While I do not know these girls, yet, I am going to learn more about them, than their Names and Locations of origin before I leave. I follow the girls into our class room, taking the seat I had designated to me the first class, before lunch. I take my seat, sitting down; before I am logging in, placing the palms of my hands on the desk before me. Once I had logged in, I can see the keyboard lighting up, as the screen is activating. Cheerilee is standing behind her desk, looking out over her class; scanning the face of each little girl in turn, smiling warmly and inviting at us. "Hello, Students!" Cheerilee exclaims, as she had confirmed that everyone is in class, logged in with the system. "Hello, Cheerilee!" we chorus, in response. "Nice to see that everyone is on time, the first class!" she observes, snickering. Of course, we are all on time; would have been only too embarrassing to be late, on our first class. Wouldn't it? Considering that I had chosen to be here, in the first place. Not to mention; I had even accepted to be a Little Girl, for the precious privilege to be here. Not that being a Little girl is all that bad, but still. I had not known what it would be like, when I had accepted to become a girl for this class. Maybe all of them had been born, as Girls; I do not know, or if it matters in the first place. I had chosen to be here, because I had wanted it all along; not because someone had coerced me, or forced me to go. How Horrible that would have been. <--- --- ---> I can read the name of my Teacher on the screen: "Cheerilee". Just as I can read the names of each of the Little Girls I am sharing my class with. Convenient. I have a Clock on the upper right corner of my screen; but I can move it to the top or bottom of the screen, just as I could choose if I wanted it on the right or Left side. I keep it where it is, why bother moving it around now? I like the position; just fine, as it is. "Welcome to the First Year of your Education!" Cheerilee exclaims; as she continues to smile at us, from the front of the class. It would have been awkward and uncomfortable if she had been in the back of the class. "I take it, you have at least read the list of subjects; considering what you want to learn, over this upcoming semester!" she suggests. I was not the only little girl with foresight; most of them had already started to plan ahead. Cheerilee's Class is not making her into the Shepherd, guiding them through the Labyrinth of learning; but guiding us to learn what we will need, to enjoy a rich life. The Life we all have before us, whether we like it or not. "Your Life is Yours, to Mold into a Life you can Enjoy and be Proud of!" Cheerilee explains. "I want to see each and every one of you blossom into Successful, happy and Loving Women as you Graduate here!" she points out. While she did not mention it; but she did not care if someone were to become a man, or a Pony instead. At least; so long as we were Happy, Loving and Successful in the end. Of course, she did not have to say it. Everyone it is relevant to, would already know it; or would know it when it came up. "If you haven't already; place the palms of your hands, on your desk before you!" Cheerilee is instructing us. I just giggle, as I had already logged into my system. You could leave the schedule as is, if you so please; you can always adjust it at any time, in order to change anything you feel the need to change.." she puts forth; "butt the later you perform the change; the harder it will be, to correct it to fit you!" she explains. "Yay, my Japanese has been Approved!" Chihiro exclaims, quietly behind her right hand. "Oh, a future class-mate!" I ponder, casting her a furtive glance. "Of course, Chihiro; we do have a Qualified Teacher for your subject; so it is natural to Approve your choice!" Cheerilee suggests; "Not as if we have an Upper, or Lower limit on how many Students it takes to accept the application!" she explains. "Rest Assured; none will Fail or Drop out due to the Lack of Qualified Teachers!" Cheerilee points out. "That's a relief.." Anna ponders; "and I got my Riding Class Approved, too!" she breathes. "Another Class Mate, I think!" I put forth, casting a glance at Anna Sheridan. "Oh?" Anna utters; "do I have a fellow class mate, in my riding class?" Anna inquires. "Yes.." I respond; "so it would appear!" I conclude; "Should be fun, to have someone to share the class with; someone, to share the joy with!" I suggest. "Yes.." she responds, "and I guess, it could be lonely after a while; if you were the only one, in the class!" she then agrees. "Since we don't need to worry, about the Teachers or Ponies; I am sure, we have plenty of fun to look forwards to!" I suggest. "If you read Ponish, you can even discuss your riding with the Pony!" Anna puts forth, pondering if this could indeed be true. "We could take the class, and if you enjoy Cheerilee's classes; you could have her, as your teacher.." I respond; "and I am sure to take this chance.." I supply; "if it would look odd with Ponish; could it really be worse than Klingon, even if I know it is a University subject!" I put forth. "That is quite the interesting comparison; and an objective line of reasoning, building up the conclusion!" Cheerilee considers, snickering to herself; "Maybe she is interested; in a subject on the topic of deeper thinking and reasoning as well, along the line?" she ponders. "They really do have the coolest subjects available for us, here; even this early, before we have even finished the first class!" Anna proclaims. "While I did not know, what subjects were available when I signed up; but I will be making the most out of this opportunity, for as long as it is available to me!" I concede. "I'm choosing a few electives too.." Anna agrees; "would be stupid, to miss this opportunity!" she points out. <--- --- ---> I had made the effort, of choosing a wide selection of subjects. Well, why not? So long, as I have the time to invest in these subjects. I had chosen the riding, largely; because it sounds like fun, even if I will have a special opportunity to make a few friends there. Choosing these Languages, on the first class had been an opportunity I could not turn down; just imagine, how much use I could have with these Languages. A spread of Languages should open up doors to me, doors that would otherwise remain closed, to anyone who had not chosen to learn multiple languages. Of course; it would also offer me the firsthand objective; into various books and other Media, based on grasping the Native Language. Even if I am not Fluid in the Language, I will still see what the Author intended, rather than the adjusted view the filter of the Translation is offering. It is natural, to me; to choose a special sub-variant of the Gymnastics and Music as well, even if you may argue on the subject of the individual choices. My choices stand, all the same; I am intending to enjoy these classes, both in class and after I graduate. For now; I am assuming, I will be graduating. Even if I will be making the most out of the time I have here, all the same; enjoying the individual classes, as well as making friends and contacts for the future. <--- --- ---> Gymnastics <--- --- ---> > Gymnastics: 9 <--- --- ---> . I had selected "Gymnastics" as one of my classes, and it had been approved. Not that I had expected it to be denied, but still. Our Teacher: Cheerilee had explained that the chance of having the class denied was next to non-existent, unless I had not been qualified for the class in question. Since the Gymnastics is a basic class, there is no reason to deny me the class. Naturally. Once the previous class, just after lunch had concluded; I had left the class, just as all the other girls right along with me. If one, or some had stayed around; in order to ask a few questions or not, but they had all left after the class had been concluded. Well, why not? What's the point in staying? We all have classes to attend to. It is after all, why we are here. To study, and to learn. I had walked over to the changing room, outside the Gymnastics room. The walk is short, just as expected. I had arrived after a few minutes, and well in time for the introduction to my first Gymnastics class. <--- --- ---> The door is open, and I am stepping right in. The floor had been laid with an inch of Sapphire Glass, to remain in perfect condition. Otherwise, the room is just as I had been expecting. Since we are all little girls, there is no worry about anyone seeing us; we are after all little girls, every last one of us. No chance of little boys or men seeing anything; because there are none of them, able to enter this facility in the first place. (Maybe, just maybe; this is one reason, why the school is for little girls exclusively?) There is nothing new to see, because I can see it all; I just need a mirror and some light. Though I guess; they left my face largely unchanged, aside from the required adjustments based on making me into the little girl I am now. (Why remove our individuality? When it makes it so much easier, to recognize our friends and identify each girl.) Still; I am so similar; I can use the same clothes, as every other girl in class. Convenient. At least, I think it is. I am fairly sure, the Teachers would agree. The walls are laid with red Rose wood, though. I can count ten lockers, all lacquered in a matching Metallic Bloody Red. Numbered from one to five Right and Left. There is no handle or lock, though; but I can see the hand print on each of the locker doors; indicating how I am to open my locker. Each locker is named and is proudly presenting a picture of the face of the owner of the locker. "Myne Meteor" I read, on the second locker on the right. (But of course; this is my locker, for as long as I am in the Gymnastics class.) I am extending my right hand, fingers spread wide; pressing the palm of my hand onto the mate black rubber. Only to feel the cool rubber grip my hand, as it grows warm as the door is unlocked; before it slides right up, before me. With that, I have gained access to my Gymnastics clothes. (Should I have been Shocked, or even Surprised?) The first I can see inside is the suit I am to wear; Metallic Bloody Red, of course. "It's a bit sticky, or even grabby!" I reflect, as I feel the lock accept me. "Oh, well; this is my locker, so I am accepted to take this class!" I ponder, giggling to myself. "I will just have to disrobe, before I can slip into my new clothes!" I breathe, in excitement. <--- --- ---> I am extracting the suit, looking as if it had been a Swim suit; which it may still be quite fitting for, as well. With the suit in my hands, I am stepping into the suit right and left; before I slowly pull the suit up, finally sliding my hands in before I pull the suit up. The liquid elasticity only excites me even further, as I feel the tight material slide up my body; soon finding its position, leaving me with a very comfortable fit. Next, I am extracting the shoes; looking almost as if they had been Ballet slippers; rather than regular Gymnastics shoes. I find them easy to slip my feet into; almost as if they had just been stockings, albeit just thigh-high as opposed to the full-length stockings I wore here as I entered the room. (Of course; these are not Toe stockings either, though.) The liquid elasticity remains a constant; these Gymnastics shoes slide up my legs, as they eagerly contract around my toes, feet and legs in the process. I guess I just have to get used to it, even if I don't want to become blase about it or feel uncomfortable wearing anything else. I don't even know, how long I am to stay; so if I get too familiar with these clothes, I would become very uncomfortable if I am forced to wear my regular clothes I wore before I entered this class. Once I had slipped the shoes on; only the gloves remain, even if these gloves only covers my hands and nothing more. I know these are my gloves, because they fit as if they had been painted onto the skin of my hands. My Suction cups, sensitive Touchpads and nails are perfectly supported as well. <--- --- ---> As I had slipped into my Gymnastics Uniform, I had closed the door to my locker; before I had walked to the inner door, stepping into the Gymnastics Stadium. Oh, and it is Huge. Only once I had entered the Stadium, do I realize a few of the girls had already entered; the rest soon drop in, one by one. They had all been gathered in a corner, to the right of the door; naturally, I do take my place among them. How could I not? I don't want to stick out, so I have to sit with everyone else. Just as every other girl, I have my long hair flowing down my back, reaching well beyond my shoulders. In any other event, I would have been embarrassed; showing my long hair, flowing freely over my back. Only now, I knew everyone else did the same; so that point had effectively been rendered mote, before I had even entered the room. Curious, but not every girl is blond; and those who are, appears to be genuine blonds as well. What's so exciting about blond hair in the first place? I have no idea, but maybe I am just too young and inexperienced, to have a clue in the first place. I had seen a few with red hair, a few with deep brown and a few with glossy black hair; though I guess, it is at least partially indicative of where they hail from. Not that I overly care, beyond the curiosity, of using it as a clue or cue to go by. Well; we are after all little girls; dying the hair, just had not quite entered our minds. Or, so I would imagine. <--- --- ---> The teacher is entering the room, quietly walking up to us; only stopping, slowly observing us for a few minutes. I can but imagine, she has the time. "Right, and Left!" she exclaims, pointing at where she wants us to orient. Everyone scrambles, to take the proffered position; now facing the Teacher, as she continues to observe us. "Greetings, girls.." she pronounces; "and welcome to my Gymnastics class!" she continues. "Greetings, Teacher!" we all chorus, as one; as we are focusing on the Teacher before us. "One.." she pronounces, indicating for the first girl to take the position; "two.." she continues; "three.." she adds; "Four.." she points out; "five!" she concludes, pointing out the final positions. "Now.." she exclaims; "let's have some fun!" she suggests. I had taken the seat as the second girl on the right; just as she had directed me to, in the first place. It is the locker, I had been directed to; when I were changing into my Gymnastics suit, of course. Had they chosen to give me this position, on purpose; for any particular reason, or just randomly. I have no idea, but maybe they will be explaining this at some point. "Right.." she proclaims; "if you would sit on your knees!" she concludes. "Left.." she proclaims; "if you lay face down, facing your numbered pear!" she concludes; indicating for us how she wants us to position ourselves. I sit, facing the girl who has her locker opposing me on the left side of the changing room; while she is lying face down, facing me. Am I lucky, or unlucky; to have the position on the right, as opposed to the position of the girl on the left? I have no idea, but I guess it is up to my personal taste, in the end. Do I want to be first, or do I prefer my companion to explain it to me? She is the one to have the surprise, while I will know what is happening beforehand. On the other rubbery hoof; what if they reverse the order, so that I explain this to her, the next time? Probably. "Left.." the teacher exclaims; "place your hands under yourself, palms down!" she concludes. Each of the girls on the left soon do as our teacher had instructed them; while the rest of us, just sit on the right and watch what is to come. "Left.." she exclaims; "spread your fingers wide, then push down firmly!" she is instructing. "Squeak!!" is heard, as their suction cups are being engaged, by the suddenly increased pressure applied. "I guess, I know; what that noise means, on second thought!" I ponder. Those who do not know, what the noise is suggesting; are to learn it, soon enough. I guess, it is better to have this demonstrated publicly; than wait, and suffer the consequences, in the most inopportune situation possible. "Left.." she exclaims; "lift up your right hand!" she instructs them. "Here it comes, here it comes!" I ponder; half by half knowing what is to come, even if I don't know exactly what will be the result of it. Each of the girls on the left, trying to lift up their right hand, but to no avail; their hands refuse to lift from the floor, as much as they may try to pull it up. It is exactly what I had been expecting. Not even the girls on the left are overly surprised, on second thought. I maintain a polite smile, making an effort not to laugh; though I soon notice, how one of the girls on the left can't hold in her laughter. Since she is the one on the receiving end, it is still acceptable; she permits the rest of the girls on the left to join in and laugh right along with her From there, I join in, with the rest of the girls. This had been the intent, all along; now she knows, we have been alerted to this possibility. "Relax.." the teacher is instructing, letting it be known she had intended for us to learn of this before anyone became compromised by the effect. "Left.." she exclaims; "spread your fingers wide, then push down firmly!" she is instructing. "Left.." she exclaims; "lift up your left hand!" she instructs them. Just as before, their hands refuse to let go and one girl is tilting to one side. The girl starts to giggle, helplessly; finding the situation so amusing, she is collapsing onto the floor. Not that the fall is devastating; but it is a bit embarrassing, from what I can say. "Right.." the teacher is instructing; "help your companion; release her hands from the floor, so that we can continue class!" she is following up. Of course, here it comes; she will permit me, to enjoy the same experience, and permit me to get closer to her by having her help me out in turn. While she had not said it, yet; but everyone knows, what is to come. It is easy for me, to slip in my right index finger under her right hand; only because my hands are not stuck, on the floor. The girl on the left, does not have this luxury; since both her hands, are firmly and irrevocably stuck on the floor under her. "I am only too happy, to help her out; knowing, she will be doing the same for me!" I ponder. <--- --- ---> "Time for the warming up.." the teacher points out, indicating for us to start at the corner of the long side of the room; "walk all the way over to the corner.." she explains; "then run to the next corner of the short wall.." she continues; "repeat this, until I say anything!" she concludes. By the time, she had finished explaining the instructions; we had all gathered in the proffered corner, starting to walk in the direction she had indicated. While the room may be large; but the walls are not quite as long, as one may have been expecting from the size of the room. With that, we manage to get several laps, around the room, before she is speaking up, once more. "Since this is Gymnastics; we are looking for more, than just running and speed!" she puts forth, indicating for us to gather in one corner of the room. "One.. Two.. Three.. Four.. Five.." she exclaims, indicating for us to line up by the numbers; "Right.. Left!" she concludes, indicating for us to be facing one another. "Right and left.." she exclaims; "I want to see you embrace one another!" she concludes. While we are new, in class; but since I don't really know the other girls, I don't have any preferences. My companion, is as good as any of the girls. Well; I am one of these girls, so it avoids the awkward embarrassment. (Before I had joined this class, I would have found this embarrassing no end.) Since I had been instructed to embrace the girl before me, I do; soon realize something, since she is wearing the same suit as I am wearing, I feel the slippery and smooth surface under the palms of my hands in the process. I almost squeal in excitement and delight, as the palms of my hands slide over the material covering her entire body. The palms of my hands soon ends up, over her shoulder blades; exactly where I feel her holding her hands, in the process. Somehow, I sense her excitement; just as I know she could not hide her own excitement, in the process. "I take it.." I whisper; "you find this suit just as exciting, as I do!" I breathe. "How did you know?" she inquires; "guilty as charged.." she then breathes. "What if I were to propose.." I whisper; "this reaction, may be part of the grounds they based the pairings on?" I inquire. "Wouldn't that be convenient?" I hear the Teacher; "Would you; or anyone else be shocked, or scandalized; if I were to confirm?" she finally inquires. The room is quiet, and one could hear the Pin hitting the floor in the opposite corner of the room. (had the pin actually been dropped.) "If your reaction is anything to go by, I will be enjoying to be paired up with you.." she whispers; "Why would I be scandalized?" she inquires, as response to the teacher's question. "Correct.." the teacher responds; "Quite correct, indeed!" she puts forth; "It should be perfectly normal, to embrace one's Partner or Team Mate!" she concludes. As she is speaking, I find myself tightening my embrace; only for my Partner to react, by tightening her embrace accordingly. I squeal, inwardly; while I know, my partner feels and reacts the same way. I can't exactly say, that I mind. "Slowly, spread your feet outwards.." the teacher is instructing us; "relax, as you continue to spread your feet ever wider; slowly as you reach for the Ninety Degrees!" she concludes. "Oh.. Oh.. Oh.." I breathe, as I am enjoying the moment; embracing my partner, in the exercise. (Even if I don't know, what the exercise is intended to do, just yet.) As I am relaxing, as I had been instructed to; I find it much easier, than I had been expecting. I am still taking it just as slow, as I had been instructed; spreading my feet further and further. I wait for the next instruction, with each and every other girl in the room; only for the teacher to give the expected instruction, a moment later. She had just waited, for the confirmation; that everyone had managed to complete the previous instruction, before she continues with the next instruction. "Since you have managed to spread your feet, while maintaining relaxation; continue, by slowly sliding your feet out!" she continues. "Well; if this instruction isn't harder, than the previous one were.." I whisper in the ear, of my companion. "Probably not; even if I don't know, exactly how far she is expecting us to push our feet out!" she concludes. "Pretend, that it is just one more inch.." I whisper; "and then another inch.." I continue; "so long as you can remain calm and maintain the relaxation; this shouldn't be harder, than the first inch!" I propose. "Oh, yeah; just that one inch, is easy.." she whispers; "so long as I only need to push my feet one inch further, forgetting how far I had already pushed my feet apart; it is just the first one inch, over and over!" she concludes. I feel her thighs pressed tight against my own, in our embrace; her legs spreading with mine, just that one inch further, as if it had been just that one first inch. Inch by inch, inch by inch; inch by inch, inch by inch and inch by inch we spread our feet further and further apart. I almost scream, as I find my rump hitting the floor; still embracing my partner, as if she had been the entire world for me. (Or; as if I had been hanging on to her, for dear life.) "You know, it really does feel good; holding on to you, in a tight embrace!" I breathe, snickering under my breath, in delight. "Dare to push further, to see if you can lift your feet up and off of the floor?" the teacher whispers in my ear. "Well, why not.." I respond; "I have been enjoying this exercise.." I put forth. "I could see that." the teacher supplies, giggling quietly to herself, under her breath. "Sounds like fun.." my companion responds, only urging me on, to continue. (Before, the gravity had done half the job; but now, we will have to lift the entire weight by ourselves, of course.) Since I had already reached the floor, without apparent effort; I continue, lifting my feet up over the floor. Inch by inch, inch by inch; inch by inch, inch by inch and inch by inch. Before I even realized it, I can feel my knees hit my shoulders; just as I realize, the girl I am embracing is experiencing the same. She just giggles, and I am giggling with her. We share the moment and the victory we had just accomplished together. It is a success, earned together; and thus the joy is shared between the two of us, almost as if we had been one. "Imagine that.." she breathes, excitedly; "we managed to push all the way!" she concludes. "What if.." I suggest; "we were trying to bend our knees, and see if we could reach the end?" I inquire. As easy as it may sound, on first inspection; but this is an entirely different challenge, in our position. Still, we persist. Slowly bending our knees, just a little at the time; little by little, until we can feel the heels of our feet hitting the plump fleshy rump. "Squeak!!" is heard, just as our heels are hitting our rumps. Curiously enough, we had not yet fallen over; even without the support, our legs should have been providing. Yet, in this position; our legs had been neatly folded, completely out of the way. (At least; my feet has no Suction cup, or any such fancy details.) "You did it.." the teacher exclaims; "you really pushed it through, all the way.." she continues; "and you are still standing, without even toppling over!" she concludes. "Yes.." I breathe; "I guess we did!" my companion concludes. "Now I just need to see you, untangling yourself.." the teacher points out; "so that you can stand up, with the rest of your class mates!" she concludes. As I am trying to move my hands, the first realization is hitting home; "Oh.. Oh..!" I breathe. I may have heard a squeaking noise; but I had not even given it the light of day, or the shade of night, for that matter. I had been busy, distracted. What had you been expecting? Maybe the suit she is wearing, had taken the last of my attention; as I was focused on embracing my companion, as we were pushing our feet apart at the time. (Oh, well; now it is too late, and I can clearly feel my hands being stuck on her back.) With each pull, I just feel her hands pulling from behind my back. Once, twice, thrice; but to no avail, I am still perfectly stuck. Not that I mind, even if I guess it is a bit embarrassing all the same. "This is fun.." my companion giggles. "Yes.. Yes.. Yes.." I breathe, excited by her admission, on top of everything else. In a different situation, I had been looking forwards to sharing this moment with her; hoping she would like seeing my room, or letting me see hers. Well; maybe I could still enjoy that prospect. "Myne?" she inquires, as she had seen my name and face on the locker before she entered the Gymnastics class. "Yes, that is me.." I respond; still distracted by the situation, within which I had just found myself. "Could you study Neiponian or Ponish with me?" she inquires. "I could.." I admit; "if you want me to!" I put forth. "After this.." she breathes; "I would love to share the time with you.." she continues; "and the studies would be the best opening, I could think of!" she admits. "Megumi, wasn't it?" I inquire; "you think we could be permitted to share the same booth, for the meals?" I inquire. "Yes, that is me.." she whispers; "and I think that would be delightful!" she continues. I slowly straighten my legs, bending my legs further and further back to be able to stand up; while I feel Megumi is following suit, following my movement perfectly, as if we had been the same person. It had taken me surprisingly long, for me to disentangle myself; but in the process, I had still won the prize. Though I guess; I am sharing the prize, with my new friend: Megumi. (Is there ever a greater prize, than the prize of friendship? {Nope Nope Nope}) <--- --- ---> Megumi <--- --- ---> > Megumi: 10 <--- --- ---> . I had enjoyed my Gymnastics class thoroughly, largely thanks to the new friend I made at the class: Myne Meteor. I am not one to complain, and particularly not when it is going my way. Surprising flexibility, I managed to perform; and with Myne by my side, or is that before me. (I mean, I don't exactly know her; at least, I did not know her before today.) I had never cared too much, about flexibility; but I had been enjoying myself, with Myne as my companion. She had obviously been enjoying herself, as well; even if I guess she had been just a bit excitable, there. Once we had exchanged names, we had become instant best friends. Did I have any friends here? Even if I thought I had friends, back home. Still they are not here; so I can't be blamed for abandoning them, while I am alone here. <--- --- ---> I had changed back, to my regular school uniform; the one I had been wearing, outside of our Gymnastics class. Of course; Myne had been there, changing back into her regular school uniform as well. "This class is fun, but it had never been the same; without you, Myne!" I put forth, as we are stepping out of the changing room. "Yes, it was.." she responds; "while I can't expect a new friend, at each class; but so long, as I have one friend at the class!" she puts forth, with a dreamy voice. "I guess I will see you on the Ponish and Neighponian class, as well, Myne!" I propose. "I hope so, Megumi!" she responds; "I really do hope so!" she concludes. Naturally; the Chaperon had been waiting, outside our classroom. Well, what had I been expecting? She had been there, waiting, at the end of each class, as well as following me to the dining hall. "Hi, Rarity.." I exclaim; "and Rarity.." I then add, as I notice Myne's Chaperone is also Rarity. (Just not the same Rarity, as my Chaperone.{This is a bit confusing, but I guess I will just have to get used to this here?}) "Hi, Rarity.." Myne exclaims; "and Rarity!" she then continues, greeting my Chaperone as well; but why not. My Chaperone is supposed to guide and guard me; even if she is permitted to be my friend and soak up all the ambient Love around me, as I am enjoying my time and studies here at the school. (Love is the Prime currency, here; for all the Changelings, managing the Hotel and the School I am attending. {Even if I may be oblivious of this fact.} Still, so long as the business is able to operate, and provide me with the services I had been expecting; who am I to complain? (I really do love my stay, here at the Royal Twilight inn; after all.) With nothing more than an exchange of glances, between Rarity and Rarity; they lead us towards the destination. "Nice to see; you made a friend, Megumi!" Rarity exclaims; "Nice to see; you made a new friend, Myne!" Rarity proclaims. "Thank you, Rarity!" Myne and I chorus, as response; following Rarity and Rarity towards the dining hall. "I've built up quite the appetite, in class.." I put forth, and Myne only nods her head in agreement. "Since you had Gymnastics, it would have been odd, if you had not built up an appetite!" Rarity suggests, and Rarity just nods. "First, we were running around the Gymnasium.." Myne explains; "then we were having a flexibility exercise, which ended up very close and enjoyable.." I fill in. "Oh.. Oh.." Rarity snickers; "You really did get close up and personal, there; making it impossible, not to become close friends!" Rarity suggests. "Well; we did share a moment; revealing a few personal things.." Myne concedes; "and shared a few interests, and classes!" I put forth. "Aside from the Gymnastics class; we both have Ponish and Neighponian too!" I supply. "Oh.. Oh.." Rarity snickers; "that's quite the mouth-full, right there!" Rarity agrees. "I did pick up a few Language classes.." Myne concedes, "but it can be so much fun.." she continues; "and I was given the impression; my Ponish could aid me, in my Riding class, too!" she concludes. "Well; you are riding a Pony in class, and they are bound to be more comfortable speaking Ponish in class!" Rarity explains. "Oh, yeah.." I respond; "that would make sense, I guess!" I conclude. "We are Equestrian Ponies, when it comes to it.." Rarity explains; so Ponish is our Native Tongue.." she puts forth; "so it is coming natural to speak Ponish, and in the riding class, more than anywhere else!" she concludes. (Even Changelings would find Ponish the go-to Language, even if they are not Ponies.) "Uhm, Rarity and Rarity; I assume, you do know the Gymnastics Uniform?" I inquire, just as we are entering the Dining hall. "I designed it, all the clothes you are wearing here, at the School and at the Hotel!" Rarity concedes; "They are all labeled Rarity, after all!" she explains. "Oh, yes; so they are!" I respond, Myne chorusing me half a beat later. "Then, you designed the Riding uniform as well, Rarity?" Myne inquires. "But of course, Myne!" she responds. (She would have to claim the responsibility for designing these clothes, as long as she is in the guise of Rarity.) "I guess, that is very reassuring!" I supply; "I have enjoyed the clothes I am currently wearing; so if you designed these clothes, I am bound to enjoy wearing these clothes too!" I put forth. "Thank you, Megumi.." Rarity responds; "it warms my heart; to learn that you enjoy wearing my clothes, that much!" she puts forth. "Well; the cut, the design, the materials.." Myne suggests; "they are all to die for!" she points out. "Someone is enjoying smooth and tight fitting clothes (form hugging).." Rarity ponders; "makes me want to craft her an exclusive ensemble or two to share with her friends!" Rarity ponders; inspired by the genuine, high praise. "It pleases me to no end, to hear you say that!" Rarity exclaims, moved to tears. "I love these clothes, and wearing them is just so comfortable!" Myne points out; "I can only imagine, how much effort you put into the design and crafting each of these garments, for us!" she continues. (Of course; we had spoken only the truth {why bother lying?}) Of course, we did not know; they could read our emotions, as they are feeding on them. Lying is hard, when the one you talk to, knows your emotions. <--- --- ---> We had just entered the dining hall, accepting the meal on the menu. We are hungry, and eager to enjoy what is offered. (While hungry, the food does come out much more appetizing; but it does not mean, you will eat anything placed before you.) Since we are attending the first class, we are young; still learning, what food we may be enjoying. On the other rubbery hoof, the cook knows her cooking; preparing a delicious meal is just her, and she does have the very best ingredients to prepare the meal from. She would not even bother touching anything less. (Well, why should she?) Once we had reached the table; I place the plate on the table before me, ready to dig in. Naturally; I am eager to sample what I had just been presented; the tantalizing scents promising a meal, not to miss out on. I take the inner seat on one side, Myne taking the seat before me; with Rarity as my Chaperone taking the outer seat, and the other Rarity taking the last seat available. While the likelihood, probability of someone being out to harm us; but they play their role as Chaperone, by the book. Maybe they are teaching us something more, than is openly expressed up front in the process; as they take the outer seats, protecting us with their bodies. It isn't, as if I need to leave the table; in order to pick up a second, in any event. If I am more hungry; we will have the helpings and refills brought to the table, no questions asked. (It's an All Inclusive stay here at the Hotel, after all. {Naturally; this is extended to the school and us children taking these classes too.}) For the meal, a large glass of regular, cool milk is served; intended to promote growth, and a strong and healthy skeleton. It isn't, as if I could complain; I am not looking forwards to endure any injuries, of course. But who would? I'm here to learn, not to be distracted by pain and recuperation. The meal largely progresses in quiet contemplation. (Let the food silence your mouth.) Pinkie is approaching the table. Placing the desired glass or plate on the table; before she is leaving with a smile on her face, as the job is concluded. If I want a glass of Milk, Water, Juice and such; she is only too happy to bring it to the table. The empty glasses and plates are slowly stacking up on the side of the table; for Pinkie to fetch. In the end, the table is occupied by two very full little girls. The meal concludes, as we are quite satisfied with what we had been served. "I would not mind, being served this again!" I put forth. "I figured!" Rarity responds, smiling back. "Time to leave, and go home!" Rarity supplies, snickering. "Would you mind, if Myne were to follow me home?" I inquire. "Not at all, Dear!" Rarity responds, nodding her head vigorously in approval. <--- --- ---> I open the door, and my new friend follows me into the cloaking room; only for our two Chaperons to follow us, before the door slides shut. "Welcome, Myne; to my dorm room, I hope you will enjoy the stay!" I put forth. I slowly slip my shoes of, before I am opening the door, to my living room. Myne had slipped her shoes off of her feet, as well, before she is following me further in. "Would it make any difference; if I were to pick the wrong shoes, when I go home?" Myne ponders. (Of course not, the shoes are identical.) "Have a seat, Myne; and make yourself comfortable!" I offer. "Thank you, Megumi!" she responds, as she is walking the short distance to the sofa, plopping down on the inner seat. I take the other seat, even if I have three seats. Our Chaperons stand by the door, quietly observing us. (For now, their job is to absorb the ambient love, we are radiating.) The room remains quiet, for a moment longer. "Would you mind, if I were to play some music?" I inquire. "Please do, Megumi!" she merely responds. With that, I activate the system, selecting the music I had in mind. "Activate" I select, and the music is starting to play. I had selected classical Japanese music; because I figured it would make me feel right at home, but why not? "Oh.. Oh.." Myne responds; "I like this!" she then adds. "Me too.." I respond; "makes me feel at home, and at ease!" I put forth. "How fitting, to end the day with relaxing music, and a sense of home!" she agrees. "Thank you, Myne!" I respond. "I like this music.." Myne is expressing; "even if it may be the first time, I have been listening to it!" she concludes. "Oh.." I respond; "Okay!" I continue. "Unless it is just pure luck.." she suggests; "I think we have a rather large selection of music, to choose from!" she puts forth. "No idea.." I respond; "I haven't had the time, to explore my option here, just yet!" I concede. "Neither have I.." she confesses; "but I guess; we have more than enough time, to explore it!" she suggests. "Yes.." I agree; "I'm assuming; we have a full education to look forwards to, if we choose to accept!" I put forth. "May.. May I.." she starts; "Uhm, touch your shoulder?" Myne inquires. "Well, why not?" I suggest; "If we were permitted, during class; "I can but assume, we can do it now too!" I suggest. Rarity remains quiet, only nodding ascent. "Oh, well.." Myne mumbles; "here goes.." she breathes, as she is reaching for my shoulder. "Oh.. Oh.." I stutter, as I feel the touch of her extended index finger; "Yes.. Yes.. Yes.." I whisper. Somehow; the experience is more intimate, as we are alone together. I find myself breathing hard. I am blushing, and my heart is beating fast. I find myself looking into her eyes, as we are sharing the moment; just gazing into one-another's eyes. I feel her hand on my shoulder, and my hand moves towards her; only to land on her shoulder, momentarily staying there. (It is a moment shared, never to be forgotten; a moment, I will always keep close to my heart.) A friend made, a friend tied to me. (Could we do this, again?) <--- --- ---> Good Night, and Sleep Tight <--- --- ---> > Good Night, and Sleep Tight: 11 <--- --- ---> Megumi <--- --- ---> . Myne had just left my Dorm Room. (She had touched me, {My shoulder.} and I had touched her. {Her shoulder.} And it had been an electrifying and unforgettable sensation.) We had been listening to music, together; she had enjoyed the music, I had selected. (I feel even closer to her, now as she had visited me.) Of course, she had left, a short while ago; I had known it all along, as she had to sleep in her own room. (It isn't; as if I could blame her, {or Rarity} for it.) I had enjoyed the moment, for as long as it was to last. I can always see her tomorrow. Maybe, just maybe; I could visit her, in her room; tomorrow? <--- --- ---> I had just enjoyed a bottle of Sparkle Cola, before I went to bed. Now, I am standing before my wardrobe; the doors wide open, as I had slipped out of my daytime wears. I am tired, sleepy; what had I been expecting, after a long day at school and with my new friend coming over for a visit. I select the red panties, available to me; these are after all the nighttime panties, part of my uniform. I still enjoy the liquid elasticity of these panties; just as I had, the first time I had slipped into them the first night. (Just as I will be enjoying them, each and every night; for as long as I am to stay at this school, if not longer. {Will I be permitted to take any of my clothes with me, when I finally have to leave; after I have concluded my education, as I am graduating?}) Just as the previous night, and every night; I step into my panties, slowly pulling them all the way up. Only to afford them a few tentative tugs: once, twice and thrice. I guess the habit will persist, even though I had realized the garment will find the fit all by themselves. (These panties feel, almost as if they had been painted directly onto my bare skin; while still giving me the impression of applying the pressure of physical panties. {Something I have come to love, above almost everything else.}) As I have let go of my panties, I once more turn my attention towards the wardrobe; extracting the top, slipping it down over my chest. I afford the top a few tentative tugs: once, twice and thrice; in order to achieve the ever-so elusive perfect fit. More out of habit, than an actual need to adjust the fit of the garment. Maybe I just enjoy pulling at it, for the joy of the liquid elasticity. I just can not help it, or myself. "The Panties and the top combined, looks like I am wearing a one-piece Swim Suit!" I ponder; giggling to myself, as I am enjoying the sense of wearing the uniform they had presented me with; "Well, why not?" I question. "Time for the stockings!" I breathe, as I am extracting the garments in question. I step into the right stocking; pulling it all the way up; sliding the foot down, before I can set my foot down comfortably. With that, I am repeating the process; slipping the left stocking on, only to stand comfortably on my seemingly bare feet. "It is, like wearing a sleeveless cat-suit!" I ponder, giggling to myself. I am extracting the gloves, slipping my right hand into the glove; pulling it all the way up to my shoulder, feeling it eagerly slide over my skin. The inner surface feels as if lubricated; even if it is coarse and grabby, staying up once I had slipped it on. I repeat the process; slipping the left glove on, before I am affording the gloves a few tentative tugs: once, twice and thrice. The material is contracting, with each tug; sliding over my skin, in the process. The obligatory uniform, for the nighttime is on; but I want to have the entire ensemble. I know I had something more, I could enjoy wearing. "Oh, there it is.." I ponder, as I am extracting the face-mask, once I had found it. Of course, it is where I should have known it is; but I will be blaming my tired and sleepy state. The face mask eagerly slips onto my face, as if it had been looking forwards to cover my face all night. I feel the slippery surface, as it slowly spreads out over my face; covering my skin completely. Once on, it is holding on, as if I had just glued it onto my skin. Well; at least, it will not fall off of my face while I sleep. If only I had known, exactly what the purpose of wearing the uniform at night is; but since I had not needed to know, I had forgotten to ask. If I had forgotten to ask, they had neglected to explain it to me. Since I was born as a girl; the suit does not really change all that much, does it? Should I have asked, should I have worried about it? Well, why bother now, when I had already slipped into it. I enjoy the sensation, elicited by the suit. I found what appears to be a pair of equine ears, putting them on. Should I have? But still, I had just put them on, just for the fun of it. Though I guess, you could say; that I enjoy the appearance, all the same. With that, I am folding the corner of the quilt up against the wall; before I am slipping in under the quilt, before I fold the quilt down. A moment later, I fall asleep, with my head resting comfortably on the pillow. <--- --- ---> I grow a little each night, even if the change may be considered insignificant or negligible. You only notice the difference, after weeks and months had past. On the other rubbery hoof, the garments making up the nighttime ensemble is controlling my growth; as they change my appearance, if I am sleeping for a full eight hours. Of course, I will be have the uninterrupted eight hours of sleep, during each and every night. Exactly what these changes will be, I have no idea. These changes slowly builds up, to the growth and development I am constantly undergoing, as I am growing up into a beautiful woman. <--- --- ---> As I am waking up, the room is dark; pitch black, and I can't see a thing. Of course, the light is off; so there is no light to see, and I had not even opened my eyes yet. I open my eyes, and the light slowly comes on; permitting me to see, as the light grows brighter. Once the room is illuminated enough, for me to see; I slide my right hand out from under the quilt, before I fold the quilt up against the wall. From there, I slide my feet out from under the quilt; before I am sitting up on the bed, pushing myself forwards. The next moment, I find myself standing up on my own two feet; "thud, thud.." is heard, as my feet hit the floor. As I am walking over to my wardrobe, almost feeling nude; all I can hear is the pitter-patter of soft feet on the floor, with the spice of light squeaks with each and every move I am making. The walk is not long, just the two or three meters from the side of my bed, over to the door to my wardrobe. I open the door, only to explore what I have to wear; exactly what I wore yesterday, of course. What had I been expecting. Though these clothes had been adjusted, to the body I have today; after an entire night's sleep. Of course, I do feel well rested. Before I can slip into the ensemble, I will have to disrobe. I pull the face-mask off of my face, with practised ease; it is only too eager to let go, after it had performed the job it had been crafted to perform. Now I am pulling the right and left glove off of my hands; dumping them on the floor of my wardrobe, on top of the face-mask I had just slipped of. As I had slipped the gloves off of me, I can see my skin; a light tan, just as I should have been expecting. Why should my skin-tone change, during the night in the first place? Though I guess my nails had grown a millimeter in length and just a little bit thicker than the day before. All according to the design I had accepted to put on. Well, not a real difference, to me; I still enjoy what I am and what I look like. My hands look, exactly as they had the day before; at least, as far as I can see. I will need several days, in order to see any difference at all. With the gloves on top of the pile of used clothes, I continue disrobing; pulling my stockings off of my feet, right and left. (With each garment removed, I have less and less squeaking noises accompanying my movements) Now I am pulling the top up, over my head; before I am depositing it, onto the top of the pile of used clothes I had been wearing all night. "Almost done, almost done.." I ponder; "then I can start putting on the clothes for a new day, so that I can go out and have my breakfast and see my friends!" I conclude. I pull my panties down, slipping them of; kicking them up, only to place them onto the top of the pile. There, finally; now I can start to put my clothes on. <--- --- ---> With the uniform on, I close the door to the wardrobe, before I turn and walk over to the door out of my bed room. (Of course; now the squeaking noises are back with a vengeance, but I don't mind since I enjoy hearing them.) As I am reaching the door, I am lifting up my right hand; extending the palm onto the plaque, spreading my fingers wide. I feel the slippery and warm, rubbery surface under the palm of my hand. While I am opening the door, to my living room; I feel the glossy black rubber sticking to the palm of my hand, almost as if it had been a genuinely warm handshake greeting me. The door is sliding up, before me; before I am pulling my hand back and walk out the door, ending up in my living room. "Good morning, Megumi!" Rarity is exclaiming, as she is greeting me. "Good morning, Rarity, I respond in kind, as I greet my Chaperone. "I take it, you slept well!" she inquires. "Yes, Rarity; thank you for asking, I did indeed sleep very well, all night!" I respond. "It warms my heart, to hear that.." she responds, now looking at me. "What is it, Rarity?" I inquire. "I believe you forgot, to take these ears of.." she responds, as she is taking a step forwards; "would have been embarrassing, to show yourself; still wearing a part of your pajamas?" she inquires, as she is pulling the ears off of my head. "Oh, yes.." I respond; "thank you for noticing, Rarity!" I conclude. She is pocketing the ears, smiling at me; happy, she could help me avoid the embarrassment I would otherwise have suffered. "I assume, you are hungry; ready to have your breakfast and see your new friend?" she inquires. "Yes, Rarity!" I respond. With that, she is walking up to the door; opening it as I am following her out to my cloaking room. I slip my shoes on, before she is opening the door out of my suite; I eagerly follow her out, before the door is sliding shut behind me. <--- --- ---> A New Day <--- --- ---> > A New Day: 12 <--- --- ---> Good Night, and Sleep Tight <--- --- ---> . I had been enjoying my breakfast, quite Royally. Since I am no longer alone, in the company of Myne; everything is so much brighter and more fun, than it had been before I had met her. If it was a chance encounter, but it had been a very fortunate encounter. It isn't every day, you make a new friend. Well; I still enjoy her company, looking forwards to many more days with her by my side. <--- --- ---> I am stepping into our classroom, with Myne just one step behind; while Rarity is staying outside, for the duration of the class. (While this is neither the Ponish, nor the Neiponian class; I am still looking forwards to the class, with Myne by my side.) Just as expected, it is not Cheerilee waiting for us; as I am stepping into the new classroom, but rather Colouratura. While I guess I could have asked for Cheerilee, holding the class; but this subject is not her forte, so I had opted for another teacher. (In this case; Colouratura.) Curious, that I was to have this class, as my first class of the day; but I guess that should work just fine, in any case. (I don't expect to be required to be too alert, either Mentally, or Physically in this class.) Our teacher had already been in the classroom, waiting for us; she had unlocked the door, fifteen minutes before the class had been opened, in order for us to enter, well in time for class. Well, why not? I guess; I could not quite claim, that I mind. Why? The classroom is open; the teacher calmly sitting behind her desk, preparing for the class. While the class had already been planned, so she only needs to initiate the plan; placing the palms of her hands, on the desk before her. Once she is logged in, the system is initiating the class she had prepared for us. I can see the teacher, sitting before the class; her name is to read, clearly on the screen before me, before us: "Colouratura". I can clearly see her name on the large screen, and once I had logged in, her name is written on my screen as well: "Colouratura". While I had known, which class I am attending; but I guess it still is nice to have the final confirmation, all the same. "Do - Re - Mi - Fa - So - La - Ti - Do" I can read, on my screen. (It is the scale, of course.) I click the scale, listening to the notes being played, enjoying the sounds as I am listening. (I rather enjoy; listening to the beautiful voice, singing for me.) She is pronouncing the names of each of the students, and we respond; exclaiming "Present", as response. (I guess, this should have been expected; even if I had not yet realized, what the purpose is in this particular case.) As I am watching the screen, I can see each and every one of us delegated to a note on the scale; spreading us out, evenly. Based on the voice, presented; we are given a position, on the scale. While we may be little girls, but the voices are still spread out, as a fairly even spectrum. Based on this spectrum, I am given a seat, grouped on one of these notes. Once the last of us had been called, it only takes a minute; before everyone of us had been sorted, as a specific note. (I am Re and Myne is the first Do, how curious.) Once sorted, our seats move in order to place us in the correct position, based on the scale we are assigned to. "Ah - aah.. Ah - ah - aah.. Ah - ah - ah - aah!" is heard, as the notes are being sung by a voice on our respective speakers; just that the note I am assigned, is playing quieter for me to know where I am. The notes are played several times over, prompting us to fill in the missing note in our respective scale. After seven times, the scale quiets down. "Now; I want to hear all of you, sing the entire scale!" Colouratura pronounces. "Ah - aah.. Ah - ah - aah.. Ah - ah - ah - aah!" we chorus, along with the voice on the speakers. The first time, all the notes are loud and clear; but with each consecutive play, the speaker is more and more quiet for us to take over. "Since you chose this class, with me; this class will be your first class, every day of the week!" Colouratura explains. "While this scale will be on several of the classes sorted under the group, otherwise referred to as Singing; singing up is always the best way to prepare yourself and your voice before not just singing, but also speaking in general. You may forgo this, if you are just talking quietly to a friend; but if you are to sing, or making a speech; this may change the entire result, improving your performance!" she points out. "Once you have warmed up, you will be more secure in your vocalizations!" she explains. "We did this in the Gymnastics too!" I ponder. "We will be practising this again, and again; today and each day you are here, so that you can improve your vocalization to the limit.." she points out; "so that this is available, any time you may need it!" she concludes. "Ah -- aah.. Ah - ah -- aah.. Ah - ah - ah -- aah!" we chorus. ({Sorry, the voice refuses to sing these Scales properly; and I have no idea, as to how to fix this!}) Of course, we are repeating the scale, over and over; several more times, and she is even mixing it up for us, to make it more fun. Including singing the scale backwards. (Actually; she even picked up the scale above and below our standard scale.) Naturally, the class does come to an end; we spill out, walking out of the room. (What had you been expecting?) <--- --- ---> I had walked out of the classroom, with my friend: Megumi; but I had to split, as she had not opted to take the Riding class I chose. As I am reaching the class, I notice I have a changing room before me. As opposed to the size of the Gymnastics class; this class only holds four lockers, thus only four little girls can take this class. (Oh, well.) "I will have to change, into the riding gear; before I can partake, in this class!" I ponder, giggling. "Basic Riding 101, for beginners.." I ponder; "but of course, I have never had the chance to ride a Horse before!" I conclude. "Let's see, what they have prepared for me.." I ponder; "what riding gear have they prepared for me.. us!" I conclude. I can clearly read the class designation on the door, as I am approaching the changing room. Only need to open the door, to enter. I lift up my right arm, extending the palm onto the plaque; spreading my fingers wide, in order to open the door. Since this is my class, the door eagerly slides up quietly before me; I step in and the door slides shut behind me, sealing me within the changing room. Granted, I could easily open the door, in order to walk out; if and when I choose to or need to for any reason. "Myne Meteor" I read, on the first locker on the right; "guess they chose to place me on the right!" I ponder. I open the door, examining the ensemble, I am to wear; at the riding class, for as long as I may be able to partake. (Of course; I will have to disrobe, before I can slip into the new clothes I had just been offered.) Oh, well. No point in complaining; I had chosen this class, because I want to learn how to ride. I had already accepted to be a little girl, for the duration of my studies here; what problem would it be, to disrobe before I slip into the riding uniform. (Granted; I had enjoyed to be a little girl, aside from the friends I have already been making here.) "Kagura" reads the sign on the second locker on the right; "Anna Sheridan" reads the sign on the first locker on my left. "This should be only too much fun!" I exclaim. <--- --- ---> I slip the panties on, pulling them all the way up; only to afford them a few tentative tugs: once, twice and thrice. I continue by slipping the top down over my head; enjoying it slide into place; before I am affording it a few tentative tugs: once, twice and thrice. (Ha ha, it's expensive; naeh, not really. {That would just be silly, wouldn't it?}) Of course, the class is in English: even if the teachers are Native Ponish speaking, rather than English. I could not expect Ponies to be Native English speakers, could I? (I could have opted to take the class in Ponish, if I had wanted to; but I haven't had the time, to have my first class in Ponish yet.) In place of stockings, I have a pair of full-length Crescent Moon boots; how curious, but it is what I had been given. Apparently; this is the standard riding gear, at this school. How odd. I slip the mate black boots on, right and left; finding the pleasure and joy of the boots eagerly sliding into place, simply by contracting around my legs. While these boots may be black; the hooves are Metallic Bloody Red, all the same. I can only guess, this is designated to signify that I am a girl. Well, I am; just like everyone else in my class. With the boots on; I pick up the pants, stepping into them: right and left; pulling them all the way up, only to afford them a few tentative tugs: once, twice and thrice. (Sorry, no Skirt; that would not go well with the riding class, as I will be mounting the Pony. {Yes, Pony; not a Horse, because they don't have Horses.}) Oh, and these pants have neither zipper, nor button. Why would they need either, when these pants slide into place by themselves? The liquid elasticity will keep these pants in place. I pick up my riding jacket; slipping my arms in right and left; before I zip it up and button it all the way up from the first button, to the last one just under my chin. There is a vest, I am picking up; slipping my right and left arm in, before I am buttoning it up. I pick up the right glove, slipping my hand in; enjoying its tightness, as I am pulling it on. Only to repeat the process; by picking up and slipping the left glove on. Finally, I am picking up my riding helmet; slipping it onto my head, before I am securing it under my chin. Just like everything else; this is a skin-tight, perfect fit. Did they know my measurements? Because this is not just the right size. While I am changing into my riding gear; Anna and Kagura are entering the room, but I finish changing before I greet them. Naturally; I am permitting them to change, before I say anything. <--- --- ---> "Black pants and jacket.." Anna observes. "Yes, the vest is white.." Kagura continues. "And the gloves and hooves are still a fitting, Metallic Bloody Red!" I conclude. "This should prove to be interesting.." Anna puts forth; "what riding style will they teach us, at this school?" she inquires. "I could not resist the opportunity.." Kagura exclaims; "when they promised me that I could learn to ride here, at the school; how could I pass it up?" she concludes. "No idea, Anna.." I respond; "but since this is an All Inclusive, I guess it is just too good, to pass up, Kagura!" I conclude. "All Inclusive.." Kagura puts forth; "no wonder, my parents could not complain or refuse my entrance to this class!" she concludes. "Going by the selection of classes; this is just the introduction to riding, we could probably learn both American and Classic riding once we concluded this class!" I suggest. "Oh, yeah.." Anna concedes; "we have to get to know the ponies, before we can get into the more advanced riding!" she agrees. <--- --- ---> "Since we have all changed, into the appropriate gear; maybe we should go in, to see the Ponies!" Anna suggests, stepping over to the door. "Clip clop, clip clop, clip clop.." is heard; as we are walking over the hard floor, in the changing room and beyond. The door eagerly slides up before her, with no effort; and we follow her into the stable, where the Ponies are waiting for us. Naturally; they have since long finished their breakfast; merely waiting for us to arrive, so that they can teach us how to ride. (Why would they leave the Ponies eating, just in time for our class? {That is just mean, and degrading!}) Since we only have four lockers, there is just the four Ponies waiting for us. (Why would there be more than four Ponies, in the first place?) Just curious; all the Ponies are light blue, identical Unicorns. "Sassy Saddles" the name reads, by the side of the stall. Since the Ponies had been lined up, prepared for the class; they have stalls, not boxes. The stalls are safer and more convenient, than the boxes could possibly be. Besides; they had never been expected to stand here, for more than a few minutes in the first place. (Private Tutors, in a small group class.) Why would the beginners' class be a large group, in the first place? While it may be cheaper, to have one teacher for a larger group; but since the Ponies are the Teachers or tutors, that is irrelevant in any event. "Uhm, Long Horns!" Anna observes, giggling. "Yes, I guess they do have pretty long horns!" Kagura agrees. "Their horns are much longer, than Rarity's horn!" I conclude. "I am Sassy Saddles, your Tutor for this class!" the Pony points out. "Greetings, Sassy Saddles!" we chorus, in response. "Since you are properly attired, to take part in the class; It is time, we trot over to the Arena!" she informs us. Since Sassy already wears both the saddle and the halter, she is ready to be led out to the arena. "I will be teaching you how to ride.." she explains; "but a few details are different, depending on the style of riding.." she continues; "I guess, you could refer to this as: Equestrian riding!" she concludes. "I guess; that answers my previous question!" Anna observes. "If you take the place on the right; you can lead your respective Pony out to the Arena!" the teacher explains. Each of us steps into the stall, on the right of the Pony corresponding with the locker, in the changing room. <--- --- ---> "Attentive students!" the first Sassy exclaims, as she is looking up. "Ears perking up, firmly; focus forwards, on what they are doing!" the second Sassy agrees. "Promising; I enjoy their stance, as I can sea that they have chosen to be here.." the third Sassy intones. "Eager to learn.." the fourth Sassy continues; " a good sign, for the class.." she elaborates; "I can clearly see, just how eager they are, how they are looking forwards to the class; they want what we have to offer, with all their hearts!" she concludes. "I feel their warm love, emanating from them; as if they had been furnaces, on a high setting!" the second gushes, eager to perform for the upcoming class. <--- --- ---> "Curious Ponies.." I exclaim; they look eager, to tutor us the art of riding!" I continue. "She is already saddled up, so we don't need to worry about the tack!" Anna confirms, as she is stepping in to her designated Pony. "This is the beginner's class.." Kagura suggests; "they figured; if they put the tack on correctly; it will be easier for us, as they show us how the tack should be put on before we enter?" she concludes, with a hint of uncertainty. "At least; it looks as if they are comfortable, with wearing the tack, the way they are wearing them!" I observe. Sassy is nodding, in affirmative; as she is hearing this statement, snickering quietly to herself. With the confirmation, I slowly bend over; examining how her saddle had been secured, under her belly. (Assuming my friends would follow suit, examining the tack of their respective Pony.) I notice how tight the saddle is fitting; leaving just enough to be comfortable, while staying securely on her back. (Even if I am oblivious of the effort, she had placed in the design of her personal saddle.) Once I had examined her saddle; I focus on her halter, going over every last detail in the hopes of gaining some understanding. She did not protest; clearly comfortable and secure in herself, as I am scrutinizing her halter as well. (Maybe this is not Leather, but still; I can but assume, it is the same material as is used to craft our clothes and equipment as well.) Once I had concluded the examination, I exclaim; "How are your studies going?" I inquire. "Done.." Anna puts forth; "just finished examining her tack!" she concludes. "Me too!" Kagura confirms. "Are we to mount you now, or lead you out to the Arena?" Anna inquires. "Technically.." Sassy puts forth; "you could have mounted us now.." she explains; "but since this is a beginner's class.." she continues; "I have to tell you to lead us out, rather than riding in the stable!" she concludes. "Then we will lead you out!" Kagura confirms. center] <--- --- ---> Gymnastics <--- --- --->
Family Secrets: The Reveal	pre	"Are you joking?" Rainbow asked. "Are you really that dumb?" Gilda asked. Fluttershy blushed. "That's Barley Oats." Said Rainbow. "It's the primary provider for wing nutrients! I eat them, like, every meal! How can you not know about them?" Gilda reach over, and pulled Fluttershy's wings out. "Your wings are all... weak. And shrivelly." Gilda looked at Fluttershy. "What kind of parents wouldn't feed you Barley Oats." At the thought that they might find out about her parents, Fluttershy panicked. "You'll never make me talk!" She screamed, hitting Gilda in her face, and running from the cafeteria. "What the -!" Gilda sat up, and rubbed her black eye. "Why you little-!" She leaped off of the table, but Rainbow intercepted her, tackling her out of the air. "No Gilda!" She said. "Let her go." The both leveled a glare at the retreating Pegasus. "That filly obviously has some serious issues." Dear Daddy. Today I learned that ponies do not eat dragon's eggs or flesh. In fact, very few even eat chickens eggs. They eat grass! And weeds! And other strange plants they call vegetables! Apparantly, the reason I can't fly very well, is because of some obscure sort of 'wing nutrients'. Nothing that I've ever eaten beofore has given me wing nutrients, so now I have to eat extra grass to catch up! The camp nurses are talking about 'malnutrition' and stuff, but don't worry, I'll make sure they'll never find out about you! Love, Fluttershy. ~0o0~ Gilda was holding up two of the pegasi by their manes. Rainbow Crash was glaring at them, trying and failing to unlock Fluttershy's 'stare'. "Now, you two know better than to tease Fluttershy, right?" "Whatever." One of them scoffed. "You won't always be around to protect her." She sighed, and face-hoofed. "Did you guys not see the can of kick-flank she opened up on the first day of school?" "Oh, we saw." The other one growled. "Hoop saw so well, that she gave him a black eye." "So you guys know that bullying Fluttershy is like... it's like bullying a dragon!" She paused and thought about it. "Actually, I'd like the chance to go up against a dragon. That sounds kind of awesome. But with Fluttershy, it's like all the danger of a dragon, wrapped up in a cuddly pink mane, which takes away all of the awesome and replaces it with puppy kicking." "So?" The first scoffed. "Sure, she could beat us up - I mean, she could try, we weren't ready the first time, we could totally take her any day of the week - but she won't even. She's a total pushover!" "Except for that day when she wasn't." Gilda hissed into their ears. "Stay away from Fluttershy." Rainbow Crash stomped her hoof. "Nopony gets to pick on her but me and Gilda. If you don't, I'll knock you out of the sky with another Rainboom." "Nopony believes you did that. It was just a fluke of the weather. Thunder Crash's filly could never -" "My name's Dash not Crash!" Rainbow was about to put these two in their place, when she heard a soft crying sound from behind her. "Ha!" The two colts dragged themselves out of Gilda's grip. "Fluttershy, Fluttershy, Fluttershy can hardly fly!" They ran off laughing. Rainbow and Gilda ran off to Fluttershy, who was rising behind them in a balloon with a cow. "Thanks Ms. Bessie." She said quietly as she disembarked. "Oh, no problem at all you sweet little thing." "Fluttershy!" Rainbow's eyes were wide. "What happened? Why are you crying!?" "I-I-I-" She looked at Rainbow's flank, her eyes widened and she burst into tears. "Oh no! You've caught it too!" "Caught what!?" Rainbow Crash shook her friend. "Fluttershy what are you talking about!?" "When you started the race, I fell off of the clouds!" Fluttershy cried. "I was having such a good time on the ground with the birds, and the animals, and the... the..." She sniffed. "But then... I saw this!!" She spun around and showed Rainbow her cutie mark. "I... I think it might be some sort of disease... and you've caught it too!" She hugged Rainbow tightly when she saw the filly shaking. "I'm sorry! You should never have hung out with me! Now we're both infected and... and..." Rainbow's shaking wasn't crying; it was laughter. Gilda was laughing too. "Why... why are you laughing!?" "Because you're such a ditz!" Gilda pointed at her and leered through the laughter. "Even I know what a Cutie Mark is!" "Holy cow Fluttershy, you're so random!" Rainbow laughed. "No offence Bessie." "None taken dearies." The cow said, as she floated back to earth on her balloon. Dear Daddy. Today, I learned that a pony's social status is not determined by fighting other ponies for the top position, but by strange markings on our flank. I've received my marking today, and my place is caring for animals. It's wonderful, being told that the thing you love most is the thing ponies will let you do for the rest of your life. Why didn't you tell me the Daylands had more wonderful creatures than just birds? Love, Princess Fluttershy. ~0o0~ Dear daddy. Today I have discovered CHOCOLATE! It is the best thing ever!!! I am totally bringing you some the next time I come home! Love, Princess Fluttershy. Fluttershy, no longer a foal, walked into the Great Volcano, a package on her back the size of a large boulder. It was heavy to lift, even for her. She walked into the middle of the Great Pack, and shifted the package off of her back. "O Smaug, may you live forever, a humble member of your pack kneels before you." She bowed. Smaug smiled warmly. "Rise Princess Fluttershy, The Unblinking, The Laughing Doom, Tenderclaw, Monster. I'm glad to see you back safe from your mission to the Daylands. What is in the package?" Fluttershy flew up to the top of the package. She was still dizzy, and her wings cracked and protested, but she made it to the top. "It's the best thing ever in the history of the world." She undid the ribbon, and yelled "Chocolate!" The foil opened, and a messy brown lump of goo oozed out. Every dragon stared at it. "Is it trying to poison us?" She heard Lord Krastos whisper. She landed on the floor of the volcano and tried not to cry. Of course the chocolate had melted on her way here! The Great Pack met inside the Great Volcano! And now instead of her dad enjoying a delicious treat, he'd be repulsed, and have to excuse his daughter in front of the pack for her faux pas, and that would be a sign of weakness so they'd start challenging him for the throne even more... Smaug got up, and walked towards the pile of wet chocolate. He dipped a claw in it, and took a cautious lick. His broad smile returned to his face. "THISISTHEBESTHINGEVERANDIMUSTHAVEMORE!" He cried, and with that he shoved a whole handful of chocolate in his mouth. Fluttershy beamed. ~0o0~ Fluttershy was a teenager now, and she was celebrating her birthday with her pack. He mother sat next to her. "Are you sure you don't want to stay this time?" "Actually... it's been nice living with ponies." Fluttershy said. "I mean, it's terrifying, but for the most part it's alright. Mom... I think I'll stay one more year. There are so many animals to see, and I may even make a pack yet. I already have a house, just outside of a small town. Just one more year, and I'll be back on my twentieth birthday and never leave again if I'm still not happy." "Alright Fluttershy dear." Queen Babbage nuzzled her. "As long as you're sure. We'll see you at the dragon migrations." "I can introduce you to my pet bunny, angel." Fluttershy beamed. ~0o0~ Dear Daddy. I've found a pack! The pack leader is Twilight Sparkle, one of the strongest ponies around, if not the strongest magically. My mirror-match Rainbow Dash is also a member of the pack, along with three more strange but wonderful ponies. I've earned two more honorifics with this pack - Element of Kindness, and Nightmare-Vanquisher. The others have many honorifics too, but like most ponies they barely use them. I don't feel alone any more. I think this is what 'friendship' means. Love, Fluttershy.
Family Secrets: The Reveal	The Pony in Dragon's Scales	The six of them had taken a train directly to Canterlot, so as to avoid Princess Celestia causing an international incident over what she thought was a prank. There, Fluttershy gave an accounting of herself, and her life. Princess Celestia looked bewilderedly at her star pupil. The star pupil shrugged back. "Well... it appears this letter has one mistake on it." Princess Celestia said after a moment of thought. "It's obvious Smaug considers Twilight my daughter-of-heart. But I consider all of my little ponies sons and daughters in my heart." She bent down over the Pegasus with a dragon's heart. "I am truly sorry that I did not already know about this my little pony. I should have been more attentive." "Oh, it's quite alright Princess." Fluttershy said. "You're a busy mare. And my cutie mark doubles as a hiding cutie-mark too." She pointed to the butterflies. "It could have been a bunny if it was just caring for animals, but I'm also naturally good at camouflage. It's okay you missed one pony in a country full of ponies." Princess Celestia sighed. "Still... is this how you dealt with the dragon that tried to take his thousand year nap in Equestria?" Fluttershy nodded. "I was really scared about it. I thought if I dealt with the dragon myself, I would scare my new friends away." "I was not aware dragons had princesses. How is that possible, in a hierarchy based off of the rule of the strong?" "Oh, well, legend goes that one Smaug noticed previous Smaugs had fallen because of dragons specifically targeting their young. There are also cases of Smaugs killing the previous Smaug's hatchlings, as an example. So, Smaug made it illegal to harm any son or daughter of Smaug. It's one of the few actual laws we have. I don't really have any political power myself, but dragons respect me because my father taught me to fight, and my father will probably take my word into consideration. And a prince or princess remains the prince and princess in the event of a new Smaug, though the royal line only extends for one generation." "Fascinating." Princess Celestia had a rare twinkle in her eye that Twilight had only ever seen a few times, during times when she found something new. "And... I used to be friends with a dragon, but some of these honorifics confuse me. What is a mirror-match?" "Well, dragons don't believe in equals." Fluttershy said. "All dragons we beat are part of our pack. We're part of the pack of whoever beats us. But a mirror-match is when two dragons fight each other for a day and neither one is any closer to victory. It's the closest word a dragon has for 'friend', but the closest translation in Equestrian is 'worthy opponent'." "Well, sometimes worthy opponents make the best friends." Rarity whispered, casting a sly wink at Applejack who tipped her hat to Rarity. "You probably know the old draconic word... Vladakan?" "Oh, vladakan." Celestia nodded. "Yes, I know what that means. And The Gardener?" "Because you tend to the land. Ponies are both your garden, and your tools." "How very poetic." Celestia looked back at the letter. "And it doesn't look like they've forgotten me either." "What's that supposed to mean?" Rainbow Dash asked. Celestia blushed. "Well, between Discord's reign and Nightmare Moon's attack, there was a period where dragons were the greatest threat to Equestria. I was friends with one - you're probably familiar with the legend of Huffy the Magic Dragon. But the Smaug at the time was convinced that dragons were meant to eat ponies as part of the food chain." Princess Celestia smirked. "I taught him the error of his ways. Dragons aren't the only culture to refer to me as 'The Great Trickster'." Fluttershy gasped. "Oh, so... are you the reason why dragons think ponies eat..." "Yes, I am." Princess Celestia blushed. "It was an effective deterrent. Don't worry, I never actually ate their young, only convinced them I did. I trust you dispelled them of that notion? Else why would a dragon think to cover Equestria in smoke?" "Oh yes, most of the Great Pack is no longer afraid. Some of the younger dragons even think that ponies are pushovers because of me! Most of them are still scared though." Celestia frowned. "Well, that's a pity. I had thought that Rainbow Dash would be able to scare that sleeping dragon off. I'm glad you were there with a Plan B." "I could've!" Rainbow Dash spoke up. "I had it on the ropes!" "Dash, I know a thing or two about ropes." Applejack said. "And no, that dragon wasn't anywhere near the ropes until Fluttershy showed up." "Well, fear was an effective deterrent, but perhaps it is time for a new age of peace between dragons and ponies." Princess Celestia smiled. "I would be honored to attend your wedding Fluttershy, as would, I'm sure, the elements of harmony. I'll prepare a ship, and we'll set sail first thing tomorrow." "Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy!" Pinkie Pie jumped up and down. "Can I plan the party Fluttershy!? Please! This is a brand new chance to throw the bestest party ever!" "Of course you can." Fluttershy smiled. "You'll all be my bridesmaids." "Great." Twilight said in a flat voice. "I'm sure glad that you're thinking about your best friends a week before the biggest day of your life." "Oh darling, you must tell us who you'll be marrying!" Rarity's eyes sparkled. "I don't know." Fluttershy admitted. "We talked about it when I visited them during the migration. I think my dad was okay with me choosing a pony husband, but if he's found me a husband I'm sure he'll be a perfect gentledragon. Daddy would never make me do anything I would disapprove of." "An arranged marriage!" Rarity gasped. "Yeah, yeah, we all love the idea of Fluttershy getting married." Spike reminded everypony in the room that he was still there. "Now that we know, Fluttershy can you please tell me about dragons now?" His eyes threatened to tear up. "After the dragon migration incident, I thought all dragons were jerks. But now you're telling me that they're nice? I want to know about my kind!" "I'm sorry Spike." Fluttershy nodded. "You're right, I've been neglecting you. The dragons you met probably were jerks. Especially the pack leader, the one who ordered his pack to hurt poor baby phoenix eggs. But you probably confused them." "How did I confuse them?" Spike asked. "I didn't act like a dragon, did I? Tell me how to act more like a dragon!" "Well..." Fluttershy took a deep breath. "First you're a baby dragon, and you wandered into the enclosure for teenage dragons. Then you challenged them, and since they don't know what friendship means, they thought you were challenging them for dominance. And even when you were soundly beaten three times, you just kept challenging them. When they finally gave you a spot in their pack and you accepted, they initiated you, and smashing a bird's egg was probably a part of the rite (bad news they chose a phoenix nest) and then after all the you denied the rite. Oh, and also you look confusing." She blushed. "But... mostly they were just jerks." "I... look confusing?" Spike asked. "I'm sorry Spike." Fluttershy tried to put this delicately. "But, I can't tell what type of dragon you are." Spike's face fell. "What do you mean?" Fluttershy took another deep breath. "Well, when you went through Greed Growth, you looked like my father, a Mountain Dragon. But you look like a baby Sea Dragon. Except for the fact that you have legs. And..." She frowned. "You don't have wings. That's always been disturbing to me. Dragons aren't usually born without wings, except sea dragons who have prominent fins that you don't have, or in special occasions. Like my friend Crackle, she has a rare genetic disease." Spike frowned. "So... what, you're saying that I'm not any type of dragon?" Spike asked. "No, you're definitely a type of dragon." Fluttershy said. "I just can't tell which. I'll ask around. I could try to find out whether there were any dragons who gave up an egg." Then she frowned. "Wait..." She turned to Princess Celestia. "Where did you get Spike's egg?" Princess Celestia sucked in her lips, and her eyes shifted from one spot on the ceiling to another. "Um... in a cave. Parents gone. Signs of a struggle." Fluttershy frowned. "I'm sorry Princess but... what were the gins of the struggle? And where exactly was the cave? This could be very important you see, for finding Spike's family." Princess Celestia looked from Spike, to Fluttershy, each making puppy dog eyes at her. Then she looked to Twilight, who was confused at Celestia's reaction, Applejack, who probably sensed she was lying because she was glaring at her, Rarity, who was taking in the scene the same as she was, and Pinkie Pie, who was whispering something into a giggling Rainbow Dash's ear. She sighed. "All right. It's... time you learned the truth." "What truth?" Twilight asked. "Is there something about Spike you're not telling us?" Princess Celestia stood, and strode forward. "Sometimes, I have had to make difficult decisions, and choose the greater good for all of pony kind. But never have I chosen an evil one." She grimaced. "I would never steal a dragon's egg! Even if its parents were clearly dead, I would give it back to the dragons! Even if, on a whim, I decided to raise it as my own, I would never give the egg to pre-pubescent unicorns and tell them to hatch it! I can't even comprehend the kind of immoral... self-righteous... no, I would never do that." She looked sadly down at Spike. "There was no egg Spike." "What?" Spike was confused. "What do you mean?" Twilight asked. She was tempted to burst out and saw that yes, of course there was an egg, she saw it and she hatched it. But to her, Princess Celestia was the absolute authority on anything, and if she said there was no egg then obviously, Twilight was wrong. "I mean, that the entrance exam to Canterlot's school of gifted unicorns was a rock, painted with pokadots." "What!?" Spike asked. "But... why?" Twilight asked. "Why would you ask students to hatch a painted rock? That's impossible!" "Indeed." Princess Celestia acknowledged. "That was the whole point. The Canterlot School for Gifted Unicorns focuses its entrance exam on the personality and creativity of the foals. There's a very specific temperament to gifted unicorns. One where they will try as many things as they can, not giving up. I'm very sorry to say, that you would have failed that test. It was fortunate for you that I took you in as my student after you succeeded, otherwise the school's curriculum would have been woefully inadequate for your needs." Twilight's face fell. "Oh..." "Don't be upset." Celestia nuzzled Twilight fondly. "It all turned out well in the end. Because somehow, miraculously, you preformed the impossible, and passed the test on the terms you were given, not the terms that were hidden from you." Celestia looked at Spike. "You created life." "She..." Spike paled. "She made me? With her magic?" "She didn't even know what she was doing." Celestia said. "Which was grand, because then she wouldn't have done it. She tried, subconsiocsly, to create life in her attempt to hatch your rock. and every record shows that that was impossible. But the records were written by unicorns who tried to create life on their own. Several ponies, who weren't even unicorns, have proven you can create life in pairs." Twilight's eyes widened. "Rainbow Dash's sonic rainboom..." Rainbow Dash was confused. "What does my rainboom have to do with this?" "Twilight's magic was still attempting to create life when your rainboom shot across the sky. Generally, the examination is shielded from unicorn magic. But the pegasi magic in her rainboom made it through just fine. When her magic... for lack of a better word... impregnated your magic... you were able to enchant the rock to hatch Spike." "That was why your magic went out of control, so much so that it hurt you. It was a very violent childbirth. If I hadn't intervened, both you and Spike might have died. As it was... Spike came out of it disfigured." "Woah, woah, woah, woah!" Rainbow Dash flew up to Celestia. "Time out! Are you saying Spike is my son?" Princess Celestia sighed. "Well, that is one way you can look at it." Rainbow Dash gasped, her forehooves flying to her chest. "I'm too young to be a mommy!" Twilight was apparently deep in thought, because she automatically corrected her. "You were too young when Spike was born, but your age is okay now." Rainbow Dash paled. "I'm way, way too young to be a mommy!" "And technically, since it was your magic that impregnated my..." Twilight suddenly seemed to realize what she was saying, because she and Rainbow Dash shared twin looks of horror. "I'm too female to be a daddy!" Rainbow Dash gagged and collapsed on the floor. "Oh the scandal!" Rarity fainted next to Rainbow Dash. "Are we having a fainting contest?" Pinkie Pie froze up, legs stiffening, and she tipped over onto the floor on her side. Why didn't you tell me? Twilight wanted to ask. But there was a more important question on her mind. "What do you mean disfigured?" Princess Celestia sighed. "Well, you may have broken one rule, but not all of them. A unicorn cannot have a dragon for a child. But, you wanted a dragon to hatch, and badly. So when Spike was born, instead of being a healthy little unicorn, he was born looking like what a seven year old foal pictured a baby dragon to be like. Not even my magic was able to recover his true form." "Spike's a unicorn?" Twilight asked. "Yes." Celestia nodded. "Which is why, unlike other dragons, he does not have wings. The son of a unicorn and a Pegasus, he could not be both. He was proven to be a unicorn when, during the age most foals get their cutie-marks, and unicorns intrinsically know spells relating to their special talents, he began to use spells to send scrolls to different people. Fire breath is to some dragons, what horns are to unicorns. If he had wings, he wouldn't be able to breath fire." Twilight thought back, to when Spike first learned he could send and receive messages with his flame. She'd fallen asleep researching spells from the Renaissance period of magic. The library was a mess from her tearing through it. When she'd woken up, Spike was beaming at her, and every single book was back where it belonged, exactly. Dusting had been done, and he'd even sent her mail. He said he'd sent them with his magic breath. He said he didn't know about it until today, that he just didn't want to run all the way down to the Princess Celestia and the fire came out of his mouth unbidden. And he'd gotten a reply the same way! It was... just like a regular cutie mark story, except for the mark failing to appear on his draconic flank. And there was the time when Celestia had had to teach him how to walk, because he wasn't built to walk on all fours but he did it anyway on instinct... as if he were a pony in a dragon's body... And such a combination of laziness and dedication could only possibly come from the child of Equestria's laziest Pegasus and most studious unicorn... "Spike... is a pony." Twilight was strangely okay with that. Not so much with the fact that she was a mother. "Why didn't you tell us?" "Well, you were so young at the time." Princess Celestia said. "And as you grew older, and developed a loving brother and sister bond, and I saw Spike's eagerness to please, I decided it would be best if he not know who his parents were, and think that he was a majestic dragon instead of a pony that didn't come out right." Rarity gasped. "Spike! Where did he go?" Twilight looked around at the empty room, and a slow sinking feeling started bubbling up in her gut. She should have realized that he hadn't said anything in a while. She wondered how long he'd been gone, how much he'd heard, how he felt about hearing this about himself! "Everypony fan out! We have to find him!" ~0o0~ Rainbow Dash sailed haphazardly through the skies. She'd been waken up from her sweet, sweet, unconscious bliss, and thrown back into the world where she was a daddy and her son was missing. This was too much to take in. How could she be a daddy? A daddy all these years without knowing it? She didn't know a thing about being a good dad. Thunder Crash never taught her... Well, she wouldn't think about Thunder Crash right now. Things were complicated enough. Right now she had a son who needed her, and even if she wasn't the element of Loyalty, she had to find him. She was attached to the little guy, she was surprised to realize. She'd come to like him over the years. She'd made him her autobirographer, she'd hunted after the buffalo for him, and she'd followed Twilight and Rairty on his little dragon quest. She thought it was just her loyalty, and the chance to maybe kick some flank, but maybe it was some sort of mother's intuition? Wait, she was a daddy. Did dads have any intuition? She suddenly spied something on the balcony overlooking the gardens. It wasn't a purple and green something, but she realized it was Spike. She must have passed him three times already before spotting him. She did a one-eighty, and flew towards Twilight, who was doing a magical scan of the palace gates. "Twi, I found him." She said, landing next to her. "Where?" "The balcony over the gardens. He's wearing really strange clothes too." Twilight teleported them both there immediately. They arrived right behind Spike. He was wearing a cape and a top hat, and dangling his legs and tail off the edge of the balcony. "Spike?" Twilight asked. Spike turned, and Rainbow Dash took a step back in shock. Spike was wearing a strange white pony mask that covered his entire face, except for where a mustache slipped through. "I tried to do magic." He said. "The mustache spell." He tapped his mustache. "It works. I guess the Princess was right. I really am just a unicorn. And ugly, disfigured unicorn." "Spike..." Twilight reached out to him. He turned away. "It's no use Twilight. I shall live the rest of my disfigured days in the laboratory beneath the library. I'll build a network of tunnels to the main floor so I can organize the shelves without being seen. I shall become... The Phantom of the Library." "Spike... I think you're taking this way too dramatically." Twilight said. "You saw my face Twilight." Spike moaned. "I'm the most hideous pony you've ever seen, although I admit the mustache helps some. How can I hope to woo Rarity now, except through drama?" "Wait, hold up." Rainbow Dash stepped forward. "You have a crush on Rarity?" "Alas!" Spike stood and posed on the balcony's edge. "I had a chance when I was a majestic dragon, but now, now I am but pony, and a scarred reflection of my former self. Oh woe to me, for my days shall be lonely and... dark... Rainbow Dash, why are you chuckling?" Rainbow Dash was, indeed, snickering behind his hoof. "Oh nothing. It's just..." She snickered. "It's just now you have more of a chance than ever!" "What?" Spike asked. "Think about it." Rainbow Dash said. "Before, you were a cute baby dragon. She probably thought, even if you were cute, she couldn't be with you because you were a dragon. Now though, you're a pony. You can actually be with another pony, in a way you're not old enough to know yet. And you're a disfigured pony too, and she's all into that romantic junk about looking past a pony's outside. Girls like Rarity love that dramatic angsty stuff." "You really think so?" Spike asked perking up. "Kid." Rainbow slung a hoof over his shoulder. "You play your cards right, and you two will be dating in... oh... five years or so." She shrugged. "I mean, there's still the age difference. But I know a thing or two about getting on a pony's good side, and I'm going to teach you everything I know." "Thanks Rainbow Dash." Spike said. He took off his mask. "I guess I was being kind of silly, huh?" "A little silly." Twilight laughed and hugged him. "Are you okay with this?" "Yeah, I know it's hard discovering that world's most awesome mare is your dad." Rainbow Dash said. "But I want you to know, that everypony is awesome in their own way, and I expect you to live your own life, not try and live my life." Spike blushed. "Rainbow Dash, please don't make this any more awkward than it already is. As far as I'm concerned, you're still my friend, and Twilight's still my sister." Twilight sat next to him. "That's just how I feel." Twilight said. "You've been my little brother ever since I can remember. And I may act like your mother sometimes, but that's just what a big sister does." Rainbow Dash blushed. "Well, I dunno. I could be the most awesome dad ever. Or I could be a failure of a dad. But thinking of you as a friend would make me feel awkward, but acting like a dad would make you feel awkward." She considered it for a moment, and then with a sly grin said; "And I think acting like a big sister would make everypony feel awkward." It started with Spike. Then with Twilight. Then with Rainbow Dash. A cascading torrent of laughter echoes across the Royal Gardens, as the three of them shared their first family moment of non-family-ness. Or at least, that was what Twilight would later write down in her friendship report. As Luna came from behind the mountain to raise the moon, and Celestia went to her balcony to lower the sun, they both smiled at the sight, and decided to let the sunset stretch for a while longer. "Oh man." Rainbow Dash started breathing again. "Seriously though, this week has been too much. First Fluttershy has strange parents, and now Spike?" "I know." Twilight harrumphed in what she was sure was a dignified manner. "Why didn't they tell us? Even you Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy's best friend!" "Hey, I won't hold it over her." Dash shrugged. "I was this close to finding it out anyway." "Were you?" Spike asked. "Oh yeah." Dash nodded. "I've just read a mystery novel, and as Ponyville's chief supplier of everything that is awesome, had decided to try my hoofwork at sleuthing. I was just a hare away from finding out her secret." "That's impressive." Twilight said, thinking that Rainbow Dash said 'hair'. "And I'm not done yet!" Rainbow Dash announced proudly. "Soon, I'll sleuth everypony's secrets!" "How are you going to do that?" Twilight asked warily. "Oh, it's easy. You just have to be able to think of the most outlandish thing that fits all of the evidence, and then find the clues to support it. Bam! Mysteries solved." Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Dash. That's not how mysteries work." "Yes it is." "I think I've read more mystery novels then you have. I think I can definitely say, that's not how mysteries work." "Alright then Ms. Take-my-rainboom-and-turn-it-into-a-dragon. How do you explain our son and Fluttershy's parents if that's not how mysteries work?" Twilight tried to respond. She really did. Her mouth was working, it was opening and closing. But no words were coming out. "I... cannot argue with that." "Of course you can't." Rainbow Dash beamed. "I'm too awesome. Now let's see... do you think Pinkie's parents are aliens?" "That cannot be -" "Oh! I know! Hey, you know how Fluttershy has a yellow coat and a pink mane? Who else do we know who has a yellow coat and a pink mane, who is old enough to be Fluttershy's mother?" "I can't think of anypony." "Mayor mare!" "No." "She dies her mane." "I know that, and still; no." "Of course she'd never mention the tragic loss of her husband and her only daughter whom she thinks is dead..." "Ponies do not necessarily have to have the same colored coats and manes as their parents..." "I think it makes sense." "Thank you Spike! I'm totally calling it. Mayor mare will turn out to be Fluttershy's mom, just you wait and see."
Family Secrets: The Reveal	Flames And Tears	"So what's his favorite food?" Twilight sighed. For the last few hours, Rainbow Dash had been peppering her with 'subtle' questions, because she wanted to 'make up for the years of Spike's childhood she missed'. When she put her mind to it, that girl could be more annoying then Pinkie Pie. "Sapphires." "Huh. Hey, how would that work, him being a pony and all?" "The cakes us sapphires for their sprinkles all the time. They taste delicious, although nopony can chew then. Spike can, because he has dragon's teeth, so he can eat gems larger than sprinkles, or the ground up stuff Fluttershy used to eat. It has no nutritional value to him though." "Oh. So... what's his favorite pony food?" "Pancakes." "Um..." "I'm sure Applejack knows how to make them." "Oh yeah! Thanks Twilight!" She dashed off, leaving Twilight alone in the lawn chair she'd set up on the foredeck. The eight of them were on a Royal Brigantine, being shipped to the dragon lands by Canterlot's finest crew. Rarity showed a surprising knowledge of sailing, and was basking in the adoration of the most strapping and handsome sailors. Pinkie Pie had found an eye-patch somewhere, and was playing pirate. Applejack was at war with herself; part of her wanted to throw up profusely, another part of her would rather die than admit she was having trouble. Rainbow Dash found this hilarious, which made both sides fight harder. Fluttershy was making friends with the local sea birds. Twilight averted her gaze from the sea of white birds perched around her. Why didn't Fluttershy tell her? Why didn't Fluttershy tell any of them? Hadn't they lived together, fought together, been friends together? Hadn't they supported each other through their dark times? Was she scared they'd think of her differently if they knew she was royalty? Of course not! All of her friends knew from the start the Twilight was Princess Celestia's personal student, and they never acted awkward around her. At least, not after that event with the Gala tickets. And now, Twilight was technically a princess-in-law and none of them had started getting wierd about it. Was she afraid that they'd be scared of her parents? Of course not! They'd faced dragons before. Even more frightening, they'd faced an angry and desperate Fluttershy before. They'd face mythical nightmares and the god of discord himself, so she couldn't possibly think she'd scare them. Why? Why why why why? "And there goes Luna." Twilight almost jumped from her seat as Princess Celestia walked around from behind her. She always had the uncanny ability to be where Twilight least expected. "Um... sorry Princess?" Celestia pointed, and Twilight saw the streak of starlight against the evening sun. "My sister. She sneaks off every day to meet some mystery suitor. She thinks I don't know, isn't that adorable?" "And you let her?" Twilight asked. "You don't worry about her getting into trouble if you don't know what she's up to?" "Oh, I know what she's doing." Princess Celestia said. "Simply not 'who'. I trust her judgment on that. Are you ready to perform the Watercrawl spell?" Twilight got up, and readied her magic. She could hear the rumbling of the Megafall coming up. She appreciated that Princess Celestia was letting her help cast the spell, instead of casting it herself like she could have. The ship was enveloped in glowing pink energy. Twilight strained, and even though she felt Celestia's magic guiding hers,she soon collapsed with exhaustion." "Well done my student." Princess Celestia beamed. "I only taught you this spell yesterday, and you managed to cover an entire half of the ship." "Pardon me Princess?" Applejack staggered up to the foredeck and risked opening her mouth to ask a question. "Is it jus' me, or are we headed straight to a giant waterfall?" "That's the Megafall." Princess Celestia informed Applejack. "The dragons live in the Darklands on the other side of the world. We'll have to sail off the edge to reach them." "Oh." Applejack grinned sheepishly. "Is that all? Okay then." "Applejack... I have a cure for seasickness." Twilight mentioned. "Nopony said nothing about me being seasick." Applejack growled. "I did." Rainbow Dash flew down at her and beamed. "You're greener then Granny Smith." "Hang onto yer tailfeathers landlubbers, we're going offworld!" The Captain yelled over the roar of the falling water. The sea of white birds surrounding Fluttershy took off into the sky, as the ship tilted precariously on the edge of the world, and then finally fell off. Surprisingly, Applejack kept her brunch in her stomach. ~0o0~ The ship anchored itself in the bay of Jormungandr. As the eight of them launched out in a dingy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Spike gasped in shock and alarm, as several sea dragons rose up from the water and escorted their dingy to shore. "Greetings." A large green sea dragon rose up on the bow. He spoke in an upper crust Trottingham accent, that was surprisingly quiet. "Ah, hullo Fluttershy." "Hello Lord Riptide!" Fluttershy called. Twilight stared at her. She wasn't speaking like she normally was; she was yelling! "Smaug has ordered an escort around your party." Lord Riptide said. "We'll escort you to shore, and the Knights In Smaug's Service will escort you from there." They could see the knights before they even got to shore. There were twelve of them, each representing one of the twelve types of dragons. They were each probably born with different colors, but they'd been painted over with fierce white and black war paint, and they wore black armor with spikes on them. "Thank you Lord Riptide!" Fluttershy yelled. The eight of them got off the boat and onto shore. The ground was warm to the touch, like walking on a heated blanket, and small geysers occasionally erupted from the ground. As the K.I.S.S. escorted them along the road, Pinkie Pie put a popcorn popper over one of the geysers . "What's the big idea Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash asked, rubbing her ears. "When did you get so loud?" "Oh, sorry." Fluttershy blushed, her voice soft again. "But that's how dominant dragons talk." "Dominant dragons?" Twilight asked. Fluttershy nodded. "Like I said, dragons can't comprehend the concept of being equals. We're either dominant, or submissive, and we talk to each other accordingly." Twilight's brain put two and two together. Fluttershy acts submissive all the time around us... does that mean she doesn't see us as equals? She doesn't think we're friends! Fluttershy... Fluttershy doesn't think we're friends. Twilight shed a tear that instantly vaporized on the charcoal road they were walking on. "There are twelve different tribes of dragons." Princess Celestia was telling Twilight, who made an effort to focus on her. "Each one is responsible for a different task, instead of being assigned cutie marks. Some dragons look after the other dragons, hunting and cooking for them. Some dragons sleep for thousands of years to provide the heat for volcanoes, on our side of the world. Their constant smoke is the reason this side of the world is called the Darklands; when I lower the sun down here every night, it doesn't get through the layer of smoke these dragons produce. They rely on luminescent dragons to fly low in the sky during the day, to give them light to see and bask in. Other dragons are responsible for fertilizing the earth down here, so that up there the earth produces lots of diamonds, and fertile soil for pony plant and rock farms." Normally Twilight would have been engrossed in this. But today, she just wasn't in the learning spirit. As they walked through the Darklands, they would sometimes see a young dragon peek out at them, only to be pulled back by an older dragon's massive claw. Only a few dragons walked on the road, and they smiled at the ponies but avoided the Knights. Eventually, the Knights In Smaug's Service stopped at a great volcano. It was as large as the mountain that Canterlot was built upon, and a great majority of the smoke in the sky seemed to be coming from inside of it. Built into the side of the volcano was an enormous Citadel, with a cavernous entrance wide enough for five dragons to pass through side by side. It seemed to be made from iron, and had a gate to match it's entrance. Pinkie Pie had stars in her eyes. "That... is the biggest... oven... ever..." "It's not an oven." One of the Knights said. "That is the epitome of beautiful draconian architecture." Pinkie Pie raised a hoof toward it and, as if in a trance, gently traced the figure in the air with her hooves. "Yes... for Fluttershy's birthday wedding... it shall be the biggest cake ever!" Rainbow Dash and Rarity shot a slightly unnerved look at Pinkie Pie and took a step away from either side of her. "Pinkie, ya might want to tone it down a bit." Applejack said. "Are you kidding?" Rainbow Dash asked. "That's awesome! The icing alone could fill a swimming pool!" "Swimming in icing..." Pinkie Pie took a few steps forward, blocked by a dragon's halberd. "How dare you compare Smaug's royal palace to an oven!" The dragon roared. Fluttershy flew up to him. "Listen, she didn't mean any harm by it! Princess Celestia's Palace looks like a blender!" "What?" Princess Celestia had a large hoof in the castle's design. She was slightly offended. "It's not like she's actually going to bake a cake!" That snapped Pinkie out of her trance. "What do you mean I'm not going to bake a cake?" She gasped. "Have I come down with some sort of rare dragony no-cake disease?" "Oh... um... no..." "Then I will! Bake! A! CAKE! "Pinkie Pie?" Applejack asked, trying to diffuse the situation "How would you feel if somepony mistook sugarcube corner for a toater, and stuffed two giant bread slices into the baby's rooms?" Pinkie gasped. "How dare they?" "Now see... take what your feelin' and imagine how Smaug might feel if you -" "Sugarcube corner looks more like a waffle-iron then a toaster!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "Mmmmmm... waffles..." "Pinkie Pie." Princess Celestia stepped forward. "Would you do me a royal favor and not use another kingdom's palace as an oven?" "Okie Dokie Lokie!" Pinkie Pie saluted. "See, she's all right, honest!" Fluttershy yelled. The Knights snarled a bit, but led them into the volcano. "They're a little on edge." Fluttershy told the group. "This is the first time since the Great War that any pony has been in the Darklands." They were escorted into the palace. The atrium was much more stylish then an oven, although Pinkie Pie noted that there were slots along the walls where wire racks could be inserted. There was a pool of lava to their left, and on the right an open doorway to a waiting area, filling with adult dragons resting, and young dragons playing among the hoard. In front of them was an enormous double door. The Knights escorted them to the waiting room. "Please wait here, while your presence is announced." The Knight with the halberd said, and he and all but two other dragons left. "Why... It's all so immense!" Rarity beamed. "Yeah, immensely awesome!" Rainbow Dash shared a squeal of delight with her. "Why, I have a hundred new fashion ideas already." Rarity beamed. "I shall call it, Rarity's Summer Dragon Collection!" "I can't believe I'm hanging with dragons!" Rainbow Dash flew up next to one of the knights. "I mean real, huge, scary, fire breathing dragons! No offense Fluttershy." "None taken." Spike looked around. The other adult dragons were looking at them warily, some shuffling around. "I still don't think they're being very hospitable." "Oh no, this is very hospitable for dragons." Fluttershy looked around beaming. "I mean, they're a little scared of you, but otherwise this is very hospitable." Suddenly she gasped. "What is it Fluttershy?" Applejack asked. "They're about to start a game of King Of The Hoard." Fluttershy took off. "I'm going to go down and play if that's alright with you." She fluttered down to where the other dragons were playing. Most of them had seen Fluttershy before, so they let her join in their game. And that was the last straw for Twilight. The bell rang for the game to begin, and Fluttershy immediately flew to the top of a pile of gems. "Queen of the hoard!" Fluttershy roared. The dragons cheered, and ran forward... only to be stopped by a pink force field. "... what just happened?" One of the dragons asked. "Excuse me, coming through!" The dragon stared at the purple unicorn who casually walked through the forcefield and toward Fluttershy. "Queen of the hoard, coming through." Applejack's eyes widened. Out of all of her friends, there was none who knew her better then Applejack. She quickly rushed over to the Princess. "Ah, Princess, ah think you might want ta intervene here afore it gets too ugly..." "No way!" Pinkie Pie sat down and started munching on her popcorn. "This is gonna be good!" Twilight reached the top of the mountain of gems, where Fluttershy, once a pillar of confidence, was shuddering. "T-twilight? W-what are you doing here?" "I'm playing King of the Hoard." Twilight snapped. "What does it look like I'm doing?" "Um... why?" "Because." Twilight leveled a glare at Fluttershy, that would have sent anypony save the self proclaimed 'stare master' running back to wherever they came from. "Apparently, dragons don't have room in their vocabulary for 'friendship'. So, I thought since you considered me your 'pack leader' I'd earn that title." Her horn started to glow with a pink light, and all the onlookers cringed. "Twilight... please stop." Fluttershy reached over with her hoof, and tapped Twilight on the horn, blocking her magic. The dragons gasped, and looked to Twilight to make the next move. "To be honest Applejack, I am very apprehensive of interfering with the current situation." Princess Celestia said. "They're good friends, I'm sure they'll be able to sort things out." "If you're my friend, then why didn't you tell me about your parents!?" Twilight asked, trying again to fire up her horn. Fluttershy tapped it away. "I was scared Twilight. I'm always so scared..." "But you didn't trust us?" "Oh, I trust you as much as anypony." "If you trusted us you wouldn't be scared of us!" Twilight said. "You would have felt comfortable being the real you, instead of faking shyness all the time!" "That was the real me." Fluttershy whimpered, as she lightly tapped Twilight's glowing horn again. "I'm not divided into two ponies. I am a dragon, and that means that I express myself as shy or aggressive depending on who I'm talking to. But I'm still Fluttershy. Whether I'm passive or dominant, I'm still scared of shadows, I still care about my friends and my pack, I still love animals, and I still don't like strangers looking at me." Twilight's horn started to glow again, but then it seemed to flicker out as she saw tears well up n Fluttershy's eyes. Somewhere below them, Pinkie Pie dropped her popcorn. "It's been hard Twilight... to learn how to be somehow stand up for myself, and not scare ponies away. It's hard to realize... that right now there's more choices than just sitting here and taking it, or yelling at you to stop until you cry. I... I made Rarity and Pinkie Pie cry once. But I think... I thought that I was getting better at it, the more I was friends with you." She sniffed. "But... if you really want to be my pack leader..." She reached out, and swung a hoof at Twilight's jaw. It looked impressive, but she barely felt it, like a whisper of the wind. Fluttershy recoiled, her face contorting into an image of terrible pain, and she grasped her forehoof. With a cry, she tumbled off of the mountain of gems, and landed at the bottom of the pile. "She's queen of the hoard." Fluttershy whispered to the dragons, hiding her eyes with her mane as she held her hoof in mock pain. The dragons all stared at Twilight in shock, and stepped back from her, even though she still had a shield up. Then the bell rang through the valley, and they all ran. The game was over. Twilight felt a churning in the pit of her stomach as Rarity rushed to Fluttershy's side. Princess Celestia flew up to the top of the hoard and straight through Twilight's force field. "I feel like you might want to apologize to Fluttershy." Princess Celestia said. "I-I think I should... yeah." Twilight mumbled, and she slowly lowered herself down the mountain of gemstones. Applejack and Pinkie Pie met her at the bottom. "Boy Twilight, that looked super- duper-duper-duper-triple-chocolate-topped-not-fun." Pinkie Pie growled. "I mean, it started out pretty cool, but then at the end Fluttershy cried. I thought you were supposed to have an epic magic vs. dragon kung-fu fight, and then be closer friends than ever, not yell at each other alot!" "Gosh Twilight, I ain't seen you this riled up since Shining Armor couldn't spare the time to tell you he was gettin' married." Applejack sighed. "Sugarcube, you know what ya have to do now, right?" Twilight nodded. "Yes. I have to apologize to Fluttershy for being so insensitive, and then right a friendship report on it." "And then throw a 'yay nopony's upset at each other' party!" Pinkie Pie said. "Am I right? Am I right?" "Yes Pinkie." Twilight said. "At least, I hope she'll forgive me so she will." "Aw shoot, you know Fluttershy'll forgive ya." Applejack said. "But Twilight... ya better not blow up at her again." "I couldn't help it!" Twilight cried. "I was just so mad, that I had to lecture her. Don't you feel that way Applejack? You're the element of honesty after all?" Applejack put a hoof to her chin in thought. "Twi... what's ma favorite color?" Twilight blinked. "Um... red?" "Not even close." "Ooh, ooh, I know! Ask me!" Pinkie Pie raised her hoof. "Now what's Rarity's favorite color?" "Royal Violet, except on weekends where she prefers marshmallow white, or baby-eye blue." "Now, ya know Rarity's favorite color, but ya don't know mine." Applejack said. "Does that mean ah hid my favorite color from you? No! It just means that you never asked, and ah never volunteered that particular fact. Yer never gonna know everything about a pony Twi. And ya don't have to. 'Cause the feelin' of warmth, and kindness, and unstoppable optimism ya get when Fluttershy's around ain't no lie." Twilight looked at Applejack like she'd sprouted another head. "Applejack, you know I think you're the smartest pony I know besides Celestia, right? But there's a huge difference between knowing somepony's favorite color, and knowing if they were raised by the king of dragons, or knowing that they're going to be married." "I know!" Pinkie Pie still had her hoof raised. "I know Applejack's favorite color!" "Uh, Twilight." Twilight stopped as Spike pointed something out. There was a wall of teenage dragons between Twilight, and where Fluttershy was being consoled by Rarity and Rainbow Dash. "You're not aloud to see Fluttershy." One of the dragons said. "What do you mean I'm not aloud to see her?" Twilight asked, affronted. "We're not scared of you." The dragon continued. "Well, much. You may be a monster, but Fluttershy's a monster too, and she's always been a tenderclaw to us. But you almost made her cry, and it's illegal to let tears fall in the Great Volcano, even for a princess! We're not going to let you pass." Twilight blinked. "What? No, you're not going to keep me from seeing my friend!" "Smaug will see you now." Twilight looked up. And up. And up. One of the Knights was looming over them. "It's time to go my little pony." Celestia flew down and put a wing over Twilight. "You can apologize to her later." "Her favorite color!" Pinkie Pie whispered. "It's..." "Pinkie, hush." Applejack hissed. "Ah don't think Twilight's in the mood to know mah favorite color right now." ~0o0~ Fluttershy didn't cry. Tears had somehow found their ways to her eyes, but she wiped them off with her mane. Letting a tear touch the floor of the Great Volcano was illegal. But she felt like crying. Twilight had always been such a good friend... and she'd let her down. She couldn't believe how badly she'd let down Twilight. She could eat herself! (A dragon saying, with the same meaning as 'I could kick myself'.) But she couldn't dwell on that. Soon, she would see her father again. He was always so smart... he'd know how to fix this. She smiled at the thought of seeing her father again. As the Knights opened the double doors, her heart bounded, and she flew onto the Atrium. "O Smaug!" She yelled. "May you live... for... ever..." The dragon on her throne wasn't her father. It was Lord Smooze, the large black mountain dragon who was previously the leader of the Ironhide Pack. He was larger than any dragon in the room, with scales as black as pitch. He wore an eyepatch, that didn't fully conceal claw marks that looked... that looked about the size of her father's claws. He hadn't worn an eyepatch when she saw him and her father during the migration. "Finish it, Daughter." Smaug said. "A... a humble member of your pack... kneels before you..." Fluttershy kneeled and looked around the room. Lord Krastos was smiling wickedly at her. And her mother Babbage... she looked so sad. Tears threatened on Fluttershy's eyes. She couldn't help it. Her mother noticed and shook her head quickly, giving Fluttershy a pleading look. It was illegal to let tears fall on the Great Volcano. But Fluttershy knew she wouldn't be able to stop from crying. "Smaug... F-f-father..." She hated having to address this Smaug as father, but she had to. It was the law. "May I please... have your permission... to leave?" Smaug leaned forward, and smiled. "No." Fluttershy couldn't help herself. She burst into tears. Her father was dead. Long live Smaug.
Family Secrets: The Reveal	Family Creeds	Not one tear of hers fell to the floor. As she sobbed, a pink bubble had enveloped itself around her, gathering her tears in a pool in the bottom. Twilight's horn glowed with a righteous fury. She didn't know why Fluttershy's dad would do something like that, but she wasn't going to stand by and let it happen, especially if what the other dragons said was true, and tears falling was illegal. She'd only seen Fluttershy cry like this once. After the Grand Galloping Gala, when she realized how mean she must have looked to the animals. This was a line crossed, and she felt Rainbow dash and Applejack on either side of her, ready to start a major diplomatic incident over their friend's tears. 'Let Celestia handle this'. She mouthed. Applejack nodded, and bit hard on Rainbow Dash's tail just as a precaution. Smaug looked to the other ponies. "Welcome to my Cave, your Royal Majesty Celestia, The Queen-Who-Would-Be-Called-Princess, The Sun-Bearer, The Sky-Master, The Gemstone-Maned, The Great-Trickster, The Unseen-Hand, The Silent Watcher, The Mirror-Match of All-Dragons, The Gardener, The Sunland Lord, Tan-Kthulthu the World Serpent's Daughter, Equestria's Mother-Of-Hearts, Discord-Bane, Tenderhoof, and Haerth's Fire." Princess Celestia stepped forward, putting a comforting wing around Fluttershy before answering. "I am Welcomed... Smaug. Have you other honorifics?" "I am Smaug." The dragon king boasted. "I need no other honorifics." "Then Smaug, may I ask leave of you to have my subject leave the room? She is clearly distraught for some reason." "She is not your subject, Princess Celestia." Smaug said. "She is our daughter, and our princess. Let us instead finish matters with all haste, so she may leave quicker, to dry her eyes." "Some dad." Spike growled, and the rest of the ponies, who hadn't yet realized Fluttershy's father was dead, nodded in wary agreement. Fluttershy was still crying, and she'd filled up a fifth of the orb with her tears. "We have invited you're here, to bear witness to our daughter's marriage. But also, to bring about a new peace between Dragons and Ponies. Before we begin peace talks, one matter must be addressed." He pointed to Spike. "Your use of dragons as slave labor." Princess Celestia tittered. "Oh Smaug, Spike is not a dragon. He is a pony, who merely looks like a dragon. If you take a closer look, you will see that he is not any type of dragon you know." Smaug leaned in and took in Spike with his one eye. Spike stood there, anxiously, as Smaug looked him over and Fluttershy cried in the background. "You are right." Smaug said, after considerable inspection. "I apologize for the assumption, Your Majesty. From Fluttershy's reports it seemed..." He waved a claw. "But no matter. For the duration of your stay, you will be the honored guest of Lady Babbage's cave. You will unfortunately be escorted by my Knights at all times and require advanced notice to go elsewhere, so as not to disturb my subjects, but otherwise it is my hope that you enjoy the hospitality of the Great Pack." Lady Babbage looked like she was close to tears as well. Then Smaug turned to Fluttershy. "Fluttershy, you are obviously distraught." That was the polite way of saying it. The force field was halfway full of her tears as she continued bawling. "Before you leave, I would like you to meet your future husband." Smaug waved. "As it turns out, Lord Krastos was secretly raising his own monster." One of the three strategically placed side doors opened, and out came the last pony anypony expected to see. He was a Pegasus. His wings were small, and shriveled up, probably from the same malnutrition that had almost claimed Fluttershy. But the rest of him was immense, as large as an alicorn, built like a brick house that was built by dragons. His muscle's muscles had muscles. His cutie mark was a set of weights, and upon closer observation, the weights on his cutie mark weighed one hundred tons. Who knew what age he was at when he got his cutie mark, but if he was at any normal pony's age and he somehow managed to lift that? Apparantly, being raised by a dragon was better for strength then being raised by the Apples. "I've seen this guy before." Rainbow Dash whispered. "He showed up in Ponyville for the twister event. What was his name again..." The stallion opened his mouth. "I AM TARZAN THE MIGHTY!" He roared. "I know you two are going to be very happy together." Smaug smiled. "But for now, you seem distressed for some reason. So please, by all means, go back to your cave and get some rest. I'll be all ears if you want to talk about it later." To the ponies, his smile was kindly. To the dragons, it was full of mockery. Pinkie Pie jumped onto the force field, and began to roll it out of the room, Fluttershy still attached to it. The orb was now almost full of her tears, and she still didn't stop crying. They made it halway out of the atrium before the Great Pack adjourned, and Lady Babbage scooped Fluttershy up and rested her on her back, where she hugged her mother and cried. ~0o0~ She woke up the next morning, after crying herself to sleep. She was fairly surprised to see the warm charcoal nest she'd grown up in instead of the bed she had in her cottage. Then she remembered the previous day. She sniffled, weakly, and for a moment she considered not getting up at all. Then she heard somepony snoring beside her. She screamed and shot up to the ceiling in a panic. Did it already happen? Did I already marry that Tarzan? But no. It was just Twilight Sparkle. The snore was coming from next to her nest, not in it, where Twilight had been sleeping on one of her dad's books. Twilight snorted awake. "Fluttershy? You're awake?" Fluttershy sighed with relief, and landed. "Y-yes, I am." Twilight got up from where she had laid down. "I'm sorry, Fluttershy." Fluttershy frowned. "F-for what?" "I'm sorry about your dad." Twilight said. "He sounds like a great dragon. You mother explained everything last night. About how your dad's stare didn't work on Smooze because he had only one eye. We're so sorry Rainbow Dash, Rarity and I stayed up with you. I don't know where they are now." Twilight blushed. "Also... I'm sorry for what I said before then. After the whole 'Queen of the hoard' thing. I just over-analyzed everything and I made it so much worse for you -" "It's okay Twilight." Fluttershy said with a smiled. It had hurt when Twilight had said them, but she would hurt more if she continued watching Twilight blame herself for it. Besides, any debt she might have held against her for her harsh words was erased because Twilight had thought to save her from her tears. "You're a good friend." Twilight sighed with relief, and hugged Fluttershy. Fluttershy buried herself into the warmth of Twilight's mane. Fluttershy felt safe with Twilight around. With her in her arms, she felt the troubles of the previous day melt away like Nightmare Moon or Discord. With her, she was sure she could find a way to face her father's death, and her impending marriage to... Tarzan... Suddenly, she felt twilight tense up, and sniff experimentally. "Smoke?" Fluttershy sniffed as well. Her nose wasn't as sensitive to smoke, but she soon realized it wasn't normal dragons smoke. "A fire! Ohmigoodness ohmigoodness, ohmigoodness!" The two of them ran down to the kitchen, where they were met with the sight of Rainbow Dash, covered in something yellow and sticky, trying to cook ash. "I was just trying to make pancakes!" Rainbow Dash yelled. Twilight ran forward. "Did you blend the batter before cooking it?" She asked. "Yeah, but I couldn't find the blender, so I just mixed it with a miniature tornado." Fluttershy flew to the pantry and grabbed the blender. "It's okay Rainbow Dash. We'll make a new batch." "Hey Flutters! You're up! And... why do your parents have a model of Celestia's Palace in their kitchen cupboards?" "It's a blender." Twilight cleared the smoke away with her magic. "Odd, why didn't anypony else notice the smoke?" And that was when Fluttershy's ears picked up the soft scratching of claws against stone, and wings preparing to flare. She spun around just as a teenage purple dragon with long golden hair leaped out at her, and brought a hoof down on his face. The other dragon snarled and blew fire at her, but Fluttershy ducked out of the way and put him in a chokehold. He reached behind him and flipped her off of his back and onto the stone floor. The pair of them rolled across the floor until they hit a wall, where Fluttershy finally pinned the dragon. They glared at each other for a while. And then Fluttershy began to tickle him. He laughed and tried to swat her away, but she pressed on. She finally relented, and the two pulled each other into a hug. "Fluttershy!" "Vulcas!" "It's so good to see you again!" "Look at how much you've grown!" Twilight and Rainbow Dash stared on in bemusement. "Howdie all." Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie walked into the room. "Rarity heard Fluttershy wake up, and Pinkie figured we oughta give her a dose of normality again to get her smiling as soon as possible." "Good idea." Twilight said, watching the two siblings wrestle. Spike walked into the room, yawning. "I'm up Twi. You didn't need to start the pancakes without me. You know I can -" Spike saw Rainbow Dash looking sheepish, and tried to cover the pan. Spike's entrance picked up Vulcas' attention. But the attention was held by something different. "WOAH!" Vulcas stood up. "Is my hair straight?" Fluttershy blinked. "Um... yes?" Vulcas strode towards Rarity, and began to do a mating dance. Rarity was visibly distressed. "Oh dear... Twilight, when did you find the time to teach Fluttershy's brother to dance?" "Ohmigoodness, ohmigoodness, ohmigoodness!" Fluttershy blushed, and hid her head in her hooves. "Vulcas!" All heads turned, as Lady Babbage strode into the kitchen, Princess Celestia behind her. She had aged gracefully. No longer the young mother of Fluttershy, she was a grand draconis queen. And though she still had some elements of her former 'cute' self, the only word to describe her now was 'regal'. "That is not the way we raised you, young drake." She said. "Other dragons may go straight for the dance, but you should get to know her first, give her flowers and gemstones, maybe ask Fluttershy about pony courtship rituals." "Wait, what?" Rarity squeaked. "Yes mom." Vulcas bowed his head. "Woah, woah waoh!" Spike stalked up to Vulcas. "Courtship rituals?" "Well... I know it's a bit weird." Vulcas rubbed his head. "I'm a scaly reptile, she's a fuzzy pony." "Fuzzy?" Rarity was affronted. "But... well... look at her and tell me you don't think she's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen." Spike looked at Rarity. "She's the most beautiful pony I've ever seen." He said. Then he turned back. "And thus, she's off limits to you." "Hold on, who are you to decide whether I'm off limits or not?" Rarity asked. "So you will go on a date with me?" Vulcas asked. "Or... hang on, Fluttershy, what are pony courtship rituals?" Fluttershy was too busy burying her face in her hoofs to participate in the conversation. Her mother brushed a wingtip against her. "Fluttershy? Do you want to talk?" Fluttershy nodded, and Lady Babbage carefully lifted Fluttershy onto her back. She carried her through the hallways of their cave, past the stairs, and the Hoard Room, and into the Library. Stockholm's library was the biggest dragon library in the world, in every sense of the word. Most of the books on his shelves wouldn't fit through the door of any normal pony's home. And there were so many shelves filled with them, they descended down for two more floors, which in pony terms was thirty more floors. Judging from the disorganized mess on the enormous study desk, Twilight had already been at the books, voraciously taking in anything she could while she was here. Lady Babbage set her daughter down on the desk. "You have good friends Fluttershy. A fine pack. I'm so proud of you." Fluttershy nodded. "I'm so sorry I couldn't get in touch with you earlier. Ever since the... fight... I've been under an unofficial house arrest." "It's not your fault." Fluttershy shivered. "It was... so shocking. Yesterday was the worst day of my life." "Do you want a shoulder to cry on?" Her mother offered. "No thanks."Fluttershy shook her head. "I've cried enough. Now I have to... I have to..." "You don't have to do anything." Her mother nuzzled her. "You don't have to do anything at all." "I have to get married..." "NO!" Lady Babbage roared, her clawed fists banging down on the desk top. Fluttershy jumped back, surprised. "Mom...?" Her mother sighed, and swayed, almost sinking to the floor before she regained her regal bearing. "Fluttershy... before fighting your father, Lord Smooze fought Lord Krastos. Unusually, Lord Krastos let his survive the fight, but before the fight ended Krastos had torn out Smooze's eye. Without his depth perception, Lord Smooze wouldn't be effected by your father's Stare." Fluttershy's eyes widened. "You think Lord Krastos..." "I think it's a bit too convenient that all of a sudden he has a son you can marry." Lady Babbage snarled. "I think that he's trying to attack me from the shadows, just like the coward he is. I think he's been playing the long game, planning this week out since the moment he realized you existed. I think that oing anything he wants, including getting married to his... whatever that pony is to him, would be a very bad idea." Fluttershy bowed her head. "But... I'm a princess. If Smaug tells me to get married, there's not much I can..." "You can say no." Lady Babbage said. "And I would start a war for you." Fluttershy's eyes widened. "Oh no! Mom, you'd be killed!" "And that would buy enough time for you to escape." Lady Babbage lifted her chin. "Fluttershy..." "No." Fluttershy shook her head. "No mom. You leave everything to me." She smiled. "I've grown so much stronger since my last visit. My friends have grown so much stronger. They'll help me, whatever I do. I don't want you to risk you life for me." "No mother would do less for her child." Lady Babbaged glared. But her glare softened, and she nuzzled Fluttershy again. "Oh... my Fluttershy..." She whispered softly. "You have grown." "I know Mom." Fluttershy hugged her in return. The two of them shared the blissful peace and quiet of the library. Fluttershy broke the silence. "So... you've been talking to Princess Celestia?" Fluttershy asked. Lady Babbage giggled excitedly. "She has a phoenix!" "I know. Isn't it exciting?" "She'd been telling me all about her! Oh, but I must visit Canterlot some day and meet Philomena!" Fluttershy giggled. "It's good to be home mom. Despite everything. Right here, right now, I'm happy." ~0o0~ From deep in the dark basement of his cave, Lord Krastos watched Lady Babbage and Fluttershy hug through a mirror. He cackled wickedly, only for the cackle to turn into a cough. "You're getting worse." Smaug gloated from the shadows behind him. Lord Krastos reached out a claw for a goblet at his side. He crushed some emeralds into the chalice and took a long, deep draught. He took a fresh breath of air through his throat. "No, Smaug... I've never felt more alive." "You and I have vastly different opinions on the word 'alive'." Smaug growled. "You're near death. You should be entering the Deep Sleep, instead of constantly staying awake." "Are you trying to get rid of me?" Lord Krastos chuckled. Smaug squirmed slightly, as Lord Krastos turned to look at him. "You never would have had the chance to become Smaug without me. Now everything is going exactly according to plan... and you want me to sleep?" Smaug frowned. "Careful how you speak to me." "I am careful." Lord Krastos said. "I am very careful not to provoke you. You would destroy me utterly in a fight, and then where would we both be?" Lord Krastos took another draught. "Leave me." "You do not order Smaug." Smaug growled, but it was a half hearted growl. "The rest of the world may believe that, but you and I know better." Lord Krastos sighed. "I tore out your eye so you would be immune to Stockholm's stare. I boosted your fighting prowess with magic to defeat him in 'fair' combat. And if you want to have the same chance against Celestia, you won't dare harm me. So leave... please." "Just have your magic ready." Smaug growled and left. Lord Krastos listened, and waited, until Smaug closed the door to the basement behind him. "... And my mind, your majesty. My magic... and my mind. Of the two, I know which one is the more powerful." He traced a claw along the mirror, watching Lady Babbage talking with Princess Celestia. "Aaahh... Babbage... Smaug's dragon age will fade, as all empires do. And I will go to my own rest soon enough. All things in life, are only temporary pleasures. But there is one temporary pleasure, I have yet to have... A final joy to steal..." He turned, cracked his claws, and reached out towards the coral growing on the wall. The coral's tubes spiraled the full length of the basement's walls. Various small creatures used to live inside the corals, but Krastos had burned them out long ago, while polishing the tubes with his fire. Reaching out, he began to play on the keyboard he'd attached to the coral, melodies floating around the perfectly acoustic basement. My mother dear, she called me sickly... And my father proud, he called me weak... But when I look into your eye I find, The presence of a willful mind, The same that made my life not look so bleak. I was never the leader of any pack, And every dragon called me a creep. But I found they changed their tune, When under cover of the moon, I murdered both my parents in their sleep! He began hacking again, and took another draught from his chalice, then picking up the music in a faster pace. Lesson One: Being a coward means being alive! Lesson Two: Don't let on that you can connive! Lesson Three: Strike when they least expect your strike! Lesson Four: Know exactly where to swing that pike! This is the Creed of Cunning! The art of Krastos the Great! And, you'll never see me coming, Until it's far too late! But then I her eyes met mine across the crater... And I knew at last I'd met my mirror-match! She turned away each of my tricks, I had to learn to take my licks, Because she was just too good of a catch! But no you had to marry that grandstander! And our duels piled up without an end! He turned you against me, But I'm going to set you free, And then your sweetness will make amends. Lesson five: Patient is your greatest ally! Lesson six: Know exactly where to ply! Lesson seven: Stay in the darkest shadows! Lesson eight: Don't stop till the reaper crows! This is the Creed of Cunning! The adventure of Krastos the Great! And I hope that she can see me coming, So that we can properly enjoy our date! The music turned more sinister, darker, and Krastos began to play the corals like a dragon possessed. Everything is going according to plan, Call it genius, or destiny, or fate! My mirror-match no longer she, Shall bow, this is her destiny, It's time for her final checkmate! Oh, I can't wait to get her to the altar! Where she can finally say I do! And make no mistake, It'll be a piece of cake! Because if she doesn't, I'll turn her Precious Pony Daughter into GLUUUUUEEEE!!!!! From deep in his dark basement cave, Krastos began to laugh, punctuation occasionally by a hacking cough. Flame spilled out of his mouth, enchanted with an illusion spell. The green flame transformed into a vision of Fluttershy, and as the caricature smiled, a green tendril of flame formed the head of a dragon, opened its jaws wide, and devoured Fluttershy's image, leaving only a faint green smoke, and the sick laughter of Krastos.
Family Secrets: The Reveal	Cold Feet	Somehow, the topic of cheering Fluttershy up had turned into a game of cards, followed by a game of belching. Crackle and Hotshot had come around, and while they both had an impressive range and heat, Fluttershy had a singer's lungs. She took a long draught of rainbow juice, let it stir in her stomach for a while, then took a deep breath and let one rip! The resulting stream of fire lasted a full minute, and singed the roof of the cave. "My turn!" Pinkie Pie took a draught of rainbow, and her face cycled through various colors before finally belching a small lick of fire. "Waauugh, that was so spicy!" Pinkie Pie moaned. "It's an acquired taste." Fluttershy grinned bashfully. Rainbow Dash looked disdainfully at the jar in the middle of the table. "Rainbow actually has negative wing nutrients. It's toxic to Pegasuses. I can't believe you're actually drinking the stuff! I can't believe you've been drinking this stuff since you were a baby! How can you even fly at all!?" "I had a good teacher." Fluttershy grinned. Rainbow Dash nodded. "That's right, the best." She beamed. "Can I try some?" Spike asked. "Oh no." Twilight shook her head. "It's way too spicy for you." "Okay, I understand." Spike nodded somberly. Then he grabbed the jug and took a shot anyway. "Way to go little buddy!" Hotshot crowed. "Ooh, you said he's a pony right?" Crackle asked. She shook her head. "He's going to feel that." Spike did seem to feel that. His face went through less ranges of color than Pinkie Pie, but that was probably because he had scales. And then he unleashed a fireball that made Fluttershy's shot look like chilly autumn morning. The entire room was covered in black soot, including its occupants. Spike was rolling around the ground, holding his stomach and moaning in pain. Twilight glared at Rainbow Dash. The narrowed eyes were all the expression to be made out from the soot covered face. "I blame you for this." "Me?" Rainbow Dash asked. "What did I do?" Then she leaned down to the dragon. "Hey, props little guy. That was awesome!" "Radical!" Hotshot added. "Bodacious!" Crackle supplied. "That was the biggest fireball I've ever seen!" Vulcas shook the soot off of him. "I'd give it a nine." "Like you'd give Rarity a nine?" Pinkie Pie winked at Vulcas. Hotshot blushed. "Dude, you said you wanted Cute Monster Girl magazines for researching your sister's culture." "I think we agreed not to mention this topic ever again!" Vulcas and Rarity glared at their respective friends. Applejack kept her hat covering her face for the entire conversation. "Full house." She laid her cards down. Everybody looked at the fire blackened cards. "How can you tell?" Hotshot immediately put his cards down, in the same state as Applejack's. "Royal Flush!" "I had a Royal Flush!" Crackle said angrily. "Look Crackle, a muffin!" "Where!?" While she was distracted, Hotshot took the cards out of her hand and tossed them away. "Must've been my imagination. Anyway, I had the Royal Flush!" There was a knock at the doorway. Lady Babbage entered the room. "I'm sorry to interrupt. But Tarzan is here for his pre-bridal meeting with Fluttershy." "Can I beat him up?" Vulcas asked. "I doubt that would go over well, so no." Fluttershy's mother tucked her under a wing. "They've requested the other ponies keep a respectable distance as well." The six of them exchanged looks. "We'll be just around the corner the entire time." Twilight said, and the others nodded in agreement. Rarity began to fuss over Fluttershy's hair. "Now, Fluttershy, remember, you can always say 'no' any time." Fluttershy nodded. "If he won't take no for an answer, then we will have words with him. Trust us, this 'Tarzan' character will regret messing with one of the Elements of Harmony." Fluttershy nodded. "Now go out there, and see if he has better manners than a certain pony prince." Fluttershy squeaked, and was pushed out to the cave's foyer. Crackle and Hotshot whispered good lucks, and Lady Babbage and Vulcas accompanied her. The others alternated poking their heads out from behind a curtain. Lord Krastos escorted his 'son' in through the entrance. "Lady Babbage, how delightful - " "Get out!" Lady Babbage snapped. Lord Krastos looked hurt. "Are we not Mirror-matches? Have I not left you alone in this period of mourning?" "Not even on your best day have you been welcome in my home. Out Lord Krastos!" The Lord smirked. "You should thank me. Lord Smooze wanted Fluttershy to marry his own son, and I know how she objects to Garble." "Knights." Lady Babbage ordered. "They are loyal only to Smaug." Lord Krastos said. "And charged with protecting the innocent. Smaug wanted Fluttershy to meet Tarzan, not you. They would not be neglecting their duties if I ordered them to have you thrown out." Lord Krastos admitted defeat, and left with a bow. Tarzan strutted towards Fluttershy undeterred, and began the smooth motions of the mating dance. Well, as smooth as they could be when danced by a pony. "Um... hello, I'm Fluttershy." "I know." Tarzan said, continuing the dance. "And you already know my name of course. We were destined to be together." "Um... no..." Fluttershy was annoyed. "I know your name because Smaug told me." "Destiny!" Tarzan repeated. "You were destined to be my queen, just as I was destined to be the strongest dragon of them all!" Fluttershy frowned. This wasn't going like she was expected. She didn't know what she expected, but it wasn't this. "I don't want to be queen. Maybe we should get to know each other first before -" "If you didn't want to be queen, then why are you so attracted to me - the future king?" Tarzan plucked a rose from out of nowhere and put it between his teeth with a sly grin. He seemed to not notice the matching scowls on the faces of Fluttershy's family. "I'm not." "Come on, let's go outside for a walk." "The Knights won't let me outside." "They will if you're with me." "No." "Playing hard to get?" "Very, very, very hard to get." "Then it's your good fortune that I am very, very, very hard." Vulcas suddenly grew a mischievous smirk. "Hey Mr. Hard, guess what? She can't be your queen, because she has a Pack Leader." Tarzan's eyes widened. "What!?" He stomped his hoofes on the ground. "Unacceptable! Fear not Lady Fluttershy, I will destroy pretender who dares to be your superior, and by extension mine! FOR I AM TARZAN THE MIGHTY!!!!!" ~0o0~ Lord Krastos waited outside with the Knights, playing a game of cards to pass the time. As he waited, he heard a muffled boom, and Tarzan came flying out of the cave's entrance, singed black. "What did we learn?" He asked, without looking up. Tarzan coughed. "Magic is strong?" "Magic and mind Tarzan." Lord Krastos blew a healing spell towards Tarzan. "Magic and mind. The two strongest forces in the universe. Try using your strength more carefully, and fighting Vulcas instead of -" "No!" Tarzan got up. "Second round Twilight! YEEEEAAAAHHH!!!" He rushed back into the cave, and Lord Krastos sighed, as he heard a second muffled boom. "Of all the ponies in the world, I chose the one who is clinically brain-dead." He muttered. ~0o0~ "Squack! Twilight, I challenge you to-AAARGH MY FACE! Whistle!" Lady Babbage gently stroked Fluttershy as she cried into her tail. They all sat in Lady Babbage's aviary, trying to decided what to do, Pinkie Pie trying not to giggle at her new friend the parrot. Thankfully, Fluttershy had gotten most of her crying done last night, and only had a few tears to spare for this new development. "I am sorry to say, that I cannot stop this myself without causing a diplomatic incident." Princess Celestia said. "And by Diplomatic Incident, I mean scaring the dragons into believing that ponies are monsters for another few centuries. I can and will do so for Fluttershy, but I'd like to wait see if we couldn't exhaust other options first." "This is the most unromantic marriage ever!" Rarity cried. "I have half a mind to stop working on Fluttershy's wedding dress!" Fluttershy lifted her head. "Oh no, you don't have to." She dried her eyes. "None of you have to do anything. I knew this day might come. I wouldn't want you to start a war, or not finish a dress, because of this." The ponies stared at her. "Are you crazy!?" Rainbow Dash yelled. "Ain't no way we're gonna abandon our friend to a life o' misery sugarcube." Applejack said. "Indeed." Rarity said. "Even if your wedding dress will be so fabulous ponies with heart conditions can't look directly at it, it would be the ugliest thing I ever designed if you wore it when you were sad." "We'll figure out some way to help you." Twilight said. "Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a cupcake in my eye!" Pinkie Pie swore. "Thank you all." Fluttershy blushed, and tears welled up in her eyes. "You're all... such good friends." "Squack! Give this message to Fluttershy! Whistle!" All eyes turned to the parrot. "That was Stockholm's voice." Lady Babbage said. "Ferdinand, what do you have to say?" The parrot spoke up again. "Squack! If you tell anydragon besides Fluttershy, no more parrot treats! Whistle." "It's all right if you tell my friends." Fluttershy said. "Ever! Squack!" Fluttershy pulled out a blanket, and put it over Ferdinand. "Alright, everyone's gone now. Tell me what my dad told you." The parrot paused for a while, deciding whether or not to trust Fluttershy with his parrot treats for the rest of his life. The answer was obvious. "Squack! I'm not dead! Tell her I'm not dead! Squack!" Fluttershy gasped with delight, and her mother hugged her with her tail. Tears formed in both of their eyes, but they were tears of joy this time. "Where is he?" "Follow Ferdinand!" The parrot squacked. "I'm hiding, follow Ferdinand! Whistle!" "But how would dad have gotten away?" Vulcas asked. "The Knights In Smaug's Service witness every challenge put to Smaug. They'd have to have found dad's body... right?" "Dad's really smart!" Fluttershy cried. "He must have found a way!" "Your choice is clear Fluttershy." Princess Celestia said. "Do you want to look for your father? Or would you prefer that I start another... war..." She looked around, confused, as Fluttershy seemed to have disappeared. She rushed back into the room seconds later with her saddlebags. "Um... I'm packed... are you girls coming?" "Of course we are!" Rainbow Dash yelled, and with a rainbow colored blur, her own saddlebags were on. "We need a plan to get past the knights." Twilight said. "Um... I think I have one." Spike raised his hand. "Awesome!" Rainbow Dash cheered. "Spike, you're going to stay here with Celestia." "What?" Spike frowned. "But I want to go with you!" "Yeah, Spike can come if he wants." Rainbow Dash agreed. Twilight shook her head. "Spike's only a baby, he can't come." Rainbow Dash shot her an incredulous look. "He's a foal that can take baths in lava! He's coming!" "Don't you care about seeing him getting hurt?" Twilight stomped a hoof on the ground. "He'll be hurt if you tell him what to do all the time!" Dash snorted. "I'm providing a structured life, full of physical, mental, and social improvement." Twilight argued, magically conjuring a graph and a check list. "Which includes not leading him into dangerous situations." Dash rolled her eyes. "That's boring. He has my awesome blood in his veins, he'll thrive in dangerous situations!" Now it was Twilight's turn to look incredulous. "He gets tummy aches from eating too much ice cream!" Dash shrugged. "I get hurt from boring stuff too. But let him get kidnapped by buffalo, and suddenly he turns into a crazy heroic dimplomathingy!" Twilight growled, and pressed her forehead against Rainbow Dash's. "Diplomat, and that was just once!" "Because you never let him do anything else awesome!" Rainbow dash glared into Twilight's eyes. "I let him be the narrator for the Haerth's Warming Eve festival!" "And it was awesome! Now let him come with us on an adventure into the Darklands so he can be more awesome!" "Spike isn't you Rainbow Dash!" That made Rainbow Dash pause, and for a moment a horrified look crossed her face. Then she made her face smile again. "I know he's not. He's better." Spike frowned. "You know... I can do magic. I can follow you with a teleportation spell whether you want me to come or not." "See?" Rainbow Dash grinned. "That's my boy!" Spike sighed. Having Rainbow Dash as a 'daddy' was still a little awkward. But he had to admit, as he watched Twilight's faced roll form confusion, to begrudging acceptance, that it had its perks. "I'm coming too." Vulcas said. "No." Princess Celestia said. "I do not want to play my hand until the last possible moment, and if you go with them, it will be less believable that they ran off on their own disobeying my orders, and more feasible that we a starting a minor rebellion. Besides, the six of them work best when they don't have any distractions." "We're starting a rebellion!?" Pinkie Pie clapped her hoofs. "We should totally have a rebl party when we get back! I mean, Dashies' a full time rebel, so it's old news for her, but there's being a rebel, and there's being in a rebellion. Hey, I heard rebels get to eat lots of cake right? During the old French revolution, you told the rebels 'Let them eat cake'! And then you made cake fall out of the sky for them! Can you do that again?" "I'm not particularly overconfident." Vulcas growled. ~0o0~ Spike's plan was simple. Lady Babbage's family was under an impromptu house arrest. So, Fluttershy would trick Tarzan into taking her on the 'walk' he mentioned, followed out of the cave by her friends hidden underneath a replica of Rarity's dragon disguise, pretending to be Crackle. When they got far enough away, they would knock him out and follow the parrot. This was the plan in theory. In practice, the plan went something like this: "Ow! Stupid parrot, why did you have to blow our cover!?" "Squack! We'll sneak up behind him, knock him out, and make our escape! Whistle!" "They're still following us!" "The camouflage isn't working? Why isn't the camouflage working?" "Because it's on fire Twilight!" "AAAARGH!!!" "Hey look! One of them's making funny faces at us!" FWOOOOOSH!!! "Oh, he wants a breath mint!" "I hate the smell of dragon fire in the evening!" "Well, let's look on the bright side." "Rarity, what bright side could there possibly be!?" "Well, the camouflage clashed with my mane. Now we don't have to wear it anymore!" "If these dragons catch us, you won't have any hair left for it ta clash with!" "Gasp!" Crash! Clash! Whapow! Clang! "Look out, that Pony has my Halberd!" Slice! Dice! Cross Stitch! French Haute Couture! "That Onomatopoeia shouldn't even exist!" Bludgeon! Thump! Parry! Crash-crash-crash-crash-crash-crash-crash!!! "Pant, pant, pant..." ... ... "What? They were going to ruin my mane." "... Rarity, where did you learn to fight like that?" "That was super-duper Rarity! You were all like... Ho! Ha ha! Guard! Turn! Parry! Dodge! Spin! Ha! Thrust!" "Well, a lady must know how to protect herself from dangerous ruffians, yes?" "Squack! Remind me never to disagree with you! Whistle!" "Where's Fluttershy?" "I'm here! Sorry, but you took off really fast, and it was really hard to knock out Tarzan." "How hard was it?" "I told him to close his eyes and pucker up, and I hit him right on the jaw, and he thought I was kissing him." "Oh." "And then I hit him some more times, and he thought we were frenching." "Oh dear." "I had to hit him on a pressure point on the back of his neck. Repeatedly. Thanks for hiding a sledgehammer in my mane Applejack, that came in handy." "Better safe 'an sorry I always say." "Ungh... Fluttershy..." "Ohmigoodnesshefollowedme!" "How in the hay is he still conscious!?" "Sugarcube, gimme that there sledgehammer and show me where to hit him." ~0o0~ "Here." Twilight said, after leading them to an open plain. "The parrot's leading us here." There was nothing but rocks, as far as the eye can see. "Well, this is boring." Rainbow Dash said. "These are the shadow plains." Fluttershy whispered, with a voice full of deathly fright. "No dragon ever goes here, because of the monsters living in the shadows." "Living in the -" Twilight Sparkle made her way over to where Ferdinand was hovering. She examined the shadows for a moment, then held her hoof out to press against a rock. He hoof met with air. "Aha!" Twilight exclaimed. "An optical illusion! Some of these shadows or actually the entrances to caves!" Ferdinand squacked, and flew into the darkness. "Come on then!" Rainbow Dash led the charge, and five of the ponies made their way into the dark, narrow cave. But Fluttershy stayed behind with Rarity. Rarity had noticed something off to the side of the cave began examining it closely. Fluttershy shivered. "I... I'm scared." Rarity smiled at what she saw beside the cave, before turning with a frown to Fluttershy. "What are you scared of?" "Monsters." Fluttershy said simply. "There are monsters in the shadows." Rarity smiled warmly. "Darling, you don't need to worry about any monsters harming you while I'm around." Fluttershy let Rarity wrap her comforting hooves around her in a hug. "How can you be so brave?" Fluttershy asked. "Simple darling." Rarity said. She leaned in towards Fluttershy, and whispered dramatically into her ear. "I am a monster too." And with an 'eep', Fluttershy was whisked into the shadows.
Family Secrets: The Reveal	Pony Joe's	The ponies followed Twilight and Rarity's light spells through the darkness. The long winding tunnel eventually began to be more formed, the walls sharpening, staircases forming. Ferdinand got ahead of them once or twice, but Fluttershy always managed to call him back. They went down into the darkness so far, that the gravity began to shift as they approached the other end of the world, and they began to walk up staircases instead of down them. Rainbow Dash walked next to Spike. At one point, Spike stumbled. "You okay?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Yeah." He grumbled. "Just a little tired." Rainbow Dash frowned, worriedly. "Do you want to ride on my back?" Spike thought a bit, and nodded. He climbed onto her. "Thanks." "No prob." Rainbow Dash kept walking for a while after that, as if trying to figure out what to say. She turned to the foal draped across her back. "Hey, Spike?" "Mmmhmm?" "You didn't, like, just want to come because I'm you dad right? I mean... you know that you don't have to be me?" "I couldn't be you if I tried." "Okay. Good." Rainbow Dash beamed, and kept trotting forward. They didn't know how long they'd been walking for. There was no sun, no moon, no clocks. Just an empty tunnel, and an occasional squack from Ferdinand. In the lead, Rarity turned to Twilight. "Twilight dear... may I be frank?" "Yes Rarity?" "I... have something to say. But I want you to Pinkie Pie swear that you won't... well, freak out." Twilight was confused, but she complied. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." Rarity smiled, but the thought of what she had to say turned her face back into a mask. "I... know what we're going to find at the end of the tunnel, Twilight." "You do?" "Yes." She bowed her head. "At the end of this tunnel, you will find my parents, and a collection of their friends." Twilight looked confused, then shocked, then she looked like she was about to ask something, but Rairty put a hoof to her lips. "You Pinkie Pie promised not to freak out." She said, pleadingly. Twilight nodded. "Okay... not freaking out but... what? Why? How?" "The 'what' is simple." Rarity sighed. "According to Fluttershy, 'monsters' live in these caves, and we already know dragons considered ponies monsters. The why and the how... are less easy to explain. But..." "Ahoy down there!" They looked up. Somepony in a trottingham accent had called down to them from the top of the stairs. Somepony holding a lantern. Twilight started to go up, but Rarity put a hoof to her shoulder. "I promise you Twilight, I left this life behind me. I would have told you about this, if I had ever thought we'd be going back in." "I say, ahoy there!" "Who's that?" Pinkie Pie asked. The others were close enough behind them now to hear the pony calling. "It's the watchpony." Rarity said. She called back to him. "Ahoy Pipsqueak! It's me, Rarity!" "Ms. Rarity!? That's great! Um... Is... is Sweetie Belle with you?" "Not this time darling." "Oh. Well, don't just stand there in the cold 'n dank, come on up!" "Rarity, what's goin' on?"Applejack asked. "Well you see..." Rarity tried to explain. "My parents are sort of... tourists... who don't have to pay to go where they want." "What'chya talking about?" Applejack asked. "What I mean to say is, they are adventurers, of duplicitous nature and skill." "Rarity?" Twilight asked. "Can you tell it to us straight?" "Oh my." Rarity blushed. "What I mean to say is, my family is filled with experienced sailors who have no difficulty crossing blades if the occasion calls for it." "Speak English!" Rainbow Dash yelled. "I'm so dreadfully sorry." Rarity apologized. "What I mean to say is... oh please, please don't tell Celestia anything about this, but..." They reached the top of the stairs. In the dim candle light, they could see they were in some sort of cavern. It was filled with torches, and half of the cavern was filled with some sort of underground lake. Ships were anchored in the lake, a portcullis built into one of the walls seemed to be their method of entrance. There was another ship, wrecked on dry land, but with a door carved into its side. The lights were on inside of the ship, and cheering could be heard from inside. Each and every one of those ships flew a black flag, with a pony's skull and crossbones on them. "Your family is pirates!" Pinkie Pie squealed. Rainbow Dash took Rarity's face in her hooves. "I.... have greatly misjudged your radicalness. Can you ever forgive me?" "O-of course." Rarity stammered. Twilight facehoofed. "Rarity... I'm trying not to 'freak out' about your family being criminals but... please just tell me that you aren't some sort of pirate princess." Rarity gasped. "Of course not! Pirates are anarchists, they don't have princesses!" "Sweetie Belle looks like a princess." Pipsqueak offered from the side. "Thank you Pip." Rarity smiled. "That is so not comforting." Twilight gritted her teeth. "Squack! Captain! Captain! Whistle!" Ferdinand flew off of Fluttershy's shoulder, and into the shipwreck. "That's the secret underground level of Pony Joe's." Rarity said. "It's a popular pirate haunt, where ponies can anchor their ships and have a donut and a drink without worrying about other pirates fighting them." "And it looks like we're going in." Twilight said. The others nodded in agreement. "But only because we're on a mission for Fluttershy. Don't think we've avoided talking about this Rarity." Rarity put on a shocked look. "Forgive me Twilight, but I hardly see the problem." "Your family is full of criminals!" "It's family. What can you do?" Rarity shrugged. "Ms. Rarity... are you sure she should be let in?" Pip asked, eyeing Twilight suspiciously. "Oh, she won't be a problem." Rarity smiled. "I'm sure a brave young gentlecolt like yourself wouldn't find it amiss to let her through on my recommendation?" Pip beamed and nodded. "Yep!" "Wait!" Pinkie Pie jumped up. "What is it Pinkie?" Rarity asked. Pinkie Pie reached underneath, and pulled out a pile of eye patches. "I've been saving these eye patches everywhere for an eye patch emergency! We're about to go into a pirate emporium! If ever there was an eye patch emergency, this is it!" "Hmmm... yes, perhaps you're right Pinkie." Rarity picked up her own eye patch and began to embroider it. Twilight looked ready to explode. "Pinkie, you knew about this place!?" "Nope!" Pinkie beamed. "Then how could you have hidden these eye patches down here before we got here!?" Pinkie Pie winked - or perhaps, since she was already wearing an eye patch she had merely blinked - and trotted happily to Pony Joe's. "She's Pinkie Pie sugarcube." Applejack patted Twilight comfortingly on the shoulder. "You'd be better off trying to understand Discord." Twilight sighed, and trotted with the rested of them. The sound of cheering and merry making was prominent inside, and despite what should have been an ominous atmosphere, the ponies couldn't help but feel like no harm could come to them as they opened the doors. "'Tavy!?" Rarity squealed in delight. "Oh, 'Tavy it's been too long!" In front of them was a grey earth pony, wearing what was without a doubt a Rarity original, albeit an unconventional pirate themed one. She walked on her hind legs, and wore a blood red coat that reached the floor with, along with a scarlet wide brimmed feathered hat and, somehow most prominently, a gem studded bow tie. Her cutie mark was a clef, and her mane was tied up in a prim and proper fashion. "Rarity!" Octavia laughed. "I can't believe you're here! It's been far too long." "Oh, I agree Tavy." Octavia leaped onto a table, and somepony passed her a cello. "Hey everypony! Rarity's back! Let's all celebrate!" She began to fiddle a fast-paced tune on her cello, a tune that most of the pirates seemed to recognize and sing along with. Although, the singing seemed to mostly consist of the pirates yelling 'Argh'! Argh argh, Argh argh argh argh, Argh argh, Argh argh argh argh, Argh argh, Argh argh argh argh argh argh!" "Say what you will about pirates, but they can carry a tune." Rarity chuckled and began to dance. The pirates began to dance, unleashing a horde of perched parrots from their shoulders into the rafters. Twilight groaned. Somewhere up there was Ferdinand. Nopony else seemed to notice though, as Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash began to dance as well. Octavia began to sing: "Grab your Cider, hold it high! Hit your shipmate in the eye! Yank their mane and punch their nose! Watch your step, it's Pony Joe's!" Fluttershy whimpered in fear as the pirates began to act on these barbaric lyrics. As Rainbow Dash danced along, Spike fell off of her back, and Twilight scrambled to catch him, before one of the dancing pirates stomped a hoof to the floor, turning an old plank into a lever and catapault and launching the sleeping foal into the sky. "Grab your Cider, hold it high! Hit your shipmate in the eye! Yank their mane and punch their nose! Watch your step, it's Pony Joe's! Argh argh, Argh argh argh argh, Argh argh, Argh argh argh argh, Argh argh, Argh argh argh argh argh argh!" Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash had joined a can-can line. Spike had landed on the chandelier made from a steering wheel, and was spinning around like he was on a top. Twilight called for Applejack, the only mare she could count on to remain sane in this situation, to help her save Spike. But Applejack had realized that the Flim Flam brothers were tending to the bar, and decided to engage in this excellent opportunity to beat them senseless according to the lyrics Octavia sung: "Swing your shipmate, prominade! Whack her with a rusty blade! Spin around and Dosey Doe! Watch your step it's Pony Joes!" The Flim Flam brothers were flung back into a pair of apple cider kegs, spilling the precious liquid into the waiting cups of the pirates, who somehow found a way to synchronize their dancing with their drinking. Spike fell off the chandelier, landing on the side of a table, which launched the various daggers, swords, knifes, forks, darts, and pointy things across the room. Twilight and Fluttershy almost had heart attacks as the pointy things missed them by inches, and buried themselves in a pair of pony shaped outlines in the dartboards behind them. "Swing your shipmate, prominade! Whack her with a rusty blade! Spin around and Dosey Doe! Watch your step it's Pony Joes! Argh argh, Argh argh argh argh, Argh argh, Argh argh argh argh, Argh argh, Argh argh argh argh argh argh!" A grizzled looking pony who had four peg legs got up onto the table next to Octavia and began to tap dance as the crowd sang. If Twilight had to describe the scene, she would have called it: Bar fighting! The Musical! Pirates do as Pirates please! We're terrors of the Equestrian Seas! And when we've pillages all our foes! There ain't no place like Pony Joe-oe-oe-Oes! Take a swig of applejack! Pat your shipmate on the back! Then trip them up onto their nose! (Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie actually managed to trip each other up on this line.) Oh! There ain't no place like Poooonyyyy Argh argh, Argh argh argh argh,/ JJJOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO/ Argh argh, Argh argh argh argh,/ OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO/ Argh argh, Argh argh argh argh,/ OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO/ Argh Aaaaaaargh!/ OOOOOEEEESS!/ Spike woke up. "Man... what did I miss?"
Family Secrets: The Reveal	A Pirate's Life	The steady drumbeats of an execution played through Canterlot. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and the aristocracy sat at the lowest of the Canterlot Palace's balconies. Most of them were fanning themselves, though from heat or from awkwardness none could say, as four unicorns trotted a Pegasus up to the execution stand. "Is this really necessary Luna?" Princess Celestia asked. "I mean... a public execution! And for somepony who might be the Doctor..." "He was only a doctor last time Celestia." Princess Luna said. "You know he changes with every regeneration. Even if this is him, he's certainly not a doctor this time around, and I don't believe it's him anyway." "He's a doctor in every regeneration." Celestia said. "He helps fix Equestria." "And you think Equestria needs a pirate?" Luna scoffed. The unicorns rested the Pegasus on the stand. She was brown, with a stylish golden mane. Her cutie mark was an hourglass, with two bones crossed behind it. This was the same emblem she'd affixed to her ship's flag. This was Gold Dodger, Equestria's first pirate. The mare smiled up at the princesses with shining pink eyes. Luna stood on the balcony. "Gold Dodger!" She exclaimed, in the Royal Canterlot voice. "You have dodged your last! You will no longer terrorize the citizens of Equestria!" "That's for sure!" Dodger laughed. Luna was momentarily ruffled, as a few citizens chuckled with her. But she continued. "Yet even now, I will be merciful! Reveal the locations of your treasures! Reveal where you have hoarded the wealth from these good ponies! Reveal where you have hidden the Seventh Element of Harmony!" Gold Dodger tilted her head. "I stole it fair and square. It's my treasure now." Gold Dodger laughed. "I don't think anypony should give up the safety of the thing they treasure most just because they're asked, do you? Besides, Tom's hardly important." "You named it... Tom?" Luna's teeth grinding could be heard across the courtyard. "You know what is important?" Gold Dodger continued, staring intently into Princess Celestia's eyes. "I found a flower. A beautiful red rose, that didn't have any thorns. I found it in the Everfree forest. I don't know how, or why, a beautiful rose could grow in a place that dangerous without needing thorns to protect itself. Some might think it's unimportant. But you know... every little thing is important on its own level. And I think that rose I left on your bedside table, is greater than the whole of the treasure I gathered, if you look at it the right way." Princess Celestia gasped sharply. "It is him. Only he would do something so impossible." Luna almost shrieked. "The prisoner has refused mercy! Execute her!" Gold dodger seemed completely nonchalant about her impending death as the unicorns attending her lit up their horns. Then, at the last possible second before they fired, she smiled the widest smile in history and yelled to the heavens. "You want my treasure!? You can have it! I left every single bit in one place! Now all you have to do is find it!" The unicorns didn't stop their spells in time. Gold Dodger fell dead on the execution platform, before dissolving into golden mist. The crowd that had gathered waited silently, as if expecting her to come back to life just to mock Princess Luna once more. And then somepony cheered. It started with one, then another, but soon the entire courtyard was filled with ponies cheering, and clapping, and jumping for joy. Each and every one of them found themselves filled with a sense of adventure! Celestia stood. "Sister... your eyes..." "'Tis nothing." Princess Luna turned away, hiding her eyes from her sister. ~0o0~ "And that's the story of Gold Dodger." "Wow." Rarity said, from her position underneath the blankets. Her mother had just finished telling her a bed-time story, and was tucking her in with her stuffed sea-pony. They were on the majestic Golden Thunder, and the rolling of the waves helped Rarity doze off. "And that's why pirates fly the Jolly Dodger on our masts." She explained. "In fact, some say her final words are why Equestrians use Bits for money. Her final words ushered in the Grand Pirate Era. Hundreds of thousands of ponies took to the seas, searching for the Great Treasure. And while none of them found it, they all found adventure." "And that's why you and dad are pirates, right?" Rarity asked. "That's right." Her mother smiled. "The Capital Penninsula is only a small portion of Equestria. And you, you lucky little ducky, are going to see all of it. And maybe even find the treasure too." With that, she kissed her daughter good night, and blew out the candles. She was halfway out the door, when she heard her daughter's voice again. "Mommy?" "Yes Rarity?" "What about the ponies who can't go on adventures and see everything?" "That's their loss sweety. The Grand Pirate Era was centuries ago. A lot of ponies don't have the spirit of adventure in them any more." She snuck out of the door. Rarity sat in the darkness. She'd seen so much of Equestria already; their ship was currently parked in Talongrad Bay, the capitol of griffon countries. She couldn't imagine a life without having seen the things she'd seen. The world was so beautiful. How in Equestria did the other ponies cope? ~0o0~ "You!" Rarity turned, and saw her old Earth Pony friend Applejack stride towards her. Rarity took no notice of her friend's grim glare, instead rushing over to her with a giggle. "Applejack! You got your cutie mark! I did too!" "That's great." Applejack deadpanned. "An' I see you got yours." "Isn't it marvelous!?" Rarity beamed as she showed off her flank. That was when she noticed applejack wasn't at all enthusiastic about the most pivotal moment in any fillie's life. "Applejack, is something wrong?" Applejack glared at her. "Ya'll could say that again." She advanced on Rarity, who began to get a little nervous. "Ah thought you were my friend, but ya'll tricked me." "What?" Rarity gasped. "The nerve of the accusation! I would never!" "Yes you would!" Applejack yelled. "All of yer fancy fine talk about goin' on adventures, and seein' Equestria. You said Manehatten was a wonderful place. Well it wasn't! I went there, and I was miserable the whole time, because of high-falutin' ponies pretendin' to be somepony they ain't, and lookin' down on everypony else fer being themselves!" Applejack prodded Rarity in the chest. "Yer fancy talk almost done ruined mah life! An' now I come home, an' I find out you're just like them! You was just waitin' fer me to be gone so you could win everypony over to yer high-falutin' ways with a bunch of fancy gemstones!" Rarity scrambled for a response, and the words came tumbling out of her mouth. "Well excuse me if you're too much of a stick in the mud to appreciate the finer things in life!" "What finer things?" Applejack asked. "You mean those fancy asparagus platters that wouldn't feed a rabbit even if it'd already been half stuffed?" "That is fine cuisine!" "Fine garbage more like!" "You know you didn't have to go!" Rarity yelled. "I thought you'd want to see more of the world then this little town!" "Watch what you say Rarity, this 'little town' is my home!" "Ha! Some home! You know, I heard Lyra talking, and according to her, you don't even have parents!" ~0o0~ "I could've taken her." Rarity mumbled. She was back on the Golden Thunder. Her dad Fantastic, the ship's doctor, was just undoing the sling she'd been wearing for the past week. "I'm sure you could have sweety." He said. "But all the same, it's better not to antagonize earth ponies, alright?" "I wasn't anatogi... antanant... anthanizi... I wasn't doing anything!" "I know, you've told me often enough." Her dad finished taking off the sling. "There, can you walk?" Rarity gently tested her hoof. "Yeah." "Excellent." He beamed. "At least that's over with." Rarity agreed. But her father clamped a hoof over her mouth. "SSSSHHHH!" He whispered in mock panic. "Do you want to anger the Irony monsters?" Rarity giggled. "There's no such thing as Irony monsters dad." He grinned. "Don't say things like that, you may meet them!" The pair of them shared in a private laugh. "Well, come on then. Since you can walk, you can party! Your mother's making something extra special for your cute-ciniera." Rarity smiled, hesitantly. She greatly preferred the food the ship's cook made to the food her mother prepared, to say the least. She could almost believe the Irony monsters were listening in on their conversation. With any luck, Ram-sea would slip something into whatever concoction Marshmallow had come up with for her. Suddenly, she heard the clanging of the alarm bell on deck. "That'll be the Navy I'd wager." Fantastic said, picking up his daughter and putting her back on the bed. "You stay here. Remember the plan if we're overrun?" Rarity nodded. "I'm not a pirate, I was kidnapped by the Captain. Just don't get overrun, okay?" "That's a promise!" Her dad laughed. "It wouldn't do to get arrested before my daughter's Cute-ciniera!" He locked the door shut behind him. Rarity sat on the bed, hooves dangling off the sides. Celestia's Navy had been more troublesome for pirates in the past. But they were still boring to Rarity. She had to wait through the whole fight, hoping that her parents would - A dark shadow fell over the window. With a crash, a grey Pegasus with a blood red mane flew through the window. His cutie mark was a map with an X on it. "Found you." He grinned. Rarity screamed, and ran for the door but it was locked. The Pegasus picked her up and flung her over his shoulder, carrying her out the window. "Captain Saccharin!" He yelled, as he picked up speed. "I've got 'er!" A black earth pony with a bleached white mane looked at the pair of them. He was obviously the Captain, with his scarlet coat and feathered hat. "So you do Mr. Seek! Step lively men! We're making a run for it!" Seek dropped Rarity on the deck of Captain Saccharin's ship, the Sea Drake. Rarity knew the stories of this ship and its captain. She'd heard that he once took on an entire flight of Griffons on his own, and that his crew took down a dragon. The crew of the Golden Thunder cheered as the Sea Drake turned and sailed away. "Mom!" Rarity screamed. "DAD! HELP ME!!!" "Throw her in the brig Mr. Shortround!" The Captain called, and a small earth pony obliged. The crew of the Golden Thunder seemed to realize it's mistake and started to chase after them, but the Sea Drake was already at full speed. They didn't have a chance. Somebody put a clothe over Rarity's mouth. ~0o0~ The first thing that Rarity registered was pain in her mouth. There was a gap in her teeth so big, she whistled just by breathing. At first she thought her dad would fix it. But then she remembered the last time she saw dad. Rarity woke up in a dark prison cell. She wasn't in a boat anymore; the prison's walls were made of stone. Outside, lightning flashed and rain poured down. It looked like it was in the middle of a hurricane. Nopony would be sailing to her rescue. "Hello." She leaped up at the noise. Captain Saccharin was smiling at her through the bars. Rarity gulped. "My parents don't have much bits for a ransom..." "I don't want a ransom." Saccharin scowled. He kicked the stool he was sitting on out from underneath him, causing Rarity to start again. "I want you." "W-why do you want me?" Rarity asked. Captain Saccharin smiled. "Do you know the tale of Gold Dodger's treasure?" Rarity nodded apprehensively. "For centuries, that treasure has yet to be found. But that's all about to change. Do you know why?" Rarity shook her head, and Saccharin smiled. "Because now we have a unicorn, whose special talent is finding precious gems." Rarity gasped. "I can't find Gold Dodger's treasure!" "Not yet." Saccharin admitted. "But in a few year's time, who knows? I heard from my contacts in the Capitol Penninsula, that your magic dragged you halfway to the Horseshoe Mountains for a smile pile of gems." "But... that's not my special talent..." "You need to get much, much better at lying before you think you can pull a fast one on me." Captain Saccharin laughed. "Now, in the meantime, you're going to be helping Shortround dig up the gems around this mountain. You know, as practice." He slid a bowl of hay through the bars. "Get some rest. You start as soon as this rain stops." As Saccharin made his way back out of the jail corridor, Rarity had a flash of inspiration. "You can't keep me in here." She whispered haughtily. Turning to face the wall with the window on it, she lowered her horn and prepared to charge. "My magic does more than just find diamonds." She charged at the wall. "Super Rainbow Drill Shatter Attack!" She cried, charging the wall with the same vigor she had when she broke her first rock with all the diamonds inside it. The world went dark again. She woke up dizzily. "Ugh... what happened..." She shakily got to her feet, somehow realizing that she was hanging by her head. Looking up, she realized that her horn was stuck in the stone wall. "Dumb rocks!" ~0o0~ Rarity had only been in Saccharin's island stronghold for a day, but already Rarity was missing her parents. She sighed dramatically, and leaned against the bars of her cell. A flash of lightning illuminated her cell, and suddenly, a pair of eyes were staring at her from the other side of the bars. "Gyaaaaaah!" Rarity screamed and fell back on her flank. The filly staring at her was gray, with a black mane tied in a nice bow. "Hello." She said to Rarity. "I'm Octavia." Rarity smiled nervously. "I'm Rarity." "It's nice to meet you Rarity. There aren't any other fillies on my dad's island." Rarity gasped. "Your dad's Saccharin!?" Octavia shrugged. "Yes." Put that matter-of-factly, Rarity found she could not protest this point. The two fillies stared at each other in awkward silence, as the storm raged outside the fortress. Rairty bit her lip, and decided that she should say something. Anything to break this silence. "So... do you like dresses?" "No." Octavia shook her head. "I like bow ties though." She indicated to the accessory around her neck. "That is such a beautiful bow tie!" Rarity leaned close to the bars. "I could almost imagine making something like that, and you wear it so well!" "Thank you." Octavia smiled. Rarity liked it when Octavia smiled. The alternative was Octavia's blank staring expression, but it was still a beautifully demure smile. "So, what do you like Ocati... Tavy... Akt... do you mind if I just call you 'Tavy?" This, apparently, was the wrong thing to say. Octavia shuffled around a bit, blushing, before she apparently summoned the courage to answer. "I like music." Rarity beamed. "That's wonderful! I love music too! Oh, have you heard the Frozen Symphony? Ram music is so magical." "Oh I know." Octavia started smiling again. "Have you heard any good Minotaur music?" "No." Rarity sighed dramatically. "Alas, my travels have yet to come across Minotaur lands." "That's my favorite. I can play almost anything... my dad loves it when I play the old sinister family organ, but my favorite is the Bass Cello." "My goodness, I'm surprised you don't have your cutie mark." The comment was innocent, but Octavia blushed immediately. Rarity gasped. "Oh, I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?" "It's not you, it's just..." Octavia sighed, and suddenly instead of pawing the ground nervously she was like the calm of a storm. "I don't have my Cutie Mark. I don't know why... music is the thing I love most in life... I've played every single instrument I can think of to try and get my Cutie Mark in music." And just like that, they were friends. Rarity didn't know how it happened, she knew she should be trying to get the filly to help her escape instead of trying to help her get her cutie mark. But friends would help and Rarity was helping... so she must be a friend. "Do you think it might me more about your attitude then it is about your talent?" Rarity asked. Octavia stared at her. "What do you mean?" "Well you see, my cutie mark is three gemstones. Your father mistook that to mean I have a talent for finding gems. And while finding gems is part of my talent, it's not the whole thing." Octavia sat down, and listened with interest. "The world is such a beautiful place, I know. But most other ponies don't realize that. Especially in the Capital Penninsula. Canterlot, Manehatten... Ponyville... all the ponies there don't know about going out and seeing the world." Rarity smiled. "I wanted the gems, yes. But I didn't want them just so I could be rich. I wanted them to sew onto the costumes for my school's class play. I wanted to enrich others, because it's just so sad that none of my classmates will ever see a Yeti village, or hear the Griffons sing of moonlight." She turned dramatically, a hoof held high to the window, where lightning illuminated her. "My special talent is finding the gem in everything! Everything, to somepony's eyes, could be as dull as a rock, but within every rough there is a diamond! My special talent is finding that beauty, and then sharing it with the world, displaying it so everypony can see! Your special talent is music you say? Perhaps it is not the instrument you lack, but the attitude! Perhaps you have yet to realize your skill is not simply playing music, but sharing music, or creating music, or even -" Rarity turned around, and Octavia was gone. Rarity was stunned. She went to her cell's door. "'Tavy?" the storm's thunder echoed through the empty hallway. "'Tavy, where did you go?" "Right here." Rarity gasped, and spun around, where Octavia was inside the cell with her, holding a bass cello. "How... how did you get in here? With that giant instrument? The door was locked, and the walls are all solid stone... aren't they?" Octavia shrugged. "It's a pirate vanish. My mom taught me how to do it. She said we needed a defence against our enemies the ninja." Rarity's eyes were wide. "Can you teach me how to do that?" "Sure." Octavia smiled. "But first... do you want to hear some Minotaur sonnets?" ~0o0~ Octavia leaned Rarity against the wall. "Bruce Lee, the griffon who invented martial arts, realized you can fight better if you stand on your hindlegs." Octavia explained. "It's not healthy for the back though, unless you're leaning on something or you're in constant motion." "Ponies fight like this?" Rarity asked, balancing herself against the wall. "Let go." Octavia said. Rarity pushed away from the wall. "Hey, I'm doing it! Look at me 'Tavy, I'm dowwaaaaaaaagh!" Rarity swung her forehoofs around, trying to get some form of balance, before falling on her back. ~0o0~ The stalagmite hung from the cell's ceiling. A steady trickle of water from the storm outside dripped into a puddle in the corner of the room. "A true pirate, is fast." Octavia explained. She shot a hoof out, and retracted it before the next drop of water landed on it. "Go ahead, try it." Rarity shot a hoof out, and water dripped on it. She groaned, and tried again, but she still got wet. "How many times do I have to keep -" She turned and Octavia was gone. "'Tavy!" ~0o0~ Rarity eyed the horseshoes suspiciously. "These feel strange." "They're magnetic horseshoes." Octavia explained. "You've probably never worn them, but Earth ponies and Pegasus wear them all the time to help them hold onto things." "Why am I wearing these again?" Rarity asked. "Because I don't know how to teach you to swordfight the unicorn way." Octavia began poking at Rarity with a stick. "Ow! Ow!" Rarity stood up and swung her own stick, but fell over. "Maybe I'd do better if we weren't only focusing on each thing for ten seconds." Rarity said. Octavia shook her head. "No. I saw a play once; The Count of Monte Cristo. The hero of the story learned everything in like, five minutes." Rarity blinked. "I'm not sure theatre is the best judge for reality." "Nonsense. Oh! I know what's wrong!" Octavia took out a trumpet. "Training montages need music!" ~0o0~ After about a week, Octavia stopped training Rarity to fight, and started making sure she didn't die after every day's work in the sapphire fields. Not that Saccharin would let Rarity die, but he didn't exactly feel the need to keep her in perfect shape or let one of his important pirates do work like lifting the cart of gems the little filly had to fill. Nonetheless Octavia, now sporting a beautiful cutie mark, was Rarity's new best friend whenever her dad wasn't around to see. After the first week ended, Rarity and Octavia sat in the middle of the cell, having a little tea party. "More tea 'Tavy?" Rarity asked. "Yes, thank you Rarity." Octavia poured herself some tea. "How is your boyfriend, Sir Snuggly Wuggly?" Octavia straightened the large stuffed rabbit that was sitting at the table with them. "He's recovering. You know how war wounds are. I will never understand what possessed him to fight off that monster off." "As I recall, the monster was attacking you." "I could have handled myself." Octavia sniffed. "Still, it was quite chivalrous." She patted Sir Snuggly Wuggly on the head. "My own Prince Tom is recovering from his own war wounds." Tommy the stuffed Tiger slumped down into her tea. "He's still as adorable as ever though." "Indeed." Octavia smiled. "Sir Snuggly Wuggly heard Princess Celestia was thinking about awarding him a medal." "Oh, you know how the court gossips these days." Rarity blushed. "It's actually three medals." The two of them dissolved into a fit of giggles. Usually, Octavia was not one for showing emotions, which made the few times Rarity could get her to break out and laugh all the more charming for rarity. After the giggling fit went away, rarity decided the time was ripe to ask her something. "'Tavy?" "Yes Rarity?" "I was thinking of escaping this week." Rarity said, as matter-of-factly as she could. "And... I was wondering if you would help?" Octavia pondered this, putting her cup of tea back in her saucer. "No." Octavia decided. "I'm sorry Rarity, but my dad's the only family I have left, and he's pretty cool, you know, on the other side of the bars." Rarity's face fell. "Oh." She felt like a foal for risking that. Now Octavia would tell her dad, and then he'd - "But I won't stop you either." Octavia continued. "If you do escape, will you promise to write to me?" Rarity was shocked! Not just by Octavia's helpfulness, but by her request! "Oh, of course I'll write to you darling!" Rarity smiled, taking her friend's hooves in hers. "How in Equestria could I forget such a wonderful friend? That is, I'll write whenever I'm able, you never know I might be kidnapped again, but I'll certainly write to you as often as I can!" Octavia smiled. "Thank you. I'm so glad you're my friend." Rarity would have returned the compliment, but at that moment the door to the prison corridor opened loudly. Rarity tumbled out of her chair, and looked through the bars. Captain Sacharrin was trotting towards her, just as he'd done every day. "Good morning Rarity. And how are you today?" "Er..." Rarity knew that Saccharin wouldn't take kindly to his daughter being in a cell. But looking behind her, Rarity saw she had no need to worry. Octavia had already 'pirate vanished', along with the table, the two chairs, their tea, and their stuffed animals. Rarity stared at the spot where their tea party had been held mere moments before, before remembering who she was with and turning back to Captain Saccharin. "I'm tired and hungry." She moaned, as dramatically as I could. "I wanna go hoooOOOOME!" She fainted backwards with a dramatic sigh, only to land on the stone floors. "Yes, so you've said." Saccharin frowned in front of the cell doors. "And as soon as you find me Gold Dodger's treasure, you'll have your freedom." "I can't!" Rarity yelled. "I just can't! Look, every time I try, I -" She lit up her horn, and bit her bottom lip. Hoping this would work as well as it did yesterday, she searched for something, something big. She didn't know if it would be Gold dodger's treasure or not. But hopefully - hopefully - it would be some sort of royal treasure. She found it. With a false cry of alarm, Rarity felt herself get dragged towards the wall by her horn. "Hey, I found something!" She said. Saccharin's eyes gleamed. "You've found it!? You found Gold Dodger's treasure!?" Rarity grunted in mock pain. "I think so. It's faint, but it's big." Saccharin cheered. "Yes! Prepare to set sail!" ~0o0 Rarity only had to cast her spell once or twice as the pirate ship sailed. She had to admit, Captain Saccharin didn't seem particularly cruel. She might have even believed that he planned on letting her go after she'd fulfilled his plan. But she wouldn't trust him. "Excuse me!" She called out. Her jailer, Shortround, waddled to the door. "I need to go to the bathroom." She moaned. He sighed. "Fine." He opened the door to her cell and led her to the brig's bathroom. In the bathroom, Rarity got her hooves on some toilet paper. It was all she needed. She quickly unraveled it with her magic, and knotted it together to make a secure rope, which she levitated out of the window and onto the main deck. It took some effort, but she managed to pull herself up onto the ship's foredeck. There, she managed to slip behind a few barrels and make her was to the stern. There was an earth pony and a pegasus at the helm. "All I'm saying is, with the lack in membership, the Wonderbolts are going to be looking for new recruits." The Pegasus was saying. "No way man." The earth pony shook his head. "After what Thunder Crash did, they're going to be doing background checks on any new recruits. You ain't getting in there." Rarity walked up to the two of them. "'Scuse me?" The two jumped and stared at the filly. "Where did you come from?" The Pegasus asked. "We don't like stowaways on this boat." The Earth pony said. "I'm not a stowaway." Rarity beamed. "I'm a pirate! And I'm gonna commandeer your ship for a while." The stared at her. Then at each other. And then they burst into laughter. While they were doubled over, Rarity used her magic to levitate a rope, steering the ship's wheel so it would be fixed in the direction she thought Ponyville would be in, and then tied the wheel in place. She doubted any of the pirates would know how to undo a triple cross-stitch knot. "Kid, you shouldn't joke like that." The Pegasus said, getting up. "You really shouldn't." The earth pony shook his head. "But man, that was funny little filly." "I'm sorry." Rarity pouted. "I thought it was funny. Hey, do either of you know where the bathroom is?" "Yeah, come on kid, we'll take you." The pirate walked her down to the brig. Rarity couldn't believe her good fortune, that apparently she had found the two pirates on the ship who both didn't recognize her, and probably weren't smart enough to ruin her plans if they did. Rarity noticed a stain on one of the pirate's shirt. "Is that blood?" She asked. The pirate frowned. "Eeyup. Don't worry, it's not pony blood. We had a run in with some griffons a while back. And I just cannot get this stain out." Rarity gulped at the thought of death, but nodded amiably. "You know, the trick to getting bloodstains out of any clothe, is to use banana leaves in the wash." "Is it really?" The pirate smiled appreciatively. "Well aren't you smart. I should take you home to me wife, she'd love somepony who knew how to do proper washing." Rarity shot him her best fake smile as they led her down to the brig. Shortround started as they came around the corner. He looked from her to the loo and back. "Hey, how'd you get out?" "The Pegasus got me out through the window." Rarity explained, before either of them had a chance to speak. "The other one said he wanted my magic all to himself. He said something about mooti... mututu..." "Mutiny?" Shortround asked darkly. "That's it!" Rarity beamed, with all the innocence fillies seem to be able to muster whenever they need it. "What?" The earth pony gasped. "We... we would never..." "You would." Rarity nodded. "You said so! You said you wanted to take me home to your family." That gave the earth pony pause. "Uh... yeah, I did... but... uh..." "Mutineers!" Shortround yelled, and he charged at the two pirates. Rarity calmly sidestepped the scuffle, and ran out of the brig. The first pirate she came to, she tapped them on the leg. "'Scuse me mister." She said. "But someponies are mutineering in the brig." "Mutineers!" The pirate gasped, and he ran off to the brig. "Which ponies!?" He called. "A short round earth pony!" Rarity called after him. She strode around the corner and found another couple of pirates. "'Scuse me!" She called to the group. "A Pegasus and two Earth Ponies are mutineering in the brig!" The crew of pirates raced down the hall behind her, and somepony clanged the alarm bell. Rarity, satisfied with her work, trotted off to sow some more chaos. ~0o0~ The brig was a fully fledged warzone. Nopony was safe. Some small groups formed here and there, as they'd came in together, but for the most part nopony knew who was mutineering against who. They just figured that somepony would tell them if they weren't mutineers; they were just fighting to protect themselves. Suddenly, a gunshot echoed in the brig. All fighting stopped as Captain Saccharin stood in the doorway. He strode into the midst of the ponies, heavy hoof steps echoing, glaring at anypony who would meet his eyes. The sound of ponies swordfighting was loud in the silence. The Captain strode towards the offenders. Three of the newer crew members were fighting in a corner. "Ahem." He coughed politely. Two of them stopped, and grinned triumphantly. The third screamed at him: "Death to mutineers!" He charged the Captain, who stopped him with one buck. "I'm the Captain." Saccharin growled. "Why on earth would I mutineer against myself?" He turned to the rest of his crew. "And now that we've established that I am not a mutineer, can anypony tell me who is? Can anypony point out the traitor in our midst?" That was when the door to the brig slammed shut. "I am Rarity!" Came the high voice of a filly behind the door. "And this is my ship now! Argh!" Captain Saccharin facehoofed. "Congratulations. You've all just been out-smarted by a six year old." ~0o0~ Rarity giggled behind the door. "I hired a secret army with all the gems you made me dig! They're on the ship right now! So there you big meanies!" Suddenly, Rarity heard the clopping of several hooves above her head. Her eyes grew wide. Did I miss somepony? She thought, as she tried to remember what Octavia taught her about fighting. Her fears were put to rest when Octavia trotted happily down the stairs, banging coconut shells against each other. "You're helping me?" Rarity whispered. "Sure." Octavia smiled. "I figure we can go on an adventure together, and I can show you around Minos." The girls shared a giggle, and then Octavia put on her bass voice. "Captain Rarity, we have the ship." She said. Then she switched to falsetto. "Awaiting your orders." "Yes Ms. Minuette and Sir Jovial, set sail at once to -" "You know, the brig has more than one door." The two fillies turned around, and saw Captain Saccharin and Mr. Seek glowering at them. "AAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!" ~0o0~ The S.S. Baluga was the pride of Celestia's navy. Fifty cannons on either side, triple masted, and crewed by some of Celestia's finest soldiers. Captain Fancy-Pants was currently carrying the most precious cargo he'd ever had to carry. Two members of the royal family, and their luggage, on a diplomatic mission to the Yeti Nation. It had taken his strongest sailors to carry Prince Blueblood's gold encrusted winter coats. They were incredibly gaudy in his opinion. Even though he was the Captain, Fancy-pants always wore a decidedly swashbuckling outfit, with an open-collared shirt and roomy sleeves. So when Captain Fancy-Pants saw the pirates closing in on them fast, he snapped into action. "All ponies, report to battle stations!" He called. "Gunners, ready the cannons! Drop the main-sails and ready weapons! I need five ponies to go down to the quarters and keep the Prince and Princess safe! All unicorns, with me!" The unicorns gathered together on the poopdeck with Fancy-pants. He stared at them. There were only three unicorns. "This is it?" He asked. "We're on a royal contingent, why are there so few unicorns?" A blue maned unicorn stepped up. "There was a threat to the capitol sir. More unicorns were drawn in to protect it, and simple diplomatic missions like this one got a scarce few to protect it." Fancy-pants gave the blue maned unicorn 'The Look'. "What is your name private?" "Shining Armor sir." The private said eagerly. "Shining Armor, do you think I don't already know why there are so few unicorns on my ship?" Shining Armor's face fell. "You asked sir." "Learn how to read rhetorical questions greenie. All right everypony, There are too few of us for a full shield charm, so we're going to have to make do with levitating charms, trying steer the ship away." "Oh, you don't need to worry about that." Shining Armor beamed, confidence restored. "I've got this!" His horn lit up, and a brilliant pink ball of energy leaped from his horn. It surrounded the enemy pirate's ship, and formed a force field the shape of a bottle around it. Fancy-pants stared at the force field with wide eyes. Then he turned to Shining Armor, wearing a grin. "Very impressive. Will it hold against cannon fire?" "It ought to." Shining Armor said, rubbing his head from the strain of the spell. "Then we can be on our way without the pirates following us." Fancy-pants laughed. "Well done Shining Armor! All hands! Full speed ahead!" The crew cheered, and all seemed to return to normal... when suddenly, a cry came from the other ship. "Hey! Wait! Help me!" The few ponies who turned, saw two small fillies, a unicorn and an earth pony, waving down the ship. The deck, which had previously been empty burst full of pirates. The first mate, familiar with his Captain's antics, called out. "Captain no! It might be a..." She sighed, as she heard a splash in the water. "... trap." But it wasn't just one splash. Shining Armor had the exact same idea as Fancy-pants, and the two of them swam towards the bottled pirate ship with a gusto. "Don't try and curry favor with me if you can't keep up!" Fancy-pants yelled over the waves. "I hate curry!" Shining Armor replied. "You just worry about keeping up with me!" The two of them climbed up to the bottleneck of the force field and drew their swords. After a moment of surprise, when they both acknowledged that they wore magnetic horse shoes, they lunged onto the pirate ship. Rarity and Octavia were surrounded by pirates on all sides. This was both a bad thing and a good thing, because by the time Fancy-pants and Shining Armor charged into their midst, only one pirate had the time to look up from their quarry and yell a warning. Shining Armor swept a whole side of pirates away with a shield spell as Fancy-pants dueled four pirates at once. Then Shining Armor took his turn protecting Fancy-pants as the captain used a spell to tear down some of the rigging and cover the pirates in it. Rarity almost swooned. Fancy-pants was so dashing, and he dressed so fabulously. The other unicorn was dashing too... although he was somewhat stiffer, and something told Rarity he was a bit more of a nerd when he wasn't swashbuckling. Nontheless, it was only Octavia tapping her on the shoulder that broke her out of her swooning, and she scolded herself briefly for being interested in ponies who were so obviously (ew!) old. The unicorns grabbed the two fillies with his telekinesis. "Don't worry you two, we'll save you!" Rarity threw her arms around his neck. "My hero!" She gasped. Octavia just sat on Fancy-pant's back and waved goodbye to her dad, smiling like she was about to go on the funnest adventure ever. Begrudgingly, he tipped his hat to her. Fancy-pants and Shining Armor quickly made their way to the opening in Shining Armor's bottle shield. The other pirates took up a token resistance to stop them from leaving the ship, but they were too wary of hitting their captain's daughter or their ticket to Gold Dodger's treasure to put up a fight even half the level needed to beat the two stallions. Except for Shortround. Tired, angry, beat up, and humiliated, Shortround decided that no amount of treasure was worth this. He limped over to the nearest cannon, grabbing it, and pulling it around with all of his strength. With a manic grin, he lit the fuse. Fancy-Pants, experience kicking in, suddenly realized that a cannon was pointed his way. Time seemed to slow down. "Aaaaarmoooooor!" He called in slow motion. As the boom of a cannon sounded, he bucked Octavia off her back. The earth pony looked around in dull surprise as she soared through the air towards shining Armor. The other unicorn turned around slowly, only to see a ball of flame erupt behind his captain. Wincing from the pain he cast a spell. He skidded to a stop just in time for Rarity to reach out and grab Octavia. The shield spell barely covered Fancy-pants in time, but he was blown forward by the blast. "Oh no!" Rarity gasped. Fancy-pants gritted his teeth, and pushed himself up on his forehooves. He reached out... and grabbed his sword in his teeth. "Go!" He called. "I'll hold them off!" "Not without you!" Shining Armor, two fillies on his back, raced towards Fancy-pants. He threw up another shield between them and the pirates, dangerously extending his magical limits, then he picked his Captain up by the teeth and raced towards the exit from the bottle. Shortround lit the cannon again. "I have you now..." "Foal!" Captain Saccharin bucked him in the jaw with all of his might. Shortround went flying, and the cannon swerved just before it fired. The cannonball ricocheted off of the barrier surrounding the ship, bouncing off it twice, before hitting the mast and flying off that, then heading straight towards Shining Armor, as he carried his captain and two young fillies. "We're gonna die!" Rarity screamed, and even Octavia's eyes widened at the thought of being hit by a cannonball. Just as the four of them dove out of the bottleneck though, a pair of navy pegasi intercepted them, pushing them away from the incoming cannon fire. "I warned you this would happen Captain." Fancy-pants' first mate said to him, flying the four of them back to the ship. "Keep this up, and one day I'll be saving your flank in front of royalty, I said. But you didn't listen." The rescue party landed on the deck of the royal vessel. The majority of the crew was busy enacting their escape, but a small welcoming committee was gathered on the poopdeck. "Fancy-pants!" A unicorn with three fleur-de-lis on her flank flung herself at him. Rarity's eyes widened as she realized who this was. This was Princess Unity, one of the direct descendants of Princess Platinum herself. "Are you all right!?" "I'll be fine darling." Fancy-pants grimaced. "I may need a cane for a while though." He shot a smile at Shining Armor. "It looks like you've earned yourself a promotion." Shining Armor gasped in shock. "I'm not trying to earn anything sir. I just have a sister about the same age these two, and I couldn't not save them." "I know you weren't trying to earn points." Fancy-pants nodded. "That's why you're my new relief. Congratulations captain." "Ha!" A small bratty voice made itself heard over the crowd. "If you all would've let me, I would've taken on all of the pirates! And then captured the ship!" A small blank-flanked unicorn pushed through the crowd, carrying a wooden sword. This was Prince Blueblood, Princess Unity's younger brother. "I'd have fought the brigands off single handed." Rarity swooned. "I bet he would have too." She whispered to Octavia. Octavia raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" "He's a prince." Rarity explained. "He's got to come to save damsels in distress, unless he's held back. Oh, I wish they would have let him save us. Wouldn't that have been so romantic?" Octavia looked from her friend, to the bratty half-pint with the wooden sword, then back to her friend. "You're not seriously thinking he could have had a chance, right?" "He's a prince, he must have super powerful magic." Rarity giggled. "Besides, you can't stop true love." Octavia stared. "Is... that... what... this... is...?" She waved a hoof in Rarity and Blueblood's general direction. The first mate strode over to the pair of them. "Where are you two girls from?" She asked. Rarity beamed. "I'm from Ponyville!" "Canterlot." Octavia gestured to herself. "Well, I'm sorry girls, but this is a diplomatic voyage." The first mate shrugged hopelessly. "We can't just turn around to take you home right away. How about you tell us who your parents are, and we'll write them letters telling them your safe. But in the meantime, you two are going to have to be the guests of the S.S. Baluga for six months while we go and negotiate with the yetis." Rarity and Octavia smiled at each other. That was the beginning of their first adventure. ~0o0~ Rarity strutted demurely through the Grand Galloping Gala. She looked at her friends with pride. Little did Rainbow Dash know how much influence griffon culture had in her dress. She doubted Applejack noticed the Buffalo stitch work. Pinkie Pie seemed unaware that her dress was haute couture in Zebrican. Twilight's dress was wonderfully minotaurik. And only Fluttershy seemed aware of the Elk influences in her dress. They were more stunning than any pony in the gala. Her own dress was stunning too. But she'd designed it with Unicorn dresses in mind. And, of course, with various secret compartments in it so she didn't have to wear her fake eyelashes. The skeleton keys hidden therein were indispensable when one had the power to find hidden wealth, but they were quite uncomfortable. And then she heard the slight Yeti melody interwoven into the Gala's background refrain. She knew instantly which Canterlot socialite had managed to get herself hired to play for the Gala. Only one mare knew the tune which Rarity had fond memories of hearing as she fell asleep in front of the fires of a Yeti palace, after a day of snow filled fun with Prince Blueblood. She trotted to the stage, where Octavia was playing. "'Tavy, darling." Rarity beamed at the earth pony. "You should have told me you were coming, I would have made you a dress." "Dresses are for attendees, I'm just in the band." Octavia smiled. "I'm sorry to admit, I was a bit sour. Until you told me you'd be attending, we did have plans to rob the place." "It was an ingenius plan." Sir Ivory muttered at the piano. "I'm sorry to ruin your night." Rarity apologized. "But oh, can you imagine? Seeing Prince Bluebood again, after all of this time..." "Don't let me keep you." Octavia nodded. Rarity turned to look where she'd nodded, and saw Blueblood leaving to the rose maze. Rarity squeed with delight. "Oh, thank you 'Tavy! Oh, look out for my friend Pinkie Pie. I've long since given up on the notion that you can teach her to have a party without balloons. She'll probably want you to play the pony polky or something." Octavia rolled her eyes. "Is that doubt I hear? Rarity, you know I can play through a hurricane." "Hmmm." Rarity pursed her lips. "Sometimes, Pinkie can be worse than a hurricane." She glance back at Blueblood. "Enjoy the evening 'Tavy!" She waved goodbye, and rushed after her prince charming. "Captain?" First mate Forte asked. "I thought we were robbing the place?" "Oh, yes, but Rarity wouldn't approve." Octavia shrugged. "Give the order to Crescendo and her girls, but we're not going to steal anything from the Elements of Harmony or royalty. What they don't know won't hurt them." ~0o0~ Rarity took a gulp of air and released a sigh of relief. Just a few more times. She thought. I just have to do this a few more times. Then I'll stop. "Hello Rarity." Years of reflex training only just managed to stop Rarity from screaming, as she spun around on the spot. There was Octavia, with some of her crew, playing for the garden party. "How in Celestia's name did you manage to sneak up on me with a band!?" Rarity hissed. Octavia rolled her eyes. "I've been here the whole time, you just weren't very observant." Rarity had to take another few breaths. "Hello Forte, Viola, new kid. Where's Sir Ivory?" "Garden parties do not need pianos darling." Octavia smiled. "Would you care to explain to me why you're hashing my lessons on pirate vanishing?" Rarity giggled uncomfortably. "Well... it might actually be my friend's birthday... and also the garden party... and Fancy-pants..." Octavia raised a delicate eyebrow. "Rarity, are you missing your friend's birthday because of a crush on Fancy-pants?" "Oh no!" Rarity shook her head adamantly. "Celestia no! I mean, I wouldn't dream of it. How could I compare to Princess Unity?" Octavia sighed. "Rarity, Princess Unity and Fancy-pants aren't together like that. She has brittle bone disease, and he lets her lean on him. She's more like his sister." Rairty gasped, but this time with delight. Pure happiness shone from her eyes. "Besides, I heard he's 'playing for the other team'." Rarity's face fell. Octavia laughed like wind chimes. "Oh Rarity, you're too easy to tease. Now, do try not to get caught. I'll play some of 'Art of the Dress' later." "You're not going to tell me that my friends are dangerous distractions from my business?" Rarity asked. "Or that it's wrong of my to desert Twilight's birthday for a brief glimpse of the high life?" "We're pirates darling." Octavia rolled her eyes. "I just hope you don't get caught. Watch out, I think they're about to cut the cake." Rarity gasped, and rushed back to her friends. "You know that's going to turn into a shipwreck." The stallion on the harp said. "Maybe so Forte." Octavia admitted. "But even in a shipwreck, we play on." > Shadows Lord Krastos stormed into Lady Babbage's cave. The shadow of Smaug loomed behind him. The two Knights stood before them, saluting their leader. Smaug glowered at them. "Knights, I was told that you were defeated by one pony. And not even Fluttershy's leader, or the rainbow maned one, but the one who has the appearance of marshmallows. Will you tell me whether my messenger was lying, or whether two of my elite knights were defeated by a single pony?" The knights glanced at each other. "It is true Smaug." The halberded one said. "We assumed she would be easy to defeat, and she would have been until she managed to find a weapon." Smaug roared, and seized his knights by the throat. Lord Krastos grimaced, and looked to the side, hoping his king would have the common sense not to kill his most loyal followers. Smaug looked them both in the eye. "If you couldn't even kill one pony, how are you supposed to slay the rainbow maned one when the time comes?" The Knights stood firm. "We will not fail you again Smaug. We will be ready the next time." "I'm sure you will." Krastos intervened before somedragon got hurt. "But for now, just keep up your job. 110%, am I right?" The knights nodded earnestly, and Smaug dropped the with a scowl. The pair of them stalked into the cave. "May I do the talking here Smaug?" Lord Krastos asked. Smaug grunted his approval. Lord Krastos smiled, and slithered into the kitchen of the cave beside him. Princess Celestia and Lady Babbage were sitting at the table, having a warm drink of diamond juice. Their eyes were red, probably done so they could pretend they'd been crying. Krastos stood to his full height, and smiled compassionately at the two of them. "So... it would seem your hatchlings are in danger." "Yes." Lady Babbage somehow managed to glare at him while pretending to sniffle. "We're terribly upset." "Do you have any idea how it might have happened?" Krastos asked. "One minute they were there, the next they weren't." Celestia hid her face by taking a long draught of steaming diamond juice. Lord Krastos nodded. "Well, we don't know either. All we know is Tarzan said he was hit from behind repeatedly, and two of our knights were attacked by one of your ponies. We have reason to suspect she may be involved in the kidnapping..." "It was changelings." Princess Celestia stated, as if there couldn't be any doubt. The two dragons stared at her. "Come again?" "Changelings." Princess Celestia repeated. "Shapeshifters. They tried to take over my kingdom, not even a month ago. Kidnapping the Elements of Harmony must be their idea of revenge." Krastos' eyes narrowed. "I thought you had no idea what might have happened?" Celestia shrugged. "I... only just realized." Smaug roared and slammed his clawed fists into the table. "JUST ADMIT IT!!! YOU'RE PLOTTING AGAINST ME!!! THIS IS AN ACT OF WAR!!!" There was a burst of rainbow colored light. Smaug turned away and shielded his eyes, and when he looked back Celestia was gone. Or, to be more specific, Celestia the Alicorn was gone. Looking directly at him was a female beaked dragon. She was as white as bone, the color of death. Her spines were rainbow colored, but unlike her mane were stiff and sharp. She was a full head taller than Smaug, and firm muscles rippled underneath her scales. She rested her head in one of her claws and smiled, showing off impressive teeth. "If I wanted war, Smaug, I would not slink in the shadows." A collective shiver passed through every dragon in the room, including Lady Babbage. And just like that, the topic of Celestia trying to form a rebellion was no longer pursued. "I assure you, we'll do our best to find your subjects, and ours." Lord Krastos said, and he gently nudged Smaug out of the room. "What are we doing?" Smaug hissed at him as they left earshot. "I thought we were supposed to be finding Fluttershy?" "That was what I was doing." Krastos said, idly brushing a yellow feather in his claws. "You were there to distract her." "Why you - the wedding is tomorrow! The preperations for war are set! We don't have time for your games." Krastos sighed. "I... agree. This matter is far too serious now, and there's no time left." He took a drink from the flask he wore, and steeled himself. "I'm going to have to commune with the Adversary's Chancellor." Smaug paled, which was impressive for a black dragon, and quickly excused himself. Smaug had been learning, these past few days, how ponies weren't as harmless as Fluttershy. How the legends making them out to be monsters might be true. But there was one pony that had already confirmed her status as a monster. Lord Krastos returned to his cave in silence. He pondered the trouble of the Elements of Harmony. Why would they run away? Where would they go? Were they just hiding? He'd gone on a scouting mission once. He had gathered a great deal of information on the six elements of harmony. He'd studied them for months to prepare himself for this. Their little dragon friend even ate some of his gems. And for all of his trouble, he was still at a loss. He touched down gently, slithering his way into his home. Where he was met with an unpleasant surprise. Garble was there. Smaug's son was patting Tarzan's hoof comfortingly. "I'm sure they'll find her soon man." The dragon said. Tarzan blew into a silk handkerchief. "But... we were gonna get married!" He wailed. Krastos and Garble both grimaced in disgust as Tarzan cried. "Listen, sitting around crying isn't going to help." Garble said, trying to sound comforting at the same time as he dissuaded him from his tears. "You don't understand!" Tarzan cried. "She's perfect! We clicked immediately! She was... she was just kissing me when she... when they..." He wailed again, a pool of tears gathering on the floor. "If I find out one of her packmates did this... they're going down! I'll kill them all!" "And I'll be right beside you buddy." Garble grinned, showing off his fangs. Krastos had no doubt Garble enjoyed the idea of killing ponies. "But right now, you've got to focus on something else. Keep your mind off of things." He snapped his claws. "I know! We can go beat up some of the guys!" Tarzan sighed. "My heart... isn't into it." He moaned. Lord Krastos sighed, and stepped in. He hated pretending to be sentimental. At least Garble could remain his same repulsive self while claiming to have his best interests in heart. But Krastos didn't have that luxury. "Oh, my son." He curled his tail around Tarzan, who despite his body-building looked utterly fragile. "Don't worry. I've just been to Lady Babbage's house, we'll find her. We're sending out Lady Bahama and Lord Fransisco out to rescue her as we speak." "Can I join the rescue pack?" Tarzan asked. Krastos all but gagged. "That would only make matters worse." He said. "How do you think having a - well, a pony on their team?" Tarzan's face fell. Krastos didn't think it was possibly for it to fall harder, but there it was. "Ah, I'm actually doing my part to find her right now. So if you'll excuse me... Garble would you..." "Going to call mom?" The red dragon asked, grinning ferociously. Krastos shuddered, both at Garble, and Garble's 'mom'. "Stay strong." Krastos muttered to Tarzan, before leaving for the basement. His basement. His enclave. The part of the house where his 'son' was not allowed to enter. He relaxed. Then he remembered why he came here. He passed by the giant coral organ, and went towards the mirror. He watched his beloved Lady Babbage, and that frightening Princess Celestia. "They'll be okay." Lady Babbage was hugging and comforting Celestia, much like Krastos had pretended to comfort his 'son' mere moments ago. "My husband didn't become Smaug for nothing. If he's still alive, you can bet that it will only be a matter of time before he comes up with a plan to make Krastos' scheming go away." Contrary to pony belief, dragons are not cold blooded. Their blood is as hot as the lava they swim in. But Krastos' blood could have been made of liquefied sun and it still would have gone cold. Krastos had almost had Babbage, whether she wanted it or not, had Lord Stockholm not fallen in love with her. For the past twenty years Krastos and Stockholm had been fighting. Krastos would have liked to call them mirror-matches, but the truth was, Stockholm shot down every one of Krastos' schemes, and only scheme C-a, his current plot with Tarzan, had any chance of success. But he couldn't be alive, right? Lord Smooze said he'd killed... ... ... Oh, Lord Smooze. Krastos decided he would have words with 'Smaug' when he was through with his tasks. "I worry." Princess Celestia sniffed. "I know they've faced some of Equestria's greatest dangers, but I still worry. They're my little ponies, and I always want to protect them, but somehow I never can." Krastos was tempted to look more, but he had other ponies to spy on. He opened a clasp at the top of the mirror, and one of Lady Babbage's scales fell out. He held it tenderly, and put it in a soft case. He then took out the feather he'd found in Lady Babbage's home, and placed it in the mirror. He would have preferred a hair, as with a feather he ran the risk of confusing Fluttershy with one of Lady Babbage's fowls, but this would do. The mirror hummed, and soon he saw her. Fluttershy was sitting at a table, drinking something. She looked sorrowful, but everypony around her was chanting. Krastos glued his eyes to the glass, watching and waiting for any sort of hint. Then he saw it; a sign above what he assumed was a bar. Pony Joe's. "Krastos!" He started. The mirror's image faded away, and in its place the silhouette of a pony mare looking into the mirror. The mare's image was super-imposed across the screen, making her appear to be roughly Krastos' size. He couldn't make out any features, only that she wasn't a Pegasus. "I told you, to give me a report every day this week." The mare said. "Why are you tardy?" "A thousand apologies your majesty." Krastos bowed. "I was about to report to you." "Well, get on with it." Krastos bit his tongue. Dealing with the Adversary's Chancellor was always so irritating. She acted like she was in control. And Krastos wouldn't deny, she could back up her claims to power. He would deal with her if and when she became a problem. "The Elements of Harmony, and their dragon, have escaped." Lord Krastos explained. "Apparently, they believe Lord Stockholm is alive, and have gone in search for them. I do not know whether he is or is not yet. On their way out, the marshmallow looking one defeated two members of the Knights In Smaug's Service. Tarzan is distraught. Princess Celestia claims this to be the work of Changelings, a kidnapping plot for revenge. Most dragons believe her, for now. I have discovered that Fluttershy is in an old wooden pony cave, somewhere called Pony Joe's. Lord Francisco and Lady Bahama are both heading the search party but do not know this." There. That was everything, concisely. The chancellor pondered this. "How is Garble?" She asked, distractedly. "He is ensuring that Tarzan, in his distraught state, will want to kill the kidnappers. Especially should the kidnappers be ponies." "Good, good." She seemed to have struck upon an idea. "Lord Stockholm is alive. We do not know for sure, but we must act on the assumption that the worst possible outcome is probable. I know of Pony Joes, and will send you the location. One of my little ponies will get there first, and ensure they do not escape before your dragons reach them." "Understood." Krastos bowed. "I don't need to remind you how important this is." The chancellor hissed. "Getting rid of Lord Stockholm would qualify this plan as a success on its own. But you know that more then I. He is, after all, the only dragon in the way of you and Babbage." "I know." Krastos hissed. "Good! Then go and bring the Elements back! Dead or alive, I don't care! Where ever they are, the Elements of Harmony are plotting your downfall right now!" ~0o0~ "CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG!" Fluttershy belted back another glass of hard apple cider. The crowd cheered and she sighed, and put the bottle on top of the neatly stacked pyramid next to her. On the other end of the table, a pirate was downing her own stack of cider. She got halfway through her drink before she collapsed under the table. The crowd cheered, and bits changed hands. Applejack pushed her way through the crowd. "How ya doin' sugarcube?" She asked. Fluttershy glanced down at her forehooves. "I feel a slight tingling in my hooves." She said. "I think it's starting to effect me." Applejack laughed. "Well, I reckon if ya drink rainbows like milk, ya must've built up quite the tolerance there." Fluttershy glared half-heartedly at Applejack. "You said this drink was strong. You lied to me." "No lie there." Applejack glanced at the table. "How much money didja win?" Fluttershy squinted. "I... won money?" Applejack blinked. "Uh... yep. This here's a gambling sport Fluttershy." Fluttershy squinted at the bits on the table. "How much did I win?" Applejack counted quickly. He jaw dropped. "Fluttershy... you won seventy bits! That's a quarter of a season's pay right there!" Fluttershy frowned. "Is it enough to buy an army?" Applejack frowned. "Ah don't think so." Fluttershy gestured to the pirates. "Then I need more cider." They cheered, and passed her another mug. "Fluttershy, is something wrong?" Applejack asked. "I'm just a bit upset." The Pegasus whispered. "Upset how?" Fluttershy gestured. Rarity and Rainbow Dash were talking to Octavia on the other side of the room. "I used to have nightmares about shadows when I was a hatchling. I dreamt that the nightmares pulled me into the shadows, and ate me. Rarity's one of my best friend. And she's one of them." Applejack sighed. "Flutters, you ain't gonna get mad at her are ya? 'Cause that would make about as much sense as Twilight bein' mad at you." "I'm not mad at her." Fluttershy frowned. "I'm scared of her. I'm scared of her, but I know I shouldn't be, because she's my best friend. I... I'm mad at myself, for being scared of her." Applejack thought this through, and sighed. "Ah reckon you've have enough cider Fluttershy." The crowd of pirates groaned as Applejack led her away. Applejack glared at them, and they stopped groaning. Applejack led Fluttershy through the crowd of ponies, and towards where Twilight and Pinkie Pie were searching through the rafters. "Here Ferdinand!" Twilight called. "She held up a cracker. "Does Ferdinand want a tasty Waaaugh!" Twilight screamed as a swarm of parrots engulfed her. Fluttershy coughed politely. "Ferdinand?" She asked. A parrot landed on her raised hoof. "Oh come on!" Twilight groaned, as Spike waved the birds away from her. "I'll go get the others!" Pinkie Pie said, before zooming off. "And how're you feelin' Twi?" Applejack asked. "Frustrated." Twilight growled. "Did you know about this? Did you know that Rarity was breaking the law? And not just small laws like illegal immigration, you have diplomatic immunity anyway Fluttershy, but big laws!" "Now Twi, the way Rarity tells it, she's only a former pirate." Applejack said. "It's her family who're pirates proper." Twilight sighed. "It's just... these secrets are starting to stress me out." She laid a hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "I'm glad I have the element of honesty around. At least I know not everypony is leading secret double lives." Applejack chuckled. "What you see is what you get with me Twi." "Hello!" Twilight jumped as the three voices spoke at exactly the same time. Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Octavia had somehow come up behind her without making a sound. Judging by Applejack's expression, she was just as surprised as Twilight, which meant they came up behind her without Applejack who was looking right at them noticing. Fluttershy squeaked, and shot up to the rafters. "Bwahahahahahaha!" Rainbow Dash laughed. "You should have seen your faces!" "How did you do that?" Twilight asked, calming down. "I'm not sure about Pinkie Pie..." Octavia raised an eyebrow at the giggling pony. "But it's a pirate trade secret." Rainbow Dash giggled, and flew back up to the rafters. "Hey Flutters, you okay?" "Just... scared." Fluttershy whispered. "Well, up here is more shadowy then down there." Rainbow pointed out. Fluttershy gasped, and flew back down. Ferdinand snickered, but went quiet when Rainbow glared at him and the parrot stopped quickly. "Alright." Twilight stepped forward. "Lead on Ferdinand." The eight ponies walked through the crowd of Pony Joe's led on by the parrot. Ferdinand hopped from perch to perch, leading them through the crowd, through a door and up the stairs, until they reached on of the quieter corners of Pony Joes. This was the place where pirate captains went to strike deals, or get away from the crowds. Ferdinand hopped onto the shoulder of a cloaked mare, who lifted a blue hoof to stroke the parrot. "Oh no..." Twilight groaned. "It can't be." Rainbow Dash gasped, and pulled the cloak off of the mare. Princess Luna gasped, revealed to all. "What are you doing here?" She whispered, putting her hood back up. "Us?" Twilight ran forward. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be, you know, keeping the kingdom safe?" "I was." Luna blushed. "But I was... um... meeting somepony... and... I got distracted..." "You're dating a pirate?" Rainbow Dash asked. "So... awesome!" "Dating?" Luna laughed nervously. "Where did you get that idea..." She looked around and her face fell. "'Tia told you didn't she?" "Oh this is so romantic!" Rarity clapped her hooves in delight. "When did you two first meet? How long have you been seeing each other?" "Sorry Rarity, but we ain't got time fer that right now." Applejack told Rarity. "We always have time for romance." Rarity pouted. "Ms. Princess." Applejack tipped her hat to Luna. "We're followin' that there parrot, looking fer Fluttershy's dad. You wouldn't happen ta know where he is?" Luna tapped her chin, then her eyes widened. "Oh! 'Tia told me about this! You're father's Lord Stockholm, isn't he?" Fluttershy beamed. "Yes! Oh, is he all right? Please tell me he's all right!" "Aside from going mad from a lack of books, he's fine." Princess Luna assured her. "Captain Scaramouch and I are hiding him in our ship..." "Scaramouch!?" Rarity gasped. "Oh my..." "I will thank you not to comment on my romantic life Rarity." Princess Luna blushed and slid out of her seat. "It's this way." As they walked through Pony Joe's to the pirate galleon, Spike noticed something. "Uh, Rainbow Dash, are you all right?" Rainbow shook her head. She had bags under her eyes, and her ears were twitching wildly. "I'm fine. I just haven't gone this long without a nap for years." "Maybe you should take it easy." Spike suggested. "Nah, I'll be fine." Rainbow Dash grinned. "Just wake me up if I start sleep-flying, 'kay?" Octavia heard them talking. "I'll stay out here, and guard the ship." She said. "Nopony would dare attack the Iron Claw." Luna boasted. "Especially in a neutral territory like Pony Joe's." "Just the same I'll stay out here." Octavia said. "I could use some company though." She asked politely, looking pointedly at both Spike and Rainbow Dash. Spike caught on quickly, realizing that this was a perfect chance for Rainbow Dash to get a nap. "Oh, Rainbow Dash and I will stay and help you." "What?" Rainbow Dash, unaware of their plans, looked at the other two, confused. "That is utterly unnecessary." Princess Luna scoffed. "What could possibly threaten the Iron Claw?" ~0o0~ Flim and Flam were nursing their wounds and tending the bar, when the elevator doors slid open. A strongly built Pegasus walked through the doors. He was as dark as a stormcloud, with a yellow streak running through his blue mane. His left wing was replaced by a clockwork contraption, with the same odd design as their Super Cider Squeezy. "Um... excuse me sir." Flam put himself in front of the Pegasus. "Might I ask what you're doing here?" "The Chancellor sent me." The Pegasus said. Flam gulped. "Ah, yes, I'd assumed as much. So..." "So you're going to want to evacuate Pony Joe's." Flam's eyes widened, and he hurried over to Flim. "Come on Flim, we're leaving." "What, because he said so?" "Trust me on this. Everything within a certain distance of Thunder Crash is in permanent danger of being destroyed. And we're much too close."
Family Secrets: The Reveal	I Thought You Were Dead	Lord Stockholm slept in the hold, with cannonballs for pillows and ropes for blankets. Needless to say, when he awoke, he awoke to the most pleasant surprise he'd had in a long while. "Daddy!" He sat upright, hitting his head on the ceiling, and felt the golden ball of fur and feathers attached to his neck. "Fluttershy!" He hugged her, a difficult task but he had a lot of practice. "Ferdinand gave you my message!" "I'm so happy you're alive! I thought you were dead!" Fluttershy cried with tears of joy. "So did everydragon else." Stockholm smiled. "It'll take more than some brute and a dirty old dragon to conquer Smaug." He looked around. "And you brought your friends!" "Ahem." Twilight Sparkle stepped up. "Hello Mr. Stockholm. I'm Twilight Sparkle. I just want to say, it's an honor to meet you. You have a wonderful collection of books!" Stockholm laughed. "A kindred spirit! Fluttershy's told me all about you Ms. Sparkle. And you must be Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity. Where's your friend Rainbow Dash?" "She had to get some rest." Fluttershy sniffed. "She's so tired from helping me." ~0o0~ "I'm not tired." Rainbow Dash stomped her hoof like a child. Octavia sighed, and blew a strand of hair out of her face. "Yes, you are." "I'm not." Rainbow Dash shook her head. "And you can't make me go to sleep." Octavia turned to Spike. "Spike, there's a special cider inside, it's called Hazy Draught. Would you fetch a pint?" "Sure." Spike jogged towards Pony Joe's. Octavia and Rainbow Dash met each other's eyes. "You realize, if I tried to escape, you couldn't stop me." Rainbow Dash said. "You forget, I am a pirate." Octavia smiled, demurely. Neither of them blinked. "Yeah, you are a pirate. That's pretty awesome by the way." Rainbow Dash admitted. "Thank you." Octavia bowed like she'd just finished a performance, still not breaking eye contact. "So... do you have a marefriend?" Octavia blushed, and raised an eyebrow. "I thought Spike was your son?" "Yeah, but that was all some sort of magic 'oops, that shouldn't have happened but it was pretty cool' type deals. Literally magic, you know. Spontaneous combustion of life or something. I'm unattached." Octavia blushed, and looked away. "Well, I suppose I can schedule in a performance at Ponyville if -" She looked back and Rainbow Dash was gone. Octavia smiled. "Clever mare." ~0o0~ "I'm glad you're all here and safe." At 'safe' Stockholm squeezed Fluttershy tighter. She was still hugging his neck, and sniffing a bit. "How did you survive?" Twilight asked. "I thought Smaug killed you?" "Yes, it wasn't easy." Stockholm smiled. "When it became apparent my stare wouldn't work on him, I tried to fight him by hand, but it was soon apparent somedragon was magically boosting him. A clear violation of the rules of engagement. So, I played dead. He struck me with his tail; an almost fatal blow. And I fell backwards in the Great Volcano. I read once, that volcanoes are all interconnected. I hadn't had a chance to experiment, but I didn't expect that brick-headed cheater or the Knights to know anything about it. I lucked out; I came up in a volcano some distance away, before the magma fully infected my wounds. I gave Ferdinand a message and then spent a week here, with Captain Scaramouch and Mare Serenatus here as my gracious hosts, recovering and planning my return." "As Rainbow would say, that's awesome." Applejack grinned. Stockholm saluted her. "Mare Serenatus?" Rarity asked Luna. The princess shrugged, sheepishly. "After a week to ruminate, and upon hearing of your wedding, I realized what Smaug was after, and what the dragon behind him is after." Stockholm growled. "Lady Babbage." Fluttershy looked up. "What does mom have to do with this?" She asked. Stockholm growled. "Fluttershy, Lord Krastos has been after her hand in marriage for as long as I've known the two." Fluttershy's eyes widened. "But... he's... three times as old as her..." "Exactly why your mother keeps refusing." Stockholm nodded. "But think; according to Draconian law, any arranged marriage can be interceded if by a close family member of any one of the parties." "What does that mean?" Fluttershy asked. "It means that if there's no other option, Lady Babbage can be blackmailed into taking your place in the marriage, and likewise Krastos can take his sons place to marry her." Every pony and dragon looked at Pinkie Pie. She seemed to realize her outburst of law knowledge was unexpected, so she simply grinned. "I'm random!" She chirped. "Yes... that's exactly what it means." Stockholm nodded. "With me gone, and you engaged, Krastos will blackmail your mother into marrying him to save you. And Smaug is going along with this for the war. The only other option is, of course, Princess Celestia directly acting against one of dragonkind's few laws, sparking an all out war. Lord Smooze has been aching for a pony war ever since you stopped his cousin from taking the Long Sleep in Equestria." "Those are the only options?" Pinkie Pie drooped. "That doesn't sound like fun at all." Stockholm growled. "I've been thinking for the past couple of weeks. Mare Serenatus and I think we might have found a way to limit the war to minimal casualties, perhaps end it on the first day, but... yes, those are the only two options I can see." A single tear fell from Luna's cheek. "It is such a shame. According to my sister Equestria has been peaceful for centuries. I wished to see this peaceful Equestria. But it seems that war rests only as long as I do." Twilight shook her head. "So that's it? We're just giving up and going to war?" Her frown wavered, as if she were about to cry. "There has to be another way. Surely between you and Princess Luna, you'll have figure out something! There's nopony else who can take Fluttershy's place?" "No." Stockholm shook his head. "Vulcas could, of course, but he'd be as happy as Fluttershy or my wife would... be..." He suddenly perked up. "Did you say Princess Luna?" The princess coughed politely. "I... may have been giving you my alias." She admitted. "But that means..." His eyes shone. "That changes things!" "Somepony just had an ideeeaaaa!" Pinkie Pie sang. "Yes!" Stockholm grinned. "I know how to beat Krastos! Quickly, before you escaped, what did you decide would be your cover story?" "That we were kidnapped." Twilight answered. "That's what Celestia is going to tell the dragons. But Rarity got seen by the guards, so I don't know how well that story will stick." "I've got a plan." Stockholm grinned. "Quickly, we need to find the right book before -" And then the alarm bells rang. ~0o0~ Spike strode up to the bar. The Flim Flam brothers were gone, and a one-winged Pegasus was manning the counter. If you could call it 'manning' it. He was just sitting back and having a drink of cider. It looked like nopony was ordering anything from him though, so maybe he was just taking a break. "Excuse me." Spike said. "I'd like a pint of Hazy Draught?" The Pegasus raised an eyebrow at him. "It's for a friend." Spike clarified nervously. The Pegasus slowly nodded, and began to fill up a mug with cider. "You're the dragon that hangs out with the Elements of Harmony, aren't you?" Spike nodded. "Yeah. The name's Spike." The Pegasus smiled. "Nice to meet you Spike. I'm Rainbow Dash's father." Spike blinked. Looking closely, he could see the resemblance. But only looking closely. He frowned. "Hi." Thunder seemed to smile even wider at Spike's frown. "I take it she's talked about me." "No." Spike said. "But from the way she treats me, it's clear that she has a whole lot of daddy issues." "More then you'd think." He flexed his mechanical wing in a way that Spike found creepy. "So, what, you mean to say you're her son?" Spike flinched. "Uh... sort of." Thunder chuckled. "What'd she do, buck a dragon?" Spike, innocent, innocent Spike, smile. "Yep!" He said. "Right in the face!" Thunder doubled over in laughter, spilling Rainbow Dash's drink. A few of the pirates in ear shot stifled giggles and moved to another part of Pony Joes'. Thunder rolled around on the floor, visibly trying to get control of himself. Spike felt like he was missing something, Thunder pulled himself back up over the bar. "Sorry about that. Eheh." He reached for another mug and began to fill that. "So... you don't look much like her son." Spike frowned. "Well, I get that I look like a dragon, but -" "No no, that's fine." Thunder waved it away. "I'm talking about your wings. Or rather, your lack thereof." Spike looked behind him. "What do you mean?" "I mean you can't even walk on clouds." Thunder scoffed. "Much less be able to imitate my famous 'Stallion strut'! Ah, but I suppose this was inevitable. Rainbow was always such a failure when it came to flying. It figures she'd lead my grandson in her worthless footsteps." He pushed the mug over the counter into Spike's waiting grip. Spike crushed the mug with one hand. Thunder raised an eyebrow at the fire in Spike's eyes. "...What? Wrong brand?" He began to pour another mug. "No!" Spike all but roared. "How could you say that about Rainbow Dash!?" "What? That worthless stuff?" He shrugged. "She's always been that way. Don't let it get you down though, I'm sure when you have a kid of your own, it'll have wings to carry on the family legacy." Spike slammed his fists against the bar. "She's not worthless! She's the best flyer in Equestria!" "Then why isn't she in the Wonderbolts yet?" Thunder chuckled. "They offered her a spot after her second sonic rainboom." Spike said bitingly. "But she turned them down because she was so much better than them." "Is that what she told you?" Thunder laughed again, but this time his laughter was devoid of mirth; more like a bark. "I bet that's what she told you. Celestia, that girl!" A cup-holder popped out of his mechanical wing. "I think I'd better hold this. Wouldn't want it broken again, now would we?" He began to trot outside, but Spike stepped in front of him. "Rainbow Dash doesn't care that I can't fly." He said. "She says as long as I'm awesome in my own way, I don't have to live up to her. That's what happened, wasn't it? You forced her to live in your shadow?" Thunder frowned. "Kid, take it from your old man; living in shadows is how you grow. Now come on." He trotted around the foal. "I believe it's time I had a chat with my Rainbow." A bell began to clang in Pony Joe's. "What's that?" Spike asked. "That's the alarm." Thunder said. "It means dragons are coming. We'll have to block the cave's entrance." "I have to warn the others!" Spike ran ahead. In part, he wanted to warn the others. But mostly, he couldn't stomach the sight of Thunder any longer. ~0o0~ "They'll be covering the entrance." Luna said, listening to the stone moving away. "I... never knew you were so approving of pirates." Rarity hesitantly half-asked the princess. Luna smiled. "A thousand years ago, I knew a brilliant mare who was a pirate. She was my best friend... until... well." She clapped her hooves. "Don't worry Rarity, I'm sure you're one of the good pirates." "I'm actually not a pirate." Rarity corrected her. "I left that life a while ago. Although..." She looked around. "There are times when I travel without paying the proper fees." Stockholm and Twilight were busying themselves with the few small books in the corner of the hold. "What about this one?" Twilight asked. "It only pertains to the laws regarding pirate travel, I read that one already." Stockholm fumed. Almost literally. "We're looking for the big book of all Equestrian laws. I know it's there somewhere." Twilight searched through the books. Due to Stockholm's size, he couldn't search through them himself. "I wish Spike were here. This would be so much easier if he was here." The doors to the hold opened, and Spike and Octavia rushed in. "Dragons are coming!" Octavia called. "Yes, yes, we heard the bell." Stockholm muttered distractedly. "Rainbow Dash is gone!" Spike said. "Oh no!" Pinkie Pie gasp. "What if she wandered off to the secret tunnel and took a nap? There'll be nothing between her and the dragons!" Twilight and Applejack shared a look. "Ah'll go get 'er." Applejack ran out. ~0o0~ Thunder Crash strolled along the docks, watching the pirates push a large stone in front of the cave's entrance. The hazard of stealing your riches from dragons. He set his cup of cider down. "I brought you a drink." He said. "Thought we might have a nice chat." A rainbow colored blur came out of nowhere, and slammed him into the side of Pony Joe's. Rainbow Dash's eyes were wild, and frenzied. "I thought... you were dead..." She let go and bucked him into the ground. "The voices in my head..." She hissed. "Are telling me... you should be dead..." She spun around and did a triple summersault to build momentum before slamming him into the ground. "Give me one... good... reason... why I shouldn't listen... to them?" Thunder got up like it was nothing. "Somepony hasn't been taking her pills recently." He said, dodging her next attack. "I would think the Element of Loyalty would know not to kill her own father?" "He's right." Rainbow Dash put a hoof to her mouth, and glared at him. Thunder Crash took advantage of this, by taking lightning cloud from where he'd hidden it under his wing and bucked it towards her. Her skeleton was illuminated briefly, before she fell. Rainbow growled and took to the skies again. Thunder followed. Rainbow spun around and flew past him, screaming: "Here comes the Filly Flash!" Thunder turned and followed her, but she preformed a trick with such accuracy that he was momentarily blinded, and knocked out of the sky by a positive lightning explosion! He picked himself up and took off, heading straight towards Rainbow Dash. The two engaged in a game of chicken for a while, before with a hiss, Thunder's wing separated. The upper half of the prosthetic wing folded over, and molded itself onto his other, real wing. Small fires began to light the tips of both clockwork wings. He veered off to the side, and as they passed Rainbow heard three words: "Enhanced. Stallion. Strut." The explosion rocked the cavern. ~0o0~ Lady Bahama was a light dragon. Her job was to fly through the skies, providing illumination for the other dragons. But Lord Francisco was a tunneling dragon. While all dragons could dig naturally with their tails, his tail made up more than two thirds of his body. She'd always felt more comfortable under the earth, with him. Suddenly, he stopped drilling with his tail. "Did you feel that?" He whispered. She grabbed her lamp, the one always floating in front of her, on a stem like that of an angler fish. She pressed her lamp to the ground, like a stethoscope, and heard the vibrations. "Explosions." She whispered. "Something it close." Lord Fransisco resumed drilling. ~0o0~ "Hold it right there Partner!" Thunder looked up. He'd laid Rainbow on the ground in front of the tunnel. The rock was rolling shut behind them, but there was still ample space for the orange earth pony to come through. "What do ya think yer doin' with Rainbow Dash?" Thunder took a jar out of his mechanical wing. "It's not what I'm doing, it's what you're doing." He smashed the jar against his daughter's head, and a rainbow colored liquid spilled out. Applejack's eyes narrowed. "What's that?" "Come and see." He took off. Applejack ran over to her friend. "Rainbow Dash? Rainbow Dash, wake... up..." Her nostrils were suddenly filled with the scent of the jam. "Zap... apples..." She groaned, and took a step back as Rainbow Dash woke up. "Applejack? What... what's going..." Her eyes widened as her friends stared at her. The bright green of Applejack's eyes took up the spots of her eyes that used to be white or black. And they were glowing. Applejack moaned, and panted. Bits and pieces of wood flew in from the gap in the rocks where Pony Joe's was. It was like watching driftwood eat her. "What has he done to you?" Rainbow Dash asked. Her hat fell off, and Applejack collapsed, buried under the wood. Soon, it was like she hadn't even existed, she was just a pile of scrap wood. And then the pile got up. The pile of wood grew four legs, ending in sharp claws. The pile of wood grew a head, ending in sharp fangs. Two holes opened up in the head, and glowing green eyes shone out. The timberwolf howled. Rainbow Dash looked from her friend, to the gap in the rocks, and back to her friend. "I don't care what any of you say." She said to the voices in her head. "I'm not running." She picked up Applejack's hat. "Sorry Applejack, but I'll keep this safe for when Twilight finds a cure for... this." The Timberwolf lunged at her, lunged at the one unknowingly covered in Zap Apples, and Rainbow Dash flew away, beginning their deadly dance. ~0o0~ Pinkie Pie did five summersaults in succession. "My Pinkie sense!" She cried. "What does this one mean?" Twilight asked. "It means Applejack just turned into a timberwolf and is trying to eat Rainbow Dash, and they're both outside of the cave!" "... What!!!?" Twilight felt as if her mind could explode at any second. "Oh no!" Rarity gasped. "Octavia, we have to stop them from closing..." Octavia was already gone. Twilight sighed, so tired, but managed to gather herself up. "Come on girls!" She called. "I have absolutely zero ideas as to what is going on, but I'm not going to let any friends get lost in this sea of madness!" The Elements of Harmony rushed out of the ship. Princess Luna moved to follow them, but Lord Stockholm stopped her. "Wait! Your highness!" His massive claws had finally flipped to the right page of the right book. "I've found it!" "You've found a salvageable route to our nation's harmony?" Luna asked. "Yes!" Stockholm cheered. "But it'll be dangerous, and we don't have much time so we'll have to improvise some of it. Here's the plan..." ~0o0~ Forte and Sir Ivory pushed against the rock. "What are you doing!?" They spun around and saluted as Octavia appeared behind them. "Captain! We're shutting the gates so the dragons won't find us!" Octavia glowered at them. "Has it not occurred to you, that there are a pair of ponies in that corridor!? If the dragons find us, so be it! We'll finally get a chance to fight them instead of hiding in the shadows! But we do! Not! Leave! Ponies! Behind!" She pushed Forte aside, and gripped his harness, and began pulling in the other direction with all of her might. With some hesitation, the rest of the pirates joined in. The Elements of Harmony rushed past them, and were met with an unusual sight. Rainbow Dash playing a game of 'can't catch me' with a timberwolf! "That's it." Twilight said, sitting down. "I give up. I don't know up from down any more. This is..." "Any ideas Fluttershy?" Pinkie Pie asked, nervously. Fluttershy took in the scene. "She's just being protective." She decided. "But she's going to try and hurt Rainbow Dash." She flew over to the pair of them. "This is over, now!" The two stopped, and stared at her. And she poured the full power of 'The Stare' onto the timberwolf. The timberwolf quailed, and back away with her tails between her legs. "Applejack, if that's you, SNAP OUT OF IT!!!" Fluttershy yelled. The timberwolf yelped, and the wooden armor fell off of Applejack like leaves falling off of a tree. Her eyes returned to their normal, non-glowing state, and the look of sheer terror on her face was more than what Fluttershy could bear. "Oh... I'm so sorry." Fluttershy stopped staring, the taunting echo of monster ringing in her ears. Applejack gasped, and collapsed on the floor. "Ah... Ah'm sorry." Applejack whispered. "Ah..." her eyes widened as Rainbow Dash touched down, and she galloped a safe distance away. "No Rainbow Dash!" She yelled. "Don't you come none closer, ya hear? Not 'til you get that Zap Apple washed offa you." "Applejack..." Twilight looked at the mare she had thought was her best friend. "I thought what I see is what I get?" Applejack was shocked into silence. Tearfully, Twilight turned away from her. "Does anypony else have something they'd like to share?" Twilight asked. "Is anypony else an Illegal Equestrian, or not even a pony!?" Rainbow Dash sheepishly raised her hand. Twilight grunted in frustration. "Of course! Well at least you're honest!" The hurt in Twilight's voice stabbed Applejack like a dragon's fangs. "Twi... I am a pony... what you saw there was just..." A purple hoof was held out. "I don't want to hear it." Twilight muttered. "I don't want to hear anything from you." The somber moment was interrupted by Fluttershy's dad rushing into the tunnel with Princess Luna. With a mighty heave, he pulled the stone shut, knocking the ponies on the other side off of their feet. "Alright, you know what you have to do Luna." He said. Then he looked down, and saw Fluttershy in tears. "Fluttershy? What's wrong?" Fluttershy sniffed. "My friends... they're... fighting..." With a crash, the tunnel split open. Lord Francisco and Lady Bahama came out of a hole in the wall. "Lord Stockholm?" Lord Francisco gasped. "That's right!" Fluttershy's dad beamed, and stood up tall. "I kidnapped these ponies! Now, if you..." Princess Luna blasted him with a powerful beam of magic. "NOOOOOO!!!!!" Fluttershy screamed as her father slumped against the wall. She tried to rush forward, but Rarity grabbed her, and pulled her into an embrace. Princess Luna flew to the eye level of the dragons, noting the small army of dragons in the tunnel behind them. "I am Princess Luna, second in command of the Kingdom of Equestria. Thank you for your timely arrival. I have just finished rescuing my charges." The Lord and Lady smiled understandingly. "We heard the explosions. It must have been an impressive fight." "May I accompany you, as you escort my charges back to your kingdom?" "It would be an honor." Fluttershy buried her face in Rarity's mane as Lord Francisco dragged her father away. Rarity tried not to panic about how wet her mane was getting. Applejack stood far apart from her best friend's glares and animal-inducing scent. Twilight tried to make sense of the world and failed. Spike tried to comfort Twilight and Rainbow Dash at the same time. Rainbow Dash tried to block out the voices in her head. And Pinkie Pie... was Pinkie Pie.
Family Secrets: The Reveal	The Creatures of Everfree	Dark is the night, when our tale is begun 'Neath the eaves of Everfree! The sky filled with thunder, the wind coldly blowing Through the leaves of Everfree! Granny Smith strolled through the dark forests of Everfree. A Stetson hung on her head, and an axe swung at her side. A worn old book was balanced on her back. Most ponies, even strong youthful ponies, feared the forest Everfree. But to Granny Smith, it was old familiar territory. It was home. "Let's see now..." She muttered. "Pony eating trap plant..." She passed the plant, which to any other pony would have looked like a normal empty field, but she knew from experience that it was just too big to be seen. "Oh, and there go a swarm of fruit-bats." A swarm of fruit flew overhead, including oranges, bananas, pears, and even to her surprise, a Watermelon. "That's a new one." She took the book off of her back and a pencil from behind her ear. The book was her Big Book of Everfree Wildlife. Princess Celestia herself had given her family this farm on the edge of Everfree, and she was going to look after it. And after her discovery of Zap Apples, looking after the farm was practically the same as cataloguing every critter in the forest. "Next thing you know, them bats'll have apple shapes." She chuckled, as she made a note in the margins of the fruit-bat entry. And then came the howling. She shut her book. "And there're the Timberwolves." She nodded. "Ah'm getting' too old fer this." As one, the shadows parted, and the timberwolves lunged forward. She put her book and her axe gently on the ground, and stretched her hind legs. "Wham! Bam!" Two timberwolves fell back under the assault of her mighty bucks. She'd been bucking apple trees all her life, she could manage these piles of driftwood. She bucked two more, and the wolves fell back. They formed a circle, and began to prowl around her. She looked around, and saw the wolf that was bigger than the others. "Hello there." She grinned. The Alpha roared in her face. She adjusted her hat, and roared back. The timberwolf whimpered, just a little bit, his ears pulling back at the noise, and she called her pack to back off. "That's what I thought." Granny Smith picked up her things. "Too old fer this." She trotted along, deeper into the forest. She was almost there; the Zap Apple orchard that grew naturally in Everfree. She was almost there, when she saw an unusual sight. There was a tree. The tree was almost pinkish in hue. And it had a face. The face was an angry one, made up of knots and whorls. Surprisingly, they even formed teeth. "Well ain't you a beaut?" Granny Smith asked. She'd never been afraid in her life, so she found it ludicrously easy to walk up to the glaring tree. She sat down and sketched a picture in her notebook. "Tree unidentifiable. Not sure whether the face was grown nat'rally as one of them self-defense doohickies, or not, but... looks like there's some sort of green mold glowing where it's 'eyes' are." Granny Smith thought for a bit, then put her book down and picked up an axe. "Gonna take this one home fer expermentatation. Lightning flashed in the night sky, and the timberwolves howled, as she cut the tree down with one stroke. The pony knew not what she started! With a timber the grim deed was done! And the fates sealed her destiny, And threw away the key, There was nowhere she could run! Granny Smith felt the stump. "Interesting sap." She muttered. "Almost... like blood." She shuddered, something she'd not done before. Confused at the outburst, she picked up the fallen tree, ignoring that in a certain light the snarling face looked more like a face whimpering in fear, and made her way deeper into the forest. She was feeling lucky tonight. Usually the timber wolves never let her go this far in. She heard the howling before she saw them, but they didn't attack her this time. They line up on either side of her, forming a path. "What're you doin'?" She asked, looking around at the wolves. The just continued to howl menacingly. She cautiously walked along the path they'd outlined for her. She had a bad feeling about this. Ahead, she saw a clearing, lit by lamps placed carefully in trees. In that clearing was an enormous timberwolf, a veritable giant among timberwolves, with skin bleached white like an ash tree and rainbow colored leaves covering her. The wolf didn't seem to notice her, too busy talking to something in the forest she couldn't see. "I'm glad to welcome a new species into Equestria." The giant wolf said. "And after seeing the amazing things you've done to Everfree, I'm sure my little ponies will accept you into their folds too." She heard a hissing rasping voice speak in a strange language. "What? No, I haven't been sending scouts to prepare for war. I abhor war. Why, is a pony disturbing your forests?" More hissing, this time in clear pony language. "Assssk her youssssselfff." The timberwolf turned around as Granny Smith stepped into the clearing. Oddly, the other voices belonged to three trees. Three pink trees, with snarling faces and angry bright green eyes. Then in a bright flash of light, the white timberwolf transformed into Princess Celestia. "Princess?" Granny Smith bowed, nervously. "What's going on? What are you doing in Everfree?" Princess Celestia studied her. "You're... Granny Smith yes? I gave your parents a farm by Everfree?" Granny Smith nodded. "Yes Princess. Uh... what are these...?" The trees began hissing again. "These are the Jackalopes." Celestia explained. "They are the guardians of the forest." "And we have tolerated you for far too long!" The trees hissed and rattled, but one spoke in pony language. "You are lucky you never stole any of our fertilized apples, or we would have hunted you down no matter how much noisssse you made! But now, you have slain one of our own!" Granny Smith gapsed, and remembered the tree she had on her back. She dropped it in a second, horrified by the look of pained shock on the tree's face. The trees began to sing. "See now the innocent sap that you've spilt, 'Neath the eaves of Everfree!" "I'm so s-s-sorry, I - I didn't know..." Granny Smith stammered. "Hear the wind blowing the news of your guilt, through the leaves of Everfree!" Tears ran down Granny Smith's cheeks. "I didn't know! Ya'll should have said somethin' instead of makin' me think you were just trees!" "You can lie to yourself and your princess, you can claim that your conscious is free... But you never can run from, nor hide what you've done from, the trees! The trees of Everfree!" Howls of approval rang out through the clearing, and Granny Smith looked around, realizing she was surrounded by a swarm of glowing green eyes. And for once in her lifetime, full of dauntless bravery, Granny Smith shook like a leaf, under the gaze of Everfree. "Sap demands blood!" One of the tree's leaders called, and granny Smith's blood ran chill at the cheers the suggestion received. "Now, that's a little harsh, don't you think?" Princess Celestia put an arm around Granny Smith. "She didn't mean any harm. Isn't there another way?" "I'll never cut another tree down as long as I live!" Granny Smith swore. The tree who demanded her blood bent over, examining his chopped brethren. "I knew him." He said. "His mate burned in a forest fire. It was probably why he protected the apple grove so fiercely. He had a sapling on the way." "I have a son too." Granny Smith pleaded. "His name's Big Macintosh. He helps out on my farm..." "Silence!" The tree roared. "Wait." Said the tree next to him. "There may be another way. A trial by goodwill." "What do you mean by that?" Celestia asked. "The pony will grow the sapling, raising it as her own. After two decades, we shall come to see her, and bring her back to the forest. If she has been mistreated, then the pony has not learned from her mistakes and deserves death, would you not agree Princess?" Celestia pondered the dilemma. "That is... a fair proposal." She said, though she detested even the thought of one of her ponies coming to harm. The trees nodded their assent, and a pair of timberwolves came out to the clearing. They gave Granny Smith a Zap Apple, though this one was fatter than the Zap Appes that she made in her jam. And as she felt a soft squirming from inside the apple, she figured out why. The Zap Apples were eggs. She'd been using unfertilized apples for her jam, much like some ponies ate unfertilized chicken eggs. She felt a wave of nausea wash over her, as she placed the apple in her saddlebags. "This shall be your trial." The timberfolk said. "To this end will we judge your crimes. You may think to run. You may think to cheat us. Don't. The forest does not care for how long it waits. The forest cannot be cheated." "Yes sir." Granny Smith nodded fervently. "I swear, I'll never take another tree from Everfree again!" And with that, she took off at full gallop. One of the timberfolk stood next to Celestia. "Here is a riddle, answer if you dare, 'Neath the leaves of Everfree." "I hardly think now is the time for..." Celestia was stopped by an upheld branch. "A riddle to ask of the strange running pair, 'Neath the eaves of Everfree!" The tree gestured to the pony as she ran wildly, clutching the Zap apple to her. "Which is the monster, and which is the mare!? To the trees... The trees of Everfreeeeeeeeee!" ~0o0! There was a hole in the ground outside of Granny Smith's farm. At the bottom of the hole were the remains of a buried Zap Apple. Just minutes ago, a baby Jackalope had emerged from it. Princess Celestia and Granny Smith gazed at the infant. It looked just like a rabbit, albeit with antlers. "This is the Jackalope's true form." Princess Celestia explained. "They are exceptionally weak, but their magic helps them grow strong. The males can possess trees, and other plantlife. The females grow a protective shell around themselves, often in the appearance of wolves." Granny Smith sighed. "She'll never fit in with the other ponies, will she?" Princess Celestia looked at her with appraising eyebrows. "Did you... ask that because you don't want to die in fifteen years, or did you ask that because you care for her?" Granny Smith considered this. "Ya know... ma mind's goin' in my old age, I don't reckon I know which one." Princess Celestia scrutinized the blushing cowgirl. She almost questioned why she wanted to fake senility, but decided against it. She was a pretty good judge of character, and she could see the same spark of goodness in her that she saw in her parents. "Granny Smith, I don't think I have to remind you of the consequences of failing your duty." Princess Celestia lightly scolded her. "Ah know." "A new species has come to Equestria. Every other time this has happened, there's been a war. I do not want another war." "Ah know." Princess Celestia sighed. "I know you will take as good care of this sapling as you've taken care of your parent's farm." "Ah..." Granny Smith stopped talking as she smelt apples in the air, and felt a sunny magic tingling in her hooves. She watched as Celestia began to chant a spell, apple pies floating out of the cupboards toward her. Celestia's magic descended on the jackalope, and the baby giggled as it was surrounded by pie. Withing mere seconds, the bright green eyes were looking at Granny Smith from the body of a foal, coat and mane the same orange and gold as the crusts of Granny's pie. "She should instinctively keep her armor up." Celestia said, nodding her approval at her handiwork. "Just make sure she doesn't go near fertilized zap apple jam, or her... protective instincts will kick in. I've made the horns invisible, but you should give her something to hide them with just in case." Granny Smith sighed in relief. "Well Ah'll be... she's actually a cute little thing, ain't she?" Celestia smiled, but then she noticed a light on. "I have to go." She said, embracing Granny Smith. "Remember, the fate of Equestria may depend on how well you can raise this foal." With that, she spun around, leaped out of the window, and ascended into the night sky. The kitchen door opened. "Ma?" Big Mac asked, walking in. "Ah thought ah heard noises. And Ah smell... are ya baking pie?" "Ah'm jus; whipping up a li'l somethin' fer yer new sister." Granny Smith lied, showing her son the foal. The filly was beginning to sniff around, trying to bury her nuzzle in the apple ingredients strewn throughout the kitchen. Big Mac lifted a curious eyebrow, and looked into his new sister's eyes. "Ah didn't know you were pregnant - EEEyow!" Applejack had just bit him on the nose. Big Mac sat back and rubbed his nose. "But she's got the Apple spirit." He chuckled. "What's her name?" Granny Smith considered. "Ah was thinking... Applejack." Big Mac raised an eyebrow. "Ain't she a bit young to be thinkin' about drink?" "The name ain't about drink." Granny Smith scolded. "It's about..." She paused, wondering whether she should tell Big Mac or not. Big Mac shrugged. "Well alright. But if this 'Jack' feller comes around again, you let me know so's I can converse with him about mah new li'l sis." Big Mac stroked applejack's head softly, allowing her to bite his hard hooves, before yawning. "Whelp, Ah'm headin' back to bed." "G'night." Granny Smith him goodbye. She smiled and sat Applejack on the counter, where she burped and tried to crawl towards an apple slice. "Well Applejack... guess you an' I are family now." Tears welled up in her eyes. "Ah... Ah'm so sorry... about yer pa..." Granny Smith cried herself to sleep that night, after tucking Applejack into bed. ~0o0~ Applejack giggled as she ran through her family's orchards. To her, the sun seemed especially bright, as it shone through the red and golden leaves of autumn. As she almost flew by, she heard the trees whispering on all sides of her. "There goes Ms. Applejack." "Eeyup, there she goes." "I wonder why the young miss is in such a hurry?" "Oh, who can tell with ponies?" Applejack spun around. "You guys!" She called. "It's my birthday!" The trees hissed their approval. "Congratulaions young 'un." Applejack blushed. "Aaaaw, thanks fellers. I gotta git goin' now. My granny has somethin' special fer this birthday." She rushed off to the barnhouse where she knew her family was waiting. Sometimes she thought she was weird because she talked to trees. Sometimes she thought she was weird for imagining they could talk back. But she could always count on Granny and Big Mac. Applejack jumped into a leaf pile near the barn. When she got out, she found that the leaves were sticking to her, like a great big beard. This was another one of the reasons she loved autumn. The apple tree leaves were so sticky. She crept silently through the barn. The place was full of streamers, with one of granny's special deluxe apple cakes right in the center. The pair of them were unsuccessfully hiding behind the cake. Applejack grinned, and snuck up behind them. All of a sudden, Granny Smith screamed, and spun around on Applejack. Applejack flinched at the noise, and Granny stopped screaming. "Oh, sorry Applejack. I thought you was a... somepony else. How many times do ah have ta tell you not ta sneak up on me like that?" "Sorry Granny." Applejack blushed as Granny Smith absent mindedly began pulling the leaves off of her. "Oh hush now, ain't nothing to apologize fer, scarin' an old mare like me." Granny Smith gestured to the decorated barn. "This here's yer birthday! Now git an' open that thar present!" Big Mac grinned broadly. "Ah got you this present!" He said excitedly. "Ah figured, whut could Ah get you that you ain't already got, an' then ah asked Filthy an' he said..." "Big Mac..." Applejack whined, covering her ears. Her ears were so sensitive, Granny reckoned she could hear a butterfly sneeze. She couldn't, but her hearing helped keep the raccoons at bay. They were a curse though. Big Mac usually had to limit his talking to an eeyup or a nope when she was around, due to his big, deep, rumbling voice. "Right. Sorry." He rumbled in his big booming voice. He held out a box for her, and Applejack was surprised to see it was moving. She opened it up, and a puppy leaped out and licked her face. "Ohboyohboyohboyohboyohboyohboyohboyohboyohboyohboy!!!" The puppy called. "You taste like apple! You taste like apple pie! I love you! I love you so much! Be my pet please! Can I haz apple pony? Oh boy wearegoingtohavesomanyfuntimestogetherplayingandeatingandsleepingandplaying!!!" "Woah, slow down girl!" Applejack set the puppy down. "Ah can't believe it! Big Mac, ya got me a puppy?" "Eeyup." Big Mac grinned. Applejack laughed. Surprisingly, the puppy's voice didn't hurt her ears at all. "What's yer name girl?" "Winona! Winona! My name's Winona!" "What're you gonna call her?" Granny Smith asked. "Ah'm thinkin' Winona." Applejack said. No need to tell Granny she could hear the dog talkin' to her. She already knew she was mad, she didn't need Granny to confirm it. "An' here's mah present to you." Granny Smith held out her hat. Applejack gasped, and held the hat reverently. "Granny... is this yer special hat?" "Eeyup." Granny Smith beamed. "An' it's even more special now, 'cause it's yers. I took it to some fancy magic doctor, and she went and enchanted it so it'd dim yer ears a smidge." "Wow..." Applejack took the hat onto her head. It hung low over her face, but her beaming smile was still visible. "This way you can go to school." Granny Smith smiled proudly. The world seemed to stop for Applejack. "Whut?" "You need an education young filly." Granny Smith announced. "We're sendin' you ta school!" Applejack frowned. "Big Mac didn't go to school... you didn't go to school... why do I hafta go to school?" "I reckon you might git yer cutie mark." Granny Smith explained, in a reasonable tone. "An' ya need friends too." Applejack almost shook. She talked to trees and dogs and imagined them talking back. She needed a special hat just to leave the farm. There was no way she was going to school where all the other foals would call her names. She looked at the hat on her head, and began to wonder if inheriting a priceless family heirloom was worth the price. ~0o0~ Applejack frowned at the school house. It was a small little thing. Ponyville had only begun to blossom as a town recently, so there wasn't much call for schooling. But with one of Big Mac's friends getting a Cutie Mark, and a few couples moving away from Canterlot to escape the city's hustle and bustle, there began to be a need for a school. Applejack smiled nervously at the foals around her. She was the first in her family to go to school, so she had no idea what to expect. Big Mac asked Cheerilee to come around and help her sort a few things out, so she felt confident that actually attending school would be a breeze. But she'd promised Granny that she'd do her best to enjoy school and make friends. Neither of which she had any idea how to do. A flash of color caught her attention. Curious, she stopped her nervous fretting, and trotted over. The white unicorn looked up as she approached. "Hellooooo!" The unicorn said, in a sing song voice. "Howdy." Applejack nodded. She caught herself staring, and looked away. The unicorn smiled. "Do you like my mane?" She asked. Applejack nodded. "What color is it?" "Can't you see?" Rarity flourished her mane in front of her. Applejack blushed. "Ah've never seen that color before." Rarity gasped in horror and shook Applejack's hoof. "My name's Rarity. And my mane's violet. I can't believe you've never seen that color before!" Applejack blushed. "Well, I don't get much violet on the farm." Rarity's eyes shone. "You live on a farm? Oh my, you really haven't seen much of the world have you?" She perked up. "Ideeeaaa! Do you want to be my friend?" ~0o0~ She was never going to be friends with Rarity again, that much was clear. Applejack ran back to Sweet Apple Acres. She couldn't believe she'd let that filly talk her into leaving her home. She saw Big Mac waiting for her at home. He called, and Granny Smith came running. All three of them had tears in her eyes, as they hugged again. "We thought you was gone forever." Big Mac said. "Well Ah ain't." Applejack hugged him tighter. "And ya better git used to it, 'cause I ain't leavin' again." Big Mac looked up. "Sis! Ya got yer Cutie Mark!" Granny looked in surprise as Applejack beamed. "Eeyup. I'm gonna use what I learned at school to run this place. I'm gonna be the best manager of Sweet Apple Acres Ponyville has ever seen, or ever will see! This is ma home, and ah'll take care of it." Granny tried to speak, her mouth opening and closing in rapid succession, before she finally managed to get her jaw in control. "Applejack... ah think it's time ah was honest with you about something..." Granny Smith took Applejack and Big Mac inside of the barn. Her usual eccentric old lady demeanor gone, replaced with a grim expression. She told Applejack about her true species. About the death of her father. The deal the Jackalopes had struck with the Princess. Applejack cried at parts. She felt shaken, and scared. "An' now, Ah reckon ah can't lie any more." Granny Smith finished. "Ya got a cutie mark, that means you ain't a foal no more. Lyin's only acceptable if it helps keep a pony safe, and it ain't helpin' you no more." Applejack, slumped on the floor in emotional exhaustion,raised a weary and confused head. "Granny, did ya tell Big Mac about this?" Granny shook her head. Applejack spun around. "So when ya cried, they weren't because ya thought I was gonna start a war by leavin'?" "Naw, it was 'cause yer mah sister." Big Mac said. "An' ya still are,whether yer a pony or a jackalope." Tears welled up in Applejack's eyes, and she hugged her family. "Yer right Big Mac. And yer still mah brother. An' Ah'm a pony; mah Cutie Mark proves it. An' ah ain't leavin' you again." ~0o0~ "An' that's why ah told Twilight that what ya see is what ya get with me." Applejack explained, as she and the others were walking down the caverns into the dragon's world. Princess Luna had thrown up an illusion around them, like a moving wall, so thte dragons wouldn't hear them talking, and would only see them walking next to each other. "Jus' like Fluttershy's a dragon, even though she's a pony. Ah'm a pony, an' I won't let anypony tell me other...wise... uh, Pinkie..." Pinkie Pie advanced, and with surprising speed shot her tongue out and licked Applejack. "You do taste like apple pie!" Applejack jumped away from her. "Pinkie, stop that!" "But you're made of pie!" Pinkie Pie squealed. "So you mean..." Rainbow Dash looked at the Zap Apple jam smeared onto her mane. "This isn't just jam... this is baby Jackalope?" Applejack grimaced. "No. If somepony did steal a fertilized apple, Ah can't imagine them still being alive. Ah reckon that's just a discarded apple shell, picked up from the grounds after season's end." She sighed. "It's happened afore." Rainbow Dash still looked sick, and spat out some of the 'jam' she'd tried to clane off by licking. Pinkie Pie visibly contained herself and calmed down. "Okay, you're right. Now, Applejack. If you were to tell a certain somepony..." She pointedly glanced at Twilight, who was walking a short distance away. "How sorry you were, for not telling her you were one of the trees that Nightmare Moon sicced on us that had to run away when we laughed too loudly, how would you apologize?" "Ah would say..." Applejack turned to Twilight. She remembered the horrifying vision Discord had shown her, of all of her friends breaking up. She still had nightmares about it. She remembered Granny Smith telling her it's okay to lie if it keeps a pony safe, if there's nothing to be gained from the truth. "Ah would tell her that Ah never meant to hurt her none. She's mah very best friend, and if Ah had to be her friend all over again, Ah'd tell her what Ah was right away so's this would never happen. Ah never thought keeping this secret would hurt her. As far as Ah'm concerned, Ah'm still her best friend Applejack." Twilight sighed. "You know the one thing that really gets me Pinkie Pie?" Twilight asked. "What Twilight?" Pinkie Pie asked, hopping next to her. "What gets me, is that Applejack is like a sister to me. And I don't have much of a basis for sisters, but I do have an older brother. And when Shining Armor messed up, when he forgot to tell me that he was getting married, it was because he was being brainwashed. Applejack almost killed Rainbow Dash, because she forgot to mention over one of the six thousand four hundred and twelve times we've hung out together, that she had a trigger that she knew would cause her to go wild and... and might have made her eat me..." Traitorous tears poured out of her eyes. Princess Luna looked between the two, and decided to repay the debt she owed them. "Twilight, you do recall that my sister, Princess Celestia, did bid Granny Smith to raise Applejack in secret? Doth thou think she is wrong?" Twilight stopped and stared at Princess Luna. The thought of Princess Celestia - THE Princess Celestia, her beloved mentor - being wrong, even accidentally!? Why, that was preposterous. It just didn't bear thinking about. But Applejack, her best friend, being a timberwolf - a jackalope! - and not telling her for all the years they'd been together? Equally preposterous. So there was only one logical thing to do - go with the option that didn't involve being angry at her best friend for any longer. "I - you're right. Of course you're right." Twilight nodded. "If Princess Celestia was keeping the secret, then it's okay." Applejack glared at Princess Luna, and prepared to own up to her own actions. "Now Twi, don't go blaming the Princess. Ah should have told you..." "But you didn't, because you couldn't, because Princess Celestia wanted you to be kept a secret!!" Twilight raced forward and hugged Applejack. "You would have if you could have, right?" She looked up with pleading eyes. Applejack looked down at Twilight, and remembered her Granny's words on honesty. She would never cheat in any competition. She would always be open with her friends. But sometimes... sometimes somepony deserved more than the truth. Sometimes they deserved to have their faith rewarded. "Sure would have sugarcube." She lied, bittersweetly. The things she'd do for her favorite color. Their hug ended, and Twilight rounded on Rainbow Dash. "But what about you? When I asked if anypony else wasn't a pony, or was an illegal Equestrian..." Rainbow Dash froze. "Um... I kind of..." "We all shared ours dear." Rarity said. "Well, except for Pinkie Pie." "Shush!" Pinkie Pie giggled nervously. "I have loads of secrets! I make lots of pinkie promises! You can't ask Pinkie Pie to break a Pinkie Promise! That's the ultimate paradox! It can't be done!" "I... alright, I'll tell you." Rainbow Dash grimaced. "It's sort of... dangerous too. But not in front of the Princess." "Why not?" Twilight asked. "Because she is enemy of the crown number one." Princess Luna declared, with a soft smile on her lips. Rainbow Dash went white as a sheet, and began to shake in the knees. "Now now... it's not that bad... is it... number one?" "You needn't fear, Rainbow Dash." Princess Luna shook her head and laughed. "I knew who thou were the moment I saw thine pink eyes charging at Nightmare Moon as she declared her domination of Canterlot. Already, she had defeated mine sister, but she spent the rest of the night in fear of you, as she was right to be. I'm sure Princess Celestia knoweth too, she merely hath not told anypony." Rainbow Dash's tail was tucked beneath her legs, and she shook all the harder. "You... you knew?" "Of course we knew." Princess Luna strode up to Rainbow Dash, and bowed before her. "How could we forget, after how we treated thou a millennia ago? I would like to apologize to you for the way I behaved. And I promise I shall never allow anything like that to happen again... to the knewest regeneration of The Doctor." Rainbow Dash stopped shaking, and her face formed an expression that was half confusion, and half mirth. "Doctor Who?" She asked.
Family Secrets: The Reveal	On The Fly	Rainbow Crash lounged about in the yard of her Canterlot school. She was waiting for her big brother to come and pick her up. She was a little filly with a white mane and bright green eyes. Her mane was braided into a cute pony tail, and she wore a designer dress. Those were the perks that came with being the daughter of a Wonderbolt. Suddenly spotted another one of those perks. A purple unicorn with her nose buried in a book. She practically smelled like insecurity. Rainbow Crash smirked and zoomed in. "Hey nerd. Whatchya doin'?" The unicorn looked up, and gasped, dropping her book. "Uh... uh... hey Rainbow Crash..." Rainbow picked up the book. She couldn't read, but she could figure out what it was from the cover. "Huh. A Smarty-pants book? Figures, a nerd reading a book about a nerd." She dropped the book in a patch of mud. "NOOOOOOO!!!" Rainbow Crash laughed wickedly as she kept the unicorn from recovering the precious book. She picked it up and flew in the air. "Of course you can't have it." Rainbow Crash sneered. "You can't take it with your magic, can you? You can't fly. What good is your magic anyway? You don't deserve this book. You're nothing but a baby." Rainbow Dash looked at the book in her hooves. "And since I don't want it, and you don't deserve it, there's only one thing to do..." Rainbow Crash took one of the pages of the book, and to the sound of Twilight's wails, she slowly began to tear out a page. "What is going on?" Rainbow Crash's eyes widened, as a taller unicorn stallion trotted angrily towards them. Rainbow let go of the unicorn, who rushed over to the mud patch to save her book. "We're playing a game." She said, smiling innocently. "Right?" She nudged the unicorn menacingly. Unfortunately, the unicorn was braver then she thought. "She made my Smarty-pants book muddy!" The filly cried. "And then she almost tore out a page!" The older unicorn glared at Rainbow. "When your parents hear about this young lady..." "When I hear about what?" Rainbow Crash breathed a sigh of relief as her mom and big brother floated down. Her mother was a white coated Pegasus with a bouncy rainbow styled mane that Rainbow wished she'd inherited. But she was fine, because she'd inherited her mother's beautiful green eyes. Her brother was even bigger than the purple unicorn's brother. "Soarin'?" The unicorn asked in disbelief. "Soarin' Crash? Is this little filly your sister?" "Yes, she is." Soarin' said, landing and putting a comforting hoof around her. "Is this your sister Armor?" "Yes." Shining Armor put a comforting hoof around Twilight. "And your sister was bullying her." "It's not true!" Rainbow Crash yelled. "Now now, I'm certain that no harm was meant." Rainbow's mother said with a smile. "I'll make sure that my dear Rainbow knows what she did wrong." Shinging Armor glared at her stiffly, before nodding. "You see to it Mrs." He said. "This won't happen twice." He and his sister walked - walked! - away. Rainbow Crash looked into her mother's green eyes. The eyes she shared. "Rainbow, darling." Her mother stroked her cheek. "Why were you harassing that lady?" "'Cause she deserved it." Rainbow Crash shrugged. "It's her fault for not being tough enough, she can't even fly." "Rainbow Crash." Soarin' looked sad and upset. "I can fly circles around you. Does that mean I can do anything to you that I want?" "Yeah." Rainbow Crash said. She loved her big brother. She knew he wouldn't do anything to hurt her. To her, it was obvious that he should be the boss of her. "Dad said the fastest flyers should be the ones in charge." Her mother and her big brother exchanged looks. "I think I'll have to have a talk with your father about that." Her mother said, ushering her off the field. ~0o0~ It had been a week after mom died. The night before the Summer Sun Celebration. Rainbow Crash didn't cry herself to sleep that night. She wouldn't allow herself to. She was strong, like her dad. Her dad hadn't cried. Even when he'd lost a wing trying to save her, and his wings meant everything to him. And losing this wing meant he spent more time training Soarin' to be on the Wonderbolts. That was all right. Dad never paid much attention to her anyways. After she'd told him she didn't want to train, she was fine with the way she was. And he'd left her alone after that. And he kept leaving her alone. So this was no different. But... she missed her mommy. She tried to stay quiet as the door to her room opened. She wouldn't let her dad see her being un-cool. "Which one?" A strange voice asked. "The girl." She heard her dad say. "Take the girl. She's always been a disappointment." Rainbow Crash sat up with a start and tried to scream, but something filled her mouth and everything went black. ~0o0~ It was dark. Rainbow Crash opened her eyes. It was very dark, but there were candles. Candles everywhere. And an ominous chanting. "Wh-what's going on?" She asked. She tried to sit up, but she was strapped down to a table. The candles began to glow with a fierce light. The fire rose, and in the rising she saw a pair of eyes. They were old, ancient eyes, eyes that had seen the universe. Eyes of a trickster, eyes of a warrior, eyes of a doctor, eyes of an explorer, eyes of fire and ice and everything in between. "HEEEEELP!" rainbow Crash cried. Then the eyes fell into hers, and all was silent. ~0o0~ Somewhere among the crowd of the Summer Sun Celebration, there was a purple unicorn filly. Her special talent was magic, though she didn't know it yet. Despite being a Canterlot Unicorn, she was not one of the nobility and was not stuck up on her prowess. She was slowly remembering her many past lives, and though she had their experience she was not them. She was new. She was destined to become Celestia's apprentice, to become an outgoing member of the royal courts of Canterlot, to overthrow the rotten aristocracy, to lead a social revolution, discover the Seventh Element of harmony, with her friends Rarity, Octavia, Lyra, Minuette, Berry Punch, and Raindrop. In short, she was a complete and total Mary Sue, ideally placed to save Equestria from every disaster that would take place in the next fifty years. But she would never get the chance to live up to her full potential. Because as Celestia raised the sun, the pink in her eyes dimmed. The memories of past lives left her. She was nothing more than Twilight Sparkle. A short distance away, in the land of Ponyville, lived an earth pony. He had a brown coat, a scruffy brown mane, and striking, cat-like green eyes. He was currently terrorizing his parents to take him to Canterlot. There, he would be able to advance himself in the most prestigious academies. Soon he would charm, woo, and marry Princess Cadence, distinguish himself as the inventor of the Time Machine, develop a war between ponies and dragon in the midst of the confusion of the revolution his adversary would doubtless spark, and soon, for the first time, destroy that accursed pony that kept him from destroying Equestria two millennia ago. Be he would never get the chance to live up to his full potential. Because as Celestia raised the sun, his green eyes dimmed, and became round instead of slitted. The memories of past lives left him. He was nothing more than Time Turner. ~0o0~ "... Did it work?" One of the hooded figures asked. "I think it worked." Another said. "At least... I mean... we only have the one page from the Necroponinomicon, but I think I translated it correctly..." A scoff. "Typical unicorns." "Shut up Crash." "D-daddy?" Rainbow Crash began to cry. "Check on her." The youngest voice commanded. "Rainbow?" Thunder Crash worked his way into rainbow Crash's field of vision. "Rainbow, wake up." "Where am I?" "You're in a sacrificial pit. We were going to have a ritual, and it was going to work, but apparently you can't even trust unicorns with magic." "Y-you were gonna sacrifice me? Why?" "You were just bait for a larger prey." Thunder Crash cursed. "It was either you or Soarin', and let's face it, you'll never be a great flyer. You don't have the drive. Pity this poor excuse for a trap was manned by unicorns and an earth pony, they promised me a new wing." "Thunder! Silence!" The younger voice commanded. Rainbow Dash kept crying. "This is a really horrible trap." "Yeah, I know." Thunder rolled his eyes. "I mean, you made an even bigger mistake then trusting unicorns." "What's that?" Thunder asked, curious. "Thunder, get back." The young voice commanded. "Quiet, I wanna hear what mistake she thinks we made." Thunder growled over his shoulder. "Oh yeah." Rainbow's crying died down to sniffling. "Big mistake. Huge mistake. Didn't anypony ever tell you? There is one thing you should never put in a trap. If you're smart, if you value your continued existence, there is one thing you never! Ever! Put! In a trap!" "It's him!" the young voice yelled, As Thunder realized his daughter's eyes were now pink. "Me." With a flick of her wrists, Rainbow tossed the tears that had collected in her hooves into the air. Forming a cloud, she began to punch them, sending lightning across the room. Thunder, with practiced speed and accuracy, leaped out of the way of the first bolt, falling out the window. The other unicorns were not so lucky, getting zapped the first chance they got. When the room was clear, Rainbow grunted, dislocated her shoulder a little, then slipped out of the ropes. With a heave, she popped her shoulder back in. "Alright, who's in charge here?" Rainbow demanded of the room filled with groaning ponies. "I am." Rainbow walked forward. A crystal ball sat on a pedestal, and a young face looked out. "You?" Rainbow asked. "You can't be any older than this body is!" "It's never too early to think about the future." The young earth pony mare in the crystal ball smirked. "You have no future." Rainbow snarled. "Do you have any idea what you've done? In this body, I might not be able to stop Equestria from being destroyed!" "Oh, I know that Doctor." Said the smirking foal. "Or do you prefer Starswirl? Daring? Dodger? I know all about your exploits. My papa started this organization, and I'm going to finish it. The ritual we used has put you in the body of a foal, whose own father thought she was a weakling. How does it feel to be less than spectacular? Less, even, then ordinary?" Rainbow growled. "My life force is tied to the Adversary. This ritual effected him too." "But he didn't have a focus." The foal continued to explain. "He could end up anywhere. And when he does, when some random weak body ends up with his memories, he'll have to have me help him. That way his inevitable betrayel will be curbed before it begins." "So you want him for his power, but he won't be powerful?" Rainbow scoffed. "Oh, but you forget." The other reminded her cheerfully. "Remember in your days as pirate king? You defeated that regeneration of your nemesis, but only by having him set up to be sealed in the moon for ten centuries. Guess which century it is?" Rainbow Dash's eyes narrowed. "He'll be back more powerful than before. I'll have him on a leash. And the one pony with a history of being able to stop him? Is in the body of the most pathetic foal we could find, and the only living witness to the scene of a terrible massacre." Rainbow hissed. "I'm a filly. My lightning bolts weren't that -" The ponies on the floor screamed. All of them at once, in a horrendous symphony. And then, they were silent. No more groans. They stopped trying to get up. They stopped breathing. "Enjoy fleeing from the Royal Guards with a body that isn't your own." Rainbow Crash leaned forward. "Whoever you are, wherever you are, you won't get away with this. I will find you. I will -" The crystal ball shut off. Rainbow was in a daze. She shook it off. "What... what happened?" She looked around and all she saw were the bodies. "What... what's going on?" "Rainbow." Rainbow heard herself say. "Rainbow Crash, isn't it? Nice name, wonderful name." "Who are you?" Rainbow asked. "What's happening?" "Well, here's the thing Rainbow." Rainbow said. "We've got a bit of a problem. Well, two problems. Three problems. Four problems and a book, and quite possibly an angry alicorn." "Why aren't they moving?" Rainbow poked the bodies. "They used to be moving... they were singing..." "They were chanting." Rainbow explained to herself. "Chanting a way to put me inside your head. Let's call that problem four point five." "Are they..." Rainbow's blood chilled when she realized they weren't moving. At all. Not even shuffling like ponies who were asleep tended to do. "Now now Rainbow." Rainbow told herself. "I know you're scared, but we still have problem two to deal with. Direct the attention of your ears to the door." Rainbow turned. There was one door in the room, and two windows. Beyond the door, she could hear the frantic thumping of hoofsteps. Far away, at the stairs, but getting ever closer. "I don't need to alarm you Rainbow." Rainbow said. "If you can't handle this, I'll save us. But we're going to be together for a long time, and I don't want to suppress you." "Is that what happened?" Rainbow shivered. "You heard dad taking me away? I heard him and I thought I was in danger, so I... I took over... I 'handled' this?" "I know you're upset..." Rainbow tried to explain to herself. "Upset... why would I be upset?" Rainbow's eye began to twitch. "I'm only insane. I'm only a psychopath that talks to herself and could snap at any time!" I can talk to you without talking if it helps. "That doesn't help!" The door slammed open. Three well built unicorns entered the room. One of them had to hold back his vomit at the scene. Rainbow Crash looked around, and saw one of the windows had been smashed open. "Freeze!" The guards yelled, and she bolted. She dove out of the open windows, taking to the skies. "Did I do that, or did you?" She asked. "You did it." She answered. "Oh man, that was the royal guard!" She moaned. "Well look on the bright side; you're flying!" "Yeah." She sighed. "I'm flying away." Goodbye brother. ~0o0~ Rainbow Crash - no, Dash - got ready to take off, as she watched Fluttershy hovering to the cloud with a flag in her mouth. She blew a lock of her hair out of her face. She didn't own a comb anymore, and she'd had to dye it a distracting variety of colors. But she liked it. She liked being a ruffian. She decided it was better then any of her posh former friends. Why are you doing this? One of the voices asked. There were more of them now, more personalities, more memories... Because somepony has to. Rainbow Dash answered. Fluttershy waved a flag, and they took off like a shot. But... if I may ask, why are you being better than yourself? What? Swerve. Swerve. Hoop. Your father taught you that anypony who couldn't fly, even baby Pegasi, were worthless. That they deserved whatever you wanted to inflict on them. You've lived your life believing that. Why turn against it now? Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth. I'm not turning against anything. Fluttershy, Unicorns, Earth ponies, they're all pathetic. But you're helping Fluttershy. Just because she's pathetic doesn't mean she'll always be. Rainbow Dash pushed her speed to the limit. When I was a baby, I couldn't fly either. I'll help Fluttershy fly. I'll build her up. I'll help Earth Ponies. I'll help unicorns. They may be babies, but who wouldn't help a baby who's crying? ... I can only think of one. Rainbow Dash pushed herself further She passed one of the bullies. I'll protect them. And I'll help them grow. Because right now, I need that too. I need to keep hidden from the Royal Guards. I need to grow big enough so I can someday fix my four and a half problems. And someday, I won't be a baby anymore. I'll be as awesome as the Wonderbolts - no, I'll be even more awesome then them. I'll be the best! I'll be elite! A sharp turn in the course came. Rainbow Dash could feel the very sky itself trying to slow her down, trying to reject her, trying to tear her apart. But she would make this turn. Because all babies grow up. And someday, the world will know Fluttershy's name. And mine. We'll take the world like a hurricane. She tore through the color spectrum. Everything exploded into light. Looking behind her, she saw her cutie mark, and grinned. Like an Oncoming Storm. ~0o0~ "Okay parrot." Rainbow Dash whispered. "You do what I say, and you'll get your cracker." The parrot and her shoulder looked at her dubiously. "Squack, Liar liar, pants on fire, whistle!" "Please!" She hissed. And with that she rounded the corner and bumped into her friend Fluttershy. Being one of the most unexpectantly strong ponies she knew, instead of bouncing off her like most foals, Rainbow found herself on the ground with her friend. "Oh!" Fluttershy said, getting up hastily and helping Rainbow up. "Oh, I'm so sorry Rainbow Dash, I should have watched where I was going." "Oh, no problem." Rainbow Dash said getting up. "Squack! Here, let me help you up!" The parrot gallantly offered a wing, but Fluttershy got up on her own. "Oh thank you, you're such a lovely bird." Fluttershy cooed. "Squack! Gonna cut ya with a spoon!" Fluttershy squeaked and backed away. "Oh... my..." "Yeah." Rainbow Dash's face flushed red. "I decided that I should have a pet. But Jackie here has violent schizophrenia..." "No I don't! Squack! Ahahahahaha, kill you myself." "Oh my, that sounds quite serious." Fluttershy fished around in her saddles and brought out a bottle of pills. "Here. Have her take one of these and a slice of apple, and a long nap." "Thanks Fluttershy, you're a real gem!" Rainbow Dash eagerly scooped up the pill bottle and the two Pegasus parted ways. "I want my crackers." The parrot informed Rainbow. "Yeah yeah, here're your crackers." Rainbow Dash shoved the box of crackers into the parrot's claws and the bird took off. You don't have to do this! 'Starswirl' yelled. I know! If you want to make it effective for a Pegasus, I'd say two pills, and two full apples a day. Doctor! What? She has as little choice in this as the rest of us. If she wants to be rid of us, it's her choice. We said we wouldn't dominate her! Yeah! Let her live as she wants for now, if she needs us, she knows where to find us! You too Dodger? "Guys, I'm right here you know. I can hear you." Rainbow Dash said. She sighed and took the pills. "Now be quiet." ~0o0~ Rainbow Dash placed her bits on the table. "I'm telling you guys, this stuff is the best. My friend AJ, she makes it every year and..." "I'm sorry Ms. Dash..." The waiter placed the tray on the table with not three, but two foamy glasses of cider upon it. "But this is all the kitchen has in stock at the moment." Rainbow Dash's face passed through various stages; shock, anger, denial, resignation, and resolution. "Alright. Here ya go guys, cider's on me." Soarin' and Spitfire looked at her with shock from across the table. "Oh, you don't have to..." "No, no, I want to." Rainbow Dash beamed. She'd just won the Best Young Fliers competition. She'd been so stressed out about it, that she'd actually almost failed her routine. If it weren't for Rarity, she probably never would have done the rainboom and won. The truth is she'd been... hesitant about winning. Very hesitant. Did she really want to win? Should she lose? But now that she'd won... well, it was all worth it. Even if Soarin' did discover her secret, even if he did turn her over to Celestia who would probably never let her near Twilight or Fluttershy or any of her friends again for being a psychopath... it was worth it. "You're right this is great!" Soarin' said, sipping his cider. "Woah!" Spitfire's eyes widened. "After travelling faster than the color spectrum, everything tastes like dazzling sparkling meadow dew with the finest hint of clovers! Or maybe that's just the amazing cider. Better order some more food just to make sure." Soarin' nodded in agreement. The three of them had already racked up a substantial bill (being athletes means copious consumption of calories) and were still hungry. Rainbow, of course, had eaten the lion's share, being the one who'd gone Mach 10 this morning. But Soarin' wasn't one to lose, and was doing his best to keep pace. "So, hey, Dash." Spitfire continued, after they'd placed another order to the mind-boggled waiter. "What do you think of joining the wonderbolts?" Rainbow Dash, having been bereft of cider, was currently chugging a gallon of lemonade. The contents immediately went from her mouth to Spitfire's face. "Y-y-you mean it?" She asked, shocked. "Well, what you did this morning?" Soarin' smirked. "Kind of impossible. Especially with passengers. I can't believe we haven't heard of you before today, but even you are younger than most of our applicants, I'd say you've earned it. Even if the rest of your routine totally sucks - and I'm sure that was just the jitters - we'll work you into Wonderbolt shape in no time." Rainbow Dash swirled her cup in her hands slowly, before resolutely answering; "Sorry, no." The two Wonderbolts exchanged shocked looks. "Why not?" Because Wonderbolts have background checks, and I'd be arrested and hospitalized before you could say V.I.P. "Because I'm too awesome for the Wonderbolts." Rainbow smirked at the looks on their faces. "Seriously guys, I just wanted the prize of being able to hang with you today." She tried not to make her eyes soften and she touched her brother's unknowing hoof. "But I'm kind of an Element of Harmony. That's like, as elite as you can get. I've already reached the top. And you guys are awesome and I'd totally do you both, but being a Wonderbolt would mean leaving Ponyville and I just couldn't do that." Spitfire smiled. "You're sure?" "Yeah." Rainbow Dash shrugged, praying they bought it. "I mean, if I were a Wonderbolt, everypony would know my name. Being an Element of Harmony is basically the same thing, but a little more low key." "Well it sure is nice to meet somepony secure enough in herself that she doesn't need thousands of adoring fans to tell them how special they are." Soarin' smiled. "Here, I'll pick up the check." Rainbow Dash couldn't help but smile at her brother. Even if he'd never smile back the way he used to. ~0o0~ Rainbow Dash snuck up on the library. There she was. Twilight Sparkle. Dressed up in some sort of goofy country singer song. Soon, she'd wished she'd brought and electric guitar, 'cause she was about to get the zapping of her life! She loomed in closer, just as Twilight was explaining her costume was some old dead dude called... Starswirl the Bearded. The hoofsteps were calm and balanced, walking without fear even as the magma flowed freely from the volcano behind her. Occasionally, the hooves would falter, and the bearded pony would gasp in pain, but then he would correct himself and continue walking. Two shadows fell on the floor. Out of the moonlight emerged the princesses, Celestia and Luna. "Starswirl... oh Starswirl." Celestia hugged him. "What happened?" "I bested the Adversary... temporarily." The old stallion coughed. "What do you mean?" Princess Luna asked. Starswirl's beard grew ever longer, and the wrinkles on his face became more pronounced. "I am dying... but I managed to use the Necroponinomicon to bind my life force with his." He coughed and wheezed. "And he is immortal." "Then why are you dying?" Luna asked. Starswirled looked at her with ancient eyes. "He is defeated... but will return every century. So too will I return. Always in a new form. If I win, the cycle begins anew. If I best him twenty one times, the cycle will end. If he bests me even once... he will destroy Equestria." The two princesses gazed at him, tears in his eyes, as he walked towards the blue booth in the field. "This world... these traditions... I would have used them to best him. I would have the Adversary defeated by a common pony. But no... I had to use the ancient dark rituals found in the necroponinomicon to bind him. As far as I am concerned... I have failed." He walked into the blue box. "And now, I pay the price for the black magics I've used. But I will see you again my princesses... in my next regeneration. You will know me by my eyes... and him by his." And with that he shut the door, closing the box as his tomb. The princesses cried, and the magma rolled on and over... Rainbow Dash shook her head. Where had that come from? She shrugged, and focused her attention on Pinkie Pie. Twilight probably wouldn't have liked the prank anyway. ~0o0~ The pendulum moved ever lower, as Daring Do and her faithful companion Rose lay strapped to the table. "I hate this." Rose moaned. "Why does he always leave us in these traps?" "You worried I won't get us free?" Daring Do asked brashly, tangling her hoof in the ropes that bound them. "Well no, but..." Rose sighed. "That's another thing, you always escape!" "We always escape." Do corrected. "Why does Azzy leave us in a trap if we always escape?" Daring Do frowned. "There's a protocol to these things Rose. Our adversary is an ancient creature, bound by rules of black magic. He can't kill us directly. It has to be a trap for him. Always a trap." Rainbow Dash blinked. Where had that come from? She hadn't read that in the book. She shifted and yawned. Awe well. Maybe she could write a fanfic about it later. She wasn't much of a writer, but she never would have guessed she was a reader before, so maybe. She loved the Daring Do novels. It was almost like she was right there, in her place! It was like she could feel the ropes on her skin and the heat of the savannah... like they were memories... The alarm clock next to her buzzed, and Rainbow Dash jolted out of bed. "Oops." She facehoofed, and went to her medicine cabinet. She hadn't had any of her pills since before she went to the hospital. ~0o0~ The garden was alive and light with dancing ponies, but only two could fit in the dance floor. Naturally, once the Bride and Groom had left, the honor of dancing in the middle would only - could only - go to the fastest dancers on the floor. Soarin' Crash and Rainbow Dash. They danced like their hooves were on fire, and they were likely to be if they didn't stop dancing sometime soon. Rainbow breathed a sigh of relief as Soarin' slowed down. Not that she'd ever stop dancing with him, but he really set a high pace. "You want something to drink?" He asked. "Sure." Rainbow agreed, and the two of them moved out of the centre of the dance floor (more room for Rarity and Fancy-Pants). Soarin' motioned for Rainbow to sit down and the bench. Now, Rainbow was certain that she had been very careful to be awesome tonight. There was no way any wincing had made it through her sore hooves, on the dancefloor with Rarity's really uncomfortable horseshoes mere hours from bucking Changelings. So she decided not to blow cover just yet. "I'm gonna go and sit with Spitfire." She told Soarin' discreetly hovering to take the wait off of her hooves. "Sure." Soarin' smiled and headed to the punch bowl. Spitfire smiled as Rainbow sat down next to her. "Well, congratulations Rainbow." "Yeah, that Sonic Rainboom was pretty sweet, huh?" Rainbow tossed her mane. "At an upward angle even. My wings are the strongest in the world!" "Well, yes, that too." Spitfire giggled. "But I was talking about you and Soarin'. I'll be honest; I've had a crush on him for like, forever. But the better mare won his heart." The world seemed to shatter into fragments. Then the fragments shattered into universes, each universe containing a single screaming Pegasus. "W-w-w-what?" Rainbow Dash asked, aghast. Spitfire raised an eyebrow. "Oh, don't worry, I'm not his ex or something. He doesn't even know. You don't need to worry about me interfering with you two lovebirds." "No! No no!" Rainbow Dash shook. "I mean... he's not really into me is he?" The thought of her brother being attracted to her in that way was... well, she didn't know enough words, but there was probably something a whole lot wordier out there than disturbing! "Of course he is." Spitfire said, winking and nudging Rainbow Dash. "He told me so just last week. Asked me to put in a good word for you tonight. You know, romantic atmosphere, you saving the world and doing a sonic rainboom again, I think he's going to ask you -" "Oh look at that!" Ranibow Dash gulped. "My friends are all running after the Princess' wedding carriage! I'd better join them! Bye!" " - on a date." Spitfire looked confused as Soarin' walked up with the drinks. "Hey, where'd Dash go?" Soarin' asked. Spitfire shrugged. "She said she had to go do something with her friends. She'll probably be back soon." But Rainbow would never be back. She could never look her brother in the eyes again, not knowing that he was looking at her with doe-eyes. That night, as she made it back to her house, she took down her trophy for the best Young Flier competition, and replaced it with her new most cherished possession. The picture of her and her brother, the last time they would meet. For the first time since her mother died, tears flowed free and unrestrained.
Fallout: Equestria - The Hooves of Fate: The Coming Storm	pre	* * * And that's it. That's what I'm supposed to watch. The door closes, leaving me out in the rain. And then I just sorta wake up. I remember what it was like to find myself back in my warm, safe room. In my warm, cozy bed all of a sudden. That poster of Sapphire Shores staring at me with her sassiest look. I felt this horrible disconnect. Like none of it was real. Like everything around me - everything I thought I knew about Equestria - thought I'd loved - was really just a mask. A polite lie hiding an awful truth. The notion haunts me. Last night as I lay awake in bed, that disconnecty feeling came back. 'Cause I was thinking about Manehattan again. Sure, Zinbe's safety takes the edge off a little. 'Cause there's at least one happy ending. But what I saw of the riot still gets under my hide. 'Cause that vision - it was different from all the other Wastelandish stuff. This wasn't some slave mine. These weren't the trenches of some war between factions that don't even exist yet. The future I saw in Manehattan - it was my future. My Equestria. Broken. That's the thing that hurts the most to think about. But still, I replayed it in my head last night. 'Till I finally made some sense out of what I saw. * * * I did like I was taught. I thought back, and I concentrated, and I looked deep into my memories - relived the vision. I can't go back into that time and place. I can't do anything differently the second time around - but I can look. So I closed my eyes, and I dug deep - explored things that I'd missed the first time around. I watch the square as the rain pours. And I see families reuniting. So many hugs. So many tears I'd overlooked before, as I'd run by. I also see those who didn't make it. The trampled. Lying face down in puddles. Ponies who'll never answer when their loved ones call their names. I give them the moment of silence they deserve. I bow my head. And as I'm looking down into the puddles, it occurs to me for the first time to wonder how the rain had ever happened in the first place. I look up - study the storm clouds as they pile on harder, and harder, and harder. Congregating over Bridleway. I realize that they aren't simply drifting. They're assembling with purpose. I look hard 'till I notice figures flying way up above. Rounding the clouds up. Pegasi. Regular, ordinary pegasi. It's not some special squad of weather ponies, or Wonderbolts, or guards. It's just high school kids! Business ponies! Newspaper vendors! Children! I watch and wonder how it could have slipped by me before - how I hadn't even thought to question the rain. I think back to when the storm had first started. And it was just a hoof full of clouds. Sweet Celestia, I whisper to myself. It couldn't have been more than two or three pegasi who'd started the whole storm! They'd saved us all. And nopony down on the ground had even seemed to notice. At all. We were so busy running around, saving ourselves. It gets me thinking. Wondering if the heroism of those pegasi will ever get reported. Or if it'll simply go unnoticed. Forgotten. Like that blue pony who'd dropped a frying pan on a zebra-hating jerk, only to disappear a moment later. I stare up into the skies, and get all contemplatey. Hundreds of years from now, ponies are gonna look back, and dig up fragments of our truth out of scattered documents. If they find out about what happens in Manehattan, will they know that we resisted at all?! The pink Pegasus who saved the falling zebra. The bakers. The pegasi. The dozens who fought to protect the tent. And the hundreds more who fought just to be heard. To say 'no,' to the hatred that they saw. Will any of that be remembered? Or will Manehattan just go down in history as a city full of jerks? * * * I found it terrifying. And confusing. And strangely empowering. To realize that, while it's the princesses, and the mayors, and the "Ministry Mares" who take history by the reins, it's still the background ponies who actually define their times. Folks who are stuck living through it all. How we react. How we fight. If we fight. What we choose to fight for. Our stories are almost never uncovered. We end up as numbers on the history book page, if we're counted at all. But we still have our own battles going on as the world seems to tear itself apart. Millions of them. Conflicting narratives. Conflicting voices. Conflicting goals. Fighting for supremacy - The Story That Gets Told In The End. Just think about how the Lightbringer, Littlepip, is eventually gonna piece together our history like a random collage of found documents and anecdotes. How the random reporting of her deeds is gonna be what turns the Wasteland upside down - gets it going in the right direction again. Just 'cause the timing's right. Then there's our own ancient history. I look around Bridleway. Feel the icy pellets of rain against my hide. And I think of the Windigo, and the Founding Sisters, and the Fire of Friendship. We sit back by the fireplace every winter, and remember that story all hindsighty, where everything makes perfect sense, with its nice neat beginning, and its tumultuous middle, and it's nice neat little ending. But none of the folks who were actually there knew any of that. They just knew that their tribes were starving. And freezing. And desperate. The Founding Sisters were just as confused and clueless as the folks in riot-torn Manehattan. They couldn't have imagined a happy ending if they'd tried. What I saw in that vision - what's gonna happen in Manehattan twenty some-odd years down the line - it's a clusterfuck of ponies trying to be heard. Trying to protect what they hold dear. Trying to survive. It gets fucking complicated when all those voices, and all those struggles get mashed together. The history lessons that we pretend to learn of it after the fact? They're just our own values mirrored back at us. As we try to make sense of it all. I'm not sure if I should feel uplifted by that epiphany, or just plain depressed. * * * The very last thing I saw last night while rediscovering the aftermath of the Manehattan riots - it's the place where I'd first started. Where I'd met Otty the Creepy Otter. That old projection against the tall, tall buildings - it's still cycling footage - flickering those same images in the rain: Princess Luna in military garb. Wearing that stern face. Showing the same readiness to lead. But the text underneath it has changed since the riot had broken out. Some projectionist somewhere, in the heat of the moment, must have altered it. Another small act of rebellion. Instead of subtitling the images, the panel just scrolls a message - the same six words again, and again, and again. . This is not who we are. This is not who we are. This is not who we are. This is not who we are. It was hard to linger there. As the message and the footage strobed their reflections across puddles on the street. But I stood there. And I shivered. I held on as long as I could just so I could keep reading the text as it went by. For some reason - a reason I can't put into words - that message made all the chaos in my head suddenly make sense. "This is not who we are." I watched the projection for a good long while. Until the words scrambled, and went back to the original message. And I was left wondering if anyone had seen it but me.
Serious Sam - My Little Encounter	pre	They took Twilight by surprise, but Sam was prepared. He grabbed his golden sceptre and smashed the mutant horses that got close. Twilight realized what was happening and she beamed down the horses in the sky and in the distance. Once they all died, Twilight took a close look at one of them. "Are these ponies?" She asked. "Yeah," Sam answered, "I should have known Mental was going to have fun with that Reptiloid DNA again." "He turned ponies to his side?" "Yeah, he tends to do that to worlds he conquered." "We must hurry then." They boarded the train, killed a couple mutant horses that remained on board and headed to the driver's cabin. Twilight tried to figure out the controls, while Sam noticed something. It made his eye beam up. "How convenient!" He shouted enthusiastically and picked up a minigun. Then he shot down all remaining mutant horses that were still after them. "How do I drive this?" Twilight asked, while looking at the many levers. Sam looked at the controls, pushed and pulled a few levers and the train began moving. "How'd you do that?" Twilight asked. "Cranial computer remember?" Sam answered. The train was speeding up nicely. The tracks were a bit rough, but it was going well. Canterlot was getting closer and closer. Of course, the trip wasn't undisturbed. Some clatter could be heard from the top of the train, as skeletons and mutant horses jumped on top of it. "I'll deal with them!" Said Sam and he climbed outside. He grabbed his trusty minigun and took down anyone who dared to board the train without his permission. Some monsters even jumped in through the windows, which Twilight swiftly took care of. Soon bulls approached the train and crashed into it sideways, trying to derail it. Even flying robots flew in, trying to push Sam off. "Sam, could you take care of those bulls?!" Twilight shouted, as she tried to deal with the flying robots of her own. "I'm kind of busy right now!" Sam shouted back, as the flying robots were now grabbing and pulling him. Twilight thought for a bit. She concentrated on the train very hard, then with a bit of effort, she lifted the train up in the air. The bulls bunched up below the flying train, which Twilight crashed back down with immense force. The bulls were grinded up by the train's wheels crashing against the railing. Their bones shattered, as their bodies were pulverized into tiny pieces. Sam held on. Then, once all bulls were reduced to ground meat, he could take down all the annoying floaters around him. But as it turns out, that was merely a distraction. They heard a deep monstrous moan. Sam was too busy dealing with the floaters, to take a look, but Twilight managed to catch a glimpse of where they were headed and saw the railroad running straight into an enormous mass of lava which had two gigantic arms growing out of it. "Sam!" Twilight leaned out the window and shouted. "Jump!" Sam turned around and saw the huge lava golem in front of the train. He didn't hesitate to jump right off the train. Twilight flew out the window and caught Sam in the air. The train rode towards the lava monster, which slammed on it with its massive arm, completely obliterating it. The shockwave pushed them further, but they managed to land safely, save for a few cuts and bruises. The debris was still flying as they got up. Twilight took a good look at the lava monster, but Sam's attention was pulled somewhere else. "Is it Christmas already?" He exclaimed and picked up a cannon. "Or is it my birthday?" "Sam," Twilight shouted, "look out!" Sam looked and there was a big ball of lava heading towards his way. He didn't realize, but Twilight was already fighting the lava golem, while he was talking to his cannon. He aimed it at the ball of lava and launched a cannonball at it, which plowed right through it, straight into to the lava golem's side. A small bit of lava broke off and formed into a smaller lava golem. Twilight blasted it with laser, but it only broke into three smaller golems. That process repeated itself a few more times, as Sam shot more cannonballs at the lava monster. Twilight tried to destroy all smaller lava golems, but she couldn't keep up. There was just more and more of them. "It just keeps breaking into more of them!" She complained. "Yeah, I hate fighting this guy." Sam replied. Twilight thought for a bit, then got an idea. She flew up to the small golems and blasted them with freezing air. They all solidified into rock, which Twilight blasted apart with her magic. She then flew up to the big one and froze a small chunk of it. Sam saw that and shot a cannonball right where the lava was solidified. The big golem shrunk slightly, as it couldn't use that part of itself anymore. Soon Twilight solidified more of it and Sam kept breaking it apart with his cannonballs. The monster was quickly reduced to rubble. "Good thinking!" Sam complimented Twilight and raised his hand for a high-five. Then he realized his mistake and settled on a fist-hoof bump instead. But as the searing rubble cooled down, it began to shake. The rocks flew towards each other and formed into yet more golems. "Nevermind." Said Sam and he continued fighting. Thankfully, blowing these rock golems to pieces was much more effective. Still, there were many of them and while Twilight had an easier time blasting rock apart, the fight still took a lot of time. The golems were breaking, the rubble was flying, and eventually, they succeeded. They took a few breaths as the dust settled and looked at each other. "Let's just get to Canterlot already!" Said Twilight tiredly. "Yeah..." Sam mustered up a response and they began walking towards Canterlot. It was close now, the mountain the city was built into was already casting its shadow. But it was still far away. For a brief moment the sky cleared. The Moon and the Sun could be seen. "Oh no!" Said Twilight as she saw that. "Both the Moon and the Sun are up." "Uh... is that bad?" Sam asked. "That means Celestia and Luna are in trouble!" "Then we better get to them!" Sam shouted and they started running. Canterlot wasn't too far away now. But unfortunately, the two of them had one more obstacle in their way. Suddenly the noise of an army teleporting in could be heard. Sam and Twilight kept running. Twilight rose up in the air, taking Sam with her. But she crashed into an invisible energy shield. The army has now completely surrounded them. Every single monster, tanks, gnaars, kleers, zum'buls, walkers, devil horses, beheaded soldiers, everything they've encountered before and some more, was there. And they wanted only one thing. Their blood. Sam and Twilight stood back-to-back, staring down the army of monsters charging at them. Sam took out his minigun, Twilight charged up her horn and they looked at each other. "Ready to get serious?" Sam asked. "Absolutely." Twilight grinned. "Well then..." Sam replied. They faced the approaching alien horde and in unison, they said; "Let's get serious!"
Serious Sam - My Little Encounter	Level 6 - Canterlot	The battle raged on. The monsters were falling, the projectiles filled the air, the ground was soaking in the spilt blood. There were many. Too many. Sam and Twilight fought with all their might. The monsters crumbled under their power. But the army was much too large. The cacophonous symphony of growling, stomping, rumbling and hooves clopping, played Equestria's funerary dirge. Sam and Twilight were supposed to be the saviours, but the endless stream of vicious monsters may put an end to their mission. They stood back to back, facing the vast horde of monsters. Their foreheads gleaming from sweat and blood, Twilight's horn searing, Sam's gun smoking. No words came out of their mouths, only puffs of warm air. And chaos all around them. All hope seemed to be lost. Then, like the rising sun that vanquishes the dark of the night, through the rumbling of the charging army, a cry could be heard. A battle cry, that soared across the battlefield. "Yaks smash!" Suddenly, over the hills in the distance, a comparably large army emerged. They were the yaks from Yakyakistan. The yak army has pulverized the confused alien horde. They ploughed through their ranks. Broken bodies, crushed steel and shattered bones flew in the air. The yaks' hooves sprayed the bloody soil all around, as their immense horns slammed the alien horde. All hope was not lost. Prince Rutherford emerged from the chaos and stepped forth to Twilight. "Yaks and ponies friends!" He said, in his usual rough voice. "If monsters smash ponies, yaks smash monsters!" "Thank you, Prince Rutherford!" Twilight was grateful. "We don't know how much longer we could take them." "Yaks happy to fight for ponies!" "The princesses are in trouble, however. Could you help us get to Canterlot?" The prince looked towards Canterlot. "Yaks make way!" As such, Prince Rutherford and a group of other yaks cleared a path through the battlefield. Sam and Twilight followed. Soon the gates of Canterlot appeared. Demons stood on top of the towers and showered the yaks with their fireballs. The yaks began slowing down, as they couldn't fight back the demons. "Yaks can go no longer," said Rutherford as he and his squad stopped, "yaks can't smash demons." "The gate is closed." Said Sam to Twilight. "We'll have to find another way in." Rutherford thought for a moment. "Me know a way in." He said with a surprisingly playful expression. Then he rushed straight towards the gate and smashed it open. "Door not open for pony? Door open for yak!" Sam and Twilight ran in through the now open gates. They thanked Prince Rutherford as they parted ways. The yaks stayed on the battlefield, while Sam and Twilight hurried inside the city. Aside from the distant rumbling of the battle outside, the streets of Canterlot were silent. Not a soul around, just the forlorn ruins of the once great city. All windows gaped in silence, darkness fell on all homes. All the ponies were in hiding. But the hiding ponies slowly emerged as they saw their saviours. "Princess Twilight!" A foal shouted from the rubble, followed by even more ponies emerging from the ruins. Moon Dancer could be seen running at them. "Twilight!" She shouted worriedly, before stopping in front of her. "I'm so glad you're fine!" "Of course I am." Twilight answered. "It's all thanks to Sam over here." She pointed at Sam with her eyes. "Tell me," she continued, "is Celestia and Luna okay?" "I don't know," Moon Dancer replied, "we haven't seen them and the castle is brimming with monsters." "Look out!" Sam shouted and showed them out the way. A bright blue ball of electricity hit him right in the chest, pushing him on the floor. A blue reptiloid stood on top of a tower. It snarled and threw another electric ball towards Twilight, which flew away with a deep whistle as she dodged out of its way. She then shot a continuous charge of laser at the reptiloid, which stumbled backwards in pain and fell off the tower to its death. "Are you okay?!" She rushed to help Sam get back up. "I'm fine," Sam answered, "I survived worse." "They're back!" A pony from the crowd screamed and everypony scattered to hide back into the rubble. Moon Dancer hesitated, but as she began running away, a demon stood in front of her. It punched her out of the way and snarled. The demon cast a small black hole with its hands and summoned a ball of fire, which it promptly tossed at Sam. He jumped out of its way and destroyed the demon with a charged up cannonball. But right behind the collapsing demon, more monsters began pouring down the streets. "Let's just get to the castle quickly." Said Twilight to Sam and they began running. They ran down the streets, mowing down all opposition in the process. Gnaars, kleers, mutant horses and kamikazes rushed down the streets, reptiloids and arachnoids stood on top of the ruined buildings, raining down projectiles onto the crowded streets. The fight of the streets started to become a bit much. But a random unicorn could be seen running towards them, holding something with his magic. He called out to Sam. Sam looked at the rushing unicorn. "What are you doing?" He shouted. "Get off the battlefield you maniac!" "Sam," he said as he approached, "I've found this gun. I believe it's yours." He handed the gun to Sam, which turned out to be his flamethrower. "My hero!" Sam replied with a comically exaggerated voice and took the flamethrower. "Wait don't...!" Twilight shouted at the random unicorn, who was now running back into the battlefield. She watched him get blown into pieces by a kamikaze."...Run back into the battlefield." She finished her sentence quietly. Sam could only chuckle about it. He then burned all monsters around into a black crisp. "Come on, let's get to the castle." He said, as the castle wasn't far away now. They ran towards the castle, but somebody got in their way. Or rather, somepony. "Not so fast!" She said with a familiar booming voice. "Princess Luna?" Said Twilight anxiously. The dark alicorn laughed. "Luna? Don't you recognize me, Princess Twilight?" Twilight couldn't pry the words out of her mouth. "Come on, Princess Twilight," she laughed "you can say it yourself! Nightmare Moon!"
Serious Sam - My Little Encounter	Level 7 - Canterlot Castle	"Wait, you guys know each-other?" Sam asked. Nightmare Moon giggled. "Yes indeed, Princess Twilight and I have... some history together." "She tried to bring eternal night and I stopped her." Said Twilight. "Well then," Sam continued, "I can assure you, that you two will never meet again, 'cause after I jam this gun up your ass..." "Wait no," Twilight interrupted Sam's gloating, "that's Princess Luna! We shouldn't kill her!" Nightmare Moon just laughed. "You fools!" She shouted, then shot a large burst of laser between Sam and Twilight, launching them to the left and right. "You better come up with something then," Sam shouted to Twilight, "'cause she ain't gonna go easy on us!" Nightmare Moon then aimed at Twilight and fired a continuous charge at her. She run along a wall, which the laser turned into dust, then flew up in the air. "Luna, this isn't you!" Twilight tried to reason with her. "Mental must have done something to you!" "Oh you bet!" She replied then charged up her horn and fired a massive beam towards Twilight, who got out of its way just in time. But Nightmare just laughed and launched several other beams of that size. Twilight could get away from some of them, but was forced to use a magical shield instead. "Luna, listen to me!" She tried to reason again, as the beam screeched against her shield. "The only one I listen to is Mental!" Finally, Sam interjected, with a cannonball to Nightmare Moon's face, which stunned her for a second. In that short amount of time, Twilight could see the evil in Nightmare Moon's eyes disappear and for a moment, she almost seemed to burst into tears of regret. But that moment has passed as soon as the fires of the explosion disappeared and the vengeful anger of the nightmare was back on her face. She turned to Sam and fired her enormous beams at him. Twilight tried to get Nightmare Moon's attention back and burned her with laser. It worked and Nightmare Moon was now chasing Twilight again. "Sam," she called out, "aim your cannon at her head!" "I thought you said..." "Just do it!" And sure enough, Sam launched another cannonball at Nightmare Moon. This time she knew about it and caught the cannonball with her magic. She made it orbit around herself for a bit, then launched it back towards Sam. Twilight flew in and caught it, spun it around herself once, then launched it back into Nightmare Moon's face. She was stunned again, but recovered quickly. Her entire body started to glow, a black aura appeared around her and a tremendous laser beam came out of the blackness. Twilight picked Sam up quickly and teleported both of them out of the way of the enormous blast, which left a gigantic hole in the city. They appeared right next to Nightmare Moon. "Now!" Shouted Twilight and Sam fired another cannonball. While Nightmare Moon was stunned, Twilight flew up to her and cast a spell on her head, trying to yank out whatever turned her into Nighmare Moon. She yelped in pain and swatted Twilight away as she recovered from the blast. But Sam had already charged up another cannonball and launched it. Nightmare Moon got stunned again and Twilight tried again. She blasted Twilight away with a small charge of laser, sending both her and Sam on the ground. But their effort seemed to have worked this time. Nightmare Moon's eyes and mane were flashing, as if she struggled to remain in control of her body. "Luna, can you hear me?" Twilight yelled after getting up. Luna's voice came out of Nightmare Moon. "Help me!" Then with Nightmare's voice, "Don't come near me!" She then screamed in pain, which switched between Luna's and Nightmare's voice. Twilight tried again. She flew up to Nightmare Moon and cast the spell again. As Nightmare Moon screamed, a purple smoke emerged from her mouth, like a tentacle. But she refused. She shot another laser at Twilight and went back to struggling. She stopped for a moment and with Luna's voice shouted out, "Get out!" A white light surrounded her and in a bright explosion, Nightmare Moon's body got ripped into pieces. As they flew, the pieces turned into purple smoke and evaporated. Princess Luna was now in Nightmare Moon's place. With a painful moan she fell to the ground. "Luna!" Twilight ran up to her. "Are you okay?" Luna got up, while holding her aching head. "I'm fine." She said. "That's something you won't be able to say about Mental, if I get my hooves on him!" She then went back to holding her head in pain. She looked up at Sam. "Who is this?" "Sam "Serious" Stone, monster murdering expert." "Please don't lob any more cannonballs at my head." "As long as you don't try to kill us again." Said Sam and they both chuckled. "Luna," Twilight interjected, "where is Celestia?" Luna thought for a moment. "Celestia! She's in the castle!" And as soon as she finished the sentence, monsters burst through the castle doors. Luna prepared to fight, but Sam walked in front of her. "Rest your head princess, let me handle this." He pulled out his mingun and mowed down all the monsters pouring out through the castle doors. They ran inside the castle, through the now open doors. As expected, more monsters were inside the building. Sam destroyed all of them with his minigun. Luna looked at the smoking barrel of Sam's gun, just winding down and was thoroughly impressed by it. "Say," she said to him, "may I borrow your spinning gun?" Sam gave her a curious look. "Sure." He said and handed his minigun to Luna. Luna surrounded the gun with her magic. She leaned in slightly, as she was surprised by its weight. She stood up straight, she inspected the gun, she spinned the barrel and accidentally shot a few bullets into the ceiling. "Now, careful with that!" Sam scolded her. Luna looked at the monsters now erupting from all over the castle halls. "Careful?" She said. "I thought this was a massacre!" And she mowed down all monsters coming towards them, with her new spinning gun, as confidently as Sam himself would do it. "You're getting the hang of it." Sam complimented Luna. But then, they could hear something moving outside the city walls. Something enormous. They walked out the door to check it out. The Alcor Class Warships were gathering and darkened the sky. Suddenly, a gigantic monster rose up. It roared and began moving towards Canterlot, the ground shaking beneath its hooves. And the monster was none other than Lord Tirek. "I have returned!" He roared and smashed down two towers with his fists. His eyes gleamed like never before. "Tirek!" Luna and Twilight yelped. Sam walked in front of them. "You two get the other princess, I'll deal with the big boy." "Are you sure you can handle this?" Luna asked him. "Of course I can! Just ask Twilight!" "He'll be fine." Twilight replied, dismissively waving her hoof. "Come on Luna, let's get Celestia." With that, both of them were now heading back inside the castle. There were more monsters coming from inside. Luna and Twilight mowed them down, but Luna needed something more. She looked at her minigun, then pulled another one from it. She now had two miniguns. "Haha! The gun has been doubled!" She exclaimed in excitement. "I should really look into that spell." Twilight commented. They were moving further inside the castle, Luna massacring all monsters along the way. All of them just turned to mush, under the double minigun's might. The halls have quickly turned bright red from the splattered remains of the attacking hordes. "Sister, I'm coming for you!" She shouted at no one in particular and burst open the doors to the hallway. Sam walked towards the huge monster, that was trampling all over Canterlot. "This time you won't get away!" Tirek roared. "I'll annihilate this whole wretched land!" "Not if I annihilate you first!" Sam gloated. Tirek, looked down onto Sam and laughed. "You must be really brave and foolish to stand against me." Sam chuckled and pulled out his cannon. "Nah, I'm just serious!"
Serious Sam - My Little Encounter	Level 8 - The Final Battle	Luna and Twilight burst into the throne room. Luna's miniguns were smoking, while Twilight took off a gnaar's eyeball that was stuck to her horn. The throne room was empty, except for Celestia. She was huddled up in front of her throne, inside a magical sphere, not unlike the one discord was trapped inside. She was writhing in pain, as her mane switched between her usual coloured mane and blazing fire. "Sister!" Luna shouted and ran towards Celestia. "Don't come any closer!" She yelled at her. "I can't let you become Mental's slave too!" Luna said and looked at the pylons casting the sphere around Celestia. She tried to destroy them with her guns, but it was fruitless. "It's all over!" Celestia exclaimed as tears were running down her face. "No it's not!" Luna shouted. "I was just saved from Mental's clutches, we can save you too!" "Equestria is doomed!" Celestia just cried. "No," said Twilight, "I'm here, Luna's here and we've got help from the time-lock. We saved Ponyville and we also have Discord and the Yaks on our side. We only need you to tip the scales in our favour." "Please Celestia!" Luna pleaded. "You've got to fight against Mental's influence!" Celestia firmly planted her hooves on the ground and pushed herself up. She trembled from the pylons' magic, she grinded her teeth in pain and opened her eyes slightly. She saw Luna and Twilight counting on her. She saw the monsters pouring in from the door, the Alcor Class Warships gathering outside, she heard Tirek too. "Equestria needs all of us," said Luna, "now more than ever!" Celestia charged her horn up. A single tear rolled on the side of her cheek, as her expression turned from desperate pain, to determined anger. Suddenly, the sphere around her exploded into a bright light, the pylons dissolved, the attacking monsters turned to red mist. Celestia stood straight. Meanwhile Sam was running away from the fiery beams of Tirek. "I'll crush you like an insect!" Gloated Tirek. Sam laughed. "I eat fuckers like you for breakfast!" Then he shot a few rockets at him. Tirek swatted the rockets out of the air. "You are nothing! What can a piece of dirt do against someone like me?" "Just the usual," Sam responded, "kick his fucking ass!" Their battle raged on. Sam ran circles around Tirek, while Tirek blew parts of Canterlot into smithereens, with each fiery beam. Then, at the right moment, an enormous laser beam hit Tirek straight in the face. "I'll send you back to the burning pits of Tartarus, you monster!" It was Celestia, followed by Twilight and Luna. "And take your ugly army with you!" Luna screamed out and attacked with both of her miniguns. Twilight flew next to Sam. "How are you holding up?" "I'm having a blast!" Sam answered. "What do you say?" Twilight grinned. "Wanna take a ride?" "With pleasure!" Sam hopped onto Twilight's back. She flew up and they both began assaulting Tirek. Tirek flailed at them, but he was no longer in control of the fight. "You fools!" He roared, then laughed. "You can't defeat me!" He then pulled out a gatling gun with his right hand, then a rocket launcher with his left hand. The princesses flew circles around him, while Tirek tried to shoot them down. He fired lasers from between his horns, rockets and showers of bullets from his guns. Celestia shot continuous beams at him, Luna brought down a hail of bullets from her miniguns, Twilight blasted him multiple times and Sam wailed on him, with all the weapons he had. But Tirek got the upper hand. He shot down Celestia with a rocket, blasted Luna with a fiery beam and smashed Sam and Twilight into the ground. They fell into the rubble that used to be Canterlot. Their bodies filled with pain. Tirek just laughed. "Can't you see?" He roared. "You're nothing against me! This whole pathetic world will crumble under lord Mental's might!" After that gloat, he charged up a beam, preparing to destroy the princesses and Sam. Suddenly a tiny laser beam shot into his face. "What is this?" He said in confusion. It was Fancy Pants. He was standing on top of the ruins of Canterlot, his suit completely ruined. "If I must die, then I won't die hiding under the rubble!" He shouted proudly. Then another beam of laser shot up at Tirek. This time it was Moon Dancer "I didn't learn all of these offensive spells, to never use them!" Soon, more lasers began to burn away at him, as all unicorns of Canterlot stood up from the ruins. Pegasi gathered around him and showered him with the storm clouds they brought. Then suddenly Discord appeared next to him. "Missed me?" He pulled out his tommygun, followed by all the ponies of Ponyville, bringing a deluge of bullets and rockets. Then came the Yaks, with a loud unified "Yaks Smash!" Then the choir of flugelhorns could be heard. The army of the Crystal Empire emerged. Their soldiers decorated with the corpses of Mental's monsters, with Cadence and Shining Armour leading the army. The Griffons came in from the distance, even Princess Ember was there, with her own army of dragons. "Face it Tirek," said Celestia, "you're done for!" Tirek tried to swat them away, shoot them down, but he was greatly outnumbered. He was quickly overwhelmed by lasers, storm clouds, dragon fire, yaks, spears and everything else the ponies could use as weapons. The Apple family and all the ponies of Appleloosa caught him with their ropes and tried to bring him down to the ground. He stood his ground, but then the yaks saw the ponies' effort and coordinated a synchronised attack to tip him over. He quickly fell to the ground and couldn't get up, as all of Equestria was now holding him down. They bashed everything they had at him, pulled off his skin, cut up his flesh, broke his horns, he was bleeding profusely from all of his body. They pulled his head into the ground and allowed Sam to deal the finishing blow. He stepped on Tirek's neck and showed his cannon right to the roof of his mouth. "The insect stomps back, bitch!" And with a charged up cannonball, Sam blew Tirek's brain into pieces. With Tirek obliterated, Mental's army was retreating. His warships were beaming up all the monsters they could, but the armies of Equestria decimated most of the fleet and wiped out all alien monsters, that were still left on the land. A moment of silence lingered as the final warship fled away and broke the clouds. Soon the sky became clear. Both the Sun and Moon were still up. Celestia raised the Sun up to the top of the sky, while Luna lowered the Moon to its rightful place. The sunlight shone on the bloody battlefield and as the light reached the army standing atop Tirek's mangled corpse, they cheered. All of Equestria was cheering. The war has been won.
Serious Sam - My Little Encounter	Outro	"So," said Twilight, "what have you learned about friendship today?" "Come on," Sam replied, "do you really have to stick a lesson into all this?" "No, I don't have to. But honestly, would you have been able to do all this by yourself?" "Of course, I always have!" "Oh really? Have you ever freed anyone, with encouraging speeches?" "Well no..." "So what do you say? Was friendship necessary to win the war?" "I guess so..." "Can friendship bring the mayhem?" Sam thought for a moment. "Yeah, friendship is serious!" The time-lock has been activated. The bright light appeared in its middle. It was ready to bring Sam back to his own time. "Off to fight another war?" Said Twilight. "Nah, this was enough for a while." Sam replied. "So, what are you going to do? Celebrate with your friends and family?" "I think I'll just take a nice, relaxing bubble bath... and watch My Little Pony, apparently." They stopped in front of the time-lock's light. They turned to each other. "Thank you for everything you've done for us." Said Twilight. "It was a pleasure fighting alongside you!" Sam responded. They saluted at each other. Sam turned back at everyone who helped him win the war. They all saluted and Sam saluted back. He turned to Twilight and they had a little fist-hoof bump. Sam then stepped into the light and disappeared as the time-lock winded down and deactivated. Twilight stared at the silent machine for a minute, then turned to the rest of Equestria. "Alright everypony, it's time to wrap this bloody mess up!"
A Siren Tale	pre	Later on me and Aria went out the house so I could tell her what I did. "I-I payed him...not with money..."I couldn't say it. But from Ari's face I could tell she got it. "You didn't need to do that. We could have found another way." "Not without money, nothing is free." "Is he nice about it at least?" "Yeah.He is.My siren instinticts led me here."I told her. "Sis,just don't let he hurt you ok?"Aria had an worried face on."I mean emotionally too." "I won't,don't worry Aria."I hugged her. "Someone gotta look out for you too Adagio." I sighed. "I know you're right, but..." "No buts." I give a small laugh. "When did you get all grown up?" She gave one too. "I don't know, not sure if I like it yet." We both laughed. "What you two doing?" Sonata asked. "Nothing just talking." I told her. "I like it in here,it's really nice."She told us. "That's great,cause we're staying in here for a really long time now."I told her. "Yay!"Sonata cheered. The three of us walked back inside and found the guy. "Does anyone else live here, or is it just us? "Aria asked him. "He has two brothers and three sisters.I still haven't met them.They're traveling." We entered the house and the next day his brothers and sisters got back. "Nice to meet all of you." I told them as we all introduced ourselves. Things were going good but then I saw something that might change things, the look Aria had. Later that day I pulled her aside. "Which one was it?" I asked her. "What are you talking about?" She asked me. "I saw the way you were looking earlier, you need to be careful you don't end up...well you know." "Oh don't worry, I won't have to worry about that." "Why not?" "Because I was staring at one of the girls." "Be careful.This world is not as accepting as Equestria.But I'm happy for you.Which one of the two was?" "The youngest,she's an year older than me." "I'm sure you'll find a way to make it work." "I hope so." "But we really need to watch Sonata. With how she is it would be really easy to take advantage of her." "Yeah.I won't let any of them take advantage of her."Aria said.
A Siren Tale	Chapter 10	It's been a few months sense we all moved in with them. I admit at first I wasn't sure how it would work out but but it's been great. I didn't think it would happen but I've fallen in love with him. And Aria has too. But she's having a harder time, these people just aren't as accepting as they were back home. But I have been feeling very sick lately.Vomiting,nauseous,and just over all feeling bad. "Hey,Dagi are you ok?"Sonata asked. No.No I wasn't.But I wasn't gonna tell her. "Yeah of course I am." I tell her giving her a smile. "You sure?" She asked me. "You seem off." Sonata has always been sensitive to how other people are. "I'm ok Sonata." I need to get her mind off me. "Where's Aria?" I asked her. "I think she's out with Harriet."She said. Aria arrived,and as soon as she saw me,her face turned into a worried expression. "Adagio are you alright?You're really pale."She asked. I felt like vomiting right now. "Yeah I'm ok." "No you're..." Aria started to say but before she could say anything else I ran past her to the bathroom. I vomited a lot. "I knew it!" Aria shouted. "Knew what?" Sonata asked. "Me and you are going to be aunts." "Yay!" I kept vomiting and vomiting,I felt really weak. "Adagio?"Aria asked,I didn't manage to respond. I kept vomiting,and eventually felt really dizzy. "We need to get her to a doctor. Mom got bad too." I heard Aria say. "How? You know we can't go anywhere ourselves." Sonata told her. Harriet walked up. "Is everything ok?" "Harriet we need to get Adagio to the doctor." Aria told her. I didn't have any forces to even move,Aria and Harriet had to help me. When we got to the doctor what I thought was confirmed:I was pregnant. "Does my brother know yet?" Harriet asked me. "No not yet. I didn't even know till now. I'll tell him when he gets home." I got home,and waited for Albert to get home. I felt really weak,but given the doctor saying my pregnancy was risky it was normal.I needed to stay in bed. When Albert got home I was about to take a nap. I was already laying down when he came in the room and I patted the bed next to me. He got in bed kissed me then wrapped his arms around me. "How was your day love?" I asked him. "It was pretty good." "That's great." I told him. I have great news." "What is it?" "I'm pregnant." He hugged me: "That's amazing,Dagi." Unfortunately I'll have to tell him the bad part too. "But my pregnancy is risky,so I have to stay in bed."I tell him. "Oh, for how long?" "Until I have the baby." "Do what you have to do, I don't want anything to happen to you or the baby." The months flew by,and soon I was in my 7th month of pregnancy,I was just chatting with my sisters when the water broke. "The baby's coming girls." "What do we do?" Sonata asked. "Calm down." Aria told her "Freaking out won't help anyone." "But we need to do something." "Go get the midwife, she'll be able to help us." Deep down I know Ari was freaking out too.I started feeling really bad and then sunddely everything blacked out. I only remember waking up to the midwife telling me to push and both Aria and Sonata with really worried faces on. But soon I had not only one but two baby in arms,an boy and a girl.The girl seemed smaller,and really weak. "How are they?" I manage to ask feeling weak myself. "Your son looks alright, but your daughter..." The midwife said. "What's wrong with my baby?" I ask trying to get up but I can't. "Don't move!You're bleeding a lot." I start to get dizzy the next thing I know everything goes black. When I woke up,Aria was pacing around the room really worried,and it seemed to be an complete different day too. "Aria,what happened?"I asked. When she heard my voice she seemed relieved: "You're finally awake,you been passed out since yesterday.You worried everyone,you know?" "I was? What happened?" I asked still confused. "You had twins, things seemed alright. But you were bleeding a lot, then you passed out. Everyone thought you died." She walked over to me and I could see she was holding back tears. "If you ever scare me like that again I'll..I'll.." I reached out and hugged her tight. "I'm sorry." I said softly. Then I noticed I didn't see the twins. "How are the babies?" She sighed: "Your son is fine,but your daughter she died a few hours after you gave birth." No this can't be happening. It just can't be. "No, she she can't be..what..how?" I ask my head spinning. "She was born small, she was really weak. There wasn't anything anyone could do. Not even Sonata's magic was enough. She almost died trying to save her." "Is Sonata ok? How bad is she?" "She's going to be alright, she used to much magic but not enough to kill her... But I am worried about her. This'll probably make her worse and she's scared you're going to hate her for not being able to save your daughter." I had to fix that. "Call her here,Aria." She called Sonata and soon she was here,she seemed weak,worried and upset but when she saw me her face lightened up. "You're awake!"She hugged me. I hugged her tight. "I'm sorry I worried you. And thank you for what you did for my daughter." She started crying. "But but I couldn't. I tried as hard as I could." "I know you did. You almost died." "I'm sorry I couldn't save her." "It's ok Sony,you tried your best."We hugged for a bit more time and I asked."I want to see my son.Can you tell Albert to bring him here." Sonata left and soon Albert came to me with my son: "Hey Adagio, how you feeling?" "Better than I was, but still not the best. How's he?" He handed him to me. "Worried about his mommy." I kissed him on the forehead. "I'm sorry little one, I'm not going anywhere." "What shall we name him,huh?"Albert asked me. "How about Arthur?"I said. "Arthur,I like the sound of that." "Then Arthur it is." Honestly I felt really uneasy,I knew I was gonna outlive both Albert and Arthur but I was only gonna think about that when it happened. I'm also wondering if I should tell Albert what I really am. Would he understand and still love me, or would he think I'm a monster? I love him and don't want to lose him, but I also feel bad keeping it from him. "What if I told you I wasn't normal?" He laughed a little. "I could have told you that. I've never met anyone like you." "Oh I know plenty like me, but they're all back home." "We should go when Arthur gets older." "I hope we can." How I was gonna tell him I was a siren and his son was half-siren,and that I came here banished from another world? I moved over in bed. "Lay down with me for awhile? I don't think I'm ready to get up yet." He layed down next to me and he wrapped his arms around me. I'll worry about that later, right now I'm just going to enjoy what I have.
A Siren Tale	Chapter 11	The years went by really quickly and eventually Sonata had fallen in love too.Arthur was currently 10. But I could feel that our identity as sirens was really close to being revealed.Me,Sonata and Aria as natural of siren had stopped aging physically. "Girls I think we have a problem." I told them one afternoon. "What's wrong?" Sonata asked. "I think they're starting to realize we don't age." "Well,it would be strange if they didn't we don't look a year older than when we mover in."Aria said."So,what's the plan?" It hurted me a lot,but unfortunately ouro only option was leaving,I know Aria and Sonata weren't gonna like it too,Aria still loved Harriet,and Sonata had recently fell in love with Bernard,one of Albert brother's.And I was gonna have to leave Albert and my son. "We're leaving." "No we're not." Aria told me. "You can leave if you want but I'm not going anywhere." "Aria we have to. What do you think will happen when they find out?" "I'm not going to leave Harriet." "Do you think I want to leave Albert and Arthur?" "I don't want to leave Bernard,Dagi."Sonata said. "We are staying."Aria said."Me and you are at least." I sighed.This wasn't gonna be easy was it? "Listen here you two,what do you think it's gonna happen when everyone is all old and we look like teenagers?"I ask them. "I think anyone would love to have someone that looks like that when they get old." Aria shouted off. "This is serious." I told her. "You know how these people are. They would never understand." I sighed again: "Plus we're basically immortal we're gonna outlive all of them.Do you want to be here to see them die?" At that Aria finally stopped and thought a bit: "No,no I don't.And I don't want Harriet to discover I'm a siren." Sonata seemed to realize it too. "So we all agree?"I ask. "Yeah we do."They said at the same time. We left in the early morning,but on the way to the other city Sonata started vomiting. "Sonata are you?" I asked. "I must be. Do you think I should go back?" She asked. "You can't." "But he deserves to know." "Well now it's too late to go back."Ari said."We're already halfway there." Sonata then started getting really pale. "Girls,I don't feel so great." I rushed behind her.She fainted into my arms. "Guess,we're making a stop.What are we gonna do Aria,siren pregnancies are really risky,especially the first one,what if it makes her worse?"I asked Aria. "First things first we need to find her a doctor." Aria told me. "And how are we going to explain her being pregnant?"I asked. "I'm sure she won't be the first pregnant woman he's treated. But if he doesn't know we can explain how it works." "That's not funny and you know what I mean." "Well just tell them her husband died. That someone robbed him he fought back and the shot him." "OkBut what if she gets worse?" "That doesn't change anything. We'll take care of her the best we can." We taken Sonata to the hospital and unfortunately there wasn't only good news,yes she was pregnant,but her dementia had advanced even more. I was really worried about her. "How bad are we talking?" Aria asked he doctor. "I..don't know for sure. I've never seen anyone this bad before." "Then you need to find someone who does." Aria said as she got closer to him. "If you can't help her..." "Aria, enough." I tell her as I get between them. "That won't help her." We then saw Sonata wake up.Aria ran right to her side.I followed. "Sony,how you feeling?"She asked. "Where are we?"Sonata asked. "At the hospital."I told her."You're pregnant and your dementia got worse." "How much worse will I get?" "We don't know yet. They've never seen anyone as bad as you are." "Really?" "Yeah." Sunddely she gets up from bed and starts walking,me and Aria follow her. "Sonata where the hell you going?"Aria asks. "I-I don't know." Me and Aria guide her back to the bedroom. "That was weird." Aria said when we got her back in bed. "I couldn't help it. I just got up." Sonata told us." "You shouldn't be up yet." I tell her. "But Dagi,I need to get up,I need to..." "You need to rest."I tell her. Later that night Aria went to sleep,and I stayed awake to be with Sonata. It was already 4AM and Sonata wouldn't sleep,she seemed tired,but she didn't catched a blink that night. "I can't sleep Dagi." Sonata said just about to cry. I hugged her. "I'm sorry, I don't know what to do." "I also feel like I need to do something, anything." "We can walk for a bit,if you feel up to it,I'll wake Ari to go with us too." She nodded. I wake Aria. "Sonata can't sleep,we're taking a walk with her." "Which time is it?"Aria asked. "4AM." "Sonata hasn't slept at all?" "She hasn't catched a blink all night." Aria walked over to Sonata. "You ready?" She asked. "Yeah, sorry we had to wake you up." Sonata told her. "Don't worry about it. There's no way me or Dagi would let you walk around alone this early." After that the three of us went on a walk. Sonata was extremely unquiet on all our walk,I couldn't stop worrrying about her. I could tell Aria was too,but she was doing her max to distract Sonata. I felt really tired,I also hadn't slept to watch Sonata.But I was extremely worried. "Thanks for doing this this late." Sonata told us. "I know you two must be tired." "Anytime." Aria told her. "Besides I'm not that tired, I got some sleep. But Dagi has been up all night." "Don't worry about me." I told them. "I'm not tired." We returned to her room and Aria stayed awake with Sonata so I could sleep,eventually at 8AM we were all up and they brought her breakfast. She ate,but besides not being able to chew right she wouldn't stop eating and when she finished she told is she was still hungry. "Well you are eating for two right now." Aria told her. "At least." I told them. "So can I get some more?"Sonata asked. "I'll see what I can get you." They brought her some more food and the only reasons she didn't devour it faster was her difficulty to chew. Later on in the day she was anxious and couldn't move right.She had gotten up a few times walked with apparently nowhere to go and if wasn't for me and Aria she would get lost. "Sonata me are Aria will be right back ok?" I told her. "You be back soon?" She asked. "Yeah we'll be right back" Me and Aria stepped into the hallway. "I'm worried about her." I told Aria. "She's just getting worse and there's nothing we can do about it." "I am too, and there has to be something we can do." "If we were back home maybe but not here." "Should we go back,I have a bad feeling?"Aria said. I had a bad feeling too. We entered the room and Sonata was fainted. "Sonata!" We ran over to her. "Aria go get her a doctor." She ran out of the room and came back in a couple minutes dragging a doctor behind her. "I told you you were going to check her now." She told him. The doctor checks her. "I can't do anything for her." "Then you better find someone who can." Aria tells him. "Aria calm down." I tell her. Then I ask the doctor. "What's wrong with her?" "Remember how we told you she was going to get worse? She just got worse." "What can you do for her?" "Like I just said nothing." "Wrong answer." Aria tells him. "No one can do anything to help her." He told us. "She'll either wake up or she won't." "Ok,me and my sister are staying with her till either or happens then."I told him. The next few months were the worst,me and Aria would only wait so Sonata would wake up,we were both really worried. Eventually we started losing hope. But about 6 months lateral,she woke up in labor. We were both happy and worried. Happy she was awake but worried with how early she was there might be something wrong with the babies. She had twin girls both were small but seemed to be ok. I don't want to think what would happen if she loses one, or even both of them. Eventually we could talk to her,me and Aria went up to Sonata. "How you feeling?"Aria asked. "I'm feeling bad,what happened?"Sonata asked. "You've been in a coma for six months, and you had twins." I told her. "Oh?" She said almost like she had forgotten she was pregnant. Then a look for fear came across her face. "Where are they? Are they ok?" "They are here."Aria told her."Want to see them?" She nodded and we took her to the babies. Sonata's face lightened up. "They're so cute." "They are."I told her. She looked upset. "Bernard would love them. Are you sure I can't tell him?" "I'm sorry but you can't tell him." She sighed. "So what are their names?"Ari asked. "Beatrice and Bessie."Sonata answered. After a few days we were back on our trip to the city this time not in three but in five.I tried my best so we could arrive at somewhere safe for Sonata and her babies the most quickly,we arrived at another city,got another house,some new clothes and food too.And how the three of us were adults now there was no worrying about getting sent to the orphanage again. After living there for a couple days we realized something. "Girls I didn't think we'd have to do this, but we need to find jobs. We're almost out of money." "Can't we just...you know like last time?" Aria asked. "No we can't just do that...it's not that easy." "Maybe we can use our voices."Sonata said while rocking Beatrice. "Yeah but what if the negative energy runs out?"I say. "Then we recharge.The human world is more negative then Equestria and Seaquestria altogether."Aria retorted."So there shouldn't be as much shortage of energy here as there was back home." I hate to admit it but Aria is right. I can't believe how much negative energy is in this world. But there is also a lot of good. "Alright we'll use our voices. Now we just need to find the right people." "I'll help you find someone." Aria told me. "We can go wherever you're ready."
A Siren Tale	Chapter 12	Aria and me left Sonata alone and went into town to find someone we could use. After awhile we found several people that would work. We just needed to pick one. "Anyone you really like?" I asked Aria. "Not really..."She said looking to the ground. "Still not over Harriet?" She nodded. "I really loved her,Dagi." "I know how you feel. I still love Albert and Arthur. Part of me wants to go back, but I know if I do..." "It might not be that bad. They might understand." "But will the other people in the city accept us? What if they send someone to try and hunt us for being monsters?" "They won't." "Ari.If we go back after certain time they will know we're not normal for not aging,we can only play it as we only have a baby face for so long.Once they discover we're sirens they might try and kill us and not only me,you and Sonata.Arthur,Beatrice and Bessie too,since they're half-sirens.It's just too dangerous." Aria stood there for a moment trying to think of a counter to what I said. "I won't let them hurt any of you." She finally said. "Aria that's not the point. It's too dangerous." Before the two of us could continue two guys walked up to us. By their looks I could tell they were about to flirt with us.So it was for the best I took over the conversation. "Hey there.May we help you?"I asked. "Maybe." He said "it's just me and my friend here notice you two are alone and look to be having an argument. Is everything alright?" Aria glared at him. "I don't see why it's your business." "I'm sorry but I'll have to agree."I tell them,and put my hand in Aria's shoulder in case she decides she wanna fight with them."I'm only had a little disagreement with my sister.Thanks for the concern,but we are gonna get going."I turn to Aria."Let's go home." The two of us left. "I can't believe him." Aria said. "Just trying to butt into our talk." "I know."I told her "But I think he meant well." I told her. "I think he just saw two good looking girls and wanted to make a move." "Well I don't want to know about him."Aria said and crossed her arms. "But we could use him..."I said."Besides me and you might not want anything with him but Sonata might." "Alright,alright...Talking about the idiot,we really should get going.I don't think leaving her alone with babies for too much time is a good idea."That's right Sonata was alone with Bessie and Beatrice home,who knows what she was doing. As soon as we got back we could tell something was wrong. Both the babies were crying but Sonata wasn't doing anything to check them. "Sonata you alright?" I asked. "Yeah, but Bessie and Beatrice are crying a lot." Aria walked over to them at picked them up. "Don't you think you should take care of them?" She asked Sonata. "I did everything I can think of,I just can't get them to stop crying."She says."So I gave up." I resist the urge to snap at my youngest sister.And go pick one of them up so Aria won't have to do the job alone,I check Bessie's diaper,yep it was full,I change her,she's still crying. I turn to Sonata: "Have you fed them?" "Yeah,afterwards that they wouldn't stop crying."She stopped for a second as if remembering something."Ah and Dagi we need a new stove." "Why do we need a new stove Sonata?"I say resisting the urge to yell. "I tried to heat the girl's bottles but they melted." "What do you mean they melted?" "Even things like that get too hot." "I know what melting is Sonata. What happened?" "See for yourself." She told me. I wish I hadn't. It looks like instead of putting the bottles in hot water to heat them she had just put them on the stove. Both the bottles melted ruining the burners. Looking at it I don't know how the whole thing didn't catch fire. "How could you have done this? You know better. This isn't your first time making a bottle." I told her somehow keeping my anger in check. "I guess I just forgot." "How have you forgot Sonata?10 years ago you were doing this to help me with Arthur!"I grabbed on to her shoulders,my voice raising."You could've put the house on fire!" "But I don't remember making it Dagi..."She says eyes watering. That's when I understood I couldn't deal with Sonata like I dealt with Aria.She had grown up,but at the same time she hadn't and never would,back in the other town she was better to the point she took a step into adulthood dated Bernard and had her girls,but after her worsening and her coma,I think she was one step back again. I took a deep breath and tried to calm down: "Look we put the bottles on hot water not on the stove ok?" She nodded. "I figured out what was wrong with the girls." Aria told us. "What is it?" I ask bracing myself for the worse. "They just needed to be burped." She said trying not to laugh. "After everything that's happened, they just needed to be burped?" "Yeah just a bit of gas, it's normal." "I was expecting something more...." "How did Sonata even do this kind of thing and what are we going to do? " Aria asked. "Yeah like this is the type of problem what I'd have with you." I told her. "Hey I'm not that bad...at least not anymore." I giggle a bit. "I know sis.But I think we only have one solution so this doesn't happen again." "What?" "Sonata is too bad to be left alone for now,I think that may be why this happened since she knew how to do thia before so unless we want this to happen everytime we go out,we'll have to take her with us and probably Beatrice and Bessie too." Aria thought for a moment then sighed. "Yeah you're right, we'll have to take her with us. Because just one of us shouldn't be out by ourself's." "But it will make it harder to find someone." "Yeah but it needs to be done." After that Sonata put the girls to bed then asked us. "How did it go?" "Not very well." Aria told her. "Oh."Sonata said disappointed. "We'll go out tomorrow find someone.But Sonata you and the girls are coming with us." "Why?" "We don't want something like this happening again. Besides if we find someone you'll need to like them too and we'll have the kids." "Yeah that makes sense. But won't it make it harder with two kids?" "Maybe but it's what we're going to do." "OK if you think that's best."
A Siren Tale	Chapter 13	The next day all of us got ready. I know this will make it harder to find someone but with how Sonata is it's what we have to do. "Looks like an even worse group then the one yesterday." Aria said as we looked around. "Yeah."I sighed. That's when I noticed something Sonata already had her eyes on someone.I looked in the same direction as her,indeed there was some handsome guys there,one had interested me too.There was even a girl there too,but when I looked at Aria I noticed she was still blocking herself from any feelings for anybody because of Harriet. "Aria you don't have to hide how you feel, you can find someone too." "No I can't." "Harriet would understand." "Oh this she'll understand? But not that I'm going to stay young forever?" "That's not what I meant. She'd want you to be happy." Before me and Aria can continue I noticed Sonata had wondered off. "Where's your sister?" I asked Aria. Aria and me looked around and saw Sonata already chatting with the group. "Oh great..."Aria said."Let's go after her." We then went closer to them,me still pushing the baby carriage Sonata had left behind with us.I wonder if she remembered to tell the guy she liked about her daughters. "There you are." I said to Sonata as we walked over to her. "Dagi,Ari." She said as we walked up. "I have someone you need to meet. This is Brandon." She says introducing us to a handsome guy she was talking to. "You must be her sisters." He said as we walked over. "Yeah,we are."Ari said,I could tell by her tone she hadn't liked him. "A pleasure to meet you."I told him.Then I turn to Sonata."You should really give us a warning before running off that way you know...Have you told him?" "What?"Sonata asked. I pointed to the baby carriage. "Oh yeah I have twins."She said. "But her husband died."I completed for her before she blew our cover. "What do you mean...he's not?" Sonata started to say. "It happened in an accident." Aria said real quick. "It almost killed her too so she doesn't remember it clearly. That's really the worse part about it, half the time she doesn't even remember it's happened. Then when she does she breaks down." "I'm sorry to hear that." Brandon said. "Do you have a place to stay? It can be hard with two kids." "We're still looking right now." I told him. "Like you said it can be hard with the kids." "Oh well you five can come with me,my brother and sister,we'd love to have some company." "Sounds good to me."I look to Sonata and Aria they nod."We're going with you." We all left and went to their house. Much like I thought they had a house big enough for all of us. "I'll show Sonata around." Brandon told us as he took Sonata into another part of the house. I don't like it but I'll have to get used to it if we were going to live here. Aria was still mad about everything so she just sat on the couch. I went getting to know Brandon's brother better,as I didn't even knew his name. I went getting to know Brandon's brother better,as I didn't even knew his name. "Hey,I'm Adagio."I told him. He looked around unsure as if I was talking to him. "We live in the same house,we need to present ourselves."I told him. "That... that makes sense." He said as he looked down." I laughed a little, it's been as long time sense I've met someone like him. "Can I at least have your name." "Ryan." He told me. "Nice to meet you. "Nice to meet you too Ryan." Soon the sister arrived.I looked at Aria to see if she shoot her even an glance,she did,she must have thought nobody saw. The girl sees Aria with her scowl on the couch,sits by her side and opens the most heartswarming smile: "I'm Emmeline,nice to meet you." At first Aria tries to ignore her. But in the end not even Aria could ignore how she was smiling. Aria smiled back. "I'm Aria really nice to meet you too." "I hope we get along." "I'm sure we will." Aria would never admit it but I could tell she was falling in love.
A Siren Tale	Chapter 14	Things have been going pretty good for the past seven years. At first I wasn't sure how things would go. But after a little while Ryan opened up and we ended up falling in love. Aria and Emmeline fell in love too tho it took a long time before Aria admitted it. But I can't help but feel something is off about about Brandon. Sonata is pregnant again but not happy around him,her twins openly say they don't like him too. "Aunt Dagi?"I hear a little voice say. I turn and look,it's Bessie. "Yes Bessie?" "Mommy is acting off again.But I wanted to tell you something about stepdad." "What is it?" I asked her. "He's making her do something." She told me. "What makes you say that?" " I keep hearing mommy tell him no. But he tells her that if she loves him she will." "I'll talk to your mommy about it." "Thanks aunt Dagi,I'm really worried about her." I go up to Sonata's room,she's alone since Brandon left for work,I find her crying.I felt the hatred from Brandon. I then went up to her: "Everything alright Sonata?" She nodded no. "What's wrong?" "Brandon kept making me make sex with him a-and he said he was done with my act,but I don't know what he's talking about." I hugged her tight. "You should have told me about this sooner." "He told me you wouldn't have believed me." "Me and your sister would have. but for now we need to get you and the kids safe." "Yeah we do." "Just wait till Aria gets home." I heard the lock of the door,Aria was home with Emmeline. I got out of the room,letting Sonata alone. "Aria,we need to talk about something." "What is it?" She asked. I took her into Sonata's room then I explained what Sonata told me. "He what?! I'll kill him." "Aria I understand how you feel but please don't. We need to think this through." "There's nothing to think about." I sigh and put my hands in Aria's shoulders: "I wanna kill him as bad as you do,but not only are we dating his siblings but Sonata is pregnant." "I don't care." "Please Ari." Sonata pleaded with Aria. "Ok fine but we need to leave." "We will." I tell her. I then started feeling nauseous,no,no,no,that was bad timing to be pregnant!I hold the vomit in and tell Aria: "Get Beatrice and Bessie." Aria must have noticed me acting off for a second because she asked me: "You alright?" "Yeah" I told her. "We'll worry about me later." Aria just shook her head, she could tell something was wrong. But she still went and got the girls. "Where we going aunt Ari?" Beatrice asked. "You, me your sister, your mommy, and aunt Dagi are all going on a trip." "Yay!"Bessie said. "Yeah,we're also gonna teach you a lot of things in the trip."I told them,referring to teaching them they were half-sirens,we would probably need to leave them when they were young ladies,as they would start to suspect us again. "Is daddy going?" Bessie asked. "No." Aria told her. "Why not?" "He'll catch up with us later." "Ok." We finish getting ready and soon enough we're all ready to go.
A Siren Tale	Chapter 15	All of us left that day. I wish I had got to see Ryan one last time and tell him I'm pregnant, he deserves to know. The girls have been doing really well too. I'm startig to think that maybe siren children might be different from human children in more ways then I thought. I think it's about time we tell them who and what we are, And that they have a cousin they haven't met. I go call Sonata,she's pretty far into her second pregnancy too,soon we would have more half-sirens running around. I wish I would have told Arthur what he was before we left,poor kid is gonna suffer a lot for not knowing I wonder how he is? "Sonata,would you call Beatrice and Bessie please I think it's time,me,you and Aria tell them." Sonata went and got them. "What you need to tell us aunt Dagi?" Beatrice asked. "I need to tell you the truth about who and what we are. We're not human." "What do you mean?" Bessie Asked. "We're sirens, we're from another word." "Auntie,sirens aren't real."Beatrice laughed. "Yes they're real,and that's what me,your mommy and aunt Ari are."I then point to my gem."You see that gem?You two have it too.Try to take it off." I told them that because as that was a part of us the gems were stick to us as basically glue,try hard as they could they weren't able to take it off. "But that's not everything. You also have a cousin too." "We do?" "Yeah he's older than you." "Can we meet them?" "Yeah that's where we're going." Soon enough we were on the old city we stayed,I saw an young boy walking throught the street returning from work,I immediately recognized him,Arthur,he was so big now. I went up to him.And I know he recognized me too. "Mom?" He asked. I nod. "It's me." I say not knowing what else to say, it's been so long. "Mom!" He shouts as he hugs me. "Where have you been? Why did you leave?" "I'll tell you everything. Is your dad around?"His face changes and tells me everything I need to know.I wrap him up in a hug."I-I'm so sorry I wasn't here.What happened?" "An accident,it killed him and uncle Bernard,aunt Harriet was with them too but she hasn't woke up since the accident."I hug my son tighter. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here to help you get through it."I told him. "Can...can I see her?" Aria asked. "They don't think she'll wake up aunt Ari" "Please." Aria asked on the verge of tears. "Ok." Arthur led us to the house. It was looking as good as it was when we left. He led us to the back room and there on the bed was Harriet Aria walked over to her sat one the side of the bed and and took a hold of one of her hands. Then she sang a song, I've never heard it before but as she sang Aria's gem glowed blue. When she was done singing Harriet opened her eyes. "You're as beautiful as ever. "Harriet tells Aria as she reaches up and touches her face. "I never should have left." Aria says tears starting to fall. "You did what you felt was right. I just wish you would have stayed." "I love you." Aria tells her. "I love you too." Harriet says before closing her eyes once again. Then Aria broke down. I went over to Aria and placed a hand on her shoulder,we knew this was gonna happen.The curse was now in their family due to us having their kids. "Aria,I'm sorry...But you know as long as we're immortal,we're still gonna lose many more."She kept crying,I held her.I turned to Arthur."Can we talk?Me and your aunts have a lot to explain to you and your cousins." I explained everything to them,Seaquesria, what our aunt did to us, how to use their powers everything. "So that's why you never aged?"Arthur asked. "Yeah, It's also why I was able to get anyone to do something after I sang to them." I explained. "How many more of us are there?" "Just all of us. Oh and I'm pregnant."I told him."So is your aunt Sonata." "That's a lot to take in..."He said."Is that why you left?" "Yeah." "I really wish you could have stayed." "I wish I could have stayed too. That being said can we come back, at least until me and Sonata have the babies?" "Yeah of course. Most of the people that knew you are gone." We went to the house. It felt weird to be back there after so long. But it also felt right like I was coming home after being gone a long time. "Hasn't changed much." I said walking in. "No dad liked keeping it the way you had it." Arthur told me. "Deep down part of him hoped you would come back." "I wanted to, but I couldn't."Part of me always wanted to come back,I felt heartbroken to have leave them so did Sonata and Aria,not only that but they were who helped us escape from the orphanage,our first loves,and now we the only thing they had left us was Arthur,Beatrice and Bessie,who we eventually would have to leave. I looked back,Aria had a tear stained-face and was spacing out,Sonata seemed to not understand Bernard was gone,I needed to talk to her. I just silently followed Arthur,remembering the moments that happened in this house,and admiring how much he was like his father. After awhile Sonata said. "Bernard should be here by now. He never gets home this late." "Sonata he's gone." I told her. "Yeah I know. He should be back soon." "He's not gone gone. He's dead." She looked at me confused for a moment. "He's with mom and dad." I told her. The realizition then gone through her head. "He's never coming back again?"She asked,on the verge of tears. "He's never coming back again.I'm sorry."I answered,she started breaking down,I held her. Later that night Arthur came chatting with me: "Umm,mom,aunt Aria why is aunt Sonata acting so different than what she used to act when you left?" "She's sick." I told him. When he looked more confused then anything, Aria spoke up: "She has something wrong with her brain." "What caused it?" Arthur asked. "The same curse that caused all of this to happen." "Is there anything we can do to help?" "No, sometimes she has good days others she has bad days. All we can do is help her the best we can."I sigh."And understand her mind still is stuck in acting like she's 5.But currently I would even say she's doing a bit better,when your cousins were born she was doing really bad,and even almost accidentaly burned down the house." "How?"Arthur asked. "Heating bottles on the stove."I told him. "Huh?" "Long story."I sighed. Sonata came back from putting Beatrice and Bessie to bed. Sonata sat on the couch by Aria. Aria was still just spacing out. "We should do something." Sonata said. "We still have to watch the kids" I told her. "But it's been so long since all of were together." "Maybe tomorrow." I told her. "Yeah I'm sure we could do something tomorrow." Arthur told her. "It won't be the same" Aria said. "No it won't be." I told her "But she would want you to move on." Aria then just stormed to her old room,and locked herself in there. "Is aunt Aria,ok?"Arthur asked. "Yeah it's just she's having a hard time dealing with what going on with Harriet,she'll get over it."I told him."Now we should turn in,it is pretty late,and I know you have work tomorrow."
A Siren Tale	Chapter 16	It's been great being able to see Arthur again and even better when he invited all of us to stay as long as we wanted. So we did, next thing we knew me and Sonata both had our kids. The only real problem we had is Aria still wasn't over Harriet. And even worse she kept blocking out any of us when we tried to talk about it.She I think to keep herself occupied took care of Sonata's kids I think more than Sonata even did,sometimes even would take care of my twins too. Sonata recently wasn't doing too good to take care of the kids so Aria doing that wasn't really an problem,Arthur had justin went to work and Sonata said she wasn't feeling good so she was gonna sleep.That was my chance to have a chat with Aria. I went over she was watching Flora,Florence and Lilian crawl while helping Beatrice and Bessie on their homework. "Aria we need to talk." I told her. "What about?" she asked me. "You know what." "We're not doing this." She got up and tried to walk away. "You can't keep running from this." I tell her as I go after her. "I'm not running, I'm just not ready to move on." "Well,you can't block your feelings forever." "I'm not blocking my feelings." "Yes you are,and anytime we try to talk to you about it,you say excuses like:I have to take care of Sonata's kids,you don't even like kids that much,and definetly are not so patient like you are being now."I grab her shoulders and look her in the eyes."So you gonna tell me what's happening right now." "I never should have left! I could have done something." "No you couldn't have. You know what caused it." "But I could have helped. I could have saved them." "Aria we both know what would have happened if you were here." "I would have saved her,I should have saved her."She said starting to cry. I hugged her: "Aria,we can't help everything..." She sobbed. "And the only thing that would happen if we stayed is we would have seen everything."I stroked her hair."We are immortal getting hurt is inevitable." "It's not fair. What are we going to do?" "We have to move on." "I don't know if I can." "Would Harriet want you to feel like this?" "No."She sniffed,she eventually broke down again. She kept crying for hours until she eventually calmed down. "Dagi?" "Yes?" "I'm never falling in love again." "Yes you will." I told her. "You're far too young to give up on love." "We're immortal." She told me. "How old I am doesn't matter." "I know it hurts, but don't think about the pain." "What else is there?" "You love her right? And you know how good that made you feel right?" "And now it's gone." "You know she loved you too right?" "What does that have to do with anything?" "How do you think she felt?" "I know,I know..but it doesn't matter not anymore."She said. I gave up,Aria was stubborn,she remained to her opinion until proven wrong.The best I could do was comfort her. Eventually she would fall in love again,I just hoped that eventually didn't take long. "If love is so great why haven't you tried to find anyone else?" She asked. "You know that's no how love works." I told her. "When you find the right person you know it. Trying to rush it will make things worse." "Whatever." Nothing to exciting happened the rest of the afternoon. That evening Arthur got home. "Hey mom.You seem stressed,everything ok?" "Your aunts are driving me crazy but yes."I look at his eyes,he had something to tell me,I think he was in love."Found yourself a girl?" "How did you know?" "Siren insticts.Just don't ask your aunt Ari for advice she's upset at the word love right now." "Actually,it's more than I found myself a girl."He blushed."I've been seeing her for a month and..." Well it seems half-sirens also have siren insticts.I knew what he was about to say. "She told me she was pregnant." He told me. I knew it. I should have tried to explain the siren instincts to him. "That's wonderful." I told him. "I know, I'm just scared. I wasn't expecting it to happen so soon. Her family is furious with her." "Bring her here then." "I'm gonna have to. Mom I just I don't know if I'm ready." "Arthur,sweetie,do you think I was ready?I had to start taking care of your aunts when I was just a child,and when I had you and your sister I was 17.It is the most difficult thing and nobody's ready.But it is also the most wonderful thing." "If you say so mom." "Now go get your girlfriend,I wanna meet her." He left and in a few minutes later he came back with a young woman. "Mom this is Sara." He told me then he looked to Sara. "Sara this is my mom Adagio." "Your mom?" She asked looking at me.I don't blame her for not believing him. I don't look any older then she does. "You haven't told her have you?" I asked Arthur. "No I haven't." he told me. "Tell me what?" she asked. "I'm a siren." I told her. The girl started laughing nonstop: "Good one.That was a joke,right?" Ok not the reaction I expected,I can play it off as having a baby face for until she haves the baby,I did had Arthur rather young,and was only 40,but as soon as she had the kid we would have to move. I put on my acting face.I gave a fake laugh. "Of course,of course,I had Arthur as a teen,that's the reasons why I look so young and also me and my sisters were always known for looking younger than we actually are." "He should have just said that."Sara said "That means our kids will like keep their youthful looks longer too." "Yeah it runs in the family." I told her. "Just look at my sisters, they're only a few years younger then me but they still look just as young." "Is it really ok I stay here?" She asked. "My parents kicked me out." "Of course you can. You're one of the family. But you should meet the others too." Arthur went "Oh yeah, Sara this is my aunt Aria and aunt Sonata." "So nice to meet you!"Sonata went and hugged Sara. "Get used to it,she's like that."Aria came behind an unsure look on her face."Nice to meet you.Good luck to you and Arthur."She then turned to me."Dagi,can we talk?" "Of course."I turned to Arthur and Sara."Excuse us." "Are you sure we should stay here?"She asked when went outside."The girl is gonna realize that your excuse was a lie." "I know,but we are staying only until she haves her baby.We don't know if for it being Arthur's child the curse will affect the pregnancy." "I'm pretty sure we both know it will." She told me. "I know that's why I want to stay. We both know what could happen. I'm not going to let anything happen to them." "Oh so me being here wouldn't have changed anything but you being here will?" "I don't know if it will but I'm staying."I sigh."Aria she's a human girl carrying a descendant of a half-siren.And if worse comes to worse,I don't want to leave my son without moral support again.Because between us,the chances of the girl surviving a siren pregnancy are close to zero." She sighs: "Fine." "Now let's go inside before our sister drives the poor girl crazy." Me and Aria walked in and Sara was playing with the kids. "Didn't take long for you to become one of the family."Aria told Sara. "I love kids." She told her. I can see how Arthur fell in love with her. this is going to make things even worse.
A Siren Tale	Chapter 17	The next few months just flew by. Sara's pregnancy was just as bad as I was scared it might be. I felt so bad for her and Arthur, I told them how bad it could get but I didn't take into account she was human and didn't have magic to help her. I don't think she'll survive having the baby. But I don't have the heart to tell anyone. Currently,only,me,Aria,Sonata,Sara and the kids were home. Sara wasn't feeling too good since yesterday.I went into her room to check on her. "Good morning,Sara,are you feeling better than yesterday?"I ask but when I take a look on her face I could tell the answer was no,she was pale and seemed in pain. And that's when her water broke. "Aria!" I yelled. "What?" She asked as she came running in. "Get Arthur here and and the doctor Sara's water just broke." She ran out the door. "Everything will be ok,Sara. Just hang on ok?" She nodded.But seeing the effects of a siren pregnancy on a non-siren was scary,the girl was really suffering. By the time the doctor got there Sara was doing a lot worse. Part of me was still hoping that she would be alright but when the doctor made us all get out of the room I knew it was worse then I thought. We were waiting for something to happen when Arthur got there. "Mom how are they?" He asked. "The doctor is still in there." I told him. "They're going to be alright right?" He asked. "I...I don't know" All of a sudden we heard Sara scream and it took both me and Aria to keep Arthur from going in there. After the scream things got quiet..too quiet. The doctor got out of the room and went up to us: "The baby survived,but I couldn't save her.I'm so sorry." Arthur immediately started breaking down,I held him. I felt so powerless I'm his mother and have magic no one else has. I should have been able to do something. But things were just getting started. "Your daughter is still really sick. I'll do what I can but there's not much I can do." The doctor said. Arthur started crying even harder when he heard that. Part of me wanted to kill the doctor for not being able to save Sara and not being able to help my granddaughter but I knew it wouldn't change anything. After a while the doctor went away,Arthur calmed down,and we went seeing Arthur's daughter. The baby was really small.She was beautiful.She looked like just the right mix of Arthur and Sara. "She's beautiful Arthur,what's her name?" "Abigail. Me and Sara talked about it. I just wish Sara was here to see her." "I wish she was too. But we'll get through this." "Mom I know you were planning on leaving after Abigail was born, but can you stay? I don't think I can do this alone." "Of course I'm not going anywhere." "None of us are." Aria added.
A Siren Tale	Chapter 18	It was hard at times but Abigail got better and Arthur started to get over Sara well as much as he ever will. We've stayed a lot longer then I thought we would. Deep down part of me wants to stay. Most of the people that knew who I was have already died. I wonder if I could pull it off at least for another year or two...but no we have to go. "Mom are you sure you need to leave now?" Arthur asked me. "Yes,Arthur,soon your sister and cousins will start dating and unlike with Sara,me and your aunts aren't young enough to just play it off as having a baby face.They'll know something's off.I wanted to be here with you and help you with Abigail.But I can't." He sighed."I understand." "Watch your sister and cousins for me and aunt Sonata ok?"I asked hugging him. "Of course I will mom." I then heard Beatrice running to the bathroom and vomiting,of course,of course we would have to leave one of Sonata's kids nonetheless pregnant. I go to check on her. "You alright?" I asked her as I rubbed her back. She vomited again showing me how stupid a question that was. "Must have been something I ate" She says as she tries to get to her feet but doesn't have the strength. "I think it's more then that." I tell her as I help her to her feet. "But I need to ask you something, You have a boyfriend?" "Yeah, I do. Why?" She asked. "Can we meet him?" "Sure, why." "You're pregnant." "I'm not auntie...." "Yes you are Beatrice.Have you told your mom yet?" "No,not yet."She says and vomits again. Aria passes the hallway and sees Beatrice vomiting. "Shit,she's pregnant isn't she?"She says as she walks in. "Know any other reason a siren would vomit like this?" I asked. "This could be anything." Beatrice told us. "No it's not, you're pregnant." Aria told her. Me and Aria helped Beatrice to the bed. "Try and get some rest."I told her and me and Aria walked into another room and closed the door. "This is just what we need." I told Aria. "We can't just leave now can we?" Aria asked. "Of course not. And once we tell Sonata she's going to want to stay." "But if we stay." "I know,I know."I sigh."What we're gonna do?" "We need to tell Sonata first of all."Ari said. "And meet Beatrice's boyfriend."I tell her. Sonata then walks in. "Hey girls." Sonata said in a cheery voice."What's...up?" She can tell by the looks on our faces something is wrong. "What's wrong?" I sigh knowing this isn't going to be easy."Do you know Beatrice has a boyfriend?" "No she doesn't have a boyfriend, if she did she'd tell me." "Not if they were going out to have sex behind your back she wouldn't." Aria told her. "Why does this even matter?" Sonata asked. "Beatrice is Pregnant that's why." I told her. "Oh,she's not as bad as I got is she?"She asked,she wasn't mad I could tell by her tone she was concerned but not mad. "No,she's not as bad as you got,but all siren's pregnancy get pretty bad." "But you told me we needed to leave Dagi.We can't leave with her pregnant." I sigh."I know you'd say that Sonata,we're gonna meet her boyfriend,and then we'll see what we can do." "Let's ask her who it is." Sonata said. We walked over and asked her. "His name is James." Beatrice told her. "He's he's really sweet but...." "But what?" Sonata asked. "I don't know if we should tell him." "Why?" Beatrice raised her dress showing a bunch of bruises. Sonata just gave Beatrice a tight hug. "Then he's not nice,Trice,he's mean and you can't get back to him,that's what your aunts taught me back when I was with someone who took advantage of me." I look at Aria's face and saw she was mad, I was too when Sonata was bad we raised her kids as our own.And someone hurting our nieces was something we'd never accept. "I'm going to kill him" Aria told us and stated to walk to the door. "Aria,no!" I go after her and stop her. "You can't." "Oh yes I can. Want to come and watch?" "I feel the same way you do but think about this. Say we kill him he can't hurt her or anyone else again. But now the cops are called and they arrest you for murder." "You really think I'd let the cops arrest me?" "Aria we can't lose you." "Fine but we have to do something." "I know,our voices are still working maybe we can use it to keep him from hurting her again." "Well you know our voices need to charge for that."Aria told me. "Then let's go recharge our voices,Arthur can watch everyone for us in case Sonata gets bad."I said."Besides I want to get this bastard away from Beatrice as much as you do." Me and Aria left. it's been a long time sense I've had to charge my powers for something like this. Mom always told us not to do this but it's the only way, besides it feels so good. After we changed we went and found him. "Remember."I told Aria "We can't kill him." "Yeah,yeah I know,I know." She told me. We then get to the guy,sing a song to control him and make him never get close to our niece again. We went back to the house when we were done. "He won't be bothering you anymore." "But aunt Dagi, what are we going to do?" Beatrice asked me "What do you mean? We're gonna take care of the baby." "Aren't you, mom and aunt Ari leaving?" "We can't leave while you're pregnant."I tell her."But when you have the baby,we will have to leave,but don't worry your sisters and cousins will help you with your kid." Unfortunately,midst her pregnancy,Beatrice and her baby got very bad. During that months,I never seen Sonata more worried,she was always even if she herself was bad,taking care of Beatrice. "Dagi there has to be something we can do for Beatrice. I can't lose her." Sonata told me. "We're doing everything we can." I told her. "I know but it doesn't feel like enough I should be able to do something. I'm her mom and I have magic. I..I should be able to..."Sonata started crying again. I pulled her into a hug. "We have to stay strong for her. If she sees you like this it'll make her worse." Sonata kept there crying hugging me.Then me and her both went checking Beatrice. When I got to the door of the room,I could tell something had happened,and if it was what I was thinking I rather Aria to be here with us when Sonata discovers. "Sonata,why don't you get Ari,while I check on Beatrice then you come here again?I say. "Sure." She went off to find Aria and I walked into the bedroom. "Hey Bea, you feeling alright?" I didn't expect an answer but I hope for one, for anything as I walked closer to her. She just asleep. I told myself. She's just a heavy sleeper. "Beatrice." I said a little louder. But still I didn't get an answer from her. "Beatrice!" I shouted as I reached out and shook her. She just layed there...she was gone. "Why did you drag me here?" Aria asked Sonata as she and Sonata walked in the room. But before anyone could answer Aria could tell the same thing I did. "No. Don't you dare tell me." "What Ari?" Sonata asked not realizing it yet. "I'm so sorry." I said. "What is it?" Sonata asked again this time she was able to tell something was wrong but not what. "Beatrice is dead." I told her. I saw an panicked look go through Sonata's face,as she ran to Beatrice's side,she shook her.And starts crying. "Wake up!Wake up!"Then Sonata started spacing out. "Sonata?"Aria asked. Then she just fainted.Probably got worse of her dementia.Aria catched her,she clearly was thinking what I was thinking,Sonata couldn't see anymore of her kids die,this was our sign to leave. Later that night I was sitting with Arthur. "Me and your aunts are leaving in the morning. And...I don't think we'll be back." "Mom please stay." He told me. "I want to, I really do but your aunt can't stay. And I can't leave her alone." "Then just you stay. Aunt Sonata will have aunt Ari to look after her." "I know and who will look after Aria? You know how she is." "She's not that bad." "The only reason James is still alive is she's to worried about Sonata to leave her side. I'm sorry but I have to go." He hugged me tight. "Just write ok?Don't leave us without news."He asked. "I will."I hugged him back and kissed his forehead. Aria came to the living room: "Sonata woke up,Dagi.Time to tell her we need to leave." I got up and went to her room. "Hey Dagi."Sonata said as I walked in. "Hey Sonny, how you feeling?" "A little better, but still bad." I hugged her. "I know you won't want to but we need to leave in the morning." "Why? It's good to be back home." "You know why, and besides this isn't home, not anymore." "But the kids?"She asked. "They're all grown,they can live their lives now,but they'll die and we won't,and we don't wanna watch that,but I think you know that."I told her. The next morning we left.
A Siren Tale	Chapter 19	Do you ever realize how much time you spend waiting? Not really for anything special just waiting? Or how what you did today was the same thing you did yesterday and it'll likely be the same thing you do tomorrow? If you didn't don't feel bad most people don't, life is just to short. But I've seen ages come and go kings rise and fall. Even watched the world rip itself apart and piece itself back together a few times one of them over Aria of all people. But with all the bad that's happened there has been a lot of good. So now I'm just sitting with my sisters debaiting on what to do now. We were currently on our way to the local fast-food place we used to eat in both human and siren form. "I'm tired of waiting for nothing Adagio."Aria was really grumpy those days.And apparently she had decided to discount on me. "Can we get tacos?"Sonata asked. "Of course Sonata."Even Sonata's 5 year old attidude that wasn't her fault was annoying me. But I had a feeling,magic.Magic,and it was close.I needed to confirm it first. "I might have finally found what we've been looking for." I told Aria. "And just what have we been looking for?" She asked annoyingly. "Magic so was can get home. Remember the whole reason we're here. I think I sense some." "Magic?" She asked as she started to laugh. "No one in this world has magic. It's all just slide of hand." "I know but..." Thats where there was a big rainbow flash outside the window and we felt a burst of magic like we haven't felt sense leaving Seaquestia. "I told you there was magic." "So what's the plan?"Aria asked. "We need to go there.Examine the ambient.And blend in."I told them.I then turned to them."We'll get home girls,just Sonata don't spoil our disguise." We then walked over to apparently an school,and I was grateful we looked like teens. "We need to buy some teenager clothing,girls."I said."From next semester on we're high school students." "That has to be your must dumbest plan yet,Adagio."Aria complained facepalming."What these teenagers could have to do with equestrian magic?" "I don't know." I told her. "But I felt it and we all saw that flash." "So what's the plan? just wonder around asking people about magic? I'm sure that'll work. Oh excuse me me and my sisters are sirens from another world and we think your school has real magic." Aria added in a mocking voice. "Why are you even in charge anymore?" To that I got right in Aria's face. "Because I'm still your big sister." I grabbed the front of her shirt. "And like it or not I'm still stronger then you." "Girls, please." Sonata said trying to get us to stop. Aria sighed. "Fine we'll do things your way for now. But I'm warnign you this had better work, if not I'm going off on my own." "No you're not.You know why?"I slightly pointed to Sonata,and talked low enough so only Ari could hear."I know we're both tired and wish she could act her age,but she can't and still needs us.And she's still really close to you." "Ugh...Fine."She muttered. A whole semester later we were getting ready for our first day at CHS,really getting ready for the search. Sonata this week was acting more kiddie than ever which it was just...perfect timing,today Aria had even to get her hair ready for her.Which for praticity she tied Sonata's hair in a high ponytail. "Ready,girls?"I asked. "Yeah, let's go!" Sonata shouted jumping up and down. Aria let out a sigh. "Whatever let's get this over with. "The three of us walked in. "So where should we go first?" Aria asked. "The office." I tell her. "That way if nothing else we won't have to worry about the principal." We walk to the office and what I see almost makes me rethink everything it's Princess Celestia. "Why is she here?" Sonata asked as she hid behind Aria. "Is something wrong?" Celestia asked as she got out of her chair. "No it's ok she just not good at meeting new people." I tell her. "I understand" she said with a soft smile. "My sister is the same way. Are you the new students?" "Yes I'm Adagio Dazzle, and these are my sisters Aria Blaze and Sonata Dusk." "One of our students will present the school to you."She told us."My sister will lead you to them." The vice-principal called the girl in her speaker and then got to us and lead us to an red and yellow haired girl. She wasn't from here too anyone around her could sense the magic around her. "I'm Sunset Shimmer." The girl said as she held out a had to shake. "Adagio Dazzle." I tell her as I shake her hand. "And this is Aria and Sonata." "Nice to meet the three of you. How about I show you around the school?" We walked off with Sunset and we noticed everyone was giving Sunset a bad look. "Sorry for being curious,but why is everyone looking at you that way?" She just looked around and sighed: "I'm sure you'll hear about it." "Hear what?" I asked. She let out a sigh clearly not wanting to talk about it. "I turned into a demon." She said. "A what?" Aria asked. "I turned into a raging she demon." She's stronger then I thought. But still me and Aria should be able to beat her if we need to. "How did you do that?" Aria asked. I knew the look she had she was already trying to figure out if she could do it too. "Oh it's a long story. One I don't think you'd believe." "We've seen a lot of stuff over the years." Aria told us. "Yeah." Sonata added. "And that's not counting what we saw back home." "Oh I forgot to ask, but where are you from?" Sunset asked. "Seaque..." Sonata started before I put a hand over her mouth. "Let's just say we're not from around here. And I don't think you are either." I told her. "You're right I'm not."She said her look getting a bit mistrustive.Definetly an pony then.Even if they didn't know we were sirens back in Equestria when we were in our pony forms their insticts led them to not trust us.She clearly shook it off tho."Why don't we get on with our school tour?" She showed the whole school to us,and told us there would be an festival of music,we could control the principal and vice-principal so It's a battle of the bands. And Sonata almost gave away our plan again. "Do you really think it'll work?" Sonata asked me. "Just walking in there and using our powers on the two princesses?" "They're not really the princesses." I told her. "They just look like them, but they don't have their magic." "But what if it doesn't work?" "Plan B." Aria said. "I'll fight Luna and Dagi will fight Celestia." "It won't come to that." At least I hope it won't. "But you heard what that girl said right,Adagio?"Said Aria."If she managed to do that,her magic is strong." "I know I was thinking we could use that to our advantage.A bit of manipulation and she comes to our side."I told them as we walked torwads the cafeteria. "Do you think that will work? You know how ponies are with friendship." Aria asked. "Ponies would be a problem, but humans don't value friendship the same way." I told her. "Oh my gosh girls I just realized something!" Sonata shouted at us. "What?" I asked "It's Taco Tuesday!" She shouted. Me and Aria both facepalmed. "You two ready?" They both nodded I pushed open the doors are we started singing. We followed the plan perfectly,it was going all well,we had to pull a few dirty moves on the rainbooms.And manipulate Trixie a lot,we had trapped them underneath the stage and were waiting to be called to perform,I was hopeful the plan would work. Hopeful that nothing would go wrong.Hopeful that we we're getting home tonight. But of course things started to go south.The Rainbooms managed to escape,we battled,me and my sisters were in advantage.We were in our full power. Their vocalist dropped their microphone,that's it we...Wait up,that Sunset girl is picking the microphone,maybe she'll understand maybe she'll join us. Yes she's singing! No way they can beat us now. Wait why is she helping them up? Sunset,NO! I thought I maybe I could use you...I would have even taken you home with us so you wouldn't be stuck here anymore. But it makes no difference in the end we'll just finish you too. I attacked them Aria and Sonata joined me. I was really hoping it wouldn't come to this...wait what's that light....ahhhhhhhh. Something drove me and my sisters back. I've never felt anything that powerful before what was that? I look at my sisters and they seem alright. We can beat them nothing can stop the three of us when we work together. I'm getting ready to attack again but stop at what I see. It's an alicorn How is an alicorn here?! It charged a beam and it hit us. I felt pain,and heard the sound of my gem breaking,it hurt,it hurt a lot mentally,physically too,but it didn't hurt as much as knowing what that meant.But I was in pure denial,no,no,they can't have took that away from us,that's what makes us sirens. Me and my sisters instenticvely hold our broke gems,as we test our voices,hoping they came out even if they were not normal.They really had no idea what the voice of a siren did,did they. Our voices got out but clearly not normal,people started heckling us,we ran away. It didn't matter they didn't like it,what matters now is checking my sister's and their voices to see if that magic didn't affect us badly. When we got backstage,Aria took me offguard by starting crying of apparently pain. "Aria, what's wrong?" I asked. "I..I don't know, I just hurt all of the sudden." Aria has never been one to cry out in pain always thought she had to be tough for Sonata. "Where?" "Everywhere." "We'll take you to a doctor." "No I'm fine. I'm sure it'll pass." "If you're sure,what about you Sonata you ok?" Sonata nodded while worriedly looking at Aria.Who just managed to stop crying now. Aria noticed and went over to her and gave her a hug. "I'm ok,Sonata." "You sure?"She asked really worried. "Yeah, let's just get out of here." That blast must have done more to her then she's letting on if she doesn't want to keep fighting. But she's right we should go. "Are you sure you're ok Aria?"I asked. "Let's just go!" Aria shouted. "Ok fine." The three of us slipped away during the aftermath of what happened.
The Dungeon of Terror	pre	Everypony looked at her, quite bewildered. This was supposed to be common knowledge. ''Why... yes.'' Said Hitch. ''Since at least three years ago, I would say.'' Vitali raised her head up and looked at the sky in what appeared to be an intense pensive mood. ''Really! That damn war has now lasted for more than a hundred years! Huh. ... ... Let's go.'' She went back as if nothing happened. Yet despite feeling very weirded by her, everypony was in a quite gloomy mood. Too gloomy to really care about anything. So they did the same and kept trotting towards the dungeon. Sunny went side by side with her childhood friend Hitch. Pipp, not wanting to be alone, flew close to her big sister. And Izzy was behind the whole group. Just walking. No longer jumping. And no longer smiling. ''I'm sorry Hitch. For talking about... you know... the war.'' ''...'' ''Are you mad at me?'' Hitch sighed lightly as he continued to walk. ''No. No I'm not. And you should not say sorry. I know it's dumb to just keep quiet about it and make it as if it never existed. It's just... god, it's so hard.'' ''Still, I'm sorry. It's this place. This valley. I don't feel quite right being here.'' ''I know what you mean. Not only is the earth we are walking is devoid of life but I think the whole valley is nearly as dead as this sinkhole. For a lack of better words. But it happens sometimes. Thought I confess, not to this magnitude. Hey, maybe all those battles are the cause of it and made this place sick. Yeah, as if.'' ''Haha. Yeah. Right. It doesn't work like that.'' Her chuckle was devoid of any kind of mirth. ''... But... is the lack of life in the earth... the 'only' thing you can feel?'' ''What do you mean Sunny?'' ''Nevermind. Just my nerves talking. Of course he can't feel it. He doesn't have the gift. But what on earth could cause that terrifying aura? I got a bad feeling. A very bad one.'' ''Zipp. You're acting weird. Please, tell me what's wrong.'' ''Everything is fine.'' She said bluntly. ''Don't lie to me. You put up a front but I know you've been acting weird since we met those ponies. Why's that? And don't tell me it's because you saw different kinds of ponies together. I mean, I was surprised too but I could tell it was a different reason for you.'' ''... I'm not seeing what you're talking about.'' Zipp still tried to deflect and avoid the topic but Pipp wouldn't have it. ''But... you looked spooked.'' ''I think you're overthinking stuff.'' ''I... look sis, if you don't want to talk about it then I will not push it. But if you're ever in need-- ''We're getting close. She's right. Better concentrate on the task at hoof.'' Zipp trotted ahead of her flying sister without giving her a glance. Said pegasi was crestfallen on how weirdly distant her big sister was. ''Oh Zipp. What are you hiding from me?'' Her pondering would have to wait. The leading mare, Vitali, had stopped and everypony followed suit. They saw they at last reached their destination. ''We're here.'' The mausoleum was quite simple. Rudimentary even. Just a plain curved stone roof supported by five plain stone columns. The floor under it was of the exact same material. It was nearly at the same level as the gray dirt, some of it already burying the border of that stone circle. The true and only point of interest was the hole right at the middle. In it, they could see steps of a stair leading down. Despite its simplicity, by just looking at it, the ponies could feel in their guts a feeling of dread. Inexplicable. Indecipherable. Growing larger and larger beyond all their control and in a matter of seconds. Until... Terror itself took a grip of their hearts. In the deepest depths of the dungeon, blackness filled every corner, the entire structure likely having never felt the faintest presence of light. Not natural light at least. And hidden within the heart of that penumbra, a lifeless thing was resting. A corpse as silent and inert as the darkness. A perfect companion for what may as well be a land of the dead. The skeleton was wearing a long and discolored robe that had been long ravaged by time. On its head was resting a golden crown of a simplistic design. Despite no longer having any trace of skin left, hairs were still on its skull. A long and overflowing white mane that may as well have been a cape. But then... something that should in no way be possible... happens. That corpse started to rattle its naked bones by itself. In a brusque swing of its head, that pony skull looked up, its mouth, full of rotten teeth, wide open. Something unnatural was flowing in its empty orbits. Darkness, even more dark than the surrounding blackness. Filled with all the evil of the world.
The Dungeon of Terror	Chapter 2	Chapter 2 Let me tell you something about fear. Fear is a very weird concept. One moment it can appear out of nowhere, even during a bright sunny day. Screaming at you no matter where you go and as immovable as a mountain. Other times, it's like there's no trace of it, present or past. But even if you don't see it, it's always there. Maybe fear has always been there since the moment of our birth. Being good at hiding below what our mind can see until it comes out from deep down. Who then will be brave enough to, instead of let it come to them, but to actually decide to explore those very depths. That moment of spooks had disappeared as fast as it had appeared. Though, a trace of it still remained in them. Nopony knew that they had all felt the same thing. Then again, if you can't even explain why a feeling happens, no matter how weird it was, you generally don't talk about it. Among the group, Zipp, particularly, wanted only one thing. To forget it. So she relied on her number one tool when she wanted to distract herself from her fears. Her boundless curiosity. ''No seriously. Who in their right mind would build an underground dungeon in the middle of a crater-- ''A sinkhole.'' Corrected Hitch. ''Yeah, sinkhole. I mean, no offense, but it looks kinda ridiculous and not inviting. I mean... why build something like that here?'' ''Well, maybe because it's easy to dig.'' Said Hitch as he tapped the earth, which effortlessly sank under his touch. ''I don't know how big that dungeon is but building such an underground structure must not be easy. That earth is not only weak as gypsum but also easily manageable, meaning far less effort is needed to move it around. Well, that's my opinion at least.'' ''Yes but why make all this in the first place? What's its purpose? Ooooh, it's quite the fascinating mystery don't you think?'' The white pegasi flew all-around the stone pagode. Inspecting details and humming to herself. She then flew in front of Vitali, very excited. ''You have to tell me all you know. Who are the ones who built it and why? The civilization of an old forgotten realm? An obscure cult? Oh yeah, I bet it was cultists. Who else would build a dungeon in the middle of nowhere?'' Vitali didn't share Zipp's excitement, looking positively disinterested in discussing the matter. ''Yeah, it must surely be work of fanaticals of some sort.'' The scholarly mare mumbled halfheartedly. ''But instead of its past, I think it would be best if told you it's present.'' Vitali fixed her gaze at the stone pagode. With a mix of fear and reverence. ''This place is the second reason why the valley bears its dreadful name. Hitch. Light my lantern please. You had mentioned that everycreature in the town of Grewhawk knew about the dungeon?'' ''Yea... yeah? Though, the thing is, I could tell they knew about its existence but each time I was opening the subject, they all clammed up and refused to tell me anything. Well, instead of never, ever going there. It seems that dungeons was a sort of taboo subject and they I... I could see it in their eyes. Even just thinking about it seemed to terrify them, like it was cursed or something.'' ''And for good reasons. For good reasons. You see, for years this dungeon has captivated the imagination of many. And not just because nopony knows why it's here. Because of how secluded and close to the border Grewhank is, that town is a known resting place for, not just ponies but all kinds of creatures from other countries.'' ''Right. I saw griffons, Diamond Dogs and even some creatures I didn't know existed. Though, quite a few of them weren't exactly the savory types.'' Hitch shuffled awkwardly as he recalled the many unpleasant looks and words he'd received from several in town. ''I said it was a known resting spot. Not that it wasn't a shady one. All kinds of creatures stop there. Travelers and merchants, yes. But also brigands and desperadoes. When words of that mysterious dungeon spreaded out, people started to imagine whaTtreasures were hidden in its depths. Seems like fables of adventurers inspire all circles huhhH.'' She said looking at Izzy with an expression of irony. But instead of being amused, the unicorn was preoccupied. ''And... what happened to those that explored it?'' ''They never came back.'' Vitali said in a matter of fact tone. ''Most of them at least. Only a few ever survived. But from what stories they told, it seemed the experience down there made them completely mad. Most of what they said was incoherent. What could be made out include tales of deadly traps and unspeakable horrors. And now, no one ever goes down. Save for the few mad ones or the desperate that reached the bottom of their luck. So now, instead of captivating the imagination of Greyhawk, the dungeon haunts it. They fear it so much they give it a name. The Dungeon of Terror.'' Nopony said a single word. The only sound was of the wind. The wind who's dancing breeze lifted the brown mane of Vitali. Sunny was the one breaking the silence. ''Huh, it's a little on the nose.'' ''Bah. I personally think subtlety is for cowards. But do you understand why I telling all that?'' She faced them all, looking deadly serious. ''This place is death. And not a kind one. There's. No. Guarantee you will come back. And even if you do... it won't be uncasted. So if you want to quit, now is your chance. This... is not a reproche. Nor a judgment. I won't blame you at all if you don't want to do it. Nopony would.'' No pony doubted her words or intent. They knew that she was sincere. The thought that she was playing couldn't even cross their mind. Almost as if in a trance, they all turned their heads towards the heart of the pagoda. The entrance of the Dungeon of Terror. Those stairs going down and down. Into the dark. wooosh wooosh The wind chose that moment to sing. And it seemed to be here to stay. The fear also came back. And it seemed here to stay. They couldn't utter a word from their dry lips. Instead, their irises were transfixed on this entrance to who knows where. None of them could explain but this entrance became the most terrifying and captivating thing there is. They wanted to run away as far as possible and forget this place ever existed. But at the same time, they wanted to go down there. To go into those dark depths. Into this unknown. Of those two impulses, it was the latter that won. None of them could have explained why. They just knew that, for whatever reasons, it must have been an important one. Even if it was impossible to describe it with words. At least for now. So, with a natural impulse that scared even themselves, their hooves advanced towards the entrance. Each step neither hesitant nor eager but done with a mechanical deliberation. One by one, they went past Vitali, who was bewildered by this strange, almost mechanical movement and was looking at them as if she couldn't recognize them. Eventually, each pony went down the stairs, leaving the scholarly mare alone. The poor mare was shocked by this turning of the table. The one that wanted to go down was now the last one on the surface! She couldn't help but feel a chill coursing in her. Something she didn't feel for a long time. Suddenly, she felt quite alone and galloped after them. Now, they are all gone. The wind decided to scream even more. wooooooosh Onward. And downward. The adventurers were going. The ponies were climbing down on that spiral staircase at a slow pace. There was no longer a trace of the light of day left and all was bathed in the deepest penumbra. Izzy was in the lead, lightning the way with her horn and the help of a simple illumination spell. The other ponies clung as close as possible, almost treating the light itself like a literal shield. The only noises they could hear was the sound of their own steps. Each one reverberates on the walls. The air was stiff and dusty. A testament of how ancient this place was. And of course, there was the fear. That fear seemed as if it didn't just come from them but ooze from all their surroundings. Still, the ponies went deeper. Deeper. And deeper. The rattling of bones had become a cacophony. That skeleton was now moving on its own. Or at least trying. Just as it tried to get up, it fell down. Knowing it didn't have the strength to support itself, it simply sat on its lower legs, spreading wide its upper hooves in an almost pleading manner. It then put its bone naked hooves on its skull as if it was assailed by demented thoughts. Even if its orbitals were empty of eyes, they could see something. A vision. That vision was showing a giant double door as gray as everything surrounding it. That double door opened up, revealing behind it, six ponies whose bright colors were contrasting with all the darkness around them. It knew well who those ponies were. Intruders. Intruders. That skeleton was shaking with a rage so intense that it could only be called hysteria, its bones quaking and chattering. It lunged forward, threw its front boned hooves on the floor and scratched it, making a teeth grinding noise and leaving two gash on the stone. Its madness reaching its paroxysm, the tendrils of evil magic darkened even more and that living corpse flew, but literally flew in the air. Spreading wide its tattered clothes and hair like sinister wings. The double door opened up with a massive creak. Once the ponies went beyond it, they saw the penumbra was spread all around them and Izzy's light was barely able to disperse it. ''How dark it is. I can't even see the walls. It's quite spooky.'' Izzy attempted to point her horn in various directions to find a wall, only to be met with more darkness. ''Hum, girls. And boy. I'm not feeling confident that my illumination spell would be enough. That shiny-shiny is the most shiny I can give.'' ''Don't worry Izzy.'' Sunny said as she put her hoof on the unicorn's shoulder. ''We probably should've thought about what now seems like an obvious problem. Maybe we could find some torches to light- ''No that won't be necessary.'' Interrupted Vitali. ''I came prepared.'' She took something from her long sleeve. A slim wooden box. Both its reddish and golden borders had lost their luster but that box was still in good shape. ''I'll admit I was worried there wouldn't be enough, but thankfully, it's just the right number for you five.'' She opened the box and at first, nopony was sure of what they were seeing. Safely encrusted in red velvet were strange glass oval shapes. Five piles on two to be precise. Izzy was so confused that she couldn't help but scrunched her eyes. ''Wait! are those... eyes lenses?! I don't understand. Why-- ''It's dark vision lenses!'' Both Hitch and Zipp shouted at unisson. They were quite surprised. ''The glass of those lenses had been enchanted with magic. With them, you can see in the dark even better than a night owl.'' Hitch said as he took one and examined it with excitement. ''They said making just one lens requires painful precise spellcrafting. Not to mention, a lot of bits.'' Zipp spoke with an almost scholarly tone as she carefully held the lens. ''How did you get your hooves on so many of them? You can't find that on a flea market. Or any market whatsoever. This is military grade equipment.'' ''She's right. From what I heard, they are typically reserved for scouts on the battlefield. And again, only the most highly qualified ones. Because as Zipp just said, those lenses are really tight on the moneybag. I'm not even sure they're still making those anymore.'' Hitch spoke, now eyeing Vitali with suspicion. Vitali answered back with a cheeky smile. ''Well, to make things simple, let's just say that because of who I am, I have a few friends in high places. Also, I would feel so guilty to put that important responsibility on you without me giving my contribution. I want to help you in every way I can. It's the least I can do.'' The mare gave the box to Hitch. ''Just put the lenses on your eyes. As simple as that. And don't worry about me, I already wear a pair.'' ''Then... why didn't you just give them to us in advance instead of giving them now?'' Zipp retorted. ''Why! I was about but you all went down all eerily before I could say a word. What was that by the way? You scared the hell out of me. Is there something you're not telling me?'' Hitch opened his mouth to reply... but as he realized that no sound could come out of it, no matter how much he wanted, he dejectedly closed it. The others were no better. The pegasus sister couldn't even look at Vitali. Or each other. As for Izzy, her eyes were wide as saucers and her hooves were starting to shake. Sunny, seeing her unicorn friend in distress, she put her hoof on Izzy's shoulder. ''Vitali, I know you don't mean anything wrong... I just think... it would maybe be best...'' ''... Ah. I see now.'' Vitali just let it go. It seems some sort of silent understanding went between those two mares. ''So anyway, who wants to try first?'' They all were eager to try. In part to change the subject. Pipp was the first to put on a pair and she couldn't believe her eyes. ''Amazing! It's as if the dark wasn't here!'' As was indeed as she had said. What was once pitch black was now a well lighted room where not a single detail was obscured. Though it was not as bright as if it was in daylight. Even though Pipp could see all, it was still very, but very, gloomy. But back on the subject, now that Pipp could see, the first thing she saw was that the room they were in was freaking HUGE! This was the biggest room they're ever been in. A whole farming field could fit in. No, maybe even two with space enough for a barn and small house. Looking further, eight massive columns, arranged in two rows, were spread on this hall. Between each of them, there were wooden chairs identical to those found in church. That was the first thought of the adventurers. That they somehow found their way into a church. The biggest one they ever saw. Everypony felt their breath leave them...save for one. Zipp flew all directions, excited by all that was surrounding her. ''By. The. Gods! It's amazing. What's this place? Oh now I understand why you want to explore this site. Who would built this?'' ''I don't know and that why we here.'' Answered back Vitali. ''I've... never been farther than here. Beyond that, it's too dangerous for one pony. I like to call this place the 'Great Hall'.'' ''Yeah, I see why. But for what's purpose?'' Zipp's curious mind had been piqued and as she scanned her surroundings from the air, questions after questions came to her. ''Those chairs make me think of a place of worship. Did ponies come here to worship something or someone perphars? Hum, the theory of a cult seems more plausible. Huh? What's that down here?'' From her vantage point, she noticed some drawings on the floor. Some of the tiles had designs on it, forming a much larger, more intricate design. But it wasn't arranged in an orderly fashion, quite the opposite, it was like seeing snakes slithering without rhyme or reason. Zipp wasn't the expert on decoration but even she could tell that only a lunatic would come out with that arrangement. ''That's quite creepy. What does it means?'' She landed and observed the pictures more clearly. They seemed to be made of a mixture of drawings and strange symbols. Despite how grotesque they looked, there seemed to be a method in this madness. ''Hum, I wonder if... hey Izzy.'' ''Huh!'' ''Can you come here for a minute? I have a hunch those are magical symbols but I'm no expert on this. Would you mind providing your expertise as a mage.'' ''Huhh! Oh. Um... you see... I'm not really-- ''Heh sis, you should ask me.'' Pipp came into the conversation. ''I studied magic, remember. I could help.'' Izzy seemed to mouth thank you to the Pegasus, while Zipp sister almost smacked her own head at forgetting such a detail. ''Right. How could I forget! What do you make of this?'' ''Hmmm.'' Pipp looked down at the various symbols, getting in closer and tracing some of the lines with her eyes. ''I say... you may be right. From the look of it, they do seem to be magical runes. But the thing is I can't recognize any of them. And I mean none of them. None of these match any of the books of magic I studied. And I had studied a lot, trust me.'' ''And what about those non-magical drawings mixed with those runes? Look like hieroglyphs.'' ''Yes, I saw. There's a pony. I think. A creepy eyes there. A spiral here. And many very abstract ones. And they all fit well with the magical symbols like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.'' ''Yeah exactly. It can't be random.'' Again Pipp stared hard at the images, looking for some kind of meaning, pattern or something else, anything else...only to shake her head in defeat. ''Sorry but this is beyond me. Drawings can sometimes be used in magical circles to enhance the magic. I know it sounds weird but yeah, it can be possible. But I don't see how since there's no circle. If you want my advice, I think they're just here simply for aesthetics. It's not actually uncommon to use magic runes for purely religious reasons.'' ''Aaaah, right. I do remember often seeing symbols for spells on the text of the holy bible. Least it does seem to confirm that some sort of cult was there. Though I doubt that their object of worship was something holy. Bet you love that spooky atmosphere, heh sis.'' ''Come on Zipp, you know I've loved horror stories since I was a filly but it's different when I... '' Pipp had raised her head as she spoke and saw something peculiar. ''Alright, now it screams trying way too much. Look.'' Up above, coursing between the giant columns were chains. Countless and countless long chains going in all directions, crisscrossing into a messy net of metal. They too were showing their age. Not a trace of luster remained and there were several obvious spots of reddish-brown color probably made by rust. ''Ooo...kay. Interesting choice.'' Said Izzy the Unicorn. ''Me too, I once decorated the roof of my house with chains. Though my chains were made of pretty multi-colored papercraft. But who am I to judge?'' ''I really doubt they were made for that purpose.'' Pipp answered back. ''As for what their purpose is? I can't even imagine. ''You will not like it at all.'' Everypony turned their head toward Vitali. This WAS quickly starting to become a habit. ''Those chains aren't here to be pretty. They serve a... stomach-churning purpose. They are tools to execute and torture ponies.'' And just like that, the feeling of oppression they all felt was now seeping to their very bone. But Vitaly just continued, undeterred, as if she was reciting a simple history lesson. ''It's an old method of punishment for the guilty and sinners. They ensnare the limbs and torsos of ponies with those chains and just... left them up there. The only thing those condemned can do is just wait for a slow and agonizing death with only the company of other condemned. And the gazes of spectators who want them to suffer. For days. After days. After days. Until hunger and thirst finally take them. Less if the chains cause wounds and blood loss. Even less if they are attached upside down.'' The scholarly mare, more disinterested than ever, pushed away a strand of her mane and as if she was reading a passage from an old history book, continued her speech, to the horror of her companions. ''It has two purposes. One if for the guilty. To make sure they understand the weight of their crimes. The second is to serve as an example for the spectator. So they be deterred to become like him.'' ''STOP! JUST STOP.'' Screamed Pipp. ''Who-who could come out with such a- ''Pegasi.'' ''... Huh???'' ''Pegasi are the ones that invented that punishment. I mean, who else would be able to put the bodies up?'' Pipp felt their stomachs drop as they looked up again and realized the truth, which only caused both to sink further into disbelief and despair. ''If it can console you Miss Pipp, that execution method was used for only a few years before being banned. Even in this cold world, it seems it had been considered too depraved. Huh Pipp? Is something wrong?'' Pipp didn't look well, in fact, she seemed to have difficulty breathing. They were not sure but it seemed to them they had heard soft giggles. ''Oh yeah, yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine. I just need to, stretch my wings a little bit.'' She flew towards one of those benches, far away, and just laid her whole body on it. It did manage to calm her down, if just for a little bit but because of this nasty thing called morbid curiosity, she couldn't help to look up at those dastardly chains, dirty by... wait... were those brown stains really made by rust? Or-- Yes, Pipp just lost her breakfast which was now spread on the floor. She coughed for a bit but then, her eyes caught something resting on the wall. Anything to distract herself from that nightmare. It was a mistake. What she saw was corpses. Two ponies corpses who all that was left were their bones and the rags that were once their clothes. Their mouths were wide open. As if they'd died screaming. It was a blood curdling scream that came out of Pipp's mouth as afraid, fell and crawled backwards from those dead. ''PIPP! Pipp what's wrong?'' Zipp grabbed her sister. ''It's alright, I'm here. What's wro... oh gods.'' She too saw the corpses. ''Don't--don't worry. They can't hurt you. Just don't look.'' ''What's wrong?'' Sunny and the rest came and saw the corpses too. ''Oh! Oooh, I guess we should have expected that. Vitali said we weren't the first.'' If any illusions were left that this dungeon wasn't dangerous, now those hopes, as little as they were, were gone with a vengeance. ''Those two have been here for quite some time.'' Hitch said, looking at those skeletons more thoroughly. ''But not that much.'' What it meant was although they were bones, they were still covered up by skin, albeit all dry up. It'd be more accurate to call them mummies more than skeletons. One had a good part of his skull smashed to the wall. The other had wild gashes on his tunic and torso with bits of black on his shirt..likely long dried blood. ''Looks like this one has been torn to shreds. Must have been painful. Guess they're really are monsters here.'' ''Yes. And I beg you. To stay. FOCUS.'' Vitali screamed from afar. ''This is not the moment to act like tourists. I said it many times. This place is 'death'. And here's the proof. As well as what will happen to you if you don't keep your guard up.'' Sadly her warning was lost on one of the bunch. Izzy was not among the group. She was hearing what Vitali was saying but she hardly kept focus on what her words meant. In fact, she could hardly keep focus on anything. She barely entered the dungeon and already it was becoming too much for her. Will she ever be courageous, the Unicorn lamented in her heart. She wandered without any destination in mind until she arrived at the end of the hall and there... she found something peculiar. There was a big face carved in the wall. It was a pony face with a beard and strangely, a pair of horns on its head. Not unicorn horns mind you, but more like demonic horns. The stone composing that face had the color green. A dirty green. But the most noteworthy aspect was its hollow mouth. It was wild open, forming a big O and it was taking the most place of this face. Izzy didn't like it. Despite having a passion for art, she just couldn't get what this sculpture was about. What was it trying to express? Horror? Anger? Confusion? And those damn eyes seemed to be fixing on her. That big hollow mouth was as black as a dark abyss. Wait! 'That's strange' the unicorn was thinking. Does the dark-vision lens she was wearing weren't supposed to vanish all dark? But the more she was looking at that dark mouth, the harder she found it was to avert her eyes. Something in that darkness was... making her afraid. Just like when she had entered the dungeon. But despite this irrational fear, or maybe because of it, she was also... fascinated by it. Without realizing it, the unicorn was taking step after step towards that mouth, as if in a trace and slowly, held out her hoof towards that hole. Vitali, still lecturing the party of adventurers, realized that Izzy was missing. Having a bad feeling, the scholarly mare turned her head. She gasped as her pupils shrunk and held out her hoof towards Izzy. ''NO, DON'T TOUCH IT! YOU MUSTN'T!''
The Dungeon of Terror	Chapter 3	Chapter 3 ''NO DON'T TOUCH IT! YOU MUSTN'T.'' Vitali galloped furiously towards Izzy. In her course, she grabbed a long and old candelabra and then threw it as if it was a lance. It hit the wall, a few feet away from the unicorn, who jumped in fright, breaking her away from her trance. Once Vitali reached Izzy, she grabbed the unicorn's shoulders and shook her up. ''Oooh. You. Will. Be the death of me before this place does. I have you any idea of what you nearly did?'' ''So-- sorry. I'm sorry. I... just had the urge to put my hoof in that mouth.'' Izzy eyed the aforementioned mouth with more reservation than before. ''It was like asking for it. I-- I don't see what's the problem.'' ''As I'd say, this dungeon had many traps and this.'' She pointed at the face with big emphasis. ''This is the first one.'' ''Huh! But--but this looks like a normal statue!'' Izzy again looked at the hunk of stone, hesitant to believe it was truly a threat, Vitali eyed it with experienced paranoia. ''It's anything but normal. sigh Alright. I'll explain. The inside of that mouth may seem empty, but in truth, it holds a terrible spell. The darkness in it doesn't disappear because it's not natural darkness. Everything that touches that darkness... vanishes.'' ''Well... it's suppose to va-- ''I mean erased. Disintegrated. I personally dubbed that spell the name of 'Sphere of Annihilation'.'' With a kick, she lifted the candelabra and caught it with her hoof. ''Demonstration.'' She put the tip with the candlesticks in the mouth of the bearded face. It completely vanished from sight. After a moment, Vitali pulled it back and to Izzy's shock, the tip was... gone. Just gone. And it wasn't torn apart, melted or snapped off. The cut was so clean it may as well have never been there. ''See. That's how that spell works. Why was it put there? I have no idea.'' As Vitali tossed the now lighter candelabra, Izzy was staring at her hoof with terror. ''But... but but but! If I'd put it here! My hoof! Gone!'' ''Well, actually, not just that. Blood would have gushed out your very open wounds and you would have died from blood loss in less than a minute. Pretty grisly it would have been for you.'' Saying that Izzy was utterly struck with horror was an understatement. The poor unicorn fell on her haunches and grabbed her, could've been gone, hoof as though it were about to disappear. She made no sound but the shaking of her whole body was the loudest answer there could be. It seemed that Sunny had given herself the role of supporting Izzy. Because she was the first to go towards that poor unicorn. She gently rubbed Izzy back and it seemed to work to an extent. ''Vitali. I know you worry and I thank you for saving her but... can't you be just a little more... tactful?'' ''NO.'' Snapped back Vitali with such venom that everypony took a step back. ''Maybe you think I don't care but I want all of you to make it out of here alive. Though given what I just saw, I'm starting to wonder if you don't care whether you live or die." ''Hey hey! We didn't come here to be talk like that.'' Zipp, visibly angry and offended, flew towards Vitali, pushing her snout against her. ''You're the one hiring us so would be appreciated if you have a little faith in us. You want us to prepare against dangers? Miss, you've been awfully cryptic about what we should face. How can we properly prepare? So please. Just be upfront and tell us what we're expected to face. Now.'' This clearly had an effect on Vitali because, for the face time, her voice was caught on her throat. ''Well... ... it's not... it's compli-- ''No. None of that. We won't take another step unless you tell us more about the monsters we must slay so that we may not end up eaten by... ... Wait. A. Minute. ... What do they eat?'' Zipp managed to perplexed everypony with one single question. ''Huh?!'' ''Yeah. What do they eat? Why has no one questioned that before? Why didn't I? It's so obvious. Mon... monsters can't live here!'' Pipp, confused, put her hooves on her sister's shoulders. ''Sis, You scare me. What's the matter?'' ''What's the matter! We're. Deep. Underground. We took the only entryway to the surface. When she'd said monsters were prowling in those walls, I thought savage beasts had wandered here and made it their home, but why would they live in a place isolated from everything. It just makes no sense. And even if they did, how would they feed? Even the occasional wanderers wouldn't be enough to keep them from starving.'' The adventurers were stunned on how implacable Zipp logic was. They all have been fixed on those stories of adventure they read as foals. So much so they didn't see the obvious inconsistencies. But if they questioned themselves just for a moment, then it became obvious that it was impossible for monsters to live in this godforsaken place. They all looked at Vitali, the mare that brought them here. And the first time, all composure was gone and she was at a loss for words. Izzy's expression grew colder. ''I knew you were hiding things from us.'' She aims her crossbow at the face of the one who brought them here. The crossbow made a click, ready to shoot her arrow. Nopony could move. They all recognize Zipp's expression. It was the face of somepony who was ready to kill. Somepony who'd killed already. ''Zipp!'' Her sister desperately screamed, hoping to calm her down. ''What's gotten into you!'' ''Don't butt into this. Since the start, I've never been able to fully trust her. But I didn't listen to my gut because I was too desperate for money. And now, I not only put myself in grave danger but also you sis.'' Zipp, slightly lowered her eyes in shame but quickly went back in threatening mode. ''Alright Vitali, here's what we're going to do. Tell the truth and I promise I won't shoot. But if I feel for even one second you're still hiding something, then I swear, this will be the last thing you ever do.'' Shockingly, despite having an arrow in front of her face, Vitali didn't look afraid. She did seem embarrassed, yes, but strangely not afraid. Still she didn't respond initially despite the threat, only letting out a frustrated sigh. ''Oh fine. Yes, I admit you're right and you've every right to be mad at me. But I swear, there's no foul play or trap, I really need your help for killing... one monster.'' ''One? As in singular! What did you hide--no. It still can't be true. Nothing can live here.'' ''That's... because it's not-- That's when, out of nowhere, the scream came. A blood curdling howl filled the whole place. The ponies were so surprised they didn't even have time to cover their ears from that deafening sound and they felt fear like never before. No animal or person could make such a sound of pure rage. The ponies could tell, whoever, or whatever was making that howl was something unnatural and wrong. The howling stopped as abruptly as it had begun. They could understand it didn't come from that hall but from far away. Very far away, in the farthest reaches of this forsaken place. However, this didn't reassure the ponies, quite the opposite. What kind of horror could make such a scream? Nopony could move. They were paralyzed by fear and they could feel their blood grow cold. Even Zipp had lost her cold demeanor and was now as scared as a foal. But to the surprise of all, the one who was most affected was Vitali. The mare that had never once showed a hint of fear, with an arrow in her face, had now lost all colors and looked seconds away from faiting of fright. ''Oh no. Already!'' She whispered. ''Take your weapons.'' The adventurers were confused. ''TAKE YOUR WEAPONS. TAKE THEM NOW.'' Vitali shouted back. On the decorated floor, something strange appeared. A cloud made of pitch black smoke erupted from the ground and green lighting was crackling in it. That flowing blackness crawled along the serpentine carvings making that was a cross between the howling of the wind and a painful moaning. Then suddenly, that darkness rose up high and exploded into many tendrils of evil magic spreading into every corner. And then... it was just quiet. The ponies weren't sure how to react. They then heard a moan that made their fur straighten up. ''Stay behind me.'' Proclaimed Hitch as he took his sword with his mouth and went in front of everypony to protect them. The plaintive moan came again and Hitch knew now that it was coming from behind one of the large columns at his right. ''Is... is somepony there? Please, show yourself.'' They heard hoof steps. Somepony, or something, was coming. In mere moments, from behind the pillar came out a decrepit hoof, pressing on the column marble for support. And then the face came out into view. If you could call it a face. All the muscles were gone, leaving its skull and mummified skin along with a few straws of mane on its head. Its mouth had lost all skin on its right side, showing its rotten teeth. But the scariest part was this sinister smoke of darkness flowing out of its mouth and empty orbitals. The walking corpse looked at the ponies, its head and limbs jerking like a broken puppet. And once it had the group in sight, two points made of green light appeared in the dark of its orbitals. And its movements became then far more natural. And despite no longer having vocal cords or even lungs, it cry a scream of bestial rage. ''Wha... but! It's... un undead!'' Hitch said, surprised. Sunny and Zipp went immediately to the side of Hitch, ready to attack. Those three had already dealt with undead previously, contrary to Izzy and Pipp who this was the very first time they saw one. ''Stand back.'' Sunny said, having already caught on to the inexperience of those two. ''Don't worry, it's just one. They look scary but they're not that dange--'' More moans came. Far more. Whatever was giving life to this corpse had not finished its job. On the two previous corpses resting on the wall, green lighting was coursing on their whole bodies. The one with the slash on its torso animated as the evil magic splashed out of its face. But strangely, the one with the smashed skull didn't move at all, the spell unable to do anything. Quickly, more appeared. One of a huge size rose up from behind a bench. Another was hidden under a bench and tumbled it down as it came out. From above, the corpse of a pegasi that had been hidden in the shadow, flew down. In a far corner, a dead earth pony, who had been blended with the surrounding awakens, its lower jaw gangling in nearly comical way if it wasn't so horrifying. In unison, all the walking corpses turned their gazes towards the adventurers and advanced towards them. Slowly but surely. The poor Izzy was clutching her staff, doubting her very eyes. ''Girls. Am I having a nightmare?'' The other ponies were wondering the same thing. ''It... can't be!'' Said Sunny. ''Undeads are supposed to be rare. So many in one place is impossible! Where're they coming from? How did we miss them?'' ''They were hidden in blind spots.'' Whispered the pale Vitali to nopony but herself. ''It became smarter.'' Hitch, at first in shock, shook his head to get out of his stupor. At the right time because the closest zombie lunged at him, teeth first. Hitch parried its maw with his sword and kicked it in the ribs to push it away. ''Back up tormented soul.'' The zombie fell down. Hitch, using a sleight-of-'mouth', changed the blade side for the wand side. ''I know your weakness.'' Green magic charged up in the crystal. '' And it's give life to dead.'' When she heard those words, it was enough to free Vitali of her episode. ''What! NO STOP! THEY'RE NOT UNDEADS.'' The healing magic hit the zombie directly. Its waves of green aura washed over it. And when it dissipated, the zombie... simply went back on its hooves and screamed at Hitch. ''WHAT! Impossible!'' The knight was shocked. Again he hit it with more healing spells, again and again but it did not affect the walking corpse as it kept advancing the panicking earth pony. ''But I don't understand! It always works each time I cleanse them. Huh! No no no stay away, STAY AWAY!!!'' The zombie pounced at Hitch, baring its teeth. But instead of its prey, what it received was an orange hoof at the jaw that sent flying back. As it rolled on the floor, ending on its belly, Sunny followed suit, backflipping over and over and with a powerful jump, slammed her back hooves on the back of the zombie, shattering its spine. The green eyes and darkness extinguished. It was no longer moving. All the other zombies were now visibly agitated and instead leisurely walking, galloped full speed toward Sunny and the rest. Unphased, the mare monk jumped backward again and again and rejoined the group. A quick glance behind was enough to tell her that none of them could fight. Not properly at least. They were in a state of shock and from her past experience, she knew it was difficult to snap out of it. Not before death comes. But Sunny didn't curse her situation. She didn't even have a single spiteful thought for her companions. Instead, she was purely focused on protecting them. She stood up on two hooves and readied her upper arms on fighting positions. ''You won't harm them, monsters. You will have to go through me first.'' Poor Izzy was shaking uncontrollably and couldn't help but to take a few steps back. It was also the same for Pipp, tears filling her eyes. However, Sunny's words managed to break through her fear and seeing the mare's selfless courage, the pegasi grit her teeth. More. And then more. And in a moment of defiance against all her self-preservation instincts, she flew past everypony, ready to meet the undead horde head on. Rapidly, she spread wide her beating wings and hooves and then... She sang. She sang a song of an unknown language. Nopony understood the meaning of those lyrics but they could feel the deficiency and temerity behind those words. And as that song escaped her mouth, a magical and starry pink barrier appeared in front of her, sending the many charging zombies directly into it, before they crashed to the ground. Hitch was surprised. ''What- what is that!'' Zipp got back to her senses and ran toward Hitch. ''I told you my sister had an awesome power. I'll explain later. Focus.'' She prepared her two crossbows. ''For starsake, what I am doing! I can't let my baby sis do all the work.'' An earth pony zombie, one that had double the size compared to others, smashed at the barrier, right in front of Pipp and screamed a gastly cry. The sudden shock frightens Pipp, breaking her concentration and causing the barrier to dissipate. The barrier gone, the huge zombie was ready to pounce at the pink pegasi, only for it to immediately get an arrow in its right eye. ''Don't touch her. You monster gonna have to deal with me first.'' A rope was attached to the tail of Zipp's arrow. The rope led to a device attached to Zipp's flank. She pushed a button and the device pulled up the rope along with the zombie with it, dragging it toward her Another zombie, the one with the broken maw, took the place of the big one and jumped at Pipp. But this time she was ready. She sang a quick verse, charged with hate, and it exploded out with a scream. From that scream, a blast of magic was shot right at the zombie. It flew across the whole hall, even lost a boney hoof on the trip. ''And stay dead--HAARRH!'' One of Pipp's wings had just been slashed by the pegasi zombie. This one had weapons, two rusty knives in its hooves. Afraid and in pain, Pipp quickly panicked and flew straight into a wall. With a loud thump, she slowly slid down the wall, dazed. Once her mind managed to right itself, she saw, to her horror, her fluffy wing all bloody. ''PIIIPP!!!'' Screamed her sister. Alas, dragging that giant dead earth pony was now working against her. It didn't lose time to pin her down before starting to hit and scratch at her like an animal. The poor pony tried to retaliate, but found herself unable to push the monster off to reload her crossbows. ''HITCH. I BEG YOU, PROTECT MY SISTER.'' She pleaded to Hitch, still caring more about Pipp life than her own. The knight felt torn apart to leave Zipp like that but knew she was right, Pipp was the most in danger. He will have to have faith that Zipp would somehow manage. Steeling himself, he galloped at Pipp and the pegasi zombie gearing up to slice her. But at the last second, it was hit at the face by a long candlestick wielded by none other than Vitali. ''Get away from her.'' Using this moment of opportunity, Hitch slashed the wings from the back of the zombie. Deprived of its wings, the zombie crashed to the ground yet didn't seem to feel pain, instead, it got angrier and turned back to face Hitch. It aimed its knives at him and Hitch parried both of them with his sword, sparks and metallic sounds came out the clash. ''Vitali, take Pipp away.'' ''Alright but aim for their heads. Their heads is-- ''Yes I got it, now GO.'' She did as he said and took Pipp away, supporting her steps. Farther away, Zipp had managed to free herself from the grasp of the big zombie. She used the rope binding both of them and flew around it to ensnared it. She saw her sister and shouted at Izzy. ''Izzy, you too with Pipp.'' The poor unicorn was trembling like a leaf and probably didn't even hear her properly. ''Huh?! '' ''Just go.'' Zipp said while doing her best to hold off the enrobed zombie that was struggling like crazy. Izzy listened and galloped past Hitch, fighting the wingless zombie, and Sunny who was busy with the other twos. Hitch readied his sword as the zombie as the bloodshot eyes pegasi ready his knives, his scream deafened by the war cries of that muddy battlefield. How many times did the knight see that scene? Too many. The enemy soldier promptly lunged at him. But the knight knew how to fight them. It was now an automatic. He blocked the first knife with his hoof and knocked it away from the enemy hoof. Then, without thinking, he disarmed the second knife and plunged his sword in the heart of the pegasi. He made a garbled sound, his eyes went backward with fear and he fell dead. Once again, Hitch only felt emptiness felt a searing pain on his face as the zombie had scratched it with its boney hoof. The sudden pain immediately jolted him back to reality. Falling onto his haunches, he searched frantically for his sword. To his horror, his weapon was stuck between the ribs of the undead. Its empty ribs. Sunny was busy fighting the two remaining skeletal ponies. She saw her old childhood friend in trouble. ''HITCH! Hang on, I'm coming.'' She stood on her two front hooves and made a spin, her legs hitting the two zombies on the chest. They flew away toward the benches. Sunny charged toward Hitch before jumping and landing behind the wingless zombie, grabbing it with her lower hooves and with a somersault, launched it in the air. The sword was unclogged and fell. Hitch, regaining his senses, grabbed it and dealt one swift strike. Before it even finished its descent, the undead was decapitated. Farther away, Zipp was in trouble. She was severely beaten up and cut with the zombie having freed itself from the rope. It advanced towards her like it was possessed and Zipp had no longer the strength to fly and could only step back. She stopped and got cold sweats when she remembered what she nearly bumped into. ''Oh crap, crap! That damn sphere of annihilation is behind me! Where can I run too... Wait. That's it!'' She defiantly stood up before the huge dead pony, her wings flaring up. ''Alright ugly. You want me? Then come and get me if you dare.'' It screamed in a mad rage and galloped toward her. Focusing the last of her strength on her wings, she hovered backward and in a snap, pushed a device on her belt that dropped ink on the floor. The zombie, in its mad rush, galloped on the black puddle and it slipped toward the Face. It caught itself at the last second but Zipp kicked it in the back and it plunged headfirst into the sphere of annihilation. There wasn't even a sound as its headless, and shoulderless, body limplie fell along with its detached front hooves. Zipp was completely drained. ''pantpant Damn. And this gadget wasn't even a weapon. Just my pen ink reservoir. This could nearly be funny.'' Only two zombies were left. The one with the broken jaw and the one that was missing a limb. Yet, nothing could deter their single minded desire to tear the flesh out of those ponies. The compulsion to kill was all there was. Not an ounce of intelligence or true sentience was in them. But there was something akin to an animal instinct. And when you must kill no matter what... You always go to the weakest prey first. Like the mare with the bloodied wing. Vitali was running away to the other side, along with Pipp, whose injured fluffy member was leaving a trail of blood in her wake. ''Come on Pipp. Hang in there.'' ''I'm trying... ouch!'' The pain was so bad that she was breathing through her teeth. ''I'm trying but- gosh, that's the first ever time I've felt so much pain. It's unbearable.'' ''What do you mean, the first- She was interrupted when the two zombies jumped in front of them, growling like beasts. The two mares were cornered. But as the jaw broken zombie was about to attack, a purple lightning bolt hit its skull, leaving a burn mark on its face. Surprisingly the monster didn't react initially, just standing there. Then. in an almost comical fashion, turned its head toward its assailant. It was Izzy whose legs were shaking like a leaf and the poor unicorn was so scared that she was crying. ''Gogogo aw- away-'' The zombie screamed like banshees. Izzy, in a state of panic, closed her eyes shut. A fire was building in her staff and it was growing at an alarming rate. Vitali feared the worst. ''Wait wait wait, stop! We're just right there!'' The blue unicorn wasn't completely aware of what she was doing. Her fight-or-flee instinct kicked in. She screamed at the top of her lungs as she threw her unstable fireball at what was scaring her. The fiery projectile hit the two zombies, engulfing them in an explosion. Unfortunately, Pipp and Vitali, who were dangerously close to it, were knocked away by the shockwave. They could feel the heat scorching their fur, just barely avoiding being incinerated. Once the chaos passed, the hyperventilating Pipp opened her eyes. Where the zombies once were was more a thick cloud of smoke. ''pantpant What the hell Izzy! You could have killed us all.'' ''I'm--I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-- Screams interrupted her. The smoke cleared to reveal a sight straight up from hell. The walking corpses were still standing, but now, their very bones were set ablaze. Those monsters didn't seem bothered by it, quite the contrary, they had now become walking pony torches with fiery red contrasting with their green evil eyes. ''Wait, did I make things worse!'' Izzy asked, looking confused and even more terrified. The flaming zombies walked ominously towards Pipp. Their bones were cracking from the fire, that sound covering their hoof steps but not their gnawing. The poor pegasi was in her back, she could only crawl backward. ''No. No stay away. Stay away. Izzy, do something.'' Vitali didn't know what to do, she couldn't even touch them. Meanwhile, Izzy's fear had reached a new height. She could not breathe and her very pupils were now shaking. Even the magical grip on her staff was flickering. ''Izzy, do something. Anything. I beg you.'' Despiste the desperate plea, Izzy couldn't move. She couldn't think. She could only hear Pipp plead and not know what to do. ''Nonono stay away, stay away. Sis, save me- The flaming zombie bit the hoof she held out to protect herself. Sharp teeth tear deep into her flesh while fire burns her hoof both outside and inside and in that moment, Pipp knew pain like she never possibly could imagine. She screamed at the top of her lungs. That cry of pain was bloodcurdling for the ponies who heard her. Hearing that. Seeing that. Proved too much for Izzy. The ensnaring fear she already had grew and grew until it was too much too bear and she screamed as loud as Pipp. In tears, she turned back as fast as she could, ran away from this horror while still screaming. She even didn't take her staff with her, leaving it abandoned on the floor. Pipp was at her limit and was about to faint. She thought for a moment that this is how she would die. And that maybe in the end, she thought she deserved this. Vitali wanted to help but the other zombie was already working on maiming her itself As it jumped, an orange hoof hit it on its side and it was catapulted far away. Sunny quickly went to the three legged ones and assaulted it with a barrage of strikes. Despite being on fire, Sunny didn't relent her assault and ignored the burning pain her hit was doing to her. Finally given a moment of relief, Vitali used that chance to drag away Pipp who was on the verge of delirium. Sunny jumped away from the zombie. She winced, her front hooves had been burned yet she still kept her focus on the enemy. Enraged, the zombie shouted a battle cry and galloped towards her. Not deterred, Sunny took a quick breath, calming her nerves. She jumped at the enemy and gathered all her strength into one decisive strike on its head. The zombie skull exploded like a watermelon.sending a ripple of dust and ash in every direction. The headless corpse quickly collapsed in a heap, its still burning body smoldering quietly. Sunny was able to catch a breath until a thought came and she smacked her forehead. ''Ohhh I'm so dumb! I should have done this from the start. Smashing their head.'' A bestial cry came. The last zombie, the one with the broken jaw, stood back up. Now its head was at a crooked angle. That twisted boney face covered in fire might have been the most disturbing sight they ever saw. But then its cry ended in a grunt when a pointy blade pierced its forehead from behind. The evil magic in its eyes vanished. A loud crack came and that skeleton crumbled to pieces. Hitch swiftly put back his sword in his scabbard. The battle was now, finally over. Quiet returned to the hall. The adventurers were wary, fearing other enemies might appear. Yet, even after several minutes of prolonged, painful silence, nothing came. It was truly over. So they allowed themselves to relax. With the exception of Pipp who was bawling profusely while holding her maimend hoof. One look at it and anypony would cry too. ''PIPPP!!!'' Screamed Zipp once she saw how hurt her sister was. She flew to her side and she panicked. ''HITCH. HEAL HER. NOW.'' Hitch obey. But once he looked more clearly at Pipp hoof, he winced. ''What? You can heal her can't you?'' Replied Zipp, upset at his hesitation. ''I'm... not sure my magic would be enough. The flesh hadn't just been maimed, it's also been burned. That's what's most difficult to heal.'' ''Oh dammit.'' She took her saddlebag and furiously ransacking its contents, tossing away what she didn't need without a second look. Among the things she tossed behind her shoulder was a medallion that fell at the feet of Sunny. The earth pony couldn't help but take it. Undeterred by the mess she was making, Zipp took out a bunch of flasks containing liquids shining with a green hue. ''That's all my healing potions. We will use them with your magic.' ''I'm not even sure it would be eno-- ''JUST DO IT YOU PUSSY.'' He didn't ask twice and with his wand, transferred his healing magic into Pipp's hoof while Zipp crudely poured the liquid on the wound, bottle after bottle. Yet even as the wounds started to heal, the poor pegasi was still crying. ''It hurt. It hurt so much.'' ''Shhh, shhh. It's okay. Everything would be alright, you'll see.'' Zipp said in a tender manner as she verse another bottle. ''I will die. I'm going to die. And I deserve it.'' ''No, no. Don't speak like that. It's not true.'' Zipp cradled her sister in her hooves and used her wings to hold her in a tight embrace. The combined effect of both the magic and the potions ultimately did the trick. The flesh mended itself and the burn was disappearing. Once the healing was done, all that was left was a scar that had the shape of a ring, with small spikes from where the teeth broke the skin. Despite the damage and pain being gone, Pipp was still crying. That moment was refusing to leave her head. Zipp's heart broke in a million pieces from seeing her sister so mentally broken. Then, she grinded her teeth as rage came. With a leap, she broke off from her sister and got right into Vitali's face. ''WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT! YOU NEVER TOLD US THERE WOULD BE UNDEADS. HOW COULD YOU HIDE THIS FROM US! WE WOULD'VE NEVER HAVE COME IF WE KNEW. LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SISTER. ALL BECAUSE OF YOU.'' Vitali, instead of feeling guilty, snapped back at her. ''What the hell was that? You mean, what the hell about YOU! WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT FIGHT JUST NOW! You all acted so clumsy and you quickly lost your cool. Sunny was the only one who fought efficiently and kept calm. This was only a fraction of the dangers ahead. How do you expect to survive?'' ''DON'T YOU DARE SAY IT'S OUR FAULT! Because you withhold information we were unprepared.'' Zipp argued, pressing her nose against their contractor in anger. ''Well... fine, you're right but my hooves were tied. I needed adventurers more than anything- ''WE'RE NOT.'' Screamed not Zipp but Pipp, who was still very shaken. ''We lied alright. We've never been adventurers.'' Zipp threw a glare at her sister. Thought it was more one of panic than of reproach. Vitali, her, was frozen in disbelief. She slowly rotated her head at the sobbing pegasi. ''What... did you... just say?'' Despite her prior catatonic state, Pipp managed to regain enough composure to keep speaking what she had on her heart. ''I was against Zipp for taking this job and lying but she insisted. We needed the money. So we could go to the farthest possible of the three realms. This is our very first adventure. I've never even fought before today.'' ''Your... first!!!'' The scholarly mare quickly turned to the others dumbfounded. She settled on Hitch. ''Did you lie too? Don't act as if I didn't notice when you'd fought that zombie. It was like you weren't there.'' Hitch was flustered. ''Oh, umh, I, umh- look, sorry. I don't know what came over me. I had a- a flash of... of the past.'' ''Are you an adventurer, yes or no?'' Hitch stared at the ground, wishing he could just bury himself then and there. ''Well. technically no. I am a warrior, that's true. I had my share of battles. But... against ponies. Only ponies. I have no experience against monsters.'' ''What!'' Vitali was starting to turn white. ''And... and Izzy?'' ''Well I can't speak for her, I've only known her for one day. But I... can see in her eyes, she probably never once fight for her life.'' Vitali silently turned toward Sunny who suddenly felt very small. ''Don't look at me. I really have trained in my martial art for years. And also, I genuinely consider myself a true adventurer. But the truth is all the jobs I had taken were, hum I suppose you would call them small. Help in manual labor. Collected rare to find ingredients. One or two times, kicking the butts of some brigands. I never really cared what the job was. I just wanted to help however I can, hehe.'' Vitali was not amused. Quite the opposite, it was like somepony kicked her in the gut. She could hardly breath and she stammered backward. ''... ... Gods above. You're not... . I'd say I wanted professionals. I'd said professionals. It was the most important part.'' ''Oh enough of this nonsense.'' Shouted back Zipp with venom as she flew so close to Vitali that their snouts were touching. ''You must be an idiot if you expect to get exactly what you want just by writing some words on paper and not expect that the most desperate will not apply instead. Adventurers are just an invention for kids anyway. The few that exist die quickly before they have a chance to be professionals. In which world do you live?'' The scholarly mare was in daze. She was close to losing it. ''That's... that's... that's it.'' She then became resolute. ''That's it. I'll cancel the whole thing. Forget the job, forget the dungeon. We're all going back to the surface. I will not have your deaths on my conscience- Huh! What- what's that over there?'' Very far at the entrance door, the evil magic surged once again from the carved floor. The darkness touched the double door and slammed it shut with a deafening sound. A strange glyph made of green magic appeared on its stony surface and by the second, expanded to become more complex. Vitali's eyes became wide as saucers. ''Wait! But that's... a magic seal! No. Oh no no!'' She galloped straight at the door with the energy of despair. ''No no no no no nooo. Why, why? It never did that before.'' By the time she reached it, it was already too late. The seal had been completed. Frantically, Vitali hit the door again and again, each time, her hoof was repealed. ''Open up. Open up. Please, I beg you, open up.'' But it was futile. She knew too well that nothing could now open that door. Defeated, she fell on her knee. ''It's... all my fault.'' All this time they had only seen Vitali being in control. Nopony was sure of what to make of it. As they came closer, it was almost as if she... crying! But yes! She was indeed crying. ''I'm sorry.'' She turned around and what they saw... was a tear soaked face wrecked by guilt. So much guilt. ''I'm so sorry. I've condemned you all. You're all going to die.''

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